Abu Dhabi to reduce visibility of unhealthy food products in supermarkets from January 1

Abu Dhabi has announced an initiative, effective January 1, 2027, to promote healthier living among residents by removing high-fat, salt, and sugar (HFSS) food and beverage products from the highest-traffic and highest-visibility locations in supermarkets, shops, and online stores. The initiative is launched by Healthy Living, in collaboration with the Abu Dhabi Registration Authority (ADRA), the Abu Dhabi Department of Economic Development’s (ADDED) arm for regulating and developing the business sector in the emirate. The policy regulates the placement and promotion of HFSS food and beverage products within both physical and online supermarket environments while allowing retailers to continue selling these products. According to the announcement, the initiative represents a shift toward embedding preventive health measures into daily life by redesigning shopping environments so that healthier choices become easier for consumers. The policy was developed in collaboration with the Department of Health (DoH), Abu Dhabi Public Health Centre (ADPHC), Abu Dhabi Quality and Conformity Council (ADQCC), and the Abu Dhabi Agriculture and Food Safety Authority (ADAFSA). No prominent display Under the policy, food and beverage products classified as unhealthy under the ADPHC’s SEHHI classification system will no longer be permitted in prominent locations within supermarkets. These locations include store entrances, end-of-aisle displays and checkout areas. The restrictions will also apply to online supermarket platforms. HFSS products will no longer be featured prominently on home pages, within search results, through promotional pop-ups, or on checkout pages. For physical retailers, the policy will apply to supermarkets with a floor area exceeding 4,000 square feet. Officials said the initiative is designed to support healthier consumer choices by changing how products are presented and promoted, rather than restricting access to or sales of HFSS food and beverage products. Consumers will continue to have full access to their preferred products as the policy simply ensures that less nutritious options are not actively placed in the most visible and high-traffic locations. Products will remain available in-aisle for consumers who wish to purchase them. His Excellency Mohamed Munif Al Mansoori, Director General of ADRA, said: “As Abu Dhabi continues to cement its status as a prominent global business, investment, and economic hub, we remain committed to ensuring that this success is supported by an environment where people can live, work, invest, and thrive. To this end, we are working closely with relevant entities to meet the growing demands of consumers, placing their health, safety, and well-being at the top of our priorities. Our collaboration with Healthy Living reflects a shared commitment to making healthier choices easier and accessible for all consumers. In addition to ensuring compliance of commercial entities with regulations and standards, we also deliver awareness campaigns that empower consumers to make more informed decisions and better understand the choices available to them in the market.” His Excellency Dr Ahmed AlKhazraiji, Executive Director of Healthy Living, said: "In Abu Dhabi, our commitment to prevention as the foundation of a healthier society is what Healthy Living was built on, and this policy is a direct reflection of that. Our approach is rooted in behavioural science and real-world evidence, and interventions like this have delivered measurable results globally. When the products consumers encounter first are not the least nutritious options, healthier choices become the natural default - empowering people to make better decisions. Healthy Living and ADRA worked closely with retailers across Abu Dhabi to ensure the approach reflects the operational realities of the sector while drawing on international best practices. The policy was informed by evidence from markets where similar initiatives have been successfully implemented. Retailers across the emirate are now working towards implementation of the standards, with Carrefour being one of the first to complete implementation across its stores in Abu Dhabi ahead of the mandatory compliance deadline. Ahmed Galal Ismail, Chief Executive Officer of Majid Al Futtaim Holding, said: “Retailers have a unique opportunity to help shape healthier communities through the everyday choices they enable. Abu Dhabi's Healthy Living Strategy reflects a forward-looking vision that makes healthier choices easier while preserving consumer choices. We are proud to support this ambition and to have achieved compliance with the Responsible Food and Beverage Placement Standards across our Carrefour stores in Abu Dhabi. We remain committed to creating environments that deliver healthier, more convenient shopping experiences for the millions of customers we serve each year."