The UAE has issued a Federal Decree-Law regulating the industrial and medical use of industrial hemp, formally opening the door to a new, tightly controlled economic sector while maintaining strict prohibitions on recreational and personal use.
The new law establishes a comprehensive framework governing the cultivation, manufacturing, import, export, and trading of industrial hemp across the country, including free zones. It positions industrial hemp as a viable input for industries such as textiles, construction, paper, packaging, and authorised medical products, aligning the sector with international best practices and the UAE’s sustainability goals.
Personal or recreational use of industrial hemp remains strictly prohibited. The Decree-Law bans its use in food products, dietary supplements, veterinary products, smoking products, and most cosmetics, with limited exceptions for oils derived from hemp seeds or stalks, subject to Cabinet approval. Any compound with narcotic or psychoactive effects falls under existing narcotics and criminal legislation.
For the first time, the law permits the regulated use of industrial hemp in medical products, subject to oversight under existing pharmaceutical regulations. Cultivation and manufacturing activities require multiple licences and approvals, including security clearance from the National Anti-Narcotics Authority, and must adhere to strict controls on production areas, transport, disposal, and testing.
All licensed activities must ensure that tetrahydrocannabinol levels do not exceed 0.3 percent, with mandatory reporting of any breach. Each emirate retains the authority to further restrict or prohibit hemp-related activities within its jurisdiction.
The Decree-Law also introduces a National Tracking System and a unified electronic registry to monitor seeds, seedlings, and products throughout the supply chain. Violations may result in imprisonment, fines starting from AED100,000, or both, reinforcing the UAE’s zero-tolerance approach to misuse while enabling controlled economic development.
News Source: Emirates News Agency
