How to Sell Cosmetics Online in the UAE in 2026: Registration, Labels, Import Rules and Marketplace Fees

To sell cosmetics online in the UAE you must register each product with Dubai Municipality before you sell, advertise or distribute it in Dubai. The municipality's cosmetics guideline says no cosmetic product may be manufactured, imported, exported, advertised, sold or distributed in Dubai unless it has been registered. The registering company must be in Dubai or hold a warehouse there. This page covers who can register, what goes in the file, label rules, import checks, marketplace fees and the mistakes that delay a launch. Facts are as of October 2026.

Do you need registration to sell cosmetics online in the UAE?

Yes, for Dubai. Dubai Municipality (DM) lists cosmetics and personal care among its regulated consumer-product categories, alongside fragrances, supplements and toys. The same guideline says registered products must be registered before they are imported.

Other emirates run their own local rules. This page is built on the Dubai guideline because most UAE marketplace sellers import through Dubai. If your stock enters or is stored elsewhere, ask the local municipality what it requires and get the answer in writing.

Who can register cosmetics with Dubai Municipality?

The applicant must be a company incorporated in Dubai, or a company with a warehouse in Dubai, with a Dubai trade license that lists cosmetics-related activities.

For an e-commerce company, DM's consumer-product guideline adds three more requirements: a Dubai e-commerce license with a consumer-product activity, an Importer Code, and a designated warehouse in Dubai (free zone). That guideline also says no fees apply to B2C imports from a free zone to the local market for delivery to the end consumer.

If you do not have the right license activity yet, start with what license you need to sell online in the UAE. Pick a retail or trading activity that names cosmetics, not only a general trading scope.

What documents does cosmetics registration need?

DM's published dossier, as of its v2.1 guideline:

1. A Free Sale Certificate from the country-of-origin authority or a recognised body such as a chamber of commerce, valid on the day you submit.
2. An ingredient report from the manufacturer, with chemical names and CAS numbers for chemical ingredients.
3. A halal certificate, but only if the label carries a halal logo.
4. Extra evidence such as organic or vegan claims, clinical studies or a safety assessment if DM asks for them.

DM's e-commerce guideline lists product artwork showing all sides of the pack as part of the file, plus one of a conformity certificate, a manufacturer composition report or a lab report from a DM-approved laboratory.

DM's e-commerce guideline gives a processing fee of AED 10 for registering each consumer product, and each variant, plus AED 50 per container for a consignment release request; it adds an innovation fee of AED 10 and a knowledge fee of AED 10 where a fee is more than AED 50. The cosmetics guideline we read does not state a separate fee or a processing time. Ask DM to confirm the total and the timeline in writing. The step-by-step portal flow is in the Montaji registration guide and the wider rules in cosmetics registration in the UAE.

What must a cosmetics label say?

Label components must be declared in clear English and/or Arabic, so the DM guideline does not require Arabic on the cosmetic label itself. The required items are:

• brand and product name
• manufacturer or UAE agent name, address and website
• country of origin
• ingredients in INCI names
• pack size
• production and expiry dates in non-removable print
• batch number and barcode
• storage and use instructions, intended use and warnings

The guideline bans medical claims, meaning claims to prevent, treat or cure disease, and labelling that is false or misleading. A "treats acne scars" or "cures eczema" line in your marketplace listing is the fastest way to a takedown.

Separate from labels, UAE consumer law says your invoice must be in Arabic, and the supplier may add other languages. See Arabic label requirements in the UAE for the wider picture.

What are the import rules and penalties?

For imported cosmetics, DM's e-commerce guideline sets these published numbers:

DM also states that the company is responsible for the safety of what it imports, must report recalls and damage, and can be inspected and sampled. Heavy-metal limits in the cosmetics guideline are 3 ppm for cadmium and arsenic, 10 ppm for lead and 3 ppm for mercury, with a tighter limit of up to 1 ppm for baby, oral-care and eye-care products.

Customs duty and import VAT are separate. Both are covered in your customs clearance, not in the DM registration.

What do Amazon.ae and noon charge on cosmetics?

Amazon.ae publishes referral fees by category. For Beauty the fee is 8% on items priced up to AED 50 and 15% above that, with a minimum of AED 1, before VAT, as of October 2026. Health and personal care follows the same split.

Worked example, illustrative: a serum sells at AED 120. At 15% the referral fee is AED 18.00. A cleanser sold at AED 45 pays 8%, which is AED 3.60. These are referral fees only. Fulfilment, storage, advertising and returns come on top, and the fee table above can change.

noon's category commissions are on its seller pages; read them on the noon fees guide, noon seller fees explained, before you price. Some beauty brands also need approval first; see Amazon.ae category approval and noon brand approval and gated products.

Aerosols, perfume and some creams count as dangerous goods for couriers and Amazon storage. Amazon.ae says products classed as dangerous goods carry extra inventory storage fees. For fragrances specifically, see selling perfume online in the UAE.

What goes wrong when sellers list cosmetics?

• Listing before registration. Fix: register first. DM's fine is AED 1,000 per unregistered product at import.
• Registration held by the wrong company. The applicant needs a Dubai license or warehouse. A foreign brand cannot register directly without a Dubai entity.
• Short shelf life. Stock arriving with under six months or under 50% shelf life left can be refused.
• Medical claims in the title. Remove them from the listing and the pack.
• One registration for many shades. DM counts variants separately for fees; check with DM how your shades are grouped.

FAQ

Do I need Dubai Municipality approval to sell makeup on Amazon.ae or noon? If the stock is imported into or sold from Dubai, DM says cosmetic products must be registered before sale, advertising or distribution. Marketplaces can ask for proof. Treat registration as a pre-listing step, and check your emirate's rules if you store elsewhere.

Can I register cosmetics without a Dubai company? The DM guideline says the applicant must be incorporated in Dubai or have a warehouse in Dubai, with a Dubai trade license that covers cosmetics. A company with neither cannot apply directly, so brands usually appoint a Dubai importer or set up an entity.

Does the cosmetics label have to be in Arabic? DM's cosmetics guideline requires label information in clear English and/or Arabic, so Arabic is not mandatory on the label under that text. Your invoice must be in Arabic under consumer law. Adding Arabic to your marketplace listing is a commercial choice, not this rule.

How much does cosmetics registration cost? DM's e-commerce guideline gives a processing fee of AED 10 per consumer product, and per variant, and AED 50 per container for a release request, with AED 10 innovation and AED 10 knowledge fees on fees above AED 50. Ask DM to confirm the current total in writing before you commit.

Do I need a halal certificate for cosmetics? Only if your label carries a halal logo. DM says the certificate is mandatory when the halal logo is present. Without the logo it is not part of the standard dossier, though DM may ask for extra evidence on request.

What is the fine for selling unregistered cosmetics? DM's e-commerce guideline lists AED 1,000 per product for importing unregistered or expired consumer products, and AED 500 per non-compliant certificate. Other penalties may apply under Dubai local order rules, so ask DM about your situation.

What to do next

Confirm that your license names cosmetics, collect the Free Sale Certificate and ingredient reports from each manufacturer, and register one hero product before the rest. When the registrations are in, Blooprint, an Amazon SPN verified partner and Amazon Ads Advanced Partner, can run your Amazon.ae account management and noon account management. More set-up steps are in how to start an online business in Dubai.