Table of Contents
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Do I need approval to trade glass bottles?
No. Activity 4690.90 requires no third-party approval, so Meydan Free Zone can issue the business license directly. The activity is also not subject to AML compliance requirements.
2. How large is the UAE glass packaging market?
The UAE glass packaging market was valued at USD 1.5 billion in 2024 and is projected to reach USD 2.1 billion by 2031. Container glass shipments are forecast to grow from 0.48 million tonnes in 2025 to 0.59 million tonnes by 2030.
3. Why is glass packaging demand growing?
UAE regulation increasingly favours recyclable packaging over single-use plastics, and premium beverage, perfume, and pharmaceutical brands prefer glass because it is inert and does not absorb stains or odours.
4. Can I manufacture glass bottles under this licence?
No. Manufacturing glass or glass containers is an industrial activity outside this scope. Activity 4690.90 covers trading the containers, not producing them.
5. Does this licence cover filling or bottling?
No. Filling, bottling, and packing products into containers is a separate packaging activity requiring its own licence. This activity covers supply of the empty containers.
6. Which sectors buy the most glass containers?
Beverages, food processing, pharmaceuticals, and perfumery are the principal buyers. Pharmaceutical demand is a particular growth driver as UAE manufacturing capacity expands.
How to Start a Glass Bottles Trading Business with Meydan Free Zone
Glass bottles trading covers the buying and selling of glass containers used to hold liquids, from beverage and water bottles through to pharmaceutical vials, perfume flacons, and food jars. Glass has regained commercial ground as sustainability rules tighten and premium brands move away from plastic, and the trade sits at the meeting point of packaging supply, food and beverage production, and the pharmaceutical sector.
The UAE market is sizeable and growing steadily. The UAE glass packaging market was valued at USD 1.5 billion in 2024 and is projected to reach USD 2.1 billion by 2031.[1] By volume, container glass shipments are expected to grow from 0.48 million tonnes in 2025 to 0.59 million tonnes by 2030, a compound annual rate of 4.38%.[2] The retail glass packaging segment specifically is forecast to expand at 6.0% a year through 2035, driven by UAE regulation favouring recyclable materials over single-use plastics.[3]
Demand is broad-based rather than concentrated. Pharmaceutical manufacturing, premium beverages, perfumery, and gourmet food all rely on glass for its inert, non-absorbent properties, and the UAE's expanding pharmaceutical production base adds a further structural driver.[2]
A Glass Packaging Market Growing on Sustainability Rules
A Dubai-licensed glass bottles trader supplies a UAE glass packaging market valued at USD 1.5 billion in 2024 and projected to reach USD 2.1 billion by 2031, where container glass shipments are set to rise from 0.48 million tonnes in 2025 to 0.59 million tonnes by 2030 as regulation pushes brands away from single-use plastics.
Sources: Verified Market Research (2024), Research and Markets (2025), Future Market Insights (2025)
Who Is This Activity For?
4690.90 - Glass Bottles Trading
Activity 4690.90 sits within the broader class covering non-specialised wholesale trade. Within that class, this activity is the trading of glass bottles, meaning containers made of glass used for storing and transporting liquids. It covers buying and selling bottles, jars, vials, flacons, and similar glass containers, whether plain or decorated, supplied to producers, bottlers, and packaging buyers. The activity concerns trading the containers as goods. It does not extend to manufacturing glass, filling or bottling the containers, or supplying the contents.
The trading range covers:
- Beverage and water bottles across standard and premium formats
- Food jars and preserve containers
- Pharmaceutical vials, ampoules, and dispensing bottles
- Perfume flacons and cosmetic containers
- Closures, caps, and sealing components supplied alongside bottles
- Bulk supply to bottlers and contract packers
- Import and re-export of glass container consignments
Service Scope
Beverage & Water Bottles
Standard and premium glass bottles supplied to beverage producers, water bottlers, and hospitality suppliers across a range of formats and finishes.
Food Jars & Preserve Containers
Glass jars for sauces, preserves, gourmet foods, and condiments, valued for shelf presentation and because glass does not absorb stains or odours.
Pharmaceutical Vials & Ampoules
Medical grade glass containers supplied to pharmaceutical manufacturers, where the inert properties of glass are a regulatory requirement rather than a preference.
Perfume Flacons & Cosmetic Bottles
Decorative and moulded glass containers for perfumery and cosmetics, a category with particular strength in the regional market.
Industrial & Laboratory Glass Containers
Bottles and containers supplied to laboratories, chemical handlers, and industrial users requiring specified glass grades.
WHAT THIS ACTIVITY EXCLUDES
It is important to note what activity 4690.90 does not cover. The manufacture of glass or glass containers is an industrial activity and falls outside this scope, as does the recycling or reprocessing of waste glass. Filling, bottling, or packing products into the containers is a separate packaging activity. Trade in flat glass for construction, in glassware and tableware, and in plastic or metal containers each sits within its own classification. Retail sale of glass containers to final consumers is separately classified.
In short: if you are buying and selling glass bottles and containers to the trade, you are in. If you are manufacturing glass, filling the bottles, recycling waste glass, or trading flat glass or tableware, you are not.
Licensing & Compliance
Third-Party Approval:
No third-party approval is required before your business license is issued.
Anti-Money Laundering Compliance:
This business activity is exempt from AML compliance requirement.
References
[1] Verified Market Research. UAE Glass Packaging Market Size, Share, Trends & Forecast.
[2] Research and Markets. UAE Container Glass Market Size, Competitors & Forecast, 2025-2030.
[3] Future Market Insights. (2025). Europe & Middle East Retail Glass Packaging Market 2025-2035.
