Abu Dhabi’s New Healthy Menu Rules Take Effect Across Hotels and Restaurants

Abu Dhabi has begun full enforcement of new healthy menu requirements for hotels and tourism-licensed food and beverage outlets, with the rules taking effect from October 1, 2026. The new Abu Dhabi healthy menu rules are designed to make healthier food choices more accessible to residents, visitors and families dining across the emirate.

The initiative introduces nutritional requirements for food served at covered restaurants and hotels, encouraging businesses to provide healthier alternatives across their regular menus. The measures are part of Abu Dhabi’s wider efforts to promote healthier lifestyles and improve awareness about balanced food choices.

Healthy Options Required Across Menu Categories

Under the new requirements, covered restaurants and food outlets must provide at least one healthy option in every adult menu category. These categories include appetisers, main courses, side dishes and desserts.

The qualifying dishes must meet nutritional standards established under the SEHHI programme, which is associated with the Abu Dhabi Public Health Centre. The programme provides guidelines that help food businesses identify and promote dishes that meet specified nutritional criteria.

Rather than placing healthy food options in a separate section of the menu, the requirements encourage restaurants to include healthier choices throughout their menus. This can give customers more flexibility when choosing meals while dining out.

SEHHI Standards Help Customers Identify Healthier Choices

The SEHHI programme focuses on improving the nutritional quality of food available to consumers. The standards take factors such as levels of fat, sugar and salt into consideration while encouraging the inclusion of nutritious ingredients.

Restaurants that offer qualifying dishes can identify them using the approved SEHHI logo. This provides customers with a simple way to recognise dishes that meet the relevant healthy food standards.

The initiative also encourages food establishments to consider how meals are prepared and presented, giving diners greater access to information when making food choices.

Children’s Menus Face Additional Requirements

Children’s menus are also included in the new healthy dining requirements. At least 50 per cent of items offered on children’s menus must meet the approved nutritional standards.

The requirements encourage restaurants and hotels to provide balanced meals suitable for younger diners. Depending on the menu, establishments can adapt qualifying adult dishes into smaller portions designed for children.

Healthy children’s meals can include ingredients such as vegetables, fruits, whole grains, lean sources of protein and lower-fat dairy products, while nutritional considerations such as calorie, sugar, fat and salt levels are also taken into account.

Low-Sodium Salt Becomes Part of the Initiative

Another element of the programme is the use of low-sodium salt as the default table option at covered establishments. This means customers can be provided with an alternative to conventional salt when seasoning their food.

Reducing excessive sodium consumption is widely recognised as an important part of maintaining a balanced diet. By incorporating low-sodium salt into restaurant dining, the initiative seeks to make healthier choices easier without requiring customers to make major changes to their usual dining habits.

Three-Month Implementation Period

The requirements were introduced earlier in 2026, giving hotels and food outlets a period to prepare their menus and operations before full enforcement.

The implementation period allowed businesses to review existing menus, identify qualifying dishes, introduce new recipes where necessary and make changes to children’s menus and table-service practices.

With full enforcement beginning on October 1, 2026, covered establishments are now expected to comply with the requirements as part of their regular food and beverage operations.

What the New Rules Mean for Residents and Visitors

For residents and visitors, the changes could make it easier to find healthier choices while eating at participating hotels, restaurants and tourism-licensed food outlets across Abu Dhabi.

The initiative is particularly relevant as dining out remains an important part of the UAE’s hospitality and tourism sector. By encouraging healthier options within existing menus, customers can have more choices without restaurants moving away from their existing dining concepts.

For families, the children’s menu requirements may also provide greater visibility of healthier meal options for younger diners. The use of nutritional standards and SEHHI identification can help customers understand which dishes meet the programme’s requirements.

Supporting Abu Dhabi’s Healthy Lifestyle Goals

The new menu requirements form part of Abu Dhabi’s broader public health efforts to encourage healthier lifestyles. The hospitality sector provides an important opportunity to reach large numbers of residents and international visitors through everyday dining experiences.

As hotels and restaurants continue adapting their menus, the initiative could also encourage food businesses to experiment with healthier recipes, alternative ingredients and more balanced meal combinations.

The focus on healthier menu options also reflects a growing interest in nutrition and wellness across the UAE, where consumers are increasingly looking for food choices that fit different dietary and lifestyle preferences.

With the new requirements now entering their full enforcement phase, Abu Dhabi’s hotels and food outlets will continue to play a role in making healthier choices more visible and accessible to diners.

The changes also give customers a clearer way to identify qualifying dishes through the SEHHI programme, while businesses have greater responsibility to ensure their menus meet the required standards.

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