Restaurant & Café in the UAE for Australians

Why Dubai

Importantly, government and semi-government tenders in Dubai require a mainland licence and Chamber of Commerce membership, both of which GoldenKey arranges. Dubai hosts the region's largest airport, port and exhibition centre.

How Dubai works with GoldenKey

1. 
   Step 1

   Activity and legal form

   GoldenKey maps your business to the right Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism (DET) activity codes and recommends the legal form that fits ownership and liability needs.

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. Expect clear updates from your GoldenKey consultant while this step runs for opening a restaurant or café in the UAE as an Australian founder.

3. 
   Step 3

   Office, MOA and submission

   You sign the memorandum of association before the notary or online, we register your tenancy contract and submit the full file.

4. 
   Step 4

   Licence, Chamber and immigration

   Your Dubai mainland licence is released, Chamber membership is activated and we open the establishment and labour files so visas can begin. For opening a restaurant or café in the UAE as an Australian founder this step rarely needs your presence; scans and e-signatures are enough.

Documents required

As a rule, for opening a restaurant or café in the UAE as an Australian founder the authority asks for the following documents, and we tell you exactly how each must be formatted.

• Your current residence visa and Emirates ID copy if you are a UAE resident
• Tenancy contract for the outlet
• Proof of address such as a utility bill or bank statement, requested by some zones
• A passport-size photograph on a white background
• Attested parent-company paperwork and a board resolution if the shareholder is a company
• A no-objection certificate from your employer if you hold a UAE employment visa

Pricing

The figures below for opening a restaurant or café in the UAE as an Australian founder are updated by GoldenKey whenever the authority changes its fees, so the price you see is the current one. All prices for opening a restaurant or café in the UAE as an Australian founder are indicative, shown in AED and confirmed in writing before you pay.

Why the UAE

In our experience, since 2021, most mainland activities have allowed 100% foreign ownership, and free zones have always offered it, so opening a restaurant or café in the UAE as an Australian founder no longer requires a local partner. On the ground, banking, logistics, telecoms and digital government services in the UAE are among the most advanced in the region, which keeps the running costs of opening a restaurant or café in the UAE as an Australian founder predictable.

Why GoldenKey

Just as important, our quotations for opening a restaurant or café in the UAE as an Australian founder list every government fee and our service fee on one page, in writing, before you pay anything. GoldenKey's consultants have handled opening a restaurant or café in the UAE as an Australian founder for traders, consultants, tech founders and family offices, which gives us a realistic view of what each authority approves without delay. GoldenKey is based in Ajman Free Zone and has helped founders from more than 60 countries with opening a restaurant or café in the UAE as an Australian founder, so the paperwork, approvals and timing hold no surprises for us.

Frequently asked questions