# Exporting to Middle East — duty, demand, documents and buyers by country

The Gulf is the fastest-moving re-export and consumption hub for Asian and African exporters: GCC states apply a 5% common external tariff on most goods and 5% VAT in most members, and India's CEPA with the UAE removes duty on a large share of tariff lines. Verified buyer records for this region are still being ingested — demand figures below are real; buyer coverage is labelled honestly per country.

Vametra AI tracks 9 Middle East markets, 64 product-market export guides backed by real tariff and demand data, and US$21.32B of measured import demand across the tracked products. Verified buyer records are available for 0 of 9 countries in this region.

## What exporters need to know about Middle East

- GCC customs union applies a 5% common external tariff on most goods, with exemptions for many foodstuffs and medicines.
- VAT is 5% in the UAE, Bahrain, Oman and Qatar (0% on some goods) and 15% in Saudi Arabia.
- India–UAE CEPA removes or reduces duty on a large share of tariff lines — check the preferential rate before quoting.
- Saudi Arabia requires SABER/SASO conformity for regulated products; the UAE requires ESMA/MoIAT conformity for many categories.

## Import demand by product in this region

- Pharmaceuticals (Pharma & Healthcare): US$12.86B imported by the tracked markets, 8 market guide(s) published.
- Basmati Rice (Agri & Foods): US$3.98B imported by the tracked markets, 8 market guide(s) published.
- Engineering Goods & Machinery (Industrial Machinery): US$2.92B imported by the tracked markets, 8 market guide(s) published.
- Cotton Textiles & Apparel (Textiles & Apparel): US$758.37M imported by the tracked markets, 8 market guide(s) published.
- Fresh Vegetables (Agri & Foods): US$394.60M imported by the tracked markets, 8 market guide(s) published.
- Fresh Fruits (Agri & Foods): US$264.78M imported by the tracked markets, 8 market guide(s) published.
- Indian Spices (Agri & Foods): US$88.06M imported by the tracked markets, 8 market guide(s) published.
- Agarbatti & Incense Sticks (Home & Furnishings): US$46.43M imported by the tracked markets, 8 market guide(s) published.

## Middle East markets

### Saudi Arabia

Imports US$3.33B of Pharmaceuticals, applied duty 0.0%–5.0%, verified buyer coverage expanding.
- Pharmaceuticals: https://vametra.com/export/pharmaceuticals/to/saudi-arabia
- Basmati Rice: https://vametra.com/export/basmati-rice/to/saudi-arabia
- Engineering Goods & Machinery: https://vametra.com/export/engineering-machinery/to/saudi-arabia
- Cotton Textiles & Apparel: https://vametra.com/export/cotton-textiles/to/saudi-arabia

### United Arab Emirates

Imports US$2.13B of Pharmaceuticals, applied duty 0.0%–5.0%, verified buyer coverage expanding.
- Pharmaceuticals: https://vametra.com/export/pharmaceuticals/to/uae
- Basmati Rice: https://vametra.com/export/basmati-rice/to/uae
- Engineering Goods & Machinery: https://vametra.com/export/engineering-machinery/to/uae
- Cotton Textiles & Apparel: https://vametra.com/export/cotton-textiles/to/uae

### Egypt

Imports US$1.92B of Pharmaceuticals, applied duty 0.0%–45.0%, verified buyer coverage expanding.
- Pharmaceuticals: https://vametra.com/export/pharmaceuticals/to/egypt
- Engineering Goods & Machinery: https://vametra.com/export/engineering-machinery/to/egypt
- Basmati Rice: https://vametra.com/export/basmati-rice/to/egypt
- Cotton Textiles & Apparel: https://vametra.com/export/cotton-textiles/to/egypt

### Turkey

Imports US$1.91B of Pharmaceuticals, applied duty 0.0%–49.5%, verified buyer coverage expanding.
- Pharmaceuticals: https://vametra.com/export/pharmaceuticals/to/turkey
- Engineering Goods & Machinery: https://vametra.com/export/engineering-machinery/to/turkey
- Cotton Textiles & Apparel: https://vametra.com/export/cotton-textiles/to/turkey
- Basmati Rice: https://vametra.com/export/basmati-rice/to/turkey

### Israel

Imports US$1.49B of Pharmaceuticals, applied duty 0.0%–12.0%, verified buyer coverage expanding.
- Pharmaceuticals: https://vametra.com/export/pharmaceuticals/to/israel
- Basmati Rice: https://vametra.com/export/basmati-rice/to/israel
- Engineering Goods & Machinery: https://vametra.com/export/engineering-machinery/to/israel
- Cotton Textiles & Apparel: https://vametra.com/export/cotton-textiles/to/israel

### Kuwait

Imports US$1.12B of Pharmaceuticals, applied duty 0.0%–5.0%, verified buyer coverage expanding.
- Pharmaceuticals: https://vametra.com/export/pharmaceuticals/to/kuwait
- Basmati Rice: https://vametra.com/export/basmati-rice/to/kuwait
- Fresh Vegetables: https://vametra.com/export/fresh-vegetables/to/kuwait
- Engineering Goods & Machinery: https://vametra.com/export/engineering-machinery/to/kuwait

### Qatar

Imports US$502.13M of Pharmaceuticals, applied duty 0.0%–5.0%, verified buyer coverage expanding.
- Pharmaceuticals: https://vametra.com/export/pharmaceuticals/to/qatar
- Basmati Rice: https://vametra.com/export/basmati-rice/to/qatar
- Engineering Goods & Machinery: https://vametra.com/export/engineering-machinery/to/qatar
- Fresh Vegetables: https://vametra.com/export/fresh-vegetables/to/qatar

### Oman

Imports US$295.23M of Basmati Rice, applied duty 0.0%–5.0%, verified buyer coverage expanding.
- Basmati Rice: https://vametra.com/export/basmati-rice/to/oman
- Pharmaceuticals: https://vametra.com/export/pharmaceuticals/to/oman
- Engineering Goods & Machinery: https://vametra.com/export/engineering-machinery/to/oman
- Fresh Vegetables: https://vametra.com/export/fresh-vegetables/to/oman

### Bahrain

Imports US$265.10M of Pharmaceuticals, verified buyer coverage expanding.

## Data sources

- World Bank WITS / UNCTAD TRAINS (as of 2026-10-09) — import duty
- OEC World (CEPII BACI / UN Comtrade) (as of 2026-10-09) — import demand
- Vametra Verified Buyer Intelligence (VBIE) (as of 2026-10-09) — buyers

Disclaimer: Tariff and demand figures carry the reporting year of their source and can lag the current year. Verified buyer coverage differs by country and is stated per country below — where it reads 'coverage expanding' we hold no screened records for that market yet. Confirm duty and compliance in the destination's own tariff schedule before contracting.

## Source
Vametra AI — https://vametra.com/regions/middle-east