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In order to preserve stocks of fish that are sustainable, the Ministry of Environment and Water has issued several regulations concerning fishing gear, areas and seasons, and the structure of the workforce

The main advantage of this new draft law for foreign investors will lead to increasing the percentage of foreign ownership of projects up to 100% in the sectors or the activities prescribed by the law and meet the standards set for foreign investment projects by the law. Those standards include (...) environment preservation.

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.

Since 2006, the Ministry of Environment and Water (MOEW) has been responsible for federal policies and preparing legislation on water security, food security, the protection of the environment, and biosecurity. The MOEW took over the functions and authorities of the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries, the Federal Environment Agency, and the General Secretariat of Municipalities. The basic policy objective is to improve food security through trade and domestic production while respecting the environment and improving water efficiency. It has been reported that the UAE is preparing an agricultural policy document for 2015-2030 [2] which, at end-February 2016, was under preparation.

[2] Malek, C. (2015), "UAE's first agricultural policy to benefit farming sustainability and profitability", The National, 4 December. Viewed at: http://www.thenational.ae/uae/environment/uaes-first-agricultural-policy-to-benefit-farming-sustainability-and-profitability [January 2016].

Since 2008, the development and administration of trade policy has been under the responsibility of the Ministry of Foreign Trade (previously the Ministry of Economy and Planning), in coordination with other ministries at the federal level and trade-related bodies and local departments, including the Ministry of Environment and Water

In its strategic plan 2011-2013, the National Transport Authority aims to, inter alia, increase the size of the marine fleet registered under the UAE's flag and to increase the rate at which marine vessels are inspected so as to support both the security and environmental aspects of maritime transport

The UAE Strategy for tourism is based on “Developing Sustainable Tourism for Economic and Social Success”. This integrated approach with its triple themes of sustainability with both economic and social success represents Best Practice and ensures the optimum range of benefits to UAE, its communities and people.

The main legislation for fisheries is Federal Law No. 23 of 1999 [9] and Ministerial Resolution No. 302 of 2001 [10] which required each emirate to establish a fishing regulation committee with responsibility for issuing fishing licences to fishermen, maintaining a register and issuing licences for fishing vessels and fishing equipment. The Law also provides the legal basis for subsidiary legislation on effort, catch, and gear restrictions and explicitly prohibits:
• all kinds of trawling nets, bottom set nets, nets made from nylon, and drift nets (Article 26) and fishing with explosives or chemicals (Article 34); and
• capture of sea turtles, fishing for sea mammals, or, except for research and with official permission, extraction of oysters, sponges, or coral (Article 28).

[9] Federal Law No. 23 of 1999 regarding the Exploitation, Protection and Development of Living Aquatic Resources in the waters of the state of the United Arab Emirates. Viewed at: http://faolex.fao.org/ [January 2016].
[10] Ministerial Resolution No. 302 of 2001 issuing the Implementing Regulation for Federal Law No. 23 of 1999 on the exploitation, protection and development of living aquatic resources in the United Arab Emirates. Viewed at: http://faolex.fao.org/ (Arabic only) [January 2016].

GMOs are not specifically banned in the UAE; however, food labels should indicate if any of the ingredients used are genetically modified

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. (...)