Regulatory Updates Across the Middle East

This blog was originally posted on 1st September, 2026. Further regulatory developments may have occurred after publication. To keep up-to-date with the latest compliance news, sign up to our newsletter.

AUTHORED BY JUMANA IGHBARIA HAMAM, REGULATORY COMPLIANCE SPECIALIST, MOHAMMED ALREFAEI, REGULATORY COMPLIANCE ANALYST, & NEDAA YOUSEF, REGULATORY COMPLIANCE ANALYST, Adherent

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Table of Contents

• Introduction
• Product Certification, Imports and Market Access
• Energy Efficiency and Electrical Products
• Chemicals, Packaging and the Circular Economy
• Medical Devices and Healthcare Products
• Consumer Protection, Cosmetics and Advertising
• Digital Regulation, Cybersecurity and AI
• Automotive, Standards and Workplace Regulation
• In Summary

Introduction

The latest quarter brought a broad mix of regulatory activity across the Middle East and nearby markets. Authorities advanced new conformity-assessment pathways, revised import controls, strengthened environmental and waste-management rules, and updated requirements affecting medical devices, energy-using products, digital services and the workplace.

Several developments share a common direction: closer alignment with international frameworks, greater use of digital compliance systems, and a shift toward risk-based supervision. At the same time, new transition periods and delayed commencement dates mean businesses must distinguish carefully between measures that are already effective, those with future compliance dates, and proposals that still require monitoring.

Read on for a concise overview of the quarter’s most significant regulatory developments and the practical implications businesses should keep on their radar.

For a deep dive into regulatory developments in the Middle East in early 2026, read our previous blog in this series!

Product Certification, Imports and Market Access

Jordan Modernises Certification Schemes

On 30 July 2026, the Jordan Institution for Standards and Metrology (JISM) published three sets of instructions covering product conformity certificates, the Jordanian Quality Mark, and Halal certification for cosmetics and personal-care products. Together, they set out eligibility and applicant obligations, assessment and audit procedures, fees, certificate validity, complaints and appeals, confidentiality, suspension or cancellation, and controls on the use of conformity marks and the Halal logo.

Jordan also issued decisions updating its technical-standards framework. For manufacturers and importers, the practical message is to review both the applicable product standard and the correct certification pathway before placing products on the market.

UAE, Turkey and Saudi Arabia Tighten Product Controls

In the United Arab Emirates, Cabinet Decision No. 107 of 2026, issued on 13 July, introduced the Executive Regulation of the Commercial Fraud Law and entered into force on 14 August 2026.

Turkey introduced or updated several product-control measures during the period:

• The Regulation on Refurbished Products, published on 27 June, introduced new requirements for refurbished consumer electronics and took effect on 1 August 2026.
• A 24 June amendment to the Jewelry Trade Regulation requires laboratory-grown, synthetic or man-made precious stones to be clearly identified and displayed separately from natural stones.
• The Communiqué on Import Inspection of Products with Halal Conformity Certificates, published on 25 June, is scheduled to enter into force on 25 September 2026.
• Import inspection controls for radio equipment, machinery, and certain maternal and baby products were updated on 11 July 2026.

In Saudi Arabia, the Saudi Food and Drug Authority (SFDA) approved Technical Regulation SFDA.FD 5036:2026 on Requirements for Food Products in E-Commerce Stores on 14 August 2026. The regulation is due to enter into force on 1 July 2027, giving affected online sellers and food businesses time to prepare.

Israel Reshapes Import Pathways

Israel’s Q3 activity was particularly significant for manufacturers and importers. An order published on 1 July amended the Fifth Schedule to the Standards Law, 5713-1953, adjusting commencement dates and implementation conditions for certain consumer products using European regulatory pathways.

On 16 July, Order 5776-2026 amended the Import and Export Ordinance by moving specified official standards from Import Group 1 to Import Group 2. The change forms part of the next phase of the ‘What is Good for Europe’ reform and is intended to harmonise the Israeli Standards, Cassis and European routes, ease importer operations, and support risk-based market enforcement and sample testing.

A further structural change followed on 22 July with Amendment No. 21 to the Standards Law and related amendments to the Import and Export Ordinance. The amendment creates an ‘American Route’, under which eligible products may comply with adopted binding U.S. federal provisions instead of Israeli official standards. Its general commencement date is 22 January 2027, six months after publication.

Israel also published an Import and Export Order prohibiting the import of goods produced wholly or partly by forced labour. The order uses a definition aligned with ILO Forced Labour Convention No. 29 and applies the prohibition to goods added to its Schedule. It took effect on 17 August 2026.

Energy Efficiency and Electrical Products

Jordan’s Decision No. 14, published on 18 June 2026, adopted the applicable current European energy-efficiency labelling rules for covered energy-saving electrical appliances. Manufacturers must follow those European labelling requirements until updated Jordanian technical regulations are approved.

Morocco’s Decision No. 443.26, jointly published by the trade and energy-transition ministries on 9 March 2026, established minimum energy-performance and mandatory labelling requirements for light sources, whether sold independently or integrated into other products. The annex sets out the relevant thresholds and implementation timetable.

Turkey notified draft ecodesign requirements on 29 June for external power supplies, wireless chargers, battery chargers and USB Type-C cables. On the same date, it proposed revisions to energy-labelling and ecodesign rules for household tumble dryers, including repairability and spare-parts provisions, as well as amendments addressing standby, off-mode and networked-standby energy use by household and office electrical and electronic equipment.

Saudi Arabia approved an updated Implementing Regulation for Monitoring and Compliance with Water Efficiency and Conservation Standards on 14 August 2026. It is scheduled to enter into force on 21 March 2027.

Chemicals, Packaging and the Circular Economy

Saudi Arabia issued Royal Decree No. M/62 on 7 August 2026, amending the Chemical Substances Management Law by reallocating certain chemical permitting and inspection responsibilities among competent authorities. A proposed consolidated Waste Management Executive Regulation had also been published for consultation on 17 June, with comments due by 17 July 2026.

Israel advanced several environmental measures. On 20 July, orders amended the Clean Air Law, 2008 and the Hazardous Substances Law, 1993. The first concerns extensions relating to environmental compliance and emission permits; the second postpones statutory deadlines in the Third Schedule across a timetable extending from 2027 to 2034.

A July draft policy on industrial reporting for hazardous-material incidents seeks to reduce duplicative reporting, digitise processes and align deadlines, while limiting mandatory reporting to four categories.

On 27 July, Amendment No. 27 and a Temporary Order under the Maintenance of Cleanliness Law, 1984 established a wide-ranging waste-management framework. It introduces registration and licensing for waste operators, digital tracking and payment systems, stronger oversight and enforcement, and a dedicated regime for construction and demolition waste. The reform is scheduled to enter into force on 27 January 2028.

Israel also proposed adopting Commission Regulation (EU) 2024/3190 on bisphenols in food-contact materials. The 28 June draft order would establish a broad prohibition on BPA and certain other hazardous bisphenols and bisphenol derivatives in materials and articles intended to come into contact with food.

Medical Devices and Healthcare Products

Bahrain’s National Health Regulatory Authority issued Circular No. 19 of 2026 on 14 July, extending transitional timelines for compulsory medical-device registration and setting monthly registration-volume requirements for authorised representatives. The extension is intended to help stakeholders complete registrations while maintaining progress toward full traceability and regulatory alignment.

Morocco’s Order No. 630.26, issued on 12 March under Law No. 84.12, sets technical specifications and eligibility criteria for used or refurbished medical devices. Market access is restricted to specified Class IIb and Class III equipment, including X-ray, MRI, CT and PET systems and radiotherapy devices. Eligible equipment must not have exceeded 50% of its expected service life or operating hours, must have been registered in Morocco when first sold as new, and must continue to meet its original safety and performance requirements.

In Saudi Arabia, the SFDA issued Version 4.0 of its requirements for approval of medical-device advertising materials and related awareness or charitable campaigns on 20 July. It followed with guidance on licensing procedures for medical-device and medical-supply establishments on 26 August 2026.

Consumer Protection, Cosmetics and Advertising

Cyprus amended its Consumer Protection Law on 17 July 2026 to transpose Directive (EU) 2024/825, commonly referred to as the EU Greenwashing Directive. The measure brings EU rules on empowering consumers for the green transition into the national framework.

Israel continued aligning its cosmetics regime with EU Regulation (EC) No. 1223/2009. A notice published on 5 July incorporated changes to Annexes II-V associated with Commission Regulation (EU) 2026/909. On 10 August, the Ministry of Health published a further draft notice concerning anticipated EU conditions and concentration limits for micron-sized silver. Because the underlying EU measure had not yet been finalised in the draft, the Israeli text retained placeholders for the future regulation number, adoption date and Official Journal reference.

Turkey’s amended Commercial Advertising and Unfair Commercial Practices Regulation took effect on 1 August 2026. The new rules address discount advertising, environmental claims, AI-generated advertising, consumer reviews and online complaint processes.

Israel also published Consumer Protection Law Amendment No. 74 on 22 July 2026, together with parallel amendments to banking, insurance, regulated financial services, financial advice and pension legislation. The reform concerns obligations to record calls, retain recordings and provide them to consumers.

Digital Regulation, Cybersecurity and AI

Saudi Arabia’s National Cybersecurity Authority opened a consultation on Draft AI Cybersecurity Guidelines on 5 July 2026. The initiative reflects the increasing regulatory focus on securing AI systems throughout their lifecycle.

Cyprus proposed a national artificial-intelligence law on 16 August 2026 to establish the domestic framework needed to implement the EU AI Act, Regulation (EU) 2024/1689.

Turkey enacted Law No. 7590 on 31 July 2026, expanding the Cybersecurity Presidency’s powers over internet domain names and urgent cybersecurity measures. Separately, a 2 June Principle Decision of the Personal Data Protection Board stated that biometric data should not be used solely for employee attendance monitoring where less intrusive alternatives are available.

For more on this topic, check out our blog ‘Beyond the Firewall: Navigating the Middle East’s New AI & Cyber Laws‘.

Automotive, Standards and Workplace Regulation

Turkey amended its Type Approval and Market Surveillance Regulation on 24 June, introducing electronic certificates of conformity and restrictions linked to software updates for certain vehicles. A further amendment on 22 August revised grace periods for end-of-series complete and incomplete vehicles.

In Israel, an amendment published on 8 July clarified that the 2,000 cc engine-capacity limit in the definition of an off-road vehicle applies only to vehicles with internal-combustion engines. The amendment took effect on publication. On 12 July, the Standards Institution of Israel established a new July 2026 edition of SI 14001, Environmental management systems – Requirements with guidance for use, replacing the June 2016 edition.

Workplace regulation also featured during the quarter. In the UAE, Ministerial Decision No. 340 of 2026 on the Wage Protection System entered into force on 1 June. In Saudi Arabia, the Regulation Governing Work in High-Risk Professions entered into force on 8 July 2026.

In Summary

This quarter’s developments show a regulatory landscape moving in two directions at once: opening additional routes to market through international alignment, while strengthening traceability, sustainability, digital oversight and enforcement. As a result, the most immediate priorities for businesses are to: 

• Identify which changes already apply and which require preparation for 2027 or later. 
• Maintaining a clear implementation calendar and connecting regulatory monitoring to product, market and supply-chain ownership. 
• Review technical files, labels, advertising controls, importer procedures and certification arrangements against the new or amended requirements.

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