With a diverse population, a strong tourism industry, and a well-developed retail infrastructure, Dubai has substantial potential for footwear and clothes trading. The city’s cosmopolitan population and thriving tourism sector create a demand for a wide range of footwear and clothing styles. Furthermore, Dubai’s retail infrastructure, including shopping malls and free trade zones like Meydan Free Zone, provides platforms for you to market your products. Additionally, fashion-related events and the rise of e-commerce offer further opportunities for market expansion.
Wholesale distributors in this sector often operate large warehouses or showrooms where retailers can browse and select products for their stores. With its “Grow from Dubai” Partners, Meydan Free Zone provides logistical services such as storage, inventory management, and delivery to ensure a smooth supply chain.
Meydan Free Zone offers business licenses for you to engage in the Wholesale of Textiles, Clothing, and Footwear (4641.00), Wholesale of Footwear (4641.07), Retail Sale of Clothing, Footwear, and Leather Articles In Specialized Stores (4771.00), Retail Sale of Footwear (4771.05), Retail Sale Via Stalls and Markets of Textiles, Clothing, and Footwear (4782.00), and Retail Sale of Textiles, Clothing and Footwear Via Stalls or Markets( 4782.01).
4641.00 Wholesale of Textiles, Clothing, and Footwear
Apply for a Wholesale of Textiles, Clothing, and Footwear business license with activity code 4641.00.
Wholesale of textiles, clothing, and footwear refers to the business activity of buying and selling these products in bulk quantities to retailers, resellers, or other businesses. It involves the distribution of a wide range of textiles, including fabrics, yarns, and related materials, as well as finished clothing items and footwear.
You can act as an intermediary between manufacturers or suppliers and retailers. You can trade diverse products, including fabrics for apparel and home furnishings, ready-to-wear clothing for men, women, and children, and footwear for different purposes and styles. These products may be sourced from local manufacturers or imported from various countries.
Inclusions
Your wholesale business license for textiles, clothing, and footwear allows you to engage in a comprehensive range of wholesale activities related to textiles, clothing, and footwear. With it, you can wholesale yarns, fabrics, and household linen. Additionally, you can wholesale haberdashery products like needles and sewing thread with your license. The extent of the license also includes the wholesale of clothing, including sports clothes and the wholesale of clothing accessories like gloves, ties, and braces. You can also engage in wholesale activities such as footwear, fur articles, and umbrellas.
Exclusions
Your wholesale business license for textiles, clothing, and footwear class expressly excludes the wholesale of jewellery and leather goods and the wholesale of textile fibers. This means you are permitted to engage in wholesale activities related to textiles, clothing, and footwear; you are not allowed to wholesale items such as jewelry or leather goods. Additionally, your license does not cover the wholesale of textile fibers.
4641.07 Wholesale of Footwear
Apply for a business license under Wholesale of Textiles, Clothing, and Footwear and choose the business activity Wholesale of Footwear with activity code 4641.07.
Wholesale of footwear refers to the business activity of selling shoes, sandals, boots, and other types of footwear to retailers, distributors, and other businesses at a larger scale. You can bulk purchase footwear directly from manufacturers or authorized distributors and resell them to other companies. In addition, you can work with retailers, department stores, shoe boutiques, online sellers, and other businesses that require a reliable source of footwear inventory.
Inclusions
Your wholesale business license for textiles, clothing, and footwear enables you to conduct a wide range of wholesale activities within textiles, clothing, and footwear. You can include the wholesale of various textile materials such as yarns, fabrics, and household linen. Furthermore, you are permitted to wholesale haberdashery items like needles and sewing thread. The scope of your license extends to wholesale clothing, encompassing sports apparel and clothing accessories like gloves, ties, and braces. Additionally, you can engage in wholesale activities involving footwear, fur articles, and umbrellas.
Exclusions
The wholesale business license for textiles, clothing, and footwear does not cover the wholesale of jewelry or leather goods. Therefore, you are not permitted to engage in wholesale activities involving these specific items. Furthermore, your license also excludes the wholesale of textile fibers. Hence, you are not authorized to wholesale textile fibers as part of your business operations.
4771.00 Retail Sale of Clothing, Footwear, and Leather Articles in Specialized Stores
Apply for a business license under Retail sale of other goods in specialized stores and choose business activity Retail Sale of Clothing, Footwear, and Leather Articles in Specialized Stores with activity code 4771.00.
The retail sale of clothing, footwear, and leather articles in specialized stores refers to the business activity of selling these specific products in dedicated retail stores. You can specialize in a particular product category or niche within the industry, offering a curated selection of merchandise and expertise in the respective product category. Retail sales can be conducted in physical stores, online platforms, or both, giving customers a tailored shopping experience.
Inclusions
Your trade license enables you to engage in the retail sale of various clothing items, including articles of clothing, articles of fur, and clothing accessories such as gloves, ties, and braces. Additionally, you are allowed to retail umbrellas, footwear, and leather goods. Furthermore, your license encompasses the retail sales of travel accessories made from both leather and leather substitutes.
Exclusions
Your trade license does not permit you to engage in the retail sale of textiles. While you can sell various clothing items, accessories, footwear, and leather goods, the retail sale of textiles is explicitly excluded from your license. This means you are not allowed to sell fabrics, textiles, or similar materials as part of your business operations.
4771.05 Retail Sale of Footwear
Apply for a business license under Retail sale of other goods in specialized stores and choose business activity Retail Sale of Footwear with activity code 4771.05.
The retail sale of footwear refers to selling shoes, sandals, boots, and other footwear to customers through physical stores or online platforms. You can offer various styles, sizes, and brands to cater to customer preferences.
In recent years, e-commerce has significantly impacted the retail sale of footwear, with more consumers opting to purchase shoes online. As an Online retailer, you can provide a wide variety of footwear options, detailed product information, customer reviews, and convenient delivery options.
Inclusions
Your trade license authorizes you to engage in the retail sale of a diverse range of clothing items, including articles of clothing, articles of fur, and clothing accessories like gloves, ties, and braces. Additionally, you can retail umbrellas, footwear, and leather goods. Moreover, your license covers the retail sales of travel accessories made from both leather and leather substitutes.
Exclusions
Your trade license does not authorize you to engage in the retail sale of textiles. While you are allowed to sell various clothing items, accessories, footwear, and leather goods, the retail sale of textiles falls outside your license’s scope. Therefore, you cannot sell fabrics, textiles, or similar materials in your business.
4782.00 Retail Sale Via Stalls and Markets of Textiles, Clothing and Footwear
Apply for a Retail sale via stalls and markets of textiles, clothing and footwear business license with activity code 4782.00.
Retail sale via stalls and markets of textiles, clothing, and footwear refers to selling these items directly to consumers through temporary or permanent stalls or marketplaces. It is a traditional form of retail where you can set up stalls in designated areas such as street markets, flea markets, fairs, or marketplaces and sell a variety of textile products, clothing items, and footwear to customers.
If you plan to set up a small-scale business or a local artisan to showcase and sell your products directly to consumers, you can bypass the need for a physical store or a large-scale retail operation with this license.
Inclusions
Your Retail sale via stalls and markets of textiles, clothing and footwear business license allows you to engage in the retail sale of textiles, clothing, and footwear via stalls or markets.
4782.01 Retail Sale of Textiles, Clothing and Footwear Via Stalls or Markets
Apply for a Retail Sale of Textiles, Clothing and Footwear Via Stalls or Markets business license with activity code 4782.00.
The retail sale of textiles, clothing, and footwear via stalls or markets refers to selling these products directly to customers in open-air markets, street stalls, or temporary structures set up in public places. In this retail setup, you can rent or acquire a designated space or kiosk in a market or fairground to showcase your merchandise. The available items may include fabrics, garments, shoes, accessories, and other related products. You can often specialize in specific types of clothing or footwear, such as ethnic wear, vintage clothing, handmade goods, or designer items. You may source your products from wholesalers, manufacturers, or local artisans.
Inclusions
With your business license for retail sale via stalls and markets of textiles, clothing, and footwear, you have the authorization to conduct the retail sale of these products specifically through stalls or markets.
Third-Party Approvals
The business activities with the specified codes 4641.00, 4641.07, 4771.00, 4771.05, 4782.00, and 4782.01 do not require third-party approvals to operate in Dubai. This means businesses engaged in these Footwear and Clothes Trading activities can start and run their operations without additional approvals or permissions from external entities.
ESR & UBO
Businesses related to Footwear and Clothes Trading (4641.00, 4641.07, 4771.00, 4771.05, 4782.00, and 4782.01) are exempt from UBO (Ultimate Beneficial Ownership) and ESR (Economic Substance Regulations). UBO refers to the identification and reporting of individuals who have ultimate ownership or control over a business entity, while ESR pertains to regulations that require businesses to demonstrate legitimate economic activity and substance within the jurisdiction where they operate.
AML
AML (Anti-Money Laundering) regulations do not apply to Businesses related to Footwear and Clothes Trading (4641.00, 4641.07, 4771.00, 4771.05, 4782.00, and 4782.01). AML regulations in Dubai primarily focus on preventing and detecting money laundering and terrorist financing activities.
