There are a lot of job opportunities in the food and drink business in Dubai, which is a big part of the UAE’s amazing economic growth. Now is the best time to start your business, whether it’s a grocery store, a food truck, a café, a food catering service, or a food packing business. This is why.
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The UAE has one of the Middle East’s fastest-growing economies. Over the past few years, the food business has grown a lot. In 2023, it’s expected to bring in $37.8 billion. But there are certain things you need to do to start a business here. You can learn everything you need to know to start a food and drink business in Dubai from this book.
Key Factors Driving the Growth in Dubai’s Food and Beverage Industry
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- Wide Range of People: People from more than 200 countries live in Dubai, which makes the market lively and full of people looking for different kinds of food and meal experiences.
- Options for high-end dining: More and more people want to have high-end dining experiences, which is causing the need for these places.
- Easy to Get a License: In Dubai, getting a license is quick and easy, which makes it easier for people to start their own businesses.
- Tourism Hub: Every year, more than 14 million people visit Dubai, which makes it a great place for startups to grow.
- Outstanding Infrastructure: Dubai has state-of-the-art infrastructure that goes above and beyond what is expected around the world.
- Famous Restaurants: Dubai has the first Michelin-starred restaurant in the Middle East, which shows how good the food is there.
What You Need to Do to Start a Food and Drink Business in Dubai
1. Think about the costs—feasibility of the market:
A lot of money is needed to open a restaurant. Here’s a rough idea of how much it will cost:
- Fee for a license: AED 5,500 to 13,00
- Space for rent or lease: AED 90 to 160 per square foot
- AED 80K to AED 10K for buying tools and buildings
- AED 12K to 15K for quality assurance and compliance
- Spending on other things: AED 50K
The exact amounts depend on where the business is located, how big it is, and other things.
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2. Choose the Business Model:
Learn about the business and what people in your area want. Some popular models are:
- There are restaurants, cafés, and food trucks that serve both relaxed and fancy food.
- The Foodstuff Business acts as a supply chain for food items in bulk.
- Food catering is the service of bringing food to events and meetings.
- Food packaging: coming up with designs and providing package materials.
- Bakeries are businesses that make baked goods.
- Cloud Kitchens runs virtual kitchens that send food online.
- Producing food on a large scale means making packed foods.
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Also Read: Launching Your Food Truck Business in Dubai – A Guide to Success
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3. Get a No-Objection Certificate (NOC).
This is needed for some food businesses, like food trucks or booths that aren’t selling food at an event.
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4. Get the licenses you need.
You’ll need a food license and a trade license. It ranges in price from AED 5,510 to AED 11,500, based on the type of restaurant. The Food Safety Department gives out the Food License.
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5. Choose a Location:
Pick a location based on how visible it is, the type of customers you want to attract, how much it costs, and how close it is to vendors.
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6. Make a menu:
Carefully plan your menu to cover your costs and bring in people. Make changes as needed based on what the customer wants.
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7. Plan the layout of the restaurant.
Make sure your plan meets certain requirements, like having a good ventilation system and a well-thought-out store area.
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8. Spend money on technology:
For billing, order handling, and keeping track of inventory, use a strong point-of-sale (POS) system.
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9. Hire the Right People:
Use clear job descriptions and in-depth interviews to find suitable people to work for you.
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10. Comply with the Law:
To keep things running smoothly, make sure you follow rules about food safety, halal requirements, and importing and exporting.
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If you do it right, starting a food and drink business in Dubai can be very profitable. Dubai has a lot of possibilities, but it’s important to follow the law.
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DXB-VIP can help you get the necessary forms and approvals for your food and beverage business in the UAE so that you can start running your business without any problems.
