All Guides / Trading & Distribution
Starting a trading or distribution business in the UAE
The largest license category in the UAE, and the one founders most often get wrong by defaulting to General Trading.
What This Sector Covers
Trading is what the UAE free zones were built for, and it shows: roughly one in three of every activity published across our partner zones is a trading line. That abundance is the problem. A founder who asks for “a trading license” is usually handed General Trading, pays for the broadest permission available, and never learns that the specific product line they actually sell had its own cheaper, cleaner activity sitting two pages away.
The distinction matters commercially. General Trading lets you deal in most permitted goods under one activity, which suits a genuine multi-category importer. A single-product business, auto spare parts, foodstuff, building materials, is usually better served by the specific activity, because banks, customs and suppliers read the license wording literally, and a narrow, accurate activity opens accounts faster than a broad vague one.
Who typically licenses this. Importers and re-exporters, distributors holding stock in a free zone warehouse, commodity traders, and e-commerce sellers who take title to goods.
Browse by category
Find Your Category First
Not sure which activity you need? Start with the category closest to your business, then pick the activity inside it.
General & Multi-Category Trading
941- General Trading
- Commercial Brokerage & Agency
- Distribution & Supply Chain Trading
Foodstuff & Beverages
405- General Foodstuff Trading
- Meat & Poultry Trading
- Fresh Fruit & Vegetables Trading
- Soft Drinks & Bottled Water Trading
- Sugar, Confectionery & Bakery Products Trading
- Grains, Rice & Pulses Trading
- + 11 more
Vehicles & Transport Equipment
227- New Cars Trading
- Motorcycles & Scooters Trading
- Bicycles & Micromobility Trading
- Commercial Vehicles & Trucks Trading
- Electric Vehicles Trading
- Buses & Passenger Vehicles Trading
Electronics & Electrical Goods
226- Electrical Equipment & Cables Trading
- Consumer Electronics Trading
- Lighting & Lamps Trading
- Batteries & Power Supplies Trading
- Electronic Components & Semiconductors Trading
Building & Construction Materials
215- Paints, Adhesives & Coatings Trading
- Tiles, Marble & Stone Trading
- Timber & Wood Products Trading
- Steel & Rebar Trading
- Cement, Concrete & Aggregates Trading
- Doors, Windows & Aluminium Trading
- + 3 more
Textiles, Garments & Fashion
191- Readymade Garments Trading
- Fabrics & Textiles Trading
- Yarn & Thread Trading
- Uniforms & Workwear Trading
Machinery & Heavy Equipment
186- Industrial Machinery Trading
- Construction & Earthmoving Equipment Trading
- Material Handling & Lifting Equipment Trading
- Printing & Packaging Machinery Trading
- Robotics & Automation Equipment Trading
Automotive Parts & Accessories
159- Auto Spare Parts Trading
- Tyres, Rims & Wheels Trading
Furniture & Home Furnishings
151- Home Furniture Trading
- Carpets, Rugs & Flooring Trading
- Curtains, Blinds & Upholstery Trading
- Home Decor & Artificial Plants Trading
Pharma, Medical & Laboratory Supplies
149- Pharmaceuticals Trading
- Medical Equipment & Devices Trading
- Laboratory Equipment & Reagents Trading
- Optical & Eyewear Trading
- Dental Equipment & Supplies Trading
- Surgical & Disposable Supplies Trading
- + 1 more
Packaging & Disposables
134- Containers, Drums & Pallets Trading
- Packaging Materials Trading
- Labels, Tags & Barcodes Trading
IT, Computers & Telecom Hardware
111- Computers & Peripherals Trading
- Software & Digital Licenses Trading
- Networking & Telecom Equipment Trading
- Mobile Phones & Accessories Trading
Agriculture, Plants & Livestock Supplies
104- Agricultural Tools & Irrigation Trading
- Pets & Pet Supplies Trading
- Flowers & Ornamental Plants Trading
- Veterinary Products Trading
- Seeds & Planting Material Trading
- Live Animals & Livestock Trading
Toys, Baby & Kids Products
104- Toys & Games Trading
- Baby Products & Nursery Equipment Trading
- Party Supplies & Gifts Trading
Chemicals & Plastics
95- Industrial Chemicals Trading
- Plastics & Polymers Trading
- Agricultural Chemicals & Fertilizers Trading
- Rubber & Latex Products Trading
Footwear, Leather & Accessories
88- Leather Goods Trading
- Footwear Trading
- Bags & Luggage Trading
Musical Instruments & Audio
82- Audio, Sound & Studio Equipment Trading
- Musical Instruments Trading
Scrap, Waste & Recycled Materials
81- Scrap Metal Trading
- Used Goods & Second-Hand Trading
- Recycled Materials Trading
Tools, Hardware & Industrial Supplies
80- Hand & Power Tools Trading
- Fasteners, Bearings & Hardware Trading
- Pumps, Valves & Pipe Fittings Trading
- Welding & Cutting Equipment Trading
Cosmetics, Perfumes & Personal Care
76- Perfumes & Fragrances Trading
- Skincare & Haircare Products Trading
- Cosmetics & Makeup Trading
Water, HVAC & Environmental Equipment
73- Water Treatment Equipment Trading
- HVAC & Air Conditioning Equipment Trading
Safety, Security & Fire Equipment
66- Military & Defence Equipment Trading
- Fire Fighting Equipment Trading
- Security & Surveillance Systems Trading
- Safety Equipment & PPE Trading
Oil, Gas & Petroleum Products
62- Petroleum Products Trading
Home Appliances & Kitchenware
59- Kitchen Equipment & Catering Supplies Trading
- Home Appliances Trading
Cleaning, Hygiene & Detergents
59- Cleaning Materials & Detergents Trading
- Pest Control Products Trading
Glass, Ceramics & Sanitary Ware
59- Glass & Mirrors Trading
- Sanitary Ware & Bathroom Fittings Trading
- Ceramics & Porcelain Trading
Marine & Boating Supplies
57- Marine Equipment & Spare Parts Trading
- Fishing Equipment Trading
- Boats & Yachts Trading
Sports, Fitness & Outdoor Equipment
57- Sports Equipment Trading
- Camping & Outdoor Gear Trading
- Hunting & Shooting Equipment Trading
Jewellery, Gold & Luxury Goods
48- Gold & Jewellery Trading
- Diamonds & Precious Stones Trading
- Watches & Clocks Trading
Office, Stationery & Print Supplies
46- Paper & Paper Products Trading
- Stationery & Office Supplies Trading
Aviation & Aerospace Supplies
37- Aircraft & Aircraft Parts Trading
- Space & Satellite Equipment Trading
- Drones & UAV Trading
Metals & Minerals
33- Precious Metals & Bullion Trading
Tobacco & Smoking Products
33- Tobacco Products Trading
Books, Media & Publications
27- Books & Publications Trading
Art, Antiques & Handicrafts
19- Antiques & Collectibles Trading
- Handicrafts & Souvenirs Trading
Energy, Solar & Power Equipment
17- Generators & Power Equipment Trading
- Solar Energy Equipment Trading
- EV Charging Equipment Trading
Approvals You Should Expect
Across our partner zones, 1,252 of the 4,531 listings in this sector (28%) carry a named external approval. These are the bodies that appear most often, an approval here is a condition of the license, not an optional extra, and several must be obtained before the license issues.
Which Zone Carries It
Every partner zone publishes activities in this sector, but not evenly. SRTIP carries the most at 1,126 listings. Breadth is not the only thing that matters (fees, visa quota, facility type and reputation all count) but a zone with a thin list in your sector is a zone that may not have your exact activity.
Before You Apply
- General Trading costs more at most zones and does not automatically cover restricted goods, food, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, tobacco and chemicals all pull in a separate regulator regardless of how broad your activity is.
- Food lines trigger Municipality and Food Safety Authority clearance before you can import, not after.
- If you never hold stock and only introduce buyers to sellers, you are a commercial agent or broker, not a trader, a different activity with a different fee.
A to Z of Every trading & distribution Activity
Every activity published in this sector across our partner zones, alphabetically. Zone codes show where each one is available; click any activity carrying ⓘ to read the free zone’s own official description of it.
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A
B
C
D
E
F
G
H
I
J
K
L
M
N
O
P
R
S
T
U
V
W
Y
Questions We Get Asked
Do I need the exact activity, or is something close enough?
The exact one. Banks, customs, payment providers and clients all read the license wording literally, and an activity that only roughly describes what you do creates friction at account opening and at import. With 2,603 activities published in this sector alone, there is almost always a precise line available.
Can I hold more than one activity on a single license?
Yes. Every zone allows multiple activities on one license, usually with a package covering a set number and a fee per additional activity beyond it. Some zones restrict mixing across license types, for example combining a trading activity with a professional one, so the combination matters more than the count.
What does an “external approval” actually mean here?
It means a body outside the free zone has to sign off before your license can issue or before you may operate. In this sector that most often means Ministry of Climate Change & Environment (MOCCAE), followed by Civil Defence. The free zone will not waive it, and applying without it is the most common cause of a stalled application.
Which free zone should I choose for this sector?
Start by confirming the zone publishes your exact activity, that alone removes several options. In this sector SRTIP publishes the most activities. Then weigh cost, visa quota, whether you need a physical facility, and whether your clients or bank have a preference. We do this comparison as part of the setup rather than leaving it to you.
Is a free zone license enough to trade on the UAE mainland?
Not by itself. A free-zone company can sell to mainland customers through a distributor or agent, and can service mainland clients in many sectors, but holding a physical outlet, a workshop or a site presence on the mainland generally needs a DED license or a branch. This matters more in some sectors than others, it is decisive in retail, hospitality and contracting.
How current is this list?
It reflects the activity lists each zone publishes, as loaded into our catalogue. Zones add and retire activities without announcement, and fees change. Treat it as an accurate map rather than a live feed, and confirm the specific activity before you commit.