Key Highlights

• The India-UAE CEPA, in force since May 1, 2022, reduces customs duty on qualifying Indian spice HS codes to 0%, giving you a direct 5% cost edge over non-CEPA competitors in the UAE market.
• You need IEC, GST, FSSAI Central License, Spices Board CRES, and APEDA RCMC before a single spice shipment legally leaves India, with Spices Board CRES fees starting at Rs. 11,800 for new merchant exporters.
• Dubai’s Jebel Ali port channels Indian spices onward to Africa, Europe, and the Gulf, meaning your market reach extends well beyond the UAE’s 3.5 million-strong South Asian diaspora.
• India exported 17.99 lakh tons of spices valued at USD 4,722.65 million in FY 2024-25, up 17% in volume and 6% in value over FY 2023-24, with chili and cumin leading Gulf-bound exports.

How to Export Spices from India to UAE: Licenses, Demand, and Profit Margins

Exporting spices from India to the UAE requires five Indian registrations (IEC, GST, FSSAI Central License, Spices Board CRES, and APEDA RCMC) plus food product registration with Dubai Municipality or ADAFSA before your first shipment, per official UAE government guidelines. 

The India-UAE Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA), in force since May 1, 2022, reduces customs duty on qualifying spice HS codes to 0%, per the UAE Ministry of Economy.

Keep reading this article to learn more about starting your export business. 

Disclaimer: All regulatory requirements, registration fees, customs duty rates, and government scheme benefits in this article reflect publicly available official sources. UAE food import regulations, CEPA tariff schedules, Spices Board fees, and APEDA scheme parameters are subject to revision. Always verify the latest requirements before executing any export shipment.

Why Are Indian Exporters Targeting the UAE Spice Market Right Now?

India exported 17.99 lakh tons of spices valued at USD 4,722.65 million in FY 2024-25, an all-time high, up 17% in volume and 6% in value over FY 2023-24, per Spices Board India. 

The UAE consistently ranks among India’s top five spice export destinations by value, and here’s why that opportunity is growing right now:

• The UAE has a South Asian diaspora of over 3.5 million people who create consistent year-round household demand for Indian spices.
• Dubai’s Jebel Ali port is a global spice re-export hub that channels Indian products onward to Africa, Europe, and the wider Gulf. You’re not just selling to one market. You’re entering a corridor that reaches buyers across three continents.
• Post-CEPA, 90% of India’s total exports to the UAE qualify for zero or reduced customs duties, per the Indian Trade Portal and UAE Ministry of Economy.
• National FY24 export values: chili at USD 1,508.94 million, cumin at USD 700.23 million, per Spices Board India data. Check UAE-specific country-wise figures in the Spices Board annual export PDF.
• The UAE hospitality and food manufacturing sector buys certified Indian spices in bulk for consistent institutional supply year-round.

Is the competition too high for Indian exporters in Dubai? No. You’re competing on price (CEPA gives you a 5% duty advantage over non-CEPA suppliers), quality certification (Spices Board CRES handles this), and delivery reliability. Bulk importers in Dubai buy to repackage and re-export. That’s a market you can enter and win.

What Licenses Do You Need in India to Export Spices to the UAE?

You need five registrations before a single shipment leaves India. Each one is a legal requirement. Skipping even one means your shipment won’t clear Indian customs or you’re violating Indian law. Here’s what to get and in what order.

Can you export spices from India without Spices Board registration?

No. It’s a statutory requirement under the Spices Board Act. There’s no workaround. Here are all five registrations you’ll need:

1. Import Export Code (IEC)—Issued by DGFT. Get this first. Without a valid IEC, no export shipment clears Indian customs. The application is online and takes a few working days.
2. GST Registration—Required for all exporters. It enables zero-rated export invoicing and lets you claim input tax credit on inputs used in your exported product.
3. FSSAI Central License—Issued by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India. It’s mandatory for all food products manufactured or processed for export from India.
4. Spices Board CRES (Certificate of Registration as Exporter of Spices)—Issued under the Spices Board Act at indianspices.org.in. This one trips up many first-time exporters who think it’s optional. It isn’t. Current fees are Rs. 11,800 for new merchant exporters and Rs. 17,700 for new manufacturer exporters, both inclusive of 18% GST. Renewal fees are Rs. 8,850 (merchant) and Rs. 11,800 (manufacturer). As of the time of writing, there are 8,945 registered merchant exporters and 807 manufacturer exporters on the Spices Board registry.
5. APEDA RCMC (Registration-cum-Membership Certificate)—Issued via the DGFT portal. You’ll need this specifically if you’re exporting processed spice blends or value-added products. It also unlocks APEDA subsidies, including the Market Development Assistance scheme.

The Spices Board also requires you to pass pre-export quality testing before every shipment. The test matrix for each spice category, covering moisture content, volatile oil content, and contaminant limits, is published at indianspices.org.in.

What Does the UAE Require Before Clearing Your Spice Shipment?

The UAE’s food import framework is governed by Federal Law No. 10 of 2015 on Food Safety. It states that no food product may be imported into the UAE for the first time without approval from the competent authority. 

The law carries significant penalties for non-compliance, including fines and potential criminal liability for intentional violations, per the full provisions of Federal Law No. 10 of 2015. Here’s your full pre-clearance checklist:

1. Federal Food Safety Law compliance — Federal Law No. 10 of 2015 governs all food imports at the UAE national level. 
2. ZAD system food product registration—Under UAE Ministerial Decree No. 239 of 2018, all imported food products must be registered in the ZAD national electronic system before entering any UAE market. This registration must happen before your shipment, not after it arrives.
3. Dubai Municipality or ADAFSA product registration—In Dubai, your registration goes through Dubai Municipality’s Food Safety Department. In Abu Dhabi, it’s the Abu Dhabi Agriculture and Food Safety Authority (ADAFSA). You’ll need a UAE-based trading license with food or general trading activity to complete this.
4. Arabic labeling — Mandatory under GCC Standardization Organization (GSO) standards. Your label must include the product name, full ingredient list, country of origin, manufacturer details, batch number, net weight, production date, expiry date, storage conditions, and importer details, all in Arabic.
5. Preferential Certificate of Origin (CEPA COO)—Required to claim the 0% customs duty benefit under the India-UAE CEPA. Issued by DGFT through India’s eCoO 2.0 system and submitted with your commercial documents at UAE customs. Without it, the standard 5% rate applies, per the UAE Ministry of Economy.
6. Phytosanitary Certificate—Issued by India’s Plant Quarantine authority. Confirms your shipment is free of pests and diseases, per UAE food import requirements.
7. Certificate of Analysis (COA)—From an accredited Indian laboratory. Confirms purity, moisture content, volatile oil content, and contaminant levels for your specific spice.
8. Minimum shelf life at port of entry—The UAE requires a minimum percentage of total shelf life remaining when your shipment arrives. This is a common rejection trigger, so confirm the current required threshold directly with Dubai Municipality’s food import portal before finalizing your production and shipping schedule.

The most common reasons shipments get rejected at Dubai ports: non-compliant Arabic labeling, products not pre-registered in ZAD before arrival, missing COA, invalid phytosanitary certificates, and missing Preferential COO. All of these are preventable if you prepare your documentation before the shipment date.

How Does the India-UAE CEPA Reduce Your Export Costs?

The India-UAE CEPA, in force since May 1, 2022, is the single biggest cost advantage you have as an Indian spice exporter targeting the UAE. Under this agreement, 90% of India’s total exports to the UAE qualify for zero or reduced customs duties, per the Indian Trade Portal and UAE Ministry of Economy.

Without CEPA, the standard UAE customs duty on spices is 5%. With a valid Preferential Certificate of Origin issued by DGFT, qualifying spice HS codes attract 0% duty. That’s a direct saving you can pass on to price-sensitive bulk buyers or keep as additional margin.

Spices fall under HS Chapter 09: chili (HS 0904), cumin (HS 0909), and turmeric (HS 0910). Black pepper also falls under HS 0904. If you’re exporting spice blends or masalas, note that they typically fall under HS 2103 and may carry different tariff treatments from whole or ground single-ingredient spices. 

Verify your product’s specific tariff line before preparing your COO.

One thing to keep in mind: UAE VAT at 5% still applies to all imports regardless of CEPA. CEPA only reduces the customs duty component, not VAT. Submit your Preferential COO alongside your commercial invoice, packing list, and bill of lading at UAE customs entry to claim the benefit.

Which Indian Spices Sell Best in the UAE and Why?

Based on Spices Board India export data, the top five Indian spices by demand in UAE and Gulf markets are chili, cumin, turmeric, black pepper, and coriander. 

If you’re entering as a first-time exporter, starting as a B2B bulk supplier to a UAE-registered trading company gives you the most direct path in. You skip retail shelf registration complexity, build a track record with a UAE importer, and scale from there. 

The current UAE-specific country-wise export data is available in the Spices Board India annual export PDF.

What Are the Realistic Profit Margins in India-UAE Spice Export?

Your actual margin in India-UAE spice export depends on your spice type, quality grade, export form, and what you negotiate with your UAE buyer. No Indian or UAE government source publishes a per-kg margin benchmark, so the right approach is to build your cost model from verified data points. 

Here’s every cost element you’ll need to account for, with the official source to verify each one:

Three government schemes can improve your net margin if you’re eligible:

• APEDA Market Development Assistance (MDA) scheme — verify eligibility at apeda.gov.in
• DGFT Market Access Initiative (MAI) scheme — verify at dgft.gov.in
• Niryat Bandhu Scheme — mentoring and financial support for new exporters

Eligibility criteria and subsidy amounts change with each annual budget. Always verify current parameters and the DGFT portal before including them in your cost plan.

What Are the Most Common Reasons UAE Customs Rejects Indian Spice Shipments?

If your shipment gets held or rejected at Jebel Ali or Dubai customs, one of these six reasons is almost always behind it. The good news is that every single one of them is preventable with proper preparation before your shipping date.

• Non-compliant or missing Arabic labeling—the most frequent rejection reason. All mandatory label fields must appear in Arabic, not just alongside an English translation, per UAE Federal Law No. 10 of 2015.
• Product not pre-registered in ZAD before arrival—registration must happen before the shipment, not after. Per UAE Ministerial Decree No. 239 of 2018, there’s no exception to this.
• Insufficient remaining shelf life at port of entry—confirm the required minimum threshold at Dubai Municipality’s food import portal before finalizing your production schedule. This one catches exporters off guard more than you’d expect.
• Missing or invalid Phytosanitary Certificate—issued by India’s Plant Quarantine authority; required under UAE food import rules.
• Missing Preferential Certificate of Origin—your 0% CEPA duty benefit is denied and the 5% standard rate applies instead, per the UAE Ministry of Economy.
• Exporting without a valid Spices Board CRES — this is a legal violation under India’s Spices Board Act, not just a documentation gap.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1: Is Spices Board CRES registration mandatory to export spices from India to UAE?

Yes. It’s a legal requirement under the Spices Board Act, not optional. Operating without it is a statutory violation. As of the time of writing, there are 8,945 registered merchant exporters and 807 manufacturer exporters on the Spices Board registry. Apply at indianspices.org.in.

Q2: What is the customs duty on Indian spices imported into the UAE in 2026?

Under the India-UAE CEPA in force since May 1, 2022, qualifying spice HS codes attract 0% customs duty when you submit a valid Preferential Certificate of Origin issued by DGFT. Without it, the standard UAE customs duty of 5% applies. Verify the tariff line for your specific product.

Q3: Which authority registers food products for import into Dubai?

Dubai Municipality’s Food Safety Department manages food product registration in Dubai. For Abu Dhabi, it’s ADAFSA. All products must also be registered in the ZAD national system under UAE Ministerial Decree No. 239 of 2018 before entering any UAE market.

Q4: Do you need Halal certification to export spices to the UAE?

Pure single-ingredient spices don’t carry a mandatory Halal certification requirement under UAE Federal Law No. 10 of 2015. For blended products with compound ingredients, Halal certification is commercially useful and some retail buyers may require it. Verify current requirements via Dubai Municipality’s food import portal.

Q5: Can a small Indian exporter apply for government support for UAE spice export?

Yes. APEDA’s Market Development Assistance scheme, DGFT’s Market Access Initiative, and the Niryat Bandhu Scheme all support eligible exporters with subsidies, mentoring, and market development funding. Verify current eligibility and amounts.

Q6: Does India-UAE CEPA cover spice blends and masalas or only whole spices?

CEPA applies at the HS code level, not by broad category. Whole and ground spices fall under HS Chapter 09. Spice blends and masalas typically fall under HS 2103 and may carry different tariff treatment.

What Should You Do Next?

Getting your five Indian registrations in order is the first half. The second half is setting up the right UAE structure. To legally receive spice imports, complete Dubai Municipality product registration, and open a business bank account that works for trade transactions, you need a properly licensed UAE entity. That’s the step where most first-time Indian exporters get stuck.

JSB Incorporation, based at Regal Tower, Business Bay, Dubai, has helped entrepreneurs set up UAE companies across 24+ jurisdictions, including mainland, DMCC, IFZA, and JAFZA. 

JSB is known for a higher success rate than most setup consultancies, getting clients operational in weeks rather than months, transparent pricing with no hidden fees, and end-to-end support covering your trade license, business bank account, and full PRO services. You don’t have to figure out UAE regulations on your own when there’s a team that handles this every day.

Book your free consultation call today with the experts of JSB Incorporation to learn more.

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