Single-Use Plastics Are Out: How UAE Cafés and Tea Operators Are Adapting in 2026

As the UAE’s second-phase ban takes effect, paper and recycled alternatives are available—but many outlets are still navigating the transition.

On January 1st, 2026, the UAE stepped into a new chapter of its sustainability agenda as the second phase of the single-use plastic ban came into force. First announced through a federal ministerial decision in 2022, the policy has been introduced gradually—phasing out selected items over several years and culminating with tighter restrictions at the start of 2026.

The latest measures, detailed in Executive Council Resolution No. (124) of 2023, prohibit a range of everyday hospitality essentials, including single-use plastic plates, food containers, tableware, beverage cups and beverage lids—a shift with direct implications for cafés, restaurants, and takeaway-heavy operators.

Yet even with a long lead time, the transition has not been seamless. Khaleej Times reported as recently as mid-December that the market was still preparing to move away from single-use plastics. That reality remains visible on the ground: as of January 16th, T Hospitality observed several outlets still serving tea and coffee with plastic lids. To understand why, we spoke to manufacturers at the heart of the change.

“We knew about the ban two years ago, but many companies didn’t believe it would actually be implemented,” says Mohammed Al Hatem, Sales Manager at Golden Paper Cups Manufacturing Company. “We tried to educate the market, showing alternatives to plastic and sharing our communications with Dubai Municipality, but operators were still placing large orders for plastic products.”

Now that the ban is a reality, Al Hatem says the shift is happening fast. “Everyone is on the same page now,” he adds, noting a clear increase in demand for paper cups. In response to this shift, Golden Paper Cups has introduced several plastic-free alternatives designed specifically for high-volume beverage operators. One example is its square-shaped paper cup, developed as a direct replacement for traditional PET cups. The design improves stackability, reduces material waste, and enhances grip, while maintaining full recyclability and heat resistance—making it a practical and compliant option for both hot and cold drinks.

Al Hatem expects plastic to remain visible in the short term, as many operators are still using up stock from earlier purchasing cycles. Importantly however, not all plastics are treated equally under the ban's framework. Recycled plastic is exempt, creating an alternative compliance route for businesses adapting their packaging.

Abdul Jebbar, Group CEO and Managing Director of Hotpack—one of the UAE’s largest packaging manufacturers—says recycled-content packaging is quickly proving to be one of the most practical solutions. “Whilst we have many alternatives to plastic, one of the best options is packaging goods made from recycled plastic content,” he explains. “Hotpack has invested heavily in advanced production lines, many capable of taking up to 100% recycled content.”

Hotpack has expanded its portfolio accordingly, with around 96% of its products being “environmentally friendly, recyclable, or both,” according to Abdul Jebbar. The company is increasing the use of recycled polymers such as rPET, rPP and rPS, while also offering equivalent solutions made from paper, board, aluminium, moulded fibre, and plant-based biodegradable or compostable materials, as well as reusable ranges designed to be rewashed and reused.

So how far along is the industry? Abdul Jebbar describes a market progressing steadily, but still adjusting. “The transition away from single-use plastics is well underway, but it is still work in progress for many,” he says. “In areas where alternatives are well established, adoption has been smoother. In more specialised applications, businesses are still evaluating the best options that meet both functional and regulatory requirements.”

For tea and coffee operators, one recurring friction point remains the lid—still widely seen in plastic across Dubai cafés. Alternatives are available, including moulded fibre lids and compliant recycled plastic lids. Crucially, Abdul Jebbar notes that the cost difference between recycled and non-recycled plastic is “very minimal,” suggesting that operational inertia—not price—may be the bigger barrier.

Plastic cups and lids may still be visible for a while, but the direction of travel is unmistakable. With regulations now active, manufacturers investing heavily in compliant materials, and alternatives becoming easier to source, the final hurdles are increasingly practical rather than structural. For operators, especially those reliant on takeaway service, the challenge is balancing performance, compliance, and cost—but with narrowing price gaps and a widening choice of materials, that transition is quickly becoming the new normal across the UAE’s hospitality sector.