HACCP CERTIFICATION IN UAE

What Is HACCP?

HACCP (Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points) is a preventive food safety management system, not an ISO standard. It is defined by the Codex Alimentarius Commission in the General Principles of Food Hygiene (CXC 1-1969) and is recognised by food safety regulators worldwide. HACCP identifies, evaluates and controls hazards that are significant for food safety, and is built on seven principles:

• Conduct a hazard analysis of biological, chemical and physical hazards.
• Determine the Critical Control Points (CCPs) where control is essential.
• Establish validated critical limits for each CCP.
• Establish a system to monitor control of each CCP.
• Establish the corrective actions to take when monitoring shows a deviation.
• Establish verification procedures to confirm the HACCP system works.
• Establish documentation and record-keeping for all procedures and records.

HACCP can be certified through recognised third-party schemes, including as the food safety foundation of ISO 22000 and FSSC 22000. An accredited certification body audits the HACCP plan against Codex requirements before issuing a certificate.

HACCP Requirements in UAE

In the UAE, food safety is enforced at emirate level by authorities such as the Abu Dhabi Agriculture and Food Safety Authority (ADAFSA) and the Dubai Municipality Food Safety Department, under the federal food safety law. Applying a HACCP-based food safety system is mandatory for food establishments. Core requirements include:

• A HACCP team with defined roles and food safety responsibilities.
• Product descriptions, intended use and validated process flow diagrams.
• A documented hazard analysis with identified Critical Control Points.
• Prerequisite programmes (GMP and GHP) covering hygiene, pest control and sanitation.
• Monitoring records, corrective actions and verification for each CCP.
• Compliance with municipal food safety inspection and food code requirements.

Univate maps your existing food safety processes to Codex HACCP and identifies gaps before implementation begins.

Ready to achieve HACCP certification in UAE? Book your free consultation with Univate today. No commitment required.

Benefits of HACCP Certification

HACCP certification delivers measurable food safety and commercial benefits in UAE:

• Reduces the risk of foodborne illness, contamination and product recalls.
• Demonstrates due diligence to regulators and enterprise buyers in UAE.
• Unlocks market access with retailers, exporters and food service contracts.
• Provides auditable evidence for the certification body and inspections.
• Strengthens brand trust and consumer confidence in food safety.
• Builds a foundation for ISO 22000 or FSSC 22000 certification.

HACCP Implementation Process in UAE

Univate follows a structured HACCP implementation process in UAE:

1. Free gap analysis of your current food safety controls against Codex HACCP.
2. Assemble the HACCP team and define the product scope and process flow.
3. Establish prerequisite programmes (GMP and GHP) for hygiene and sanitation.
4. Conduct the hazard analysis and determine the Critical Control Points.
5. Set critical limits, monitoring procedures and corrective actions for each CCP.
6. Develop verification, documentation and record-keeping procedures.
7. Train staff and run an internal audit and management review.
8. Support the certification audit with your chosen accredited certification body.

HACCP Certification Cost in UAE

The cost of HACCP certification in UAE depends on several factors:

• Organisation size, measured by number of employees and sites in scope.
• Complexity of the food operation and number of product lines or processes.
• Current food safety maturity, which determines the remediation effort.
• The accredited certification body selected for the audit.
• Number of sites requiring multi-site assessment.

Univate provides a fixed-fee consultancy quote plus a certification body fee estimate, structured in milestones. Book a free call to receive your scoped quote in AED.

Get your HACCP cost estimate for UAE. Univate provides fixed-fee quotes with no hidden costs. Speak to a consultant today.

Why Univate Global?

Univate Global is a governance, risk and compliance consultancy led by CEO Bansi Mohan Rath, delivering HACCP and food safety certification support. Our team includes food safety practitioners, ISO Lead Auditors and qualified internal auditors with domain-specific expertise. Univate has a local office in UAE. Address: AMC Boulevard-A Building, BLA-SP1-130, Ajman Media City, Ajman, UAE. All engagements are fixed-fee with documented milestones, and we provide post-certification surveillance support to help maintain your certificate.

Univate Global delivers ISO certifications, data privacy compliance, and cybersecurity frameworks across 9 markets.