How to Start an Import Export Business in JAFZA Free Zone (2026 Step-by-Step Guide)
Key Highlights JAFZA generated $190 billion in trade value over the 12 months to May 2025, a 15% year-on-year increase and the highest figure in the zone’s 40-year history. Jebel Ali Port processed 15.55 million TEUs in 2025 and set a breakbulk record of 630,000 tonnes in October 2025, making JAFZA the most strategically connected […]
Types of Trade Licenses for Export-Import Business in UAE (2026 Guide)
Key Highlights UAE law requires a valid trade license before any import or export activity can legally begin and licenses are activity-specific, covering only the goods explicitly listed on them There are four main license types for import-export businesses: commercial, general trading, free zone, and industrial/manufacturing, each with different market access rules Free zone companies […]
VAT Rules for Export-Import Businesses in UAE: 2026 Complete Guide
Key Highlights Exports from the UAE are zero-rated at 0% VAT under Article 45 of Federal Decree-Law No. 8 of 2017, but only when you hold the correct customs and transport documents. From 1 January 2026, you no longer need to issue a self-invoice when applying the reverse charge mechanism on imports, per Federal Decree-Law […]