Table of Contents
Frequently Asked Questions
What does this activity cover?
It covers collecting, sorting, moving and delivering letters and parcels outside the state postal service.
Do I need third-party approval?
Yes. The Emirates Post Group must approve this activity before Meydan Free Zone can issue the license.
Can I deliver parcels by road under this code alone?
Check carefully. The road delivery sub-codes, such as 5320.98 for parcels, also need Road and Transport Authority approval.
Can I carry freight as well?
No. Freight transport sits under separate codes depending on whether it moves by road, sea or air.
Can I offer home delivery?
Yes. The class guidelines include home delivery services within this activity.
Topic Summary
UAE Courier Market Is Growing Fast
The UAE courier, express and parcel market was valued at USD 1.41 billion in 2026 and is projected to reach USD 2.06 billion by 2031. That represents steady annual growth of nearly 7.9% across the period.
Home Deliveries Dominate Parcel Volume
Home market deliveries account for roughly 64% of total courier activity in the UAE. Rising retail sales, which hit AED 256 billion in 2025, are a key driver as more spending shifts online.
Dubai's Location Adds Cross-Border Opportunity
Dubai sits on major global trade routes, giving courier businesses access to significant cross-border shipment volumes on top of domestic demand. This makes it attractive for firms handling both local and international deliveries.
Two Main Business Models to Consider
Express and parcel operators focus on time-promised deliveries where route density and failed drops affect margins. E-commerce delivery partners handle high-volume last-mile work for online sellers, where keeping cost per parcel low is critical.
Know What This License Actually Covers
A courier license covers pickup, sorting, transport and delivery of letters and parcels, including cross-border and home delivery services. Freight transport and state postal services fall under separate classifications and are not included.
Emirates Post Group Approval Is Required First
Before a business license can be issued, operators must obtain pre-approval from the Emirates Post Group. Delivery sub-codes using road vehicles also require Road and Transport Authority approval.
Setting up a Courier Company Business in Dubai
Courier activities cover collecting, sorting and then delivering letters and parcels. Firms working in this field sit outside the state postal service. They move shipments in their own vehicles or on public transport instead. Home delivery sits inside the same activity as business to business work does.
Parcel volumes here keep on climbing. The UAE courier, express and parcel market was worth USD 1.41 billion in 2026 and should reach USD 2.06 billion by 2031.1 That points to steady growth of nearly 7.9% a year right across the whole period.1 Home market deliveries still hold the larger share at about 64%.1
Retail growth feeds those parcels. UAE retail sales rose 7% during 2025 to reach a total of AED 256 billion.2 More and more of that spending now starts online and ends at somebody's front door. Dubai also sits on major world trade routes, which adds cross-border volume on top of that.
How fast parcel volumes are growing in the UAE
Whether you run express parcels, document delivery or e-commerce fulfilment, this activity covers courier work. The figures below show how the market is moving.
Who is this activity for?
What this activity covers
This code covers courier work done by firms outside the state postal service. The class guidelines set the scope from pickup right through to delivery.
- Pickup, sorting, transport and delivery of letters and parcels
- Courier services within the UAE and across borders
- Distribution and delivery of mail and parcels
- Home delivery services to private addresses
- Use of own vehicles or public transport to move shipments
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Product scope
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What falls outside this activity
This activity does not cover freight transport, which the class guidelines place under separate codes by mode of travel. Road, sea and air freight each have their own activity. Postal services run by the state sit under class 5310. Delivery sub-codes that use road vehicles also need Road and Transport Authority approval.
In short, you can collect and deliver letters and parcels, but you cannot move freight, and you are not the state post.
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Compliance
Third-party Approval
This activity requires pre-approval from the Emirates Post Group (EPG) before a business license can be issued by Meydan Free Zone.
Anti-money Laundering Compliance
This business activity is not subject to AML compliance requirements.
Footnotes
1. Mordor Intelligence, UAE Courier, Express and Parcel Market Report to 2031, March 2026.
2. Euromonitor International, Retail in the United Arab Emirates, 2026.
