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Montaji, consumer products and advertising approvals

Start with the task you need to complete. These answers connect the relevant municipal service with its application route, supporting information and important distinctions. Open the official source for the requirements of your particular case.

8 answers, each with the official source it rests on · Last checked 12 October 2026

Montaji registration: covered products and eligible businesses

Montaji is Dubai Municipality's consumer-product assessment and registration system for cosmetics, personal care, fragrances, health supplements, biocides and detergents. Registration is required before these products are placed on the local market. Businesses need a valid UAE trade or industrial licence with a relevant activity; a licence from another emirate or free zone can qualify. Individuals without a licensed company cannot use business registration. The certificate is valid for 5 years and, according to the service FAQ, applies in Dubai. Food-item registration uses a separate municipal service.

Source: Dubai Municipality — Register Consumer Products (Montaji) · Correct as of 8 October 2026 · Applies: Dubai

Montaji documents and returned applications

Prepare clear product artwork, the manufacturer or brand owner's ingredient/concentration report and the applicable laboratory evidence. Imports need an official or government-authenticated free-sale certificate from the origin country. Other certificates depend on product type. In Montaji, check assessment remarks, complete missing information and resubmit a returned application; it is returned only once. The service warns of automatic cancellation if it is not resubmitted within 45 days or registration fees remain unpaid for 13 days. Notify DM of product changes and obtain approval before trading the changed product.

Source: Dubai Municipality — Register Consumer Products (Montaji) · Correct as of 8 October 2026 · Applies: Dubai

Montaji advertising permission is separate from product registration

A relevant consumer-products business must first hold valid Dubai Municipality product registrations, then apply for advertising permission in Montaji. Submit the advertisement and any requested evidence for its claims. Medical cure claims or exaggerated claims are rejected. After review and payment, the permit is issued electronically. It can cover social media and other listed advertising channels; further approvals from other authorities may be needed. Changing approved content without municipal approval can cancel the permit. A product registration certificate does not replace the advertising permit.

Who to go to

Dubai Municipality Montaji service

Source: Dubai Municipality — Permit to Advertise Consumer Products · Correct as of 8 October 2026 · Applies: Dubai

Billboard content approval and an expired location permit

Dubai Municipality reviews content for outdoor billboards managed by it or RTA through the unified outdoor-advertising platform. Advertising companies submit the design, supporting evidence and the RTA contract or permit where applicable. If the billboard location permit has expired, renew it before seeking content approval. The service requires Arabic content with the prescribed prominence; approval of content does not itself replace the location or structural permission. This is a different service from DLD's Trakheesi property-advertising permit.

Source: Dubai Municipality — Approve the Advertisement Content of a Billboard · Correct as of 8 October 2026 · Applies: Dubai

Consumer-product import clearance and port inspection

Consumer-product registration and import clearance are separate steps. For consumer consignments, provide the shipping document and packing list; toys and food-contact materials have additional safety or laboratory evidence requirements. After applying and paying, the service instructs the applicant to visit the Health and Safety office at the port with the reference and original documents, with goods ready for inspection. Online submission alone does not complete release. A consignment sent to a warehouse under a non-disposal undertaking must not be sold or used before inspection and final approval. Contact hsconsignment@dm.gov.ae for the specific consignment.

Source: Dubai Municipality — Permit to Release Imported Consumer Products Consignments · Correct as of 8 October 2026 · Applies: Dubai

CPRE, CPLS and pending Montaji import cases

Consumer Product Registration (CPRE) is for local-market products. Consumer Product Listing (CPLS) is for re-export or non-commercial use; it is not local-market registration. Re-export cases require exit evidence. If pending import or re-export cases are not closed within the service's applicable deadline, a company can be blocked from further release approvals, even for compliant new shipments. Resolve and close the outstanding cases through the official process. A label-correction undertaking still requires municipal approval for final release.

Source: Dubai Municipality — Permit to Release Imported Consumer Products Consignments · Correct as of 8 October 2026 · Applies: Dubai

Consumer-product export health certificates are consignment-specific

Consumer-product establishments apply through Dubai Municipality for an export health certificate for the listed registered product categories, including cosmetics, supplements, detergents and food-contact materials. Provide the airway bill and consignment contents; locally manufactured products need the applicable valid GMP certificate. The service states specific conformity or laboratory evidence for unregistered food-contact materials. Enter the exporter, importer, invoice, licence and product details, attach the documents and pay after approval. The certificate covers only the specified products, one consignment and one destination, and is valid for 30 days. Unpaid initial approval is cancelled after the stated deadline. Contact hsconsignment@dm.gov.ae for the applicable shipment evidence. This is distinct from a consumer-product free-sale certificate.

Source: Dubai Municipality — Health Certificate to Export Consumer Products · Correct as of 10 October 2026 · Applies: Dubai

Consumer-product free-sale certificates and Dubai manufacture

A consumer-product free-sale certificate is available only for eligible products with valid municipal registration that are manufactured in Dubai by a factory with the relevant valid industrial licence. Imported-product registration alone is insufficient. Apply through Montaji with the relevant accredited GMP certificate, select the registered products and export country, and pay for review. The certificate covers one brand with its selected variants and has the stated validity period. A returned application must be corrected and resubmitted within the service deadline; resubmitting unchanged missing information can lead to rejection. Receive an approved signed certificate in the company account. Contact montaji.pilot@dm.gov.ae for eligibility questions. This differs from the consignment-specific export health certificate.

Source: Dubai Municipality — Free Sale Certificate for Consumer Products · Correct as of 10 October 2026 · Applies: Dubai

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