Nutri-Mark Explained: The A to E Nutrition Grade on UAE Food Packs

Nutri-Mark is a front-of-pack label that grades packaged food from A, in dark green, to E, in red. It was approved by Abu Dhabi's Quality and Conformity Council in 2025, and FoodNavigator reported in June 2026 that it had not yet been made mandatory, although some large brands have voluntarily reformulated products or launched better-graded ones.

What the grades mean

The key word is "category". When the system was announced in November 2024, officials explained that grades compare products within the same food category and do not label foods as "good" or "bad". A lower grade does not mean a product is unsafe. In practice, Nutri-Mark helps you compare one yoghurt with another, or one breakfast cereal with another, rather than a yoghurt with a cereal.

Nutri-Mark uses the same idea as Singapore's Nutri-Grade and the UK's Nutri-Score: a colour and a letter on the front of the pack that summarise the nutrition panel on the back. FoodNavigator describes it as the first system of its kind in the Middle East.

How a grade is worked out

According to FoodNavigator, the grade is based on:

• total fat and saturated fat;
• carbohydrates and sugars;
• protein and fibre;
• salt;
• calories.

Product analysis is carried out by the Central Testing Laboratory of the Abu Dhabi Quality and Conformity Council, which works with manufacturers, importers and retailers. The system was developed with the Abu Dhabi Public Health Centre.

Which products carry it

At the November 2024 launch, Gulf News reported that the first phase would cover five categories:

• dairy products;
• oils;
• beverages;
• baked goods;
• food for children aged 3 to 18, including snacks and cereals.

A later phase was planned to extend to a wider range of products and introduce certification for non-packaged food. The initial rollout was in Abu Dhabi, with expansion across the UAE planned.

Scanning it in the shop

In June 2026 the system went digital. Shoppers can scan a Nutri-Mark QR code on products using the TAMM app, Abu Dhabi's government services app, at four major UAE retail chains, according to FoodNavigator. The Quality and Conformity Council said the move was meant to give the label wider visibility and encourage companies to adopt it.

Some manufacturers have responded by changing recipes. FoodNavigator reported that Al Ain Farms planned to cut added sugars by 10–20% in its flavoured milk, yoghurt and laban, with the reformulated products due on shelves by September 2026.

How to use it

• Compare like with like: use the grade to choose between products of the same type.
• Treat the grade as a summary, then read the nutrition panel for the detail you care about, such as sugar or salt.
• Remember it is voluntary for now, so a product with no Nutri-Mark has not necessarily been graded.
• For what else a UAE label must show, from expiry dates to allergens, check the ingredients list and nutrition panel on the back of the pack.

For general information. Details can change; check with the Abu Dhabi Quality and Conformity Council before relying on them.