How to Start a Catering and Food Delivery Service Business in Dubai?

Start a Catering and Food Delivery Service Business in Dubai

Do you know that the food and beverage industry in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) is as vast as varied? Indeed, you have read it right! Annual growth rates of 13% are predicted between now and 2025 in this industry, taking complete revenue up to $445 million* by 2025. It means that you can enjoy enormous benefits and profits by Starting catering business in Dubai and starting your food delivery business in this Emirate.  Whether you are considering starting your catering company or food delivery business in Dubai, you must follow the right path. Today, we will discuss How to start catering service in Dubai. Furthermore, we will explore the guide to start your food delivery business in this city.

How to start your catering service in Dubai?

Indeed, catering and food delivery services both belong to the food and beverage industry. However, you must follow different steps to start both of these businesses in Dubai. Let us first understand the process of Starting a catering business in Dubai:  

1. Decide the business activity

Initially, you should select the business activity that you want to conduct in your catering service in Dubai. Remember, there are many catering business activities available in Dubai. Therefore, you should consider what business activities you want to conduct in your catering business.  

2. Select the location

Once you have chosen a business activity for your catering company in Dubai, you should decide where you want to conduct your catering company in this Emirate. Remember, you can choose from Mainland or Free Zone. Depending on your selected area, you must apply for the Department of Economic Development (DED) if you select the mainland or relevant free zone authority if you have chosen the free zone.  

3. Name your catering service

Once you have determined the location of your catering service in Dubai, you should give an appropriate name to your catering business. We recommend you follow this step carefully as the UAE has strict guidelines for naming a company. However, you should avoid offensive elements or references to religion in your company name. Flyingcolour Business Setup can help you select a reliable name for your catering business.   

4. Choose a company structure

Next, you should move forward and choose a reliable company structure for your catering service in Dubai. Remember, you should consider the amount of control over your catering service with the responsibilities to select the perfect company structure.   

5. Apply for the trade license and other permits

After choosing the company structure in Dubai, you should apply for a catering license. You need a professional trade license to conduct your catering business in this city. Remember, you might also need an additional license for your catering service if you want to import a few goods.  At this point, you must present your business plan to the authorities. You should include everything about your catering business, like floor plans, windows, ventilation, kitchen tools, and more.  In short, you should keep your business plan and other related documents ready for the application of the catering license. We recommend you contact Flyingcolour Business Setup to know what documents you need to get the catering license. Plus, you must ensure you are meeting the necessary regulations in the UAE’s food code.    Lastly, you also need a permit from the flood control department. Again, you must submit documents, such as a trade license copy, employee health care, lab test reports, and more to obtain these permits for your catering business.  

6. Rent a kitchen

After getting the catering license, you should rent a kitchen as it is needed to cook food and store products. While choosing your kitchen space, you should consider your business size, tools, audience, and more. After selecting your kitchen, you must sign the tenancy agreement and register with Ejari.   

7. Get your visa and open your corporate bank account 

Next, you should get your visa to start a catering business in Dubai. With the help of a trade license, you can sponsor your family members and staff for their visas. Plus, you should open a corporate bank account in any bank in the UAE to handle all transactions of your catering business.  That’s it! Now, you can kick-start your catering business in Dubai. If you are interested in Launching a food delivery service in Dubai,  you should move to the next section.   

How to Launch Food Delivery Service in Dubai?

Apart from the catering business, you can also begin your food delivery service in Dubai. Let us look at the guide to start your food delivery business in this city: [caption id="attachment_15045" align="alignnone" width="1200"] catering services[/caption]

➦ Choose a legal structure

Initially, you should select an appropriate legal structure for your food delivery business in Dubai. You can choose a legal structure from a wide range of options, like sole proprietorship, partnership, or company.  

➦ Decide your name

Like a catering business, you should also decide on a relevant name for your food delivery service and register it with the UAE’s registry office. However, you should ensure that your business name adheres to the UAE naming guidelines.   

➦Get Initial approval

Once registering your food delivery company name, you should seek approval from the relevant authority in Dubai. However, you should consider factors like your business type and location before seeking initial approval.   

➦ Submit documents

Next, you should submit the required documents to the relevant authority to start your food delivery business in Dubai. We recommend you consult Flyingcolour Business Setup to know what documents you need to submit to these authorities.  

➦ Obtain additional permission

After getting the submitted documents, you should acquire any additional approval, like food safety and regulation, from the UAE government.    

➦Get a business license 

Lastly, you should acquire a delivery service trade license for your food delivery business in Dubai. At this step, you should submit the application to the Department of Economic Development (DED). Once your trade license application is approved, the DED will give your delivery service trade license. After which, you can commence your business activities.  

How can Flyingcolour Business Setup help you?

Whether you want to start your catering business or food delivery service in Dubai, you must go through a complex path to set up your food venture in this city. Flyingcolour Business Setup can help you to start your food-related business in this Emirate. Our expert will guide you to the easiest path to start your food delivery or catering business.  To learn more about the Catering and Food Delivery Service Business in Dubai, book a free consultation with one of the Flyingcolour team advisors. Please note that this article was published on  11/06/2024 by the federal policies and updates at the time of writing. For the latest info please talk to our consultant.