ECAS registration
Cosmetics must be registered under the Emirates Conformity Assessment Scheme prior to import or local manufacture. Registration requires technical documentation and labeling samples.
Compliance checkingMiddle East
United Arab Emirates cosmetic regulations
MOIAT / ESMA · ECAS (Emirates Conformity Assessment Scheme) + GSO Cosmetic Standards
The UAE regulates cosmetics under the Emirates Conformity Assessment Scheme (ECAS), administered by MOIAT (which absorbed the Emirates Standardization and Metrology Authority — ESMA — in 2020). Products must conform to the relevant GSO (Gulf Standardization Organization) cosmetic standards and obtain an ECAS certificate of conformity before sale.
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Key facts
- Conformity scheme
- ECAS
- Standards body
- GSO Cosmetic Standards
- Local representative
- Required (UAE-based importer or distributor)
- Halal certification
- Optional but commercially significant for many SKUs
What United Arab Emirates requires
The core obligations every brand selling cosmetics in United Arab Emirates must meet.
GSO standards compliance
Products must conform to the relevant GSO cosmetic standard for the category (e.g. GSO 1943 for cosmetic and personal care products). Prohibited and restricted substances are aligned with the GCC technical regulations.
Local importer
A UAE-registered importer or distributor must hold the ECAS certificate and act as the local point of contact for regulatory inquiries.
Arabic labeling
Arabic-language labeling for mandatory information is required. English alongside Arabic is standard practice.
How Cosmetica helps
Cosmetica coverage for United Arab Emirates
GSO cosmetic standard cross-references, ECAS conformity documentation preparation, ingredient checks against GCC restricted substance lists.
Primary sources
Always verify current requirements against the regulator's official publications. Cosmetica's analysis cites these primary sources directly in every compliance finding.