How to Start a Retail Sale of Meat and Meat Products (Including Poultry) Business with Meydan Free Zone

Retail sale of meat and meat products covers the sale of meat, poultry, and processed meat items to consumers from a specialised store.

Unlike a market stall, this is a fixed retail format, typically a butcher shop or meat section built around chilled display, cold storage, and a broader product range that can include processed and deli lines alongside fresh cuts. It is a staple category with steady, non-cyclical demand.

The commercial base is strong. Meat has consistently ranked as the highest-value fresh food category in UAE retail, ahead of every other fresh food segment.^[2]

The country's meat trade infrastructure is extensive, reflected in roughly USD 6.07 billion of meat and edible offal exports in 2024, including USD 385.8 million of frozen bovine meat to a single partner market.^[1]

Food safety regulation underpins the category. A specialised meat retailer must obtain Dubai Municipality Food Safety Department approval before the licence is issued, and all meat and poultry must be Halal certified by an approved body.^[3]

These requirements give consumers confidence and set a consistent standard across the market.

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A Meat Trade Exporting Billions and Anchoring Fresh Food Retail

A Dubai-licensed meat business operates in a market where the UAE exported roughly USD 6.07 billion of meat and edible offal in 2024, including USD 385.8 million of frozen bovine meat to a single trading partner, and where meat has consistently ranked as the highest-value fresh food category in UAE retail.

Sources: UN COMTRADE / Trading Economics (2024), Dubai Chamber of Commerce, Meydan Free Zone, Fresh Meat Products Trading

Who Is This Activity For?

4721.03 - Retail Sale of Meat and Meat Products (Including Poultry)

Activity 4721.03 sits within the broader class covering the retail sale of food in specialised stores. Within that class, this activity is the retail sale of meat and meat products, including poultry, to final consumers.

It covers fresh, chilled, and frozen meat and poultry, and processed meat products such as sausages, bacon, ham, and deli lines, sold from a specialised store.

The activity concerns retail sale in its existing form. It does not extend to slaughtering animals, manufacturing processed meat products, or wholesale supply to other businesses.

Beyond this activity, Meydan Free Zone also supports related licences such as Fresh Meat Products Trading, Meat Shop & Butcher Business, and Food and Beverages Trading.

The retail range covers:

• Fresh, chilled, and frozen beef, lamb, and mutton
• Fresh and frozen poultry and chicken
• Processed meats including sausages, bacon, and ham
• Deli lines and cold cuts
• Chilled display and cold storage retailing
• Halal-certified meat and poultry from approved sources
• Packaged and counter-service meat retail

Service Scope

Fresh & Chilled Meat

Beef, lamb, mutton, and poultry sold chilled from specialised display, the core range of a dedicated meat retailer.

Frozen Meat & Poultry

Frozen cuts and portions offering longer shelf life and broader sourcing, held under proper cold chain conditions.

Processed Meat Products

Sausages, bacon, ham, and similar processed lines bought in and retailed alongside fresh meat.

Deli & Cold Cut Ranges

Sliced cold cuts and deli meats sold by weight or pre-packed, broadening the store's appeal beyond raw cuts.

Halal-Certified Retail Ranges

Meat and poultry certified Halal by Dubai Municipality approved bodies across the full retail range.

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WHAT THIS ACTIVITY EXCLUDES

It is important to note what activity 4721.03 does not cover. Slaughtering animals and abattoir operation is a separate regulated activity, as is the manufacture of processed meat products such as sausages and cured meats.

Wholesale supply of meat to other businesses sits within its own wholesale classification, and selling meat from a stall or market rather than a specialised store falls under stalls and markets retail. Preparing cooked meat for immediate consumption is a food service activity in its own right.

In short: if you are selling fresh, frozen, and processed meat to consumers from a specialised store, you are in. If you are slaughtering animals, manufacturing processed meat, supplying businesses wholesale, or selling from a market stall, you are not.

Licensing & Compliance

Third-Party Approval:

You need approval from the Dubai Municipality Food Safety Department before your business license is issued. All meat and poultry products must also carry Halal certification from a certification body approved by Dubai Municipality.

Anti-Money Laundering Compliance:

This business activity is exempt from AML compliance requirement.

References

[1] UN COMTRADE database, cited in Trading Economics. UAE meat and edible meat offal export data, 2024. tradingeconomics.com

[2] Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry, cited in Statista. Retail sales value of fresh food in the UAE by category. statista.com

[3] Meydan Free Zone. Fresh Meat Products Trading activity guidance. meydanfz.ae

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