Table of Contents
Frequently Asked Questions
What does this activity cover?
It covers buying perfume, cosmetics, beauty goods and soap in bulk and selling them on to businesses. Skincare, haircare and bath products are all included.
Can I sell direct to the public?
No. This is wholesale trade. Selling to shoppers is retail and needs a retail activity.
Can I make my own products under this license?
No. Blending, filling and manufacturing sit under a separate code.
Can I trade other household goods under the same class?
The class is broad and covers many household lines. Some of them carry their own approvals, so check each code before adding it.
Do I need third-party approval?
No. This activity does not require third-party approval to obtain a business license from Meydan Free Zone.
Topic Summary
A Multi-Billion Dollar Market Awaits
The UAE beauty and personal care market was valued at USD 3.49 billion in 2026 and is projected to reach USD 4.68 billion by 2031. Fragrance alone accounts for USD 817.9 million, growing faster than the broader category.
Tourism Keeps Beauty Volumes High
Dubai welcomed 18.72 million overnight visitors in 2024, a 9% year-on-year increase. Gifting and travel retail push demand well beyond what residents alone would generate, with perfume topping growth at Dubai Duty Free.
Wide Range of Customers to Supply
Wholesale beauty traders sell to retailers, salons, spas, hotels and online sellers. This broad customer base creates multiple revenue streams and reduces reliance on any single type of buyer.
Broad Product Scope Under One License
This activity covers perfume, skincare, haircare, colour cosmetics, soap and bath products traded in bulk. Wider household goods wholesale is also permitted under the same class, though some lines carry their own approvals.
No Third-Party Approval Required
Obtaining a business license for this activity through Meydan Free Zone does not require third-party approval. The activity is also not subject to AML compliance requirements, keeping setup straightforward.
Import, Store and Re-Export with Ease
The activity permits bulk buying, storage, packing, distribution and re-export of beauty goods through Dubai. This makes it well suited to traders who want to serve both UAE and wider regional markets.
Know What Falls Outside This Activity
Manufacturing cosmetics or perfume requires a separate code, and selling directly to the public falls under retail trade. Keeping within the wholesale scope ensures your license remains compliant and valid.
Wholesale Cosmetics & Skincare Business in Dubai
This activity covers the bulk supply of perfume, cosmetics, beauty goods and soap. Traders buy at volume from brands or makers and sell on to businesses. Their customers include shops, salons, spas, hotels and online sellers. The trade sits between the brand and the shelf, and margin comes from volume.
The market behind it is large and steady. The UAE beauty and personal care market was worth USD 3.49 billion in 2026 and should reach USD 4.68 billion by 2031.1 Fragrance is a big part of that. The UAE perfume market alone stood at USD 817.9 million in 2025, and it is growing faster than the wider category.2
Tourism lifts the whole category. Dubai drew 18.72 million overnight visitors in 2024, up 9% on the year before.3 Perfume was the top growth driver at Dubai Duty Free that year.1 Gifting and travel retail keep volumes moving well beyond what residents alone would buy each year.
Why Dubai is a beauty and fragrance hub
Whether you supply beauty retailers, salons, hotels or online sellers, this activity covers bulk trade in these goods. The figures below show the size of the market and what feeds it.
Who is this activity for?
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What this activity covers
This code covers wholesale trade in perfume, cosmetics, beauty goods and soap, sold in bulk to other businesses. The class guidelines set a wide scope beyond beauty alone.
- Bulk buying of perfume, cosmetics, beauty goods and soap
- Storage, packing and distribution to retailers and trade buyers
- Trade in skincare, haircare, colour cosmetics and bath products
- Export and re-export of beauty goods through Dubai
- Wider household goods wholesale allowed under the same class, though some lines carry their own approvals
Product scope
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What falls outside this activity
This activity does not cover making perfume, cosmetics or soap. Manufacturing sits under a separate code. Selling direct to the public is retail trade and needs a retail activity instead. The class guidelines also place office furniture, blank recording media and broadcasting equipment outside this class.
In short, you can import, hold and sell beauty goods in bulk, but you cannot make them or sell them to shoppers.
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Compliance
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.
Footnote
1. Mordor Intelligence, UAE Beauty and Personal Care Products Market Report, 2026.
2. Research and Markets, UAE Perfume Market Size, Competitors, Trends and Forecast, 2026.
3. Government of Dubai, City Focuses on Strategic Approach to Destination Growth, 2025.
