Restaurant & Café in the UAE

Key points

Among the strengths of a the UAE mainland licence are unrestricted UAE-wide trading and Government and corporate tenders, which is why local service businesses gravitate here. In our experience, government and semi-government tenders in the UAE require a mainland licence and Chamber of Commerce membership, both of which GoldenKey arranges. the UAE mainland licences are issued by the Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism (DET), which currently processes most standard files in around 4 working days (Monday to Friday).

Step by step

1. 
   Step 1

   Activity and legal form

   We select the correct activity codes from the Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism (DET) list and the legal form, in most cases a LLC or a sole establishment.

2. 
   Step 2

   Trade name and initial approval

   GoldenKey reserves your trade name and obtains initial approval from the Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism (DET), including any external approvals your activity needs. For starting a restaurant or café in the UAE this step rarely needs your presence; scans and e-signatures are enough.

3. 
   Step 3

   Office, MOA and submission

   Just as important, the memorandum of association is signed (online or before the notary), your tenancy is registered and the complete file is submitted to the Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism (DET).

4. 
   Step 4

   Licence, Chamber and immigration

   Your the UAE mainland licence is granted, Chamber membership is activated and we open the establishment and labour files so visas can begin. If the authority raises a query on starting a restaurant or café in the UAE at this stage, we handle it the same day.

Documents required

Here is what you will need for starting a restaurant or café in the UAE; GoldenKey checks every item before submission.

• A passport-size photograph on a white background
• Attested parent-company paperwork and a board resolution if the shareholder is a company
• A short business plan or activity description for certain professional activities
• The UAE entry stamp or visa page if you are already in the country
• Your current residence visa and Emirates ID copy if you are a UAE resident
• A clear passport copy for each shareholder and manager, valid for at least six months

Pricing

All prices for starting a restaurant or café in the UAE are indicative, shown in AED and confirmed in writing before any payment. Use the table below to compare packages for starting a restaurant or café in the UAE; we will confirm the exact total for your case in a written quotation.

Where to license restaurant & café

Food outlets need a physical unit approved by the municipality food-control department, a fit-out approval and a food safety certificate for staff. Cloud kitchens are a lower-cost entry point.

Ajman Free ZoneOne of the UAE's most affordable free zones — 0-visa packa…DMCC Free ZoneWorld's #1 free zone — the premium choice for commodity tr…Dubai mainlandThe UAE's commercial capital — trade anywhere in the UAE w…Sharjah mainlandIndustrial heartland of the UAE — manufacturing, trading a…Ajman mainlandGoldenKey's home emirate — one of the most affordable main…

Examples of this activity

• Café
• Cloud kitchen
• Fine dining
• Catering

Restaurant & Café guides by nationality

IndianPakistaniBritishRussianChineseNigerianSaudiEgyptianKenyanGermanSingaporeanOmaniFrenchItalianSpanishPortugueseDutchBelgianSwissAustrianSwedishNorwegianDanishFinnishIcelandicIrishPolishCzechSlovakHungarianRomanianBulgarianGreekCroatianSerbianSlovenianUkrainianEstonianLatvianLithuanianAmericanCanadianAustralianNew ZealanderJapaneseSouth KoreanTurkishMalaysianIndonesianThaiVietnameseFilipinoBangladeshiSouth AfricanEmiratiQatari

Why the UAE

Since 2021, most mainland activities have allowed 100% foreign ownership, and free zones have always offered it, so starting a restaurant or café in the UAE no longer requires a local partner. The dirham has been pegged to the US dollar since 1997, which removes currency risk for starting a restaurant or café in the UAE and makes international pricing simple.

Why GoldenKey

GoldenKey is a licensed business setup consultancy, not a reseller, which means your the UAE file is prepared, checked and submitted by our own team. Our office is a short drive from the Ajman Free Zone, Ajman DED and the immigration centre, so physical submissions for starting a restaurant or café in the UAE happen the same day they are ready. Every the UAE package we quote already includes the licence, registration, the establishment card where applicable and our full assistance, with no hidden add-ons at the end.

Frequently asked questions