The UAE will prohibit the use of ciprofloxacin in veterinary medicine from 1 November 2026 as part of efforts to combat antimicrobial resistance and preserve the effectiveness of antibiotics used to treat human infections.
The Emirates Drug Establishment (EDE), the country’s pharmaceutical regulator, announced the ban following a scientific assessment of antimicrobial resistance data, including studies submitted by United Arab Emirates University.
Ciprofloxacin belongs to the fluoroquinolone group of antibiotics, which are classified as critically important antimicrobials for human medicine. These medicines are used to treat certain bacterial infections, making the risk of resistance a significant public health concern. Their inappropriate use in animals can contribute to the development and spread of resistant bacteria.
The ban covers veterinary medicinal products and raw materials containing ciprofloxacin, affecting nine products: eight imported products and one locally registered product.
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To enforce the decision, the EDE has instructed relevant establishments to stop manufacturing, importing and supplying the affected products. Existing stocks must be withdrawn from the local market before the deadline, with remaining quantities re-exported or disposed of according to approved procedures. Establishments must also submit documentation confirming compliance.
Dr. Ruqaya Aqeel Al Bastaki, Acting Executive Director of the Medical Products Regulation Sector at the EDE, said “Regulating the use of antimicrobials requires an approach based on assessing the risks associated with each substance and how those risks affect treatment priorities across different sectors.”
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The decision forms part of the UAE’s wider efforts to promote responsible antimicrobial use, strengthen pharmaceutical oversight and protect human and animal health from the growing threat of drug resistance.
