Starting a tea trading business in Dubai follows a clear path, but it doesn’t need to feel complicated. Most companies move through the same sequence: decide what type of tea trading activity, choose a jurisdiction, reserve a trade name, secure initial approval, obtain your license, set up your facilities, register with customs, and then apply for your visas and open a corporate bank account.
The global tea industry continues to grow, with the market set to surpass USD 300 billion by the end of 2025. Dubai has positioned itself at the center of this movement. The Dubai Tea Trading Centre (DTTC) in JAFZA processed more than 24,000 metric tonnes of tea in 2024 – a volume that reflects how deeply the UAE is involved in blending, packaging, warehousing, and international distribution. With Dubai sitting between the world’s major tea producers and high-demand consumer regions, and with a logistics network built for moving goods quickly, the city has become a natural home for traders looking to scale.
Whether your business focuses on premium loose-leaf imports, private-label blends, or supplying retailers, Dubai offers a foundation that makes expansion far more achievable.
In this guide, we unpack how the industry works here: why Dubai has become a major tea trading hub, what you’ll need to set up, the paperwork and compliance checks to expect, the costs, and the advantages of operating in the UAE. You’ll also learn how Creative Zone can guide you through the process so your setup is smooth and efficient from the start.
Why Dubai is a global hub for tea trading
Dubai is a global hub for tea trading because it combines world-class warehousing, strategic port infrastructure, and the specialised services offered by the Dubai Tea Trading Centre. The city sits between major tea-producing countries such as India, Sri Lanka, Kenya, and China, linking them directly to buyers across the GCC, Africa, and Europe.
Over the years, Dubai has strengthened its position by building a logistics network that moves huge volumes quickly and consistently. Jebel Ali Port and Dubai International Airport provide direct access to hundreds of destinations, while DTTC adds industry-specific facilities like blending rooms, tasting labs, and climate-controlled storage.
What really distinguishes Dubai is the support system around the trade itself. Reliable re-export channels, strong local demand, food-grade logistics options, and policies that make trading easier create an environment where tea businesses can scale with confidence.
How to start a tea trading business in Dubai
Starting a tea trading business in Dubai involves selecting your tea trading activity, choosing a jurisdiction, reserving your trade name and securing initial approval, obtaining your tea trading license, setting up your business facilities and offices, completing customs registration, and applying for visas and opening a corporate bank account.
Step 1: Choose your tea trading activity
The first thing to decide is what kind of tea business you actually want to run. Some traders only import and export, while others get involved in wholesaling, retailing, blending, or packaging. Each path has its own requirements, and the setup can look quite different depending on how hands-on you plan to be. Many businesses start with basic trading and then expand into private-label blends or repackaging once they’re established.
Your chosen activity affects everything that follows – the license you apply for, the space you’ll need, and the approvals the authorities expect.
Creative Zone helps you sort through the options so you pick the activity mix that genuinely fits your plans.
Step 2: Select a business jurisdiction (mainland or free zone)
Next, you’ll choose where to base the business – either on the Dubai mainland or inside a free zone such as JAFZA, DMCC, or Dubai CommerCity. Both routes work well, but they offer different advantages depending on how you plan to trade.
A mainland setup gives you the freedom to sell anywhere in the UAE and work closely with local distributors and retailers. Free zones lean more toward international trade, offering full foreign ownership, rapid import–export processes, and easy access to ports. Some free zones also cater directly to the tea industry. The Dubai Tea Trading Centre in JAFZA, for example, features blending rooms, tasting spaces, and storage built specifically for tea companies. DMCC is another popular choice for businesses that operate across global commodity markets.
Step 3: Reserve your trade name and obtain initial approval
After choosing your jurisdiction, the next move is locking in your trade name and requesting initial approval. This is a simple but important checkpoint. Mainland businesses complete this through the Department of Economy and Tourism (DET), while free zone applicants use their specific authority’s online portal.
Once initial approval is granted, it’s essentially the government confirming that your planned activity is allowed and that you can move ahead with the licensing phase. Nothing is issued yet, but it gives you the green light to continue.
Step 4: Apply for your tea trading license
With approval secured, you can now apply for your tea trading license. This is the document that gives you the legal right to import, export, and trade tea products in the UAE. Many traders pair the main commercial license with supporting activities such as foodstuff trading or tea repackaging, especially if they plan to handle packaged goods or create their own blends.
Most tea businesses choose between a standard commercial trading license, a foodstuff license for packaged teas, or a processing add-on for blending and similar work. Once your paperwork and payments are submitted, the license is issued, and your business officially exists on record.
Step 5: Set up warehouse, storage, or fulfillment facilities (if required)
What you do next depends entirely on how hands-on your operation will be. Some traders store nothing locally and work entirely through third-party logistics partners. Others lease warehouse space to hold stock, run fulfilment, or manage their own temperature-controlled storage.
If you intend to blend, repackage, or touch bulk tea in any way, you’ll need Dubai Municipality approval and a warehouse that meets food-grade standards. Companies without physical stock often choose a flexi-desk setup, which gives them a legal base without committing to long-term space until the business grows.
Step 6: Complete customs registration for imports
Any company bringing tea into the UAE must register with Dubai Customs and obtain an Importer/Exporter Code. This code is your identity in the customs system and is required for clearing shipments, filing declarations, and moving stock across borders.
Mainland and free zone companies both complete this step, although free zones usually provide a slightly faster process because their logistics hubs are built around continuous import/export movement.
Step 7: Apply for visas and open a corporate bank account
Once your license is in place, you can apply for your investor visa and any visas needed for staff or family members. You’ll also begin setting up your corporate bank account. Banks often take a closer look at businesses involved in food trading, so they may ask for extra details – things like early supplier contacts, sample purchase plans, or basic operating information.
This stage can drag out if the documents aren’t prepared in the way banks expect. Creative Zone organises everything upfront and presents it in the format most banks prefer, which helps avoid unnecessary back-and-forth and keeps the process moving at a steady pace.
Documents required for tea trading business setup
The documents required for starting a tea trading business in Dubai include standard company formation paperwork and additional approvals for food trading. Here’s what to prepare:
- Passport copies of shareholders: Used for identity checks and company registration.
- Passport-size photos: For visas and profile creation.
- Trade name reservation certificate: Confirms your business name has been approved.
- Initial approval receipt: Shows that your selected activity is permitted and you can move ahead with licensing.
- Memorandum of Association (MOA): Defines business structure and ownership.
- Leasing agreement or flexi-desk contract: Provides proof of your registered business address.
- Ejari (mainland only): Required for office or warehouse locations.
- Dubai Municipality food trading approval: Needed if you plan to blend, repackage, store, or physically handle tea products.
Tea safety and regulatory compliance in Dubai
It is essential to adhere to Dubai’s tea safety and regulatory compliance standards. These include FIRS registration, labeling requirements, and storage and handling requirements.
FIRS registration for imported tea
Before any tea shipment can be released into the country, it has to be logged in the Food Import and Export System (FIRS). Think of this as the UAE’s main checkpoint for anything food-related. You upload the product details, Dubai Municipality reviews them, and once they’re satisfied, the shipment can move through customs. It’s a straightforward step, but without this approval, your tea simply won’t make it past the port.
Labeling requirements for tea products
Tea sold or distributed in the UAE must carry clear and complete information on its label. Authorities want to see ingredients, where the tea comes from, nutrition details, production and expiry dates, batch numbers, and basic storage instructions. All of that needs to appear in both Arabic and English. The goal is transparency – retailers know what they’re putting on their shelves, and customers know exactly what they’re buying.
Storage and handling requirements
Tea reacts quickly to its environment, so the way it’s stored needs a bit of care. In Dubai, food items have to be kept in clean, organised spaces where temperature and humidity don’t fluctuate. The aim is simple: keep the tea dry and protect it from picking up moisture, smells, or anything else that could affect its flavour.
Warehouses should have good airflow and a layout that keeps tea away from other goods. Operators are also expected to keep routine cleaning and pest-control logs. Because tea absorbs scent and moisture so easily, even a small slip in storage conditions can change the quality of a whole batch. For anyone holding stock in the UAE, keeping these basics in check is part of running a stable operation.
Cost of starting a tea trading business in Dubai
The cost of starting a tea trading business in Dubai varies depending on your jurisdiction, storage needs, and operational scale. Licensing typically ranges between AED 12,000 and AED 25,000 for the first year. On average, here’s what to expect:
- Trade license fees: AED 12,000 to AED 25,000
- Customs registration: AED 500 to AED 1,000
- Warehouse or storage leasing: AED 15,000 to AED 60,000+ per year
- Import and customs duties (if applicable): typically 5%
- Free zone setup costs: AED 15,000 to AED 40,000, depending on the package
- Investor visa: AED 3,500 to AED 6,000
- Employee visas: AED 3,500 to AED 5,000 each
- Emirates ID and medical: AED 800 to AED 1,200
Benefits of starting a tea trading business in Dubai
The six benefits of starting a tea trading business in Dubai are access to global tea supply chains, world-class logistics and warehousing, DTTC support, a strong re-export ecosystem, a diverse consumer market, and 100% foreign ownership.
1. Access to global tea supply chains
Dubai links tea-producing countries with consumer markets across the GCC, Africa, and Europe, making it ideal for re-export.
2. World-class logistics and warehousing
High-volume ports, air cargo connections, and purpose-built tea facilities make operations fast and cost-effective.
3. Dubai Tea Trading Centre support
DTTC offers tasting labs, blending rooms, storage solutions, and quality control services for professionals.
4. Strong re-export ecosystem
Because Dubai is a tax-efficient re-export hub, traders can move large volumes quickly across regions.
5. Diverse consumer market
Retailers, cafés, hotels, and specialty stores create steady demand for premium and specialty teas.
6. 100% foreign ownership
Investors can freely own and operate their tea trading companies in both the mainland and the free zones.
Why choose Creative Zone for your tea trading business setup
Launching a tea trading business involves more than getting a commercial license. You’ll deal with food safety approvals, FIRS registration, labeling rules, and decisions about storage or warehousing. This is where Creative Zone makes a real difference. Our team has been helping food and trading businesses navigate these requirements since 2010, and we understand exactly how the process works in practice.
We help you choose the right activity mix — whether you’re importing, exporting, blending, or packaging — and handle the approvals that come with each one. If your business needs a compliant warehouse, we can source suitable options and make sure they meet Dubai Municipality standards. We also support you with Dubai Customs registration, guide you through logistics choices, and prepare the documents banks typically request when you’re opening a corporate account.
If you need expert support with business setup in Dubai, Creative Zone can take care of the technicalities while you focus on sourcing tea, building supplier relationships, and growing your network.
Ready to build your tea trading business in Dubai? Contact Creative Zone today and take the first step with confidence.
Frequently asked questions
What license is needed to start a tea trading business in Dubai?
You need a commercial trade license with activities related to import, export, wholesale, or foodstuff trading. If you blend or repackage tea, you may require Dubai Municipality’s food handling approval.
Is Dubai a good market for exporting tea?
Yes. Dubai is one of the world’s largest tea re-export hubs, making it ideal for moving tea between Asia, Africa, Europe, and the Middle East.
Do I need a warehouse to trade tea in Dubai?
Not always. Many traders use third-party logistics or free zone warehouses. A dedicated facility is only required if you blend, repack, or handle bulk tea directly.
Can foreigners start a tea trading business in Dubai?
Yes. Foreign investors can own 100% of a tea trading company in both mainland and free zone jurisdictions.
