Dubai residents accustomed to ordering takeaway food in plastic containers will face changes from the first day of the new year. The emirate is introducing a large-scale ban on single-use plastics that will affect most food outlets and reshape standard delivery packaging. Exactly at midnight on January 1, plastic food containers, drink cups with plastic lids, plates, and disposable tableware will be prohibited.
The phased ban was announced on the final day of 2023 and divided into three stages running through early 2026. Authorities deliberately gave businesses time to prepare, recognising that restaurants and cafés cannot instantly overhaul their entire packaging supply chains. The third and final phase begins in the coming weeks, with an ambitious goal – to promote an eco-friendly lifestyle, protect the environment, and advance sustainable development across the city.
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Based on the experience of other countries that have introduced similar restrictions, the changes will affect even the simplest orders. Your morning iced latte with matcha will no longer arrive in a clear plastic cup with a straw – it will be replaced by bamboo-based materials, sugarcane fiber, or kraft paper. These alternatives are more expensive than traditional plastic, which will inevitably affect final prices for consumers, although many venues are not yet openly discussing upcoming price increases. The ban covers a wide range of products that were previously industry standards:
- Plastic plates of any size
- Containers for hot and cold food
- Plastic cutlery (forks, knives, spoons)
- Drink cups with plastic lids
Restaurants have already begun a mass transition to new materials, and early results are visible. Polystyrene containers – long a staple for greasy late-night meals like burgers and kebabs – have nearly disappeared from Dubai streets even before the official ban. Most venues have switched to cardboard or paper packaging, but the January regulation ensures that plastic packaging will be phased out entirely.
How the plastic ban affects businesses and why it is being implemented now
Café and restaurant owners are revising supplier contracts and searching for reliable sources of eco-friendly packaging capable of meeting full order volumes.
- Bamboo containers are sturdier than paper and retain heat better, but are significantly more expensive.
- Kraft paper is cheaper, but it absorbs grease and performs poorly with saucy dishes.
- Sugarcane fiber is considered the optimal balance – durable, relatively affordable, and suitable for most food types, from salads to hot meals.
A nationwide UAE ban on importing, producing, and selling single-use plastic products will also start in early 2026. This will stop people from getting banned packaging from other emirates. The first two phases of the ban, which began in 2024 and early 2025, have already removed plastic stirrers, table covers, polystyrene cups, and cotton swabs with plastic stems from the market. Plastic straws were replaced with paper ones, which many consumers found frustrating, and plastic stirrers were swapped for cardboard versions. Commercial real estate developers are closely monitoring real estate latest news, as sustainability standards are changing tenant requirements. Restaurants are now seeking locations with efficient logistics for receiving bulk shipments of alternative packaging, which requires more storage space than compact plastic packaging.
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Landlords are adapting lease terms to these new realities, and for first-time restaurateurs, it is increasingly important to understand how to secure lease terms that offer flexible storage conditions, accommodate larger volumes of eco-friendly packaging, and accommodate evolving operational needs. The transition to new materials is part of the UAE’s broader strategy to achieve Net Zero by 2050. Dubai is following the path of San Francisco, Seattle, and several European capitals that have undergone similar transitions and demonstrated that eliminating plastic is possible without devastating the food and beverage industry. The first months after implementation are typically accompanied by consumer complaints about the quality of alternative packaging, but markets tend to stabilise quickly once manufacturers scale production and supply chains adjust to demand.
