UAE-based Amazon sellers and e-commerce merchants need the right business structure for VAT, banking, and logistics. Here is a guide to the best UAE setup for Amazon and e-commerce businesses in 2025.
UAE Amazon Seller Requirements
Selling on Amazon.ae or Amazon.com as a UAE business requires: UAE trade licence (required to register as an Amazon.ae professional seller), UAE business bank account (Amazon pays directly to UAE bank accounts), and UAE VAT registration if revenue exceeds AED 375,000 (mandatory — Amazon.ae sellers must be VAT registered to sell B2C in the UAE above this threshold). Amazon charges: 15% referral fee on most product categories on Amazon.ae, monthly professional seller fee: USD 39.99/month.
Best Free Zones for Amazon Sellers
IFZA (Best All-Round): AED 7,500+. Wide activity range (e-commerce + product trading + import/export). Good banking (WIO, Mashreq). No physical warehouse requirement. Works well for sellers using Amazon FBA (Fulfilment by Amazon — no UAE warehouse needed). Shams: AED 5,750. Works if your products are digital or you are a service seller. For physical goods: ensure “trading” and “import/export” activities are included (Shams is better known for media activities). Dubai South Free Zone: AED 12,000+. Excellent if you need a UAE warehouse/fulfillment centre adjacent to Amazon UAE’s fulfillment centre (Amazon UAE’s main fulfillment centre is in Dubai South). Direct integration with Amazon UAE logistics infrastructure. JAFZA: AED 15,000+. Port access for large-volume product importers. Best for sellers importing 20ft/40ft containers of products from China, India, etc.