Dubai is not just a place where cars are sold. It is where they are sourced, consolidated, and shipped to the world. New automobile trading for export is the business of purchasing brand-new vehicles and selling them to buyers in international markets, covering passenger cars, SUVs, lorries, trailers, camping vehicles, caravans, and off-road vehicles.
The UAE's non-oil foreign trade reached a record AED 2.997 trillion in 2024, growing at 14.6% while global trade managed just 1.6% by value, according to WAM¹. Non-oil exports surged 27.6% to AED 561.2 billion, with cars and goods transport vehicles among the fastest-growing re-export categories¹. OICA² recorded 268,876 new passenger cars sold in the UAE in 2024, a 19.2% year-on-year increase. AutoData Middle East³, reporting via Zawya, puts H1 2025 registrations at approximately 157,000 new vehicles, up 11% year-on-year, with Chinese brands like Jetour surging 163.9% and EV sales rising 18.6% in the same period as the UAE continues to attract global automotive inventory at scale.
Whether you are sourcing GCC-spec SUVs for African buyers, consolidating Chinese-brand inventory for regional distribution, or supplying fleet vehicles to governments across the Middle East, the UAE's port access, zero income tax, and position at the crossroads of three continents make it hard to beat.
Who is this for?
4510.95 — New Automobile Trading For Export
Under this activity, you are in the business of wholesale and retail trading of new motor vehicles for export. This means purchasing brand-new passenger cars, SUVs, lorries, trailers, semi-trailers, off-road vehicles, camping vehicles, caravans, and motor homes, and selling them to buyers outside the UAE.
This is not a domestic dealership. The activity is oriented toward international markets, with the UAE functioning as a sourcing and consolidation hub between global manufacturers and overseas buyers.
However, there are boundaries. This activity does not cover the wholesale and retail sale of parts and accessories for motor vehicles. It also excludes renting of motor vehicles with a driver, renting of trucks with a driver, and renting of motor vehicles and trucks without a driver.
In short: if you are buying new vehicles and selling them to international markets, you are in scope. If you are selling parts, renting cars, or trading used vehicles, those each sit under their own activity.
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 WAM / Emirates News Agency, cited via Emirates247 — UAE's Non-Oil Foreign Trade Reaches AED 3 Trillion in 2024 — https://www.emirates247.com/business/economy-finance/uae-s-non-oil-foreign-trade-continued-its-upward-trajectory-reaching-aed3-trillion-in-2024-al-zeyoudi-2025-02-05-1.737129
² OICA / International Organization of Motor Vehicle Manufacturers, cited via TheGlobalEconomy.com — UAE Passenger Car Sales 2024 — https://www.theglobaleconomy.com/United-Arab-Emirates/passenger_cars_sales/
³ AutoData Middle East, cited via Zawya — H1 2025 Used Car Market Report for UAE and KSA — https://www.zawya.com/en/press-release/companies-news/autodata-middle-east-releases-h1-2025-used-car-market-report-for-uae-and-ksa-ohv8mxbi
