Dubai restaurants will be required to indicate the calorie content of dishes on the menu by January 2020.
Dubai, UAE. Dubai Municipality will oblige all local restaurants to indicate in the menu the calorie content of all dishes by January 2020. The new measure aims to support a healthy lifestyle for residents of Dubai.
The municipality believes that the initiative will encourage restaurants to offer more wholesome and nutritious dishes, and visitors to eat right. "The initiative of the Dubai Municipality will oblige all catering establishments to be extremely transparent regarding the calorie content of all dishes, so visitors can choose the ones that are suitable for their diet," said Daud Al Hajri, the general director of the municipality.
Recent studies in the UAE have shown that the number of obese people has declined since 2010. According to authorities, more than 40% of children are overweight or obese.
The municipality specified that public catering establishments with more than five branches will be required to switch to the new system earlier than the others - in November this year. In the second stage, in January 2020, all restaurants, catering companies and hotels will join them.
