In an aggressive move to safeguard public health and maintain strict municipal standards, the Abu Dhabi Agriculture and Food Safety Authority (ADAFSA) has officially shut down 69 food outlets over the past 18 months. The extensive regulatory crackdown reflects the emirate’s uncompromising stance on food safety, dividing the closures into 55 establishments during 2025 and an additional 14 outlets forced to close since the beginning of 2026. This decisive action follows an active period of public oversight, during which authorities investigated a substantial volume of 7,154 consumer complaints regarding food premises.
Critical Health and Safety Breaches
The administrative closures were enacted following rigorous field inspections—consisting of both routine audits and unannounced spot-checks—that uncovered alarming violations threatening consumer well-being. The primary infractions cited by ADAFSA inspectors included:
Pest Infestations: The presence of live insects and foreign contaminants inside active food preparation zones.
Expired Inventory: Storing and offering expired ingredients and food products for commercial sale.
Inadequate Training: Kitchen and service staff failing to undergo mandatory, state-regulated food safety training programs.
Poor Sanitation: Accumulation of dirt on critical food contact surfaces and cooking utensils.
Improper Storage: Keeping perishable food items under incorrect temperature controls or keeping them beyond their safe shelf-life limits.
Transparency Policies and Strict Escalation Metrics
To preserve the integrity of the market, ADAFSA maintains a strict policy of transparency, which includes publishing the names and photographic evidence of non-compliant establishments. Authorities emphasized that this measure is intended strictly as a consumer protection shield rather than a tool to damage business reputations.
The regulatory body applies a systematic risk-assessment matrix before executing a full closure, escalating penalties from initial verbal warnings to official violation notices, monetary fines, and temporary suspensions. For any closed facility—regardless of its popularity or size—operations can only legally resume once the owner rectifies 100% of the identified safety hazards and successfully clears a comprehensive re-inspection by government officials.
Empowering Consumers via "Zadna Rating"
To further drive community awareness, Abu Dhabi has heavily promoted the Zadna Rating initiative. Under this framework, all food service establishments are legally obligated to prominently display their official hygiene rating sticker at their storefront. This transparent scoring system empowers residents and tourists alike to immediately assess a restaurant's compliance track record before choosing to dine, fostering an environment of accountability across the entire food and hospitality ecosystem.