Somewhere between a fleet operator in Lagos, a dealer network in Almaty, and a wholesaler in Amman, there is a gap that Dubai fills better than anywhere else on earth. Used vehicles are sourced, inspected, documented, and shipped through one of the world's most efficient trade corridors, moving from UAE forecourts to buyers who need them in markets where local supply has never kept pace with demand.
This is not a niche trade. The UAE's vehicle exports reached USD 6.64 billion in 2023, with Iraq alone absorbing nearly USD 1.9 billion of that total. The UAE used car market is projected to nearly double — from USD 20.55 billion in 2025 to USD 39.58 billion by 2031, and export-focused traders sit at the most active end of that growth curve. The structural advantage is simple: the UAE buys vehicles at scale, turns them over faster than almost any market in the world, and operates port and customs infrastructure that makes re-export not just possible but genuinely efficient. UAE non-oil foreign trade hit a record AED 2.4 trillion in 2023, with trade activities making the single largest contribution to non-oil GDP.
For founders, this is a volume-driven business built on sourcing efficiency, inspection accuracy, and tight logistics coordination. Whether you're exporting bulk fleet vehicles, sourcing cars for overseas dealers, or operating as a trading intermediary, operating legally requires the right Used Automobile Trading for Export business license in Dubai.
Used Automobile Trading for Export - 4510.87
This business activity covers the commercial trading of used motor vehicles specifically for export outside the UAE, including the buying, selling, and shipment of passenger cars, light commercial vehicles, and other used automobiles to international markets.
Under this business activity, you can source vehicles from auctions, dealerships, fleet operators, or private sellers, build inventory for export, and manage sales to overseas buyers such as foreign dealers, distributors, or individual importers. You may also coordinate vehicle inspections, condition reports, pricing negotiations, export documentation, shipping arrangements, customs clearance, and delivery through UAE ports to destination markets.
In practice, you might source a batch of used SUVs from local fleet operators for a dealer network in East Africa, purchase auction vehicles based on overseas buyer specifications, consolidate multiple units for container or RoRo shipment, or operate as a trading intermediary connecting UAE supply with demand in price-sensitive international markets where reliability, documentation accuracy, and shipment timelines determine repeat business.
But there are boundaries. You can’t engage in the wholesale or retail sale of motor vehicle parts and accessories, the renting of motor vehicles with a driver, the renting of trucks with a driver, or the renting of motor vehicles or trucks without a driver.
Third-Party Approval:
No third-party approval is required for this business activity.
Anti-Money Laundering Compliance:
Business activity 4510.87 is exempt from this requirement.
