Table of Contents
Topic Summary
Why Dubai Is a Used Truck Trading Hub
The UAE sits at the centre of a global used truck trade worth USD 49.95 billion in 2025, projected to reach USD 109.2 billion by 2035. Fleet renewals from construction, oil and gas, and logistics operators create a steady supply of well-maintained vehicles ready for resale.
The Market Numbers You Need to Know
The UAE used vehicle market alone is valued at USD 20.55 billion in 2025, with pickup trucks growing at a 10.24% CAGR through 2031. Independent traders in Dubai and Sharjah already hold 54.88% of market share, signalling strong opportunity for new entrants.
Three Types of Traders This Business Suits
Used truck dealers and exporters, construction and industrial truck traders, and fleet wholesale resellers all have a clear path in this market. Each serves a distinct buyer base, from GCC contractors to African and Asian importers seeking cost-effective haulage equipment.
Understanding Activity Code 4510.97
Registering under activity code 4510.97 licenses you for wholesale and retail trading of pre-owned trucks, covering everything from light pickups to heavy-duty tippers and tankers. This single activity covers both domestic sales and international re-export operations.
Four Truck Categories You Can Trade
The business spans used light trucks like the Toyota Hilux, medium-duty flatbeds and box trucks, heavy-duty tippers and cement mixers, and bulk yard operations for fleet liquidations. Each category targets a different buyer segment across regional and global markets.
Demand Surge Signals Strong Export Potential
DubiCars recorded a 42% surge in platform demand in the first half of 2025, with the Toyota Hilux and Land Cruiser Pick-Up dominating export volumes to Africa and Asia. This growth reflects the UAE's role as a re-export gateway for price-sensitive markets that rely on proven used commercial vehicles.
Meydan Free Zone as Your Business Base
Setting up in Meydan Free Zone gives used truck traders a licensed, UAE-based entity suited for both domestic trading and international re-export activity. A free zone structure supports streamlined company formation without the complexity of a mainland setup.
How to Start a Used Trucks Trading Business in Dubai with Meydan Free Zone
The UAE does not just consume commercial vehicles. It cycles them. Used truck trading is the business of buying and selling pre-owned trucks, serving buyers who need reliable haulage and transport equipment without the price tag of a new unit.
Global Market Insights¹ values the global used trucks market at USD 49.95 billion in 2025, projected to reach USD 109.2 billion by 2035 at a CAGR of 8.2%, with construction as the dominant end-use segment. Fortune Business Insights² reports the Middle East and Rest of World region contributed USD 7.77 billion to that total. Mordor Intelligence³ puts the UAE used vehicle market at USD 20.55 billion in 2025, with pickup trucks posting the fastest growth at 10.24% CAGR through 2031 and independent traders in Sharjah and Dubai holding 54.88% of market share. DubiCars⁴ recorded a 42% surge in platform demand in H1 2025, with the Toyota Hilux and Land Cruiser Pick-Up dominating export volumes to Africa and Asia.
Whether you are trading used flatbeds to construction firms in East Africa, supplying pre-owned tippers to GCC contractors, or running a yard that sources and re-exports trucks, the UAE sits at the centre of a trade that only grows as the region's fleet ages and its neighbours industrialise..
Who is this for?
| Used truck dealers & exporters | Construction & industrial truck traders | Fleet & wholesale truck resellers |
|---|---|---|
| Traders buying and selling pre-owned trucks, sourcing from fleet operators and auctions in the UAE and re-exporting to buyers across Africa, Asia, and the Middle East. | Businesses specialising in used trucks for construction, mining, and infrastructure projects, where buyers need proven, cost-effective equipment. | Operators purchasing used trucks in bulk through fleet liquidations and dealer networks, consolidating inventory in UAE yards for domestic and international resale. |
4510.97 — Used Trucks Trading
Under this activity, you are in the business of wholesale and retail trading of used trucks. This means purchasing pre-owned trucks and selling them to domestic or international buyers. The vehicles are second-hand, not new.
The UAE is a natural market for this activity. Truck fleets across the Emirates are regularly renewed by large operators in construction, logistics, and oil and gas, creating a steady supply of well-maintained used trucks that are then sold onward to price-sensitive markets regionally and globally.
| USED LIGHT TRUCKS | USED MEDIUM-DUTY TRUCKS | USED HEAVY-DUTY TRUCKS | WHOLESALE & YARD OPERATIONS |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pickups & light commercial | Box trucks, flatbeds & carriers | Tippers, tankers & cement mixers | Bulk buying, consolidation & resale |
| Trading of pre-owned pickup trucks and light commercial trucks used for deliveries, trade work, and urban logistics. The Toyota Hilux and Land Cruiser Pick-Up are among the most traded models in the UAE. | Trading of used medium-duty box trucks, flatbeds, and vehicle carriers sourced from logistics operators and fleet renewals across the UAE. | Trading of pre-owned heavy-duty trucks including tippers, tankers, cement mixers, and cargo trucks sourced from construction, oil and gas, and infrastructure operators. | Wholesale purchasing of used trucks through fleet liquidations, dealer networks, and yards, consolidating inventory for resale to domestic and international buyers. |
| UAE USED TRUCK DEALERS Al Futtaim Automall and First Choice Cars, both operating used commercial vehicle operations across Dubai and Sharjah serving domestic and export buyers | UAE USED TRUCK DEALERS Steer Well Auto and Auto4Export, specialising in used trucks, vans, and heavy commercial vehicles for re-export to Africa, Asia, and the GCC | INDUSTRY CONTEXT The UAE's construction boom and fleet renewal cycles by operators in oil and gas, logistics, and infrastructure generate a steady supply of quality used trucks | INDUSTRY CONTEXT DubiCars⁴ recorded a 42% surge in platform demand in H1 2025, with the Toyota Hilux, Hiace, and Land Cruiser Pick-Up dominating export volumes |
However, there are limits to what you can do. 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 and selling used trucks, you are in scope. If you are selling parts, renting vehicles, or trading new trucks, that’s a different business model.
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 Global Market Insights — Used Trucks Market Size & Share, Growth Analysis 2026–2035
- ² Fortune Business Insights — Used Truck Market Size, Share & Trends, Forecast 2026–2034
- ³ Mordor Intelligence — UAE Used Car Market Size, Share & Industry Report 2031
- ⁴ DubiCars — UAE Used Car Market Report: Key Insights From H1 2025
