Plastic bags are already being phased out in Dubai and Abu Dhabi. Victor Besa / The National
Plastic bags are already being phased out in Dubai and Abu Dhabi. Victor Besa / The National
Plastic bags are already being phased out in Dubai and Abu Dhabi. Victor Besa / The National
Plastic bags are already being phased out in Dubai and Abu Dhabi. Victor Besa / The National

UAE to ban single-use plastic from 2024


  • English
  • Arabic

The UAE will impose a nationwide ban on single-use plastic from next year, the government has said.

From January 1, 2024, plastic bags of any material or composition will be prohibited.

From January 1, 2026, it will be prohibited to import plastic cutlery, drinks cups, styrofoam and boxes.

The ban will include everything from “food packaging, plastic bottles, cotton sticks, crackers bags and cigarette butts … wet wipes, balloons and balloon sticks” that contain plastic.

The move will protect the environment and be of benefit to consumers, state news agency Wam said.

The government said authorities, retailers, suppliers and consumers should prepare with “suitable, sustainable and multi-use alternatives in all shopping stores, retail stores and sales outlets on a permanent basis”, the agency reported.

The federal ruling goes further than new rules last summer in Dubai, which imposed a nominal 25 fils charge on plastic bags, and in Abu Dhabi, which banned most plastic bags.

In Abu Dhabi, the June 1 ban has already led to 87 million fewer single-use plastic bags being used, a cut of about 90 per cent. Sharjah had already planned a ban on bags from January 1, 2024.

The ruling contains exceptions that include plastic bags made from recycled materials. It also includes plastics required in goods that are exported abroad.

Plastic bags are one of the most problematic kinds of waste, polluting streets and waterways and harming birds and marine life. It takes decades to degrade and microscopic particles have been found inside the bodies of fish, birds and other animals.

Last year, as the plastic charge was rolled out, Dubai officals said nine in 10 turtles and five in ten camels found dead had plastic in their stomachs.

The UAE, which will host the United Nations climate summit Cop28 in November, aims to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050.

Best long-life alternatives: in pictures

  • Cotton reusable mesh bags can be used for fruit and vegetables. Getty Images
    Cotton reusable mesh bags can be used for fruit and vegetables. Getty Images
  • Reuseable plastic bags on sale at Lulu Hypermarket are thicker and more durable than single-use ones. Victor Besa / The National
    Reuseable plastic bags on sale at Lulu Hypermarket are thicker and more durable than single-use ones. Victor Besa / The National
  • Reusable canvas and jute bags on display at Carrefour in Mall of the Emirates. Jute bags are one of the most durable options and are also naturally biodegradable. Canvas tote bags may not be as environmentally friendly because they require more resources to produce and distribute but can be used many times. Chris Whiteoak / The National
    Reusable canvas and jute bags on display at Carrefour in Mall of the Emirates. Jute bags are one of the most durable options and are also naturally biodegradable. Canvas tote bags may not be as environmentally friendly because they require more resources to produce and distribute but can be used many times. Chris Whiteoak / The National
  • Carrefour is encouraging customers to bring their own recyclable bags by providing dedicated checkout counters and bonus Share points as incentives. Photo: Majid Al Futtaim
    Carrefour is encouraging customers to bring their own recyclable bags by providing dedicated checkout counters and bonus Share points as incentives. Photo: Majid Al Futtaim
  • Jute bags are both durable and biodegradable. Pawan Singh / The National
    Jute bags are both durable and biodegradable. Pawan Singh / The National
  • A customer using a trolley bag at Spinneys supermarket in Dubai Marina. Trolley bags are perfect for those walking home from the supermarket. Pawan Singh / The National
    A customer using a trolley bag at Spinneys supermarket in Dubai Marina. Trolley bags are perfect for those walking home from the supermarket. Pawan Singh / The National
Who was Alfred Nobel?

The Nobel Prize was created by wealthy Swedish chemist and entrepreneur Alfred Nobel.

  • In his will he dictated that the bulk of his estate should be used to fund "prizes to those who, during the preceding year, have conferred the greatest benefit to humankind".
  • Nobel is best known as the inventor of dynamite, but also wrote poetry and drama and could speak Russian, French, English and German by the age of 17. The five original prize categories reflect the interests closest to his heart.
  • Nobel died in 1896 but it took until 1901, following a legal battle over his will, before the first prizes were awarded.
While you're here
MATCH INFO

Uefa Champions League semi-final, second leg
Real Madrid (2) v Bayern Munich (1)

Where: Santiago Bernabeu, Madrid
When: 10.45pm, Tuesday
Watch Live: beIN Sports HD

The specs

Engine: Four electric motors, one at each wheel

Power: 579hp

Torque: 859Nm

Transmission: Single-speed automatic

Price: From Dh825,900

On sale: Now

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
What can victims do?

Always use only regulated platforms

Stop all transactions and communication on suspicion

Save all evidence (screenshots, chat logs, transaction IDs)

Report to local authorities

Warn others to prevent further harm

Courtesy: Crystal Intelligence

David Haye record

Total fights: 32
Wins: 28
Wins by KO: 26
Losses: 4

Fixtures and results:

Wed, Aug 29:

  • Malaysia bt Hong Kong by 3 wickets
  • Oman bt Nepal by 7 wickets
  • UAE bt Singapore by 215 runs

Thu, Aug 30: 

  • UAE bt Nepal by 78 runs
  • Hong Kong bt Singapore by 5 wickets
  • Oman bt Malaysia by 2 wickets

Sat, Sep 1: UAE v Hong Kong; Oman v Singapore; Malaysia v Nepal

Sun, Sep 2: Hong Kong v Oman; Malaysia v UAE; Nepal v Singapore

Tue, Sep 4: Malaysia v Singapore; UAE v Oman; Nepal v Hong Kong

Thu, Sep 6: Final

Specs

Engine: Duel electric motors
Power: 659hp
Torque: 1075Nm
On sale: Available for pre-order now
Price: On request

If you go...

Flying
There is no simple way to get to Punta Arenas from the UAE, with flights from Dubai and Abu Dhabi requiring at least two connections to reach this part of Patagonia. Flights start from about Dh6,250.

Touring
Chile Nativo offers the amended Los Dientes trek with expert guides and porters who are met in Puerto Williams on Isla Navarino. The trip starts and ends in Punta Arenas and lasts for six days in total. Prices start from Dh8,795.

Avatar: Fire and Ash

Director: James Cameron

Starring: Sam Worthington, Sigourney Weaver, Zoe Saldana

Rating: 4.5/5

Sole survivors
  • Cecelia Crocker was on board Northwest Airlines Flight 255 in 1987 when it crashed in Detroit, killing 154 people, including her parents and brother. The plane had hit a light pole on take off
  • George Lamson Jr, from Minnesota, was on a Galaxy Airlines flight that crashed in Reno in 1985, killing 68 people. His entire seat was launched out of the plane
  • Bahia Bakari, then 12, survived when a Yemenia Airways flight crashed near the Comoros in 2009, killing 152. She was found clinging to wreckage after floating in the ocean for 13 hours.
  • Jim Polehinke was the co-pilot and sole survivor of a 2006 Comair flight that crashed in Lexington, Kentucky, killing 49.
Who's who in Yemen conflict

Houthis: Iran-backed rebels who occupy Sanaa and run unrecognised government

Yemeni government: Exiled government in Aden led by eight-member Presidential Leadership Council

Southern Transitional Council: Faction in Yemeni government that seeks autonomy for the south

Habrish 'rebels': Tribal-backed forces feuding with STC over control of oil in government territory

Updated: January 11, 2023, 8:01 AM