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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.

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

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. (...)

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].

At the federal level, the Ministry of Environment and Water (MOEW)is in charge of designing agricultural policies and coordinating with other agencies in order to achieve food security, while protecting the environment and scarce water resources and promoting bio-security

National Innovation Strategy was launched on October 2014 with the aim of making the UAE one of the most innovative nations in the world within seven years. The strategy will stimulate innovation in seven sectors where innovation is key to excellence: renewable energy, transport, education, health, technology, water and space. Its first phase includes 30 national initiatives to be completed within three years. These include new legislation, innovation incubators, investment in specialized skills, private sector incentives, international research partnerships and an innovation drive within government. The strategy contains practical initiatives in each of its seven priority sectors: Renewable energy, Transportation, Education, Health, Water, Technology and Space.

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.