Abu Dhabi restaurants must now offer healthy menu options

The next time you head out for a meal, take a closer look at the menu, and you’ll find a few more healthy dishes to choose from. Some hotel restaurants and food outlets are now required to offer dishes that meet approved nutritional standards, with changes to both adult and children's menus.

What makes a dish qualify as healthy? 

The SEHHI programme from Abu Dhabi Public Health Centre sets the criteria for qualifying dishes, focusing on foods that are lower in fat, sugar, and salt, and higher in nutritional value. 

So, it's not just about adding a salad to the menu. Adult menus must include at least one healthy dish in each category, from appetisers and mains, to sides, and desserts. Look out for the approved SEHHI logo on menus to identify dishes that meet these standards.

The rules apply for kids’ meals as well, and at least half of the items on children's menus must qualify as healthy. Restaurants can also offer smaller portions of suitable adult dishes, giving children more options beyond the usual nuggets and fries.

Do the rules apply to every restaurant?

Not quite. The requirements cover hotel-operated restaurants and independent food and beverage outlets with a valid tourism licence from the Department of Culture and Tourism Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi).

Some businesses are exempt, including buffets without a specific menu and beverage-only outlets. So, you won't necessarily see these changes at every restaurant across the capital.

Your local supermarket will see changes too.

The changes aren't limited to eating out. From 1 January 2027, supermarkets will also have new rules on where they display foods high in fat, salt, and sugar. These products cannot be placed in high-visibility areas such as store entrances, checkout counters, and the ends of aisles, or feature as prominently on online grocery platforms. 

You'll still be able to buy these products, but they should be less likely to catch your eye first when you're shopping.