How to Start a Dates Seller Via Stalls Business with Meydan Free Zone

Introduction

Few products are as deeply interwoven with the culture, religion, and economy of the UAE as the date palm and its fruit. The UAE is home to over 40 million date palm trees producing approximately 400,000 metric tons of dates annually, and the country is one of the world’s leading exporters, shipping to over 100 countries.

Within this cultural and commercial tradition, the market stall is the oldest and most authentic channel through which dates have been traded in the Arab world — from the ancient date souks of Deira and Mina Zayed to Dubai’s contemporary weekend markets.

The global dates market was valued at USD 29.43 billion in 2024 and is projected to reach USD 49.05 billion by 2033, growing at a CAGR of 5.84%, according to Market Data Forecast¹. This growth is driven by rising global health consciousness — approximately 52% of consumers globally now prefer dates for health benefits according to Global Growth Insights² — alongside the growing use of dates as a natural sweetener, expanding demand for date-based health snacks, and the premiumisation of date gifting as a luxury and cultural gesture.

Within the UAE, the dates market is growing at a CAGR of 5.98% to 2030, according to MarkNtel Advisors³, driven by domestic religious demand — with over 80% of the population being Muslim, dates are an essential food for Ramadan iftar and a cornerstone of hospitality culture year-round. Khalas dates dominate the local market with a 45% share; Medjool, Ajwa, and Sukkari varieties command premium price points, particularly in gifting contexts.

The UAE expanded date exports to 14 additional countries in 2024, and Jebel Ali Port recorded a 40% increase in date trade between 2020 and 2024 — both indicators of the momentum behind the UAE as a global date hub.

For stall-based traders, the dates category offers a distinctive combination of consistent year-round demand, dramatic Ramadan seasonality that drives bulk purchasing, a proven gifting and premium market, and a growing health and functional food dimension. Dubai’s date souks — from the historic Deira markets to the stalls of Global Village representing GCC cultures — give date sellers access to the city’s 18.72 million international visitors alongside a local population for whom dates are a daily staple.

Few retail products are as culturally anchored in the UAE as the date, making this one of the most naturally suited activities in the stall trading portfolio.

Market at a glance

4781 — Retail sale via stalls and markets of food, beverages and tobacco products

Activity code 4781.94 falls within ISIC class 4781, which covers the retail sale of food, beverages, and tobacco products via stalls or markets. Within this class, sub-code 4781.94 is specifically designated for Dates Seller Via Stalls — the retail sale of date fruit and date-based products from a market stall or marketplace position.

This covers all categories of date products, from whole fresh and dried dates to premium stuffed dates, gift boxes, date syrups, date paste, date bars, and other processed date products sold directly to consumers through a stall-based channel.

What this activity does not cover

Licensing and compliance

Who is this for?

Activity Details

Emirati farmers & local producers UAE date farmers and local growers looking to sell their Khalas, Medjool, Barhi, and other Emirati date varieties directly to consumers at markets, souks, and seasonal events, benefiting from the UAE government’s active support for direct-to-consumer date sales.

Speciality & premium date tradersEntrepreneurs curating and selling premium, luxury, and gifting-focused date products at stalls, including stuffed dates, chocolate-covered dates, gift boxes, and gourmet date assortments for Dubai’s affluent resident and tourist consumer base.

Date products & importersBusinesses importing and retailing date-based products from leading date-producing regions such as Saudi Arabia, Iran, Tunisia, and Egypt, including date syrup, date paste, date bars, and speciality varieties not locally produced in the UAE.

Third-Party Approval

Anti-Money Laundering Compliance

References