How to Start a Retail Sale Of Articles Of Clothing Business with Meydan Free Zone

May 20, 2026

Last Updated on May 20, 2026

How to Start a Retail Sale Of Articles Of Clothing Business with Meydan Free Zone

Clothing retail is one of the UAE's largest and most commercially dynamic consumer categories. The UAE apparel market reached AED 50.3 billion in 2023 and is growing at a CAGR of more than 3%.[1] The broader UAE apparel market is likely to be valued at USD 28.85 billion in 2025.[2] The UAE luxury fashion market reached USD 1.27 billion in 2024, projected to reach USD 1.83 billion by 2033 at a CAGR of 3.74%, driven by high-net-worth individual inflows, with the UAE projected to record the world's highest net inflow of millionaires in 2024.[3] With over 80% of residents being expatriates bringing diverse fashion tastes, world-class mall infrastructure in Dubai and Abu Dhabi, record tourist arrivals of 18.72 million in Dubai in 2024, and a tax-free shopping environment, the UAE is one of the most commercially attractive clothing retail markets in the world.

Sources: GlobalData - UAE Apparel Market; IMARC Group - UAE Luxury Fashion Market

International brands including Zara, H&M, Max, and a full spectrum of luxury labels from LVMH and Kering all maintain active UAE retail presence.

Who is this for?

Audience Segment	Profile
MASS AND HIGH STREET High Street and Multi-Brand Clothing Retailers	Retailers operating clothing stores across all price points, from value fashion to contemporary brands, serving the UAE's large and diverse resident population and the millions of international visitors who shop in Dubai and Abu Dhabi each year.
LUXURY AND DESIGNER Luxury and Designer Clothing Boutiques	Boutique operators and luxury brand retailers serving the UAE's growing high-net-worth resident base and high-spending tourist segment, operating in premium mall environments or standalone flagship locations.

4771.01 - Retail Sale Of Articles Of Clothing

Activity 4771.01 covers the retail sale of articles of clothing, interpreted within the retail sale of clothing, footwear and leather articles in specialised stores. This encompasses menswear, womenswear, and childrenswear across all categories including outerwear, casual wear, formalwear, eveningwear, sportswear, underwear and nightwear, traditional and modest fashion including abayas, and all clothing articles for retail sale.

Category	Scope
Womenswear	Dresses, tops, trousers, suits, outerwear, evening and occasion wear, and all women's clothing across casual, formal, and luxury segments.
Modest fashion and abayas	Abayas, hijabs, kaftans, modest fashion collections, and Islamic clothing catering to UAE's significant Muslim consumer segment.
Menswear	Shirts, trousers, suits, jackets, casual and formal menswear, traditional thobes and kanduras, and all men's clothing categories.
Sportswear and activewear	Athletic clothing, gym wear, yoga apparel, outdoor clothing, and performance activewear for the UAE's health-conscious population.
Childrenswear	Clothing for infants, toddlers, and children across all categories, including school uniforms, casual, and occasion wear.

This activity excludes the retail sale of textiles sold by the metre.

Activity 4771.01 covers retail sale of clothing articles. Textiles sold by the metre or in fabric form fall under separate textile retail categories.

Footwear falls under 4771.99 and 4771.98. Clothing accessories such as gloves and ties fall under 4771.03.

In short: if you are retailing finished clothing articles of any kind, you are in. Textiles by the metre have a separate code, as do footwear and clothing accessories.

Third-Party Approval

This activity does not require third-party approval to obtain a business license from Meydan Free Zone.

Anti-Money Laundering Compliance

This business activity is not subject to AML compliance requirements.

References

¹ GlobalData. (2024). UAE Apparel Market Size, Consumer Insights, Competitive Landscape and Forecast to 2028. globaldata.com

² Fortune Business Insights. (2025). Apparel Market Size, Share, Future Trends and Forecast 2034. fortunebusinessinsights.com

³ IMARC Group. (2025). UAE Luxury Fashion Market Size, Share and Trends Forecast to 2033. imarcgroup.com

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