ABU DHABI: Abu Dhabi on June 1 has started to ban some Styrofoam products as part of a larger campaign in the UAE to halt the use of plastic products, state news agency WAM reported.
The ban covers items made of expanded polystyrene, such as cups, lids, plates and beverage containers. It will apply to food containers used for immediate consumption, whether on-site or for takeaway, and those containing ready-to-eat products that do not require further preparation, such as cooking or heating.
Exemptions to the ban include products not designed for single-consumer use, such as large storage boxes and coolers as well as trays used for meat, fruit and ready-made dairy products sold in retail. Medical use items are also exempt.
Shaikha Salem Al-Dhaheri, Secretary General of the Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi (EAD), said the aim of the ban was “to reduce harmful microplastics from entering the food chain, which can have detrimental effects on human health, biodiversity, and our natural ecosystems.”
She added: “We have been very selective in choosing which Styrofoam products will be banned to facilitate business continuity and comfort for consumers. All the products that are prohibited have accessible alternatives.”
The Abu Dhabi Department of Economic Development will conduct field inspections to ensure the implementation of the ban across sales outlets and industrial facilities involved in plastic manufacturing.
The Abu Dhabi Single-Use Plastic Policy was introduced in 2020, and by 2022, a ban on single-use plastic bags was implemented in collaboration with retailers.
EAD, together with the government and private sectors, launched in 2023 Reverse Vending Machines for single-use plastic bottles aimed at promoting a recycling culture. Efforts were also made to eliminate single-use plastics from government operations.

DUBAI: The UAE’s midday break for outdoor workers during summer will start on June 15 and last until September 15, the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation has announced.

Outdoor are mandated to take a break from 12 p.m. to 3 p.m. – with work performed under direct sunlight and in open-air areas across the UAE banned during those times – to protect them from occupational hazards and injuries related to the extreme summer heat, the ministry announcement said.

“Striving to ensure our workers’ safety, the Ministry urges companies to provide shaded areas during the Midday Break, adequate cooling devices, sufficient water, hydrating materials such as salts and other food items approved by the local authorities, first aid equipment on the job sites and other essential amenities,” the ministry posted on X.

For the 20th year in a row, the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MoHRE) will implement the Midday Break – banning work performed under direct sunlight and in open-air areas across the UAE – between 12:30 and 3:00 pm, from 15 June, until 15 September, 2024.… pic.twitter.com/1ZN1AQbmCW

— وزارة الموارد البشرية والتوطين (@MOHRE_UAE) May 31, 2024

Now in its 20th year, the annual noon break provides respite for outdoor workers during summer months where temperatures could reach 50°C or even higher. Companies are required to provide shaded areas and cooling equipment for workers during the three-hour break.

Companies face fines of up to Dh5,000 per worker and a maximum of Dh50,000 for multiple violations if they are found violating the regulation.

There are however exceptions to the midday break: works deemed necessary for technical reasons such as laying asphalt or pouring concrete on road works or to address emergencies affecting public welfare including infrastructure maintenance or utility repairs are allowed.

Kuwait’s midday outdoork work ban, first introduced in 2015, meanwhile started June 1 and will continue for three months with workers allowed to take a break from 11 a.m. until 4 p.m.