Packaging and Single-Use Plastics in the GCC: A Practical Compliance Guide

This blog was originally posted on 21st July, 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 MOHAMMED GAMAL ALREFAEI, REGULATORY COMPLIANCE ANALYST, ADHERENT

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Key Insight

Packaging compliance across the GCC is increasingly tied to market access and now reaches far beyond recyclability or plastic reduction. Businesses must assess national and emirate-level rules on materials, food contact, labelling, environmental claims, conformity documentation, customs clearance and waste, because there is no single GCC-wide packaging regime.

Table of Contents

• GCC Packaging Compliance Snapshot
• Key Packaging Compliance Questions
• Saudi Arabia
• United Arab Emirates
• Bahrain
• Qatar
• Oman
• Kuwait
• Final Thoughts
• Frequently Asked Questions

Introduction

Many businesses still treat packaging as a procurement, logistics, or branding decision. In the GCC, that approach is becoming increasingly risky.

Packaging compliance is no longer limited to recyclability or plastic reduction. Regulatory obligations now extend to material composition, food-contact safety, labelling, environmental claims, conformity assessment, customs clearance and waste management.

This is particularly important because there is no single GCC-wide packaging regime. While GSO standards help harmonise technical requirements, they only become legally binding when adopted or enforced through national laws, technical regulations or conformity schemes.

Single-use plastics remain the most visible enforcement area, but they are only part of a wider shift toward tighter control over packaging materials, stronger documentation obligations and circular economy models.

This blog provides a practical overview of packaging and single-use plastic compliance across Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Qatar, Oman and Kuwait.

GCC Packaging Compliance Snapshot

Country	Current Position	Main Business Risk
Saudi Arabia	Current degradable plastics rules, food-contact packaging controls, and a proposed standalone Packaging Products Technical Regulation	Missing conformity documentation, incorrect markings, customs rejection
UAE	Federal and emirate-level single-use product restrictions, including Dubai’s phased implementation	Assuming federal compliance is enough while missing stricter emirate-level requirements
Bahrain	Updated single-use plastic bag restrictions under Decision No. 7 of 2026	Wrong thickness assessment or misunderstanding the scope of exempted bags
Qatar	Single-use plastic bag controls under Ministerial Decision No. 143 of 2022	Missing required symbols or unsupported biodegradable / recyclable claims
Oman	Phased sector-by-sector restrictions on plastic shopping bags under Decision No. 8 of 2024	Failure to track the relevant implementation phase for each business sector
Kuwait	Proposed biodegradable plastics framework	Future tightening of conformity assessment, logo licensing and documentation requirements

Key Packaging Compliance Questions

Before examining country-specific requirements, businesses should assess several core questions.

Packaging Scope and Classification

First, packaging is not limited to plastic bags or consumer-facing wrapping. It may include paper and cardboard, cartons, glass containers, metal packaging, wooden pallets and crates, plastic packaging, composite materials, multilayer films, industrial containers, transport packaging and disposable food-service products.

Primary, secondary and transport packaging may each trigger different regulatory obligations.

Food-Contact Packaging

Second, businesses should assess whether the packaging is intended to come into contact with food. Food-contact packaging is one of the most heavily regulated packaging categories in the GCC. Key GSO standards include GSO 839:2021 on general food packaging requirements, GSO 2231:2012 on materials intended to come into contact with food, GSO 1863:2021 on plastic food packaging, and GSO ISO 18334:2012 on pallets used for material handling.

Food-contact compliance is not determined only by the primary packaging material. It may also depend on whether inks, adhesives, coatings, varnishes, barrier layers or recycled materials migrate into food above permitted thresholds.

Saudi Arabia provides a useful example. Under the SASO Technical Regulation for Food Safety of Tools and Appliances Used in the Kitchen, Article 4 requires food-contact tools and equipment to prevent unsafe transfer of constituents to food and comply with applicable migration limits. Article 4/4 also includes packaging-related requirements, including compliance with relevant packing standards, limits on lead and other heavy metals in packaging materials, recycling symbols on plastic containers, and biodegradable plastic logo requirements where applicable.

That point is important for manufacturers. Recycled content may support sustainability goals, but it does not automatically mean the packaging is suitable for food-contact applications.

Environmental Claims

Third, businesses should consider environmental claims carefully. Claims such as “recyclable,” “biodegradable,” “compostable,” or “eco-friendly” may create compliance risks if they cannot be technically substantiated. As an analytical observation, explicit greenwashing enforcement mechanisms remain less formalised in the GCC compared with western jurisdictions, though regulatory scrutiny of environmental claims is clearly trending upward.

Waste, Recycling and Producer Responsibility

Lastly, businesses should assess what happens after disposal. Historically, packaging regulation focused on market entry. Increasingly, regulators are also focusing on waste generation, recycling, recovery and producer responsibility.

Saudi Arabia

Current Degradable Plastic Products Requirements

Saudi Arabia currently has one of the most developed and rapidly formalising packaging compliance regimes in the GCC.

Historically, packaging-related requirements were spread across product-specific technical regulations and standards. This is visible in current Saudi requirements for degradable plastic products and food-contact products, where suppliers may face obligations relating to additives, conformity documentation, logo licensing, food-contact safety, Arabic labelling and market surveillance.

Saudi Arabia’s Technical Regulation for Degradable Plastic Products is a key current instrument for certain plastic packaging and disposable products. Article 2 applies the regulation to disposable polypropylene and polyethylene plastic products listed in Annex 1, while excluding plastic products used in the medical and food industries. Articles 4 and 5 set out requirements for use of the oxo-biodegradable plastics logo, including conformity assessment, supplier declaration of conformity, registered laboratory test reports, SASO-licensed additives, product-specific applications and a technical file. Article 5 also confirms Type 1a conformity assessment and annual renewal of the logo licence.

The regulation also contains important marking and enforcement provisions. Article 7 requires clear and difficult-to-remove Arabic or Arabic-English product information. Article 8 gives regulatory bodies powers to verify logo placement, sample products, refer samples to laboratories, charge testing costs to suppliers, and withdraw products where logo placement is incorrect. Article 10 prohibits manufacturing, importing, placing on the market, displaying, or advertising non-conforming products.

Proposed Packaging Products Technical Regulation

A broader regulatory shift began in 2022, when SASO first proposed a draft Technical Regulation for Packaging Products. This proposal was later revised through an updated draft in 2025, reflecting Saudi Arabia’s move toward a standalone packaging compliance regime.

Article 2 of the draft applies broadly to packaging products used for containing, protecting, handling, transporting and displaying products in Saudi Arabia, whether locally manufactured or imported. The draft covers packaging made of paper, cardboard, plastics, glass, wood, metals, textiles and other materials. It also excludes certain sector-specific packaging, including primary and secondary packaging for food, pharmaceuticals and cosmetics, all packaging levels for medical devices, and food-contact products already subject to the Technical Regulation for Food Safety in Kitchen Tools and Appliances.

The draft introduces a more formal compliance model. Article 11 addresses explanatory data and labelling, Article 13 introduces risk assessment, Article 14 sets out conformity assessment routes, and Article 15 requires a technical file to be retained for at least 10 years from the date the product is placed on the market.

Under Article 14, empty packaging products would require Type 1a conformity assessment and a Certificate of Conformity from a SASO-accepted conformity assessment body. By contrast, primary, secondary or tertiary packaging containing products already subject to other technical regulations would require a Supplier Declaration of Conformity.

Annex 1 is also central. It requires packaging to support reuse and recycling, reduce weight and volume to the minimum necessary, identify the materials used, and comply with material coding requirements. It also restricts hazardous substances, including a maximum combined concentration of lead, cadmium, mercury and hexavalent chromium of 100 ppm by weight, subject to limited exemptions.

Practical Compliance Considerations

For businesses, the practical takeaway is that Saudi packaging compliance should be treated as a market-access issue. Packaging classification, HS code review, conformity route, technical file preparation, markings, material codes, heavy metal limits and supplier responsibility should all be reviewed before shipment.

United Arab Emirates

Federal and Emirate-Level Restrictions

The United Arab Emirates has moved rapidly from sustainability policy toward active market restrictions on single-use products.

The UAE framework operates through both federal and emirate-level measures. At the federal level, Ministerial Resolution No. 380 of 2022 introduced controls on single-use products as part of a broader strategy to reduce waste and promote sustainable alternatives.

At the emirate level, Dubai Executive Council Resolution No. 124 of 2023 is particularly important. Article 3 applies the framework to single-use products traded or used by vendors and consumers in Dubai, including in special development zones and free zones. This means businesses cannot rely only on a federal-level assessment.

Dubai Municipality confirmed that the final phase of implementation took effect on 1 January 2026. The phase covers single-use plastic products such as plastic plates, plastic cutlery, beverage cups and lids, as well as products already banned in earlier phases, including polystyrene cups, plates and containers, plastic stirrers, cotton buds, table covers and straws.

The practical compliance point is that material substitution should not be treated as a complete answer. Businesses still need to check the specific product category, applicable phase, and whether the proposed alternative is accepted under the relevant federal or emirate-level requirements.

ECAS Conformity Requirements

The UAE also has a technical conformity layer for oxo-biodegradable plastic bags and related packaging materials. Under the ECAS requirements, Section 5 requires compliance with UAE.S 5009:2009, a quality management system based on ISO 9001, and approved additives. Section 6 requires supporting documentation, including declarations of conformity, component information, degradation and biodegradability test reports, chemical analysis, a quality manual and a valid industrial licence.

Practical Compliance Considerations

For businesses, the key UAE risk is fragmentation. Federal controls, emirate-level restrictions, ECAS certification, Dubai implementation phases and packaging material claims should all be checked together.

Bahrain

Single-Use Plastic Bag Restrictions

Bahrain has progressively tightened controls on single-use plastic bags while moving toward a more sophisticated packaging framework.

Decision No. 14 of 2022 initially introduced the key restriction. Article 1 applied the decision to all single-use plastic bags with thickness below 35 microns, except those used for medical purposes. Article 2 prohibited the manufacture, import or circulation of single-use plastic bags below 35 microns, while allowing manufacturing for export. Article 3 linked violations to penalties under Law No. 9 of 2016 on Standards and Metrology, and Article 4 provided that the decision would apply six months after publication in the Official Gazette.

More recently, Bahrain introduced a new framework under Decision No. 7 of 2026, tightening restrictions on single-use plastic bags and increasing the thickness threshold from 35 microns to 57 microns.

The Ministry of Industry and Commerce clarified that the 2026 measure prohibits the manufacture, import or use of single-use plastic bags below 57 microns, including bags containing plastic components. It also clarified that the restriction applies to carrying and hand-transport bags for goods and equipment, whether with or without handles, provided at points of sale or sold individually or in bundles.

Importantly, exemptions remain for household waste bags, hazardous healthcare waste bags, packaging for medicines and food, and bags designated for export purposes. The Ministry also indicated that enforcement will include inspections before entry through ports and continued market monitoring through inspection campaigns and field surveys. A six-month transitional period has been granted to allow depletion of existing stock and enable manufacturers to comply.

Practical Compliance Considerations

This is a strong example of why packaging compliance should not be viewed simplistically. Bahrain is not simply banning all plastic packaging. It is regulating specific bag types by thickness, use, point-of-sale distribution and exemption category.

Qatar

Single-Use Plastic Bag Controls

Qatar’s packaging restrictions are currently most visible in the single-use plastic bag sector.

Ministerial Decision No. 143 of 2022 introduced controls on the use of plastic bags. The decision prohibits institutions, companies and shopping centres from using single-use plastic bags. The Ministry of Municipality described single-use plastic bags as bags made mainly of plastic, with thickness below 40 microns, used once as packaging material before disposal or recycling.

The decision entered into force on 15 November 2022. Permitted alternatives include multi-use bags, biodegradable plastic bags, paper bags, cloth bags and other environmentally friendly alternatives.

The symbol requirement is particularly important. Qatar requires symbols to be printed on plastic bags according to category, indicating whether the bag is biodegradable, reusable or recyclable. This means environmental claims are not simply optional marketing language. They are part of the regulated product information.

Municipal health surveillance departments are responsible for inspection and enforcement across municipalities. Qatar’s Ministry of Municipality also indicated that inspections cover food facilities and shopping malls, including requirements related to the use of plastic materials and packaging or wrapping of human food.

Practical Compliance Considerations

For businesses, the immediate compliance action is to verify bag thickness, confirm whether the product is single-use, validate the claimed alternative category, and ensure the correct symbol appears on the bag.

Oman

Environmental and Operational Framework

Oman has adopted one of the most structured phased approaches to reducing single-use plastic shopping bags in the GCC.

The broader environmental basis is found in the Law on Conservation of the Environment and Prevention of Pollution under Royal Decree No. 114 of 2001. Article 10 requires owners to use clean production techniques and minimise waste generation at source.

The specific operational instrument is Environment Authority Decision No. 8 of 2024. Article 1 prohibits companies, institutions and individuals from using single-use plastic shopping bags with thickness below 50 microns. Article 2 further prohibits companies and institutions from using plastic shopping bags of all types according to the phased implementation schedule attached to the decision.

Article 3 provides administrative fines of not less than OMR 50 and not more than OMR 1,000, with fines doubled for repeat violations within one month. Article 4 repeals Ministerial Decision No. 23 of 2020, and Article 5 provides that the decision applies from the day following publication in the Official Gazette.

Phased Implementation

The schedule is the key practical point. Implementation began on 1 July 2024 and is expanding through successive phases. Oman entered Phase 5 on 1 July 2026, further expanding the ban to sectors such as furniture, khanjar, gold and silver shops, vehicle care centres and vehicle dealerships. Full implementation across all remaining activities using plastic bags is scheduled for 1 July 2027.

Practical Compliance Considerations

For businesses, Oman’s phased model creates a planning obligation. Suppliers need to track which phase applies to each customer sector, rather than assuming a single national implementation date.

Kuwait

Current Position and Proposed Framework

Kuwait currently relies mainly on general standards-based controls, product labelling and GSO import requirements rather than binding market-wide bans on single-use consumer plastics.

However, its regulatory direction is signalling change. Kuwait has circulated a draft Technical Regulation for Biodegradable Plastic Products, which would introduce a more formal framework for documentation, conformity assessment, product marking and logo licensing.

Clause 2 applies the draft to specified polypropylene and polyethylene plastic products that are typically used for short periods and then disposed of, as listed in Annex 1. The same clause excludes plastic products used in the medical and food industries.

Clauses 4 and 5 are particularly important for suppliers seeking to obtain a certificate to use the biodegradable plastics logo. Together, they would require supplier registration, confirmation that the product falls within scope, proof of conformity assessment, an environmental management system, a supplier declaration, cooperation with regulatory and market surveillance authorities, accredited laboratory test reports, approved additives, and a separate product application supported by a technical file. Clause 5 also provides for Type 1a conformity assessment and a one-year renewable logo licence.

Clause 7 sets out marking requirements, including manufacturer name, trademark, country of origin, production date, purpose of use, shelf life, storage conditions and a biodegradable logo. Clause 10 addresses violations, including manufacturing, importing, placing, displaying or advertising non-conforming products, while Clause 13 provides a proposed six-month correction period and a one-year circulation period for non-compliant products after entry into force.

Practical Compliance Considerations

For businesses, Kuwait should be monitored closely. The framework is still proposed, but it points toward future obligations on testing, documentation, logo use and market surveillance.

Final Thoughts

Packaging compliance in the GCC is becoming more complex and more closely linked to market access.

Regulators are no longer focused only on whether packaging can be sold. They are increasingly assessing what packaging is made of, how it is labelled, whether claims are substantiated, whether food-contact requirements are met, and what happens after disposal.

For businesses operating across the GCC, packaging should be treated as a core compliance issue requiring continuous monitoring.

Recyclable packaging is not automatically compliant packaging.

Frequently Asked Questions

• Is there a single GCC-wide packaging regime?
  There is no single GCC-wide packaging regime. While GSO standards help harmonise technical requirements, they only become legally binding when adopted or enforced through national laws, technical regulations or conformity schemes.
• Does recyclable packaging automatically comply with GCC packaging requirements?
  Recyclable packaging is not automatically compliant packaging.
• What types of packaging may fall within the compliance scope?
  Packaging is not limited to plastic bags or consumer-facing wrapping. It may include paper and cardboard, cartons, glass containers, metal packaging, wooden pallets and crates, plastic packaging, composite materials, multilayer films, industrial containers, transport packaging and disposable food-service products.
• What compliance risks can arise from environmental claims?
  Claims such as “recyclable,” “biodegradable,” “compostable,” or “eco-friendly” may create compliance risks if they cannot be technically substantiated.
• What should businesses review before shipping packaging products to Saudi Arabia?
  Packaging classification, HS code review, conformity route, technical file preparation, markings, material codes, heavy metal limits and supplier responsibility should all be reviewed before shipment.

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