Supermarkets in Abu Dhabi will be required to remove high-fat, salt, and sugar (HFSS) food and beverage products from checkout counters, store entrances, and other high-visibility areas, under new regulations aimed at encouraging healthier consumer choices.

The policy, introduced by Healthy Living in collaboration with the Abu Dhabi Registration Authority (ADRA), also applies to online retail platforms. Retailers will no longer be allowed to prominently display HFSS products on homepages, search results, promotional pop-ups, or checkout pages.

However, the regulations do not ban the sale of HFSS products.

Instead, they require retailers to move affected items away from the most visible and high-traffic areas, while keeping them available in store aisles. The policy applies to physical supermarkets larger than 4,000 square feet.

Dr Ahmed AlKhazraiji, executive director of Healthy Living, said the initiative is designed to make healthier choices easier for consumers without limiting their ability to buy the products they want.

“Our approach is rooted in behavioural science and real-world evidence, and interventions like this have delivered measurable results globally,” AlKhazraiji said.

“When the products consumers encounter first are not the least nutritious options, healthier choices become the natural default – empowering people to make better decisions.”

Mohamed Munif Al Mansoori, director-general of ADRA, said the authority is working with retailers to implement the new requirements ahead of their introduction.

“We are working closely with relevant entities to meet the growing demands of consumers, placing their health, safety, and well-being at the top of our priorities,” he concluded.

• Further reading: Bright Bites kids’ supermarket debuts in Dubai.