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How to Start a Retail Sale of a Large Variety of Goods Of Which, However, Food Products and Beverages Should Be Predominant Business with Meydan Free Zone
The UAE hypermarket floor tells a single retail story in one sweep: a fresh produce section stretching along one wall, a butchery and seafood counter nearby, aisles of packaged groceries, then household essentials, kitchenware, small appliances, stationery, and seasonal goods all under the same roof. According to Ken Research1, the UAE supermarket market (which includes hypermarket and large-variety formats) is expected to reach approximately USD 50 billion by 2030 at 7% CAGR, driven by urbanisation, rising disposable incomes, and format diversification.
A retailer in this activity is the firm that operates large-variety retail stores where food products, beverages, and tobacco remain the predominant category while offering a wide range of non-food merchandise, anchoring the UAE's hypermarket and large-format grocery retail layer.
Sources: Ken Research; IMARC Group; Majid Al Futtaim
For a large-variety food-predominant retail operator setting up in this activity, three dynamics shape the UAE opportunity. First, format growth is substantial: Ken Research1 projects the UAE supermarket market (inclusive of hypermarket and large-variety formats) to reach USD 50 billion by 2030 at 7% CAGR, with urbanisation, rising disposable incomes, and e-commerce expansion identified as key growth drivers. Second, large-format retail dominates grocery spending: Majid Al Futtaim2 reports hypermarkets and supermarkets accounting for 85% of total sector spending, with Carrefour, Lulu Hypermarket, Spinneys, and cooperative chains anchoring the format. Third, the broader UAE retail market supports it: IMARC Group3 values UAE retail at USD 145.3 billion in 2024 growing to USD 227.1 billion by 2033 at 5.1% CAGR, with food-predominant large-variety retail operators capturing the grocery-plus-extended-merchandise consumer journey.
Operators typically compete on location (mall anchors versus standalone), store size (hypermarket scale 5,000+ sqm versus large supermarket), product breadth (grocery plus general merchandise versus grocery plus limited non-food), private label development, and integration with digital and quick-commerce channels.
Whether you are operating a mall-anchor hypermarket with extensive non-food aisles, running a large-format supermarket combining grocery and household goods, or managing a multi-category retail destination where food is predominant, this activity covers the large-variety food-predominant retail layer.
Who is this Activity for?
Meydan Free Zone offers 100% foreign ownership, zero corporate tax on qualifying income, and a fully digital licensing process, positioning large-variety food-predominant retail operators at the centre of a market where UAE hypermarket expansion, population growth, premium expatriate demographics, and multi-category consumer demand are generating sustained large-format retail spending.
4711.01: Retail Sale of a Large Variety of Goods Of Which, However, Food Products and Beverages Should Be Predominant
Under this activity, you are licensed to operate retail sale of a large variety of goods where food products, beverages, or tobacco are predominant alongside a broader range of non-food merchandise (say, running a UAE hypermarket with fresh food, grocery, household, and general merchandise aisles, operating a large-format supermarket combining grocery and household goods, or managing a multi-category retail destination with food predominance).
However, this activity has defined boundaries. It excludes retail sale of fuel in combination with food and beverages where fuel sales dominate, which is classified under retail sale of automotive fuel.
To be clear, if you operate large-variety retail where food and beverages are predominant alongside broader merchandise, you are in.
Licensing & Compliance
Third-Party Approval
This business activity requires third-party approval from Dubai Municipality (DM) after obtaining the trading license.
Anti-Money Laundering Compliance
This business activity is exempt from AML compliance requirements.
References
¹ Ken Research. UAE Supermarket Market | 2019 - 2030. kenresearch.com
² Majid Al Futtaim. (2024). State of the UAE Retail Economy. majidalfuttaim.com
³ IMARC Group. UAE Retail Market Size, Share & Trends Forecast 2033. imarcgroup.com
