Your Guide to Opening a Restaurant Business in Dubai
Dubai is now one of the biggest business hubs in the world. It is one of the fastest growing economies, one of the most amazing touristic destinations, and it offers great opportunities for those wishing to invest their money in it. One of the most successful business sectors in Dubai is the food and restaurant business. Dubai’s restaurants are something that tourists enjoy when they visit the city. They travel to try its variety of cuisines and enjoy different tastes of food. That being said, deciding to run a restaurant business in Dubai sounds like a smart idea, however, you need to know the exact steps to take and the challenges to consider when running such a business in Dubai.
What are the steps and requirements that you will need for opening a restaurant in Dubai?
Follow the Food Code
Food Code is an initiative by the Food Control Department of Dubai Municipality, which introduces guidelines for the person in charge of the restaurant to follow to ensure they meet food safety standards from production until the consumption.
Get your Licenses
To start your restaurant business in Dubai, you will need 2 types of Licenses.
First: Trade License
Your trade license should be issued from the Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing. To get your Trade License you will need to present your construction plans which should be evaluated and approved by the Food Control Department in Dubai.
Second: Food License
Your food license should be issued by the Food Control Department in Dubai. To get your food license you will need to present a copy of your trade license or a primary approval of it and an interior design layout of the restaurant.
Note that if your restaurant is outside a shopping center, you will need an extra approval from the Planning Department.
This is regarding the requirements for setting up a restaurant. What else do you need to consider before opening your restaurant in Dubai?
Location
You need to make sure that you choose the most suitable location for your restaurant. Consider things like accessibility, parking spaces, and commercial and resident properties that will be around you.
Rent
You also need to consider the rent of the space you will choose for your restaurant. It is always advised that your rent does not exceed 10% of your annual turnover.
Menu
You need to make sure that you provide your guests with a new concept for your restaurant. Make sure your restaurant’s menu includes dishes that people will want to try out and will love at the same time. Also, make sure not to overstate the prices on your menu.
Setting up your restaurant business in Dubai may be a complicated and requires a lot of legal procedures. It’s better to hire an agent to run the process for you to make sure you are doing all the right steps. Global Link offers all types of PRO services for those wishing to start any type of business in Dubai or UAE. Contact us now and let us see how we can help you.