What Are the Reasons to Start a Restaurant Business in Dubai?

by Zaara 06, May 2020

Dubai is known as the financial and commercial hub of the UAE. The food industry is the primary beneficiary, as people cannot survive without food. 

Furthermore, a fast-paced life ensures that many people do not have the time to cook. With the advent of delivery apps, it is the restaurants that benefit the most from this incredible growth in the number of residents in the Emirate. 

Therefore, setting up a restaurant business in Dubai can be a fruitful endeavor if you play your cards right.

Significant Reasons to Start a Restaurant in Dubai

Here are the five significant reasons why you should start a restaurant business setup in Dubai.

1. Dubai’s Booming Food Industry

The food industry of UAE is the second largest sector in the country, with Dubai making itself a major destination in the Middle East for the food and beverage industry. KPMG, in a report, noted that the restaurant footprint of Dubai compares well with other established global food and beverage markets. 

2. Increase in the Number of Residents and Tourists in Dubai

The fast-paced life of Dubai leads one to rely on restaurants for food. This is hugely beneficial for the growth of the restaurant business in Dubai. 

Whether the tourists visit Dubai to bask in its cultural heritage or bask in the suns of Jumeirah beach, they, too, at the end of the day, rely on food from these restaurants to fulfill their essential nourishment.

3. State of the Art Infrastructure

In Dubai, there is no need for you to worry about the infrastructural requirements as it is at par with the global standards in infrastructure, modern amenities, and architecture. The Dubai Mall is the world’s biggest shopping center, the City Walk Mall in Jumeirah, which is well known for its various Michelin-starred restaurants, among others. 

There is a plenitude of premium locations scattered across Dubai that will be perfect to set up a restaurant in.

4. Ease of Acquiring Food and Trading Licenses in Dubai

It is easy to acquire a restaurant license in Dubai. An alcohol license also is available though it should be known that there exists a special process for obtaining the same, with additional fees being charged by the authorities.

5. Ease in Setting up a Business in Dubai

Starting a business in the UAE is hassle-free and quick if the right procedures are followed. There are various types of companies to choose from. 

However, unless you are setting up a restaurant business in a free zone in Dubai, you would require the presence of a local sponsor.

Factors to Consider Before Setting Up Your Business of Food in Dubai

Let us have a look at the factors to consider before setting up your food business in Dubai.

Do the Research 

Once you have initiated the business operations, you need to understand the market, the competitors, and the target audience. Each competitor available in the market will have a unique marketing strategy, and knowing such insights turns out to be fruitful for your business.

At the end of it, you will develop unique ideas on multiple grounds. Implementing unique insights will help you grab more customers, and once you can position your brand in their minds, your business is bound to grow.

Outline a Business Plan

After implementing the research process, make sure you draft an outline. Some of the areas that turn out to be a mandate are:

  • Set your goals according to a specific duration
  • Set a deadline to achieve the business break-even
  • Best utilization of the revenue generated at each point to accelerate your business
  • Create an emergency fund that will help you to survive in the extreme case
  • Build strategies to protect your business and brand.

Cost Consideration

You will need a hefty investment if you want to set up a restaurant in Dubai, UAE. Therefore, before moving forward, jot down the expenses to avoid wasting money on unnecessary things or going overboard and spending more than required. 

For every restaurant owner, it is essential to have an approximate idea of the expenses they will have to bear beforehand. Some of the costs to consider before opening a restaurant are:

  • License
  • Rent or expense of buying a new property
  • Permissions
  • Staff training program
  • Software for daily operations
  • Insurance
  • Working capital
  • Cost of setting up the restaurant – equipment, tables, chairs, etc.

Determining the Theme and USP of the Restaurant

Your restaurant concept includes the service style of your restaurant, the food you serve, and the ambiance of your restaurant. Another thing you need to consider is determining your restaurant’s USP. 

If you have an unusual theme or introduce an innovative menu item, it will help attract a lot of customers. Therefore, experiment with what has never been done before!

Hiring Qualified Staff and Become One of the Best Restaurants in Dubai

Having good employees is a clear indication of a good restaurant and the best service; therefore, it is essential to hire the best staff. The restaurant industry in the Gulf region has a high turnover rate which makes it very important to hire people who would stay and help your restaurant business grow. 

Before you start hiring, you need to consider the various roles you wish to hire people for.

  • Sous Chef
  • Prep cooks
  • Manager
  • Servers
  • Bartenders (if you wish to serve alcohol)
  • Host
  • Cleaning staff.

Attractive Interior Decoration

One of the significant attention-grabbing parameters in terms of the restaurant business is interior design. If you consider yourself a customer, you will never visit a restaurant that seems to be untidy. 

A well-furnished and best-decorated restaurant will grab your attention at first sight. You need to make sure that the ambiance of your restaurant is designed in such a way that it invites the audience itself.

Get an Annual Audit Done

To build on new business strategies, first, you need to make sure that the internal processes carried out in the organization are streamlined. To start with, you need to implement the audit and assurance services in Dubai to figure out if any illegal practice is prevailing in the organization. 

The moment an auditor prepares an auditor, the findings need to be implemented accordingly.

As stated before, it is quick and hassle-free to set up a restaurant business in Dubai, but it has many rules and regulations which need to be adhered to strictly, as even a minor offense can lead to multiple fines and, in worst cases, a suspension of license. 

To know more, do contact us- we would be delighted to assist you.

FAQs

What is the restaurant footprint of Dubai?

KPMG, in a report, noted that the restaurant footprint of Dubai compares well with other established global food and beverage markets.

What are the costs to consider before opening a restaurant in Dubai?

Some of the costs to consider before opening a restaurant are:

  • License

  • Rent or expense of buying a new property

  • Permissions

  • Staff training program

  • Software for daily operations

  • Insurance

  • Working capital

  • Cost of setting up the restaurant – equipment, tables, chairs, etc.

Which are some of the best places in Dubai to set up a restaurant?

The Dubai Mall is the world’s biggest shopping center, the City Walk Mall in Jumeirah, which is well known for its various Michelin-starred restaurants, among others.

Why should you do research before opening a restaurant in Dubai?

You will develop unique ideas on multiple grounds, and implementing them will help you grab more customers, and once you can position your brand in their minds, your business is bound to grow.

Why should you focus on the interior design of your restaurant in Dubai?

A well-furnished and best-decorated restaurant will grab your attention at first sight, and you need to make sure that the ambiance of your restaurant is designed in such a way that it invites the audience itself.