How to Sell Supplements on Amazon UAE: Dubai Municipality Registration & Requirements Explained

Selling supplements (vitamins, minerals, protein powders, herbal extracts, etc.) on Amazon UAE (or Amazon abroad but targeting the UAE) can be lucrative. But regulatory compliance is essential.

One of the main requirements is registering your products with the Dubai Municipality (DM). Without proper registration, your supplements may be blocked at customs, removed from Amazon, fined, or even banned.

Why Register with Dubai Municipality Before Selling Supplements on Amazon

Before selling supplements on Amazon UAE, registering with the Dubai Municipality is a legal requirement that ensures your products meet health and safety standards. This registration helps build customer trust and protects your business from fines or the removal of your product listings.

1. Consumer Safety & Trust

This isn’t just paperwork. The Dubai Municipality tests and verifies that your supplements are:

• Free from banned substances and harmful ingredients.
• Accurately labeled, so customers know exactly what they’re buying.
• Compliant with local health regulations, which boosts your product’s legitimacy.

When buyers see that your supplements are properly registered, it signals professionalism and safety, two key factors that make customers more likely to click “Buy Now.”

2. Legal Requirement

In Dubai, supplement registration is not optional. All health and nutritional products must be registered before they can be imported, sold in stores, or listed on any online marketplace.

Skipping this step can lead to serious legal trouble. Registration gives your business a formal approval from local authorities, which acts as your license to operate legally in the UAE supplement market.

3. Customs Clearance

Here’s the thing, your shipment won’t get far without registration. If your product isn’t on the approved list, customs can delay, hold, or reject your entire shipment.

That’s time lost, cash stuck, and sometimes even product destroyed. Your goods move through customs faster, and you avoid unnecessary back-and-forth with officials with registration in place.

4. Amazon & Marketplace Requirements

Amazon UAE (and other major platforms) won’t let you list most supplement products without proof of Dubai Municipality approval.

They often ask for:

• Valid product registration certificates
• Clear ingredient details and label proofs

This protects their platform, but more importantly, it protects you from sudden listing suspensions. A registered product gives you platform stability and listing security, two things every serious seller wants.

5. Avoiding Penalties & Brand Damage

This is where many new sellers get burned. If you sell without registration:

• You can face heavy fines, often in the tens of thousands of dirhams.
• Amazon can suspend your listings overnight.
• Authorities can block future imports from your business.

Regulatory compliance isn’t just about avoiding fines, it’s about protecting your reputation, keeping your listings live, and showing both customers and platforms that your brand plays by the rules.

Expert Insight: Companies that complete DM registration early not only clear customs faster but also rank higher in marketplace trust scores—meaning fewer delays, better reviews, and stronger long-term positioning.

Key Regulatory Authorities Involved

Knowing these organizations helps ensure your business stays compliant with UAE laws and avoids potential penalties.

1. Dubai Municipality (DM):

Main authority for product registration under its Montaji / Product Registration / Food Safety / Consumer Product Safety functions. They handle “health supplement” registration, label assessments, and product compliance.

2. Ministry of Health and Prevention (MOHAP):

If supplements approach medical claims, or are more pharmaceutical/herbal medicine type, MOHAP may also have jurisdiction.

3. Other Recognized Bodies:

For Halal certification, ISO certifications, and Free Sale Certificates, businesses can work with officially recognized bodies in the country of origin.

What Counts as a “Health Supplement” Under Dubai Municipality

Based on DM’s definitions:

• Supplements are food products intended for ingestion, containing dietary ingredients such as vitamins, minerals, herbs, amino acids, fats, etc., in forms like tablets, capsules, powders, and liquids.
• They are not traditional food, nor medical drugs (unless claims shift them into that zone). If medical or treatment claims are made, stricter regulation applies.

Step-by-Step: What You Need for Registration

Here is a general workflow to register your supplement product with Dubai Municipality so you can sell on Amazon:

Step	Action	Authority / Platform
1	Ensure you have a valid UAE Trade License with the correct business activity (trading/importing supplements, etc.)	Department of Economic Development or the relevant Free Zone authority
2	Prepare all necessary product documentation (artwork, ingredients, etc.)	Your manufacturer or lab
3	Submit product registration via DM’s Montaji portal or relevant service	Dubai Municipality
4	Label/artwork assessment	DM – check label meets requirements (language, ingredients list, warning, etc.)
5	If required, submit lab test reports/certificate of analysis, safety data	Accredited labs
6	Wait for approval (often several working days, depending on compliance and completeness)	DM
7	Receive the registration certificate	DM
8	Use that certificate to clear customs, list on Amazon UAE, etc.

Certificates and Documents Required

Here are the documents and certificates you’ll typically need to collect and submit:

Document / Certificate	What It Is / Why It’s Needed
UAE Trade License	Proves you’re legally registered in the UAE to import/trade supplements. You must have a commercial/trader license with the relevant business activity.
Manufacturer / Company’s Details	Manufacturer’s name, address, contact info, website. Company profile. Helps DM verify source.
Free Sale Certificate (FSC)	Issued by authority in the country of origin, confirming that the product is legally sold in that country. DM requires this especially for imported supplements.
Ingredients Report / Composition / Product Formulation	Full list of ingredients, with quantities, concentrations. Helps assess safety.
Certificate of Analysis (CoA)	From a lab showing test results (chemical, physical, microbiological, etc.). Confirms what’s claimed in the ingredients report.
GMP Certificate	Good Manufacturing Practices certificate from the manufacturer — ensures manufacturing meets hygienic and safety standards.
Halal Certificate (if applicable)	If the product contains animal-derived ingredients or uses a Halal claim or logo. Must be issued by a recognized Islamic society.
Additional/Supporting Documents	Depending on the product: Organic certificate, non-GMO, radiation certificate, safety data sheet (SDS), etc.
Artwork / Label / Product Photos	Clear images of product packaging, label artwork. The label must include required details.
Label Assessment	DM reviews the label to check that all elements are okay. If the label is missing an element, you’ll be asked for revisions.

Label & Packaging Requirements

Your packaging and label must comply with several rules:

Language:

Must be in English or Arabic, or bilingual. If bilingual, the same content is in both languages.

Essential Label Information:

• Brand name, product name
• Manufacturer details (name, address, contact)
• Ingredient list + dosage/strength (per serving or per unit)
• Country of origin
• Net weight or volume
• Batch number
• Production date & expiry date (if shelf life < 30 months) or Period After Opening (PAO) if applicable.
• Storage conditions (if needed)
• Usage instructions/directions
• Barcode (if already available) or unique identifier.

Health / Medical Claims:

• Cannot make claims about prevention, treatment, or cure of diseases (medical claims) unless approved under stricter control.
• Any health or nutrition claims must comply with UAE / GSO (Gulf Standards Organization) rules.

Warnings & Disclaimers:

If relevant (e.g., allergens, “not a substitute for a varied diet,” etc.)

Labeling Fines:

Incorrect or misleading labels can lead to large fines (AED 10,000 to AED 100,000) under certain conditions.

Timeline and Fees

Here are what typical time frames and costs look like (subject to change, depending on product, completeness, and lab requirements):

Item Duration / Time Estimated Cost Product Registration Processing (if documents are complete) 5-12 working days for DM’s review (label + safety docs) for many health supplements. Application fee is often small (e.g., AED 10 for some applications) plus certificate fee (e.g., AED ~ 220 for health supplement registration) in some cases. More complex cases, including lab testing / additional documents It might take 20-30 days or more. Costs increase with extra lab testing, label translation, and consultancy fees. Lab tests may cost several hundred to thousands of AED. Label translation (if replacing or adding Arabic) Depending on the number of SKUs, it might take extra time and cost (AED 300-800 for translation, among other things)

Note: Each distinct SKU (for example, different flavor, size, or form) usually requires separate registration or separate submission. So if you have many SKUs, costs/times add up.

Consequences of Non-Compliance

If you try to skip registration, or your documents/labels are non-compliant, you may face:

• Product held or destroyed at customs/port
• Removal from Amazon UAE or other online marketplace
• Fines (tens of thousands AED) for misleading labeling or false claims.
• Legal action or bail on selling those items
• Damage to brand reputation

What You Receive after Registration (Certificates / What the Approval Looks Like)

After successful completion, you will generally receive:

• An electronic registration certificate for your product, showing the product name, brand, manufacturer, date of issue, registration number, and date of expiry (often valid for 5 years) under the Dubai Municipality.
• Label Assessment Report (sometimes separate, confirming label artwork is approved)
• A certificate that can be used for customs and import clearance.
• You’ll have your product listed in DM’s product registration system (e.g., Montaji or Food Import & Re-export System / FIRS).

Tips & Best Practices

• Start the paperwork early – gathering lab reports, free sale certificates, artwork, and translations takes time.
• Make sure the manufacturer is reliable – GMP, CoA, and correct ingredients reporting are critical.
• Watch your label carefully – mistakes in wording, language, and missing elements are common causes of rejection.
• Avoid medical claims unless you intend to register under MOHAP accordingly. Keep claims generic/nutritional.
• Work with a local agent or consultant who knows DM’s systems if you’re new to UAE regulatory compliance.
• Track all versions and SKUs separately so you don’t get mixed up.

If you’re planning to sell supplements on Amazon in Dubai or anywhere in the UAE, Amz Seller Hub reminds you that registering your products with the Dubai Municipality is not optional; it’s mandatory. This process protects your business from customs issues and Amazon listing removals, safeguards consumers, and ensures full legal compliance.

While collecting documents, meeting label requirements, and waiting for approvals may take some effort, Amz Seller Hub can help you through each step to save you from risks, penalties, and unnecessary delays in the long run.