There are several licenses that must be obtained when setting up a restaurant in Dubai. Among these are:

• 1. The trade license which is issued upon the registration of the company;
• 2. The food license which grants the business the right to process and handle food;
• 3. The construction license, in case the owner wants the restaurant to operate in a new building;
• 4. A liquor license, which requires special attention and must be obtained from the police department;
• 5. A no objection letter from the Dubai municipality must also be obtained.

Choose your kitchen and contractors very, very carefully

“As with any project, shaving money off costs by going with a cheaper contractor will only cost more in the long run. Delayed openings are not uncommon in Dubai, but hold-ups can be avoided by tendering out the building contract and asking for references.

Restaurant owners should make sure they check their contractor’s previous work because the fit-out of food and beverage units can be very different from other projects.

Key Factors for Dubai Restaurant Construction

There are different criteria that a person has to keep in mind before starting a restaurant business in the UAE.

Before commencing works, approval must be sought from the food control section. Three copies of the proposed kitchen design/layout plans and equipment details must be provided from a registered engineering office for approval. Here is an example of guidelines for a restaurant setup.

• 1 . Wall, floor, and ceiling to be washable, absorbent, fireproof, lightly colored, and must contain no cracks.
• 2 . There should be adequate ventilation and lighting
• 3 . The area of the kitchen must be 300 sq. feet of 40% of the total restaurant is, whichever is bigger
• 4 . There should be a storage area for dry/chilled and frozen food items

• 5 . If there is a tandoor in the kitchen the minimum area should be 380 sq. ft.
• 6 . Washing facilities must be present with hot and cold water.

It is very important to obtain a No objection letter from the Dubai Municipality-Public health department before the commencement of the work. Businessmen may face closer action in case you fail to comply.

Opening a Food and Beverage business in the free zone can be a very lucrative business for entrepreneurs. The business can take advantage of the various features of the free zone as well as the different benefits available in the food and beverage sector.

1. 1 . Location of Outlet off course
2. 2 . Kitchen size 
3. 3 . Storage Space for Raw Materials 
4. 4 . Storage for Processed Food 
5. 5 . Wash Basin, Dish wash & Oil processed food washbasin
6. 6. Kitchen equipments to be used, Like a furnace, Gas stove, exhaust, etc