Legislation Details
- Full Title: Federal Decree by Law Regulating Industrial and Medical Uses of Industrial Hemp
- Law Type: Federal Decree-Law
- Law Number: [24] of 2025
- Issued Date: 01 Oct 2025
- Effective Date: 01 Jan 2026
- Official Gazette: No. 809
- Sector: Environment and Natural Resources
- Status: Active
- Number of Articles: 101
- Chapters/Parts: 0
- Amendments: 0
Summary
This Federal Decree-Law regulates the industrial and medical uses of industrial hemp in the United Arab Emirates. It aims to develop and promote the cultivation of industrial hemp as an important natural resource, regulate a new economic sector, and provide safer and higher-quality products. The law covers a range of activities related to industrial hemp, including import, export, cultivation, transportation, manufacturing, and circulation of industrial hemp seeds, seedlings, and products. (Federal Decree by Law Regulating Industrial and Medical Uses of Industrial Hemp, 2025, Arts. 1-3) The law is significant for businesses and individuals in the UAE as it establishes a legal framework for a new industry, allowing for the regulated use of industrial hemp. This could create economic opportunities in agriculture, manufacturing, and related sectors, while ensuring the products meet safety and quality standards. The law also differentiates industrial hemp from cannabis with higher THC content, which remains subject to the UAE's narcotics control legislation. (Federal Decree by Law Regulating Industrial and Medical Uses of Industrial Hemp, 2025, Arts. 1-3)
What is the scope and purpose of this law?
The scope of this Federal Decree-Law is to regulate the industrial and medical uses of industrial hemp in the United Arab Emirates, including activities such as import, export, cultivation, transportation, manufacturing, and circulation of industrial hemp seeds, seedlings, and products. The law applies to these activities practiced within the UAE, including in free zones. (Federal Decree by Law Regulating Industrial and Medical Uses of Industrial Hemp, 2025, Art. 2) The law aims to achieve three main objectives: (1) developing and promoting the cultivation of industrial hemp as an important natural resource that contributes to increasing the agricultural sector's contribution to the UAE's GDP; (2) regulating a new economic sector and promising global market in accordance with best international practices; and (3) providing safer and higher-quality industrial hemp products in accordance with the highest internationally adopted standards. (Federal Decree by Law Regulating Industrial and Medical Uses of Industrial Hemp, 2025, Art. 3)
What are the key definitions under this law?
The law provides the following key definitions:
- State: The United Arab Emirates
- Ministry: The Ministry of Climate Change and Environment
- Minister: The Minister of Climate Change and Environment
- Authority: The National Anti-Narcotics Authority
- Federal Authorities: Federal ministries, institutions, and authorities concerned with public health, agriculture, industry, trade, customs, or security
- Local Authority: The local authority competent in matters of public health, agriculture, environment, industry, customs, or security in each emirate
- Cannabis: The flowering or fruiting tops of the Cannabis plant, excluding the seeds and leaves that are not accompanied by the tops, from which the resinous substance known as Cannabis resin has not been extracted
- Industrial Hemp: Any type of the Cannabis Sativa plant, and any part thereof, such as the plant, flowers, or seeds, or any of its derivatives or extracts, in which the total concentration of tetrahydrocannabinol (Total THC) does not exceed 0.3% on a dry weight basis
- Activity: One of the activities stipulated in Article 2 of this Decree-Law
- Licensing Authority: The authority competent to license the Activity
- License: A document issued by the Licensing Authority permitting the Licensee to practice the Activity
- Licensee: The legal person who has obtained the License
- Import or Export Permit: The permit issued by the Ministry or the Ministry of Foreign Trade to the Licensee for the import or export of industrial hemp seeds or products
- Industrial Hemp Symbol: A mark placed on industrial hemp products to identify the content
- Disposition: Sale, purchase, distribution, marketing, offering for sale, or any other forms as specified by the Executive Regulations
(Federal Decree by Law Regulating Industrial and Medical Uses of Industrial Hemp, 2025, Art. 1)
What are the main obligations and requirements?
The law imposes the following key obligations and requirements: 1. It is prohibited to practice any of the activities related to industrial hemp (import, export, cultivation, transportation, manufacturing, etc.) without obtaining a license from the Licensing Authority. (Federal Decree by Law Regulating Industrial and Medical Uses of Industrial Hemp, 2025, Art. 4(1)) 2. Obtaining a license does not exempt the licensee from fulfilling any other permits, licenses, or approvals required by federal or local authorities for practicing the activity. (Federal Decree by Law Regulating Industrial and Medical Uses of Industrial Hemp, 2025, Art. 4(2)) 3. Licensees must comply with the conditions and controls specified in the law, its executive regulations, and implementing resolutions when practicing the licensed activities. (Federal Decree by Law Regulating Industrial and Medical Uses of Industrial Hemp, 2025, Arts. 5-16) 4. Licensees must maintain records and provide notifications related to industrial hemp seeds, seedlings, and products as required by the law. (Federal Decree by Law Regulating Industrial and Medical Uses of Industrial Hemp, 2025, Arts. 24-25) 5. Licensees and other parties must comply with control and supervision measures implemented by the relevant authorities. (Federal Decree by Law Regulating Industrial and Medical Uses of Industrial Hemp, 2025, Art. 26)
What licensing, registration, or approval requirements exist?
The law establishes the following licensing and approval requirements: 1. A license is required from the Licensing Authority to practice any of the activities related to industrial hemp, such as import, export, cultivation, transportation, manufacturing, and circulation. (Federal Decree by Law Regulating Industrial and Medical Uses of Industrial Hemp, 2025, Art. 4(1)) 2. To obtain a license for importing and exporting industrial hemp seeds, the applicant must be an agricultural company established in the UAE and meet other conditions specified in the law, such as using the seeds for cultivation in designated areas. (Federal Decree by Law Regulating Industrial and Medical Uses of Industrial Hemp, 2025, Art. 5(2)) 3. In addition to the license, a permit is required from the Ministry or the Ministry of Foreign Trade to import or export consignments of industrial hemp seeds, subject to certain conditions. (Federal Decree by Law Regulating Industrial and Medical Uses of Industrial Hemp, 2025, Art. 6) 4. The law does not specify any licensing or approval requirements for other activities, such as cultivation, transportation, manufacturing, or circulation of industrial hemp products. However, the executive regulations may provide further details on these requirements.
What rights and protections does this law provide?
The law does not explicitly outline any specific rights or protections granted to individuals, workers, businesses, or other parties. The focus of the law is on regulating the industrial and medical uses of industrial hemp, rather than on providing rights or protections. (Federal Decree by Law Regulating Industrial and Medical Uses of Industrial Hemp, 2025)
Which authorities or bodies are responsible for enforcement?
The key authorities and bodies responsible for the enforcement of this law are: 1. The Ministry of Climate Change and Environment, which is responsible for issuing licenses and permits related to industrial hemp activities. (Federal Decree by Law Regulating Industrial and Medical Uses of Industrial Hemp, 2025, Arts. 5-6, 19) 2. The National Anti-Narcotics Authority, which is responsible for enforcement and supervision of the law's provisions. (Federal Decree by Law Regulating Industrial and Medical Uses of Industrial Hemp, 2025, Art. 1) 3. Federal authorities, such as ministries, institutions, and authorities concerned with public health, agriculture, industry, trade, customs, or security, which may be involved in the enforcement and supervision of the law. (Federal Decree by Law Regulating Industrial and Medical Uses of Industrial Hemp, 2025, Art. 1) 4. Local authorities in each emirate, which are responsible for matters related to public health, agriculture, environment, industry, customs, or security, and may be involved in the enforcement and supervision of the law. (Federal Decree by Law Regulating Industrial and Medical Uses of Industrial Hemp, 2025, Art. 1)
What are the penalties for non-compliance?
The law specifies the following penalties for non-compliance: 1. Imprisonment for a period of not less than 6 months and not exceeding 5 years, and/or a fine of not less than AED 100,000 and not exceeding AED 1,000,000 for practicing any of the activities related to industrial hemp without a license. (Federal Decree by Law Regulating Industrial and Medical Uses of Industrial Hemp, 2025, Art. 29(1)) 2. Imprisonment for a period of not less than 6 months and not exceeding 5 years, and/or a fine of not less than AED 100,000 and not exceeding AED 1,000,000 for importing or exporting industrial hemp seeds or products without a permit. (Federal Decree by Law Regulating Industrial and Medical Uses of Industrial Hemp, 2025, Art. 29(2)) 3. Imprisonment for a period of not less than 6 months and not exceeding 5 years, and/or a fine of not less than AED 100,000 and not exceeding AED 1,000,000 for manufacturing, importing, or exporting prohibited industrial hemp products. (Federal Decree by Law Regulating Industrial and Medical Uses of Industrial Hemp, 2025, Art. 29(3)) 4. Seizure, destruction, or disposition of any industrial hemp seeds, seedlings, or products that are imported, exported, cultivated, transported, manufactured, or circulated in violation of the law's provisions. (Federal Decree by Law Regulating Industrial and Medical Uses of Industrial Hemp, 2025, Arts. 17-18)
What fees, charges, or financial provisions are specified?
The law does not specify any fees, charges, or financial provisions related to the activities regulated under this Decree-Law. The Executive Regulations of this law may provide further details on any applicable fees or financial requirements. (Federal Decree by Law Regulating Industrial and Medical Uses of Industrial Hemp, 2025)
What exemptions or exceptions apply?
The law provides the following exemptions and exceptions: 1. By way of exception to the provisions of the Federal Decree-Law on Combating Narcotics and Psychotropic Substances, the provisions of this Decree-Law shall apply to the regulation of the uses of industrial hemp. (Federal Decree by Law Regulating Industrial and Medical Uses of Industrial Hemp, 2025, Art. 2(1)) 2. The regulation of cannabis in which the concentration of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) exceeds 0.3% shall be subject to the provisions of the Federal Decree-Law on Combating Narcotics and Psychotropic Substances. (Federal Decree by Law Regulating Industrial and Medical Uses of Industrial Hemp, 2025, Art. 2(5)) 3. The regulation of activities related to medical products containing industrial hemp compounds or raw materials extracted from industrial hemp shall be subject to the provisions of the Federal Decree-Law on Medical Products, the Pharmacy Profession, and Pharmaceutical Establishments. (Federal Decree by Law Regulating Industrial and Medical Uses of Industrial Hemp, 2025, Art. 2(6)) 4. Each emirate shall have the authority to prohibit or restrict all or some of the activities stipulated in the law within its territorial limits, in which case the provisions of the laws on crimes and penalties, narcotics control, and other related laws shall apply. (Federal Decree by Law Regulating Industrial and Medical Uses of Industrial Hemp, 2025, Art. 2(8))
How are disputes resolved under this law?
The law does not specify any dispute resolution mechanisms or procedures. It only mentions that a grievance can be filed against administrative sanctions imposed under the law, but does not provide further details on the grievance process. (Federal Decree by Law Regulating Industrial and Medical Uses of Industrial Hemp, 2025, Art. 28)
What are the key deadlines and time limits?
The law does not specify any key deadlines or time limits for the activities regulated under its provisions. (Federal Decree by Law Regulating Industrial and Medical Uses of Industrial Hemp, 2025)
How does this law interact with other UAE legislation?
The law interacts with the following other UAE legislation: 1. It is a exception to the provisions of the Federal Decree-Law on Combating Narcotics and Psychotropic Substances, which regulates cannabis with THC content exceeding 0.3%. (Federal Decree by Law Regulating Industrial and Medical Uses of Industrial Hemp, 2025, Art. 2(1), (5)) 2. It is subject to the provisions of the Federal Decree-Law on Medical Products, the Pharmacy Profession, and Pharmaceutical Establishments for activities related to medical products containing industrial hemp compounds or raw materials. (Federal Decree by Law Regulating Industrial and Medical Uses of Industrial Hemp, 2025, Art. 2(6)) 3. It references several other federal laws, such as the law on the competences of ministries and powers of ministers, the crimes and penalties law, and the law on the regulation and development of industry. (Federal Decree by Law Regulating Industrial and Medical Uses of Industrial Hemp, 2025, Preamble)
When did this law come into effect?
This Federal Decree-Law Regulating Industrial and Medical Uses of Industrial Hemp was issued on 01 October 2025 and came into effect on 01 January 2026, as per the effective date specified in the law. (Federal Decree by Law Regulating Industrial and Medical Uses of Industrial Hemp, 2025, Issued Date and Effective Date)
Source Documents
This article analyses Federal Decree by Law Regulating Industrial and Medical Uses of Industrial Hemp for legal research and educational purposes. For the purpose of interpretation and application, reference must be made to the original Arabic text. In case of conflict, the Arabic text prevails. This does not constitute legal advice.