Dubai Export to Africa: How UAE Manufacturers Sell (2026)

Dubai and the wider UAE have long served as a place where goods are made, stocked and shipped onward to African buyers. If you run a factory, a distribution business or an export company in the Emirates, Dubai export to Africa is a market where official figures show rapid growth and where the Dubai Chambers actively organise trade missions. This guide is for UAE manufacturers and exporters who want to supply African wholesalers directly. It covers the official trade figures, the Dubai certificate of origin and customs declaration, how to choose a first market, and how to list on Comilmart.

Dubai export to Africa: what the figures say

Gulf News reported on 6 September 2026 that UAE-Africa non-oil trade reached about US$158 billion in 2025, up 41.6% from 2024, and that Africa's share of the UAE's total non-oil trade rose to 15.5% from 10.8% in 2019. In the same report, UAE non-oil trade with Senegal was about US$1.3 billion in 2025, up 24.5%, and with Gabon US$320.6 million, with a UAE-Gabon Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) signed in February 2026. Read it on Gulf News. These are total non-oil trade values in both directions, not UAE factory exports alone, so do not read them as the size of your market.

Dubai Chambers says in an article dated 17 April 2025 (page updated June 2026) that bilateral non-oil trade between Dubai and African nations reached AED 257.7 billion in the first nine months of 2024, that 26,910 African companies were active members of the Dubai Chamber of Commerce by the end of 2024, and that Dubai International Chamber runs seven representative offices across Africa. See Dubai Chambers.

Recent Dubai trade missions to Africa

A Dubai Media Office release dated 20 May 2026 says 19 Dubai companies joined a Dubai Chamber of Commerce mission to Accra, with 276 bilateral meetings across 12 sectors including automotive, construction materials, electronics, consumer goods, food and beverages, packaging and printing, and textiles. It also says Dubai-Ghana non-oil trade rose to AED 39.6 billion in 2025, 60.1% higher than the year before. A release dated 24 November 2023 on the Lagos office says Dubai's non-oil trade with Nigeria was about AED 7.8 billion in 2022, according to Dubai Customs. Our guides to selling in Ghana and selling in Nigeria show what buyers there will check.

Dubai certificate of origin: manufactured here or re-exported

The Dubai Chambers page on issuing a certificate of origin says only Dubai Chamber of Commerce members can apply. The commercial invoice is the primary document, a bill of lading is needed for direct shipments, a copy of the industrial licence and the factory's invoice are needed for UAE-origin goods, and a copy of the transit bill from Dubai Customs is needed for transshipped goods. It says approval follows within two hours of submission if requirements are met, and lists a fee of AED 100 with small extra charges for long invoices and packing lists. The distinction between origin and transshipment matters, because an African buyer or customs officer may care where the goods were actually made. Declare origin honestly and ask your forwarder how your product is treated.

Dubai export to Africa: the customs declaration

Dubai Customs' Submit Customs Declaration service covers movement of goods in and out of the emirate. It lists the invoice, packing list, certificate of origin and any permit from restriction entities as documents, gives export fees as AED 15 to AED 100 depending on the declaration type and shipping channel, and states a completion time of two working hours. It also warns that amending invoice-level goods information can attract a fine of AED 500, so check your data before filing. These details are as of October 2026 and change, so confirm with Dubai Customs, the Chamber or your forwarder.

Which African markets to try first

The Dubai figures above highlight Ghana and Nigeria. The UAE has also been signing Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreements: the Gulf News report names Gabon, and a September 2025 UAE foreign ministry statement on Angola mentions a CEPA. We have not verified the full list or any product-level tariff benefit, so check the UAE government's official trade pages and the other country's trade ministry before you assume any duty advantage. Pick one market and learn its rules, including the labelling language it requires.

Routes, Incoterms and pricing

Gulf-based exporters may be able to offer short lead times by sea or air, but quote clearly. Put the Incoterm and the named port or airport on every quotation, and add quote validity. Our guides to FOB, CIF and DDP and sea and air freight explain the choices, and buyers will add freight, port charges, duty and clearing to your price.

Selling through Comilmart

Comilmart is a B2B and B2C marketplace for Africa. Manufacturers and exporters list products with MOQs and tiered pricing, buyers post requests at /request-quotation, and approved suppliers respond with a quotation from their RFQ board or chat directly with the buyer. Sample orders and live chat are available, and buyer protection holds payment until delivery is confirmed, with a 7-day window. You arrange and pay for shipping to Africa. Comilmart does not handle freight, customs clearance, duties or delivery, and it cannot promise orders, volumes or prices. For supplier payment methods and currencies, ask through live chat or /contact-us.

Frequently asked questions

How big is UAE-Africa trade? Gulf News reported about US$158 billion in non-oil trade in 2025, up 41.6%, as of its 6 September 2026 report.

Who can get a Dubai certificate of origin? The Dubai Chambers page says only Dubai Chamber of Commerce members can apply.

Do I need to show factory documents? For UAE-origin goods the page lists a copy of the industrial licence and the factory's invoice.

Can a UAE company apply to Comilmart? Yes. The supplier application is free and any country is accepted.

Does Comilmart arrange shipping from Dubai? No. The seller arranges and pays for shipping.

Getting started

If you want your Dubai export to Africa to start from a verified profile, visit /sell-to-africa and apply at /apply-manufacturer. The form asks for your company registration number, tax number, a business licence upload, a registration certificate upload, at least two sample product images, your mission, vision and core values, and at least one B2B category. Applying is free, a UAE address is accepted, and the form states admin review takes about 24 to 48 hours. Plans cost $0 (Standard), $99 (Starter), $300 (Verified) or $800 (Verified Pro) per year.