Everything You Need to Know About Sehhi Labels and Abu Dhabi Compliance

If you're running a restaurant, café, cloud kitchen, or selling packaged food in Abu Dhabi, there's something new you should know: the Sehhi program just got an update.

As of early 2025, the Abu Dhabi Public Health Centre (ADPHC) rolled out the latest version of the Sehhi program—an initiative designed to help consumers quickly spot healthier food options. And if you want your products to wear that trusted Sehhi logo, you'll need to meet some clear standards.

The Sehhi logo is a voluntary nutrition label that signals your dish or product supports better health. But to qualify, there’s a checklist of nutritional and operational criteria to follow. In this blog, we’ll walk you through the program’s latest updates and how NutriCal makes compliance simple.

What Is the Sehhi Program?

The Sehhi program, developed by the Abu Dhabi Public Health Centre (ADPHC), is a health labeling system that lets food businesses highlight items that meet set nutritional standards. It’s designed to guide customers toward better choices when dining out or shopping.

Sehhi replaces the earlier "Weqaya" program. The logo can be displayed on menus, packaging, signage, or any customer-facing material to make healthier options more visible and attractive.

Whether you're in food service or manufacturing, participating in the Sehhi program shows you're aligned with public health goals. It’s also a way to differentiate your brand in a market where health-conscious consumers are paying closer attention to what they eat.

Who Can Use the Sehhi Logo?

Businesses that qualify to use the Sehhi logo include:

Restaurants and cafés

Cloud kitchens

Supermarkets and grocery stores

Food manufacturers and snack producers

Retailers and vending machine operators

It's open to both dine-in and takeaway establishments, as well as retail-packaged foods. But keep in mind: you can only use the logo if you meet all the required standards and get approval from the competent authority. It’s a voluntary program—but with growing public awareness, it could soon become a competitive must.

Participating in Sehhi also helps align your business with national health goals, and shows customers you’re part of the solution to rising rates of chronic disease.

What Are the Key Requirements?

Here’s a simplified snapshot of what’s expected:

✅ General Rules

Have a certified Food Safety Management System in place (HACCP, ISO, or equivalent)

Maintain a Grade A inspection rating from ADAFSA

Avoid all deep-fried items, artificial colors, or artificial flavors for Sehhi-approved dishes

Keep complete nutritional profiles for each approved product

Conduct internal audits and complete an annual nutritional review to stay current

These general rules ensure that only consistently safe and nutritionally sound products carry the Sehhi mark. Regular documentation and internal checks will also help your team stay on track.

✅ Nutrition Standards for Meals

For meals to qualify for the Sehhi logo:

Main dishes: ≤ 700 kcal

Side dishes: ≤ 250 kcal

Total fat: ≤ 3g/100g (exceptions may apply for healthy fats like olive oil or avocado)

Saturated fat: ≤ 1.5g/100g

Added sugar: ≤ 5g/100g

Salt: ≤ 1g/100g or ≤ 0.4g sodium/100g

Must offer at least 10% Daily Value of a beneficial nutrient (fiber, calcium, vitamin D, iron, or protein)

This ensures that each item is not only lower in undesirable nutrients but also offers something beneficial to support overall health. It encourages the creation of balanced meals that deliver real value.

✅ Kids Meal Guidelines

Kids' meals have slightly tighter standards to reflect their nutritional needs:

Main dish: ≤ 600 kcal

No non-sugar sweeteners (e.g., stevia, aspartame, etc.)

Meals must include at least three healthy food groups—like fruits, vegetables, lean proteins, whole grains, or low-fat dairy

This helps ensure children’s meals offer meaningful nourishment, rather than just lower calories. It's also a way for family-focused businesses to reassure parents about their menu choices.

✅ Individual Packaged Food Criteria

Items like cereal, milk, bread, or smoothies must meet these specific thresholds:

Wholegrain breads and cereals must meet fiber minimums

Dairy items must be low in sugar, sodium, and total fat

Smoothies: < 300 kcal and include at least one full serving of fruit or vegetables

These guidelines reflect a push toward nutrient-dense, functional foods that offer more than just calories.

How NutriCal Can Help You Qualify

Complying with all these numbers, ingredients, and documentation requirements manually is a lot to manage. NutriCal simplifies the process with a smart, cloud-based platform that does the work for you.

✅ Nutrition Analysis That Matches the Criteria

NutriCal uses a verified food database to calculate calories, macronutrients, and beneficial nutrients based on your actual recipe or ingredient list. Whether you're tweaking a menu item or creating a new product, you'll see exactly how it measures up against Sehhi’s standards.

✅ Instant Nutrition Facts Labels

NutriCal creates clear nutrition facts labels in both Arabic and English. You’ll get breakdowns for every nutrient the Sehhi program considers—making approvals smoother and faster. These labels can be downloaded and used directly for printing, packaging, or submission.

✅ Compliance-Ready Records

You’ll be ready for any documentation requests with automatically stored nutrition label reports. Everything is formatted and organized to align with Abu Dhabi regulations, giving you peace of mind when working with auditors or applying for approvals.

NutriCal is not just a tool for labels—it becomes your digital assistant for every part of the compliance process.

Why It Matters

Getting approved for the Sehhi program isn’t just about earning a label—it’s about building credibility and trust.

When customers see the Sehhi logo, they know:

Your food meets high nutrition standards

You’ve gone the extra mile to support public health

You’re transparent and forward-thinking

It’s also a great way to get noticed by health-conscious consumers who are actively comparing products and reading food labels.

The Sehhi logo makes it easier for them to choose you.

Ready to Go Sehhi?

NutriCal is the go-to tool for Abu Dhabi food businesses ready to align with the latest health initiatives. From analysis to labeling to submission support, everything is streamlined.

⭐ Book a free demo and see how NutriCal makes it easy to meet Sehhi standards—and stand out for all the right reasons.