Good news and traps on the India to UAE route
The India to UAE corridor combines good news and traps. The good news is real demand: the UAE's steel industry is scaling up fast and needs scrap feedstock to do it. The traps are that a headline trade agreement does not necessarily cover scrap, that a ban you read about applies in the opposite direction to your cargo, and that a recent change to VAT accounting affects how deals are structured.
This covers general metal scrap, not e-waste. Requirements change, so confirm them before you ship.
Why the corridor is growing
Demand in the UAE is industrial. Emirates Steel Arkan runs electric arc furnaces on a mix of direct reduced iron and scrap, has said it is willing to buy more than 1 million tonnes of scrap a year, and Global Energy Monitor lists its arc furnace output at about 3.25 million tonnes in 2024, up from about 2.7 million in 2020. The UAE is not a top-five scrap destination, but its demand is real and growing, a pattern also visible in the Emirates' re-export role described on the Dubai city page. For the wider picture of who buys the world's scrap, see The World's Biggest Scrap Metal Markets.
India sits on the supply side of this particular route. It is better known as a large scrap importer than an exporter, which is a reason to check the current export conditions for your specific material before assuming a shipment is routine.
On the India side
Register as an exporter with the DGFT
The Importer-Exporter Code framework that governs India's scrap imports also applies to exports. Confirm that your registration covers the specific material category you plan to ship.
Prepare the standard export documents
A commercial invoice, a packing list, a bill of lading and a certificate of origin are the baseline for any international scrap shipment leaving India. Keep the declared material description consistent across all of them.
Check material-specific export conditions
Some scrap categories carry extra conditions or documentation requirements. Confirm current rules for your material with a customs broker before booking a shipment, rather than relying on what applied to a previous load.
Check the live reference price before you agree a rate with a UAE buyer.
Check live pricesOn the UAE side
Match the material to the correct customs code
UAE customs, administered by the Federal Customs Authority and the Ports, Customs and Free Zone Corporation, requires the right commodity code to be declared at entry for each metal category. A code that does not match the cargo is a common cause of hold-ups.
Provide a material composition declaration
Alongside the certificate of origin, UAE customs typically expects a shipper confirmation and a declaration of what the material actually contains. A buyer who has dealt with imports before will usually tell you exactly how they want it worded.
Understand where the VAT reverse charge applies
Cabinet Decision No. 153 of 2025, in force from 14 January 2026, shifts VAT accounting to the buyer on local supplies of scrap metal between VAT-registered businesses in the UAE, and the supplier's invoice must state that the reverse charge applies. It is aimed at the domestic trade, so it matters if your buyer resells within the UAE, while VAT on goods you ship in is dealt with under import rules. Ask your buyer or a UAE tax adviser how your particular deal is treated.
The trade agreement, read carefully
"The India-UAE trade agreement means there is no duty on my scrap, right?"
Not necessarily. India and the UAE have had a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement in force since May 2022, but scrap aluminium and scrap copper were specifically carved out of India's tariff commitments under that deal. The agreement therefore does not lower duties on those materials even though it applies to many other goods. Do not assume CEPA rates apply to your shipment, and confirm the current tariff line for your specific material instead.
This is a good example of why the exact tariff classification matters more than the name of an agreement. A buyer who says the agreement covers it should be able to show you the specific tariff line.
The 2026 UAE export ban: which way does it cut?
In June 2026, the UAE introduced a temporary ban on exports of certain industrial scrap, intended to keep feedstock available for local industry. It was set for four months, to 8 October 2026, and was due to renew automatically unless a cancellation notice was issued. Reports cover iron and steel scrap, copper scrap and aluminium scrap, with copper ingots exempt, and describe an exemption route for shipments under contracts signed before the ban. It restricts scrap leaving the UAE. It does not restrict scrap arriving from India, so it does not block your shipment.
It still matters for two reasons. First, it shows how quickly the regulatory picture in this market can change, and we could not confirm whether it was renewed or lifted after 8 October, so check the current position with the UAE authorities. Second, a ban on exports tends to increase the supply of scrap sitting inside the UAE, which can affect local prices and a buyer's appetite for imports. Both are reasons to keep your pricing flexible on any long-term contract.
Free zone or mainland? A note for regular traders
Many exporters trade with UAE-based buyers directly and do not need a UAE entity of their own. If you plan to trade regularly, it is worth understanding free zone structures. A free zone can offer customs exemptions and simpler logistics, but it can also restrict direct trading with the wider UAE market, so the right structure depends on who your customers are. Take advice before setting one up. For a first few shipments, working with an established buyer is usually simpler.
Where the rules differ for e-waste and hazardous material
General ferrous and non-ferrous scrap does not carry the same transboundary notification requirements as hazardous waste or electronic waste. Keep those categories on a separate compliance track regardless of destination, since the Basel Convention rules require prior written agreement from the importing country. Mixing even a small amount of electronics into a metal container can turn a routine shipment into a compliance problem.
Finding a buyer without a chain of brokers
A long broker chain takes a margin at every step and hides who actually needs the material. Listing on ScrapTrade puts your material in front of verified UAE buyers directly. Each buyer has passed KYC verification, your listing can carry a GPS-verified video, and a deposit is held in escrow until the buyer confirms the material matches the listing, which is worth far more on a long, international shipment than on a local sale.
Neither a trade agreement nor a marketplace removes the need to get the paperwork right, and ScrapTrade does not handle customs, licensing or freight. It adds visibility and a payment safeguard to the deal. If you want to compare how the same exporter would approach a different Gulf-bound route, see Export Scrap Metal: Australia to UAE and Export Scrap Metal: UK to UAE, which cover Australia and the UK. Our guide to The Real Cost of Sourcing Scrap Abroad explains why verifying a buyer online usually beats a flight to meet them.
Ready to reach verified buyers in the UAE?
List your material freeFrequently asked questions
Does the India-UAE CEPA reduce tariffs on my scrap shipment?
Not for aluminium or copper scrap. Those categories were excluded from India's tariff commitments when the CEPA was negotiated, so the agreement does not lower duties on the material itself. Confirm the current tariff line for your specific material instead of assuming coverage.
Does the UAE's 2026 export ban affect shipments coming from India?
No. The temporary ban, introduced in June 2026 for four months with automatic renewal unless cancelled, restricts certain scrap leaving the UAE. It has no bearing on scrap being imported into the UAE from India. Check the current status with UAE authorities, since we could not confirm whether it was renewed or lifted after 8 October.
What is the UAE VAT reverse charge on scrap?
Cabinet Decision No. 153 of 2025 applies a VAT reverse charge, from 14 January 2026, to local supplies of scrap metal between VAT-registered businesses in the UAE: the recipient accounts for the VAT and the supplier's invoice must say so. It governs domestic resales, not the import itself, so ask your buyer how your deal is treated.
Do I need a UAE-based entity to sell there?
Not necessarily. Many exporters trade directly with UAE-based buyers. A free zone structure is worth understanding if you plan to trade regularly, because it offers customs exemptions but can restrict direct trading with the wider UAE market.
How do I find a buyer instead of using a chain of brokers?
Put your material in front of UAE buyers who have passed identity checks, so you deal with the end buyer and not a string of intermediaries. The escrow deposit is released only once delivery is confirmed, and customs paperwork and freight stay with the parties.
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Related reading: Export Scrap Metal: Australia to UAE · Export Scrap Metal: UK to UAE · The World's Biggest Scrap Metal Markets · Export Scrap Metal: US to India