United Arab Emirates: Buying
In this page: Customs Procedures | Industrial and Manufacturing Profile | Identifying a Supplier | Controlling the Quality of the Products | Organizing Goods Transport To and From the United Arab Emirates
Customs Procedures
- Export Clearance
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United Arab Emirates Federal Customs Authority (FCA) is the official customs authority of Emirates. It should be verified with the competent customs that one has all the documents necessary for export. Exports to Israel are prohibited. If vehicles are re-exported, an authorisation is necessary from the police department. Before re-export, an inspection of goods is carried out by the customs. It enables the exporter to recover his deposit or guarantee.
Refer to Exportation part in chapter II of GCC Customs Law for more details. - Necessary Declaration
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Here are the necessary documents:
- A declaration of exports approved by a company having a license form an agency delivering licenses in the country (for goods transported by air).
- Export Permit from a controlling authority (applicable only to restricted exports)
- Export invoice issued by a company of the country with a license addressed to a foreign company and which states total quantities, as well as a detailed description of quantity and amount for each article.
- Packing list: a detailed inventory with the quantities, names, standard codes and the method of packaging for each article.
See Dubai customs for further information.
- Restrictions
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Some Prohibited Items:
- All kinds of narcotic drugs
- Gambling tools, machineries and devices of all kinds
- Nylon fishing nets
- Live swine
- Used, reconditioned and inlaid tires
- Radiation and nuclear fallout contaminated substances
- Items that contradict Islamic faith and public morals
- Paan and betel leaves
- Goods of Israeli origin
- Export Taxes
- There are no taxes on exports.
Industrial and Manufacturing Profile
Industrial production has experienced unprecedented growth in the Emirates, and contributes 46.2% of the GDP today.
In Abu Dhabi, the dominant industries are petroleum and petrochemicals, gas processing, desalinisation of sea water and electricity production. In Dubai and Sharjah, the industrial production is more diversified, with petrochemical and chemical industry, metallurgy (aluminium), agribusiness, paper and textile industries. Ras el Khaimah has cement plants, marble works and a pharmaceutical plant. The light manufacturing industry is also developing.
Sector-specific professional associations
44 professional associations listed for the United Arab Emirates.
Type of Manufacturers
- Original Equipment Manufacturers
- This type of industry is still less present in Emirates. Emirates is still quite specialised in the field of light industry.
- Original Design Manufacturers
- ODM are growing in Emirates especially in the field of large public equipment and informatics. Foxconn, Flextronics, Quanta dominate the market.
- Subcontractors
- The development of the manufacturing sector is quite recent and the Emirates are not recognised as far as sub-contractors are concerned. Subcontracting is mainly reserved for the construction sector. Indian and Asian companies sub-contract certain work sites. It can however be expected that this trend will change given the important incentives to this sector from the government and the highly profitable conditions in the Free zones.
- Useful Resources
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Ministry of Finance
Identifying a Supplier
UAE multisector Business directories
2FindLocal UAE - Business directory for the UAE
Abu Dhabi Online Commercial Directory - Business directory provided by the Abu Dhabi Chamber
Aiwa - Business directory for the UAE
All.biz - United Arab Emirates - Directory of companies in the United Arab Emirates
Angloinfo - Dubai business directory
ATN Info - Business pages in UAE
BizExposed UAE - Business directory for the UAE
Bloombiz UAE - Business directory for the UAE
Cybo UAE - Business directory for the UAE
Dubai Chamber Commercial Directory - Business directory for the UAE
To see 17 more, check out our Business Directories database.
Upcoming Trade shows in the United Arab Emirates
May 15th, 2025
Hygiene, perfumes, cosmetics - Health, medicine - Medical professions - Paramedic - Hospital - Pharmacies, analysis laboratories - Medical Equipment - Research, innovation - Technique and technology - Natural sciences - Products and services for children - Products and services for seniors
May 20th, 2025
Hygiene, perfumes, cosmetics - Health, medicine - Medical professions - Hospital - Pharmacies, analysis laboratories - Dental - Medical Equipment
May 20th, 2025
Textiles, ready-to-wear - Textiles, ready-to-wear: unspecified - Textile, fur, accessories - Fashion, ready to wear - Shoe - Hosiery, lingerie, underwear - Household linen
May 20th, 2025
Wholesale, B2B intermediaries - Retail, distribution - Retail business - Communication - Marketing - Advertising - Sponsorship - Incentive - Industry service - Commercial property, patents, trademarks - Databases - Computers, telecommunications - Equipment - Internet, cybersecurity - Services and business consulting - Cleaning, surveillance, protection - e-commerce
May 27th, 2025
Wholesale, B2B intermediaries - Retail, distribution - Retail business - Furnishings, household equipment and arts - Furnishings, household equipment and arts: unspecified - Furnishings - Household equipment - Food industry - Food industry: unspecified - Alcoholic drinks - Non-alcoholic drinks - Bakery, pastry, confectionery - Cereals, spices, tobacco - Fruits and vegetables - Dry groceries, packaged goods - Dairy products - Fish and seafood - Meat and poultry - Internet, cybersecurity - Products and services for weddings - Tourism, travel, hotels, restaurants: non-specialist - Hotels, accommodation - Restaurants, home deliveries - Cafes, bars, nightclubs - Camping, resorts - e-commerce
May 27th, 2025
Agriculture - Land planning, urban planning - Construction, public works - Natural resource management, ecology - Pollution - Urban and industrial waste - Water treatment - Machine tools, agricultural machinery - Industry service - Cleaning, surveillance, protection - Recycling
May 27th, 2025
Land planning, urban planning - Construction, public works - Water treatment - Energy - Renewable energy
May 27th, 2025
Territorial administration - Dance - Land planning, urban planning - Sanitary equipment, kitchen, swimming pool - Furnishings, household equipment and arts - Furnishings, household equipment and arts: unspecified - Furnishings - Household equipment - Hydrotherapy, thalassotherapy - Home services - Products and services for weddings - Sports and recreation - Water sports, mountain - Team sports - Outdoor sports - Equestrian sports - Motorsports - Individual sports - Amusement parks, fairgrounds - Gardens, parks - Hotels, accommodation - Restaurants, home deliveries - Cafes, bars, nightclubs - Monuments, tourist attractions - Camping, resorts
May 27th, 2025
Financing, aid - Architecture - Wholesale, B2B intermediaries - Retail, distribution - Retail business - Import/export, international trade - Furnishings, household equipment and arts - Furnishings, household equipment and arts: unspecified - Furnishings - Household equipment - Industry service - Outsourcing, hardware equipping - Equipment - Services and business consulting - Accounting, taxation - Management - Engineering - Translation - Legal - Rental companies - Cleaning, surveillance, protection - Recruitment, temporary employment, outplacement - Financial information, financing, recovery - e-commerce
Other Useful Resources
- Trade Agencies and Their Representations Abroad
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Abu Dhabi Chamber of Commerce and Industry
Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry
Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry
Controlling the Quality of the Products
- Quality Control Organizations
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Website of the UAE Authority for Standardisation and Metrology
Organizing Goods Transport To and From the United Arab Emirates
- Main Useful Means of Transport
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Maritime transport remains the principal means to transport goods. 90% of freight inbound to the Emirates arrives as ocean freight, much of it carried in shipping containers. Dubai’s Jebel Ali is the most important ocean freight port in the UAE, and it is one of the world’s largest artificial harbour. The UAE has 12 commercial trading ports, other than oil ports. Overall, 61% of cargo destined for GCC states arrives via the UAE's seaports.
Air and land freight transport remains less important than maritime transport. Land transport is virtually non-existent.
By Sea
- Ports
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Dubai Maritime City Authority
Abu Dhabi Ports
Sharjah Ports Authority
- Transport Professionals
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Directory of goods transport professionals.
- Government Transport Organisations
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National Transport Authority
By Air
- Airports
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Abu Dhabi International Airport
Dubai International Airport
Ras Al Khaimah International Airport
Fujairah International Airport
Al Ain International Airport
- Transport Professionals
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Directory of transport professionals
- Government Transport Organisations
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General Civil Aviation Authority
By Road
- Transport Professionals
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Directory of goods transport professionals
- Government Transport Organisations
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National Transport Authority
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Latest Update: March 2025