Table of Contents
Topic Summary
Dubai's Strategic Location Drives Petroleum Trade
Situated between Europe, Asia, and Africa, Dubai serves as a central hub for global oil and petroleum trading. This geographic advantage makes it an ideal base for businesses connecting producers and consumers across regions.
Trade Refined Oil Products Beyond Diesel and Gasoline
A Refined Oil Products Trading license (4661.91) from Meydan Free Zone lets you trade methanol, urea, kerosene, jet fuel, marine fuel, tar, wax, and more. Note that diesel and gasoline are specifically excluded from this license category.
Jet Fuel Suppliers Need Aviation Authority Approval
Businesses pursuing a Jet Fuel Supply Services license (4661.93) must obtain pre-license approval from the Dubai Civil Aviation Authority (DCAA). The DCAA evaluates operational capabilities, infrastructure, safety compliance, and environmental standards before granting approval.
Petroleum Trading Requires Key Regulatory Clearances
Refined Oil Products Trading requires approval from the Department of Petroleum Affairs (DPA) under The Ruler's Court before a license is issued. These third-party approvals ensure businesses meet industry safety and operational standards.
Multiple Petroleum Business Activities Are Available
Meydan Free Zone supports a range of petroleum-related activities, including Diesel Fuel Trading, Fuel Supply Services, and Petrol Station Equipment Trading. Each activity has its own license code and may carry specific regulatory requirements.
Connect the Global Oil Supply Chain From Dubai
With a Meydan Free Zone trading license, businesses can buy, sell, and distribute crude oil, gasoline, diesel, LPG, and other refined products internationally. This positions license holders as critical links between global oil producers and end consumers.
How to Start an Oil and Other Petroleum Products Trading Business in Dubai with Meydan Free Zone
The oil and petroleum products trading sector contributes a significant part of Dubai's economy. Dubai, strategically located between Europe, Asia, and Africa, is a central hub for oil and petroleum trading activities. Refined Oil Products Trading (4661.91), Jet Fuel Supply Services (4661.93), Fuel Supply Services (4661.94), Diesel Fuel Trading (4661.98), Petrol Station Equipment Trading (4773.57) are some of the major Oil, and Other Petroleum Products Trading Business are the major business activities you can conduct with Meydan Free Zone.
With Meydan Free Zone, the oil and other petroleum products trading business involves buying, selling, and distributing various petroleum products, including crude oil, gasoline, diesel, jet fuel, liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), and other refined products. With your trading license from Meydan Free Zone, you can play a crucial link in the global oil supply chain, connecting producers and consumers from different regions.
| Activity | Activity Code | License Category | Pre-license Approval |
|---|---|---|---|
| Refined Oil Products Trading | 4661.91 | Other specialized wholesale | Department of Petroleum Affairs (DPA) |
| Jet Fuel Supply Services | 4661.93 | Other specialized wholesale | Dubai Civil Aviation Authority (DCAA) |
| Fuel Supply Services | 4661.94 | Other specialized wholesale | Dubai Maritime City Authority (DMCA) |
| Diesel Fuel Trading | 4661.98 | Other specialized wholesale | Department of Petroleum Affairs (DPA) |
| Petrol Station Equipment Trading | 4773.57 | Retail sale of other goods in specialized stores | None required |
4661.91 Refined Oil Products Trading
Apply for a business license under Other specialized wholesale and choose business activity Refined Oil Products Trading with activity code 4661.91.
With your Refined Oil Products Trading license from Meydan Free Zone, you can trade various oil products derived from refining crude oil and find applications in petrochemical industries. This license allows you to sell various refined oil products, including methanol, urea, olivine, fuels for airplanes and ships, kerosene, fuel oil, sulfur and nitrogen compounds, and heavy products like tar, oil, and wax.
For instance, you can trade methanol, which serves as a valuable chemical in producing formaldehyde, acetic acid, and other chemicals and can also be used as a solvent and fuel additive. Urea, another product, finds extensive use as a fertilizer in agriculture. Furthermore, you can supply olivine, a mineral used in refractory bricks and metallurgical processes.
Additionally, your license enables the trade of fuels designed explicitly for airplanes and ships, such as jet and marine fuels. Moreover, you can trade heavy oil-derived products like tar, heavy oil, and wax, which have diverse industrial uses.
Inclusions
| Product | Example Use |
|---|---|
| Methanol | Producing formaldehyde, acetic acid; solvent and fuel additive |
| Urea | Fertilizer in agriculture |
| Olivine | Refractory bricks and metallurgical processes |
| Fuels for airplanes and ships | Jet fuel and marine fuel |
| Kerosene, fuel oil, sulfur and nitrogen compounds | Industrial and energy applications |
| Tar, heavy oil, and wax | Diverse industrial uses |
Exclusions
With your license as a trader of Refined Oil Products, you are not permitted to sell diesel or gasoline.
Third-Party Approvals – Pre-license
Refined Oil Products Trading in Dubai requires approval from the Department of Petroleum Affairs (DPA) from The Ruler's Court before a license is issued.
4661.93 Jet Fuel Supply Services
Apply for a business license under Other specialized wholesale and choose business activity Jet Fuel Supply Services with activity code 4661.93.
Your Jet Fuel Supply Services trade license from Meydan Free Zone allows you to supply fuel, lubricants, and other similar operational materials to air transport companies.
Third-Party Approvals – Pre-license
To engage in Jet Fuel Supply Services trading in Dubai, obtaining approval from the Dubai Civil Aviation Authority (DCAA) is a prerequisite before a license is issued. The DCAA is the regulatory body responsible for overseeing aviation-related activities and ensuring compliance with aviation regulations in Dubai. This approval process is essential to ensure that businesses involved in jet fuel supply services meet safety, security, and operational standards.
The DCAA assesses various factors before approval, including the company's operational capabilities, infrastructure, safety regulations compliance, and environmental standards. In addition, the authority conducts thorough inspections and evaluations to verify that the applicant meets all the requirements for operating in the jet fuel supply sector.
Once the DCAA approves the business, you can proceed with obtaining a trade license for your Jet Fuel Supply Services from Meydan Free Zone.
4661.94 Fuel Supply Services
Apply for a business license under Other specialized wholesale and choose business activity Fuel Supply Services with activity code 4661.94.
With your Fuel Supply Services trading license from Meydan Free Zone, you can provide fuel supply services to various sectors, including sea and land transport
companies, industrial firms, and power generating plants. This license allows you to supply fuel, lubricants, and other similar materials required for operating machinery and equipment in these sectors. As a fuel supplier, you play a crucial role in ensuring the uninterrupted operation of vehicles, machinery, and power plants.
In Dubai, the business license for Fuel Supply Services is regulated by the Dubai Municipality, which has the authority to establish and enforce rules and regulations governing this sector.
Third-Party Approvals – Pre-license
To conduct Fuel Supply Services trading in Dubai, obtaining approval from the Dubai Maritime City Authority (DMCA) is required before your license can be issued. The DMCA is the regulatory body responsible for overseeing and managing maritime activities in Dubai.
The approval process involves submitting an application to the DMCA and providing all the necessary documents and information related to your fuel supply services trading operation.
4661.98 Diesel Fuel Trading
Apply for a business license under Other specialized wholesale and choose business activity Diesel Fuel Trading with activity code 4661.98.
A Diesel Fuel Trading license issued by Meydan Free Zone allows the holder to resell diesel fuel to various industrial and commercial corporations. With this license, you can buy diesel fuel from suppliers and then resell it directly to industrial and commercial corporations needing fuel for their vehicles, ships, planes, or industrial and marine equipment. However, this license restricts you from reselling diesel fuel directly to customers.
It's crucial to familiarize yourself with the rules and guidelines set by the Meydan Free Zone and other relevant third-party authorities governing the diesel fuel trading industry in your area of operation.
Inclusions
With your Diesel Fuel Trading license from Meydan Free Zone, you can resell diesel fuel directly to industrial and commercial corporations for fueling vehicles, ships, planes, or industrial or marine equipment.
Exclusions
Your Diesel Fuel Trading license does not allow you to resell diesel fuel directly to customers.
Third-Party Approvals – Pre-license
To conduct Diesel Fuel Trading in Dubai, you need additional approval from the Department of Petroleum Affairs of The Ruler's Court before your license is issued. The Department of Petroleum Affairs of The Ruler's Court oversees Dubai's petroleum industry and related activities. They establish and enforce regulations to ensure the safe and lawful trading of petroleum products, including diesel fuel.
4773.57 Petrol Station Equipment Trading
Apply for a business license under Retail sale of other goods in specialized stores and choose business activity Petrol Station Equipment Trading with activity code 4773.57.
With a business license for Petrol Station Equipment Trading obtained from Meydan Free Zone, you have the authority to engage in the business of reselling fuel dispensers, which are used for pumping fuels into vehicles at petrol stations. Additionally, your license allows you to offer various related services, including installation, repair, and maintenance of the equipment you deal in.
As a holder of this license, you can source a wide range of fuel dispensers from manufacturers or suppliers and resell them to petrol stations, automotive service centers, or other businesses involved in fuel distribution. Moreover, your license enables you to offer installation services, ensuring that the purchased fuel dispensers are properly set up at the customer's location. This may involve connecting the dispensers to fuel storage tanks and establishing appropriate piping systems.
Furthermore, you can provide repair and maintenance services for the fuel dispensers you sell. This includes addressing issues or malfunctions over time, conducting routine inspections and maintenance tasks, and ensuring the dispensers are in optimal working condition.
Third-Party Approvals
The trading of Petrol Station Equipment in Dubai does not require third-party approvals.
AML
Anti-Money Laundering (AML) regulations do not apply to business activities Refined Oil Products Trading (4661.91), Jet Fuel Supply Services (4661.93), Fuel Supply Services (4661.94), Diesel Fuel Trading (4661.98) and Petrol Station Equipment Trading (4773.57).
In Conclusion
Dubai's role as a global energy and logistics hub makes oil and petroleum trading a high-value, infrastructure-driven sector. With demand coming from aviation, maritime, transport, and industrial operations, businesses in this space operate at the core of regional and international supply chains, where scale, reliability, and compliance matter at every stage.
Entering this industry starts with getting the fundamentals right. Check your brand name availability using our free company name check tool, and setting up with the right operational support like mResidency and mAccounting, gives you a cleaner path to launch and manage a business in a sector where precision and structure are key.
Ready to start your oil & petroleum trading business in Dubai? Calculate your business license cost now!
