Import & Export in the UAE

Key points

Office options in the UAE range from office suite, showroom, warehouse, factory, bulk liquid facility or open yard, so you only pay for the space your visa quota actually needs. One of the reasons we recommend the UAE is its world's largest port-adjacent free zone, which matters more than most founders realise once the business is running. Day to day, popular activities in the UAE include import/export, logistics, manufacturing, commodities and retail, and most of them can be combined on a single licence.

Step by step

1. 
   Step 1

   Consultation and activity selection

   In the first call we check that the UAE lists your activity, settle the licence type and match the visa package and office to what you actually need. We keep a written record of this step so your file for starting an import-export business in the UAE is audit-ready.

2. 
   Step 2

   Name reservation and initial approval

   Importantly, we submit your preferred trade names to the UAE and secure initial approval, normally within a day or two of submission.

3. 
   Step 3

   Document submission and payment

   In short, with the forms and memorandum signed, GoldenKey lodges the attested supporting documents and settles the licence fee with the authority on your behalf. We keep a written record of this step so your file for starting an import-export business in the UAE is audit-ready.

4. 
   Step 4

   Licence issued and next steps

   Your the UAE licence, certificate of incorporation and lease are issued, and we move straight on to the establishment card, visas and bank introduction.

Documents required

On the ground, the document list for starting an import-export business in the UAE is short, and most clients already have everything on it.

• Your current residence visa and Emirates ID copy if you are a UAE resident
• A no-objection certificate from your employer if you hold a UAE employment visa
• A short business plan or activity description for certain professional activities
• A passport-size photograph on a white background
• Customs code application
• Attested parent-company documents and a board resolution if the shareholder is a company

Pricing

Pricing for starting an import-export business in the UAE depends on the package you choose; every option below includes GoldenKey's service and the government fees stated. To be clear, the figures below for starting an import-export business in the UAE are updated by GoldenKey whenever the authority changes its fees, so the price you see is the current one.

Pricing available on request — message us for a written quotation.

Where to license import & export

Free zone traders can import duty-free into the zone and re-export without paying UAE customs duty, which is why Jebel Ali and Sharjah zones dominate this activity. Selling into the UAE mainland triggers 5% duty.

JAFZAJebel Ali — the world's largest free zone and gateway to g…SAIF ZoneSharjah's industrial free zone — warehousing, logistics an…Ajman Free ZoneOne of the UAE's most affordable free zones — 0-visa packa…RAKEZRAK's all-in-one economic zone — business, industrial and …Ajman mainlandGoldenKey's home emirate — one of the most affordable main…

Examples of this activity

• Food re-export
• Auto parts
• Textiles
• Machinery

Import & Export guides by nationality

IndianPakistaniBritishRussianChineseNigerianSaudiEgyptianKenyanGermanSingaporeanOmaniFrenchItalianSpanishPortugueseDutchBelgianSwissAustrianSwedishNorwegianDanishFinnishIcelandicIrishPolishCzechSlovakHungarianRomanianBulgarianGreekCroatianSerbianSlovenianUkrainianEstonianLatvianLithuanianAmericanCanadianAustralianNew ZealanderJapaneseSouth KoreanTurkishMalaysianIndonesianThaiVietnameseFilipinoBangladeshiSouth AfricanEmiratiQatari

Why the UAE

English is the working language of business, contracts are routinely drafted in English, and government portals are bilingual, which simplifies starting an import-export business in the UAE for international business owners. Residence visas for owners and families come with the company, which makes starting an import-export business in the UAE a route to relocation as well as a business decision.

Why GoldenKey

After your the UAE licence is issued, the same team handles renewals, visa additions, amendments and tax registrations, so you never have to explain your business twice. Just as important, every the UAE package we quote already includes the licence, registration, the establishment card where applicable and our full assistance, with no hidden add-ons at the end. Importantly, most of our the UAE clients come to us through referrals from other founders, and that is why we take pride in keeping every promise we put in writing.

Frequently asked questions