How to Start a Food and Beverages Business in the UAE, Dubai

How to Start a Food and Beverages Business in the UAE,

Do you want to turn your passion for cooking into a prolific business in Dubai? The majority of individuals find themselves in the cooking space.  That means, you’ll find several small eateries running locally and the owners make a substantive income from them. Therefore, if you want to convert your local eatery into a big food and beverage business in Dubai, we got you covered.

Generally, to start a food and beverage business in the UAE, you must obtain a food and beverage trading license through the Department of Economic Development (DED), especially if you’ve strategically located your business in the Dubai Mainland. After licensing application, you must visit the Food Safety Department of Dubai Municipality to get your professional food and beverage trading license.

Similarly, there are several requirements you’ll be compelled to follow for the success of your food and beverage business in Dubai. Usually, the United Arab Emirates has strict rules when it comes to business setup in Dubai.

And so, if you fail to observe the rules governing their marketplace, you’ll either be fine or be deported back to your country, that’s if you are a foreigner in Dubai. That said: it is prudent to adhere to the stringent policies in any country for the success of your business.

Therefore, here are several requirements you’ll be needed to follow when starting your food and beverage business in Dubai;

  1. Get an ideal location for your F&B business
  2. Create your Food and Beverage business plan
  3. Get an estimated opening cost for the business
  4. Apply for business licensing
  5. Getting a NOC ( No Objection Certificate)
  6. Adhere to the architectural rules
  7. Have the food code from a reputable organization in Dubai
  8. Apply the food safety measures needed
  9. Adhere to Pork Products policies in the UAE

                                     

Food and Beverages Business

If you are looking forward to opening a food and beverage business in Dubai, the above requirements if put in place will help your business grow exponentially without any hassles. Therefore, it is high time to convert your passion for cooking into an income-based project in Dubai by starting a food and beverage business.

In fact, the food and beverage business in Dubai has seen to witness tremendous growth over the last 10 years. There is no sign of stopping whatsoever. Additionally, the upsurge of the pandemic prompted another digitalized way of running a food and beverage business where individuals can now order their food online and get it delivered to their doorsteps.

Therefore, the combination of these two businesses seems extremely lucrative business to open in Dubai. The food sector in Dubai is set to weigh over 131 billion AED and the beverage sector 11 billion AED as stated by the Dubai Exports.

Similarly, as per the MENA Research Partners, the beverage industry and the GCC’s food shall skyrocket in growth at a rate of 71.6% annually summing up to USD 196 billion by 2021. The coming years tend to favor the food and beverage business in Dubai because of the demand. Thus, it goes without saying that starting a food and beverage business in Dubai is an ideal decision you’d have made this year.

However, the entire process of starting a food and beverage business in Dubai might seem rocky, especially if you’re a beginner. Every business or company formation in Dubai must comply with the rules and regulations set aside by the UAE government. In most cases, startups find it hard to successfully set their business following all the Dubai regulations in place.

So, you can always seek help from one of our best professional business consultants in Dubai at Vigor Business Company Formation to help you with the process. We’re an established business setup in Dubai aiming to help more investors like you start their business in Dubai amicably amid all the stringent policies in place.  Feel free to contact us for more business ideas and the PRO services needed in your business.

Pretty cool, right?

Now let’s discuss some of the best ways to follow to have a successful Food and beverage business setup in Dubai;

Food and beverage business in UAE

Food and Beverages Business in Dubai

How to Start a Food and Beverages Business in Dubai

Get an ideal location for your F&B business

Primarily, you can strategically start your food and beverage business either in Dubai Mainland or Free Zone. Note that each zone has its pros and cons. Additionally, they come with different jurisdictions governing their marketplace.

Before settling on either of the zones, it is recommended to conduct though research to establish which zone favors your food and beverage business in the UAE. For instance, your company’s business activities might determine where to locate your business and the type of license to apply for your company as well.

Therefore, if you are in the Dubai Mainland, you can apply for a food and beverage trading license through the Department of Economic Development in the UAE. On the other hand, if you are running your business in a Free Zone, ensure to apply for a trading license in the relevant jurisdiction within your set business model.

Once you have your business location intact, move to the next step.

Create your Food and Beverage business plan

A business will only be successful if there are proper plans structured while opening it. And so, a plan will therefore help you to focus better on the success of your business. Thus, before your jumpstart the process of starting a food and beverage business in Dubai, you’re required to have clear plans on which journey to take.

Therefore, in your food and beverage business plan, the following are the key components that might be included;

  1. The business budget
  2. The marketing strategies
  3. Building strategy
  4. Manpower Projections
  5. Business Cash Flow Projections

The aforementioned points are key to the success of your business. Therefore, you need to consider a friendly and productive view when drafting your business plan.

Get an estimated opening cost for the business

Once you’ve drafted the opening cost of your business in your business plan. Now, this step will help you analyze everything that drives toward the total cost for your food and beverage business.

It is needless to say there are lots of items needed to enhance a prolific F$B business in Dubai. You must have the budget for powerful cooking tools, the salary for the chef, cleaners, manager, and more. Additionally, you might want to market your food and beverage business through the use of paid ads.

The aforesaid factors might result in a huge starting cost. Therefore, if you are not sure about the cost involved to set up a successful business in Dubai, consult an expert business consultant in Dubai to help you narrow down all the salient features needed for the success of your business.

Thus, immediately you are set with the starting cost and you’ve furnished your business ready to run, you’ll consider moving to the next step to strengthen your business credibility.

Apply for business licensing

When starting a food and beverage business in Dubai, you’ll be required to have two types of permits to be allowed to carry out your F&B business activities. These include;

  • Food License
  • Trade License

Generally, a food license in Dubai is issued by the Department of Food and Safety. On the other hand, a trade license is strictly offered by the Department of Economic Development, (DED). Therefore, you’ll be required to submit relevant documents to the DED to get your trading license approved.

Getting a NOC (No Objection Certificate)

Obtaining a NOC, which is referred to as a No Objection Certificate is another crucial step when opening your food and beverage business in Dubai. Also, a NOC is an important tool in the following businesses; kiosks opening, and non-event food trucks among others.

Thus; to get your No Objection Certificate in Dubai, all you are required to do is submit your active trade license and the ID card to the relevant Food Safety Department in Dubai.

You’ll receive your NOC after two business days after submitting your documents.

Adhere to the architectural rules

Following the architectural rules is another pertinent step to put into consideration when starting a food and beverage business in Dubai. You must adhere to the architectural rules laid down by the UAE authorities concerning food and beverage building.

Therefore, you must send a blueprint of your food and beverage design to the UAE authorities to check whether you’re at par with the rules governing the restaurant’s architectural design.

So, here are the Dubai architectural design rules as far as restaurant building is concerned;

  • A storage facility must be included in the building to store different food items
  • The drainage pipe ought to measure at least 2 inches that’s away from the restaurant wall
  • Different basins must be provided for various washing activities including meat washing, washing utensils, and vegetable washing
  • The walls, roof, and floor of the building must be fireproof, non-absorbent, and washable.
  • There must be good ventilation in the restaurant to allow even free air circulation.

Have the food code from a reputable organization in Dubai

A food code is a relevant document in a food and beverage business that is out to help the Person-In-Charge at the food premises.

The food code is usually published by the Dubai Municipality’s Food Safety Department.  And so, the document shows the following;

  1. PICs obligations
  2. Inform the restaurant owners of details needed in their business execution as per the guidelines intended to observe food and personal hygiene.

Therefore, following these rules permits your food and Beverage Company to achieve a top-notch degree of compliance with the regulations set by the Food and Safety Departments in Dubai.

Apply the food safety measures needed

Your business must comply with all the food safety measures required by the higher authority in the UAE. Thus, specific requirements are aligned to different food services including trucks, bikes, containers, and cars.

All these services must follow the rules required to prevent food contamination and facilitates proper storage, and delivery among others.

Adhere to Pork Products policies in the UAE

Restaurants serve different foods including pork. Not all denominations consumes pork. Therefore, the UAE food and safety department permits pork products but bound the restaurant owners to have a separate place for dealing with pork products.

Final Thoughts

Starting a food and beverage business in Dubai is one of the top-tier business ideas you can ever think of this year. As much as there are tons of requirements to put in place for the success of your business, you can always reach out to a professional business consultant in Dubai at Vigor Business Company Formation for help.

You can email us at info@vigorbiz.net  at your convenience and get a full guide on how to start your business in Dubai this year.