Export to United Arab Emirates
यूएई को निर्यात
The easiest first export market for most Indian MSMEs — short transit, Indian buyer community, and duty concessions under CEPA.
Market snapshot
Trade agreementIndia–UAE CEPA — use the CEPA certificate of origin to claim the benefit.
Duty treatmentConcessional or nil on a large share of lines under India–UAE CEPA.
Transit timeSea 4–7 days · Air 3–4 hours
What India sells mostFood & agri · Jewellery · Building material · Textiles · Auto parts
Documents your shipment needs
CEPA certificate of originWithout it your buyer pays full duty and blames you.
Attested invoiceSome categories still need chamber attestation.
Halal certificateMandatory for meat and many processed food lines.
Bill of lading with correct consigneeFree-zone and mainland consignees are treated differently.
Delivery order / import declaration dataYour buyer files on Dubai Trade from your documents.
Certificates you must arrange
CEPA / preferential origin certificateIssued on the DGFT CoO portal against the correct origin criterion.
ESMA / ECAS conformityElectricals, toys and building products need an approved conformity certificate.
Halal slaughter & product certificateOnly from a UAE-recognised Indian certifying body.
Health / phytosanitary certificateFood and plant products — issued by the competent Indian authority.
Food label assessmentMunicipality label approval before retail sale.
Compliance and labelling rules in United Arab Emirates
Arabic + English labellingIngredients, origin, production and expiry dates in Arabic on retail packs.
Shelf-life ruleFood must arrive with most of its declared life remaining.
Product registration (FIRS/ZAD)Packaged food items are registered before first import.
VAT on import5% VAT applies; your invoice details drive your buyer's filing.
Restricted goods clearanceCosmetics, medical devices and telecom items need prior approval.
Legal and contract points before you ship
Buyer entity checkVerify trade licence and whether they are free-zone or mainland.
Agency / distributor agreementRegistered agency rights are hard to cancel — go non-exclusive first.
Payment termsCheque-based local practice is risky; use LC or advance for new buyers.
Dispute forumChoose DIFC/DIAC arbitration or Indian courts, in writing.
Re-export chainIf goods move onward, origin evidence must survive the re-export.
Where shipments to United Arab Emirates usually get stuck
- Arabic labelling for retail food packs.
- Free-zone vs mainland buyer changes the paperwork.
- Shelf-life rules: food must arrive with most of its life remaining.
- Wrong origin criterion on the CEPA certificate voids the duty saving.
Our retired customs officers check every one of these before your file is submitted.
Other markets
Shipping to United Arab Emirates soon?
Send us the order and your documents — an ex-customs officer reviews the file before it is filed.
Start the export check →