UAE businesses race to prepare as expanded single-use plastic ban takes effect

With the UAE's expanded single-use plastic ban coming into force on January 1, businesses across the country are facing a pivotal moment in their sustainability journeys.

The new regulations prohibit single-use cups and lids, cutlery, plates, straws, stirrers, styrofoam food containers and plastic bags under 50 microns thick, forcing companies in retail, food and beverage, catering and events to rethink their operations. For sustainability advocates, the timing couldn't be more critical.

"We are seeing companies across the UAE accelerate their transition to reusable, compostable and innovative alternatives, while also investing in awareness campaigns to engage employees and customers," said Tatiana Antonelli Abella, managing director of Goumbook, a local platform that promotes social responsibility across sectors.

Despite having two years' notice, many businesses appear to have left preparations until the last minute, said Maz Fletcher, founder and director of Dubai’s The Climate Consultancy.

"I haven't seen as much proactive preparation for the 2026 requirements as I would have expected, especially given this has been signposted for a while," she said.

"What I'm seeing more commonly in the market is companies now scrambling into 'search and trial' mode: benchmarking alternative suppliers, testing new cup, lid and food container formats, and trying to validate what's actually compliant versus what's just being marketed as sustainable."

Ms Fletcher said procurement teams are now reaching out widely to potential suppliers, but many are approaching the transition too narrowly. "Many are still treating this as a sourcing exercise rather than an operating model change," she said. "It is an opportunity for businesses in the UAE to build more robust, sustainable, environmentally friendly supplier ecosystems – not just source 'alternatives' at the last minute."

The challenge of choosing the right materials

One of the biggest hurdles facing businesses is navigating the complex landscape of alternative materials, said Ms Fletcher. "[There is] confusion around 'better' materials … a lot of debate about compostables versus paper versus reusable, without enough attention to what can realistically be processed locally and what creates unintended impacts," she said.

Karan Gupta, a senior director for energy and environmental, social and governance (ESG) strategy, said the diversity of use cases has required businesses to adopt multiple solutions.