Henna in Dubai: Black Henna, Patch Tests and Salon Rules

Before Eid in April 2024, the Dubai Health Authority (DHA) advised residents to avoid black henna and unfamiliar hair dye brands, which may contain harmful additives, and to do a patch test on a small area of skin before applying dye more widely. Henna is in high demand before Eid, and Dubai Municipality has repeatedly stepped up salon inspections ahead of the holiday.

What Dubai Municipality checks

In April 2022, Dubai Municipality told Gulf News that its health-hazards team checks products and practices including henna, warns salons against mixing henna with harmful chemicals, and takes henna samples for safety testing. Earlier, in 2019, the municipality said that if henna causes skin complications, the salon is responsible, and asked customers to report side effects immediately.

In 2018 it said salons using black henna or other unapproved products would have the products withdrawn and face a fine of AED 2,000, with temporary closure for a repeat violation. Fines may have changed since.

The product rules behind it

Dubai Municipality's salon guidelines (version 5, March 2026) say salons may only use and trade cosmetics approved by the competent authorities with compliant labels, and must not circulate unauthorised, prohibited or lab-failed products. In its free-zone areas, Trakhees (2018) specifically prohibited "black colour as a henna substitute" in ladies' salons and banned custom product blends for customers.

For packaged henna and hair dyes, you can check registration yourself: see how to check a cosmetic product on Montaji.

At a glance

What to know Ready-mixed "black" hennaDHA advises avoiding it; Dubai Municipality warns against chemical mixing Packaged henna or dyeShould be registered and labelled; scan it on Montaji Any new productDHA advises a patch test first

Home henna

In 2018, Dubai officials said salon staff needed a separate permit for home services, and that home services are at the customer's own risk because salons, unlike homes, are inspected. Ask your artist what licence covers home visits and which product they use.

If something goes wrong

Dubai Municipality asks customers to report any side effects from a product immediately. In 2019 it said corrective measures are taken within 48 hours of a complaint, and listed its toll-free call centre (800900) and the Dubai 24/7 app as channels. Inspectors also check that salon products are registered on Montaji and that opening dates are recorded so products are used within shelf life (Gulf News, 2022).

Trakhees guidelines (2018) added that salons must follow manufacturers' instructions for mixing, timing, patch tests and precautions, which is a reasonable question to ask any henna artist.

Before you book

• Ask what is in the henna and whether it is a registered product.
• Avoid black henna, as the DHA advises.
• Do a patch test first, as the DHA advises.
• For bridal henna, see our bridal beauty timeline.
• Report side effects or concerns to Dubai Municipality on 800900 or via the Dubai 24/7 app.

For general information. Details can change; check with Dubai Municipality or the Dubai Health Authority before relying on them.