How to Start a Retail Sale of Games and Toys Via Stalls Business with Meydan Free Zone

May 20, 2026

Last Updated on May 20, 2026

How to Start a Retail Sale of Games and Toys Via Stalls Business with Meydan Free Zone

The global toys and games market is one of the most enduring categories in consumer retail, combining structural demand from children’s development and play with increasingly strong adult consumption of games, collectibles, and hobby products. The global toys and games market was valued at USD 330.82 billion in 2024 and is projected to reach USD 504.48 billion by 2033 at a CAGR of 4.8%, according to Straits Research^¹. Offline retail, including stall-based formats, remains the dominant channel globally, as parents and children place high value on being able to see, touch, and interact with toys before purchasing.

The UAE toys market reached USD 569.70 million in 2024 and is projected to reach USD 1.09 billion by 2033 at a CAGR of 6.73%, growing faster than the global average, according to IMARC Group^². This outperformance reflects the UAE’s distinctive consumer profile: a large expatriate family population with high disposable income, strong brand affinity for international toy names, and a cultural emphasis on gifting toys for children during major celebrations including Eid Al-Fitr, Eid Al-Adha, Ramadan, Christmas, and birthdays. Licensed toys tied to Disney, Marvel, and major animation franchises are among the highest-demand categories across UAE retail.

The fastest-growing sub-segment is educational and STEM toys. The UAE educational toys market is projected to reach USD 3.98 billion by 2030 at a CAGR of 9%, according to Grand View Research^³. This growth is driven by AI-powered adaptive learning toys, the UAE government’s national STEM education push, and a parent population that places exceptional value on learning-through-play. In March 2025, a Toy Association of India delegation visited Bharat Mart in Dubai, with UAE toy imports from India rising 240% under the UAE-India Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement.

At the product level, the games and puzzles category is the standout growth story of 2025. Circana and the Toy Association reported 39% dollar growth in games and puzzles in the first half of 2025, making it the fastest-growing category in the entire toys and games market^⁴. For stall-based games and toy traders in Dubai, this combination of a structurally growing UAE market, a high-spend consumer base, strong seasonal demand peaks, and an accelerating games category creates a compelling multi-product commercial opportunity.

Who is this Activity for?

Toy importers and brand distributors	Businesses importing and retailing branded and licensed toys from leading global manufacturers through market stalls across Dubai, serving a consumer base with high per capita toy spend, strong brand affinity for international toy brands, and a deep gift-giving culture around Eid, Ramadan, Christmas, and birthdays.
Educational and STEM toy specialists	Traders curating and selling educational toys, STEM kits, building sets, science experiments, and learning-through-play products via market stalls, serving the UAE’s expatriate family population with high emphasis on early childhood development and the fast-growing UAE educational toys segment.
Games, puzzles and collectibles traders	Sellers of board games, card games, puzzles, strategy games, and collectible toys and figures at market stalls, serving Dubai’s diverse family and adult consumer base and a games and puzzles segment that is the fastest-growing category in the global toys and games market.

4789.03 - Retail sale via stalls and markets of other goods

Activity code 4789.03 falls within ISIC class 4789, which covers the retail sale of other goods via stalls or markets. Within this class, sub-code 4789.03 is specifically designated for Retail Sale of Games and Toys Via Stalls, covering the retail sale of all categories of games and toys from a market stall or marketplace position. This encompasses educational toys, licensed and branded toys, action figures and dolls, building sets and construction toys, games and puzzles, collectible toys, electronic and interactive toys, and outdoor play equipment sold new or second-hand directly to consumers through a stall-based channel.

Traditional and educational toys	Licensed, branded and action toys	Games, puzzles and collectibles
Retail sale of traditional and educational toys via stalls Retail sale of educational toys, building sets, STEM kits, wooden toys, arts and crafts, puzzles, developmental toys for infants and toddlers, and other learning-through-play products from a market stall, sold new to parents and caregivers for children across all age groups.	Retail sale of licensed, branded and action toys via stalls Retail sale of licensed and branded toys including action figures, dolls, character merchandise, vehicles, playsets, and electronic toys from a market stall, covering products tied to major global entertainment franchises and brands in demand across the UAE’s expatriate and resident family population.	Retail sale of games, puzzles and collectible toys via stalls Retail sale of board games, card games, tabletop games, strategy games, jigsaw puzzles, and collectible toy figures and sets from a market stall, serving both children and adult consumers and benefiting from a global games and puzzles segment that posted 39% growth in the first half of 2025.
UAE CONTEXT
The UAE educational toys market is projected to reach USD 3.98 billion by 2030 at a CAGR of 9%, according to Grand View Research. STEM toys are the fastest-growing segment, driven by AI-powered adaptive learning toys and the UAE government’s strong emphasis on STEM education across the school curriculum. UAE educational toy imports from India rose 240% in 2025 under the CEPA trade agreement.	Licensed toys account for approximately 37% of global toy sales and consistently outperform non-licensed categories. In the UAE, children’s strong affinity for Disney, Marvel, and major animated franchise characters creates demand for licensed toys across stalls and markets. The UAE has a strong tradition of gift-giving during Eid Al-Fitr, Eid Al-Adha, Ramadan, and Christmas, making toys a high-velocity seasonal stall product.	The games and puzzles category is the fastest-growing segment globally, posting 39% dollar growth in the first half of 2025 according to Circana and the Toy Association. Dubai’s multicultural population, high household income levels, and a growing adult gaming and tabletop culture create strong demand for diverse game titles and puzzle products at market stall level.

Licensing and compliance

Third-party approval

Retail Sale of Games and Toys Via Stalls does not require pre-approval from any third-party regulatory authority, and a license may be issued directly through Meydan Free Zone without the need for external regulatory sign-off prior to commencing trading activities.

Anti-money laundering compliance

Retail Sale of Games and Toys Via Stalls is not classified as a Designated Non-Financial Business or Profession (DNFBP) under UAE anti-money laundering legislation, and businesses operating under this activity code are not subject to AML registration or reporting obligations specific to this license category.

References

Straits Research, Toys and Games Market Size, Growth and Trends Forecast 2033 — https://straitsresearch.com/report/toys-and-games-market

IMARC Group, UAE Toys Market Size, Share and Growth Forecast 2033 — https://www.imarcgroup.com/uae-toys-market

Grand View Research, UAE Educational Toys Market Size and Outlook 2023–2030 — https://www.grandviewresearch.com/horizon/outlook/educational-toys-market/uae

Grand View Research — Global Toys and Games Market, Toys and Games Market Size, Share and Industry Report 2033 — https://www.grandviewresearch.com/industry-analysis/toys-games-market

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