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How to Start a China and Glassware Wholesale Business in Dubai with Meydan Free Zone
The UAE has over 30,000 food outlets according to Ken Research¹, with Dubai accounting for roughly 60 percent of the total. Every plate, bowl, glass, and coffee cup in every one of those outlets was sourced from a wholesaler.
And they break.
IMARC Group² values the UAE food service market at USD 16.58 billion in 2024, growing at a 12.20 percent CAGR to USD 50.21 billion by 2033. Bonafide Research³ forecasts the UAE glassware market to exceed USD 200 million by 2029, driven by tourism, luxury dining, and the country's expanding F&B sector.
Data Bridge Market Research⁴ identifies the Middle East and Africa as the fastest-growing region in the global ceramic tableware market, with the UAE and Saudi Arabia leading demand for luxury and customised products as their hospitality sectors expand. The UAE's hotel room inventory is expected to reach 235,674 rooms across 1,184 hotels by 2030, and every property requires a full tableware and glassware package at opening and ongoing replacement throughout its operating life.
Dubai's average consumer visits restaurants 2.5 times per week according to Restroworks⁵, meaning the wear cycle on commercial chinaware and glassware is relentless.
Whether you are wholesaling porcelain dinnerware to hotel procurement teams, distributing commercial glassware to restaurant chains, or supplying decorative china to retail and gifting buyers, this activity covers the wholesale layer between manufacturer and table.
Who is this for?
| Audience Segment | Profile |
|---|---|
| Hospitality chinaware and porcelain wholesalers | Firms importing and distributing commercial-grade porcelain, bone china, and ceramic dinnerware in bulk to hotels, restaurants, catering companies, and airline food service operators across the UAE and GCC. |
| Commercial and decorative glassware distributors | Businesses wholesaling stemware, tumblers, barware, and specialty glass products to F&B operators, retail chains, and event management companies. |
| Retail and gifting tableware suppliers | Distributors supplying decorative chinaware, premium glassware sets, and artisanal tableware to department stores, home décor retailers, corporate gifting companies, and e-commerce platforms. |
4649.06 - Wholesale of China and Glassware
Under this activity, you are licensed to buy china and glassware products in bulk from manufacturers or authorised distributors and sell them to hotels, restaurants, retailers, and other businesses. This covers the full range of chinaware (porcelain, bone china, ceramic, stoneware) and glassware (stemware, tumblers, barware, decorative glass) used in hospitality, food service, residential, and gifting markets.
However, there are some boundaries. This activity does not cover the wholesale of blank audio and video tapes, CDs, or DVDs, the wholesale of radio and TV broadcasting equipment, or the wholesale of office furniture.
It also does not cover the manufacturing of chinaware or glassware, or the retail sale of these products directly to end consumers.
In short: if you are buying and selling chinaware, porcelain, and glassware in bulk to hospitality operators, retailers, or other businesses, this is your activity.
| Category | Scope |
|---|---|
| Commercial chinaware and porcelain | Porcelain, bone china, stoneware, and ceramic plates, bowls, cups, saucers, serving dishes, and buffet ware Import commercial-grade chinaware from manufacturers like RAK Porcelain, Steelite, and Churchill China and distribute to hotel groups, restaurant chains, and catering companies across the UAE and GCC. FAMOUS UAE TABLEWARE WHOLESALERS Royal HORECA Supplies, Everstyle Trading, Impruve LLC, 1765 Gemini, and Elite Hospitality. |
| Glassware and barware | Stemware, tumblers, highball and cocktail glasses, decanters, carafes, and specialty barware Source glassware from producers like Arc International, Libbey, and Utopia and supply to bars, restaurants, hotels, and event companies. UAE CONTEXT RAK Porcelain (Ras Al Khaimah) is a globally recognised UAE-based porcelain manufacturer supplying hotels and restaurants in over 160 countries. |
| Decorative and gifting tableware | Decorative china, premium glass sets, artisanal and hand-painted tableware, and luxury gift sets Distribute premium and decorative tableware to department stores, home décor retailers, corporate gifting companies, and e-commerce platforms. REGIONAL OPPORTUNITY The UAE's hotel room inventory is expected to reach 235,674 by 2030; every new property requires a full tableware and glassware package. |
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 Ken Research. (2025). UAE Foodservice Market — 2024–2030. kenresearch.com
- ² IMARC Group. (2025). UAE Food Service Market Size, Share & Trends, 2033. imarcgroup.com
- ³ Bonafide Research. (2025). United Arab Emirates Glassware Market Size, Share, Analysis, Trends.bonafideresearch.com
- ⁴ Data Bridge Market Research. (2025). Ceramic Tableware Market — Global Market Size, Share, and Trends Analysis Report — Forecast to 2032. databridgemarketresearch.com
- ⁵ Restroworks. (2026). Dubai Restaurants Statistics — Key Market Trends & Data Insights. restroworks.com
