Dubai Bans the Use of Single-Use Plastic Products and Bags Starting This Year

Illustration of plastic bags. (Wikimedia Commons/Scott Meltzer)

JAKARTA - The law banning the use of single-use plastic bags in Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE) came into effect at the beginning of this month.

The resolution issued by Dubai Crown Prince Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed prohibits the import and trade of single-use plastic products in stages, starting with plastic bags on January 1, reported by The National News, January 20.

The decision to ban single-use plastic bags across the Emirates was taken in early 2023 by the UAE Government. Then, each emirate will start enforcing it on January 1, in accordance with the resolution of each emirate.

In Dubai, non-plastic single-use products, including single-use bags, will be included in the ban from June 1, 2024, according to state news agency WAM.

Starting January 1, 2025, single-use plastic products, including plastic stirrers, tablecloths, glasses, Styrofoam food containers, plastic straws, and plastic cotton swabs are also prohibited.

Starting January 1, 2026, the ban will be extended to other single-use plastic products including plastic plates, plastic food containers, plastic cutlery, as well as drink cups and plastic lids.

The ban also covers food delivery packaging materials, thick plastic bags, plastic containers and packaging materials made partly or completely from plastic, such as those used for plastic bottles, snack bags, wet wipes, balloons, and balloon sticks.

The decree also regulates the exception of plastic bags made from recycled materials. This also includes plastic needed for goods exported abroad.

If a business continues to use single-use plastic bags, a fine of 200 UAE dirhams will be imposed on violators. The fine will double each time the offense is committed within 12 months to a maximum of 2,000 UAE dirhams.

It is known that this federal decision goes further than previous regulations in 2022 in Dubai, which charged a nominal fee of 25 fils for plastic bags, and in Abu Dhabi, which banned most plastic bags.

In Abu Dhabi, the ban that took effect on June 1 2022 has resulted in 87 million fewer single-use plastic bags after six months, or a reduction of around 90 percent.

The ban does not apply to packaging meat, fish, vegetables, fruit, grains and bread, as well as trash bags.

Exemptions also apply to single-use plastic products, such as shopping bags or single-use items, intended for export or re-export abroad.