Table of Contents
Topic Summary
UAE Footwear Market Is Booming
The UAE footwear market was valued at USD 1.26 billion in 2024 and is projected to reach USD 1.86 billion by 2033 at a CAGR of 3.95%. This growth makes it an attractive entry point for slippers and sandals traders looking to establish a long-term business.
Climate Drives Year-Round Sandal Demand
The UAE's consistently warm weather creates strong, sustained demand for open-toed footwear including sandals, slides, flip-flops, and slippers across all seasons. This climate-driven demand reduces the seasonal risk that footwear traders face in cooler markets.
Hotels Create Major Institutional Buying Opportunity
The UAE's extensive five-star hotel, resort, and spa sector generates significant institutional demand for disposable and reusable hotel slippers and spa footwear. Suppliers targeting this segment can secure high-volume, repeat business contracts.
Activity 4771.98 Covers a Wide Product Range
Meydan Free Zone's business activity code 4771.98 encompasses a broad scope including fashion sandals, hotel slippers, slides, espadrilles, mules, flip-flops, and house slippers. If your product is open-toed or slipper-format, this is the correct activity for your license.
No Third-Party Approval Required to Start
Trading slippers and sandals under activity 4771.98 does not require any third-party regulatory approval to obtain a business license from Meydan Free Zone. This streamlines the setup process and reduces the time and cost to launch.
AML Compliance Does Not Apply to This Activity
This business activity is not subject to Anti-Money Laundering compliance requirements, simplifying ongoing regulatory obligations for new traders. This makes it a straightforward category to operate within from a compliance standpoint.
Import Market Is Large and Well-Established
EU footwear exports to the UAE exceeded EUR 563 million in 2024, confirming that the market is heavily import-dependent and open to international suppliers. Traders sourcing from global manufacturers are well-positioned to serve this demand.
How to Start a Slippers & Sandals Trading Business in Dubai with Meydan Free Zone
Slippers and sandals are among the most commercially active footwear segments in the UAE, where the warm climate and open-toed footwear culture create strong year-round demand. The UAE footwear market reached USD 1.26 billion in 2024 and is projected to reach USD 1.86 billion by 2033 at a CAGR of 3.95%, with leather footwear representing the largest segment at USD 0.57 billion in 2024.[1] EU footwear exports to the UAE exceeded EUR 563 million in 2024, confirming the scale and import-dependency of the market.[2] Sandals and open-toed footwear dominate warmer-season demand, while premium house slippers, spa slippers, hotel amenity slippers, and fashion slides sustain year-round commercial activity.
The UAE's large hospitality sector -- with hundreds of five-star hotels -- creates significant institutional demand for quality hotel slippers, while the fashion sandal market is driven by luxury brands and tourist retail.
Who is this for?
| Audience Segment | Profile |
|---|---|
| CONSUMER AND FASHION | Slippers and Fashion Sandal Retailers Retailers supplying fashion sandals, slides, flip-flops, and house slippers to the UAE's large consumer market through specialist footwear stores, mall retail, and online channels. |
| HOSPITALITY AND INSTITUTIONAL | Hotel Slipper and Hospitality Footwear Suppliers Traders supplying disposable and reusable hotel slippers, spa footwear, and hospitality-grade open footwear to the UAE's extensive five-star hotel, resort, and spa sector. |
4771.98 - Slippers & Sandals Trading
Activity 4771.98 covers the trading of slippers and sandals, interpreted within the retail sale of footwear in specialised stores. This encompasses fashion sandals, gladiator sandals, strappy heeled sandals, flat sandals, flip-flops, beach sandals, rubber and foam slides, fashion sliders, house slippers, hotel amenity slippers, spa slippers, mules, espadrilles, and all open-toed and slipper-format footwear.
Activity 4771.98 covers slippers and sandals. Closed-toe shoes, boots, and sports footwear fall under 4771.99.
General footwear retail broadly is covered under 4771.99.
In short: if you are trading slippers and sandals of any kind, you are in. Closed footwear including shoes, boots, and trainers falls under 4771.99.
| Category | Scope |
|---|---|
| Fashion sandals and heeled sandalsStrappy, block-heel, wedge, and flat fashion sandals for women and men across all price points from mass-market to luxury. | Hotel and spa slippers Disposable open-toe hotel slippers, waffle and terry spa slippers, and institutional hospitality footwear for UAE's hotel and resort sector. |
| Slides, sliders and flip-flopsRubber and EVA slides, branded sport sliders, flip-flop sandals, and casual open footwear for UAE's warm-weather lifestyle. | Espadrilles and casual mules Casual mule footwear, espadrille sandals, and relaxed leisure footwear for the UAE's year-round warm-weather fashion market. |
| House and bedroom slippers | Soft-sole house slippers, memory foam slippers, moccasin slippers, and indoor leisure footwear. |
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 Footwear Market Size, Share and Growth Forecast 2033. imarcgroup.com
- ² European Confederation of the Footwear Industry / IMARC Group. (2025). UAE Footwear Market. imarcgroup.com
