diff --git a/.github/workflows/build_image.yml b/.github/workflows/build_image.yml
index 232b92a..b13a8d2 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/build_image.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/build_image.yml
@@ -108,6 +108,11 @@ jobs:
             type=ref,event=tag
             type=sha,format=short,prefix=
 
+      # generate frontend build date in utc
+      - name: Generate frontend build date
+        id: frontend_build_meta
+        run: echo "build_date=$(date -u +'%Y/%m/%d UTC')" >> "$GITHUB_OUTPUT"
+
       # build and push frontend docker image with version argument
       - name: Build Frontend Docker image
         uses: docker/build-push-action@v5
@@ -119,6 +124,7 @@ jobs:
           platforms: linux/amd64
           build-args: |
             VERSION=${{ github.ref_type == 'tag' && github.ref_name || '' }}
+            BUILD_DATE=${{ steps.frontend_build_meta.outputs.build_date }}
 
   update_helm_values:
     runs-on: ubuntu-latest
diff --git a/frontend/Dockerfile b/frontend/Dockerfile
index d8f1980..94a1b2e 100644
--- a/frontend/Dockerfile
+++ b/frontend/Dockerfile
@@ -25,12 +25,15 @@ ENV NODE_ENV=production
 # accepts version argument to override package.json version
 ARG VERSION=""
 
+# accepts build date argument to set package.json build metadata
+ARG BUILD_DATE=""
+
 COPY --from=deps /app/node_modules ./node_modules
 COPY . .
 
-# update package.json version if VERSION arg is provided
-RUN if [ -n "$VERSION" ]; then \
-  node -e "const pkg = require('./package.json'); pkg.version = '$VERSION'; require('fs').writeFileSync('./package.json', JSON.stringify(pkg, null, 2))"; \
+# update package.json build metadata when build args are provided
+RUN if [ -n "$VERSION" ] || [ -n "$BUILD_DATE" ]; then \
+  VERSION="$VERSION" BUILD_DATE="$BUILD_DATE" node -e "const fs = require('fs'); const pkg = require('./package.json'); const version = process.env.VERSION; const buildDate = process.env.BUILD_DATE; if (version) pkg.version = version; if (buildDate) pkg.buildDate = buildDate; fs.writeFileSync('./package.json', JSON.stringify(pkg, null, 2) + '\\n')"; \
 fi
 
 EXPOSE 3000
diff --git a/frontend/package.json b/frontend/package.json
index 40a47ae..9c6dc7f 100644
--- a/frontend/package.json
+++ b/frontend/package.json
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 {
   "name": "linux-do-cdk",
   "version": "1.2.3",
+  "buildDate": "2026-01-01T00:00:00Z",
   "private": true,
   "scripts": {
     "dev": "next dev --turbopack",