Overview
Opening a restaurant in Dubai is one of the most fruitful businesses for foreign investors due to its booming food industry, an increasing number of tourists and residents, ease of acquiring food and trading licenses and simple business setup process.
Starting a successful food business in Dubai requires following several steps efficiently such as cost considerations, selection of a business region, obtaining essential licenses, determining USPs and location, designing the layout, implementing advanced technology and building a competent team.
In this blog, we will have a detailed look at all these steps that will help you set up your restaurant business in Dubai.
How to Start a Restaurant in Dubai?
Dubai provides a strict food code for every restaurant, cafe or bakery. This food code is designed to help an owner run a restaurant as per the requirements. There are several things to consider for establishing an efficient restaurant in the UAE. Here is a comprehensive guide for how to start a restaurant business in Dubai.
Cost Consideration: Avoid Overspending
Before investing, you need to consider the cost of opening a restaurant in Dubai to avoid overspending and financial issues. Entrepreneurs need to have an approximate idea of total expenses in a restaurant setup. Some of the basic expenses for a restaurant business setup in Dubai include the following:
- License
- Rent or expense of new property
- Permissions
- Staff training program
- Software Costs for daily operations
- Insurance
- Cost for restaurant equipment, tables, chairs and more.
Select a Business Region
Generally, there are two regions in Dubai you can choose from for starting your restaurant. While deciding on a business structure you can get help from an expert business setup consultant who will help you to navigate all the legal and approval procedures, avoiding any mistakes and delays.
Obtain Licences for Starting Your Restaurant in Dubai
Obtaining all necessary permits allows you to open a restaurant smoothly. There are two types of restaurant licenses in Dubai are required: Trade Licence and Food Licence
1.Trade Licence
The Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing of Dubai is responsible for providing a trade licence. You have to mention the type of restaurant you want to run in Dubai. Based on the type of restaurant the cost of a trade licence may range between AED30,000 to AED40,000.
2.Food Licence
The Food Safety Department of Dubai is responsible for providing a food licence for launching your restaurant in Dubai. You need to submit the following documents to get your food licence:
Copy of the trade license from the Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing
The interior design layout of the restaurant includes the following:
- The entry and exit passages
- Space for processing food
- Area for storing food
- Windows and ventilation system
- Location of food equipment
- Location of Dishwashers and supportive equipment.
Determine the Restaurant’s Concept And USP
While planning to operate a restaurant in Dubai, you must have a unique concept in your mind that will help you to stand out your business from competitors. To run your business in Dubai’s competitive restaurant industry you can make a specific USP (Unique Selling Proposition) that includes the service style, available food items and the ambiance of your restaurant.
Decide the Right Location
Before freezing to a specific location make sure that you have done all essential research about the place and its demographics. Deciding the right location for your website is important to hit a range of Emirate residents and tourists.
Some of the best locations in Dubai to start your restaurant include Jumeirah, Emirates Hills, Dubai Creek, Mall of the Emirates, Al Quoz, etc.
Have a look at some important factors that you need to consider while deciding a location for your restaurant:
- Visibility
- Accessibility
- Customer Base
- Affordability
- Proximity To Suppliers
Design the Layout of Your Restaurant
Designing an attractive layout for your business will support you in your daily operations that will make a long-lasting impression on your customer’s minds. While designing the layout for your restaurant you must consider some essential factors such as accessibility, building codes, restrooms, aesthetics, kitchen and outdoor seating.
Optimize Your Restaurant Activities with Technology
As the world is increasingly converting into digitalization, you need to take advantage of modern technology for running your business operations. A robust POS system may help you with efficient billing, order management, stock and inventory management, real-time reports, market outreach and more.
Build a Competent Team
Identify the roles you want to run your business and build a competitive team for your restaurant in Dubai.
- Sous Chef
- Prep Cooks
- Manager
- Servers
- Bartenders
- Host
- Cleaning Staff
Conclusion: Ready to Start Your Restaurant Business in Dubai
We have covered the entire process of starting a restaurant in Dubai including cost considerations, selection of a business region, obtaining essential licenses, determining USPs and location, designing the layout, implementing advanced technology and building a competent team. Hope it will help you to make your restaurant setup process easy and smooth.
How Arab Business Consultants Can Help You in Business Setup
Are you dreaming of starting your restaurant business in Dubai but unsure of where to begin?
Look no further, we are here to launch your successful restaurant in the world’s most glamorous city, Dubai.
From navigating licences and permits to creating a special menu that embodies Dubai’s diverse culinary scene, we are here to ensure your success in the dynamic business landscape of Dubai. With the years of experiences we offer you the best PRO Services, Virtual Office Setup Service and VAT Services.
Schedule your meeting with our expert business consultants and visit our website to learn more about business setup in Dubai.
