Dubai Municipality Food Registration: Montaji Portal Guide 2026

Importing or selling food products in Dubai without proper registration can result in shipment rejections at customs, product confiscation, and penalties. The Dubai Municipality's Montaji system is the gateway for all food product registrations—and understanding the process can mean the difference between smooth market entry and costly delays.

This step-by-step guide covers everything food importers, distributors, and manufacturers need to know about registering products through Dubai Municipality in 2026.

What is the Montaji Portal?

Overview

Montaji is Dubai Municipality's digital platform for registering and managing consumer products. The system ensures all food items meet UAE safety and labeling standards before reaching consumers.^[1]

The platform handles registration for:

• Food and beverage products
• Cosmetics and personal care items
• Health supplements
• Detergents and disinfectants
• Food contact materials (FCMs)

Portal URL: montajiprd.dm.gov.ae

For food products specifically, registrations are processed through the Food Import and Re-export System (FIRS), also known as the ZAD Portal, which integrates with Montaji.^[2]

Who Needs to Register

All businesses selling food products in Dubai must register, including:^[1]

Important: Consumer products imported for exhibitions, market tests, samples for marketing, or sole re-export purposes are exempt from registration requirements.^[3]

Prerequisites for Registration

Before starting the registration process, ensure your business meets these requirements.

Company Requirements

Mandatory credentials:^[1]

• Valid UAE trade license with food-related activity
• Establishment card confirming your business location in the UAE
• Food handling permit (if applicable)
• Warehouse approval (if storing food products)
• Authorized signatory designated for regulatory submissions

Free zone companies: You must partner with a mainland distributor to handle the registration process. Free zone entities cannot register directly.^[4]

Document Requirements

Gather the following documents before starting your application:^[1][5]

For all food products:

• Product technical datasheet
• Clear images of product (front and back)
• Label artwork (Arabic and English versions)
• Ingredients list/report (signed and stamped by manufacturer)
• Nutritional information panel
• Barcode documentation

For imported products:

• Free Sale Certificate from country of origin
• Health Certificate issued by authorized body in origin country
• Certificate of Origin
• Manufacturer's GMP certificate

For specific categories:

• Halal Certificate (for products claiming Halal status)
• Organic Certificate (for organic claims)
• Lab analysis certificates (microbiological, chemical)

Step-by-Step Registration Process

Step 1: Create Your Montaji Account

Register your company on the Dubai Municipality portal.^[1]

Process:

1. Visit montajiprd.dm.gov.ae
2. Click "New Registration" or "Create Account"
3. Enter company details (trade license number, establishment card)
4. Upload required company documents
5. Complete account verification

Timeline: Account setup typically takes 1-3 business days for verification.

Step 2: Prepare Your Product Application

Before submitting, ensure all product information is complete and accurate.^[5]

Product information required:

• Product name (in Arabic and English)
• Brand name
• Product category/classification
• Country of origin
• Manufacturer details (name, address, contact)
• Ingredients list in descending order by weight
• Net weight/volume
• Shelf life and storage conditions
• Barcode number

Step 3: Submit Label Artwork for Assessment

Dubai Municipality requires label artwork approval before product registration.^[6]

Label requirements:

• Arabic text mandatory (bilingual Arabic/English acceptable)
• Product name clearly displayed
• Complete ingredients list
• Net quantity in metric units
• Manufacturing and expiry dates (DD/MM/YYYY format)
• Manufacturer name and address
• Country of origin
• Storage conditions
• Nutritional information table
• Allergen declarations (highlighted)
• Batch/lot number
• Barcode

Common label errors to avoid:

• Arabic text smaller than English text
• Missing or incorrect Arabic translations
• Incomplete ingredient listings
• Wrong date format
• Missing importer details

Step 4: Upload Required Documents

Log into Montaji and submit your Consumer Product Registration Request (CPRE).^[1]

Document format requirements:

• PDF format preferred for certificates
• High-resolution images for label artwork (300 DPI minimum)
• File size limits apply (check portal for current limits)
• All certificates must be valid and not expired

Step 5: Pay Application Fees

After document upload, pay the required fees through the portal.^[7]

Fee Structure

Step 6: Laboratory Sample Submission (If Required)

For certain products, Dubai Municipality requires laboratory testing at the Dubai Central Laboratory (DCL).^[8]

When testing is required:

• New product categories
• Products with specific health claims
• Products flagged during review
• Random sampling for compliance verification

DCL testing process:

1. Receive notification from Dubai Municipality
2. Deliver samples to DCL (Al Karama, Zabeel Road)
3. Pay testing fees
4. Await results (typically 5 working days)
5. Results sent via email and portal

DCL contact: FELS@dm.gov.ae | Phone: 04-3027128 | Hours: 7:30 AM - 2:30 PM^[8]

Step 7: Application Review

Dubai Municipality reviews your submission for compliance.^[1]

Review process:

1. Document verification: Checking completeness and validity
2. Label assessment: Verifying compliance with UAE labeling standards
3. Ingredient review: Confirming all ingredients are permitted
4. Certificate authentication: Validating supporting documents

Common query reasons:

• Missing Arabic translation
• Incomplete certificates
• Ingredient clarification needed
• Label artwork discrepancies
• Expired documentation

Step 8: Certificate Issuance

Upon approval, Dubai Municipality issues your registration certificate.^[1]

Certificate details:

• Digital certificate downloadable from Montaji
• Includes product registration number
• Valid for 5 years from issuance
• Links to customs clearance system

Fees and Timeline Summary

Processing Timeline

Complete Fee Summary

Common Registration Challenges

Challenge 1: Document Rejections

Issue: Low-quality scans or incorrect document formats.

Solution:^[9]

• Use high-resolution scans (300 DPI minimum)
• Ensure all certificates are clearly legible
• Verify file formats match portal requirements
• Check expiry dates before uploading

Challenge 2: Label Compliance Issues

Issue: Labels rejected for not meeting UAE requirements.

Solution:^[6]

• Engage professional Arabic translation services
• Follow UAE.S 9:2017 labeling standards exactly
• Ensure Arabic font size equals or exceeds English
• Include all mandatory elements before submission

Challenge 3: Free Zone Company Limitations

Issue: Cannot register directly from free zone.

Solution:^[4]

• Partner with a licensed mainland distributor
• Ensure distributor has proper food trading license
• Establish clear agreement on registration responsibilities
• Maintain documentation of partnership

Renewal and Modification Process

Annual/Periodic Renewal

Registration certificates are valid for 5 years. Renewal must be completed before expiry to maintain market access.^[10]

Product Modifications

Any changes to registered products require notification to Dubai Municipality.^[10]

Changes requiring amendment:

• Formulation/ingredient changes
• Packaging modifications
• Label updates
• Supplier/manufacturer changes
• Net weight/volume changes

Important: Unauthorized changes can result in penalties or product bans. Always notify before implementing changes.^[10]

Related Resources

Need help with other GCC compliance requirements? Check out our guides:

• UAE Food Labeling Requirements 2026 – Complete ESMA compliance and labeling standards
• SFDA Drug Registration Guide 2026 – Pharmaceutical registration in Saudi Arabia
• GCC Document Compliance Automation – Multi-market automation strategies

How ByteBeam Accelerates Montaji Registration

Managing food product registrations across multiple SKUs can be overwhelming. ByteBeam's document automation platform helps FMCG companies streamline the process.

Key capabilities:

• Extract data from product datasheets automatically
• Validate label compliance against UAE requirements before submission
• Organize documentation for easy upload to Montaji
• Track multiple product registrations across your portfolio
• Monitor expiry dates for certificates and registrations

ByteBeam's no-code platform enables regulatory teams to process registrations faster, reducing preparation time by up to 60%.

Conclusion

Registering food products with Dubai Municipality through the Montaji portal is straightforward when you understand the requirements. Key takeaways:

1. Prepare documents in advance – Gather all certificates, artwork, and ingredient reports before starting
2. Ensure label compliance – Arabic text is mandatory; follow UAE.S 9:2017 standards
3. Budget 7-30 days – Timeline depends on documentation quality and testing requirements
4. Maintain registrations – Renew before expiry and notify of any product changes
5. Free zone companies – Partner with a mainland distributor for registration

Quick Reference: Key Contacts

References

1. Montaji Product Registration Dubai: Guide to Register - Product Registration Dubai
2. Dubai Municipality Product Registration for Food Products - Arnifi
3. Technical Guidelines for Consumer Products Import and Re-export - Dubai Municipality Official Document
4. Register Your Products with Dubai Municipality - Meydan Free Zone
5. Consumer Products Registration in Dubai Municipality - Corplex
6. Food Labelling and Ingredient Listing Requirements in the UAE - Xtra Food Magazine
7. Montaji Registration 2025: Step-by-Step Guide - Rut Essentials
8. Dubai Central Laboratory Services - Dubai Municipality
9. Food Product Registration Dubai - The Infinite Service
10. Comprehensive Guide to Product Registration in Dubai Municipality - Emirabiz

Last updated: January 2026. Requirements may change. Always verify current procedures on the official Dubai Municipality portal.