What your child eats at school has mostly been out of your hands. That’s starting to change in the UAE with a National Guide for Food and Beverages in the School Environment. The newly issued guide sets strict rules for what schools can serve, how food is handled, and who is responsible for it.
According to it, all school food outlets must follow the same strict standards, whether it’s a canteen selling pre-packaged items, a cafeteria preparing sandwiches, or a full-service kitchen.
There are 13 responsibilities covering how food is handled, prepared, and monitored. The most relevant change is that schools must meet strict food safety and quality standards and give parents access to canteen menus.
The guide restricts what can be sold in schools, removing several popular snack items from menus.
What students will no longer find on the menu
- Sugary drinks (soft drinks, energy drinks, and flavored beverages)
- Tea and coffee
- Candy, gum, and lollipops
- Chocolate and chocolate-coated biscuits
- Fried food, potato chips, French fries, cakes, and donuts
- Nuts and any products containing traces of nuts
- Processed meats such as mortadella and sausages
Schools must offer food that matches students’ age and nutritional needs. Meals should support both physical growth and mental focus during the school day.
On a national level, similar changes are already in place. In March 2026, the Cabinet approved the National Healthy Nutrition Strategy 2031, which includes a ban on partially hydrogenated oils and stricter rules on junk food marketing. Read the full story here.
