Abu Dhabi Restaurants Introduce Healthier Choice Labels on Menus

Diners in Abu Dhabi can now more easily identify healthier meal options thanks to a new logo appearing on restaurant menus. Since October 1, the SEHHI food programme mark has been implemented in hotel restaurants licensed by the Department of Culture and Tourism in Abu Dhabi. This initiative currently covers approximately 20 percent of the emirate's restaurants, with the mark specifically identifying individual dishes that meet SEHHI's nutritional criteria, rather than evaluating an entire menu.

Participating establishments are required to offer at least one qualifying dish in each adult menu category, including starters, main courses, and appetizers. Furthermore, at least half of the dishes featured on children's menus must also adhere to these nutritional standards.

Dr. Ahmed AlKhazraji, executive director of Healthy Living at the Department of Health – Abu Dhabi, explained, “You can order whatever you want, but now you will know what the healthier options are.”

This initiative is a component of a broader strategy led by Healthy Living – Abu Dhabi, a government-supported movement aimed at simplifying healthier choices through environmental modifications. With 28 initiatives involving government entities, the private sector, and communities, the programme seeks to enhance access to nutritious food, raise public awareness, and promote more active lifestyles.

Dr. AlKhazraji highlighted the global challenge of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) such as obesity, cardiovascular disease, and diabetes, which are responsible for a significant portion of deaths worldwide. He emphasized that health outcomes are influenced by factors beyond medical care, stating, “Health is also predominantly shaped outside the formal health sector. Out of the 23 modifiable drivers of health, 19 of them sit outside health care.”

In June, the UAE introduced new regulations limiting sugar, sodium, and fat content in several widely consumed pre-packaged foods, including bread, flavored milk and yogurt, processed cheese, and high-salt snacks. These measures will be progressively implemented from June 2027 through 2030, with the goal of establishing one of the world's healthiest environments for pre-packaged food and beverages.

The role of the environment in influencing behavior is also a key focus of 'Healthy by Design,' a white paper launched at the Abu Dhabi Future Health Summit. Developed collaboratively by the Behavioural Insights Team at Nesta, the Behavioural Science Group within the UAE Government, and Healthy Living, the paper explores how behavioral science can reshape food and physical activity environments. It offers practical suggestions for making healthier choices more accessible in daily life, many of which are already being integrated through Healthy Living and its partners.

Rasha Attar, director of the BSG at the Office of Development Affairs, noted, “Information is very important for awareness, but it is rarely sufficient to change behaviour. Awareness does not close the gap between intention and action.” She provided food as an example, explaining that reformulating products can improve their nutritional value without altering consumer habits, while clearer labeling and retail environment changes can guide healthier choices.

Ms. Attar mentioned that her team has conducted research and real-world experiments to inform the design and implementation of healthy living initiatives. “When suppliers reformulate the foods people eat most often, even small improvements can have a significant impact at the national level – and we know this from other countries,” she stated.

Other initiatives are targeting the supermarket environment. Nutri-Mark, a front-of-pack labeling system from the Abu Dhabi Quality and Conformity Council, grades the nutritional quality of pre-packaged food and drinks, aiding consumer comparisons. Research by the BSG indicated that these labels improved consumers' understanding of nutritional information by 30 percent.

The Abu Dhabi Registration Authority is introducing a responsible supermarket layouts initiative, effective January 1, 2027. This initiative aims to influence purchasing decisions by ensuring that foods and beverages high in fat, salt, and sugar (HFSS) are no longer prominently displayed in high-traffic areas of supermarkets and their online platforms across the emirate. These combined efforts address various stages of the consumer journey: enhancing product nutritional quality, improving information clarity, and reducing the visibility of less healthy options.

'Healthy by Design' also applies these principles to physical activity, recommending the integration of more movement into the school day and the development of connected, shaded walking routes to make physical activity a more practical aspect of daily life. The objective is to shift the perception of exercise from an additional task to an inherent part of daily routines.

“We are looking at systemic changes – how to change the environment,” Ms. Attar concluded. “These are longer-term projects, but they are designed to be sustainable and scalable. We hope to see lasting impact.”