{"id":3768,"date":"2025-04-15T11:05:21","date_gmt":"2025-04-15T02:05:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/withckorea.com\/?p=3768"},"modified":"2026-07-01T13:29:28","modified_gmt":"2026-07-01T04:29:28","slug":"the-middle-eastern-cosmetics-export-guide-uae-and-saudi-arabia","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/withckorea.com\/?p=3768","title":{"rendered":"The Middle Eastern Cosmetics Export Guide: UAE and Saudi Arabia"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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The Middle Eastern beauty market is rapidly growing, and exports of Korean cosmetics are also thriving.<\/span>
To successfully enter this market, it is essential to understand the regulatory agencies, standards, and certification processes of each country.<\/span><\/p>

This article summarizes the key cosmetics regulations and certification processes of the middle eastern cosmetics export for the UAE and Saudi Arabia, focusing on the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) and Gulf Standardization Organization (GSO) regulations.<\/span><\/strong><\/p>

\"Middle<\/span><\/p>

Overview of Middle Eastern Cosmetics Regulations: GCC & GSO<\/span><\/h3>

1) GCC (Gulf Cooperation Council): A regional cooperative organization comprising six Gulf countries: Saudi Arabia, UAE, Bahrain, Oman, Qatar, and Kuwait.<\/span>
2) GSO (GCC Standardization Organization): An organization established to define standards and regulations for seven countries, including the six GCC nations and Yemen. As a result, the basic regulations for Middle Eastern cosmetics adhere to the GSO 1943\/2021 standard.<\/span><\/p>

[Basic Regulations for Middle Eastern Cosmetics]<\/strong><\/span>
The most representative standard is GSO 1943\/2021, which outlines basic safety regulations for cosmetics. These regulations largely adopt European standards and are very similar to the EU Regulation 1223\/2009.<\/span><\/p>

GSO 1943\/2021<\/strong>:<\/span><\/p>

  1. Prohibition of the use of pork and its derivatives.<\/span><\/li>
  2. Prohibition of the use of contaminated or degraded substances.<\/span><\/li>
  3. Prohibition of graphics, images, or texts that contradict Islamic law and social values.<\/span><\/li><\/ol>

    GSO 2528\/2016<\/strong>:<\/span><\/p>

    1. Guidelines for claims on cosmetics and personal care products.<\/span><\/li>
    2. While adhering to the common criteria of EU cosmetic regulations, the regulation adds a list of prohibited claims.<\/span><\/li><\/ol>

      GSO\/ISO 22716<\/strong>:<\/span><\/p>

      1. GMP (Good Manufacturing Practices) standards for cosmetic production.<\/span><\/li><\/ol>

        Despite these commonalities, cosmetics regulations vary by country within the Middle East, with labeling being a notable example. In the UAE, labeling is primarily done in English, while in Saudi Arabia, labeling in Arabic is standard, with English as an optional addition.<\/span>
        The GCC labeling regulations shared by both countries include the following information: brand name, product name, manufacturer and distributor details, country of origin, content volume, product expiration date, usage instructions, precautions, batch number or lot number, full ingredient list, and storage method.<\/span><\/p>

        Now, let’s delve into the regulatory agencies and certification methods for each country.<\/span><\/p>

        \u00a0<\/p>

        UAE (United Arab Emirates)<\/span><\/h2>
        1. Regulatory Agency: MOIAT (Ministry of Industry and Advanced Technology)<\/strong><\/em><\/span>
          1) A government agency overseeing industry-wide certifications.<\/span>
          2) Certifications are practically performed by private global certification bodies under MOIAT’s supervision.<\/span><\/li>
        2. Summary of Certification and Registration Procedures<\/span><\/li><\/ol>

          [Trademark and Company registration]<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/p>