Every foodie’s dream is fulfilled in Dubai-A cosmopolitan city with a rich food culture. Are you a veteran restaurateur or an aspiring food businessperson? Then starting business in Dubai isn’t that impossible. But before plating your culinary creation for the masses, you must first apply for a food license in Dubai. In this article, we will try to guide you on how to go about it, the estimated amount of money needed as well as other important factors.
Understanding Food Licenses in Dubai
A food license in Dubai , also known in Dubai as a trade license, is an essential requirement for any establishment engaged in the preparation, distribution or sale of food products within the emirate. It guarantees that your establishment complies with the rigid food control standards imposed by the Dubai Municipality. A food license is an assurance of safe and quality food products to be served to the customer.
Types of Food Licenses in Dubai
The specific food license you will obtain will vary depending on your food business. Below are some standard classifications:
- Restaurant License: It is a must to obtain this license for establishments that serve food on the physically made structures, that is, restaurants, diners, fast-food joints, or food-courts.
- Catering License: In case you are also thinking of serving food for any functions or events, you will also have to obtain this type of license.
- Food Truck License: This license applies to those mobile food vendors who go around in food vans, trucks, or trolleys.
- Grocery Store License: This type of a license is essential for any company that retails grocery packed food products.
Steps to Obtain a Food License in Dubai
Having explored the intricacies of food licensing at a preliminary level, let us now focus on the enhancement of comprehension on how one can go about obtaining a food license in Dubai step by step:
- Determine the Business Activity – this is the first step in the food licensing process. You should be able to illustrate accurately directly the kind of food business that you are involved in. This will show the exact category of food license you should apply for.
- Get a Site- The site where one is expected to put up a food outlet is very important. You will have to ensure that the particular outlet complies with the zoning of the land by the Dubai Municipality for food outlets.
- Incorporate Your Business-Degenerating the framework of a typical organization, it is often required to incorporate a business entity within the Department of Economic Development (DED) of Dubai. This includes choosing a trade name, making an application for a primary registration, and delivering other policy distributions.
- Lodge Your Application- Complete the aforementioned stages and you should be able to advance the food license application to the Dubai municipality. The application will contain specific information in regards to many aspects of the business, such as the location, the type of food or menu, and even the food safety policies.
- Settle the Charges: The last procedure is to commence the payments for your food license’s issuance. The amount charged will differ in accordance to the license issued and the capacity of your business.
Costs Involved Restaurant license in Dubai
Getting a food license in Dubai is associated with several costs and they may depend on various aspects such as the category of the license, the width of operations, and even the city itself. Nevertheless, the following expenses are likely to be incurred:
- Trade License Fees The fees payable to the Department of Economic Development (DED) for registering your company.
- Municipality Fees The fees that are levied by the Dubai Municipality for food license application processing.
Key Considerations
- Food Safety Regulations: To protect the health of citizens, Dubai has imposed stern food safety laws. Hence, it is important to understand and abide by these laws when running a business in Dubai.
- Location: The success of any food business is influenced greatly by its location. Go for a location that has a good market base and is convenient for the clients.
- Menu Planning: The menu should be designed bearing in mind the targeted consumers and the market tastes. Moreover, ingredient sourcing and production costs need to be catered for.
- Staffing: The smooth running of any food business purely depends on the ability of its management to source for competent and experienced personnel. Also, all the employees should be trained on food safety and hygiene practices.
Conclusion
It might sound scary to get a food business license in Dubai, but everything is possible with the right strategy and implementation. If you follow the steps offered in this manual and comply with the food safety measures, there is no doubt that you will be able to give life to your food business in the culinary world of Dubai.
