Dubai Implements Ban on Single-Use Plastic Bags From January 1st, 2024

Dubai, UAE - As part of an ambitious city-wide initiative to reduce environmental impact and promote sustainability, Dubai is set to ban single-use plastic bags from today, January 1st, 2024.

This initiative, spearheaded by HH Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, aims to phase out single-use plastic products and foster a greener, eco-friendly community.

Starting January 1st, 2024, the import and purchase of single-use plastic bags will be prohibited across Dubai. Notable exceptions to the ban include thin-film rolls for packaging meat, fish, vegetables, fruits, grains, and bread, along with garbage bags.

According to reports from the state news agency, WAM, additional bans will be progressively introduced in the following years. From June 1st, 2024, non-plastic single-use products, including bags made of alternative materials, will face a ban in Dubai. Subsequently, starting January 1st, 2025, a comprehensive ban will extend to various single-use plastic products such as stirrers, table covers, cups, styrofoam food containers, plastic straws, and plastic cotton swabs.

The ban will further expand on January 1st, 2026, including plastic plates, food containers, tableware, and cups within its scope.

In the initial phase of the ban, focusing on single-use plastic bags, non-compliance will result in a fine of Dhs200. For subsequent violations within a year, the penalty will double, reaching a maximum of Dhs2,000.

This initiative aligns with global efforts to curb plastic pollution and follows the successful implementation of a single-use plastic bag ban in Abu Dhabi since June 2022, resulting in a remarkable 95% reduction in single-use plastic during the first year, according to the Environment Agency - Abu Dhabi.