Exporting to Dubai – what products and how

Are you looking to expand or start your export import business and seeking to export to Dubai?

Well, in this article, we will explain, what products you can think of exporting to Dubai. Also, we will explain requirements and procedures when exporting into Dubai. We look, how to enter into Dubai,s market and get orders from Dubai importers.

But before we get started, it is important to understand some basics about the unique business environment and culture in Dubai. As this directly or indirectly affects the trading business in Dubai.

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PS! If you are new to export-import business, then check out our exclusive guide & resources for exporters/importers, agents, and online sellers. We hope this resource will help you during your way.

1. Dubai business environment

First of all, Dubai is an re-export hub, and is the gateway to the other UEA Cities.

In fact, in terms of natural resources, Dubai has nothing much to export. They have turned themselves into one of the world’s leading cities in financial and service activities. They already making all the world’s producers gather in Dubai and from Dubai to re-export goods to other countries.  

Dubai is one of the most dynamic cities in the UEA.

It has a business environment, exists free trade zones whereby foreigners can have full ownership. Dubai has an open banking system and implements a strong privatization policy. This is a good place, where to open and operate the export-import business.

It has a modern infrastructure, world-class business environment. Dubai’s economy is diverse, including sectors as international trade, finance, banking, goods, travel, real estate and public manufacturing industry.

Dubai supports foreign manufacturers with low cost but effective financial service system. All for the purpose of attracting product imports into Dubai for re-production and re-export.

Dubai does not levy corporate income tax and other taxes are very low. Businesses entering Dubai will receive financial support if they have representative offices / companies or rent warehouses in free trade zones.

At Dubai’s Jabal Ali port, there are about 170 shipping lines operating around the world. The shipping period to East Africa is 8 days, the longest to Oceania is 27 days. There are 90 flights per week and 15 million containers annually.

For businesses around the world to trade their products, Dubai has established 13 huge markets in Al Ras and Greater Al Ras areas. Markets in Dubai free trader areas including: spice market, gold market, perfume market, cloth market, food markets … Traders in these markets are mainly wholesalers and anyone can buy several containers in all 13 markets.

1.2. Why should you do export import business with Dubai

• Dubai has a very good infrastructure, supporting all kinds of trading businesses
• and reliable banking system
• The political system is stable
• Many free trade zones allow the company to have 100% foreign capital and zero tax regime
• Many areas of continuous development and innovation, including Sadiyaat Island in Abu Dhabi, City of Mohammed Bin Rashid in Dubai and Fujairah Master Plan.
• Dubai is a re-export hub and ideal gateway to enter into UEA
• Dubai and UEA is a rich place, companies and citizens have high purchasing power.
• Very good seaports and airports- which makes exporting/importing of goods fast and cheap.
• Very good location for international trade, near to Asia and Africa.

1.3. Some of the challenges if doing Export-import business with Dubai

• If opening an export import business in Dubai, then foreign companies from non-GCC countries will have limited ownership of shares. in Dubai (as a rule, local companies must hold 51% ownership of the company)
• Although English is recognized as a business language, Arabic is still the main language and documents are often written in Arabic.

When doing business with importers and customers, bear in mind that must understand and accept the culture.

For example,

Do not actively shake hands with women, do not eat or drink, smoke in public places, in front of Muslims during the fasting month of Ramadan. Especially should not organize negotiations, meetings or promoting business in the month of Ramadan.

1.4. Export import activity in Dubai

Dubai’s imports account for about 70% of the UAE’s total import demand. Major import items of Dubai include consumer goods, food, cement, production materials and other semi-finished products.

Dubai,s export includes heavily Oil and gas products, also metals. Most of the products Dubai is exporting have been imported before from India or other Asian or African countries. After imported into Dubai, local companies do processing and products will be then r-exported with higher prices.

Dubai companies may not grow fresh tea, cashew nuts … but they own tea and nuts processing plants in a world’s leading scale. This is the strategy for them to attract 65% of the producers, to import goods there for re-processing – finishing, then re-exporting to the globe.

Dubai is a international business centre and hub for all kinds of trade exhibitions. In Dubai, there are suitable exhibitions and trade shows for all the tastes. Are you an small player or multinational company, for sure, there will be suitable exhibition taking place for your business in Dubai.

Besides the showrooms, Dubai also provides businesses around the world with excellent logistics services: free-trade zones with free warehouses for businesses, warehouse rental companies by m3 by day.

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2. What products Dubai is importing

As you already know, Dubai counts 70% of the UAE’s total import demand. It imports wide choice of goods. Below is a list of the most imported products in Dubai.

Below is a list of top 10 products imported by Dubai.

1. Natural or cultured pearls, precious or semi-precious stones, precious metals
2. Electrical machinery, equipment parts
3. Machinery, mechanical appliances, nuclear reactors
4. Vehicles other than railway or tramway rolling stock
5. Mineral fuels, mineral oils products of their distillation
6. Commodities not elsewhere specified
7. Articles of iron or steel
8. Aircraft, spacecraft, and parts thereof
9. Plastics and articles thereof
10. Optical, photographic, cinematographic, measuring equipment.

As Dubai is hub and gateway to UAE, then it is reasonable to look the whole picture of United Arab Emirates imports. Based on the data featured by ITC , the UAE imports 2018 is as follows:

To see the full list of UAE imports, you can check it out here

As you see, at the top there are precious items, like jewelry, precious metals, coins, neckless, etc. These items are mostly imported to Dubai and AUE from India and African countries. India is also one of the biggest trading partner for Dubai. Therefore we will have a , what are the main products you can export to Dubai from India.

Below is an most exported products from India to Dubai and AUE.

2.1. Top exports to Dubai from India

According to the ITC trade map, the most imported products from India to AUE are as follows:

1. Natural or cultured pearls, precious or semi-precious items
2. Mineral fuels, mineral oils and products of their distillations.
3. Electrical machinery and equipment
4. Ships, boats and floating structures
5. Articles of apparel and clothing.
6. Articles of apparel and clothing
7. Machinery, mechanical appliances, nuclear reactors
8. Cereals
9. Organic chemicals
10. Articles of iron or steel

As you can see, the first top products exported to AUE from India, are as the Dubai main imported products. This means, that has significant potential to increase the export of these products to AEU and Dubai even further. It is so, because the demand volume for example: Jewelries imported by Dubai is huge. And India is and very competitive exporter of , pearls precious items.

2.2. Biggest export opportunities from India to Dubai

Lets look more closely some of the best products what you could export to Dubai an AUE from India and other Asian and African countries.

From India to Dubai, following product categories present the greatest export opportunities.

you see on the chart, the biggest unmatched export potential is again for diamonds, pearls, precious metals, also gold items.  Additionally, telephone sets & other voice/image transmission apparatus are the product that faces strong demand increase and export opportunity for Indian exporters.

There is also a stable demand for food products. Importers from Dubai are regularly importing huge volumes of rice, vegetables from India. Also, seafood products are demanded by Dubai’s importers. Seafood has great potential because Seafood has “0” import tax applied, which rises its demand by importers.

Opportunity exist also with handicraft items because now the construction speed in Dubai is growing rapidly, leading to the demand for interior decoration products.

And one more important point,

Dubai is mainly hub. About 33% of Dubai,s exports is a re-export, then it is smart to look, what the , main exports. Because Dubai exports reflects strongly in its imports.

Related: Read also top import-export business ideas

3.Dubai exports

The United Arab Emirates is a member of the World Trade Organization and the Emirates are an important trading partner for approximately 32 countries worldwide. The main export commodities include natural gas and crude oil, as well as foodstuffs and products which will be re-exported. Dubai also exports metals, like aluminum or copper, where the main export partners are Japan, South Korea, Thailand, India, and Iran.

Below is Dubai top 10 exports

1. Mineral fuels including oil: about (22.4% of total exports)
2. Gems, precious metals: about (15.1%)
3. Electrical machinery, equipment: About (7.7%)
4. Machinery including computers: About (5.2%)
5. Vehicles: About (4%)
6. Aluminum: About (2%)
7. Tobacco manufactured substitutes: About (1.7%)
8. Plastics, plastic articles: About (1.7%)
9. Aircrafts, spacecrafts: About (1%)
10. Perfumes, cosmetics: About (0.8%

Dubai main export markets are China, , Korea, middle east countries, also India, Europe, USA.

But only knowing, the rights products what could be exported to Dubai is not enough to start a successful export business with Dubai and enter into the Dubai market.

You need to know, how to export to Dubai and what are the procedures and documents required by Dubai customs to export into .

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4. import regulations for exporting to Dubai

Dubai, like the other emirates of the UAE, imposes a maximum import duty of 4% of the CIF value of products (including prices, premiums, freight). Food, pharmaceutical products and other necessities are exempt from tax. In contrast, tobacco and alcohol are taxed at 25-50%.

If you want to export to Dubai, you shall make clear all the requirements and documents, you need to provide to your Dubaian Importer. Some of the following import requirements are not applicable for an exporter, but it is still good, to know these are.

• License to import into Dubai

Importers are only allowed to import items related to the business sector listed in the license issued by the local authorities.

All imported agricultural products including beef and poultry products must have a certificate of medical quarantine from the country of origin and a certificate of killing according to Islamic law (halal).

NB! Goods banned from entering this market are: pork and lard.

These certificates are issued by the Muslim center in the country of origin. Halal certification is a process of independent third-party and objective review to confirm that specific products/services comply with Halal standard requirements and Shari’ah law. Muslims only trust in products with Halal certification marks.

Dubai offers incentives for imports from any of the member states of the Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf (CCASG), Kuwait, Oman, Qatar Saudi Arabia. Accordingly, goods imported into Dubai from these countries, there are no import duties

• Documents required to export to Dubai

All goods imported into Dubai must have standard import documents. Accordingly, to be cleared of goods, there must be the necessary documents as follows:

• including sea waybill (for goods transported by sea) or air waybill (for air cargo) )
• certificate of origin, and other types of documents issued by the competent authorities of the exporting country or certified by the embassy of Dubai.
• Proforma invoice and contract of sales-purchase.
• Specification of product which specifies the usage, manufacturer name, importer, composition of the product, date of manufacture and expiry date. All must be in English and Arabic on the packaging for the food items/ products: processed foods, canned foods, drinks.
• Sales-purchase contract between exporter and exporter.
• Packing list of the exporters goods.

4.1.Temporary import into Dubai

Dubai’s import regulations allow goods to be temporarily imported free of duty and stored in any free economic zone in Dubai. However, the components, when used to produce export products, will be taxed.

Because import tariffs in Dubai are low (probably the lowest in the world), domestic producers do not consider taxes a barrier to their business.

4.2.Trade barriers for tariffs, non-tariffs and import duties

Only companies with business licenses can register for import/export in Dubai. For religious and security reasons, the import of alcoholic products, cigarettes, personal dance pork is limited.

Dubai maintains non-tariff barriers in trade and investments by setting rigorous standards on agents, sponsors, distributors and making strict requirements for food items.

As you see, Dubai is not very regulated and procedures of import and export to Dubai are relatively simple and fast for Indian and other countries exporters.

Related reading: Import export procedures and documentation

5. How to get import orders from Dubai

Now, we handle the most important topics for many exporters. Finding the importers from Dubai is the key to get your export import business growing. Although the population is only 3,2 million, Dubai consumers are wealthy customers, per capita income is over $ 20,000 per year, so purchasing power is huge in this market. Also, Dubai companies are rich.

To find importers from Dubai, you need to know, what are the channels for finding the Dubai importers and Buyers.

NB! We have an online export-import course, which is designed to get you started in business, you can learn about it below:
Online business course.

5.1. Search Dubaian customers on the internet

This is the easiest way. You can search for partners on B2B channels on the websites, forums of the industry that interests you.  After getting the company information, you can search the company website and send an email to introduce your company and call directly to create trust.

5.2. Use internet and website to marke your products

To use the internet marketing for your export import business, start from the steps below.

1. Build a quality website and you can update the necessary information about your company’s latest product. Upload your company’s product images, production plants, production processes, etc. to enhance your reliability in marketing to Dubai
2. Online search engine optimization (SEO) plays an important role a modern business website. In order to optimize your site and make it findable by Dubai,s importers, you can start by looking for a product provider similar to your company’s product.
3. Connect with social media like Facebook, Twitter, Plaxo and start regular promoting in these channels.
4. Youtube; Flicker, e-Magazines can also be used to increase your outreach to possible importers from Dubai.

5.3. Participate the fairs, exhibitions

In Dubai, there is a sales fair in the global village that takes place in 3 consecutive months. The items on display there are exempt from tax. Therefore, this is a good opportunity for businesses to approach and directly seek partners and Dubai importers.

5.4. Visit Dubai markets in the free trade Zone

As you know, there are 13 different open markers in Dubai free trade zones. There are markers of food, spices, gold/ jewelry, seafood, electronics others. It would be smart, to visit these markets personally, make new contacts, learn about the market and prices, demands, trends and get new importers (customers).

5.5. Use international and local Dubai Chamber of commerce

This is an traditional way, to find foreign clients and importers in different countries. In Dubai, to find local importers for different products it is option if your business is well standing and you have possibilities to invest significant sums for partner finding.

To read further, about how to find foreign importers and get export orders, we suggest reading further the related articles about export-import marketing.

PS! We have also service, where we will seek buyers for you. You can read about this service and apply for it here. Get me the buyer for my exports.