Table of Contents
How to Start a Basic Non Ferrous Metal Products Trading Business in Dubai with Meydan Free Zone
Aluminium window frames. Copper electrical cable.
Brass door fittings. Zinc roofing sheets.
Non-ferrous metals are the metals that are not iron or steel, and in the UAE's construction and manufacturing sectors, they appear everywhere. Aluminium dominates facade cladding and fenestration.
Copper runs through every electrical installation. Brass finishes premium hardware.
These are high-value materials sold by the kilogram, and the retail businesses that stock them serve a precise intersection of construction, electrical, HVAC and industrial demand.
According to Fortune Business Insights¹, the global aluminium market was valued at approximately USD 170 billion in 2024, with the Middle East as both a major producer and consumer, anchored by smelters in the UAE and Bahrain. According to Mordor Intelligence², the UAE construction market is estimated at USD 42.75 billion in 2025, with aluminium cladding, copper wiring and brass fittings specified across every project in the pipeline.
According to DEWA³, Dubai's electricity network spans 41,930 kilometres of transmission and distribution lines, every kilometre requiring copper or aluminium conductors. According to P&S Intelligence⁴, the UAE construction material market is valued at USD 16.2 billion in 2024, with non-ferrous metals as a high-value subset serving cladding, electrical and plumbing applications.
Whether you are selling aluminium sheets to cladding contractors, copper tubes to plumbers, or brass rods to hardware fabricators, this activity covers the retail sale of basic non-ferrous metal products directly to consumers.
Who is this for?
| Audience Segment | Profile |
|---|---|
| Non-ferrous metals specialists | Entrepreneurs opening a dedicated retail store for aluminium sheets, profiles, composite panels, copper tubes, rods, bus bars and brass fittings, serving cladding contractors, electricians and plumbing contractors. |
| Online metals sellers | Sellers building online storefronts for aluminium, copper, brass and zinc products, reaching fabricators, electrical contractors and industrial buyers. |
| Specialty metals brands | Founders building branded retail businesses around architectural aluminium, decorative copper and premium brass products, selling directly to architects, facade contractors and luxury fit-out teams. |
4752.76 - Basic Non Ferrous Metal Products Trading
Under this activity, you can run a specialised retail business selling basic non-ferrous metal products directly to consumers, from cladding contractors and electricians to plumbing contractors, hardware fabricators and industrial manufacturers sourcing aluminium, copper, brass, zinc and other non-ferrous metals for construction, electrical and industrial applications.
In short: if you are selling basic non-ferrous metal products directly to consumers, this is your activity. If you are wholesaling, manufacturing or fabricating them, those fall under a separate scope.
| Category | Scope |
|---|---|
| Aluminium products | Retail of aluminium sheets, aluminium profiles, aluminium extrusions, aluminium composite panels, aluminium coils and aluminium bars used in facade cladding, fenestration, signage and general fabrication Open a specialist aluminium products retail store serving cladding contractors, facade installers, signage companies and aluminium fabricators sourcing sheets, profiles and composite panels UAE CONTEXT Aluminium is the dominant facade material in the UAE, with virtually every commercial building, tower and shopping mall featuring aluminium cladding, curtain walls and window framing systems. |
| Copper and brass products | Retail of copper sheets, copper tubes, copper rods, copper bus bars, brass sheets, brass rods, brass fittings and related copper and brass products for electrical, plumbing and decorative applications Run a dedicated copper and brass products retail outlet catering to electricians, plumbing contractors and hardware installers sourcing copper tubes, bus bars and brass fittings for electrical and plumbing work UAE CONTEXT Copper is essential for every electrical installation in the UAE, with bus bars, cable connectors and earthing conductors purchased by electricians across residential, commercial and industrial projects. |
| Zinc, lead and specialty non-ferrous metals | Retail of zinc sheets, zinc coatings, lead sheets, lead flashing, tin sheets, nickel products and specialty non-ferrous metal products used in roofing, waterproofing, battery manufacturing and industrial applications Operate a retail store or online storefront supplying zinc, lead and specialty non-ferrous metals to roofing contractors, waterproofing specialists and industrial manufacturers FAMOUS UAE NON-FERROUS METAL SUPPLIERS Emirates Global Aluminium (EGA), Ducab (copper), Gulf Extrusions, Balexco, Dragon Mart metal retailers and specialist non-ferrous metal stockists across Dubai and Sharjah serve UAE buyers. |
Third-Party Approval
No third-party approval is required for this business activity.
Anti-Money Laundering Compliance
This business activity is exempt from AML compliance requirements.
References
- ¹ Fortune Business Insights, *Global Aluminium Market Size & Forecast*. https://www.fortunebusinessinsights.com/aluminium-market
- ² Mordor Intelligence, *UAE Construction Market Size, Share, 2030 Growth Report*. https://www.mordorintelligence.com/industry-reports/uae-construction-market
- ³ DEWA, *Dubai Electricity Network Infrastructure Data*. https://www.dewa.gov.ae
- ⁴ P&S Intelligence, *UAE Construction Material Market Size & Industry Outlook*. https://www.psmarketresearch.com/market-analysis/uae-construction-material-market
