Straight answer

Exporting food and drink to the UAE and US: a 2026 guide for UK brands

What do UK food and drink brands need to export to the UAE and the US?

To export food to the UAE you need Arabic labelling, product registration through your importer, halal certification for relevant products and export health certificates for animal products. For the US you need FDA facility registration with a US agent, Prior Notice for every shipment, an importer running a supplier verification programme and FDA-compliant labels.

Last reviewed 11 September 2026. Written by Steph Hamill, HAM Agency.

Side by side

	United Arab Emirates	United States
Who sets the rules	Federal standards from the Ministry of Industry and Advanced Technology, working to Gulf standards; emirate authorities such as Dubai Municipality handle registration	The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for most food; other agencies for meat and alcohol
Registration	Food items registered and labels assessed through the emirate system, usually by your licensed UAE importer	Every facility that makes, processes, packs or holds food for the US registers with the FDA and names a US agent
Labels	Key information in Arabic, on the pack or on a sticker	FDA labelling rules, including the Nutrition Facts panel and allergen declarations
Allergens	Ingredients and additives listed in descending order in Arabic	Nine major allergens, including sesame since 1 January 2023
Certificates	Certificate of origin for customs; halal certificates from a certification body registered by the UAE ministry where required; export health certificates for animal products	Export health certificates for animal products where required
Every shipment	Invoice, certificate of origin, bill of lading or air waybill	Prior Notice: at least 2 hours before arrival by road, 4 hours by air or rail, 8 hours by sea
Who carries the load	Your importer holds registrations and clears goods	The US importer must run a Foreign Supplier Verification Programme covering your product
Tax at the border	Customs duty usually around 5%; VAT at 5% since 1 January 2018	Check the current duty with the UK government's check duties and customs service before you set prices

UAE label information

business.gov.uk lists what UAE food imports must show in Arabic, on the packaging or on an affixed label:

Product and brand name
Lot identification
Production and expiry dates
Country of origin
Manufacturer's name
Net content in metric units
Ingredients and additives, in descending order of proportion

In Dubai, labels are assessed against the UAE standard for labelling prepackaged food.

Halal

Under UAE Cabinet Decree No. 10 of 2014 on the UAE system for control of halal products, halal certificates for final products and raw materials come from halal certification bodies registered by the ministry. Check that your certifier is on the ministry's register before you rely on its certificate.

US: what your importer will ask for

Your FDA food facility registration number, confirmed by your US agent
Evidence for their Foreign Supplier Verification Programme: your hazard analysis, food safety plan, certification and test results. They must re-evaluate you at least every three years
FDA-compliant labels, reviewed before you print
Shipping details early enough for Prior Notice

The biennial renewal window runs from 1 October to 31 December 2026. If you already hold a registration, diary it now.

Before you ship

Picked one market, one channel and one partner, not both countries at once
Confirmed with the importer who holds the registration and who pays for it
Labels translated or redesigned and checked against the destination rules
Shelf life long enough for shipping, clearance and distribution
Export health certificate identified, if your product contains animal products
Landed cost worked out: freight, duty, importer and distributor margins, promotional funding
Payment terms and export insurance agreed
Trade marks protected in the destination market

Help worth using

The Food and Drink Federation points exporters to the Department for Business and Trade's export guidance and training, UK Export Finance for insurance and working capital, and Defra's agri-food specialists based in key markets. Use them before you book a trade show.

How HAM helps

HAM takes UK food and drink brands into new markets through Portfolio strategy, innovation and growth: the market choice, the partner, the landed-cost model and the launch plan. Start with the discovery quiz.

Questions

Do I need a UAE company to export food there?

Usually you work through a licensed UAE importer or distributor. In Dubai, food items are registered and labels assessed through Dubai Municipality's system by a licensed establishment, so your importer normally holds that registration.

When is the next FDA registration renewal?

Food facilities renew between 1 October and 31 December of every even-numbered year, so the next window runs from 1 October to 31 December 2026. There is no FDA fee for registering or renewing.

What is Prior Notice?

An electronic notice to the FDA before each food shipment arrives in the US. It must be submitted at least 2 hours before arrival by road, 4 hours by air or rail and 8 hours by sea.

Where can I get help from the UK government?

The Department for Business and Trade offers export guidance and advice, UK Export Finance offers insurance and finance, and Defra has agri-food specialists based in key markets.

Sources

Practices

Practice
Portfolio strategy, innovation and growth

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