The UAE has taken a major legal step with Federal Decree-Law No. 24 of 2025, creating a dedicated framework for the industrial and medical use of hemp.
But this is not a general hemp legalisation law.
It does not open the UAE to recreational cannabis. It does not create a free consumer CBD market. It does not make hemp foods, hemp supplements, or smoking products freely available.
Instead, UAE Federal Decree 24 2025 hemp law creates a tightly regulated, licence-based system for specific industrial and medical activities. It allows hemp to be used in controlled business and pharmaceutical pathways while keeping the UAE’s broader narcotics framework firmly in place.
What Does UAE Federal Decree-Law No. 24 of 2025 Do?
Federal Decree-Law No. 24 of 2025 regulates the industrial and medical uses of industrial hemp in the UAE. It came into force on 1 January 2026 and is listed as active on the UAE legislation portal.
The law defines industrial hemp as Cannabis Sativa, including its parts, derivatives, and extracts, where total THC does not exceed 0.3% on a dry-weight basis. The total THC calculation includes the potential conversion of THCa into delta-9 THC.
The law permits licensed activities such as hemp seed import/export, cultivation, transport, manufacturing, product import/export, and circulation. It also allows medical products containing industrial hemp compounds to be regulated under the UAE’s medical products framework.
However, the law also prohibits several consumer-facing categories, including most hemp foods, food supplements, smoking products, veterinary products, and most cosmetics, except for specific limited exceptions.
Quick Legal Summary
| Area | Status Under Federal Decree-Law No. 24 of 2025 |
|---|---|
| Industrial hemp cultivation | Allowed only with licence and local approvals |
| Hemp seed import/export | Allowed only for licensed agricultural companies |
| Hemp product manufacturing | Allowed only with licence and MoIAT approval |
| Hemp product import/export | Allowed only with permits and THC certification |
| Medical hemp products | Regulated under UAE medical products law |
| Consumer CBD oil | Not opened as an over-the-counter wellness product |
| Hemp foods | Mostly prohibited, except specific non-viable processed seed exception |
| Hemp supplements | Prohibited |
| Smoking products | Prohibited |
| Veterinary hemp products | Prohibited |
| Free zones | Included within the law’s scope |
| THC limit | 0.3% total THC on a dry-weight basis |
Why Federal Decree-Law No. 24 of 2025 Matters
Before this decree, hemp sat largely inside the broader cannabis and narcotics conversation in the UAE. Federal Decree-Law No. 24 of 2025 changes that by creating a separate legal identity for industrial hemp.
That distinction is important.
The law recognises that low-THC industrial hemp can have industrial, agricultural, manufacturing, and medical applications. At the same time, it keeps a strict legal boundary between licensed industrial hemp and cannabis controlled under the UAE narcotics framework.
This makes the law significant for:
- Agricultural companies
- Industrial manufacturers
- Importers and exporters
- Pharmaceutical companies
- Investors
- Compliance teams
- Free zone businesses
- UAE residents trying to understand what has and has not changed
The biggest takeaway is simple: the UAE has opened a regulated industrial hemp pathway, not a consumer hemp market.
Legal Definition of Industrial Hemp in the UAE
Under the decree, industrial hemp means any type of Cannabis Sativa plant, including any part, derivative, or extract, whether growing or not, where the total concentration of THC in the flowering heads and leaves does not exceed 0.3% on a dry-weight basis.
This definition matters because it creates the legal line between industrial hemp and cannabis regulated under narcotics law.
Total THC, Not Just Delta-9 THC
One of the most important details is that the UAE uses total THC.
That means the calculation is not limited to delta-9 THC. It also considers the potential conversion of THCa into delta-9 THC, according to the mechanism to be set out in the executive regulations.
For businesses, this is a major compliance point. A product that appears compliant under a foreign delta-9-only test may not automatically satisfy UAE requirements if THCa conversion is not included.
0.3% Dry-Weight Threshold
The legal threshold is 0.3% total THC on a dry-weight basis. If a plant, material, or product exceeds that limit, it may fall outside the industrial hemp framework and into the UAE’s narcotics law framework.
That is why testing, documentation, accredited laboratories, and batch-level traceability are not optional details. They are central to legal compliance.
What Activities Are Covered by the Law?
Article 2 lists the main industrial hemp activities covered by the decree. These include:
- Import and export of industrial hemp seeds
- Cultivation of industrial hemp
- Transportation of industrial hemp seeds and seedlings
- Disposition of industrial hemp seeds and seedlings
- Manufacturing of industrial hemp products
- Import and export of industrial hemp products
- Circulation of industrial hemp products
The law also states that these activities are covered within the UAE, including free zones.
This means businesses in DIFC, DMCC, ADGM, JAFZA, and other free zones should not assume they are outside the scope of the decree.
Who Regulates Hemp in the UAE?
There is no single hemp regulator in the UAE. The framework is shared across multiple federal and local authorities.
Depending on the activity, a business may need approvals from:
- Ministry of Climate Change and Environment
- Ministry of Industry and Advanced Technology
- Ministry of Foreign Trade
- National Anti-Narcotics Authority
- Emirates Drug Establishment, for medical product matters
- Relevant local authority in the emirate where the activity is conducted
The decree defines local authorities broadly, including authorities responsible for public health, agriculture, environment, industry, customs, or security in each emirate.
This multi-agency structure is one of the most important practical features of the law. A hemp business may need more than one licence, permit, or approval before it can legally operate.
Licensing Categories Under UAE Hemp Law
1. Import and Export of Industrial Hemp Seeds
The import and export of industrial hemp seeds requires a licence from the Ministry of Climate Change and Environment and the necessary local authority approvals in the relevant emirate.
The applicant must be an agricultural company established under UAE law. The seeds must belong to approved industrial hemp varieties, and the applicant must submit an operational plan covering cultivation, storage, distribution, sampling, and disposition.
Importing or exporting hemp seedlings is separately prohibited.
2. Cultivation of Industrial Hemp
Cultivation requires a licence from the Ministry, approvals from the relevant local authority, and security clearance through the National Anti-Narcotics Authority-linked process.
Cultivation areas must be designated by the local authority. They must be away from residential and other agricultural areas, fenced, monitored, protected from unauthorised access, and clearly marked as restricted agricultural areas.
Licensees must also conduct periodic THC testing during the production chain and notify the Ministry, local authority, and Authority if THC exceeds 0.3%.
3. Transportation of Hemp Seeds and Seedlings
Transportation of industrial hemp seeds and seedlings requires approval from the concerned local authority.
If transport crosses more than one emirate, approval must be obtained from each relevant local authority.
This is especially important for supply chains moving between Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Sharjah, Ras Al Khaimah, or other emirates.
4. Manufacturing of Industrial Hemp Products
Manufacturing industrial hemp products requires a licence from the concerned local authority after approval from the Ministry of Industry and Advanced Technology.
Manufacturers must have an approved quality management system or GMP certificate, an internal or contracted accredited laboratory, and an electronic documentation system linked to the national tracking system.
The law also prohibits manufacturers from increasing THC concentration above 0.3% or using industrial hemp compounds to manufacture narcotic substances.
5. Import and Export of Hemp Products
Importing hemp products requires a permit from the Ministry of Foreign Trade, relevant local authority approvals, security clearances, commercial registration, product documentation, and laboratory certification confirming THC does not exceed 0.3%.
The law requires certificates from laboratories accredited by the Ministry of Industry and Advanced Technology for imported hemp products.
Exports also require Ministry of Foreign Trade permits and approval from the competent authority in the importing country.
6. Medical Products Containing Hemp Compounds
The decree allows activities related to medical products containing industrial hemp compounds or raw materials extracted from industrial hemp to be governed by Federal Decree-Law No. 38 of 2024 on medical products, the pharmacy profession, and pharmaceutical establishments.
This is not the same as legalising over-the-counter CBD products.
It means hemp-derived compounds may be used within the UAE’s regulated medical product system, subject to pharmaceutical approval, licensing, prescribing, and dispensing rules.
What Products Are Prohibited?
Federal Decree-Law No. 24 of 2025 is very clear that some categories remain prohibited.
The law prohibits the import or manufacture of food products containing industrial hemp, except for roasted or processed hemp plant seeds rendered non-viable, in line with the referenced exception.
This means businesses should not assume that hemp protein, hemp milk, hemp snacks, hemp cooking oils, or hemp-infused foods are now generally legal.
The exception is narrow and should be checked against executive regulations and official guidance before any commercial activity.
Food supplements are prohibited under Article 2.
This includes hemp-derived wellness capsules, powders, gummies, oils, or similar products marketed as supplements.
Cosmetic products containing industrial hemp are prohibited, except for specific products containing oils extracted from industrial hemp seeds or stems, provided they are completely free from THC in all forms, precursor acids, and any cannabis-derived compounds that may produce a narcotic effect.
This distinction is critical.
Pure hemp seed oil cosmetics may fall within the exception if they meet the required conditions. CBD skincare, cannabinoid cosmetics, and hemp extract products should not be treated as permitted without direct regulatory confirmation.
Smoking Products
Smoking products are prohibited.
This includes hemp flower, hemp cigarettes, hemp pre-rolls, and hemp vaping products.
Veterinary Products
Veterinary products containing industrial hemp are prohibited.
This means CBD pet oils, hemp pet supplements, and similar products should not be marketed as permitted under this law.
Hemp Seedlings
The import and export of industrial hemp seedlings is prohibited.
The law allows regulated activity involving seeds and licensed cultivation, but it draws a firm line around importing or exporting seedlings.
Does the Law Apply in Free Zones?
Yes. The law applies to industrial hemp activities practiced in the UAE, including free zones.
This is one of the most important points for businesses.
A company operating in a UAE free zone should not assume that free zone registration allows hemp activities without federal and local compliance. The decree still applies, and local authority approvals may still be required.
Can Each Emirate Set Its Own Restrictions?
Yes. The decree gives each emirate the authority, within its territorial limits and under its own legislation and regulations, to prohibit or restrict all or some of the hemp activities listed in Article 2.
This means federal permission does not automatically guarantee practical permission in every emirate.
A company planning hemp operations in Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Sharjah, or any other emirate must check both:
- Federal law
- Emirate-level rules and local authority requirements
This is especially important for cultivation sites, manufacturing facilities, warehousing, transport routes, and free zone operations.
The National Tracking System
Federal Decree-Law No. 24 of 2025 establishes a national system for tracking industrial hemp seeds, seedlings, and products in the UAE.
The Cabinet will specify the authority responsible for the system, the data sources, data management controls, access rights, and mechanisms for connecting the system with other relevant national tracking systems.
For licensed businesses, this means traceability must be built into the operation from the beginning.
Records should be capable of showing:
- Seed origin
- Licensed quantities
- Cultivation locations
- Batch movement
- Manufacturing records
- Import/export details
- Destruction or disposition records
- Parties involved in transactions
Record-Keeping Requirements
Licensees must keep organised records showing the scope of licensed activities, dates, quantities, imports, exports, manufacturing, circulation, distribution, transaction parties, damaged or deteriorated materials, and destruction or safe disposition procedures.
These records must be kept for at least five years from the end of each fiscal year.
For businesses, this makes compliance documentation a core operating requirement, not a minor administrative task.
Advertising and Promotion Rules
The decree restricts advertising and promotion of industrial hemp products.
Advertising and promotion are prohibited unless approval is obtained from the licensing authority and the activity follows conditions issued in coordination with media regulation authorities.
This is important for ecommerce companies, retailers, marketplaces, influencers, media agencies, and product distributors.
Even if a product is licensed, its marketing may still require separate approval.
Penalties Under UAE Federal Decree-Law No. 24 of 2025
The decree includes both administrative sanctions and criminal penalties.
Administrative Sanctions
Violations may lead to:
- Warning
- Administrative fine from AED 10,000 to AED 1,000,000
- Double fine for repeat violations, up to AED 2,000,000
- Temporary suspension of licences, approvals, or permits
- Revocation of licences, approvals, or permits
These sanctions are listed in Article 27.
Criminal Penalties
Certain offences are punishable by imprisonment for at least three months and a fine of at least AED 100,000, or either one of those penalties.
These offences include unlicensed activity, misuse of industrial hemp, transport without required approvals, disposal to unlicensed persons, importing/exporting seedlings, using hemp in prohibited products, cultivating outside approved areas, possession without licence, and failing to report THC exceedance.
The law also states that administrative penalties do not prevent the application of more severe penalties under other laws where relevant.
What Is Still Pending?
Federal Decree-Law No. 24 of 2025 is a framework law. Several practical details depend on executive regulations, Cabinet decisions, and local implementation.
Important areas still requiring close monitoring include:
- Approved industrial hemp seed varieties
- Detailed THC calculation methodology
- Labelling standards
- Industrial Hemp Symbol requirements
- National tracking system procedures
- Product-specific permitted-use lists
- Local emirate-level restrictions
- Advertising approval procedures
- Conditions for the non-viable hemp seed exception
The law itself says the executive regulations will specify sectors, industries, fields, controls, timeframes, and procedures in multiple areas.
Businesses should not treat unclear areas as permission. In UAE regulatory practice, unclear usually means: wait for official guidance or obtain legal advice.
What the Law Means for Businesses
For businesses, the decree creates a real opportunity, but only inside a regulated system.
The most relevant opportunities are likely to be in:
- Industrial hemp cultivation
- Seed import/export
- Licensed manufacturing
- Hemp-based industrial materials
- Medical product manufacturing
- Controlled import/export
- B2B supply chains
But every opportunity depends on licences, permits, accredited testing, traceability, local approvals, and strict product-category rules.
This is not a market for informal importing, online dropshipping, influencer-led CBD sales, or consumer wellness shortcuts.
What the Law Means for Consumers and Residents
For UAE residents, the most important point is that the law does not create a broad consumer hemp market.
Consumer CBD products are not made freely legal by this decree. Hemp supplements remain prohibited. Most hemp foods remain prohibited. Smoking products remain prohibited. Veterinary hemp products remain prohibited.
The safest consumer-facing interpretation is this:
Do not assume that a hemp or CBD product sold legally abroad can be brought into, ordered into, or used in the UAE.
The UAE’s hemp framework is written mainly for licensed industrial, agricultural, manufacturing, trade, and medical-product channels.
Conclusion
UAE Federal Decree-Law No. 24 of 2025 is a landmark law because it separates low-THC industrial hemp from the wider narcotics framework and creates a formal licensing system around it.
But the law is narrow, controlled, and compliance-heavy.
It opens a door for industrial and medical hemp businesses. It does not open the door to recreational cannabis, general CBD retail, hemp supplements, smoking products, or most hemp foods.
For businesses, the opportunity is real but highly regulated.
For residents, the message is simpler: hemp law has changed for licensed industry, not for casual personal use.
Legal Disclaimer
This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. UAE Federal Decree-Law No. 24 of 2025, the UAE narcotics framework, medical product laws, customs rules, and emirate-level regulations are complex and may change through executive regulations, Cabinet decisions, and local authority rules.
Before importing, manufacturing, selling, using, transporting, prescribing, advertising, or investing in any hemp-related product or activity in the UAE, seek advice from a qualified UAE legal professional and verify the latest official requirements with the relevant authority.
What is UAE Federal Decree-Law No. 24 of 2025?
It is the UAE’s dedicated law regulating industrial and medical uses of industrial hemp. It creates licensed pathways for cultivation, manufacturing, trade, import/export, and medical-product use, while maintaining restrictions on consumer and recreational use.
What is the THC limit under UAE hemp law?
The THC limit is 0.3% total THC on a dry-weight basis. The calculation includes potential THCa conversion into delta-9 THC.
Is CBD legal in the UAE under this law?
Consumer CBD products are not freely legalised. The law allows hemp compounds within regulated medical products, subject to UAE medical product rules.
Are hemp supplements legal in the UAE?
No. Food supplements containing industrial hemp are prohibited under the decree.
Are hemp foods legal in the UAE?
Most hemp food products are prohibited. The law includes a narrow exception for roasted or processed hemp seeds rendered non-viable, subject to applicable conditions.
Does the law apply in UAE free zones?
Yes. The decree applies to industrial hemp activities in the UAE, including free zones.
Can each emirate restrict hemp activities?
Yes. Each emirate may prohibit or restrict some or all covered hemp activities within its territorial limits.
What are the penalties for violating UAE hemp law?
Administrative fines can range from AED 10,000 to AED 1,000,000, and repeat violations can reach AED 2,000,000. Some offences carry at least three months’ imprisonment and/or a fine of at least AED 100,000.
External Source
https://uaelegislation.gov.ae/en/legislations/3886/download
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