Do imported cosmetics need to be registered in the UAE?

Yes - cosmetics sold in the UAE generally require product registration with the relevant authority before sale, and other Gulf states have their own procedures. The importer handles registration; always confirm the current requirements with the authority in your emirate or country before you file.

What is the minimum order quantity?

3,000 units per product. You can mix several products in one shipment to build a full, container-friendly order.

Importing Cosmetics into the UAE & Gulf: A Practical Guide for Distributors

Q: Can products carry Arabic labelling?

Yes. Aetos supplies private-label products with labelling in Arabic, English, French or Portuguese, made under your brand name and artwork.

Aetos Cosmetics · Buyer’s Guide · 2026

The Gulf is one of the world’s highest-spending beauty markets per capita — and Dubai is more than a market: it is the region’s trading hub, re-exporting beauty products across the Middle East, Africa and the CIS. This guide covers what UAE and Gulf distributors need to know to source private-label cosmetics from India profitably.

Why Gulf distributors source from India

Proximity and logistics. Short, frequent sailings from Indian ports to Jebel Ali keep freight cost and lead time low — and make India one of the fastest sourcing lanes available to a Gulf buyer.
Formulations for heat and humidity. Radiance creams, vitamin-C facewashes, hair oils, body lotions and soaps formulated to stay stable in Gulf conditions.
Margin on premium shelf prices. Gulf retail prices are among the region’s highest, while Indian manufacturing costs stay competitive — the spread is your margin.
The re-export play. Many Dubai buyers build a brand once and sell it into several markets — East Africa, the wider GCC, the CIS — using the UAE as the distribution base.

The essentials, step by step

1Decide your market: local shelf, re-export, or both

The UAE’s own retail market rewards premium positioning and Arabic-first labelling. The re-export route rewards versatile artwork (Arabic + English, or French for African lanes) and container-friendly assortments. Deciding this first shapes your product list, your labels and your registration plan.

2Understand product registration

Cosmetics sold in the UAE generally require product registration with the relevant authority before sale, and each Gulf state runs its own procedure. Registration is the importer’s step, not the manufacturer’s — plan it into your launch timeline, and confirm the current requirements and fees with the authority in your emirate or country before you file. Ask your supplier at quotation stage exactly which supporting documents they can provide for your application.

3Get the labelling right

Arabic labelling is expected across the GCC — and it is where many first shipments go wrong. Aetos supplies private-label products with labelling in Arabic, English, French or Portuguese, under your brand name and artwork, so your product is shelf-ready for the market you choose. Confirm the mandatory label elements for your market before printing.

4Build a container-friendly order

Minimum order at Aetos is 3,000 units per product, and you can mix products — a skincare line, hair oils and soaps in one consolidated shipment. A focused range of 6–10 products at minimums is the classic, low-risk first order for a Gulf launch.

5Documents and shipping

Every Aetos shipment carries standard export documentation — commercial invoice, packing list and certificate of origin. Confirm incoterms (FOB or CIF Jebel Ali is typical), production lead time and palletisation at quotation. For the full sourcing walkthrough, see our step-by-step import guide.

Aetos Cosmetics at a glance (for Gulf importers)

What: Licensed Indian private-label cosmetics manufacturer (skincare, haircare, personal care, soap)
Labelling: Arabic / English / French / Portuguese — your brand, your artwork
MOQ: 3,000 units per product · mix products into one shipment
Shipping: Indian ports to Jebel Ali — short, frequent sailings
Docs: standard export set with every shipment · raise your registration checklist at quotation

Frequently asked questions

Do imported cosmetics need registration in the UAE?

Generally yes — before sale, with the relevant authority, and each Gulf state has its own procedure. The importer registers; confirm current rules with your local authority before filing.

Can products carry Arabic labelling?

Yes — Arabic, English, French or Portuguese, under your own brand and artwork.

What is the minimum order?

3,000 units per product, mixable into one consolidated shipment.

What documents come with a shipment?

Standard export documentation — commercial invoice, packing list and certificate of origin. If your market requires registration documents, raise the checklist at quotation stage.

Building a brand for the Gulf?

Get the full Aetos Cosmetics catalogue and a private-label quotation — with your market’s labelling and documentation discussed up front.

Request the Catalogue