Agro Commodities from India for UAE Importers and Re-Exporters
Lab-tested pulses, spices, peanuts and sesame, with the label details and origin papers your UAE registration and CEPA claim depend on.
Elysium Agri Corporation is an exporter in Jamnagar, Gujarat. We supply UAE importers with pulses, seed spices, turmeric, peanuts, sesame and millets, loaded at Mundra, Kandla or Pipavav. Every lot is tested at an NABL-accredited lab. If you import from India into Dubai, Sharjah or Abu Dhabi, this page shows how your cargo is prepared.
Buying for the UAE differs in two ways. Each product, and each pack size, must be registered with its label before the goods arrive. And a large share of cargo is re-exported through the free zones. You receive label particulars and documents that fit both cases, whether your goods stay in the UAE or move on.
At a Glance
- Main ports
- Jebel Ali, Khalifa Port and Sharjah; Khor Fakkan and Fujairah on the east coast
- Route and transit
- From Mundra, Kandla or Pipavav. East coast ports are in use at present. Routing and transit are confirmed with each quote
- Food import authority
- MOCCAE (federal, ZAD portal); Dubai Municipality (FIRS, ZADI); ADAFSA in Abu Dhabi
- Label language
- Arabic is mandatory; English may accompany it if the content is identical
- Trade agreement with India
- India-UAE CEPA, in force since 1 May 2022
- Certificates buyers ask for
- Health certificate, aflatoxin and pesticide residue reports, ISO 22000 or HACCP, BRCGS, halal
- Business languages
- English for trade and correspondence; Arabic is the official language
What UAE Buyers Source from India
India is the UAE's second-largest agricultural supplier. These are the lines from our range that fit this market.
Pulses
Green moong, moong mogar, urad, pigeon peas, lentils and green peas. India shipped about US$138 million of pulses to the UAE in 2025.
View details
Seed Spices and Turmeric
Cumin, coriander, fennel, fenugreek and turmeric. India shipped about US$99 million of seed spices to the UAE in 2025.
View details
Peanuts
Bold, java and TJ kernels, blanched, split and in-shell, for trading houses, food processors and re-export.
View details
Sesame Seeds
Natural, hulled and black sesame, cleaned to the purity your buyers specify.
View details
Chickpeas
Kabuli, desi and roasted chickpeas for wholesale, repacking and catering supply.
View details
Millets and Grains
Millets, maize, wheat and flour. India supplies millets and sorghum to the UAE every year.
View detailsWhat Your UAE Import File Needs
MOCCAE regulates food safety at federal level through the ZAD portal. Dubai Municipality and ADAFSA in Abu Dhabi inspect at the ports and approve labels. You, as importer, hold the registrations. Our part is to give you correct inputs early.
- You need a UAE trade licence with a food-trading activity, plus registration on ZAD and your emirate system, such as FIRS in Dubai.
- Each product and its label is registered before import, and each pack size separately. Tell us your pack sizes when you ask for a quote.
- Arabic is mandatory on the label. Bulk bags should carry the same particulars as retail packs: name, origin, net weight, lot number, production date and manufacturer.
- Dates must be printed or embossed on the original pack, never on a sticker. Dried legumes, spices and dry cereals need no expiry date, but must show a production, harvest or packing date.
- Dubai asks for laboratory test results on first-time imports. The NABL lab report for your lot is sent with your documents.
Customs Duty and the India-UAE CEPA
The UAE applies the GCC common external tariff. Most food products are exempt or pay 5% on the CIF value, plus 5% VAT. Under the India-UAE CEPA, qualifying Indian-origin goods can enter at zero or reduced duty when a CEPA certificate of origin travels with the cargo. Raw agricultural products and oilseeds must be wholly obtained in India to qualify. Goods landed in a free zone for re-export do not pay duty. Treatment differs by HS line, so we confirm it for your product with your quote. Estimate your total cost with the landed cost calculator.
Shipping to the UAE: Current Routing
The Strait of Hormuz has been effectively closed to commercial shipping since 28 February 2026. Carriers now discharge UAE cargo at Khor Fakkan and Fujairah on the east coast, outside the strait, and move Jebel Ali cargo onward by bonded land-bridge. For this reason we do not publish a transit time.
- Discharge port, routing and transit are confirmed with each quote, based on the carrier schedule at that time.
- Carrier surcharges and war-risk insurance change often. Your CFR or CIF quote states what is included.
- Loading is from Mundra, Kandla or Pipavav. Plan your quantity with the container load calculator.
Documents UAE Importers Ask For
| Document | Why this market needs it |
|---|---|
| Health certificate | Required for food consignments. Issued by the competent authority in India, it states the goods are fit for human consumption. |
| Certificate of origin | Approved by a chamber of commerce. A CEPA preferential certificate of origin is added when you claim the CEPA rate. |
| Attested commercial invoice | The invoice and shipping documents are attested through UAE MOFA. |
| Label copy for each pack size | Your ZAD, FIRS or ZADI registration needs it before the goods sail. |
| NABL lab report and Certificate of Analysis | Buyers check aflatoxin and pesticide residues against UAE.S GSO 841 and UAE.S MRL 1/2019. |
| Halal certificate | Mandatory only for products with animal-derived ingredients, not for plain plant commodities. |
Why UAE Importers Shortlist Elysium
- Residue and aflatoxin limits: every export lot is tested at an NABL-accredited lab before loading. See lab testing.
- Supplier checks: our IEC and GSTIN can be verified on Indian government portals. See verify Elysium.
- Re-export files: your lot can be followed from processing unit to container. See traceability.
- Independent checks: inspection by SGS, Bureau Veritas or Intertek is welcome before loading. See quality.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do pulses, spices or peanuts need a halal certificate for the UAE?
Halal certification is mandatory in the UAE for meat, poultry and products with animal-derived ingredients. It is not mandated for plain plant commodities. Many buyers still request it. State this in your quote request and we confirm what can accompany your lot.
Who registers the product and label on ZAD or FIRS?
The importer does. You hold the UAE trade licence and register each product and each pack size before import. We supply the product specification, label particulars and supporting documents that you upload for that registration.
Will my shipment qualify for the CEPA duty rate?
Many Indian-origin goods enter the UAE at zero or reduced duty under CEPA when a CEPA certificate of origin is presented. The rate depends on your HS line. We confirm the treatment of your product with your quote, and you should check it with your customs broker.
Can you still deliver to Jebel Ali?
Carriers currently discharge UAE cargo at Khor Fakkan or Fujairah and move Jebel Ali cargo by bonded land-bridge. The options change with carrier schedules. We confirm the discharge port, routing and expected transit in writing with each quote.
We re-export from a UAE free zone. Can the documents reflect that?
Yes. Goods landed in a free zone for re-export do not pay UAE duty. Tell us the final destination country when you request a quote, so that bag markings, lab test scope and the certificate of origin match the market where the goods are sold.
Last reviewed: October 2026