How to import dietary supplements to the UAE (2026)

Last reviewed: 2026-09-24

Quick answer

HS code: 2106 — Food preparations n.e.s. (supplements, syrups, protein powders)
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
Excise: Not applicable
Certificates required: No mandatory conformity certificate — product registration and the Arabic label are the gate
Registration route in Dubai: Montaji → Supplement import permit (per consignment)

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Notes specific to this product

What decides the route is the claim: disease/therapeutic claims or pharmaceutical actives move a supplement to the federal EDE regime; wellness-only vitamins and minerals register as consumer products (Montaji in Dubai).

Steps in order (Dubai, imported)

1
Montaji — Dubai Municipality — Consumer Products Safety
Register cosmetics, personal care, health supplements, detergents/disinfectants and pet food sold in Dubai. One application per product variant.
Fees: AED 10 application + AED 220 certificate issuance (official DM fees; per variant)
Timeline: Consultants report 2–6 weeks by category (skincare 2–4, fragrances 3–6)
https://montaji.dm.gov.ae/
2
Supplement import permit (per consignment) — Emirates Drug Establishment (EDE) — formerly MoHAP services
Imported supplements need an EDE import permit for release at the port, in addition to product registration.
https://www.ede.gov.ae/

Watch out

Consumer-route supplements are vitamins/minerals/dietary products with wellness positioning only. Any "treats / prevents / cures" wording, or a pharmaceutical active, switches the route to EDE (federal).

Certificates required

MandatoryProduct registration (not a certificate)

Supplements are gated by registration (Montaji in Dubai, or EDE federally when claims/actives are involved), not by a conformity certificate.

Not requiredECAS / EQM conformity certificate

Not on the mandatory list for this family as of the review date — product registration + Arabic label are the gate, not a conformity certificate. Re-check MoIAT if the formulation is unusual.

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
Certificate of Analysis or lab test report from an accredited laboratory
Free Sale Certificate from the country of origin
GMP / ISO certificate of the manufacturing site
Stability study supporting the declared shelf life
Evidence for every claim on the pack (nutrition, health, organic, halal)
For each shipment: commercial invoice, packing list, certificate of origin, bill of lading / airway bill

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
Health or therapeutic claims on a food or supplement without evidence (or that push it into the EDE route)
Production/expiry dates not printed on the original label or in the wrong format
Importer name and address missing from the label
An ingredient or additive not permitted, or not declared with its E-number

Landed-cost example (illustrative shipment)

Goods 20,000.00 + freight 2,500.00 + insurance 200.00 + local costs 3,000.00 AED

CIF	22,700.00 AED
Customs duty (5%)	1,135.00 AED
Local costs	3,000.00 AED
Landed cost ex-VAT	26,835.00 AED
VAT 5%	1,191.75 AED
Incl. VAT	28,026.75 AED

Uplift on goods value: 34.2%

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

Frequently asked

Is there customs duty on dietary supplements 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 2106 (Food preparations n.e.s. (supplements, syrups, protein powders)). VAT of 5% is charged on top of the value including duty.

Which portal registers dietary supplements in Dubai?

Steps in order: Montaji → Supplement import permit (per consignment).

Do I need an ECAS, EQM or halal certificate for dietary supplements?

No conformity certificate is mandatory for this product family as of the review date; product registration and the Arabic label are the gate. Re-check MoIAT for unusual formulations.

Guidance built from official sources and consultant-reported figures where marked; the competent authority is the final reference and fees change.

Sources (reviewed 2026-09-24): Dubai Municipality — Montaji portal · Dubai Municipality — food safety & FIRS · ADAFSA — Guide No. 1 (2024) for food importers & exporters · MOCCAE — ZAD national food registration; feed import permits · MoIAT — ECAS/EQM schemes; halal certification bodies register · Emirates Drug Establishment — supplement import permit · UAE Government portal — food safety · Fee figures as reported in Shuraa's 2026 product-registration guide · Supplement MoHAP-vs-DM criteria as reported by Nextmove (2026)