A cashew supplier for the UAE has to deliver more than kernels: Halal certification, packs that carry compliant Arabic labelling, and documents that match what the importer registers in the UAE food system. SVC is a Halal-certified Vietnamese processor supplying raw kernels, roasted and salted cashews and flavoured cashews, in bulk cartons or retail packs printed to the buyer’s approved artwork, shipped from Ho Chi Minh.
What can SVC supply to UAE buyers?
- Raw cashew kernels — white wholes from WW180 to WW450, scorched and dessert wholes, and pieces, processed to AFI standards.
- Roasted and salted cashews — including the A grades, roasted and salted with the skin on.
- Flavoured cashews — such as cheese, garlic chilli, wasabi and tom yum.
- Packing — 22.68 kg vacuum bags in cartons for wholesalers and repackers; tins of 10 kg and 11.34 kg; PET jars and pouches for retail, in your design.
SVC holds Halal certification alongside BRCGS, SMETA, HACCP, FSPCA and Kosher. In the 7 October 2026 bulletin, WW320 was US$7.15/kg and A240 US$7.95/kg FOB Ho Chi Minh; current prices are on our price update page.
Which UAE rules apply to imported cashews?
Food imported into the UAE must be registered in the national electronic system, ZAD, before it is handled in the market, under Ministerial Decree No. 239 of 2018. Registration captures the product, its ingredients and its label.
Dubai adds its own controls. The municipality runs the Food Import and Re-export System (FIRS), where each food item and its label must be registered before import, and assesses food labels. A product already registered in ZAD and sold in Dubai does not need to be registered again in FIRS but still needs a label assessment. For supermarket supply, each SKU is registered through Dubai Municipality’s Montaji system and packs need bilingual Arabic and English labels.
| UAE requirement | What the supplier must provide |
|---|---|
| ZAD / FIRS product registration | Exact product name, ingredients, net weight and origin, matching the label and documents |
| Label assessment | Final label artwork, with the Arabic text, before printing |
| Halal | A valid Halal certificate covering the product and the factory |
| Shipment checks | Documents and product that match the registration line by line |
What does the UAE importer need on its side?
The registrations belong to the importer, not the supplier. To import food into Dubai, a company first needs a trade licence with a food or general trading activity and must be registered with the Department of Economic Development and Dubai Municipality. It then registers products and labels before the goods arrive.
At the port, Dubai Municipality performs risk-based inspections and laboratory testing, so the first shipment of a new product may be sampled. Agreeing the product description, label and documents with your supplier before registration is what keeps those checks routine.
What goes on a UAE retail label?
Dubai Municipality requires full disclosure of ingredients on imported food labels, with all information in Arabic as well as English. A retail cashew pack typically carries the product and brand name, ingredients, net weight, production and expiry dates, country of origin and the importer’s details. Cashew is a tree nut allergen, and the AFI specification also requires an allergen marking.
The practical rule: the Arabic and English texts must say the same thing, and both must match the registration. SVC prints to your approved artwork, so the text is fixed before production starts.
Which documents come with each shipment?
Every SVC shipment carries a certificate of analysis and the full export document set: commercial invoice, packing list, bill of lading and certificate of origin, with the Halal certificate and any health or phytosanitary certificates the importer needs. Our export documentation guide explains what each document proves.
On the UAE side, importers typically also need their import licence and customs declaration; agree early who prepares what, so the description on every document is identical.
Bulk cartons or retail packs?
| Format | Best for | What to prepare |
|---|---|---|
| 22.68 kg vacuum bags in cartons | Wholesalers, repackers, food service | Product specification and documents |
| Tins of 10 kg or 11.34 kg | Traditional trade and gifting | Tin size and outer carton marking |
| Retail jars and pouches | Supermarkets and e-commerce | Arabic/English artwork, SKU registration, barcodes |
Retail packs take longer, because artwork, label assessment and SKU registration come before production. How SVC handles your own brand is set out in private label cashew manufacturing at SVC.
What should you know about shipping to the Gulf?
Exports of Vietnamese cashews to the Middle East fell by half in March 2026 after military attacks in the region and were almost completely disrupted by April, according to the Vietnam Cashew Association as reported by Dan Tri International. Before fixing shipment dates, confirm current routing and transit times with your forwarder, and plan buffer stock around seasonal demand.
For the trade route in more detail, read importing cashews from Vietnam to the Middle East, and for Dubai wholesale buying, our Dubai importer’s guide.
How do you start?
For Gulf buyers, the label and the documents matter as much as the kernels. We print to your approved artwork and match every document to it, so registration and clearance start from the same description.
Supplying the UAE or wider Gulf? Request a quotation →
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