The UAE second-agent rule for medical products

What changed on 24 February 2026, what is still unknown, and what a maker with one UAE agent should do now. Written by TenderGulf, October 2026. Every point links to its source.

The rule

• On 24 February 2026 the Emirates Drug Establishment (EDE) activated a mechanism requiring companies to appoint more than one authorised agent for each medical product they market in the UAE, ending single-agent control. (Gulf News)
• The legal basis is Federal Decree-Law No. 38 of 2024 on medical products, in force since 2 January 2025. (Kayrouz and Associates)
• Regulatory and licensing powers moved from the Ministry of Health and Prevention to the EDE at the start of 2026. (Enterprise, secondary)

What is not yet known

• The EDE has not published how many agents are required, which product categories are covered, or the deadline. The announcement speaks of medical products and does not say how it applies to each device category. (Kayrouz and Associates; Middle East Briefing, secondary)
• Companies are advised to seek written confirmation from the EDE for their own products. (Kayrouz, above)

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. (Kayrouz, above)
• 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. (Kayrouz, above)

This page is market research, not legal advice. Read your agency contract with UAE counsel before you approach a second agent.

How many makers it touches

In the EDE public directory as published on 19 October 2026, 255 of the 279 makers listed sold through a single UAE agent. The directory then listed 1,179 products and is still being loaded, so the real number is larger. (EDE directory)

What to do now

1. List your UAE registrations and which agent holds each.
2. Check your agency contract for exclusivity, term and registration with the Ministry of Economy.
3. Shortlist second agents that cover what your first one does not (another emirate or channel) and carry no competing brand.
4. 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 published information. See a sample map.

Questions: desk@tendergulf.com