Trade agreement guide
The UAE deal is in force.
Reach buyers who use it.
Since 1 May 2022, most goods made in India enter the UAE duty-free. The UAE is also a hub for buyers across the Gulf and Africa, so one good distributor there reaches many markets.
What changes
What exporters get
from this agreement.
The UAE removes duty on 97.4% of its tariff lines, covering 99% of its imports from India by value.
Most lines became duty-free on the first day; the rest phase out over five to ten years.
Lower duty is not automatic: every shipment needs proof that the goods originate in India.
Sectors named in the agreement's outcomes
Before you ship
Lower duty needs
proof of origin.
Your buyer pays the lower duty only when the shipment proves where it was made. Four steps, done once per product.
Find your HS code
Look up the tariff line for your product and its duty in the UAE schedule under the agreement.
Check the origin rule
Each product has a rule of origin, such as a change of tariff heading or a minimum local value. Confirm your goods meet it.
Get the certificate of origin
Apply for a preferential certificate of origin for India–UAE CEPA on the DGFT certificate of origin platform before you ship.
Keep your records
Your buyer claims the lower duty at import with the certificate. Keep production and cost records in case of an origin check.
Whether a product qualifies depends on its tariff line and rule of origin. Confirm with your customs broker before you quote a duty-free price.
Find the buyers
A trade deal helps
only with the right buyer.
Tell GloballSeller what you make and choose UAE as your market. It suggests the cities and buyer industries where your product is used, checks every company against your product, and shows the proof from its own website and the person to contact.
Every market it suggests shows whether your country has a trade agreement there, whether it is in force, and when an upcoming one starts, worked out for your own country rather than one fixed view.
Find 5 verified buyers freeFAQ
Questions exporters
ask first.
When did the India–UAE CEPA start?
The agreement was signed in February 2022 and has applied since 1 May 2022.
Is every Indian product duty-free in the UAE?
Not every product. The UAE covers 97.4% of its tariff lines, some on a phased schedule, and each product must meet the rules of origin. Check your HS code with your customs broker before quoting a duty-free price.
How do I find buyers in the UAE for my product?
Start with your product and the UAE as the market. GloballSeller suggests the emirates and buyer industries that fit, including distributors that resell across the Gulf, checks each company against your product, and shows the proof and the person to contact. Your first 5 verified buyers are free.
More agreements
Other markets where
India has a trade deal.
India–UK CETA
Applies from 15 July 2026
Read the guideIn forceIndia–Oman CEPA
Applies from 1 June 2026
Read the guideStarts soonIndia–New Zealand FTA
Applies from 20 October 2026
Read the guideSources: WTO Regional Trade Agreements database · Department of Commerce on the India–UAE CEPA. This guide is general information, not customs or legal advice.