Dubai is one of the most competitive consumer markets in the world, with over 200 nationalities purchasing products every day. If you plan to import, sell, or distribute cosmetics, health supplements, food products, or cleaning agents in Dubai, you must register your products with Dubai Municipality before a single item enters the market.
Dubai Municipality (DM) enforces Local Order No. 11 of 2003, which makes consumer product registration mandatory for all products placed in Dubai’s market. The registration is handled through an online platform called Montaji — and this guide walks you through every step of how it works.
What Is Dubai Municipality Product Registration?
Dubai Municipality product registration is a mandatory legal process where every consumer product sold in Dubai — whether manufactured locally or imported from abroad — must receive an official approval number from the Dubai Municipality Health and Safety Department before it can be marketed, distributed, or sold.
The process ensures every product on Dubai shelves meets UAE safety standards, contains no prohibited ingredients, carries compliant bilingual labels (Arabic and English), and passes quality verification. Without a DM registration certificate, your product cannot legally clear Dubai Customs, appear in retail stores, or be sold online in the UAE.
Which Products Must Be Registered with Dubai Municipality?
Product Category | Specific Examples | DM System |
Cosmetics & Personal Care | Skincare, makeup, perfumes, hair care, deodorants | Montaji |
Health Supplements | Vitamins, minerals, protein supplements, herbal capsules | Montaji |
Food Products | Packaged food, beverages, dairy, snacks, confectionery | FIRS |
Biocides & Detergents | Cleaning agents, disinfectants, insecticides, sanitisers | Montaji |
Consumer Goods | Household products, personal hygiene, baby products | Montaji |
Note: Food products use the Food Import and Re-export System (FIRS) rather than Montaji. If your product is a food item, read our dedicated Food Registration Guide (Blog 5) for the FIRS process.
What Is the Montaji Platform?
Montaji is Dubai Municipality’s digital platform for registering and managing consumer product approvals. It was designed to make the registration process transparent, traceable, and fully digital. All applications for cosmetics, health supplements, personal care products, biocides, and detergents are submitted through Montaji.
Montaji allows businesses to submit product details and documents, track application status in real time, receive approval certificates, manage renewals, and handle product variation notifications. Access it at montaji.dm.gov.ae.
Step-by-Step: How to Register Your Product on Montaji
- Step 1: Obtain a Valid UAE Trade Licence — Before you can access Montaji, your business must hold a valid UAE trade licence with a product trading activity code relevant to your product category. The company must be licensed by DED (Dubai) or the relevant emirate authority. If you don’t yet have a licence, Nextmove can set up your UAE company and get the right activity codes from day one.
- Step 2: Register Your Business on Montaji — Visit montaji.dm.gov.ae and create a Business Admin User account. You will need your trade licence number, Emirates ID of the business owner, and company email address. DM sends your login credentials to the registered email.
- Step 3: Add Your Products — Once inside Montaji, select ‘Add New Product’. You will enter the product name, brand, category, country of manufacture, and intended use. The system auto-assigns a preliminary classification.
- Step 4: Upload Required Documents — For each product, upload: the product label (Arabic and English), ingredient list, Safety Data Sheet (SDS), Certificate of Analysis (CoA) from an accredited lab, and any relevant safety certificates (e.g., Halal, ISO, IFRA for fragrances). All documents must be in PDF format.
- Step 5: Pay the Registration Fee — Fees are paid via Montaji’s integrated payment gateway. Payment is required per product category. Registration certificates are generated immediately after payment confirmation once DM completes its review.
- Step 6: DM Review and Approval — Dubai Municipality’s Health and Safety Department reviews your submission. If everything is in order, your certificate is issued. If corrections are needed, DM sends a clarification request through the system. Respond promptly to avoid timeline delays.
Document Checklist for Montaji Registration
Document | Requirement Detail |
Trade Licence (copy) | Valid, includes product trading activity |
Product Label (Arabic + English) | Must meet UAE.S GSO 9:2022 standards |
Full Ingredient / INCI List | All ingredients listed in descending weight order |
Safety Data Sheet (SDS) | For biocides and cleaning products — mandatory |
Certificate of Analysis (CoA) | From ISO-accredited or DM-approved lab |
Halal Certificate (if applicable) | From ESMA-approved Halal certification body |
Authorisation Letter | From brand owner authorising your UAE registration |
Product Images (front & back) | High resolution — 300 DPI minimum |
IFRA Certificate (for fragrances) | Required for perfumes and scented cosmetics |
Dubai Municipality Registration Fees
DM charges registration fees per product and per category. Fees are collected at the time of submission through the Montaji portal and include an AED 10 knowledge fee and AED 10 innovation fee per transaction.
Product Category | Approximate Fee per Product |
Cosmetics & Personal Care | AED 200–500 |
Health Supplements | AED 300–600 |
Biocides & Detergents | AED 300–700 |
Consumer Goods | AED 150–400 |
Fees are subject to change. Contact Nextmove for the most current fee schedule for your specific product.
Top Reasons Dubai Municipality Rejects Product Applications
- Incomplete Arabic label — missing product name, expiry date, or net weight in Arabic
- Ingredient list not in descending order of weight — a mandatory UAE labelling standard
- Unauthorised health claims on the label — e.g., phrases like ‘treats diabetes’ or ‘cures infections’ on supplement labels
- Missing or invalid Halal certificate for products targeting the Muslim consumer segment
- Safety Data Sheet absent for biocides and cleaning products
- CoA from a non-accredited laboratory — DM only accepts certificates from accredited labs
Frequently Asked Questions — Dubai Municipality Product Registration
Q1: Do all products in Dubai need to be registered with Dubai Municipality?
All consumer products sold in Dubai’s market must be registered. This includes imported and locally manufactured goods. Products imported purely for re-export or for exhibition samples are exempt, but the exemption must be declared and documented through Montaji.
Q2: How long does Dubai Municipality product registration take?
The standard timeline is 4 to 8 weeks from submission of a complete application. Incomplete applications or those requiring clarification from DM can take longer. Using a professional registration partner like Nextmove significantly reduces timelines by ensuring first-time compliance.
Q3: Can an international brand register directly with Dubai Municipality?
Not directly. You must have a UAE-registered entity with a valid trade licence to access the Montaji platform. International brands typically appoint a UAE-based authorised distributor or use a registration services company to handle the process on their behalf.
Q4: What happens if I sell unregistered products in Dubai?
Dubai Municipality conducts regular market inspections. Unregistered products found in stores, warehouses, or online platforms are subject to immediate withdrawal, fines imposed on the retailer and importer, and in serious cases, revocation of the trade licence.
Q5: Is Montaji registration valid across all UAE emirates?
Dubai Municipality registration is specific to Dubai. Other emirates like Abu Dhabi and Sharjah have their own authorities. However, products registered in Dubai through Montaji are generally well-positioned to comply with other emirate requirements, and many retailers across the UAE accept DM registration as a quality standard.
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