Table of Contents
Topic Summary
A Market Worth Over Half a Billion Dollars
The UAE toys market hit USD 569.70 million in 2024 and is projected to reach USD 1.09 billion by 2033, growing at a CAGR of 6.73%. This rapid expansion makes it one of the most commercially attractive retail sectors in the region.
All Materials Are Covered Under One License
Activity 4764.01 covers toys and games made from wood, plastic, metal, fabric, foam, rubber, paper, ceramic, and composite materials under a single business activity. Traders do not need separate licenses for each material type, simplifying setup considerably.
Kidult and Collector Demand Is Rising Fast
The kidult demographic — adults buying toys for personal enjoyment and collecting — is gaining significant momentum in the UAE. Die-cast vehicles, collectible metal figurines, and AI-integrated products are among the categories driving this trend.
Sustainable and Premium Toys Are a Growing Niche
UAE parents are increasingly seeking non-toxic, eco-friendly, and sustainably manufactured toys, creating strong demand for wooden and premium product lines. Importers specialising in these categories are well-positioned to capture this environmentally conscious consumer segment.
Video Game Consoles Are Explicitly Excluded
The retail sale of video game consoles and non-customised software, including video games, falls outside the scope of activity 4764.01. Businesses intending to sell physical games and toys across all materials are covered, but digital gaming hardware requires a separate activity classification.
No Third-Party Approval or AML Requirements
Launching this business through Meydan Free Zone does not require third-party regulatory approval to obtain a license. The activity is also not subject to Anti-Money Laundering compliance requirements, reducing administrative burden for new entrants.
An Exceptionally Broad Product Universe in One Activity
From wooden building blocks and plush stuffed animals to foam play mats and precision die-cast models, this single activity class covers an unusually wide range of products. That breadth gives traders the flexibility to diversify their inventory without adding new licensed activities.
How to Start a Retail Sale Of Games And Toys, Made Of All Materials Business in Dubai with Meydan Free Zone
The retail sale of games and toys made of all materials captures the full breadth of the toy and games category, spanning wood, plastic, metal, fabric, rubber, foam, and innovative composite materials. The UAE toys market reached USD 569.70 million in 2024 and is set to reach USD 1,092.73 million by 2033 at a CAGR of 6.73%.[1] Consumer preferences in the UAE are evolving rapidly: the kidult demographic comprising adults who purchase toys for their own collection and enjoyment is gaining significant momentum, and parents are increasingly seeking toys made from sustainable, non-toxic, and premium materials.
In 2023, traditional toys and games recorded significant value growth in the UAE, driven by AI-integrated products and strong collector demand.[2] The diversity of materials in scope -- from classic wooden toys and die-cast metal vehicles to soft plush and modern foam construction systems -- means this activity covers an exceptionally broad and commercially active product universe.
Who is this for?
| Audience Segment | Profile |
|---|---|
| MULTI-MATERIAL AND GENERAL | General Toy and Games Traders Traders distributing toys across all material types -- plastic, wood, fabric, metal, and foam -- to retail chains, hypermarkets, toy boutiques, and online platforms serving the UAE's diverse consumer market. |
| PREMIUM AND SUSTAINABLE | Premium and Sustainable Toy Importers Importers and distributors specialising in premium, eco-friendly, wooden, or sustainably manufactured toys catering to environmentally conscious UAE parents and the growing demand for non-plastic and non-toxic play products. |
4764.01 - Retail Sale Of Games And Toys, Made Of All Materials
Activity 4764.01 covers the retail sale of games and toys made of all materials. This activity explicitly encompasses toys and games regardless of their primary material composition, including wooden toys, plastic toys, metal toys, fabric and soft toys, rubber and foam toys, paper and cardboard games, die-cast vehicles, ceramic and clay craft kits, and all games and toys produced from composite or mixed materials.
This activity excludes the retail sale of video game consoles and non-customised software including video games.
Activity 4764.01 covers games and toys made of any and all materials. The retail sale of video game consoles and non-customised software including video games is excluded from this activity class.
In short: if you are trading games and toys in any material -- wood, plastic, metal, fabric, foam, or composites -- you are in. Video game consoles and software fall outside this activity.
| Category | Scope |
|---|---|
| Wooden toys and gamesWooden building blocks, train sets, puzzles, stacking toys, and classic wooden games valued for durability, natural materials, and educational play value. | Die-cast and metal toys Die-cast vehicle models, metal construction sets, collectible metal figurines, and precision metal toy products for children and adult collectors. |
| Plastic construction and play setsPlastic building bricks, playsets, figurines, and moulded plastic toys across all categories and age groups. | Foam, rubber, and composite toys Foam building sets, rubber balls, EVA foam play mats, sensory products, and toys made from composite and innovative modern materials. |
| Fabric and soft play products | Stuffed animals, fabric dolls, soft activity toys, sensory toys, and textile-based play products for infants and young children. |
Third-Party Approval
This activity does not require third-party approval to obtain a business license from Meydan Free Zone.
Anti-Money Laundering Compliance
This business activity is not subject to AML compliance requirements.
References
- ¹ IMARC Group. (2025). UAE Toys Market Size, Share and Growth Forecast 2033. imarcgroup.com
- ² ResearchAndMarkets / GlobeNewswire. (2024). United Arab Emirates Traditional Toys and Games Industry Report 2024. globenewswire.com
