Middle East – GCC’s New Food Labelling Requirements for Dining Establishments and high-nutritional-value packaged foods

In 2025, dining establishments across the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) region must prepare for a series of new food labelling regulations designed to enhance consumer awareness and public health. These regulations will require establishments to provide detailed nutritional information, including allergens, calorie content, and exercise time, while also addressing high salt intake and food marketing practices. This move is part of a broader effort by GCC authorities to combat the rising prevalence of non-communicable diseases such as obesity, high blood pressure, and cardiovascular disease.
Mandatory Allergen and Calorie Information
In January 2025, dining establishments were required to prominently display allergen and calorie information on their digital menus. The updated regulations extend beyond traditional printed menus, ensuring that this vital information is also accessible via online and app-based ordering systems. Saudi Arabia will implement these changes first in January 2025, followed by the wider GCC rollout in March 2025.
Introducing Exercise Time on Menus
In a novel move aimed at increasing public awareness of the energy balance in food consumption, the Saudi Food and Drug Authority (SFDA) has introduced a regulation requiring dining establishments to display the estimated time required to burn off the calories consumed from menu items. This information must be presented clearly in minutes and/or hours, accompanied by a ‘walking’ icon. This initiative, is expected to be enforced by July 2025 and aims to empower consumers to make more informed dietary choices.
Regulations on Marketing and Salt Intake
In addition to allergen, calorie, and exercise-related labelling, the SFDA is developing a new regulation to curb misleading marketing and advertising of high-nutritional-value packaged foods and balanced meals sold outside the home. Establishments will be prohibited from
advertising food products using terms such as ‘good,’ ‘healthy,’ or ‘fit’ and from associating food products with good health practices unless explicitly approved. Furthermore, advertising or marketing food products or meals for specific diets or consumer categories will also be restricted.
Another crucial regulation set to take effect in July 2025 addresses high salt intake. Dining establishments will be required to mark foods containing more than 5g of salt with a prominent saltshaker symbol. This initiative aims to raise consumer awareness of excessive salt consumption, helping to reduce the risk of hypertension and other salt-related health issues.
Preparing for Compliance
With these regulatory changes on the horizon, dining establishments in the GCC must take proactive steps to ensure compliance. Key measures include:

• Updating digital and physical menus to reflect new labelling requirements.
• Implementing training programs for staff on allergen awareness and calorie content calculations.
• Partnering with nutritionists to accurately determine exercise time estimations.
• Reviewing marketing strategies to ensure compliance with new advertising restrictions.
  By staying ahead of these changes, dining establishments can contribute to a healthier dining culture while avoiding potential penalties. The shift towards more transparent food labelling aligns with global trends promoting consumer health and wellness, reinforcing the GCC’s commitment to public health initiatives.