How to import soft drinks to the UAE (2026)

Q: Which portal registers soft drinks in Dubai?

Steps in order: ZAD — national food product registration → FIRS — Food Import & Re-export System. Food is not registered through Montaji — that submission is rejected.

Q: Do I need an ECAS, EQM or halal certificate for soft drinks?

Mandatory: Health certificate from the country of origin.

Last reviewed: 2026-09-24

Quick answer

HS code: 2202.10 — Sweetened / flavoured water & carbonated drinks
Customs duty: 5% standard customs duty on CIF unless this exact tariff line is on the GCC exemption list (confirm the 8-digit line)
VAT: 5% on the value incl. duty and excise
Excise: By sugar: <5 g/100 ml = 0; 5–<8 g = AED 0.79/L; ≥8 g = AED 1.09/L
Certificates required: Health certificate from the country of origin
Registration route in Dubai: ZAD — national food product registration → FIRS — Food Import & Re-export System

Where do I register?Certificate checker Calculate with your numbers Request a quote

Notes specific to this product

Since 1 January 2026 carbonated drinks are no longer a separate 50% excise category: sweetened drinks are taxed by sugar content — under 5 g/100 ml AED 0; 5 to under 8 g AED 0.79/L; 8 g and above AED 1.09/L.
If the product contains sulphites (E220–E228) they must be declared on the label by E-number.

Steps in order (Dubai, imported)

1
ZAD — national food product registration — Ministry of Climate Change & Environment (MOCCAE)
Register every food SKU (brand × product × size × barcode) once, federally, before it is handled in the UAE. Local authorities read this record.
https://www.moccae.gov.ae/
2
FIRS — Food Import & Re-export System — Dubai Municipality — Food Safety Department
Register your establishment, get the label assessed, register each food item, then file an import application before the shipment lands. Food does NOT go through Montaji — that is an outright rejection.
Fees: Official DM fees reported at AED 10 application + AED 100–220 certificate (≈ AED 110–240 per product variant)
Timeline: Consultants report 2–4 weeks; 22 working days is the commonly quoted standard
https://www.dm.gov.ae/

Certificates required

MandatoryHealth certificate from the country of origin

Required for imported food consignments at port clearance (issued or endorsed by the exporting country's competent authority).

Reported fees: Set by the exporting authority (usually nominal).

VoluntaryEQM — Emirates Quality Mark

Voluntary for most soft drinks; check the MoIAT list if the product is marketed as "water" or a health beverage.

Official fees: MoIAT published fees: AED 600 registration request + AED 620 technical review per certificate + AED 500 certificate issuance (≈ AED 1,720), plus AED 2,500 per assessor-day if a site assessment is required. Notified-body testing/audit fees are quoted separately.

Reported fees: Notified-body fees (product tests + factory audit + travel) are quoted per product line — request quotes from MoIAT-notified bodies.

Document checklist

Valid UAE trade licence with a matching activity (e.g. foodstuff trading, general trading, cosmetics trading)
Final label artwork — Arabic mandatory (not smaller than the English), all panels
Clear photos of the finished product (front, back, sides)
Full ingredient / composition list in descending order, with additives by name or E-number
Product barcode (GS1)
Shelf life and storage conditions
Manufacturer details and authorisation / appointment letter naming you as importer or distributor
Health certificate issued or endorsed by the competent authority in the country of origin (imported food)
For each shipment: commercial invoice, packing list, certificate of origin, bill of lading / airway bill
Certificate of Analysis or lab test report from an accredited laboratory
Evidence for every claim on the pack (nutrition, health, organic, halal)

Most common rejection reasons

Arabic text missing, machine-translated, or smaller than the English
Trade licence activity does not cover the product
Shipped label differs from the registered artwork
Production/expiry dates not printed on the original label or in the wrong format
Importer name and address missing from the label
Wrong portal — food submitted through Montaji is rejected outright
An ingredient or additive not permitted, or not declared with its E-number
Net quantity not in metric units, or country of origin missing
Health or therapeutic claims on a food or supplement without evidence (or that push it into the EDE route)

Label requirements

Under UAE.S 9 (GSO 9) the following must appear in Arabic:

Product name
Ingredients
Production and expiry dates
Storage conditions
Nutrition facts
Plus: net content in metric units, country of origin and importer name

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Landed-cost example (illustrative shipment)

Goods 20,000.00 + freight 2,500.00 + insurance 200.00 + local costs 3,000.00 AED — 1,584.00 L at 10 g sugar/100 ml

CIF	22,700.00 AED
Customs duty (5%)	1,135.00 AED
Excise tax (AED 1.09/L)	1,726.56 AED
Local costs	3,000.00 AED
Landed cost ex-VAT	28,561.56 AED
VAT 5%	1,278.08 AED
Incl. VAT	29,839.64 AED

Uplift on goods value: 42.8%

Illustrative planning figures, not a customs valuation. Adjust the numbers in the calculator.

Frequently asked

Is there customs duty on soft drinks imported to the UAE?

5% standard customs duty on CIF unless this exact tariff line is on the GCC exemption list (confirm the 8-digit line). HS heading 2202.10 (Sweetened / flavoured water & carbonated drinks). VAT of 5% is charged on top of the value including duty and excise.

Which portal registers soft drinks in Dubai?