Opening a restaurant in Dubai is not an easy task unless you are aware of a wide range of issues. You need to get licensing approval, fulfill the officials’ legal requirements and comply with health standards amongst many others. Moreover, you need to understand how to present your restaurant’s profile in the correct way for gaining more customers. In this post, we have mentioned some important aspects that will help make entry into Dubai’s food & beverage industry easier for you.

How to start a restaurant in Dubai?

Dubai is the perfect place to open a restaurant. There are many reasons why someone would want to open a restaurant in Dubai, but it is not without its challenges. The reason is that people love to eat out in Dubai. It’s estimated that over 50% of all meals are eaten outside the home. This means that there is a huge demand for restaurants in Dubai, and it can be very profitable if you do it right. When people go out to eat in Dubai, they often want something different than what they would make at home or what they might find at other local restaurants. They want something unique and exciting, which means that if you’re opening up a new restaurant here then you will be able to offer them exactly what they want something new. Here are some of the things that you needed before opening a restaurant in Dubai:

1. You will be required to get a food license from the municipality or any other authority that has the power to grant licenses to restaurants.
2. You should also get health permits from the municipality so that they can ensure that your restaurant is clean and safe for customers.
3. You will need to buy furniture and appliances for your restaurant so that customers can stay comfortable while enjoying their meals at your place.
4. The employees that you hire must always be trained on how to serve customers well so that they can keep them coming back for more!
5. You need to look for UAE health insurance for your restaurant employees.

The process for getting a license to open a restaurant in Dubai:

The process for getting a license to open a restaurant in Dubai is fairly simple. The first step is to apply for the license for that you need to find the best location. You can rent or buy an existing restaurant, but it’s best to build one from scratch if you have the funds. The next step is to find out if your restaurant idea has been approved by the government. To do this, you have to submit an application form that includes the proposed location and size of the restaurant, as well as its hours of operation. Once you have applied for your restaurant license in Dubai, you will need to provide proof of ownership of the property where the restaurant will be located. You must also provide some financial information about yourself, such as how much money you own and how much money your business will make in a year. Here are the listed required things to get the license in opening a restaurant in Dubai:

Trade License:

To start with, you need a business license. It is good to note that obtaining a Dubai business license is not easy and you will have to go through many steps before getting it. You can get your business license by contacting the Dubai Chamber of Commerce & Industry (DCCI) or DTCM or any other authorized entity in Dubai. The trade license is required for all commercial activities within the city limits of Dubai. This includes restaurants, stores, businesses, etc. You must provide proof that you own or rent the property where your business will be located before applying for this license. Once approved, it is valid for one year and must be renewed annually by submitting an updated application form along with photos of any changes that have taken place since your last application was submitted. The cost of getting a restaurant trading license depends on various factors. how ever it cost around 30K-40K AED.

What you must need before applying for a trade license in Dubai:

1. Decide what type of business you want to start. (Business activity whether professional/ industrial/ commercial).
2. List out the activities that you wish to do and apply for a suitable license. In Dubai, UAE you can have a maximum of 10 activities under one license.
3. Decide the type of company you want to start such as sole establishment, Limited liability, or partnership.
4. After deciding the above factors then register a trading name for your company, then apply for initial approval. Lease a space get ready with all documents, and submit further applications for final approval with the Department of Economic Development.

Liquor Licences: A liquor license gives permission for an establishment to serve alcohol on its premises and it must be obtained from the Department of Tourism & Commerce Marketing (DTCM). The process of getting one is not an easy one, but if you have all the necessary documents then it should not take more than a few weeks for you to get it.

Health Permit & Food License:

The health permit and the food license issued by Dubai Municipality’s Health Department and Food Safety Department allow an establishment to sell food and beverages to customers after inspecting its premises to make sure they meet health requirements set forth by law. The inspection process involves checking: food preparation areas; food storage areas; restrooms; water source quality; waste disposal systems; pest control systems; refrigeration units; ventilation systems (air conditioning); fire safety systems (sprinklers); first aid kit, etc. This license is required for every type of food outlet including restaurants, food courts, cafes, cafeterias, etc., so make sure that you have all the required documents before applying for it at Dubai Municipality offices. In order to get this you must need to submit a trade license or pre-approval certificate.

How to choose the best location to open a restaurant business in Dubai:

Choosing the best location for your restaurant in Dubai is easy. All you have to do is focus on customer accessibility and look for nearby suppliers. It’s all about making sure that your customers can get to the restaurant easily, so they can enjoy their time there without stress or hassle.
Customer accessibility means that the restaurant is close enough to other businesses that your customers can get there easily—and vice versa. It also means that there are plenty of parking spaces available near your business so that customers don’t have trouble finding space for their cars. And when it comes to Supplier proximity, make sure that it’s easy for suppliers to deliver their goods to your restaurant quickly and with minimal hassle. This saves time on both ends, which will help cut down on costs and increase profits! Most of the best restaurants in Dubai are located in Dubai marina, palm Jumeirah, Dubai festival city, Dubai creek, In Dubai mall restaurants space, and the Mall of emirates. however, choosing the location is also depending on the cost factor.

What are the other factors that should consider to opening a restaurant in Dubai?

Deciding the Menu:

Dubai is a melting pot of cultures, which means we have all kinds of restaurants that serve traditional foods from around the world. so you can be offered any food upon your business competition and interest. you can be branded your restaurant as an Italian restaurant Dubai, Indian restaurants in Dubai, Korean restaurant Dubai, a Japanese restaurant Dubai, a Seafood restaurant Dubai , Turkish restaurant Dubai, a Saturday brunch Dubai , Lebanese restaurant Dubai ,Chinese restaurant Dubai , an Iranian restaurant Dubai, vegan restaurants in Dubai,best breakfast in Dubai, buffet in Dubai,franchise of best mc donalds dubai ,pizza hut dubai and KFC etc.

Using Updated Technology based applications:

When you’re opening a restaurant business in Dubai, you want to make sure that you’re using the best technology-based applications for your customers. This means making sure that when they come back to your store, you can easily track their purchase history and see if they’re likely to be interested in buying from you again. It also means making sure that billing is done automatically, so you don’t have to worry about collecting payments from your customers. You also need to make sure that when it comes time for delivery, there’s a system in place for tracking orders and making sure they arrive on time. You’ll need a way of keeping track of inventory levels as well—so you know exactly how much product is available at any given time.
Choosing the right worker for your restaurant:

Restaurants are all about the experience you provide to your customers, and that experience starts with your staff. If you have great employees who really care about their job and take pride in what they do, it shows in the way they talk to guests, how they interact with each other, and how they work hard at making sure every customer leaves happy. So you have to choose a suitably experienced worker who can actually be a part of your growing business.

What are the activities that can do when opening a restaurant in Dubai with a trade license?

In Dubai, there are many businesses that can operate under one license. They are :
Restaurants and Bars (with attached liquor license)
Restaurant and Hotel
Catering services
Food Trucks
Cafes
Fast food outlets
Bars and nightclubs
Food delivery
Distributing food products or meals to shops, suppliers, or corporate centers.

At Legal House Dubai , We are a group of a dedicated team of professionals, who have years of experience in this field. We are providing all kinds of services in the field of business setup and legal consultancy. We can help you open a restaurant in Dubai, or a franchise opening by issuing license approvals, drafting legal agreements, and business consolation, helping you in finding the best business location, and also assisting you with residency visas for new employees. Feel free to touch with us for a free consultation.