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

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

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

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: 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

ATN Info - Business pages in UAE

Bloombiz UAE - Business directory for the UAE

Cybo UAE - Business directory for the UAE

Dubai Chamber Commercial Directory - Business directory for the UAE

Emirates Business Directory - Business directory for the UAE

Enroll Business UAE - Business directory for the UAE

To see 15 more, check out our Business Directories database.

UAE Marketplaces

Sample of marketplaces incorporated in the United Arab Emirates (A to Z)

Noon

Upcoming Trade shows in the United Arab Emirates

December 17th, 2025

January 12th, 2026

January 12th, 2026

January 12th, 2026

WORLD FUTURE ENERGY SUMMIT

January 13th, 2026

WFES WATER

January 13th, 2026

WORLD FUTURE ENVIRONMENT EXHIBITION

January 13th, 2026

EROC - GCC OTORHINOLARYNGOLOGY AUDIOLOGY AND COMMUNICATION DISORDERS CONFERENCE

January 15th, 2026

AEEDC

January 19th, 2026

UMEX ABU DHABI

January 20th, 2026

To see 280 more, check out our Trade shows database

Other Useful Resources

Trade Agencies and Their Representations Abroad: 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: Website of the UAE Authority for Standardisation and Metrology

Organizing Goods Transport To and From the United Arab Emirates

Main Useful Means of Transport: 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 Rail

Government Transport Organisations: Etihad Rail

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United Arab Emirates: Buying

Customs Procedures

Industrial and Manufacturing Profile

Sector-specific professional associations

Type of Manufacturers

Identifying a Supplier

UAE multisector Business directories

UAE Marketplaces

Upcoming Trade shows in the United Arab Emirates

Other Useful Resources

Controlling the Quality of the Products

Organizing Goods Transport To and From the United Arab Emirates

By Sea

By Air

By Road

By Rail