UAE vs Saudi Cosmetics Registration Compared

UAE and Saudi cosmetics registration both rest on a local company entering each product into an electronic system before sale. In Dubai, products must be registered in Dubai Municipality’s Montaji system before they can be imported, advertised or sold.

In Saudi Arabia, the importer registers products in the Saudi Food and Drug Authority’s (SFDA) unified GHAD system, then requests clearance for each consignment through FASEH, backed by a certificate of conformity. A Korean brand cannot file in either market itself; the local importer does.

The table is based on material published by Dubai Municipality and the Saudi Food and Drug Authority. Where an official source did not confirm a detail, the table says so.

UAE vs Saudi cosmetics registration: comparison table

Swipe sideways to see the whole table.

Dubai: start with Montaji

Dubai Municipality’s technical guidelines for cosmetics and personal care products (PDF) state that no cosmetic may be manufactured, imported, exported, advertised, sold or distributed in Dubai unless registered under its regulation.

Importers, local manufacturers or their agents apply, and the applicant generally must be a company incorporated in Dubai, or with a warehouse there, holding a Dubai trade licence covering cosmetics. Registrations are valid for five years.

Advertising and promotions, including on social media, need pre-approval through Montaji. Dubai Municipality introduced an upgraded, AI-assisted Montaji+ platform in 2025 (Dubai Municipality news). At federal level, the Ministry of Industry and Advanced Technology (MoIAT) issues conformity certificates for cosmetics, with labels and safety reports checked against Cabinet Resolution No. 18 of 2014⁴; confirm with your importer how this applies alongside Dubai registration, and check requirements in other emirates.

Saudi Arabia: GHAD, FASEH and certificates of conformity

According to an SFDA announcement from July 2024, importers first register products and obtain licences in the GHAD system, then enter consignment details in the cosmetics module of FASEH.

The SFDA reviews and clears the request before the shipment reaches port, and certificates of conformity for consignments can be issued in the country of origin. At the time, more than 4,000 cosmetics importers were registered.

The SFDA’s product classification guidance (PDF) says cosmetics must not contain medicinal substances and must comply with the safety requirements in SFDA.CO/GSO 1943 and SFDA circulars. Since June 2025 the SFDA has kept its lists of banned and restricted substances, preservatives, colourants and UV filters on its website rather than in the regulations³, so check formulas against the current online lists.

Two SFDA circulars matter for Korean skincare sent to Saudi Arabia. Circular 6905 (August 2026) bans cosmetics packed as syringes and requires ampoule- and vial-style packs to carry four warnings in clear Arabic and English on the inner and outer packs: cosmetic product for external use only, do not inject, avoid contact with eyes, and open with caution; businesses have until 31 December 2026 to recall affected products and bring them into line⁵. A circular of February 2025 says the SFDA will not clear cosmetics whose labels indicate they were made for, or are dedicated to, a market other than Saudi Arabia⁶.

Points to check for both markets

• Local importer: in both markets the importer files. Ask whether it already has accounts on the relevant systems.
• Arabic labelling: Arabic label requirements follow Gulf standards and national rules; review draft labels with your importer.
• Ingredients: a product compliant in the EU may still meet extra restrictions in Gulf standards or Saudi circulars; see Korea vs EU ingredient restrictions for the method.
• Halal: whether halal certification is legally required depends on the product and market, but buyers often ask for it. For a market where halal certification is being phased in by law, see Indonesia halal cosmetics.

Which market first

Dubai is the region’s logistics hub and a common first step, while Saudi Arabia is larger but adds conformity certification and clearance for every consignment. In both, the importer drives registration, so the fastest route is for the Korean side to hand over ingredient lists, specifications, manufacturer details and a certificate of free sale early.

SEONGWOO GLOBAL supplies genuine Korean skincare from Korea; contracts can be signed with our Seoul or Hong Kong company. Importers in the Gulf can contact us through the pages below.

Related articles: Indonesia halal cosmetics · ASEAN cosmetic notification · Korea certificate of origin

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See also: Dubai cosmetics registration · Korean skincare wholesale to Dubai · Halal cosmetics in the GCC