diff --git a/app/controllers/projects_controller.rb b/app/controllers/projects_controller.rb
index e93f34498d6..1d24563a6a6 100644
--- a/app/controllers/projects_controller.rb
+++ b/app/controllers/projects_controller.rb
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@ class ProjectsController < Projects::ApplicationController
   before_action :repository, except: [:index, :new, :create]
   before_action :assign_ref_vars, only: [:show], if: :repo_exists?
   before_action :tree, only: [:show], if: [:repo_exists?, :project_view_files?]
+  before_action :project_export_enabled, only: [:export, :download_export, :remove_export, :generate_new_export]
 
   # Authorize
   before_action :authorize_admin_project!, only: [:edit, :update, :housekeeping, :download_export, :export, :remove_export, :generate_new_export]
@@ -390,4 +391,8 @@ class ProjectsController < Projects::ApplicationController
 
     url_for(params)
   end
+
+  def project_export_enabled
+    render_404 unless current_application_settings.project_export_enabled?
+  end
 end
diff --git a/app/helpers/application_settings_helper.rb b/app/helpers/application_settings_helper.rb
index 6825adcb39f..150188f0b65 100644
--- a/app/helpers/application_settings_helper.rb
+++ b/app/helpers/application_settings_helper.rb
@@ -146,6 +146,7 @@ module ApplicationSettingsHelper
       :plantuml_enabled,
       :plantuml_url,
       :polling_interval_multiplier,
+      :project_export_enabled,
       :prometheus_metrics_enabled,
       :recaptcha_enabled,
       :recaptcha_private_key,
diff --git a/app/models/application_setting.rb b/app/models/application_setting.rb
index bd7c4cd45ea..8e446ff6dd8 100644
--- a/app/models/application_setting.rb
+++ b/app/models/application_setting.rb
@@ -241,6 +241,7 @@ class ApplicationSetting < ActiveRecord::Base
       performance_bar_allowed_group_id: nil,
       plantuml_enabled: false,
       plantuml_url: nil,
+      project_export_enabled: true,
       recaptcha_enabled: false,
       repository_checks_enabled: true,
       repository_storages: ['default'],
diff --git a/app/views/admin/application_settings/_form.html.haml b/app/views/admin/application_settings/_form.html.haml
index a4f49d3f6d7..8bf6556079b 100644
--- a/app/views/admin/application_settings/_form.html.haml
+++ b/app/views/admin/application_settings/_form.html.haml
@@ -48,6 +48,12 @@
         = select(:application_setting, :enabled_git_access_protocol, [['Both SSH and HTTP(S)', nil], ['Only SSH', 'ssh'], ['Only HTTP(S)', 'http']], {}, class: 'form-control')
         %span.help-block#clone-protocol-help
           Allow only the selected protocols to be used for Git access.
+    .form-group
+      .col-sm-offset-2.col-sm-10
+        .checkbox
+          = f.label :project_export_enabled do
+            = f.check_box :project_export_enabled
+            Project export enabled
 
   %fieldset
     %legend Account and Limit Settings
diff --git a/app/views/projects/_export.html.haml b/app/views/projects/_export.html.haml
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..623d3bc91c6
--- /dev/null
+++ b/app/views/projects/_export.html.haml
@@ -0,0 +1,41 @@
+- return unless current_application_settings.project_export_enabled?
+
+- project = local_assigns.fetch(:project)
+- expanded = Rails.env.test?
+
+%section.settings
+  .settings-header
+    %h4
+      Export project
+    %button.btn.js-settings-toggle
+      = expanded ? 'Collapse' : 'Expand'
+    %p
+      Export this project with all its related data in order to move your project to a new GitLab instance. Once the export is finished, you can import the file from the "New Project" page.
+  .settings-content.no-animate{ class: ('expanded' if expanded) }
+    .bs-callout.bs-callout-info
+      %p.append-bottom-0
+        %p
+          The following items will be exported:
+        %ul
+          %li Project and wiki repositories
+          %li Project uploads
+          %li Project configuration including web hooks and services
+          %li Issues with comments, merge requests with diffs and comments, labels, milestones, snippets, and other project entities
+        %p
+          The following items will NOT be exported:
+        %ul
+          %li Job traces and artifacts
+          %li LFS objects
+          %li Container registry images
+          %li CI variables
+          %li Any encrypted tokens
+    %p
+      Once the exported file is ready, you will receive a notification email with a download link.
+    - if project.export_project_path
+      = link_to 'Download export',  download_export_project_path(project),
+              rel: 'nofollow', download: '', method: :get, class: "btn btn-default"
+      = link_to 'Generate new export',  generate_new_export_project_path(project),
+              method: :post, class: "btn btn-default"
+    - else
+      = link_to 'Export project', export_project_path(project),
+              method: :post, class: "btn btn-default"
diff --git a/app/views/projects/edit.html.haml b/app/views/projects/edit.html.haml
index c2794f8aaa8..6178abe9160 100644
--- a/app/views/projects/edit.html.haml
+++ b/app/views/projects/edit.html.haml
@@ -161,42 +161,7 @@
         = render 'merge_request_settings', form: f
         = f.submit 'Save changes', class: "btn btn-save"
 
-  %section.settings
-    .settings-header
-      %h4
-        Export project
-      %button.btn.js-settings-toggle
-        = expanded ? 'Collapse' : 'Expand'
-      %p
-        Export this project with all its related data in order to move your project to a new GitLab instance. Once the export is finished, you can import the file from the "New Project" page.
-    .settings-content.no-animate{ class: ('expanded' if expanded) }
-      .bs-callout.bs-callout-info
-        %p.append-bottom-0
-          %p
-            The following items will be exported:
-          %ul
-            %li Project and wiki repositories
-            %li Project uploads
-            %li Project configuration including web hooks and services
-            %li Issues with comments, merge requests with diffs and comments, labels, milestones, snippets, and other project entities
-          %p
-            The following items will NOT be exported:
-          %ul
-            %li Job traces and artifacts
-            %li LFS objects
-            %li Container registry images
-            %li CI variables
-            %li Any encrypted tokens
-      %p
-        Once the exported file is ready, you will receive a notification email with a download link.
-      - if @project.export_project_path
-        = link_to 'Download export',  download_export_project_path(@project),
-                rel: 'nofollow', download: '', method: :get, class: "btn btn-default"
-        = link_to 'Generate new export',  generate_new_export_project_path(@project),
-                method: :post, class: "btn btn-default"
-      - else
-        = link_to 'Export project', export_project_path(@project),
-                method: :post, class: "btn btn-default"
+  = render 'export', project: @project
 
   %section.settings.advanced-settings
     .settings-header
diff --git a/changelogs/unreleased/disable-project-export.yml b/changelogs/unreleased/disable-project-export.yml
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..d7ca9f46193
--- /dev/null
+++ b/changelogs/unreleased/disable-project-export.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,4 @@
+---
+title: Add option to disable project export on instance
+merge_request: 13211
+author: Robin Bobbitt
diff --git a/db/migrate/20170809161910_add_project_export_enabled_to_application_settings.rb b/db/migrate/20170809161910_add_project_export_enabled_to_application_settings.rb
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..4baba1ade6d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/db/migrate/20170809161910_add_project_export_enabled_to_application_settings.rb
@@ -0,0 +1,14 @@
+class AddProjectExportEnabledToApplicationSettings < ActiveRecord::Migration
+  include Gitlab::Database::MigrationHelpers
+  disable_ddl_transaction!
+
+  DOWNTIME = false
+
+  def up
+    add_column_with_default(:application_settings, :project_export_enabled, :boolean, default: true)
+  end
+
+  def down
+    remove_column(:application_settings, :project_export_enabled)
+  end
+end
diff --git a/db/schema.rb b/db/schema.rb
index 9d3b3ad1826..3206e106552 100644
--- a/db/schema.rb
+++ b/db/schema.rb
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@
 #
 # It's strongly recommended that you check this file into your version control system.
 
-ActiveRecord::Schema.define(version: 20170809142252) do
+ActiveRecord::Schema.define(version: 20170809161910) do
 
   # These are extensions that must be enabled in order to support this database
   enable_extension "plpgsql"
@@ -127,6 +127,7 @@ ActiveRecord::Schema.define(version: 20170809142252) do
     t.string "help_page_support_url"
     t.integer "performance_bar_allowed_group_id"
     t.boolean "password_authentication_enabled"
+    t.boolean "project_export_enabled", default: true, null: false
   end
 
   create_table "audit_events", force: :cascade do |t|
diff --git a/doc/user/project/settings/import_export.md b/doc/user/project/settings/import_export.md
index 35960ade3d4..97cca3007b1 100644
--- a/doc/user/project/settings/import_export.md
+++ b/doc/user/project/settings/import_export.md
@@ -9,6 +9,9 @@
 >    application settings (`/admin/application_settings`) under 'Import sources'.
 >    Ask your administrator if you don't see the **GitLab export** button when
 >    creating a new project.
+>  - Starting with GitLab 10.0, administrators can disable the project export option
+>    on the GitLab instance in application settings (`/admin/application_settings`)
+>    under 'Visibility and Access Controls'.
 >  - You can find some useful raketasks if you are an administrator in the
 >    [import_export](../../../administration/raketasks/project_import_export.md)
 >    raketask.
diff --git a/lib/api/settings.rb b/lib/api/settings.rb
index d55a61fa638..667ba468ce6 100644
--- a/lib/api/settings.rb
+++ b/lib/api/settings.rb
@@ -29,6 +29,7 @@ module API
                                 desc: 'Enabled sources for code import during project creation. OmniAuth must be configured for GitHub, Bitbucket, and GitLab.com'
       optional :disabled_oauth_sign_in_sources, type: Array[String], desc: 'Disable certain OAuth sign-in sources'
       optional :enabled_git_access_protocol, type: String, values: %w[ssh http nil], desc: 'Allow only the selected protocols to be used for Git access.'
+      optional :project_export_enabled, type: Boolean, desc: 'Enable project export'
       optional :gravatar_enabled, type: Boolean, desc: 'Flag indicating if the Gravatar service is enabled'
       optional :default_projects_limit, type: Integer, desc: 'The maximum number of personal projects'
       optional :max_attachment_size, type: Integer, desc: 'Maximum attachment size in MB'
diff --git a/spec/controllers/projects_controller_spec.rb b/spec/controllers/projects_controller_spec.rb
index 8ecd8b6ca71..c0e48046937 100644
--- a/spec/controllers/projects_controller_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/controllers/projects_controller_spec.rb
@@ -578,6 +578,118 @@ describe ProjectsController do
     end
   end
 
+  describe '#export' do
+    before do
+      sign_in(user)
+
+      project.add_master(user)
+    end
+
+    context 'when project export is enabled' do
+      it 'returns 302' do
+        get :export, namespace_id: project.namespace, id: project
+
+        expect(response).to have_http_status(302)
+      end
+    end
+
+    context 'when project export is disabled' do
+      before do
+        stub_application_setting(project_export_enabled?: false)
+      end
+
+      it 'returns 404' do
+        get :export, namespace_id: project.namespace, id: project
+
+        expect(response).to have_http_status(404)
+      end
+    end
+  end
+
+  describe '#download_export' do
+    before do
+      sign_in(user)
+
+      project.add_master(user)
+    end
+
+    context 'when project export is enabled' do
+      it 'returns 302' do
+        get :download_export, namespace_id: project.namespace, id: project
+
+        expect(response).to have_http_status(302)
+      end
+    end
+
+    context 'when project export is disabled' do
+      before do
+        stub_application_setting(project_export_enabled?: false)
+      end
+
+      it 'returns 404' do
+        get :download_export, namespace_id: project.namespace, id: project
+
+        expect(response).to have_http_status(404)
+      end
+    end
+  end
+
+  describe '#remove_export' do
+    before do
+      sign_in(user)
+
+      project.add_master(user)
+    end
+
+    context 'when project export is enabled' do
+      it 'returns 302' do
+        post :remove_export, namespace_id: project.namespace, id: project
+
+        expect(response).to have_http_status(302)
+      end
+    end
+
+    context 'when project export is disabled' do
+      before do
+        stub_application_setting(project_export_enabled?: false)
+      end
+
+      it 'returns 404' do
+        post :remove_export, namespace_id: project.namespace, id: project
+
+        expect(response).to have_http_status(404)
+      end
+    end
+  end
+
+  describe '#generate_new_export' do
+    before do
+      sign_in(user)
+
+      project.add_master(user)
+    end
+
+    context 'when project export is enabled' do
+      it 'returns 302' do
+        post :generate_new_export, namespace_id: project.namespace, id: project
+
+        expect(response).to have_http_status(302)
+      end
+    end
+
+    context 'when project export is disabled' do
+      before do
+        stub_application_setting(project_export_enabled?: false)
+      end
+
+      it 'returns 404' do
+        post :generate_new_export, namespace_id: project.namespace, id: project
+
+        expect(response).to have_http_status(404)
+      end
+    end
+  end
+
   def project_moved_message(redirect_route, project)
     "Project '#{redirect_route.path}' was moved to '#{project.full_path}'. Please update any links and bookmarks that may still have the old path."
   end
diff --git a/spec/features/admin/admin_settings_spec.rb b/spec/features/admin/admin_settings_spec.rb
index c9591a7d854..5db42175c15 100644
--- a/spec/features/admin/admin_settings_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/features/admin/admin_settings_spec.rb
@@ -35,6 +35,7 @@ feature 'Admin updates settings' do
     fill_in 'Help page text', with: 'Example text'
     check 'Hide marketing-related entries from help'
     fill_in 'Support page URL', with: 'http://example.com/help'
+    uncheck 'Project export enabled'
     click_button 'Save'
 
     expect(current_application_settings.gravatar_enabled).to be_falsey
@@ -42,6 +43,7 @@ feature 'Admin updates settings' do
     expect(current_application_settings.help_page_text).to eq "Example text"
     expect(current_application_settings.help_page_hide_commercial_content).to be_truthy
     expect(current_application_settings.help_page_support_url).to eq "http://example.com/help"
+    expect(current_application_settings.project_export_enabled).to be_falsey
     expect(page).to have_content "Application settings saved successfully"
   end
 
diff --git a/spec/requests/api/settings_spec.rb b/spec/requests/api/settings_spec.rb
index c3ed5cd8ece..97275b80d03 100644
--- a/spec/requests/api/settings_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/requests/api/settings_spec.rb
@@ -43,7 +43,9 @@ describe API::Settings, 'Settings' do
           default_artifacts_expire_in: '2 days',
           help_page_text: 'custom help text',
           help_page_hide_commercial_content: true,
-          help_page_support_url: 'http://example.com/help'
+          help_page_support_url: 'http://example.com/help',
+          project_export_enabled: false
+          
         expect(response).to have_http_status(200)
         expect(json_response['default_projects_limit']).to eq(3)
         expect(json_response['password_authentication_enabled']).to be_falsey
@@ -58,6 +60,7 @@ describe API::Settings, 'Settings' do
         expect(json_response['help_page_text']).to eq('custom help text')
         expect(json_response['help_page_hide_commercial_content']).to be_truthy
         expect(json_response['help_page_support_url']).to eq('http://example.com/help')
+        expect(json_response['project_export_enabled']).to be_falsey
       end
     end
 
diff --git a/spec/views/projects/edit.html.haml_spec.rb b/spec/views/projects/edit.html.haml_spec.rb
index 94899e26292..1af422941d7 100644
--- a/spec/views/projects/edit.html.haml_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/views/projects/edit.html.haml_spec.rb
@@ -11,14 +11,26 @@ describe 'projects/edit' do
 
     allow(controller).to receive(:current_user).and_return(user)
     allow(view).to receive_messages(current_user: user, can?: true)
-    allow(Gitlab.config.lfs).to receive(:enabled).and_return(true)
   end
 
   context 'LFS enabled setting' do
     it 'displays the correct elements' do
+      allow(Gitlab.config.lfs).to receive(:enabled).and_return(true)
+
       render
+
       expect(rendered).to have_select('project_lfs_enabled')
       expect(rendered).to have_content('Git Large File Storage')
     end
   end
+
+  context 'project export disabled' do
+    it 'does not display the project export option' do
+      stub_application_setting(project_export_enabled?: false)
+
+      render
+
+      expect(rendered).not_to have_content('Export project')
+    end
+  end
 end