It’s no surprise to hear that the catering and food delivery business in the UAE is enormous and growing fast. This means there are a lot of opportunities out there for those looking to set up in this area. But how best to get started?
In this article, we are going to look at:
•How to start a catering business in Dubai, UAE
•Applying for your catering business license
•Catering license cost
•Setting up your food delivery service business in Dubai, UAE
How to start a catering business in Dubai, UAE
To start the process towards getting your catering or food delivery service business up and running, you first need to apply for your trade license. You can do this directly to the Dubai Department of Economic Development (DED) if you’re setting up on the mainland or you can set up in one of the UAE’s free zone.
For many, setting up in a free zone is the most cost-effective approach as they offer benefits such as a quick and easy incorporation process, business support, tax exemptions and no currency restrictions. (It’s worth noting, as the holder of a UAE trade license, you can also sponsor others – whether that is a spouse, a parent, child, or a domestic worker.)
Whichever option you selection, working with a company formation expert like Creative Zone can help you with this important process, managing your entire application end-to-end.
One key step is selecting a company name. The UAE is fairly strict when it comes to naming companies, so it’s important to be aware of the regulations. Essentially, you must avoid any language that could be seen as offensive or blasphemous. You must avoid any name that is already held by a well-known organisation.
If you’re naming your company after yourself, ensure that you don’t abbreviate your name. So Mike Jones Hospitality is fine, but M Jones Hospitality is not. Of course you will also need to ensure your chosen company name is still available for you to register. This part of the process, like many others, is much smoother if you choose to set up with a company formation specialist.
Having a one-stop-shop that can take you through the whole process – your trade license, your Emirates ID, and your visa – can cut a lot of the stress out of the process, allowing you to focus on your business. They can also advise on the differences between setting up in catering or specifically in food delivery, and so on.
Applying for your catering business license
On top of applying for your trade license, you will also need to look into specific catering license requirements through the Dubai Food Safety Department.
You’ll need to show the layout of your kitchen along with details on where food is prepared, all entrances and exits, where food will be processed and stored, among other things. Once you meet the catering license requirements, you’re ready to go.
Creative Zone can help you through all the steps of getting the necessary licenses to have your business up and running quickly and efficiently.
Catering license cost
A catering license can cost between AED 22,000 to AED 25,000, but there are a number of factors to consider here, and much will depend on the size and exact nature of your business. The fastest way to get an accurate price is to contact Creative Zone for the latest pricing information.
Setting up your food delivery service business in Dubai, UAE
Around two thirds of UAE customers use a food delivery service, which is far higher than most of the rest of the world. And with the right know-how, setting up a food delivery service in Dubai doesn’t have to be unnecessarily complex.
There are certainly gaps in the market for smaller food delivery apps, especially those that can leverage their agility versus the established larger players. With food delivery, you also don’t need to prepare the food yourself – you’re the middle person. So it’s a way of being in the food and beverage industry without owning a restaurant of any kind. You just collect food from local restaurants that you partner with, then deliver it.
While the steps to set up as a UAE food delivery service are not too complicated, a certain amount of prior knowledge is required. Specifically, it’s vital to ensure that your application for your business/visa/catering/food delivery license are all completely free from mistakes.
This can be somewhat stressful, so as we have advised throughout this article, the fast-track to getting up and running is through working with a company formation specialist.
They can also help you with opening a corporate bank account and also offer important advice on the type of financial institution that would best suit your requirements.
Here at Creative Zone, we offer you the best solutions to start your company in Dubai. You get fast, reliable and unbiased advice on your unique business setup requirements. We can help you choose the right kind of license for business activity and take you through the entire process from start to finish.
You can let us deal with the hassle of registering a company while you focus on your business. And working with us means you get the best budget friendly and cost-effective solution to help make your business dream a reality.
Over 10 years, Creative Zone has helped more than 36,000 entrepreneurs set up their businesses in Dubai. Whether it be a mainland business setup, offshore company setup, free zone company setup or issuing of trade licenses and any related activity for registering a company in Dubai, Creative Zone is your one-stop-shop.
Our customer-first focus and our staff who speak 22 languages means you get a tailored package to suit your specific needs. We have worked with clients from around the world, setting them up in over 200 different business activities.
Let Creative Zone make your journey into catering and food delivery quick and hassle-free.
