SITUATION
Foreign hallmarking recognition in the UAE falls under Federal Law No. (11) of 2015, Art. 14 — whether products hallmarked abroad (including Hong Kong) require re-hallmarking in the UAE?
ANSWER
1. Ministerial Decision, Art. 14 — current status
Art. 14 of Federal Law No. (11) of 2015 authorizes the Minister to issue a decision recognizing official hallmarks of foreign states.
As of March 2026, no such ministerial decision has been published in the Official Gazette or in any open official source.
There is no publicly available, legally operative list of countries whose hallmarks are recognized in the UAE without re-hallmarking.
Any unofficial lists circulating online or in trade do not create legal obligations or rights for market participants.
2. Hallmarking Convention — does it apply in the UAE?
The UAE is not a member of the Hallmarking Convention and has not ratified it.
References to the list of Hallmarking Convention member states have no legal force in the UAE.
The Convention's country list cannot serve as a basis for exemption from UAE re-hall...