{"id":3824,"date":"2020-09-07T15:04:17","date_gmt":"2020-09-07T15:04:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.anuvibs.com\/?p=3824"},"modified":"2026-02-05T10:12:01","modified_gmt":"2026-02-05T10:12:01","slug":"how-to-open-a-restaurant-in-dubai","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.anuvibs.com\/blog\/how-to-open-a-restaurant-in-dubai\/","title":{"rendered":"How to open a Restaurant in Dubai?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Dubai has become one of the most preferred tourist destinations for people around the world; in fact, it is one of the top 10 destinations for tourists. In this blog-post we will walk you through the core considerations if you are looking for opening a new restaurant business in Dubai.<\/p>\n

Why Dubai is an exciting place to open a restaurant business?<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u2022 Diverse pool of customers<\/strong> coming to Dubai from every part of the world i.e. Asia, Europe, Africa, America, Middle East and Australia.
\n\u2022<\/strong> Tourism industry is booming.<\/strong>
\n\u2022<\/strong> Utmost focus and commitment of Dubai government towards economy and GDP.<\/strong> The government plays a vital role in success of Dubai, a city that is full of resorts, marvelous buildings, eye-catching sceneries, and hospitality.
\n\u2022<\/strong> Alluring incentives for new business startups<\/strong> for opening a restaurant or cafe in Dubai.<\/p>\n

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How to open a Restaurant in Dubai?<\/strong><\/h3>\n

When Opening a restaurant in Dubai\u00a0– you must plan each and every step carefully because skipping one step might get you into trouble with the authorities. Let\u2019s see the steps involved in opening up a restaurant in Dubai.<\/p>\n

Step 1: Acquiring Food & Trading licenses.<\/strong><\/h4>\n

The first step you need to take is to acquire your\u00a0food and trading licenses<\/strong>\u00a0from the authorities. For the food license, you need to approach the\u00a0Department of Food and Safety<\/strong>,<\/strong>\u00a0whereas the\u00a0trade license\u00a0can be obtained from the Department of Economic Development\u00a0(DED)<\/strong>,<\/strong>\u00a0which might cost you approximately AED 10,000 to AED 12,000, and the\u00a0Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DTCM).<\/strong><\/p>\n

Step 2: Selecting a location.<\/strong><\/h4>\n

\u00a0Location is one of the most important considerations<\/strong>\u00a0while opening a restaurant in Dubai. The first thing would be deciding whether to go to the mainland area or to operate within one of the free zones.<\/p>\n

But if you are planning to set up a restaurant in\u00a0Dubai free zones, then the consent of the corresponding free zone authority should be obtained. Free zone areas will allow you to hold 100% of your shares and might not require a local sponsor but might restrict your area for trade.<\/p>\n

For example: Target your consumer -E.g.\u00a0bachelors or families or tourist?<\/strong>\u00a0if you have planned for an\u00a0Indian or Pakistani cuisine<\/strong>\u00a0then you need to target the right set of customers who prefer this type of cuisine- Residential area like karama, bur Dubai, Deira etc<\/p>\n

Tourists will stay at 5 star hotels and opt for more luxurious eating places- business bay, Dubai marina, JLT, HBR ETC; Keep your competitors in mind<\/strong>\u00a0as the area must not be saturated so much by them which resultant does not leave space for you to grow.<\/p>\n

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Step 3: Drafting a Business plan<\/strong><\/h4>\n

A professional restaurant business plan will require all the necessary factors. Like\u00a0SWOT analysis, target marketing,\u00a0<\/strong>preparing a\u00a0financial plan,\u00a0<\/strong>preparing a\u00a0contingency plan for uncertainties, market survey, research,\u00a0<\/strong>your\u00a0cash flow projections, break-even analysis<\/strong>, and others. Every single factor will contribute to the growth of your business.<\/p>\n

Step 4: Estimating cost and expenditure<\/strong><\/h4>\n

The last and most important thing to be considered before starting your restaurant is to have a\u00a0proper financial plan<\/strong>\u00a0ready to keep a track as to\u00a0how much you need to spend.<\/strong><\/p>\n

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How much will this type of restaurant cost?<\/strong><\/h4>\n

What will be the cost of staffing and pieces of equipment? How much will The license acquire cost? Estimating all the investment and expenditure is a daunting task in a restaurant business.<\/p>\n

Other than that, one needs to consider costs like:<\/p>\n