Since the UAE and Dubai are popular tourist destinations, investors from everywhere decide to establish businesses of all kinds. For instance, businesses related to food, services, and many more. The food sector is among the most successful ones and any investor can establish a food company or restaurant. However, a restaurant license in Dubai is required.

In this article, you will learn everything you need to know about the restaurant license in Dubai. For instance, you can learn basic information about it and the required process to obtain it. Besides, any investor willing to establish a restaurant or any food-related business must be aware of this information. Let’s observe:

1. What is a restaurant license in the Dubai emirate?
2. How to set up a restaurant in Dubai efficiently?
3. What documents do you need to obtain this license?
4. The main requirements to open a new restaurant in Dubai.
5. Are there other licenses related to the food sector in Dubai?
6. Learn more about the trade license and the food license.
7. How can Connectfz help you obtain more information about this license?

1. What is a restaurant license in the Dubai emirate?

The restaurant license in Dubai is a special permit that investors can obtain to conduct a food business legally. In this case, the Food Safety Department is the authority that provides and issues this license. However, it is essential to obtain the trade license first. The investor will have to obtain this first license from the DED (Department of Economic Development).

Although it is the main license to establish a restaurant in Dubai, other licenses are necessary too. For instance, the food and safety license is a requirement. The investor can obtain this license under a trade license. And just like the restaurant license, the Food Safety Department is the authority that issues this other license.

If investors desire to open restaurants in Dubai or any other location in the country, this license is necessary. Besides being mandatory, it is also a guarantee that their businesses are legal and transparent. If you are interested in obtaining this license and the other ones that are necessary, keep reading this article.

Remember that the trade license and the food and safety license are first, and then the restaurant license. You can request a business setup partner to help you apply for the license if necessary. In case you don’t have a partner who can help you with this process, then here you’ll learn about it.

Here you can learn everything you need to know about the trade license in Dubai and how to obtain it.

2. How to set up a restaurant in Dubai efficiently?

Opening your restaurant license in Dubai is an easy process. It only requires a few steps to follow in order to complete it. Since the first step is obtaining the licenses that we previously mentioned, here we will show you the next steps. Follow this short guide and you will get your license to run your restaurant effectively:

2.1. Select the most suitable location for your restaurant.

Before you choose a location, you must decide whether your business will be in Dubai mainland or free zone. Therefore, you should first learn the differences between these two options. In Dubai mainland, your business will require a local sponsor. The sponsor will hold 51% of your shares and the owner holds the remaining 49%. Remember that it will be necessary to obtain the approval of the DED authorities.

On the other hand, if you set up your restaurant in a Dubai free zone, things will be different. In the free zones, you can hold 100% of your company’s shares. Besides, a local sponsor is not a requirement to operate a business. Any of the available free zones in Dubai can offer you different advantages for your restaurant.

Right after you choose the most convenient area, you will select a specific locality to establish your restaurant. The most crowded locations are usually the best places for a restaurant or any other food business. Make sure to target the right customers according to the type of cuisine you want to operate.

Here you can learn about the company registration process in Dubai to establish a company successfully.

2.2. Get your business plan prepared.

If you want to create a professional business plan for a restaurant, you must take into consideration several factors. For example, a SWOT analysis helps you develop a good strategy by analyzing strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats. Other factors can be preparing a financial plan, analyzing the target marketing, and more.

An investor should also consider preparing a contingency plan, a market survey, cash projections, break-even analysis, and other details. All of these aspects will help you complete a flawless business plan for a restaurant. And therefore, you will be able to obtain your restaurant license in Dubai. Remember that you can always request help from a business partner to obtain better results.

2.3. Estimate the costs and expenditures.

As a final step to establish a restaurant successfully, you must prepare a favorable financial plan. It will help you spend the necessary resources to complete setting up a restaurant in Dubai. Besides, it will still help you in the future to keep track of your investments and spends.

In other words, you will take control of different aspects that will shape your restaurant. For instance, a financial plan will help you decide the type of restaurant you want, the staff and equipment you need, etc. And most importantly, it will let you know how much the restaurant license in Dubai will cost.

These are some costs that you need to consider in order to open a restaurant in Dubai:

• A trade license (from AED 10,000 to AED 12,000 approximately).
• The rent of the restaurant premises, which varies by location (from AED 60,000 approximately and above).
• The labor and immigration registration (up to AED 8,000 approximately).
• The local sponsor fee (around AED 10,000 annually).

Once you have prepared all these aspects, you will then complete some other simple steps. The first one will be submitting the required documents to obtain your license. If you are not sure what documents you will need, keep reading this article to discover them. And finally, you have to comply with the food code. It is a comprehensive document that establishes the requirements that every food business must follow. This document ensures a world-class food safety system.

Here you can learn some helpful recommendations to establish a free zone company in Dubai.

3. What documents do you need to obtain this license?

Since it is necessary a restaurant license in Dubai to operate a restaurant, let’s see the required documents. Keep in mind that some other documentation might be necessary depending on several aspects. For instance, it could vary depending on the type of restaurant, the type of food, among other details. Let’s see the basic documents you will need to obtain your license:

• The trading license.
• The food and safety license.
• The NOC (No Objection Certificate) from the local municipality of Dubai.

As we previously mentioned, other documents are important to operate a restaurant without having trouble with the authorities. These other permits that could be necessary to run a restaurant in Dubai are these:

• The delivery permit.
• The Ramadan permit.
• The liquor permit.
• The pork permit.

Here you can learn how to obtain a general trading license in Dubai to start operating your company.

4. The main requirements to open a new restaurant in Dubai.

Any investor who desires to open a new restaurant in Dubai must cover some basic requirements. In this case, we will show the main architectural requirements. For example, you need to cover the following aspects:

• All walls, floor, and roof must be washable, fireproof, and non-absorbent.
• The kitchen space should be at least 300 to 380 square feet, in case there is a tandoor. Or it could very well cover 40 percent of the total area of the restaurant.
• There must be a basin to wash utensils, another one to clean vegetables, and another different basin for meat.
• It is necessary to have a drainage pipe at least 2 inches from the wall.
• The ventilation facility should be appropriate and the chimney must be 2 meters higher than the nearest building.
• It is a must to have an acceptable storage facility for all types of food. Make sure to fit the storage area with stainless steel shelves.

Here you can learn important information about warehouse and storage facilities in the United Arab Emirates.

5. Are there other licenses related to the food sector in Dubai?

In case you do not desire to open a restaurant but another type of food business, you have other options. Any investor can open a cafeteria, a food truck, a food delivery service, and many other food-related alternatives. However, each of them will require different types of licenses.

For example, if you want to establish a cafeteria, you need a cafeteria license, which is a professional type license. The Dubai Economic Department is the authority that issues it. In case you desire to know the cafeteria license cost in Dubai, visit their website or consult it with your partner.

Another case could be the home food business. Any investor who loves making food at home can also establish it as a business. But just like in the previous cases, a business license is necessary to accomplish this goal. In this case, it would be essential to acquire a home food business license in Dubai.

There are many other food licenses, permits, and approvals that will be vital for this kind of business. For instance, you can find kiosk permits, food promotion permits, temporary permits, and many more. If you need more information, you can obtain it from the Dubai Municipality authorities on their website.

Here you can learn some other excellent business ideas to set up a small business in Dubai.

6. Learn more about the trade license and the food license.

As an investor, you can obtain your trade license from the DED. The cost of this license could be around AED 30,000 and AED 40,000. As for the food license, you can obtain it from the Food Safety Department, the authority responsible for it.

Remember that you can only obtain the food license after obtaining the trade license first. Besides, you might need some other licenses, such as the food consignment license, the liquor license, among others.

7. How can Connectfz help you obtain more information about this license?

Before you start building your own restaurant in Dubai, you should obtain professional advice from Connectfz. Our team will guide you and help you discover the most efficient ways in which you can achieve your goals. Besides, you will be able to get your license in a matter of time and without going through tedious processes.

With our services, you can get the best packages, competitive prices, and more advantages for your business. In addition, you can request some other services that will your restaurant be more efficient and profitable. For example, we can help you find the target customers and the most convenient place for your business. And when your restaurant is finished, we can help you to make it grow.

Once you have already opened your restaurant, you can request our recruitment services to find the staff you need. Or in case you need help to manage your HR department, our HR consultancy services are available for you. Among other useful services, you can request our payroll services, visa and government services, and many more.

Would you like to contact Connectfz to know more about the Restaurant License in Dubai and other related topics? If you have any questions, call us on +97143316688. You can email us at info@connectfz.ae, and you will talk to one of our representatives who will answer your questions.