The car parked outside a Dubai restaurant can cost more than the building itself. In a city with one of the highest concentrations of supercars per capita in the world, demand for rare, restored, and historically significant vehicles continues to grow.
But there's a quieter market running alongside the new-car showrooms. Dubai now has over 81,200 millionaires, a figure that has doubled in the past decade, and high-net-worth buyers in this market don't just want the latest model; they want provenance. A 1969 Ford Mustang with documented history. A restored Series III Land Rover. A numbers-matching European GT from the 1970s. These aren't purchases. They're acquisitions.
The market reflects this. The UAE classic car market was valued at over USD 1.2 billion in 2023 and is projected to reach USD 1.8 billion by 2032, growing at 4.5% annually. Meanwhile, the UAE attracted more millionaire migrants than any other country in 2024, adding over 6,700 new high-net-worth residents, each arriving with capital, taste, and, in many cases, a collection to build.
For founders, this market isn't about volume. It's about sourcing authenticity, managing documentation, and matching the right buyer with the right vehicle. Whether you're importing restored classics, sourcing collector cars for private clients, or operating a specialised showroom, operating legally requires the right Classic Cars Trading license in Dubai.
CTA: Get Your Classic Cars Trading Business License With Meydan Free Zone
Classic Cars Trading - 4510.86
This business activity covers the wholesale and retail sale of classic and vintage motor vehicles — vehicles valued not by mileage or fuel economy, but by age, rarity, restoration quality, and the heritage they carry.
Under this business activity, you can operate a specialised dealership or showroom, import classic vehicles from international markets, source collector cars for private buyers, and manage sales transactions, ownership transfers, and vehicle documentation. You may also maintain inventory, coordinate inspections and condition reports, work with restoration specialists, and handle logistics such as shipping, customs clearance, and delivery to local or overseas clients.
In practice, that might look like sourcing a numbers-matching 1967 Shelby GT500 for a GCC collector, curating a rotating inventory of restored European icons for a niche showroom, brokering private sales between serious enthusiasts, or operating in a market where verified history, originality, and documented restoration quality directly influence pricing. You might find a restored 1971 Ford Mustang Boss 351 listed by a private seller in Texas. You know a collector in Riyadh who has been looking for exactly that specification for two years. You import it, document it, and sell it at a margin that reflects your expertise and network, not just the car. That is what this business license enables.
But there are limits. You can’t engage in the wholesale and retail sale of parts and accessories for motor vehicles, renting motor vehicles with a driver, renting trucks with a driver, and renting motor vehicles and trucks without a driver.
Third-Party Approval:
No third-party approval is required for this business activity.
Anti-Money Laundering Compliance:
Business activity 4510.86 is exempt from this requirement.
