What happened?
Abu Dhabi has announced that supermarkets must move high-fat, salt and sugar (HFSS) food and beverages away from high-visibility areas from January 1, 2027.
Who is affected?
Supermarkets, online grocery platforms, retailers, food brands and shoppers across Abu Dhabi.
Why does it matter?
The policy aims to reduce impulse purchases of unhealthy products while making healthier choices more accessible without banning any items.
Abu Dhabi supermarkets will be required to move junk food away from checkout counters, store entrances and other high-visibility locations from January 1, 2027, under a new healthy food placement policy announced by Healthy Living Abu Dhabi in collaboration with the Abu Dhabi Registration Authority (ADRA). The new rules also apply to online supermarket platforms, where unhealthy products will no longer receive prominent placement. The initiative is designed to encourage healthier shopping habits by reducing impulse purchases while allowing customers to continue buying any products they choose.
What are the new supermarket rules in Abu Dhabi?
The new policy targets foods and beverages classified as high in fat, salt and sugar (HFSS) under the Abu Dhabi Public Health Centre’s (ADPHC) SEHHI nutrition system.
From January 1, 2027, these products must no longer be displayed in areas designed to encourage impulse buying.
This includes:
- Store entrances
- Checkout counters
- End-of-aisle displays
- Promotional display islands
- Similar high-traffic locations inside supermarkets
The policy applies to supermarkets larger than 4,000 square feet across Abu Dhabi.
Importantly, the government has confirmed that HFSS products are not being banned. Customers will still find them on regular supermarket shelves, ensuring people remain free to choose what they want to buy.
According to Healthy Living Abu Dhabi, the objective is to create shopping environments where healthier options become the easier choice rather than the automatic purchase.
Online supermarkets must also change product displays
The policy extends beyond physical stores.
Online grocery platforms operating in Abu Dhabi will also need to reduce the visibility of unhealthy products.
HFSS items should no longer receive prominent placement on:
- Homepage banners
- Checkout pages
- Promotional pop-ups
- Featured product sections
- Other high-visibility digital spaces designed to encourage impulse purchases
Customers will still be able to search for and purchase these products as normal.
The changes focus on how products are presented, not whether they can be sold.
Why is Abu Dhabi introducing this policy?
Healthy Living Abu Dhabi says the initiative is based on behavioural science and international evidence showing that product placement can influence purchasing decisions.
Officials say many shoppers make unplanned purchases when unhealthy snacks and drinks are positioned near checkouts or other high-traffic locations.
By redesigning supermarket layouts, authorities hope healthier choices become more visible and accessible without limiting consumer freedom.
Dr Ahmed AlKhazraiji, Executive Director of Healthy Living, said the policy is intended to support better everyday decisions rather than remove products from shelves or restrict personal choice.
The initiative forms part of Abu Dhabi’s broader Healthy Living Strategy, which includes 25 programmes aimed at improving public health across the emirate.
Carrefour among the first retailers to implement the changes
Retailers have been working with Healthy Living Abu Dhabi and ADRA while the policy was being developed.
According to officials, Carrefour, operated by Majid Al Futtaim, is one of the first supermarket chains to complete implementation across its Abu Dhabi stores ahead of the mandatory deadline.
The government says retailers were consulted throughout the planning process to ensure the standards are practical while aligning with international best practices already adopted in several countries.
Businesses now have several months to complete any remaining store redesigns before the rules become mandatory in January 2027.
The new rules are part of Abu Dhabi’s wider healthy living plan
The supermarket initiative is one of several health-focused measures introduced by Abu Dhabi in recent years.
Other initiatives under the Healthy Living Strategy include:
- Nutri-Mark, a front-of-pack nutrition labelling system that grades packaged foods from A to E.
- Expansion of the SEHHI healthy food programme across workplaces.
- Responsible food and beverage advertising standards.
- Healthier meal standards in schools and educational institutions.
- Community programmes encouraging physical activity.
Earlier, Abu Dhabi also introduced stricter nutrition policies for schools, limiting unhealthy food and drinks in canteens while promoting balanced meal options for students.
Together, these initiatives aim to tackle obesity, diabetes and other lifestyle-related diseases by making healthier choices easier in everyday life.
Why It Matters?
For UAE residents, the new policy means supermarket shopping in Abu Dhabi could look different from January 2027.
Key changes include:
- Healthy foods will become more visible in supermarkets.
- Junk food will no longer dominate checkout areas or store entrances.
- Online grocery websites will feature fewer unhealthy product promotions.
- Customers can still buy the same products, but impulse purchases may reduce.
- Retailers will need to update store layouts and digital merchandising before the deadline.
The policy reflects Abu Dhabi’s long-term strategy to improve public health through everyday lifestyle changes rather than product restrictions.
FAQs
When do Abu Dhabi’s new supermarket rules start?
The policy becomes mandatory on January 1, 2027.
Will junk food be banned from supermarkets?
No. HFSS products will still be available on supermarket shelves. Only their placement inside stores and online will change.
Which supermarkets must follow the policy?
The rules apply to supermarkets larger than 4,000 square feet operating in Abu Dhabi, along with online grocery platforms.
Does the policy apply to online shopping?
Yes. Online supermarkets must reduce the prominent display of HFSS products on homepages, checkout pages and promotional sections.
Why is Abu Dhabi making these changes?
The government says the policy aims to reduce impulse purchases of unhealthy foods and encourage healthier shopping habits using evidence-based retail design.
Abu Dhabi’s new supermarket policy marks another step in the emirate’s wider Healthy Living Strategy. Rather than banning unhealthy food, the initiative focuses on changing where it is displayed, making healthier choices easier for shoppers while preserving consumer choice. With implementation set for January 1, 2027, retailers have several months to prepare for the changes.
Follow Social Kandura for more updates on local news and things to do in Dubai and across the UAE.
Read More
