Table of Contents
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What is the activity code for selling on Amazon from Dubai?
The activity code for selling on Amazon from Dubai is 4791.02, retail sale via mail order houses or via the internet. This covers selling on Amazon, on other online marketplaces, on your own e-commerce website, through mobile apps, and through social media channels.
2. Does an Amazon seller license in Meydan Free Zone require third-party approval or AML compliance?
No. An Amazon seller license under activity code 4791.02 in Meydan Free Zone does not require third-party approval. This activity is exempted from AML compliance requirements.
3. What business models can I run under an Amazon seller license?
An Amazon seller license under 4791.02 lets you run three online retail models: selling your own brand on marketplaces, buying inventory directly from factories and selling from your own warehouse, or dropshipping where the supplier ships orders directly to the customer. You can run one model or combine them.
4. Do I need a Dubai Customs Code to sell on Amazon?
Yes, if you import goods into the UAE. A Dubai Customs Code, also called an import code, is required to legally bring goods into the country and clear them at the entry port. Meydan Free Zone can prepare and submit the application to Dubai Customs on your behalf.
5. What is the Grow from Dubai initiative for e-commerce sellers?
Grow from Dubai is a Meydan Free Zone programme that bundles e-commerce setup into one package. It integrates logistics, finance, regulatory and marketplace infrastructure, along with company formation, instant bank accounts, visas and residency, customs codes, import and export services, and digital payment gateways through trusted partners.
How to Become an Amazon Seller with Meydan Free Zone?
The UAE e-commerce market hit USD 12.30 billion in 2026 and is on track to reach USD 21.01 billion by 2031 at an 11.29 percent CAGR. According to Mordor Intelligence¹, Dubai alone accounted for roughly 60 percent of UAE e-commerce in 2025, with 78.67 percent of all transactions happening on smartphones, and e-commerce already contributing 12 percent of Dubai's non-oil GDP in 2024.
For a founder weighing whether to sell on Amazon from Dubai, that is the macro setting: the channel is no longer emerging, it is core retail.
The mainstream shift is even clearer in the retail-mix data. According to a study by the Dubai Chamber of Commerce², online sales already make up 14.4 percent of the UAE's retail market and are forecast to reach 16.5 percent by 2028, with the broader e-commerce gross merchandise value climbing from USD 30.7 billion in 2023 to a projected USD 51.2 billion by 2028. Becoming an Amazon Seller in Dubai is one of the most direct ways to plug into that growth.
Amazon offers global reach and infrastructure, Dubai's trade-hub status compresses fulfilment timelines, and the UAE's multicultural consumer base makes targeting easier across price points and product categories.
You are not testing whether online retail works here; UAE e-commerce hit USD 12.30 billion in 2026 and is heading to USD 21.01 billion by 2031, Dubai now holds roughly 60 percent of that market, 78.67 percent of transactions run on smartphones, and e-commerce already contributes 12 percent of Dubai's non-oil GDP
Source: Mordor Intelligence, UAE E-Commerce Market (January 2026); Dubai Chamber of Commerce, via ADAT (2026).
4791.02: Retail Sales of Any Kind of Product Over The Internet
To start selling online, you apply for a trade license under retail sale via mail order houses or via internet, business activity code 4791.02. The license covers retail sale of products through all online and direct-response channels.
Customers can place orders through your e-commerce website, mobile app, social media, mail, phone, or via television and radio direct-response channels. Products can be delivered physically or downloaded directly online. Internet auctions and other non-store auction activities are also included under this code.
Third-party Approval: No third-party approvals are required for this business activity.
Anti-Money Laundering Compliance: Business activity 4791.02 is exempt from this requirement.
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Check NowBusiness Models You Can Operate Under This License
4791.02 gives you the legal scope to run any of three distinct online-retail models. The table below sets them side-by-side so you can match the model to your capital, your appetite for inventory risk, and the kind of operations you want to run day-to-day.
| Component Type | Subsystem Details | Description & UAE Context |
|---|---|---|
| Own-brand | You create or commission your own products, then list and sell them on Amazon or other marketplaces. | Product creation, branding, marketing and customer experience. Inventory and fulfilment depend on whether you self-fulfil or use a service like Amazon FBA. |
| BEST FIT FOR: Founders who want to sell distinctive or handmade goods such as jewellery, clothing or home decor, where the brand itself is the value. | ||
| Inventory-and-sell | You buy goods directly from factories, store them in your own warehouse, and fulfil orders from that stock. | Procurement, warehousing, inventory management, order picking and shipping logistics. |
| BEST FIT FOR: Operators with capital for stock and a logistics layer who want margin control and reliable in-country fulfilment. | ||
| Dropshipping | You forward customer orders to a supplier, manufacturer or wholesaler, who ships the product directly to the customer. | Product listings, marketing, customer service. The supplier handles inventory, packaging and shipping. |
| BEST FIT FOR: Capital-light founders testing categories and SKUs, or scaling without taking on warehouse overhead. |
Your All-in-One Solutions for Business Setup in Dubai
Explore Meydan PlusLaunching a Dropshipping Business in Dubai
Drop-shipping is a modern business model in which you can avoid stocking inventory. You can instead forward customer orders to the manufacturer, wholesaler, or another retailer, who will directly ship the products to the customers.
It relieves you of inventory management, storage, and shipping logistics. There are several popular dropshipping platforms, including Dubailist, Doba, and AliExpress.
Steps to Launch a Dropshipping Business Using Your E-Commerce Store or Amazon Account
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Last-mile delivery is the bridge between the supplier and the customer's door. Specialist providers including Fetchr, Aramex, Talabat and Zajel can plug into your fulfilment workflow to optimise dispatch, routing, tracking and final delivery.
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Explore Over 2,500+Operational Requirements Beyond the License
Get your import code from Dubai Customs
Once you hold an e-commerce license, you need a Dubai Customs Code, also called an import code, before you can legally import goods into the UAE and clear customs at entry.
You apply to Dubai Customs with the standard documentation: your trade license, commercial invoice, e-commerce license and any other documents required for your activity.
Meydan Free Zone facilitates the process of getting the Dubai Customs Code for your businesses. We offer guidance and assistance in preparing the necessary documentation and submitting the application to the Dubai Customs Authority.
Warehousing and the Grow from Dubai initiative
A warehouse management system matters for any e-commerce business that holds stock, since it controls inventory accuracy, expiration tracking and stock rotation. Meydan Free Zone's Grow from Dubai initiative goes beyond warehousing alone.
It integrates logistics, finance, regulatory and marketplace infrastructure into a single package, with company formation, instant bank accounts, visas and residency, customs codes, import and export services, e-commerce facilitation and digital payment gateways all available through trusted partners.
Grow from Dubai partners also offer fulfilment centres and air, land and sea distribution networks.
Benefits of Choosing an E-commerce license with Meydan Free Zone
After your trade license is issued, Meydan Free Zone provides a comprehensive onboarding service that helps you set up your storefront on leading marketplaces, including Amazon, Noon, Instagram, Carrefour, Etsy and Walmart.
Payment gateways also let you accept payments through social channels such as WhatsApp and Instagram. The one-stop service package covers:
- Marketplace store subscription
- Product catalog setup and listing
- Order capture and payment acceptance
- Dedicated dashboard for inventory and order tracking
- Store SEO services
- Multichannel retail services
- Sponsored product advertising
- Mail and chat support
- Order processing and fulfilment
Citations
¹ Mordor Intelligence, UAE E-Commerce Market Industry Report (January 2026), on UAE e-commerce market size, Dubai's share, mobile-transaction dominance and e-commerce contribution to Dubai non-oil GDP.
² Dubai Chamber of Commerce, via ADAT UAE E-commerce Statistics analysis (2026), on online sales as a share of UAE retail and the projected growth in e-commerce gross merchandise value through 2028.
