( Trade Journal )
Straight answers for boutiques, resellers and brands buying abayas wholesale: minimums, samples, fabric, pricing, customs and the Ramadan calendar. Published by Dubai Abaya, an abaya manufacturer in the UAE, with every number matching our own published terms.
9 guides
For stock on the shelf before Ramadan 2027, which is expected to begin around 8 February 2027, place the final order and clear the deposit 10 to 12 weeks ahead: between 16 and 30 November 2026. New designs need sampling first, so start them three to four months out, in October 2026. Exact dates depend on the moon sighting.
10 min read
12 checks to run before you pay an abaya supplier: trade licence, spec sheet, named fabric, the minimum, a sample order and payment red flags.
10 min read
Chinese listings start at US$2 a piece, Turkey is next to the EU, Dubai takes small orders. Eight factors compared, and why landed cost beats unit price.
9 min read
The same abaya MOQ of 10 can mean a first order of 10 pieces or 100. How per-style, per-colour and per-order minimums work, with a worked table.
9 min read
Markup is not margin. A worked example from AED 90 wholesale to the shelf shows a 70% invoice margin falling to 39%, and what eats the gap.
10 min read
8 abaya types in one table, from open and closed to kimono, butterfly and farasha, with who buys each. Plus abaya vs jilbab vs kaftan.
10 min read
An abaya has no HS code of its own. Dress, other garment or cloak: in the US that call means 16% or 27.7% duty. Rates checked September 2026.
10 min read
Private label, ODM and OEM abayas compared on minimums, cost, lead time, samples and design ownership, and why woven labels come in runs of 500 to 1,000.
10 min read
The 9 mistakes that cost first-time abaya wholesale buyers most, from skipping samples to late Ramadan orders, with what each costs and the fix.
10 min read
( Quick answers )
For stock on the shelf before Ramadan 2027, which is expected to begin around 8 February 2027, place the final order and clear the deposit 10 to 12 weeks ahead: between 16 and 30 November 2026. New designs need sampling first, so start them three to four months out, in October 2026. Exact dates depend on the moon sighting.
Read the full guideA genuine supplier puts its promises in writing and can prove them on your order. Check that the trade licence name matches the invoice and bank account, get the fabric, the minimum and a spec sheet in writing, ask for photos of your order as it is made and of the packed cartons, and order samples before a bulk deposit.
Read the full guideChina is usually cheapest per piece, with marketplace prices from about US$2, but the lowest prices need 100 to 3,000 pieces. Turkey is closest to European buyers, and one Istanbul supplier advertises no minimum. Dubai suppliers make abayas where they are worn every day and take small orders. Compare landed cost, not unit price.
Read the full guidePublished minimums for wholesale abayas mostly sit at 10 to 12 pieces on UAE supplier sites. Some Istanbul wholesalers state none; some factories ask 30 per style. What matters more is what the number counts: the whole order, each design, each colour or each size pack. Dubai Abaya's minimum is 20 pieces and AED 2,000 per order, in any mix.
Read the full guideYes, for shops that price from landed cost rather than the supplier's price. Halal Times sets a target abaya margin of 50% to 70%. In a worked example with illustrative costs, a 70% margin on the invoice falls to about 55% once freight and duty are paid, and about 39% after fees, returns and post-Eid discounts.
Read the full guideAbayas sort first by how they open, then by the shape of the sleeve and body. The main cuts are open, closed, kimono, butterfly (also sold as batwing or farasha), umbrella, coat and bisht-style. Embroidered and luxury are not cuts. They are finishes, and any of the cuts above can carry them.
Read the full guideAn abaya has no HS code of its own. Woven abayas are usually declared under heading 6204 (dresses) or 6211 (other garments); knitted ones move to Chapter 61. Only six digits are shared worldwide. The heading sets the rate: in the US a polyester abaya pays 16% base duty as a dress or other garment, 27.7% as a cloak.
Read the full guideODM means a factory adapts one of its own abaya designs for you, changing the length, sleeve, neckline or fabric. OEM means the factory makes your design from your pattern or tech pack. Private label is simpler still: its existing design, your labels. Each step up adds cost, sampling and lead time, and gives you more control of the design.
Read the full guideNine mistakes cost first-time abaya buyers the most: skipping samples, comparing unit price instead of landed cost, not asking if the minimum is per style, per colour or per order, buying too many colours and sizes, ignoring fabric names, paying 100% up front, ordering late for Ramadan, the wrong size run, and not checking cartons on arrival.
Read the full guide( Browse by topic )
( Still wondering? )
We reply within 24 hours, and the best questions become the next guide.