The UAE has a diverse population of over 11 million Emirati nationals and foreign residents. Especially, the growing tourism appeal of Dubai is creating the demand for the professional cooking and serving. Therefore, you can use your hoteling and culinary management experience to start a restaurant in Dubai.
With a passion for cooking, you can become the next master chef in the UAE. Particularly, Dubai indeed requires the food loving entrepreneurial minds to foster new opportunities. You can choose between casual or fine dining options, depending on your skills, budget, and target audience.
Going through the licensing requirements of a new company setup in the UAE can get a little intimidating. This comprehensive guide will enlighten the investors with the knowledge to enter the food-service industry. Keep reading as with this complete information, you can convert your restaurant dream into a reality in Dubai.
Process to register a restaurant business in Dubai
For venturing into the food-service segment, you have to register your restaurant business in Dubai. It needs vigilant planning and adherence to the regulatory requirements. Following are the key steps of this procedure for entrepreneurs having a craze for culinary investment.
- Choose legal structure of business
- Decide business name
- Get an NOC from Dubai Municipality
- Rent space for restaurant
- Submit application to the DED
- Acquire additional regulatory approvals
- Obtain the trade license from DED
Necessary documents for restaurant licensing in Dubai
These are legal documents for licensing a restaurant business in Dubai.
- Valid passports of the owner
- Copies of the visa of all shareholders
- Business plan for the restaurant
- MoA detailing the partnership information
- Ejari/lease agreement of the restaurant space
- Floor plan of the restaurant premises
- Health certificates of food products handlers
Types of activities for restaurants in Dubai
You can choose from these types of activities for your restaurant in Dubai.
- Restaurant and coffee shop
- Floating/moving restaurant
- Mini store and restaurant
- Multi restaurants center
Kinds of restaurant businesses in Dubai
The United Arab Emirates fosters a multi-dimensional culinary experience. Foreign investors have various options available to get high rewards. These are some kinds of the restaurant businesses in Dubai.
- Full-service restaurants
- Fine dining restaurants
- Casual dining restaurants
- Fast casual restaurants
- Ethnic restaurants
- Theme restaurants
Let’s have a brief overview of these classifications of the restaurant businesses in Dubai, UAE.
Top areas for establishing restaurants in Dubai
Picking a right location is a major factor in the success of your business. People in commercial centers, markets, industrial areas, and residential blocks have a great demand for eateries. You can look into the following areas with high customer footfalls for beginning a restaurant business in Dubai.
- Downtown Dubai
- Jumeirah
- Dubai Marina
- Al Quoz
- Business Bay
Benefits of setting up restaurants in Dubai
These are some of the advantages of launching a restaurant setup in Dubai, UAE.
- The UAE has a diverse food culture that caters to the taste buds of everyone.
- Its diverse cuisine ranges from traditional Arabic dishes to international delicacies.
- Dubai offers numerous opportunities for Emirati and foreign food entrepreneurs.
- It allows expatriate investors to create unique concepts and stand out in a competitive food market.
- Restaurants in Dubai even serve the tourists from the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region.
- Dubai with a diverse palette, a vibrant culture, and different tastes and cuisines renders a top restaurant business opportunity.
- A proper business plan, adequate funding sources, and creating strategy to tackle challenges make your Dubai restaurant successful.
Conclusion
Dubai offers lucrative opportunities for restaurant businesses, but adhering to legal rules and regulations is crucial. KWS Middle East simplifies the process by offering comprehensive services for seamless registration and approvals. We aim to provide a hassle-free and compliant business setup in Dubai, ensuring a smooth transition into the lucrative F&B industry. Contact us anytime for setting up a hassle-free and successful business venture.
FAQs about starting a restaurant business in Dubai
These are the answers to common questions on forming restaurant business in Dubai.
The cost of a trade license for a restaurant in Dubai is around AED 15,000. Fee for additional permits like food safety and seating/takeaway are about AED 10,000. NOC from Dubai Municipality and health permit from DHA take the starting licensing expense from AED 25,000 to 35,000.
Yes, the restaurant and food-service industry in Dubai is highly rewarding. With this venture, you get to serve the foodies from across the UAE. On top, frequent travelers from the MENA region can visit your restaurant to fulfill their fine-dining needs.
Normally, the minimum cost of a restaurant begins from AED 150,000. However, the total expenditure depends on the size, scale, and location of the restaurant. Also, the factors like the concept, offerings, seating capacity, and food-service competition decide the restaurant cost.
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