Abu Dhabi is introducing mandatory healthy food options at eligible tourism-licensed hotel restaurants and food and beverage outlets from October 1, 2026. The rules were issued by the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi) under Circular No. 7/2026. The policy requires healthy choices across adult menus and sets a higher standard for children’s menus, with the aim of making healthier dining options easier to find across the emirate.
- Location: Abu Dhabi
- Organisation: Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi
- Full enforcement: October 1, 2026
- Who is affected: Eligible tourism-licensed hotel restaurants and F&B outlets
- Business impact: Restaurants must maintain the required number of SEHHI-compliant dishes and may need to submit nutritional information for assessment
- What’s next: Establishments have until October 1 to complete implementation
Abu Dhabi restaurants covered by the new tourism rules will have to offer healthy menu options from October 1, 2026. The Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi has introduced the requirement for eligible hotel restaurants and food and beverage outlets holding a valid DCT Abu Dhabi Tourism Licence. The rules require at least one healthy option in each adult food category, while at least half of the items on children’s menus must meet healthy-food standards. The move is part of Abu Dhabi’s wider push to make healthier food choices more accessible.
What do Abu Dhabi’s new healthy menu rules require?
Under DCT Abu Dhabi Circular No. 7/2026, adult menus must include at least one healthy option in every food category.
That includes appetisers, side dishes, main courses and desserts. Restaurants therefore cannot meet the requirement simply by adding one healthy meal to an otherwise unchanged menu.
Children’s menus face a stricter requirement. At least 50% of listed children’s menu items must qualify as healthy under the approved criteria.
Restaurants can also adapt suitable adult dishes into smaller portions for children where appropriate.
The requirement is not based simply on whether a dish sounds healthy. Qualifying dishes must meet the nutritional standards used under Abu Dhabi’s SEHHI classification system and display the SEHHI logo clearly on the menu.
How will restaurants prove that a dish is healthy?
Restaurants will need to work with the Abu Dhabi Public Health Centre (ADPHC) to validate qualifying dishes.
According to the DCT circular, establishments may be required to submit menus, recipes and nutritional information for assessment. This means restaurants will need more than a description such as “light” or “healthy” to have a dish recognised under the programme.
The SEHHI programme provides a standardised way to identify healthier food choices. Its criteria consider nutritional factors including fat, sugar and salt, alongside the overall nutritional value of food.
The requirement also continues when restaurants change their menus. If an approved dish is modified, it may need to undergo validation again. Restaurants must also continue maintaining the minimum number of qualifying dishes after menu updates.
When will the Abu Dhabi healthy menu rules take effect?
The rules were issued by DCT Abu Dhabi in Circular No. 7/2026 on June 11, 2026.
A transition period began on July 1 and runs until September 30, 2026. During this implementation period, establishments can work towards meeting the requirements without administrative penalties.
Full enforcement begins on October 1, 2026. DCT Abu Dhabi states that non-compliance may lead to administrative penalties under the applicable regulations and resolutions. The circular does not set out a specific penalty amount.
This gives affected businesses several weeks to review their menus, identify suitable dishes and complete the required validation process.
Which restaurants are exempt from the new rules?
Not every food outlet will fall under the requirement.
The DCT circular provides exemptions for certain formats, including buffets without a specific fixed menu and fixed tasting menus. Some smaller or niche outlets may also be outside the scope if they meet specific conditions, such as offering no more than three food categories, having no seating and not providing a written menu beyond signage or display boards.
Beverage-only establishments are also excluded because the policy focuses specifically on food menus.
Even where an outlet is exempt, DCT Abu Dhabi says reasonable healthy choices are still encouraged.
How does this fit into Abu Dhabi’s wider healthy-eating strategy?
The restaurant requirement is part of a broader effort in Abu Dhabi to improve access to healthier food.
The Abu Dhabi Public Health Centre’s SEHHI programme has expanded into different food environments, including workplaces. In July 2026, ADPHC announced an expansion of the programme aimed at increasing access to healthier food options in workplaces across the emirate.
Abu Dhabi has also introduced other measures targeting foods high in fat, salt and sugar. A separate policy announced in July 2026 is set to restrict the prominent placement of such products in supermarkets and online grocery platforms from January 2027.
Taken together, these measures show a wider shift towards making healthier choices more visible and accessible in everyday food environments.
Why It Matters?
For residents and visitors, the change should make it easier to identify healthier choices when dining at covered venues.
Families may notice the biggest difference because of the 50% healthy-item requirement for children’s menus. For restaurants and hotels, however, the change means reviewing recipes, nutritional information, menu design and approval processes before the October deadline.
The policy could also influence how hotels and restaurants develop new dishes, particularly as Abu Dhabi continues to position itself as a major tourism and hospitality destination.
For diners, the most visible change will be the SEHHI logo, which will help identify qualifying dishes rather than leaving customers to judge nutritional value from menu descriptions alone.
FAQs
When do Abu Dhabi’s healthy menu rules start?
Full enforcement begins on October 1, 2026. The implementation period runs from July 1 to September 30.
Which Abu Dhabi restaurants must offer healthy options?
The requirement applies to eligible hotel restaurants and food and beverage outlets holding a valid DCT Abu Dhabi Tourism Licence, subject to the exemptions listed in the circular.
How many healthy dishes must restaurants offer?
Adult menus must have at least one healthy option in each food category, including appetisers, sides, mains and desserts. At least 50% of children’s menu items must qualify as healthy.
What is the SEHHI logo?
SEHHI is Abu Dhabi’s healthy-food classification programme. The logo identifies food and dishes that meet the programme’s nutritional criteria.
Will restaurants be fined immediately for non-compliance?
There is an implementation period until September 30, 2026. From October 1, non-compliance may result in administrative penalties under applicable regulations. The DCT circular does not specify a fixed penalty amount.
Abu Dhabi’s new healthy menu rules will bring a clear change to dining at covered tourism-licensed venues from October 1, 2026. Restaurants will need to provide healthier choices across adult menus, while children’s menus will face a 50% healthy-food threshold. With the SEHHI system providing a standardised way to identify qualifying dishes, diners should have clearer information when choosing what to order.
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