The rule
On 24 February 2026 the Emirates Drug Establishment activated a mechanism that requires companies to appoint more than one authorised agent for each medical product they market in the UAE, ending single-agent control.
The legal basis is Federal Decree-Law No. 38 of 2024 on medical products, in force since 2 January 2025. Regulatory and licensing powers moved from the Ministry of Health and Prevention to the EDE at the start of 2026.
Known
More than one agent per product is required. The legal basis and the regulator are clear. A registered agent keeps the rights in its registered agency.
Not yet published
How many agents, which product categories, how it applies to each device category, and the deadline. Ask the EDE in writing about your own products.
Your current agent's rights
Under Federal Law No. 3 of 2022 on commercial agencies, in force since 15 June 2023, a registered agent keeps exclusivity unless agreed otherwise, and removing or diluting it can lead to compensation claims. Older agencies had transitional protection until 15 June 2025, or until 15 June 2033 where the agent has held the registration for more than ten years or invested more than AED 100 million.
This guide is market research, not legal advice. Read your agency contract with UAE counsel first.
How many makers it touches
makers with two or more products in the EDE public directory as read on 2 Nov 2026 showed one UAE agent for all of them. The directory then listed 17,083 products, mostly names beginning with A, and is incomplete at source, so a full read may show a different picture.
What to do now
- List your UAE registrations and which agent holds each. Your Gulf file shows what the directory lists for you.
- Check your agency contract for exclusivity, term and its registration with the Ministry of Economy.
- Shortlist second agents that cover what your first one does not and carry no competing brand.
- Approach them with your registration list and a clear split of territory or channel.
We build step 3 for you
A UAE second-agent map from the EDE directory and each agent's own pages. USD 950 for the first five clients.