How to Start a Food and Beverage Business in Dubai

One of the biggest sectors, the food and beverage industry in Dubai is purported to hold over 142 billion in investments. With an average growth rate of a whopping 71.6% annually, the industry is rapidly-expanding in the Emirate. Since Dubai houses more than 200 ethnicities, naturally there would be a demand in the culinary arts industry. And there’s immense potential for just about every type of cuisine, owing to the vastly diverse Dubai populace.

How to open a Food and Beverage Establishment in Dubai

Most business setup procedures require the expertise of a reputable business setup expert in Dubai. It’s no different in the case of setting up an F&B business. However, if you wish to have a different names for your eatery and your establishment, you can do so. To exemplify, you could name your company “The Japanese Corner” and clepe the restaurant “The Sushi Souq.” A business setup consultant like Cross Link International will be able to tell you if that name is available to register.

When it comes to naming your establishment, there are certain naming conventions that must be adhered with. For example, your company name cannot connote religious elements and that it can’t include country names or something suggestive of the same. Terms like “International” cannot be the first part of the business.

The next step would be to collate all the required documents (like Articles of Association) for your business setup. And then, you’d have to find a suitable office space. The Dubai municipality has set come criteria that have to be fulfilled when setting up your food and beverage establishment, such as:

A separate area must be allocated for preparing meat.
A kitchen must always take up 40% of the establishment area or occupy at least 300 sq. feet in size (380 sq. feet if it accommodates an oven), whichever is greater.
If it is a cafeteria that you’re setting up, then the kitchen must be at least 200 sq. feet in area, or at least 40% of the total area of the customer seating area.
A bakery and a tea stall would need to have a kitchen/food preparation area of at least 200 and 100 sq. feet, respectively.
Dishwashing and cleaning of vegetables must not be carried out in the same area.
Every eatery must have designated sinks with hot and cold water.
The area must be ventilated well with a good ventilation system.
The walls, roof and floor must be washable and more importantly, fireproof.
The restaurant must be adequately illuminated.
The racks and stands that hold the dishes must be of stainless steel.
Drainage pipes must be two inches away from the walls.
The doors and windows must be properly secured to prevent rodent infestation.

A company formation consultant not only carry out the entire business setup process, but also will be able to suggest which area of the UAE would be best for your F&B establishment. They will also get the Ejari for you. An Ejari is required when submitting the application to open your eatery. A blueprint must also be included in the application and submitted to DED.

After this, the next step is to take cognizance of the Food Code that the Food Safety Department of Dubai has prescribed. This code has been dictated to ensure the proper and strict implementation of hygienic and safety measures. Every kitchen must have a person that’s certified by the Food Safety Department of Dubai Municipality.

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If you have these tips crossed off your checklist, you’re good to go! Get in touch with us at +971 4321 6631 to setup your business in Dubai!

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