Table of Contents
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need approval for a general trading licence?
No. Activity 4690.97 requires no third-party approval, so Meydan Free Zone can issue the business license directly. The activity is also not subject to AML compliance requirements.
What is the difference between general trading and a trading licence?
A trading licence permits dealing within a single product category in one industry. A general trading licence allows trading multiple products across diverse industries under one permission.
Which goods are excluded from a general trading licence?
Controlled categories require their own specific licences, notably motor vehicles, alcohol, medical and pharmaceutical items, and weapons. These are not automatically covered.
How large is the UAE trade opportunity?
UAE non-oil foreign trade passed AED 3.8 trillion in 2025, up around 27% in a year, with imports exceeding AED 2.1 trillion and re-exports reaching AED 830.2 billion.
Can I sell to consumers under this licence?
No. Retail sale to final consumers falls under separate retail classifications. General trading covers import, export, and trade to business buyers.
How do trade agreements benefit a general trader?
The UAE has 37 partnership agreements signed and 18 in force. Each opens new sourcing and selling corridors, which particularly suits a trader not restricted to a single product line.
Topic Summary
One Licence Covers Multiple Product Categories
A general trading licence lets a business import, export, and trade across unrelated industries simultaneously. Furniture, electronics, clothing, toys, and industrial equipment can all sit under the same single licence.
UAE Trade Volume Creates Exceptional Opportunity
UAE non-oil foreign trade surpassed AED 3.8 trillion in 2025, growing roughly 27% in a single year. Re-exports alone reached AED 830.2 billion, making the market especially attractive for multi-category traders.
37 Trade Agreements Expand Your Sourcing Map
The UAE has signed 37 Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreements, with 18 already in force. Each new agreement opens additional goods that a general trader can source and move profitably across borders.
Re-Export Is a Core General Trading Advantage
Re-exports grew 15.7% year on year, reaching AED 830.2 billion in 2025. General traders are naturally positioned to capitalise on this, sourcing internationally and redistributing across the GCC and beyond.
Certain Controlled Goods Require Separate Permissions
While the general trading licence is broad, categories such as vehicles and pharmaceuticals are not automatically included. These controlled goods require their own specific permissions before trading can begin.
Flexibility Over Specialisation Is the Core Advantage
Unlike a standard trading licence restricted to one product category, a general trading licence lets businesses shift between product lines as demand and margins change. This adaptability is the primary commercial benefit of the structure.
How to Start a General Trading Business in Dubai with Meydan Free Zone
General trading is the import, export, and trading of a wide range of physical goods across unrelated industries, all under a single licence. It is the broadest trading permission available, and the practical distinction is scope: a standard trading licence permits dealing within one product category, while a general trading licence allows a business to move across categories as opportunity dictates. Furniture, electronics, clothing, toys, and industrial equipment can all sit under the same licence.
The commercial backdrop is exceptional. UAE non-oil foreign trade passed AED 3.8 trillion in 2025, up roughly 27% in a single year, with non-oil exports reaching AED 813.8 billion and imports exceeding AED 2.1 trillion.[1] Re-exports, which are the natural territory of a general trader, reached AED 830.2 billion, growing 15.7% on the previous year.[1]
The sourcing map keeps widening. The UAE has signed 37 Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreements, of which 18 were already in force, and non-oil trade reached AED 1.937 trillion in the first half of 2026 alone, up 13.1% year on year.[2] For a trader not confined to one product line, each new agreement is another set of goods that can be bought and moved profitably.
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Get Your LicenseA Trade Economy Built for Multi-Category Traders
A Dubai-licensed general trading business operates in an economy where non-oil foreign trade passed AED 3.8 trillion in 2025, growing around 27 percent in a single year, supported by 37 trade partnership agreements signed and 18 already in force, with re-exports alone reaching AED 830.2 billion.
| Trade Metric | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| Non-oil foreign trade (2025) | AED 3.8 trillion | +27% year on year |
| Non-oil exports (2025) | AED 813.8 billion | — |
| Imports (2025) | AED 2.1 trillion | — |
| Re-exports (2025) | AED 830.2 billion | +15.7% year on year |
| Non-oil trade, H1 2026 | AED 1.937 trillion | +13.1% year on year |
| CEPAs signed / in force | 37 signed / 18 in force | — |
Sources: UAE Ministry of Economy (2026), UAE official trade statistics (2026), Abu Dhabi Department of Economic Development
Who Is This Activity For?
4690.97 -General Trading
Activity 4690.97 sits within the broader class covering non-specialised wholesale trade, which takes in the wholesale of a variety of goods without any particular specialisation. Within that class, this activity is general trading.
It covers the import, export, and trading of a diverse range of physical goods and merchandise across unrelated industries under a single licence, including furniture, electronics, clothing, toys, and industrial and manufacturing equipment.
Certain categories, such as vehicles, pharmaceuticals, and other controlled goods, require their own specific permissions and are not automatically included.
The trading range covers:
| Category | Examples |
|---|---|
| Import | Goods across multiple unrelated categories |
| Export & re-export | Regional and international markets |
| Furniture & homeware | Household goods |
| Electronics & appliances | Consumer technology |
| Clothing & textiles | Consumer soft goods |
| Toys & games | Leisure products |
| Industrial & manufacturing equipment | — |
Business Activities List
Explore Over 2,500+Service Scope
Multi-Category Import & Export
Trading a diverse range of goods under one licence, moving between product lines without needing a separate permission for each category.
Consumer Goods Trading
Furniture, homeware, electronics, clothing, and toys traded across supplier and buyer networks in the UAE and wider region.
Industrial & Equipment Trading
Machinery, manufacturing equipment, and industrial supplies traded to commercial and industrial buyers.
Re-Export Distribution
Sourcing goods internationally and moving them onward to third markets, the single largest component of UAE trading activity.
Supplier Sourcing & Consolidation
Building supplier relationships across trade agreement corridors and consolidating shipments for volume efficiency.
WHAT THIS ACTIVITY EXCLUDES
It is important to note what activity 4690.97 does not cover. Certain categories of goods require their own specific licences and are not included by default, notably motor vehicles, alcohol, medical and pharmaceutical items, and weapons.
Retail sale to final consumers falls under retail classifications rather than trading. Acting as a commission agent or broker on behalf of others, without taking ownership of goods, sits within its own fee or contract basis classification, and manufacturing the goods sold is an industrial activity.
| Excluded Activity | Why It Is Not Covered |
|---|---|
| Motor vehicles, alcohol, medical/pharmaceutical items, weapons | Require their own specific licences |
| Retail sale to final consumers | Falls under retail classifications |
| Commission agent or broker (no stock ownership) | Sits within its own fee/contract basis classification |
| Manufacturing the goods sold | Classified as an industrial activity |
In short: if you are importing, exporting, and trading a diverse range of goods across industries, you are in. If you are dealing in controlled categories such as vehicles, alcohol, medical items or weapons, selling to consumers at retail, or brokering without owning stock, you are not.
Third-Party Approval:
No third-party approval is required before your business license is issued.
Anti-Money Laundering Compliance:
This business activity is exempt from AML compliance requirement.
[2] The National. (2026). UAE's non-oil foreign trade up 13% in first half of year to Dh1.9 trillion. thenationalnews.com
[3] Abu Dhabi Department of Economic Development. Charting the UAE path in global trade. added.gov.ae
