Starting from 2024, the UAE will “plastic ban”

According to Emirates News Agency:

The UAE will start from January 1, 2024, implement a "plastic ban"

The ban covers all single-use plastic bags, plastic products such as cups, plates, cutlery, etc.

The ban will be gradually implemented in two phases:

In the first stage, starting from January 1, 2024, the UAE will ban the import, production, circulation, and use of all single-use plastic bags.

Previously, The Executive Council of Dubai announced the "Plastic Restriction Order" on February 7, 2022:

Starting from July 1, 2022, Dubai will charge 25fils (equivalent to At 0.25 dirhams, approximately 0.43 yuan) tax.

In the second phase, starting from January 1, 2026, the scope of application of the ban will be expanded to all single-use plastic products:

including soft drink cups and lids, cutlery, plates, straws, stirrers, food containers, plastic bottles, Packaging, wet wipes, cotton swabs, balloon sticks, plastic boxes and foam boxes, etc. (Except single-use plastic bags and other products made from recycled materials)

Plastic products often take 200 to 500 years to decompose; in recent years, plastics flowing into the ocean have also continued to damage the marine environment. Solving the environmental problems caused by plastics and protecting the future of the earth are an important part of the UAE's sustainability initiatives in recent years, consistent with the "UAE Energy Strategy 2050" (The UAE Energy Strategy 2050).

UAE’s “plastic ban” initiative

At the end of this year, the UAE will host the 28th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (Cop28 UN Climate Summit); the “plastic ban” initiative will also be an important practice for the UAE to help promote global climate governance.

As a city that has always adhered to sustainable development, Dubai has always implemented various environmental protection measures. For example, the "Dubai Can" street water station program reduces the use of single-use plastic bottles by encouraging people to bring their own water bottles and obtain free drinking water.

While implementing the "plastic ban", the government will also urge stores, retailers and other relevant parties to actively prepare plastic alternatives for various shopping stores and retail outlets that meet sustainable needs and are suitable for consumer use. In fact, in many stores and supermarkets, merchants that actively support environmental protection actions have prepared alternatives such as paper bags, jute bags, cloth bags, and mesh bags for consumers.

Some UAE residents have also developed the habit of carrying environmentally friendly cloth bags with them when shopping; for consumers, this will also be a good time to develop an environmentally friendly lifestyle and participate in creating a green future.