Steps for setting up an Amazon dropshipping store in the UAE

Starting an Amazon dropshipping store in the United Arab Emirates is a business idea with little risk and investment. Use this guide to create your Amazon listings and take advantage of the millions of shoppers that click their way through Amazon.ae every year.

According to ecommerceDB, in 2021, Amazon.ae earned global net sales of USD 520.1 million and ranked as the number one website in the Electronics and Media category.

Amazon's high online traffic lets you start a business without worrying about attracting customers. As opposed to dropshipping on a website you create from scratch and investing in advertising campaigns, piggybacking on Amazon is a relatively simple process.

So, why else should you choose the United Arab Emirates? A high majority of Emiratis shop on Amazon, says research from Pattern, 2022:

• 94% of consumers in the UAE have purchased from Amazon.ae at least once in the last 12 months
• 83% shopped on Amazon.ae marketplace at least once during the previous 12 months
• 67% of Amazon.ae users have an Amazon Prime account

Setting up a dropshipping store on Amazon.ae could be your ticket to ditching your 9-5 or as a project to generate an additional income stream.

1. Register

First, you will need to register for an Amazon seller account. Go to sell.amazon.ae to create an account for the United Arab Emirates.

At this stage, Amazon needs to verify your identity so you can access Amazon Seller Central. This business portal allows sellers to manage their products, sales information, and payments.

2. Create your listings

Once approved, you can begin creating your product listings. Amazon has a strict procedure for listings, which includes checking if your product is classified as 'restricted,' product ID numbers, and brand requirements. Make sure to check with Amazon help pages to see if your products will need authorisation.

How to create a new listing on Amazon.ae

• Log into Amazon Seller Central
• Select 'Catalog' from the menu
• Select 'Add products'
• Search for your product to see if it is already sold on Amazon
• If it's already listed, click 'Apply to sell'

For dropshipping, your products should generally be on Amazon already. Otherwise, you have the option to sell as a private label.

Selling as a private label

This option works for dropshippers that aren't purchasing products from another retailer. Instead, products are purchased directly from a manufacturer, making you the seller of record. Amazon's Fulfilled by Merchant ships the customer orders.

Typical suppliers for this method will be Alibaba or AliExpress.

How to create a product listing as a private label:

• Log into Amazon Seller Central
• Select 'Catalog' from the menu
• Select 'Add products'
• Click 'I'm not selling a product sold on Amazon'
• Select the product category
• To add the product ID, you will need to purchase barcodes (the official provider of barcodes for Amazon is GS1)
• Optimise your listing with good sales copy and photos

Attract more shoppers and increase the conversion rate of your Amazon product listing with these techniques.

Optimise product images

For the main image:

• Use a plain white background
• The product should take up 85% of the photo
• Only show the product for sale in the first image
• Use 1:1 square dimensions (2000 x 2000 pixels)
• Add text to images to highlight main features
• Accepted file formats are JPEG, TIFF, GIF (JPEG is preferred)
• The maximum file size is 10mb
• Use models in additional photos to suggest how customers use the product
• Consider using a professional photographer

Optimise keywords

Use keywords in the title, bullet point USPs, and product description to maximise traffic to your Amazon listing.

For your keywords:

• Compare the keywords used by 7-8 of your competitors on Amazon
• Include the brand name, main product keyword, dimensions, and number of items if more than one, and 3-4 additional keywords in your product title
• It's not necessary to repeat a keyword in your listing that is already in your product title
• Highlight at least 3 main features with bullet points
• Include relevant keywords naturally in the bullet points and product description
• Check your grammar and spelling

Lastly, it's essential to have your VAT information in place for selling in the United Arab Emirates. Non-UAE residents need to register for VAT. Residents of the UAE need to register for VAT if:

• The total value of your products and imports made within the UAE exceeds AED 375,000 during the previous 12 months
• You anticipate that the full value of your products or imports will exceed AED 375,000 in the next 30 days

Use these guidelines to set up an Amazon store in the United Arab Emirates as a way to benefit from earning money online, to add to your multiple income streams, and reach financial freedom.