The good news is the UK and the GCC very recently struck a trade deal projected to remove £580 million in duties a year for UK exporters. UK-made skincare and toiletries are currently subject to blanket 5% GCC-wide tariffs but will see these axed to zero once the deal comes into force.

Cosmetics regulations and requirements

The GCC Standardisation Organisation has developed harmonised standards for cosmetics, covering ingredients, labelling and safety.

In the Gulf region it is especially important to team up with local partners such as distributors with a strong retail presence who understand how the market works.

Additional regulations in GCC countries these may include:

• Additional testing on products for heavy metals
• Samples of products to be sent for laboratory testing
• Halaal certification is not required for product registrations but may be helpful given a significant Muslim population in the countries
• Different countries within the GCC also ban and restrict various goods

The Gulf Standardization Organization (GSO) provides a framework for packaging and labelling products.

The labels must also be translated into Arabic, or local language, which can often be done through a local partner.

Note the new ‘claims’ regulation, which prohibits the use of medical-sounding terms for cosmetics, as these are now reserved for medical products and require more extensive licensing.

Customs, duties and declarations

Currently, the GCC imposes blanket minimum 5% tariffs on imported goods. However, under the recently-agreed on UK-GCC trade deal, tariffs on skincare and toiletries (such as perfumes and personal care products) will be cut to zero once the agreement enters into force.

The deal also agreed favourable Rules of Origin requirements, allowing UK brands to qualify for these preferential tariffs while maintaining their existing supply chains (for example, sourcing some ingredients from the EU).

You can read more about the deal here.

Countries in the GCC (UAE, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Oman, Qatar, Kuwait) may follow slightly different export and import processes, so it’s important to check the specific country regulations.

You will likely need to go through local registration and approval with national regulatory bodies, such as the Saudi Food and Drug Authority or the Emirates’ Ministry of Industry and Advanced Technology.

For the UAE, it is necessary to pay 5% VAT and import duties, as well as provide customs documents such as invoices, a certificate of origin, and bills of lading or airway bill. All cosmetic products must also obtain a Certificate of Conformity from the Ministry of Industry and Advanced Technology through the Emirates Conformity Assessment Scheme.

Other GCC countries vary, but it is always necessary to gain pre-market approval and product registration prior to any cosmetics being imported, distributed or sold.

One should also bear in mind that cosmetics will be expected to comply with Halal standards. Halal certification holds significant sway with Middle Eastern consumers.

Further requirements may involve:

• Proof of GMP compliant manufacturing processes
• Full ingredient lists
• Product safety data
• Certificates of Free Sale for each country.

More information on differing policies in the GCC can be found here. Intellectual Property.

Most GCC countries have now joined the Madrid Protocol, the only remaining exception being Kuwait. Kuwait, therefore, requires a standalone national trademark application.

Travel and Immigration

UAE

• The UAE has a complex work visa system that is currently being overhauled. The Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation is due to publish new rules in 2026, with implementation expected mid-year.
• You will need to obtain a Mission Work Permit, which is initially valid for 60 days but can be extended to 3 years upon renewal. This will soon be changed to a 2-year multi-entry visa. You can also apply for a single-entry jobseeker visa to explore job opportunities in the UAE for 60, 90 or 120 days. A 5-year self-sponsored Green Visa and a 10-year Golden Visa are also available.
• You will need to prove you do not have HIV and Tuberculosis.

Saudi Arabia

• It is possible to obtain an Electronic Visa Waiver for business for up to 6 months. British residents in Saudi Arabia also require a valid exit or re-entry permit from your sponsor and the Saudi Ministry of Interior to leave the country.

Resources

• Find a lawyer abroad
• Trade Update: UK-Gulf Cooperation Council FTA – Gov.uk 
• Attaché contact details – Gov.uk
• Foreign travel advice Saudi Arabia – Gov.uk 
• Exporting guide to United Arab Emirates – Great.gov.uk 
• An Introduction to Regulation in the Middle East – The Red Tree
• GCC Standardisation Organisation