The UAE banned
plastic straws.
Here is what comes next.
Plastic straws are now banned across the UAE. The Ocean Straw is the premium, fully compliant alternative trusted by the region's leading cafés, restaurants, and hotels.
Regulation
The ban is not coming. It is already here.
UAE Cabinet Decision No. 37 of 2021 phases out single-use plastics across all food and beverage operations. Restaurants, cafés, hotels, and cloud kitchens are directly in scope. Phase 3 is active today.
Phase 1
Jan 2024
Plastic carrier bags banned at all retail and grocery outlets. First wave of disposable plastic restrictions at point of sale.
DonePhase 2
Jun 2024
Expanded scope to cover single-use plastic straws, cutlery, and stirrers across hospitality, F&B, and foodservice operations.
DonePhase 3
Jan 2025
Full enforcement with active inspections. Non-compliant establishments subject to fines issued by municipal authorities.
In Force NowPhase 4
Jan 2026
Complete elimination of remaining single-use plastic categories. All commercial food and beverage operations must be fully compliant.
ActiveNon-Compliance
The cost of inaction
Establishments found using banned plastics face fines from municipal inspectors. Repeat violations escalate to higher penalty tiers. Some emirates apply operational restrictions for continued non-compliance.
Fine amounts vary by emirate.
Hello, World!
The Product
A straw that does not cost the ocean
The Ocean Straw is made from natural plant-based materials, designed to perform like plastic without leaving any of its legacy behind. It holds its shape through hot and cold beverages, does not go soggy, and breaks down naturally at end of life.
Developed in Finland and manufactured in Spain, it is built to meet the demands of high-volume F&B operations. Cafés, restaurants, bars, and hotels use it as a direct replacement for the plastic straws they can no longer legally serve.
Product origin
Developed in
Finland
Manufactured in
Spain
Material
Natural plant-based fibres
End of life
Naturally compostable
Compliance
Plastic straw ban ready
Why operators choose it
Built for the realities of restaurant service
Performance, compliance, and cost clarity — the three things an operator needs before they can switch.
Performance
Holds up through the full drink
Maintains its shape in hot and cold beverages. No softening, no splitting, no guest complaints. Works across your full menu.
Compliance
Plastic straw ban ready
Meets the requirements of UAE Cabinet Decision No. 37 of 2021. Switch today and remove the compliance risk from your operation.
End of life
Naturally compostable
Breaks down through natural processes. No microplastics, no landfill contribution, no greenwashing.
Operations
Direct drop-in replacement
Same dimensions as a standard straw. No retraining, no new dispensers, no changes to your setup. It just works.
Procurement
Volume pricing available
Structured for multi-outlet operators. Order in bulk and lock in a unit cost that fits inside your consumables budget.
Guest experience
A choice your guests will notice
Removing plastic straws is visible and tangible. It costs nothing in service quality and adds something real to your brand story.
How it stacks up
Not all alternatives are equal
Paper straws comply on paper. In practice, they fail mid-drink and frustrate guests. The Ocean Straw holds up through the full service.
| Ocean Straw | Paper Straw | Plastic Straw | |
|---|---|---|---|
| UAE compliance | Yes | Yes | No |
| Holds shape — cold | Yes | Partial | Yes |
| Holds shape — hot | Yes | No | Yes |
| No soggy failure | Yes | No | Yes |
| Naturally compostable | Yes | Partial | No |
| No microplastics | Yes | Yes | No |
| Drop-in replacement | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Guest satisfaction | High | Low | High |
Who it is for
Every F&B format that serves a drink
From a flat white to a cocktail. From a café counter to a full-service restaurant. The Ocean Straw fits any operation that currently uses plastic.
Format
Cafés and Coffee Shops
High-volume cold drinks, iced coffees, and smoothies. Guests notice when a straw fails. The Ocean Straw holds up through the full cup.
Format
Restaurants
Table service operations where drink presentation matters. A compliant straw that performs to the same standard as your food.
Format
Pubs and Bars
Cocktails, long drinks, and spirits. A straw that holds shape through an hour-long drink and looks right in any glass.
Format
Casual Dining
Multi-cover operations with high straw turnover. Volume pricing keeps the unit cost manageable at scale.
Product range
Available in three sizes
Standard dimensions across all variants. Order by format or mix across your outlets.
6mm
Standard
8mm
Jumbo
10mm
Cocktail
Mix lengths and sizes across outlets. Contact us to discuss volume pricing for your operation.
Get started
Ready to switch before the next inspection?
We help UAE restaurants and cafés source The Ocean Straw, size their order, and make the switch with no disruption to service. Book a call and we will walk you through it.
No commitment required. We size your order and walk you through pricing first.
Volume pricing available for multi-outlet operators.
UAE-based advisory. We understand local compliance requirements.