Opening a restaurant or cafe business in Dubai is indeed a good idea. Dubai brings in numerous tourists year-round and many of them visit the city to taste a bit of the local flavor. And, who knows, getting good food can be one way to win their hearts and make them return over and over again. Therefore, by having such an establishment at your own location in Dubai you can rest assure that sooner or later you’ll have lots of consumers.
The restaurant industry is a fascinating one filled with unique choices for customers to entice them. A successful business does not just happen overnight. It requires the planning and execution of small, meticulous details that contribute to it being the best choice for anyone who wants to start their own business.
How to Open a Restaurant Business in Dubai?
We all know that Dubai is known as the city of dreams, and there’s a good probability you’ll be able to start a business here.
It’s an excellent business investment, especially for people who want to start their own company or work in the food industry.
You may be your own boss, establish your own schedule, and be innovative in the kitchen when you work in a restaurant. With the right plan and preparation, you can open a profitable restaurant that will bring you both income and enjoyment.
In order to ensure people are getting their money’s worth when they eat at your place, you should make sure that each dish is as delicious as possible. You can buy some classy decorations for your place if you are going for a modern design. Once these special things are made, your restaurant will be successful and people will come again and again to eat at your place!
The Dubai restaurant scene is busy, successful, and growing. If you’re dreaming of starting your own restaurant business in Dubai, here’s your step-by-step guide to getting a restaurant license and opening your doors to the public.
1. Research and Planning
Doing your homework is the first step in starting your own restaurant. You must determine what type of restaurant you would like to establish, where you want to launch it, how much funds you’ll need, as well as how much time it will take to open the doors and welcome customers. Depending on the type of cuisine you’ll be providing, the quantity of money needed can vary significantly. A modest sandwich shop, for example, will be substantially less expensive than a luxury high-end French bistro. Whatever cuisine you choose to provide, make sure the site is acceptable for the particular restaurant you intend to open. A fine dining restaurant won’t work well in an area full of bars with loud music playing, and a family-friendly diner probably wouldn’t do well in a neighborhood that has an adult entertainment district nearby.
While doing all this research, think about every aspect of starting a restaurant from scratch. This includes everything from creating menus and kitchen policies to figuring
2. Choose Location
The location of your restaurant is very important. It should be in an area with good traffic potential and high footfall. You can also look at the competition in a particular area and see how they are doing.
3. Register your Company
It is not difficult to start a business in Dubai, but you will need an official location to register your firm. You and your partner must decide on a location and receive a copy of the tenancy agreement. Register your leasing agreement at the local Dubai Municipality office. After that, you can start doing business under the same name.
4. Reserve your premises
You must first reserve the premises if you want to open a restaurant in Dubai. The license is only given after the property is passed for all its tests and requirements. At that time, you can easily go to your local municipality office with all your documents to get the license. As people will visit your place so try to reserve an attractive place where some well-known places are around and you have good parking facility too.
5. Apply for Trade License
Before opening a restaurant in Dubai, you must first obtain a trade license, which is essential in order to obtain all of the necessary permits.
In addition, applicants must provide copies of their resumes, relevant certificates, diplomas and degrees, among other documents. The submission will be reviewed by DED officials who will check that all requirements have been met.
The application process for a license could take up to 60 days to complete.
In Dubai, different trade permits are required to operate food restaurants. Each license is specific to a specific type of food restaurant. You must apply for the right license based on your restaurant’s menu, pricing range, and location. Anyone interested in opening a restaurant in Dubai must first obtain a trade license from the Department of Economic Development (DED). The Trade License has a three-year validity period.
6. VAT Registration
With over 5,000 restaurants and hotels in Dubai, the restaurant and food services business is broad and diverse. To help these businesses, the government has put in place rules to cut expenses and streamline processes. Value Added Tax (VAT) is one of them (VAT).
VAT is a 5% tax on most products and services in the United Arab Emirates. Restaurants and hotel rooms are included in this category. If a company is VAT-registered, it can reclaim the VAT it paid while purchasing goods or services. The form of company that is eligible for VAT registration is determined by the service you provide.
7. Define a Budget and Source of Funding
It’s critical to know how much money you’ll need to get the business off the ground in the early phases of planning. Starting with budgeting is a typical strategy that will help you stay organized and on track as you build your business. The first stage in making a budget is figuring out just how much funding you will need to begin your company, which could include a number of expenses.
Consider the source of cash for your business startup before you start building your budget.
The main sources of financing can be divided into two categories: internal or external sources. Internal resources are all those that you have at your disposal, like personal savings or borrowing money from friends and family members. External resources are loans from banks and other financial institutions.
8. Menu
You’ll need to make a menu that’s appropriate for this place. You may also think about introducing new dishes to your menu based on the season or holidays. The most important thing to remember when planning a menu is to strike a balance. It’s possible that having too much of one sort of cuisine on your menu will drive customers away. It’s recommended to put together a menu that includes at least 3 items: appetizers, main course, and dessert. You’ll generate more money and appeal to a wider range of clients if you offer numerous different sorts of meals.
Creating a theme around your menu is one possibility. If you don’t want to design a theme, consider how you want your restaurant to look. The type of cuisine you serve should reflect this so that everything complements one another rather than conflicting.
9. Staffing
You will need good staff members who can handle customers well and serve them quickly. So it is important to recruit staff members with good customer service skills and knowledge about cooking different cuisines if required.
Conclusion
The United Arab Emirates is famous for its fast and luxurious living style. UAE citizens are very fond of dining out and throwing parties, therefore the demand for restaurants is continuously increasing. Regardless of your nationality, you are welcome to start a restaurant business in Dubai, as long as you undergo the legal procedures correctly.
