Table of Contents
How to Start a Livestock Trading Business with Meydan Free Zone
A country that consumes 87 kilograms of meat per person per year, double the global average, cannot sustain that appetite from domestic herds alone. The UAE depends on wholesale livestock importers to bridge the gap, and that gap is widening as the population grows, tourism expands, and food security mandates intensify.
The UAE is home to over 5 million livestock, including 450,000 camels and 5 million sheep and goats, according to the Ministry of Climate Change and Environment (MOCCAE)¹. Yet over 85 percent of the lamb consumed in the UAE and Saudi Arabia is imported, primarily from Australia, Sudan, and Ethiopia, according to the Arab Organization for Agricultural Development².
The Middle East meat market was valued at USD 101.35 billion in 2024 according to Market Data Forecast³, and the UAE's red meat market alone stands at USD 873.28 million in 2025, with mutton commanding a 44.31 percent share according to Mordor Intelligence⁴. Per capita meat consumption across the GCC reached 87 kilograms in 2023, more than double the FAO's global average of 43 kilograms³.
Demand peaks sharply around Eid Al Adha, when livestock markets across Dubai operate at full capacity. But, the underlying trade runs year-round.
The trade in livestock has become a core pillar of the region’s food supply chain.
For wholesale traders looking to import, supply, and distribute live animals across the UAE and GCC, this is a market driven by food security mandates, cultural demand, and a structural import dependency that is not going away.
With 100% foreign ownership, zero corporate tax on qualifying income, full profit repatriation, and a fully digital licensing process, Meydan Free Zone provides a streamlined base from which to operate in the UAE's live animal wholesale trade.
Who is this for?
| Audience Segment | Profile |
|---|---|
| Live Animal Importers | Traders sourcing sheep, goats, cattle, and camels from international suppliers from Australia, Africa and South Asia, for wholesale distribution to UAE slaughterhouses, farms, and livestock markets. |
| Breeding Stock Traders | Businesses importing high-quality breeding animals, including dairy cattle, meat goats, and pedigree camels, for sale to domestic farms, government-backed agricultural programmes, and private breeders. |
| Seasonal and Eid Livestock Suppliers | Operators building import and distribution networks to serve the UAE's peak-demand periods, particularly Eid Al Adha. |
4620.91 - Livestock Trading
Under this activity, you are in the business of wholesaling live animals. Livestock trading covers the wholesale purchase, import, and sale of live animals for farming, breeding, or resale purposes.
These are animals traded alive, not as processed meat, carcasses, or animal products.
The scope covers cattle, sheep, goats, camels, and other livestock traded in wholesale quantities for delivery to farms, feedlots, livestock markets, slaughterhouses, or onward distribution to other traders. It also encompasses the wholesale of live animals for breeding and genetic improvement programmes.
| Category | Scope |
|---|---|
| Sheep and goat trading | Wholesale import and trade of live sheep and goats for slaughter, farming, and seasonal demand. The UAE's largest live animal trade segment by volume, with year-round supply from East Africa, Australia, and the Indian subcontinent. UAE MARKET CONTEXT Mutton holds 44.31% of the UAE red meat market. |
| Cattle trading | Wholesale of live cattle for dairy operations, beef production, and feedlot fattening programmes. Includes both imported animals and domestically sourced stock traded between farms and slaughterhouses. UAE SUPPLY CHAIN Live cattle imports fluctuate with domestic production capacity; beef production grew 4.98% between 2021 and 2022 as local slaughter volumes increased. |
| Camel trading | Trading in live camels for meat production, dairy, racing, breeding, and cultural use. The UAE is home to 450,000 camels and hosts one of the world's most valuable camel racing industries. UAE CULTURAL CONTEXT The UAE's 450,000 camels serve racing, breeding, milk production, and cultural heritage; Agthia Group leads in specialised camel nutrition products. |
| Breeding and specialty livestock | Import and wholesale of pedigree and high-genetics breeding stock, including dairy cattle breeds, meat goat lines, and specialty animals for government sponsored agricultural development programmes. KEY UAE OPERATORS Oasis Livestock (Abu Dhabi), Dubai Cattle Market, Al Dahra Agriculture (quarantine and distribution centres across GCC), and numerous private importers operating through Jebel Ali Port. |
There are important boundaries to keep in mind. This activity is limited to the wholesale trade of live animals.
It does not cover slaughtering, meat processing or packaging, hides and skins trading, animal farming or breeding as a production activity, veterinary services, or retail sale to end consumers. This also excludes the wholesale of textile fibres.
Simply put, if you are buying live animals in wholesale quantities and selling them to farms, markets, slaughterhouses, or other traders, you are in. If you are raising them, slaughtering them, processing their products, or selling them individually to consumers, you are not.
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 UAE Ministry of Climate Change and Environment (MOCCAE) — Animal Development & Health — https://www.moccae.gov.ae/en/knowledge-and-statistics/wealth-and-animal-health.aspx
- ² Arab Organization for Agricultural Development — cited via Market Data Forecast, Middle East Meat Market (2025) — https://www.marketdataforecast.com/market-reports/middle-east-meat-market
- ³ Market Data Forecast / FAO — Middle East Meat Market Size, Share and Trends (2024–2033) — https://www.marketdataforecast.com/market-reports/middle-east-meat-market
- ⁴ Mordor Intelligence — UAE Red Meat Market Size & Growth (2025–2030) — https://www.mordorintelligence.com/industry-reports/united-arab-emirates-red-meat-market
