About ESMA The Emirates Authority for Standardization and Metrology (ESMA) is the United Arab Emirates' national standards body, established in 2001 under Federal Law No. 28 of 2001. ESMA is the UAE's primary authority for setting technical regulations, standards, and conformity assessment requirements across all regulated product categories, including halal food, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, and consumer goods.
ESMA's UAE.S 2055 halal standard series (UAE.S 2055-1 for food, UAE.S 2055-2 for cosmetics) forms the regulatory backbone for halal product compliance in the UAE. Products sold under a halal claim in the UAE must comply with these standards, enforced through ESMA's product registration and market surveillance programmes. ESMA accredits conformity assessment bodies and halal certification organisations authorised to issue certificates recognised for UAE market entry.
Given the UAE's position as one of the world's leading halal product importers and re-export hubs — particularly through Dubai's Jebel Ali Free Zone — ESMA accreditation or ESMA-aligned halal certification is a critical commercial requirement for food and consumer goods exporters targeting the Gulf Cooperation Council region. The UAE halal food market alone is estimated at over USD 20 billion annually.
ESMA operates within the GCC Standardization Organization (GSO) framework, meaning UAE standards are harmonised across all six GCC member states. ESMA is also aligned with OIC/SMIIC halal standards and participates in the International Halal Accreditation Forum (IHAF). Its certificates and recognised certifier lists are referenced by Saudi Arabia (SFDA), Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain, and Oman in their import compliance assessments.
For exporters of food, cosmetics, or pharmaceuticals targeting the UAE and wider GCC markets, obtaining certification from an ESMA-accredited body is the fastest route to regulatory compliance and consumer trust in the Arab world's most cosmopolitan market.
Based in UAE
Established 2001
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