Nutri-Mark in Abu Dhabi: What Food Manufacturers, Distributors, and Retailers Need to Know Before 2026

The New Nutrition Labeling System in Abu Dhabi

The packaged food industry in Abu Dhabi is entering a new era of transparency and health-focused labeling. The Abu Dhabi Quality and Conformity Council (QCC), a leading body of regulators and industry representatives, has announced the mandatory implementation of the Nutri-Mark —a front-of-pack label designed to clearly communicate a product’s nutritional value. With a new deadline set for early 2026, businesses have some time to prepare—but the clock is ticking.

Whether you manufacture, distribute, or sell packaged food and beverage items in Abu Dhabi—including through retail outlets such as supermarkets and hypermarkets—this change will impact how you label and position your products.

What is the Nutri-Mark?

The Nutri-Mark is a color-coded, letter-graded front-of-pack label that offers consumers an at-a-glance view of a food or drink item’s nutritional quality.

It uses a five-level scale:

A (Dark Green): Best nutritional composition

B (Light Green)

C (Yellow)

D (Orange)

E (Dark Orange): Least favorable nutritional composition

Each score is based on a combination of calories, saturated fats, sugars, salt, fiber, protein, and positive ingredients like fruits, vegetables, nuts, and healthy oils. It’s a simplified but effective tool to help consumers make informed choices—especially when detailed nutrition facts labels are overlooked or misunderstood.

Nutri-Mark Vs Nutri-Score

Nutri-Mark may remind some of the Nutri-Score system used across Europe. Both use a color-coded, letter-based front-of-pack label—from A (dark green) for healthier products to E (dark orange) for less healthy ones. The goal is similar: make it easier for consumers to make informed food choices at a glance.

However, there are key differences. Nutri-Score is voluntary in most countries and based on a general European formula. Nutri-Mark, on the other hand, is becoming mandatory in Abu Dhabi and designed to reflect local health priorities, such as the region’s high rates of obesity and chronic disease. Importantly, Nutri-Mark requires official certification from the Abu Dhabi Quality and Conformity Council (QCC), which ensures a standardized and regulated approach. For food businesses operating in Abu Dhabi, this means that Nutri-Mark is not just a helpful tool—it’s a compliance requirement.

Why Is Abu Dhabi Introducing Nutri-Mark?

Obesity and chronic disease rates are rising across the UAE, and Abu Dhabi is no exception. According to local data:

61% of Abu Dhabi’s adults are overweight or obese—14% higher than the OECD average.

37% of children in Abu Dhabi are overweight or obese—19% above the OECD average.

High body mass index (BMI) contributes to up to 40% of deaths from non-communicable diseases like diabetes and heart disease.

Obesity-related healthcare costs reached AED 1.7 billion in 2023, with an estimated AED 20 billion in socio-economic impact in 2024.

The Nutri-Mark is part of a larger strategy to encourage healthier eating habits by helping people understand what they’re eating—starting with clear and visible front-of-pack labels.

Six entities have formed a technical team to work on this initiative: Abu Dhabi Public Health Centre (ADPHC), Abu Dhabi Quality and Conformity Council (QCC), Abu Dhabi Agriculture and Food Safety Authority (ADAFSA), Department of Economic Development, Department of Health, and Abu Dhabi Early Childhood Authority.

What Does This Mean for Food Businesses?

If you manufacture, distribute, or sell packaged food and beverages in Abu Dhabi, the Nutri-Mark system will apply to you. This includes:

-Food producers and manufacturers

-Distributors and wholesalers

-Supermarkets, hypermarkets, and other food retailers

The goal is to help businesses:

-Provide clear and accessible nutrition information

-Make it easier for consumers to choose healthier options

-Stay aligned with Abu Dhabi’s vision of promoting a culture of quality, innovation, and consumer safety

How Does the Nutri-Mark Work?

Each food product undergoes a nutritional assessment and scoring process:

1) Application Submission: Submit your product for certification through the QCC.

2) Nutritional Assessment: Provide detailed nutrition facts labels and documentation through one of three accepted methods:

-A recognized nutrient database

-Ingredient-level calculation

-Lab testing (including via QCC or Certified Testing Labs)

3) Conformity Assessment: QCC experts review the information and assign a Nutri-Mark grade.

4) Certification Issuance: If the product passes, you receive a certificate and Nutri-Mark label.

5) Labeling and Packaging: Add the label to your front-of-pack packaging in accordance with QCC guidelines.

6) Market Surveillance: QCC will conduct periodic market checks and re-evaluations to ensure ongoing compliance.

This structured six-step system ensures accuracy and fairness in how nutrition facts labels are assessed and displayed.

What Products Are Included in the First Phase?

In the first phase of implementation, Nutri-Mark will apply to five key food groups:

1) Cooking oils (Butter Oil, Anhydrous Milkfat, Ghee, Vegetable Oils and Fats, Butter, Fat Spreads).

2) Bakery items (Breads, Buns and Rolls, Crackers, Cakes, Cookies and Pies, Doughnuts, Sweet rolls, Scones, and Muffins, Bagels, Pita).

3) Beverages ( Fruit and Vegetable Juices, Sport,“Energy” or “Electrolyte" Drinks, Carbonated Water-Based Flavored Drinks, Non-Carbonated Water-Based Flavored Drinks, Concentrates (Liquid or Solid) for Water-Based Flavored Drinks, Coffee, Coffee Substitutes, Tea, Herbal Infusions, Other Hot Cereal and Grain Beverages).

4) Dairy products (Fluid Milk and Milk Products, Yoghurt, Laban).

5) Food Targeted to Children (Cereals and Cereal Products, Pastas and Noodles and Like Products, Cereal and Starch Based Desserts).

These are commonly consumed food categories that can have a significant impact on public health. Businesses dealing in these products should begin preparing nutrition facts labels and submitting applications to QCC for assessment.

Examples of Nutri-Mark Scores

Let’s take a look at how products might score:

A (Dark Green): Low in calories, sugars, saturated fats, and salt. Rich in fiber, protein, or healthy oils. (e.g., a low-fat hummus with added chickpeas and olive oil)

C (Yellow): Moderate in less desirable nutrients, may offer some beneficial ones. (e.g., fruit yogurt with some added sugar)

E (Dark Orange): High in sugars, saturated fats, salt; usually highly processed and low in beneficial nutrients. (e.g., sugar-loaded breakfast cereal or fried snacks)

This level of transparency goes far beyond traditional nutrition facts labels by giving consumers a quick, visual summary of what they’re consuming.

How the Nutri-Mark Can Help Drive Better Choices

Nutrition education is often limited. Many people struggle to interpret nutrition facts labels or are unsure how much sugar, salt, or saturated fat they’re consuming daily. Nutri-Mark takes that confusion out of the equation.

-Visual Simplicity: A single glance at the color and grade tells you if a product is a better or worse choice.

-Health Promotion: Consumers may opt for a B-rated juice instead of a D-rated one.

-Industry Motivation: Brands are encouraged to reformulate products for a better score.

Ultimately, this system creates a win-win: consumers get clearer information, and companies are pushed toward healthier innovation.

How NutriCal Helps You Stay Compliant

Meeting the requirements of Nutri-Mark starts with having accurate nutrition facts labels—and this is where NutriCal makes a big difference.

NutriCal is a smart software platform that helps you:

-Calculate nutrition facts labels accurately using your recipes and ingredients

-Instantly assess sugar, fat, salt, calorie, and fiber content

-See how your product would score on Nutri-Mark

-Tweak and reformulate recipes to improve your score

-Get the accurate nutrition facts you need to fill out the QCC submission sheet

Whether you’re a large-scale manufacturer, distributor, or food retailer, NutriCal takes the guesswork out of compliance.

Reformulating for a Better Nutri-Mark Score

To achieve a higher Nutri-Mark grade, you might need to reformulate products to lower the sugar, salt, or saturated fat content while boosting fiber or adding healthy ingredients like legumes or whole grains. NutriCal makes this process easier by showing you the impact of every ingredient swap in real time.

A Shared Responsibility: Government and Industry Working Together

Addressing overweight and obesity isn’t something that can be solved by one group alone—it requires action from both regulators and the food industry.

Regulatory Authorities

Government bodies play a vital role in shaping a healthier food environment. Their responsibilities include:

-Setting nutritional limits for sugar-sweetened beverages and energy-dense foods.

-Promoting healthier diets by encouraging reduced intake of fats and sugars, and increasing consumption of fruits, vegetables, legumes, whole grains, and nuts.

-Launching initiatives that make healthier food choices more available, accessible, and appealing to the public.

Food Industry

Manufacturers, distributors, and retailers also have a key role to play. They can:

-Reformulate products to reduce fat, sugar, and salt content.

-Ensure nutritious, healthier options are available and affordable for all consumers.

-Limit the marketing of foods high in sugar, salt, and fat—especially those aimed at children.

Together, these actions contribute to a more supportive food environment—one that empowers people to make better, healthier choices every day.

Final Thoughts

Abu Dhabi’s Nutri-Mark regulation represents a major shift in how food quality is communicated. With the deadline extended to early 2026, now is the time to prepare:

✅ Understand the Nutri-Mark grading system

✅ Ensure your products have accurate nutrition facts labels

✅ Use NutriCal to simplify compliance and improve product scores

✅ Contribute to a healthier food culture in Abu Dhabi

As you prepare for Nutri-Mark implementation, having the right tools can make a big difference. NutriCal is designed to support this process—feel free to get in touch if you'd like to learn more or have any questions.