Key points
- Two approvals: MOIAT ECAS for conformity, plus emirate registration (Montaji in Dubai) before import.
- Dubai registration needs a free sale certificate, a signed ingredient report and an accredited lab report, and is valid 5 years.
- Production and expiry dates must be printed or on a non-removable sticker; labels in English and/or Arabic.
- New GSO 1943:2024 allergen labelling applies to new products from 31 December 2026.
- Perfumes, aerosols and nail polish are dangerous goods at sea; plan for heat on the east-coast truck leg.
Two approvals before your first shipment
UAE cosmetics control works on two levels. MOIAT, the federal Ministry of Industry and Advanced Technology, checks that the product meets the Gulf safety standard GSO 1943 and issues an ECAS certificate of conformity, which customs needs at clearance. The emirate then controls what is sold in its market: in Dubai, products must be registered with Dubai Municipality through Montaji before they are imported. Plan both while the first batch is still in production.
- Federal conformity certificate for cosmetics and personal care products
- Checks the formula against GSO 1943: prohibited and restricted substances, colourants, preservatives, UV filters
- Issued through a MOIAT-approved conformity body
- Needed for customs clearance; existing certificates stay valid until they expire
- Product registration before import into Dubai
- Applicant must be a Dubai company or have a Dubai warehouse, with a trade licence covering cosmetics
- Documents: free sale certificate, ingredient report, lab test report, GMP evidence
- Registration valid 5 years; changes must be notified or approved
- Advertising also needs Montaji pre-approval, with some exemptions
| What | Who handles it | Key point |
|---|---|---|
| ECAS certificate of conformity | UAE importer with a conformity body | Formula and labels checked against GSO 1943 |
| Montaji product registration | Dubai importer, agent or local manufacturer | Before import; valid 5 years |
| Other emirates | Importer | Register with the emirate where you sell; our team confirms |
| Medicated products | Importer | Acne, eczema, psoriasis or hair-loss treatment claims fall outside cosmetics and go to EDE |
| Customs duty and VAT | Our broker at clearance | 5% duty on CIF, 5% VAT on CIF plus duty |
Documents to ask your Chinese factory for
Most delays come from a factory that cannot produce one document. Ask for the full set when you place the order and make it part of the purchase contract.
Cosmetics registration document checklist
0/8Labelling rules that catch Chinese packaging
Chinese retail packs are often printed only in Chinese, or with English that misses required items. Dubai Municipality's technical guideline requires the following in clear English and/or Arabic. Where there is not enough space, an enclosed leaflet is allowed, with the leaflet symbol on the pack.
- Brand name and product name (a trademark cannot replace the product name)
- Manufacturer or UAE agent name, address and website, and the country of origin
- Full ingredient list using INCI or botanical names
- Pack size, batch or lot number and barcode
- Production date and expiry date, printed or on a non-removable sticker
- Storage conditions, directions for use, warnings and the applicable symbols
- For professional products: For professional use only
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Ingredient limits to check before you order
| Product type | Limit in the Dubai Municipality guideline |
|---|---|
| Skin whitening creams | Hydroquinone must be absent; hydrogen peroxide in skin products at most 4% |
| Hair dyes | p-Phenylenediamine at most 2% (free base) after mixing; hydrogen peroxide at most 12% |
| Tooth whitening | Hydrogen peroxide above 0.1% up to 6%; not for under 18s; first use by a dental practitioner |
| Fluoride toothpaste | Total fluoride at most 0.15%, tested in an accredited lab |
| AHA products | pH at least 3.5 for retail, 3 for professional use, with sun protection warnings |
| Perfumes | Methanol must be absent |
Shipping: heat, dangerous goods and shelf life
Creams, lipsticks and serums can separate or melt in a container crossing the Indian Ocean and then waiting in an east-coast port before the truck to Dubai. Match transport to the storage conditions on your label: fill the container fully, keep cartons off the floor, avoid loading in the heat of the day, and ask us about insulated or temperature-controlled options for sensitive products, subject to carrier acceptance. Perfumes are flammable liquids (Class 3), aerosols are gases (Class 2) and nail polish is also dangerous goods, so they need an SDS, a DG declaration and carrier approval; several carriers suspended DG bookings to Gulf ports in 2026.
Shelf life starts at production, not at arrival. Registration, sea transit and clearance all consume months of it, so agree a minimum remaining shelf life at shipment in your purchase order and ship the newest batches. Mixed batches on one pallet slow down inspection; keep batch numbers on the cartons and the packing list.
- Check the formulaCompare ingredients with GSO 1943 and the Dubai Municipality limits.
- Fix the labelAdd English and/or Arabic details, dates, batch and allergens before printing.
- Get ECASApply through a MOIAT-approved conformity body with test reports.
- Register in MontajiSubmit the free sale certificate, ingredient report and lab report.
- Book the shipmentDG booking for perfumes and aerosols; heat protection for creams.
- Sail and truckAs of November 2026, discharge at Khor Fakkan and bonded truck to Dubai.
- Clear customsDeclaration with ECAS, invoice, packing list and certificate of origin; 5% duty and 5% VAT.
- Store and sellKeep products in conditions that match the label and track expiry by batch.
Duty and a quick check
Cosmetics pay 5% customs duty on the CIF value and 5% VAT on CIF plus duty; VAT-registered importers with a linked customs code can use the reverse charge. Invoices of AED 10,000 or more need MOFA attestation. Goods for re-export to Saudi Arabia also need SFDA listing there.
Most goods from China pay 5% GCC duty on CIF, once, at the first GCC entry. VAT is on CIF + duty. Estimate only.
Is your cosmetics shipment ready?
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to register cosmetics before importing them into Dubai?
Yes. Products must be registered with Dubai Municipality through Montaji before import, and an ECAS certificate from MOIAT is needed for customs clearance.
What documents are needed for Dubai Municipality cosmetics registration?
A valid free sale certificate, an ingredient report with CAS numbers signed by the manufacturer, a lab test report from an accredited lab, and other documents such as GMP evidence where required.
Does cosmetics labelling in the UAE have to be in Arabic?
The Dubai Municipality guideline asks for the required label details in clear English and/or Arabic, including non-removable production and expiry dates.
How long is Dubai Municipality cosmetics registration valid?
Five years, subject to renewal review. Changes to registered details must be notified or approved.
What is the customs duty on cosmetics in the UAE?
5% of the CIF value, plus 5% VAT on the value including duty. Invoices of AED 10,000 or more also need MOFA attestation.
Can I ship perfume from China to Dubai by sea?
Yes, as Class 3 dangerous goods with an SDS, DG declaration and carrier approval. Some carriers limit DG bookings to Gulf ports in 2026, so we check acceptance per booking.
Sources
- Dubai Municipality: Technical Guidelines for Cosmetic and Personal Care Products, DM-HSD-GU116-CPCP2 v2.1
- ChemLinked: United Arab Emirates cosmetic regulation (MOIAT ECAS, Dubai Municipality, GSO standards)
- Complife: Allergen labelling in Saudi Arabia and the UAE under GSO 1943:2024 (March 2026)
- Intertek: Regulatory update for cosmetics, personal care and perfumery exports to the UAE (GSO 1943)
- Kerry Logistics: IMDG Code Amendment 42-24 mandatory from 1 January 2026
- Lloyd's List Intelligence: Strait of Hormuz Brief, 22 October 2026
General information checked on the date shown. Rules and rates change: our team confirms the details for your shipment.