Is Hemp Legal in United Arab Emirates?

Industrial hemp is not legally distinguished from cannabis in the United Arab Emirates. Federal Decree-Law No. 30 of 2021 treats Cannabis sativa as a controlled species without an explicit THC-content carve-out, so the 0.3 percent hemp thresholds standard in the EU and United States have no UAE equivalent. The Ministry of Climate Change and Environment (MOCCAE) has not authorized hemp cultivation pilots.

Hemp-derived consumer goods including hemp seed oil, hemp protein, hemp textiles, and hemp paper face inconsistent treatment at customs. Some products labeled clearly as zero-THC hemp foods have passed through Dubai and Abu Dhabi customs, while others have been seized. The Emirates Authority for Standardization and Metrology (ESMA) and emirate-level municipalities have not issued public hemp-product standards. Operators relying on hemp ingredient supply chains should expect material compliance uncertainty.

This is regulatory background, not legal advice. Anyone evaluating hemp imports or operations in the UAE should consult an Emirati attorney and seek written guidance from MOCCAE and MOHAP before relying on any interpretation.