How do I check a Dubai supplier?

Verify the trade licence, request references, samples and a video call; start with a small test order.

What are the main red flags?

No licence, prices far below market, pressure to prepay in full, and no verifiable address or history.

Should I pay 100% upfront?

No — use staged payments; full prepayment to an unknown supplier is the top risk.

How do I verify a trade licence?

Ask for the licence number and check it with the relevant UAE authority or free-zone registry.

Is a factory visit worth it?

For large or recurring orders, yes; otherwise a video inspection and third-party check can suffice.

Our Dubai warehouse can receive and inspect goods before shipping, reducing supplier risk.

How to choose a supplier in Dubai and avoid scams: a checklist

UAE8 min read

Dubai is a handy sourcing base, but also a place where it is easy to run into a fly-by-night middleman or a fake. To avoid losing money, a supplier must be vetted against clear criteria. We break down a checklist for choosing a reliable Dubai supplier and the red flags of fraud — before you transfer money and arrange delivery to Ukraine.

Fraud red flags

Red flag	Why it is a risk
100% prepayment only	no leverage if goods are defective or not delivered
No trade license / documents	the company may not exist or be a front
Price far below market	fakes, mismatch or fraud
Rushing the payment	pressure — a classic scam signal
Messenger only, no office	no one to claim against, impossible to verify
Refusing a sample/inspection	hiding the real quality

If you see two or three at once, it is almost certainly a scam. Below is the checklist to vet a supplier properly.

1. Check the license and legal entity

A legal UAE company has a trade license (DED or a free zone). Ask for the license number and check it against the emirate/free-zone registry; match the name, activity and validity.

2. Factory or trader

Understand who you are dealing with: a manufacturer or a trading middleman. A trader is not bad, but the price is higher and quality control weaker; for volume it pays to reach the factory.

3. Request a sample

Before a large order, get a sample — check quality, sizes and contents. Refusing a sample is a warning sign.

4. Secure payment

Do not pay 100% upfront to a stranger. Options: a partial deposit plus the balance after inspection, a Letter of Credit (L/C), escrow. Pay to a company account (not a personal card).

5. A contract with Incoterms and a spec

Sign a contract: exact spec, quantity, quality, timing, an Incoterms delivery term (e.g. FOB/CIF), penalties for defects/delay.

6. Quality inspection before shipment

Arrange an inspection of the lot before paying the balance/shipping (yourself, via an agent or our warehouse). Checking on the spot is cheaper than a return from Ukraine.

7. Reputation check

Reviews, years in business, a real office/warehouse, willingness for a video call and a visit. The more transparent the supplier, the lower the risk.

How we help

Our Dubai warehouse can act as a receiving and inspection point: we receive the goods from the supplier, check kit and quality, consolidate and ship to Ukraine. See the step-by-step buying guide and delivery from Dubai.

Development prospects

The UAE market is getting more transparent (digital license registries, reviews, escrow services), but vetting a supplier stays essential. An inspection warehouse in Dubai removes most of the risk.

Summary

A reliable supplier means a verified license, a sample, secure payment, a contract and inspection. ABU JORJIA will help check goods on the spot and ship to Ukraine end-to-end. Send a request.

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