How to Sell Food, Beverages, and Tobacco in the UAE?

Author: Hanoof Al Naama
Published: March 14, 2024

Overview

The sale of food, beverages, and tobacco refers to the commercial activity involving the exchange of goods in these categories. This includes the sale of various food items such as groceries, snacks, prepared meals, beverages such as soft drinks, and tobacco products like cigarettes and cigars. These goods are typically sold through various retail outlets such as supermarkets, convenience stores, restaurants, bars, and specialized tobacco shops.

Business Activities for Food, Beverages, and Tobacco in the UAE

The following business activities fall under the food, beverages, and tobacco sector in the UAE:

4630. Wholesale of Food and Beverages

Description

The wholesale of food and beverages refers to purchasing large quantities of food and beverage products from manufacturers or producers at discounted prices and then selling these products in bulk to retailers, restaurants, catering companies, hotels, and other businesses. Wholesale distributors typically operate large warehouses or distribution centers where they store and manage inventory before distributing it to customers.

What You Can Do

Wholesale of fruit and vegetables
Wholesale of dairy products
Wholesale of eggs and egg products
Wholesale of edible oils and fats of animal or vegetable origin
Wholesale of meat and meat products
Wholesale of fishery products
Wholesale of sugar, chocolate, and sugar confectionery
Wholesale of bakery products
Wholesale of beverages
Wholesale of coffee, tea, cocoa, and spices
Wholesale of tobacco products
Wholesale of feed for pet animals

Other Requirements

Third-party approval: Selling food and beverages in bulk may require approvals from the relevant authorities after obtaining the business license.

Filing of Economic Substance Return: This business activity is exempt from this requirement.

Anti-money laundering compliance: This business activity is exempt from this requirement.

4721. Retail Sale of Food in Specialized Stores

Description

The retail sale of food in specialized stores refers to the selling of food products through establishments that specialize primarily in food items. These stores may include various formats such as supermarkets, grocery stores, convenience stores, gourmet food shops, health food stores, and specialty food stores. They typically offer a wide range of food products including fresh produce, meat, dairy, bakery items, canned goods, frozen foods, snacks, beverages, and specialty items catering to specific dietary needs or preferences.

What You Can Do

Retail sale of any of the following types of goods:

Fresh or preserved fruit and vegetables
Dairy products and eggs
Meat and meat products (including poultry)
Fish, other seafood, and products thereof
Bakery products
Sugar confectionery
Other food products

What You Can't Do

Manufacturing of bakery products, i.e. baking on premises

Other Requirements

Third-party approval: Selling food and beverages in bulk may require approvals from the relevant authorities after obtaining the business license.

Filing of Economic Substance Return: This business activity is exempt from this requirement.

Anti-money laundering compliance: This business activity is exempt from this requirement.

4722. Retail Sale of Beverages in Specialized Stores

Description

Retail sale of beverages in specialized stores refers to the commercial activity of selling various types of beverages, such as soft drinks, tea, coffee, and other beverages, through specialized retail outlets. These stores are typically focused on offering a wide selection of beverages, often catering to specific consumer preferences or niche markets.

What You Can Do

Retail sale of beverages (not for consumption on the premises):

Non-alcoholic beverages

Other Requirements

Third-party approval: Selling beverages may require approvals from the relevant authorities after obtaining the business license.

Filing of Economic Substance Return: This business activity is exempt from this requirement.

Anti-money laundering compliance: This business activity is exempt from this requirement.

2825.00 Manufacture of Machinery for Food, Beverage, and Tobacco Processing

Description

This business activity involves the manufacture of specialized machinery and equipment used in the processing of food, beverages, and tobacco products.

What You Can Do

Agricultural and Dairy Equipment:

Manufacture of agricultural dryers
Manufacture of machinery for the dairy industry:
- Cream separators
- Milk processing machinery (e.g. homogenizers)
- Milk-converting machinery (e.g. butter chums, butter workers, and molding machines)
- Cheese-making machines (e.g. homogenizers, molders, presses), etc.

Grain Milling Machinery:

Manufacture of machinery for the grain milling industry:
- Machinery to clean, sort, or grade seeds, grain, or dried leguminous vegetables (winnowers, sieving belts, separators, grain brushing machines, etc.)
- Machinery to produce flour and meal etc. (grinding mills, feeders, sifters, bran cleaners, blenders, rice hullers, pea splitters)

Food Processing Equipment:

Manufacture of presses, crushers, etc. used to make wine, cider, fruit juices, etc.
Manufacture of machinery for the bakery industry or for making macaroni, spaghetti or similar products:
- Bakery ovens, dough mixers, dough-dividers, molders, slicers, cake depositing machines etc.
Manufacture of machines and equipment to process diverse foods:
- Machinery to make confectionery, cocoa, or chocolate; to manufacture sugar; for breweries; to process meat or poultry; to prepare fruit, nuts or vegetables; to prepare fish, shellfish, or other seafood
- Machinery for filtering and purifying
- Other machinery for the industrial preparation or manufacture of food or drink

Oil Extraction and Tobacco Processing:

Manufacture of machinery for the extraction or preparation of animal or vegetable fats or oils
Manufacture of machinery for the preparation of tobacco and the making of cigarettes or cigars, or for pipe or chewing tobacco or snuff
Manufacture of machinery for the preparation of food in hotels and restaurants

What You Can't Do

Manufacture of food and milk irradiation equipment
Manufacture of packing, wrapping, and weighing machinery
Manufacture of cleaning, sorting, or grading machinery for eggs, fruit, or other crops (except seeds, grains, and dried leguminous vegetables)

Other Requirements

Third-party approval: This may require approvals from the relevant authorities after obtaining the business license.

Filing of Economic Substance Return: This business activity is exempt from this requirement.

Anti-money laundering compliance: This business activity is exempt from this requirement.

3312.16 Repair and Maintenance of Food, Beverage, and Tobacco Processing Machinery

Description

The repair and maintenance of food, beverage, and tobacco processing machinery involves servicing and fixing equipment used in these industries to ensure optimal functionality and safety. Technicians inspect, troubleshoot, and repair various machinery components such as mixers, conveyors, and packaging systems.

Other Requirements

Third-party approval: This may require approvals from the relevant authorities after obtaining the business license.

Filing of Economic Substance Return: This business activity is exempt from this requirement.

Anti-money laundering compliance: This business activity is exempt from this requirement.

4711.00 Retail Sale in Non-Specialized Stores With Food Or Beverages Predominating

Description

This class includes retail sale of a large variety of goods of which, however, food products, beverages or tobacco should be predominant.

What You Can Do

Retail sale activities of general stores that have, apart from their main sales of food products, beverages or tobacco, several other types of goods such as wearing apparel, furniture, appliances, hardware, cosmetics, etc.

What You Can't Do

Retail sales of fuel in combination with food, beverages, etc., with fuel sales dominating

Other Requirements

Third-party approval: This may require approvals from the relevant authorities after obtaining the business license.

Filing of Economic Substance Return: This business activity is exempt from this requirement.

Anti-money laundering compliance: This business activity is exempt from this requirement.

4781.00 Retail Sale Via Stalls and Markets of Food and Beverages

Description

This class allows retail sale of food, beverages, and tobacco products through stalls or markets.

What You Can Do

Retail sale of food, beverages, and tobacco products via stalls or markets

What You Can't Do

Retail sale of prepared food for immediate consumption (mobile food vendors)

Other Requirements

Third-party approval: This may require approvals from the relevant authorities after obtaining the business license.

Filing of Economic Substance Return: This business activity is exempt from this requirement.

Anti-money laundering compliance: This business activity is exempt from this requirement.

Additional Resources

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