How do I get my drink into UAE supermarkets and HoReCa?
Start from the channel, not the product. Supermarkets, convenience stores, hotels and restaurants, online and events each want a different format, price and terms. We map which channel fits your drink, what shelf price it can carry, which distributor or listing route makes sense, and what buyers will ask for — product specifications and confirmed shelf life — before production money is spent.
Listings, distributors and reorders are then run as ongoing support, from AED 4,000 a month.
Do I need a UAE company to sell my beverage here?
Yes — a company with a UAE trade licence and food trading activity must own the import. It can be your own company (100% foreign ownership is possible for most trading activities) or a partner acting as importer of record. In Saudi Arabia, an SFDA-registered importer is needed. We explain the options for your case on the free strategy call; this is general information, not legal advice.
How do distributor and retailer margins affect my shelf price?
They decide it. Distributor and retailer margins, 5% VAT, listing fees and payment terms all come out of the shelf price. In an illustration with assumed margins, a 12.00 AED shelf price leaves around 5.60 at the factory gate; real margins vary by chain and category. That is why we build the price backwards, from the shelf to what the recipe and pack may cost.
What is a listing fee, and do I have to pay one?
A listing fee is what some retail chains charge per product (SKU) to put it on their shelves; promotion contributions and long payment terms often come with it. Amounts and terms vary widely by chain. They belong in the launch budget before production. Where it makes sense, we start in channels that pay faster and build the proof the big chains ask for.
Is it better to produce in the UAE or to import finished product?
It depends on the product and the landed cost. Imported goods carry freight, customs duty and port paperwork on every unit; local production avoids part of that and makes "Made in the UAE" exports easier. We compare both routes with your numbers before you choose. Production runs at our own and partner facilities in the UAE, MENA and India — see co-packing.
What does a turnkey launch include?
Turnkey launch, from AED 220,000, covers formulation, registration, a pilot run and packaging design in one project, run by one team. Production runs, materials, government fees and logistics are quoted separately. After launch, ongoing support from AED 4,000 a month covers market, compliance and channel work. You can also hand over single steps instead — see all prices.
Can I do part of the launch myself?
Yes. We build the plan with you, and you choose which steps we run; the rest you do yourself or with people you trust. Many clients keep design or sales in-house and hand over registration and production. The plan makes sure the steps fit together, whoever does them.
Can you help fund my brand?
For validated brands that need significant cash flow to grow, we offer investor access and co-investment — we invest ourselves, project by project. It is not a standard package: it starts once a brand has proof of sales. Read about investors.
Can I launch in Saudi Arabia, MENA and India too?
Yes. Saudi Arabia needs its own SFDA registration — a separate file, from AED 18,000 per product plus government fees, best started in parallel with the UAE one. We plan labels and documents for export from the start. See Saudi & MENA, India ↔ UAE and export from the UAE.
What does the free strategy call give me?
In 30 minutes our launch team maps where your product can sell, which steps you need and what they cost for your product. Come with just an idea; no recipes or confidential details are needed. We'll tell you honestly if it's too early. Paid work starts only when you decide, under a contract with prepayment.
