Abu Dhabi's Nutri-Mark food labeling system will become mandatory in June 2025, assigning every qualifying packaged food product a grade from A (highest nutritional value) to E. Unveiled at the Abu Dhabi International Food Exhibition, the scheme is the emirate's most direct policy response yet to obesity rates that affect nearly two-thirds of its population.
What Is the Nutri-Mark System?
Nutri-Mark requires food establishments to display clear, front-of-pack nutrition labels on qualifying products. The A-to-E grading scale — where A signals the best nutritional profile and E the lowest — is designed to be instantly readable at a glance.
The labeling will initially apply to five product categories identified as having the greatest public health impact: dairy products, cooking oils, sweetened beverages, baked goods, and children's foods such as cereals and snacks. Companies have six months to comply, and labels must be renewed on an annual basis.
Why Abu Dhabi Is Acting Now
The urgency behind the Abu Dhabi Nutri-Mark food labeling launch is rooted in stark health data. Dr. Ahmed Al Khazraji, Acting Director General of the Abu Dhabi Public Health Centre, laid out the numbers at the exhibition:
- 61% of Abu Dhabi's population is either overweight or obese; 22% are confirmed obese. - 37% of children in the emirate are overweight or obese, with 18% classified as obese. - Globally, the United Nations projects approximately 1.2 billion obese people worldwide by 2030, representing 15% of the global population.
"It is not a mere health problem but a community problem," Dr. Al Khazraji said, pointing to obesity's documented effects on fertility, cognitive ability, and mortality. "We are not preventing anyone from purchasing anything, but consumers have a right to this information."
Reformulation Support for Food Producers
The Nutri-Mark initiative goes beyond labeling. Food manufacturers are actively encouraged to reformulate their products toward higher grades without sacrificing taste or texture. Dedicated labs will be made available to help producers meet healthier standards.
Abdulla Al Yazeedi of the Abu Dhabi Quality and Conformity Council described the launch as a turning point: "Through this we hope to cooperate with major stakeholders and ensure that consumers make the right choices with matters to do with their health."
A Clear, Empowering Approach
Unlike restriction-based policies, Nutri-Mark uses a clean, accessible design that guides rather than limits consumer decisions. The system is intended to empower shoppers — not remove options from shelves. Future phases are expected to expand the grading scheme to additional food categories, including unpackaged foods and restaurant meals.
The initiative reflects Abu Dhabi's broader Healthy Living Strategy, combining government-level standards, industry cooperation, and public transparency to address one of the UAE's most pressing public health challenges.
