How to start an abaya business online in the UAE

Abayas are worn every day in the UAE, and new ones are bought for weddings, Ramadan and Eid. Demand is steady, but the market is crowded, so your designs, fit and service must stand out.

Here is how to start an abaya business online in the UAE, step by step:

1. Choose a niche and a price point.
2. Get a license that lets you sell online.
3. Find a tailor, then approve samples and fabric.
4. Build a size guide based on length.
5. Photograph and film every abaya on a model.
6. Price from your real costs, including VAT and fees.
7. Open an Arabic and English store with easy exchanges, then launch before a season.

Sizing and photos need the most care, because customers cannot try an abaya on before they buy.

Find your niche in the abaya business

Many brands sell black abayas, so give yours a clear reason to exist. Whether you plan an abaya-only label or a wider modest fashion online store, pick one main niche for your first collection.

Decide your price point early, too. Budget, mid-range and luxury abayas need different fabrics, tailoring and photos.

Get a license to sell abayas online

You need a license to sell online in the UAE, even from home or only on Instagram. These are the home-based options, with costs at the time of writing (October 2026).

• Dubai eTrader: the home-based way to start an abaya brand in Dubai, for UAE and GCC nationals living there. It costs about AED 1,370. You cannot open a physical shop with it.
• Tajer Abu Dhabi: no premises needed for three years, about AED 1,115. The Abu Dhabi Media Office says it is open to UAE citizens and residents. Confirm your case on the Tajer Abu Dhabi page on TAMM.
• Sharjah Eitimad: for UAE nationals aged 18 or over who live in Sharjah. Holders cannot hire staff.

Any nationality can choose a mainland trade license with an e-commerce activity, or a free zone e-commerce license. A mainland license usually suits you better if you plan to hire staff or open a showroom. Compare every route in our guide to e-commerce licenses in the UAE.

Production: tailors, samples and fabric

A tailor in the UAE makes samples and changes faster, and you can check the work in person. A workshop abroad may cost less per piece on large orders, but samples take longer. Imports also generally pay customs duty of 5% of the CIF value (the cost of the goods plus insurance and shipping). A sensible path is to start with a local tailor, then look at larger workshops once you know your best sellers.

Samples and a simple tech pack

Give your tailor a tech pack for each design. This is one sheet with the measurements for every length, plus the fabric, colours, trims, stitching details and a sketch. Then:

1. Pay for a sample in your most common length.
2. Wear it for a day: sit, walk, drive and raise your arms.
3. Clean it as your care label will say, then check the colour and shape.
4. Approve one final sample, and keep it as your reference for every batch.

Fabric choices

Quality checks for every batch

• Seams, hems and embroidery are neat and secure, with no loose threads.
• The fabric is not see-through. Hold it up to a window to check.
• The colour matches your approved sample, and every black is the same black.
• The length matches the label, measured from shoulder to hem.

Sizes and fit: how to size abayas for online shoppers

Abayas are usually sold by length in inches, measured from the top of the shoulder to the hem. A clear size guide means fewer exchanges, so link to it from every product page.

Here is an example to start from. Test it on real people, and adjust it to your cut and to the shoes your customers wear.

How to measure (copy this into your size guide)

1. Stand straight in the shoes you usually wear with an abaya.
2. Ask someone to measure from the top of your shoulder, next to the neck, down to the floor.
3. Choose the length closest to that number. If you are between two lengths, choose the shorter one for daily wear.

Easier still: measure an abaya you own that fits well, from shoulder to hem.

Widths, sleeves and custom lengths

For a loose cut, one width may be enough. For fitted or belted styles, offer widths such as S, M, L and XL. Give the garment's chest width and sleeve length in centimetres for each size.

A custom length option, where the customer enters her own measurement, helps petite and tall women. Add the extra making time to the delivery date. If you decide that custom pieces cannot be returned unless faulty, say so on the product page and in your return and refund policy.

Photos, video and product pages that sell

Photos and video

• Shoot every abaya on a model, full length, from the front, back and side.
• Film a short clip of the model walking and turning, so shoppers see the fabric move.
• Take close-ups of the fabric, embroidery and cuffs.
• Show true colours. Shoot in daylight or soft, even light, and avoid colour filters.
• For black abayas, show the finish clearly: matte, shiny or textured.

What every abaya product page needs

Arabic and English

Write every product page, size guide and policy in Arabic and English. UAE rules generally expect product information in Arabic. Have a native speaker check the size guide, because measurement words are easy to get wrong. See how to build an Arabic and English online store.

How to price your abayas: a worked example

Price from your real costs, then compare with similar abayas. Say you make an everyday nida abaya with a matching sheila and sell it for AED 450. You are VAT-registered, and you sell on your own custom-built store.

From the AED 215 left, you still pay for photos, samples, marketing, exchanges, your store and your license. The cost, fee and delivery figures are examples, so use your own quotes.

• VAT: you must register once taxable sales plus imports pass AED 375,000 in 12 months. After that, the prices you show must include VAT.
• Fees on each sale: your payment provider (the company that takes card payments for you) charges a fee on each sale. A custom store adds no platform fee on top. On a platform such as Shopify's Basic plan, with a third-party payment provider, another 2% (AED 9 here) would come off.
• Buy now, pay later: with Tabby, an AED 450 abaya shows as 4 payments of AED 112.50. You are paid upfront, minus Tabby's fee.

Delivery, exchanges and selling across the GCC

Same-day and next-day delivery is common in the UAE. At the time of writing, Quiqup offers same-day delivery in Dubai, Sharjah and Abu Dhabi for orders placed before 1pm. Emirates Post (EMX) advertises next-day delivery to all emirates. Both can collect payment on delivery.

Fold each abaya with tissue in a garment bag or box, so it arrives without deep creases, and add a care card.

Make size exchanges easy: offer another length on unworn, ready-made pieces, and arrange the courier pickup. If one design keeps coming back, fix its size guide.

Selling to Saudi Arabia and the GCC

Abayas are worn across the GCC, and Saudi Arabia is the largest market next door. Before you ship there:

• Saudi VAT is 15%. Saudi Arabia generally waives customs duty on low-value shipments (around SAR 1,000), but VAT may still apply, so check with your courier.
• Couriers such as Aramex, SMSA, Naqel, SPL (Saudi Post) and DHL deliver to Saudi Arabia.
• UAE exports are zero-rated for VAT (0%) when you keep proof of export within 90 days.
• Tabby works in the UAE, Saudi Arabia and Kuwait. Tamara works in Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Kuwait and Bahrain.

Ask a tax adviser about Saudi rules for foreign online sellers. Our guide to selling to Saudi Arabia from the UAE covers prices in riyals, shipping and duties.

Marketing and launching your abaya online store

• Instagram: post reels of each abaya in motion, try-ons on different heights and fabric close-ups. Add a product link to every story. See how to sell on Instagram in the UAE.
• Ramadan and Eid: Ramadan 2027 is expected to begin around 8 February, and Eid al-Fitr around 10 March. Book production early, as many brands prepare for the same dates. Plan with our UAE sales calendar.
• Collaborations: ask modest fashion creators whether they hold the permit the UAE Media Council requires. Partner with sheila, perfume or jewellery brands on gift boxes.
• WhatsApp: expect questions about length and fabric, and reply with your size guide and the product link. Our guide to selling on WhatsApp in the UAE shows how.
• Pre-orders: take pre-orders on new designs to test demand before a big production run.

For the store itself, follow our step-by-step guide to starting an online store in the UAE. If you want it built for you, we design and build your store from scratch for your brand, in Arabic and English, not from a template. A size guide can be one of your 8 custom features, and we set up card, Apple Pay, Tabby, Tamara and cash on delivery. Our Website package costs 7,870 AED a year (see what is included).

Then soft launch to friends and followers, collect your first reviews, and launch publicly a few weeks before a season.

Frequently asked questions

Is an abaya business profitable in the UAE?

It can be, if you price from your real costs and keep stock under control. In one example, an AED 450 abaya that cost AED 180 to make left about AED 215 after VAT, payment fees and delivery. Marketing, exchanges and unsold stock come out of that, so start with small batches.

Do I need a license to sell abayas online?

Yes, even if you sell from home or only on Instagram. UAE and GCC nationals in Dubai can use the eTrader license, Emiratis living in Sharjah can use Eitimad, and Abu Dhabi has Tajer Abu Dhabi. Any nationality can choose a mainland or free zone license with an e-commerce activity.

How do I find a tailor for my abaya brand?

Ask fabric shops and other designers for recommendations, and visit a few workshops in person. Pay for a sample before you agree on a price, and check the finishing. Put the price, quality standard, deadlines and design confidentiality in writing.

What sizes should abayas come in?

Abayas are usually sold by length in inches, from the top of the shoulder to the hem. Lengths such as 52, 54, 56, 58 and 60 inches are common. Add a custom length for petite and tall customers, and widths such as S to XL for fitted styles.

Can I sell abayas to Saudi Arabia from the UAE?

Yes. Couriers such as Aramex, SMSA, Naqel, SPL and DHL deliver there, and Tabby and Tamara both work in Saudi Arabia. UAE exports are zero-rated for VAT when you keep proof of export within 90 days. Check customs duty and Saudi VAT (15%) with your courier or an adviser.