Abu Dhabi is overhauling where unhealthy food and drink can be displayed in supermarkets, with a new policy that prohibits high-fat, salt, and sugar products from the most visible locations in physical stores and online retail environments.
The policy, developed by Healthy Living in collaboration with the Abu Dhabi Registration Authority (ADRA), will be mandatory from 1 January 2027.
It covers stores larger than 4,000 sqft and applies to digital platforms as well, barring HFSS products from homepages, search results, promotional pop-ups, and checkout pages.
Products classified as unhealthy under the Abu Dhabi Public Health Centre’s SEHHI framework will no longer be permitted at store entrances, end-of-aisle displays, or checkout areas. They remain available in-aisle.
The policy was developed with input from the Department of Health, the Abu Dhabi Public Health Centre, the Abu Dhabi Quality and Conformity Council, and the Abu Dhabi Agriculture and Food Safety Authority. It does not restrict the sale of any product.
“We are working closely with relevant entities to meet the growing demands of consumers, placing their health, safety, and well-being at the top of our priorities. Our collaboration with Healthy Living reflects a shared commitment to making healthier choices easier and accessible for all consumers. In addition to ensuring compliance of commercial entities with regulations and standards, we also deliver awareness campaigns that empower consumers to make more informed decisions and better understand the choices available to them in the market,” Mohamed Munif Al Mansoori, Director-General of ADRA said in a statement.
“In Abu Dhabi, our commitment to prevention as the foundation of a healthier society is what Healthy Living was built on, and this policy is a direct reflection of that. Our approach is rooted in behavioural science and real-world evidence, and interventions like this have delivered measurable results globally. When the products consumers encounter first are not the least nutritious options, healthier choices become the natural default – empowering people to make better decisions,” Dr Ahmed AlKhazraiji, Executive Director of Healthy Living added.
“We are proud to support this ambition and to have achieved compliance with the Responsible Food and Beverage Placement Standards across our Carrefour stores in Abu Dhabi. We remain committed to creating environments that deliver healthier, more convenient shopping experiences for the millions of customers we serve each year,” Ahmed Galal Ismail, Chief Executive Officer of Majid Al Futtaim Holding further explained.
Carrefour is among the first retailers to complete implementation across its Abu Dhabi stores ahead of the 2027 deadline.
