Abu Dhabi hotels must make half of kids' menu items healthy by October 1

Hotels and tourism-licensed food outlets in Abu Dhabi must comply with a new nutritional mandate from the Department of Culture and Tourism, Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi) effective October 1. At least half of all children's menu items must meet SEHHI nutritional criteria. The rule requires kitchens to assess every dish against clear standards and maintain data on nutritional content — a significant operational change for establishments that have traditionally offered standard nuggets, fries, and pizza. Experts say the mandate signals a shift in how the hospitality industry approaches children's nutrition, moving beyond labelling to actual dietary quality. The compliance burden includes recipe reworking, dish analysis, and chef retraining. Childhood overweight and obesity rates in the UAE range from 20 to 38 per cent, well above the global average of around 8 per cent.