Abu Dhabi Enforces Healthy Dining Mandate for Tourism-Licensed Hotels and Restaurants

Hotels and food outlets operating under a Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi) tourism licence are subject to full enforcement of new healthy dining mandates beginning October 1, 2026, following the conclusion of a three-month transition period that began on July 1, 2026.

Under the regulations, licensed food and beverage establishments must offer at least one certified healthy option in every adult menu category, including appetisers, main courses, side dishes, and desserts. In addition, at least 50 percent of items on children's menus must meet approved nutritional standards established under the SEHHI nutritional classification programme developed by the Abu Dhabi Public Health Centre.

A companion policy requires hospitality venues to provide low-sodium salt as the default table option in place of regular table salt. DCT Abu Dhabi introduced the rule to lower sodium consumption and address cardiovascular health, citing research of nearly 21,000 individuals showing that substituting low-sodium salt was linked to 14 percent fewer strokes and 13 percent fewer major cardiovascular events.

The policy applies across DCT Abu Dhabi-licensed food service providers, including hotel restaurants and in-room dining operations throughout the emirate.