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How to Start a Motor Vehicle Parts & Accessories Business with Meydan Free Zone
Every vehicle on the road will eventually need a new tyre, a fresh battery, or a replacement set of spark plugs. The wholesale and retail sale of motor vehicle parts and accessories is what keeps that cycle turning, connecting importers and manufacturers with the garages, workshops, and consumers that rely on them.
The UAE is one of the most active markets in the region for this trade. Active registered vehicles reached 4.56 million by mid-2025, up 9.35% in a single year, according to Salik¹.
New passenger car sales hit a record 268,000 units in 2024, according to GMI Research². And the aftermarket that services all those vehicles was valued at USD 7.3 billion in 2024, according to IMARC Group³, with projections reaching USD 10.5 billion by 2033.
Climate is a major factor. With summer temperatures regularly exceeding 45°C, tyres, batteries, and electrical systems degrade faster than in most markets, compressing replacement cycles and generating year-round demand.
Tyres and wheels alone account for roughly 40% of the UAE's aftermarket value, according to MarkNtel Advisors⁴.
Whether you are a tyre wholesaler supplying garages across the Gulf, a specialist distributor of batteries and electrical parts, or a retailer selling accessories direct to consumers, this activity covers the full spectrum of motor vehicle parts trade.
Who is this for?
| Audience Segment | Profile |
|---|---|
| Tyre and battery wholesalers | |
| Auto parts retailers and e-commerce operators | |
| Specialist component distributors | |
| Distributors supplying rubber tyres, inner tubes, and vehicle batteries to workshops, garages, and retail outlets across the UAE and wider GCC. With extreme heat cutting replacement cycles short, this is one of the highest-volume product categories in the region. | |
| Businesses selling parts, components, tools, and accessories direct to consumers or trade buyers, whether from a physical shopfront or through online channels. Retailers remain the dominant distribution channel in the UAE aftermarket, though e-commerce is gaining ground fast. | |
| Importers and wholesalers focused on specific product lines such as spark plugs, lighting equipment, and electrical parts, supplying both OEM and aftermarket products to the trade. |
4530.01 - Wholesale And Retail Sale Of All Kinds Of Parts, Components, Supplies, Tools And Accessories For Motor Vehicles such as rubber tires and inner tubes for tires
Under this activity, you are in the business of buying and selling motor vehicle parts and accessories at wholesale or retail level. That covers everything from rubber tyres and inner tubes to spark plugs, batteries, lighting equipment, and electrical parts, along with any other component, supply, tool, or accessory designed for use in motor vehicles.
You may be selling in bulk to workshops, individually to walk-in customers, or through online channels. Both original equipment and aftermarket products fall within this classification.
There is one clear exclusion. If your business is selling automotive fuel, that falls outside this activity.
In short: if your deliverable is a motor vehicle part, component, tool, or accessory sold to a buyer, you are in.
| Category | Scope |
|---|---|
| Tyres and inner tubes | Wholesale and retail, a primary focus Wholesale and retail sale of rubber tyres and inner tubes for all types of motor vehicles, from passenger cars to commercial fleets. This is the product category specifically highlighted under this sub-code. REGIONAL DEMAND The UAE's extreme heat accelerates tyre degradation significantly, creating replacement cycles much shorter than global averages. Tyres and wheels account for the single largest share of the UAE aftermarket. |
| Batteries and electrical parts | Wholesale and retail Sale of spark plugs, vehicle batteries, and related electrical parts for motor vehicles, covering both trade supply and direct-to-consumer retail. INDUSTRY TREND E-commerce is reshaping auto parts distribution in the UAE, with online platforms offering competitive pricing, faster delivery, and wider product selection to both trade and retail buyers. |
| Lighting equipment | Wholesale and retail Sale of headlamps, tail lights, indicators, and other lighting equipment and electrical components for motor vehicles. MAJOR UAE PLAYERS Automechanika Dubai, the region's largest automotive aftermarket trade fair, draws over 1,800 exhibitors annually, reflecting the scale of parts and accessories trade flowing through the UAE. |
| General parts, tools and accessories | Wholesale and retail Sale of all other motor vehicle parts, components, supplies, tools, and accessories not covered by the categories above. UAE CONTEXT Al-Futtaim Trade Point and Arabian Automobiles are among the largest parts distributors in the UAE, supplying genuine and aftermarket components to independent workshops nationwide. |
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 Salik / Khaleej Times — UAE traffic surge: 390,000 more vehicles hit roads in 12 months, August 2025 — https://www.khaleejtimes.com/uae/transport/traffic-390000-vehicles-roads-12-months
- ² GMI Research — UAE Automotive Aftermarket Market Size & Forecast, 2025–2032 — https://www.gmiresearch.com/report/uae-automotive-aftermarket-market/
- ³ IMARC Group — UAE Automotive Aftermarket Market Size, Share & Growth Report, 2025–2033 — https://www.imarcgroup.com/uae-automotive-aftermarket-market
- ⁴ MarkNtel Advisors — UAE Automotive Aftermarket Market Size & Forecast, 2025–2030 — https://www.marknteladvisors.com/research-library/uae-automotive-aftermarket-market.html
