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(…) The ministry (Ministry of Foreign Trade) is also responsible for the development of the national economy, the creation of a pro-business environment that contributes to achieving balanced and sustainable development of the country, (…)

To speed up the liberalization process, the elimination of all tariffs among the PAFTA (Pan-Arab Free Trade Area Agreement) members was enforced in 1 January 2015 with the exception of some products for reasons such as public health, safety and morals, and protection of the environment. (...)

On services, the GSFTA (GCC-Singapore Free Trade Agreement) builds on the commitments made by Singapore and the GCC countries at the multilateral level, in particular, the WTO General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS). Specifically, Singapore and the GCC have committed to liberalize various services sectors beyond its WTO commitments. Broadly, the schedule of specific commitments include the following sectors: (...) environmental services; (...)

The main domestic legislation on import prohibitions is Law No. 13 of 2007 regarding Commodities that are Subject to Import and Export Control Procedures, as amended. Under this law imports may be prohibited on grounds of public safety, public health, environment, natural resources, and national security or for reasons related to the UAE foreign policy. (...)

The UAE is a signatory to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), the Basel Convention on Hazardous Wastes, the Rotterdam Convention on Trade in Hazardous Chemicals, the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer, and the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme. Goods prohibited from entering the UAE are listed in Table 3.4.

Table 3.4 Prohibited goods
HS code Product description Authority
05071000 Ivory; ivory powder and waste Ministry of Environment and Water
(...)
68114000 Articles of asbestos-cement, of cellulose fibre-cement or the like, containing asbestos Federal Environment Authority
68128000 Fabricated asbestos fibres, mixtures with a basis of asbestos or with a basis of asbestos and magnesium carbonate, articles of such mixtures, of crocidolite Federal Environment Authority
68129300 Compressed asbestos fibre jointing, in sheets or rolls Federal Environment Authority
68132000 Friction material and articles thereof containing asbestos Federal Environment Authority
(...)

Restricted goods are specific to the authority of the customs authority of each emirate and, therefore, may vary from one emirate to another. Thus Dubai Customs includes as restricted goods live animals and birds, weapons and ammunitions, medicines and medical equipment, fertilizers, fungicides, seedlings and seeds, communications systems, chemicals and radioactive substances, certain veterinary products, certain blood products, animal products, and new tyres.

As for imports, under the Common Customs Law of the GCC States certain categories of goods may be subject to export prohibitions or restrictions. In the UAE, export prohibitions or restrictions are applied: on the grounds of public safety, public health, public morals, environment, natural resources, national security, and UAE foreign policy; and to comply with international treaties and conventions. Law No. 13 of 2007, as amended, provides the legal basis for export prohibitions and restrictions.

Specific labelling requirements in the UAE apply to toys, tobacco products, food, chemical products, industrial products, drinking water, textiles, and cosmetics. In addition, labels indicating energy efficiency are required for household electrical products. All labels must be in Arabic or in Arabic and English. Tobacco packages require a special health warning in Arabic.

Some GREs (Government-related entities), such as Emirates National Oil Company (ENOC), are strategically important companies and important sources of fiscal revenue. In 2006, Mubadala Development Company established Masdar to develop renewable energy and sustainable technology industries. (...)