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How to Start a Tar & Asphalt Trading Business in Dubai with Meydan Free Zone
Every road in the UAE sits on asphalt. The country's 4,080-kilometre federal highway network, Dubai's urban road grid, Abu Dhabi's intercity corridors and the Northern Emirates' expanding road infrastructure all depend on bitumen-based products for construction, resurfacing and maintenance.
Tar and asphalt products are the surface layer of the entire national transport network, and in a climate where extreme heat accelerates road wear, the demand for resurfacing and repair runs year-round.
According to IMARC Group¹, the global asphalt market was valued at approximately USD 270 billion in 2024, with the Middle East as a significant consumer driven by road construction and maintenance across the GCC. According to Mordor Intelligence², the UAE construction market is estimated at USD 42.75 billion in 2025, with infrastructure holding a significant share of total spending and road construction as a core category.
According to P&S Intelligence³, the UAE construction material market is valued at USD 16.2 billion in 2024 and is projected to reach USD 20.0 billion by 2030. According to the UAE Ministry of Infrastructure⁴, the federal highway network spans 4,080 kilometres and requires continuous resurfacing, patching and maintenance to counter the effects of extreme heat on road surfaces.
Whether you are selling penetration-grade bitumen to road contractors, cold-mix asphalt to municipal maintenance teams, or tar-based sealants to waterproofing specialists, this activity covers the retail sale of tar and asphalt products directly to consumers outside the UAE.
Who is this for?
| Audience Segment | Profile |
|---|---|
| Bitumen trading specialists | Entrepreneurs establishing a trading operation for bitumen, polymer-modified bitumen and asphalt products, serving road contractors, infrastructure developers and waterproofing companies in export markets. |
| Online asphalt products sellers | Sellers building online storefronts for road repair compounds, cold-mix asphalt, crack sealants and bitumen emulsion, reaching municipal contractors and road maintenance buyers in international markets. |
| Road materials brands | Founders building branded trading businesses around bitumen-based products, road repair materials and tar-based protective coatings, selling to road contractors, port authorities and industrial maintenance teams outside the UAE. |
4752.74 - Tar & Asphalt Trading
Under this activity, you can run a specialised trading business selling tar and asphalt products directly to consumers outside the UAE, from road contractors and infrastructure developers to waterproofing specialists and industrial coating applicators sourcing bitumen, asphalt products and tar-based sealants.
This activity covers the retail sale of tar and asphalt products only. It does not cover the wholesale or manufacture of these products, or the provision of road construction and surfacing services, which fall under separate activity classifications.
In short: if you are selling tar and asphalt products directly to consumers outside the UAE, this is your activity. If you are wholesaling, manufacturing or applying them, those fall under a separate scope.
| Category | Scope |
|---|---|
| Bitumen and asphalt products | Retail of bitumen (penetration grade, viscosity grade, cutback bitumen), polymer-modified bitumen, bitumen emulsion and hot-mix asphalt products used in road construction, resurfacing and waterproofing applications Establish a bitumen and asphalt products trading operation serving road contractors, infrastructure developers and waterproofing companies in markets UAE CONTEXT The UAE is a net exporter of bitumen, with refineries in Abu Dhabi and Sharjah producing surplus volumes that feed both domestic road construction and a re-export market across East Africa, South Asia and the Indian Ocean islands. |
| Road repair and maintenance materials | Retail of cold-mix asphalt, pothole repair compound, asphalt crack sealant, tack coat, prime coat and road marking materials used in road maintenance, repair and patching operations Run a dedicated road repair materials trading operation catering to municipal maintenance teams and road contractors sourcing patching and repair products UAE CONTEXT Road surfaces in hot climates degrade faster due to extreme heat, requiring more frequent patching, crack sealing and resurfacing than in temperate climates, creating recurring demand for repair materials in GCC and African markets. |
| Tar-based products and sealants | Retail of coal tar, tar-based sealants, coal tar epoxy coatings, tar paper and related tar products used in waterproofing, corrosion protection and industrial coating applications Operate a trading business supplying tar-based sealants and coating products to waterproofing contractors, marine maintenance teams and industrial coating applicators in markets UAE CONTEXT Tar-based epoxy coatings are widely used in marine and industrial corrosion protection across the Middle East and Africa, with port infrastructure and offshore oil and gas as major end-use sectors. |
Third-Party Approval
This activity requires approval from DOPA (Department of Petroleum Affairs) before your trade license is issued. Disclaimer: This ctivitiy can only be practised outside the UAE.
Anti-Money Laundering Compliance
This business activity is exempt from AML compliance requirements.
References
- ¹ IMARC Group, *Global Asphalt Market Size, Share & Forecast*. https://www.imarcgroup.com/asphalt-market
- ² Mordor Intelligence, *UAE Construction Market Size, Share, 2030 Growth Report*. https://www.mordorintelligence.com/industry-reports/uae-construction-market
- ³ P&S Intelligence, *UAE Construction Material Market Size & Industry Outlook*. https://www.psmarketresearch.com/market-analysis/uae-construction-material-market
- ⁴ UAE Ministry of Infrastructure, *Federal Highway Network Data*. https://www.moei.gov.ae
