Open a Restaurant in Dubai

Opening a restaurant in Dubai can be a very good investment opportunity for foreign businessmen. However, there are some requirements for starting a business in the food industry in Dubai.

The Food Code in Dubai

The main provisions for setting up restaurants in Dubai are encompassed in the Food Code. The Food Code was enabled in order to support restaurant owners and to provide guidelines for food safety and regulations to be respected when owning a food establishment in Dubai.

The Food Code was designed according to other food codes in countries like the United States or Australia. The Dubai Food Code also encompasses the law regulations stated by the Food Control Department. The Food Code clearly states the requirements to be met in order to obtain a safe environment and health protection of consumers going in restaurants in Dubai.

The Food Code requirements apply to the following categories of food establishments in Dubai:

  • Restaurants and cafe’s
  • Canteens in hospitals and schools
  • Bakeries
  • Supermarkets and grocery stores
  • Catering units
  • Food factories

Obtaining a license for a restaurant in Dubai

In order to establish a restaurant in Dubai, a trade license is required from the Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing. The owner of the restaurant must also select the appropriate type of business suitable for the type of food establishment he/she wants to open, as the license will clearly state the activity the restaurant will undertake.

The second step will be to receive approval for the construction plans that must be according to some specifications. These specifications are made by the Food Control Department in Dubai. The blueprints of the restaurants must comprise the following information:

  • The space for food processing and storage
  • The sanitary spaces such as restrooms
  • The windows and ventilation system
  • The location of the equipment used to process the food
  • The entry and exit passages
  • The location of the washing machines

It is also important to know that the restaurant must be placed at minimum 30 meters from waste disposal places that could lead to contamination and at least 10 meters of the space around the restaurant must be kept clean at all times.

Requirements for the construction of a restaurant in Dubai

The site for opening a restaurant must, first of all, be appropriate for a food establishment and provide enough and suitable space for the equipment to be used for this type of activity. The building must allow the place to be cleaned and to make possible the disposal of dirt and smoke to be evacuated easily.

The building must not provide any entries for pests. The food flow must go in one direction only. The ustensils used to prepare the food must be provided with an enclosed space so they are not exposed to contamination. Toilets and storage areas must be separated from kitchens.

You can contact our specialists in Quantum Auditing for details about all the provisions of the Food Code and for the registration steps of a Company.