Restaurant Licensing Dubai 2025: Complete F&B Approval Guide

Complete guide to restaurant licensing in Dubai 2025. All approvals needed (DM, DCD, DED), timeline (4-12 weeks), costs, and step-by-step process for opening restaurants, cafes, and F&B outlets.

Last Updated: December 2025 | Reading Time: 9 minutes

Opening a restaurant in Dubai requires coordinating multiple authorities and obtaining several licenses and approvals. This comprehensive guide covers everything you need for restaurant licensing in 2025, including Dubai Municipality food safety, Civil Defence fire safety, DED trade license, and all F&B-specific requirements.

Quick Overview: What You Need

✅✅ Dubai Municipality Food License - Food safety and health approval ✅ Civil Defence (DCD) Approval - Fire safety certification ✅ Dubai Economy Department (DED) License - Trade license ✅ Building Fitout Approval - Construction permit ✅ Mall/Landlord Approval - If in shopping mall or building ✅ Timeline: 4-12 weeks depending on location and readiness ✅ Cost: AED 22,000 - 65,000 for approvals (fitout construction separate)

Understanding Restaurant Licensing in Dubai

The Four Main Approvals:

1. Dubai Municipality (DM)

Food safety approval
Kitchen design compliance
Health code requirements
Food handling permits
Health inspector approval

2. Civil Defence (DCD)

Fire safety certification
Kitchen suppression system
Emergency exits
Fire alarm and sprinkler system
Evacuation plan approval

3. Dubai Economy Department (DED)

Trade license issuance
Business activity classification
Company registration
Commercial permit

4. Building/Mall Management

Fitout design approval
Operating hours clearance
Signage approval
Delivery access coordination

Timeline: These run partially in parallel, taking 4-12 weeks total.

Step-by-Step Restaurant Licensing Process

Phase 1: Pre-Application (Week 1)

Step 1: Determine Your F&B Concept

Restaurant type (fine dining, casual, QSR, cafe)
Cuisine category
Seating capacity
Service model (dine-in, takeaway, delivery, or mixed)
Alcohol service (requires special tourism license)

Step 2: Secure Location

Sign lease agreement
Confirm location is zoned for F&B use
Verify landlord/mall permits F&B operations
Check competition restrictions (some malls limit similar concepts)
Obtain landlord approval in principle

Step 3: Company Formation

Establish mainland company (DED) or free zone entity
Choose business activity codes for F&B
Complete company registration
Open corporate bank account

Phase 2: Kitchen Design & Plans (Week 1-2)

Step 4: Hire Professional Consultants

DM-registered architect for fitout design
MEP engineer for kitchen systems
Civil Defence consultant (specialized F&B experience)
Project manager to coordinate all approvals

Step 5: Kitchen Layout Design

Dubai Municipality Kitchen Requirements:

Separate food preparation areas (raw/cooked)
Adequate ventilation and exhaust
Proper drainage with grease traps
Food storage areas (dry, cold, frozen)
Staff facilities (changing rooms, toilets - separate from customer)
Handwashing stations (hot water mandatory)
Pest control measures
Walls and floors: washable, non-porous materials
Equipment: commercial-grade, NSF certified

Critical Kitchen Design Elements:

Work triangle efficiency (prep, cooking, plating)
Health code compliance (temperature zones, cross-contamination prevention)
Equipment layout (hood above all cooking equipment)
Service flow (kitchen to dining room)
Waste management area

Step 6: Civil Defence Fire Safety Design

Kitchen hood suppression system (Ansul or equivalent)
Fire alarm system
Emergency lighting
Fire-rated doors and partitions
Emergency exit planning (2 exits minimum)
Sprinkler system (if building doesn't have central system)
Fire extinguishers placement

Phase 3: Dubai Municipality Approval (Week 2-5)

Step 7: DM Food License Application

Required Documents:

Trade license application/approval
Tenancy contract
Architectural drawings (kitchen layout)
MEP drawings (ventilation, plumbing)
Owner/manager passport and Emirates ID
Manager food safety certificate
Equipment list with specifications

DM Submission Process:

Apply online via DM portal
Upload all documents
Pay application fees (AED 1,000 - 3,000)
DM reviews kitchen design
Address any comments (typically 3-5 days turnaround)
Receive preliminary approval

Step 8: Health Inspector Consultation

Pre-inspection site visit (recommended)
Review kitchen setup requirements
Clarify any design questions
Ensure compliance before fitout begins

Phase 4: Civil Defence Approval (Week 3-6)

Step 9: DCD Application Submission

Required Documents:

Building fitout permit
Fire safety drawings
Kitchen suppression system design
Emergency evacuation plan
MEP layout showing fire protection

DCD Review Process:

Submit via Civil Defence portal
Technical review of fire safety systems
Address any technical comments
Receive preliminary approval
Proceed with fitout construction

Step 10: Fire Safety System Installation

Install kitchen suppression system (certified installer)
Complete fire alarm system
Install emergency lighting and exit signs
Ensure all fire-rated materials used
Test all systems before inspection

Phase 5: Fitout Construction (Week 4-10)

Step 11: Build Out Restaurant

Complete kitchen construction per approved plans
Install all equipment as specified
Complete dining area fitout
Install ventilation and exhaust systems
Plumbing and electrical completion
Finishes and furniture

Step 12: Pre-Inspection Preparation

Kitchen Checklist:

All equipment installed and operational
Ventilation system running properly
Hand washing stations with hot water
Staff facilities complete and separate
Food storage areas organized
Cleaning supplies stored properly
Waste bins with lids
Pest control contract in place
Kitchen spotlessly clean

Fire Safety Checklist:

Hood suppression system installed and tested
Fire extinguishers mounted correctly
Emergency exits clear and marked
Emergency lighting functional
Fire alarm system tested
All fire-rated doors installed
Evacuation plan posted

Phase 6: Inspections & Final Approvals (Week 10-12)

Step 13: Dubai Municipality Health Inspection

Inspector checks:

Kitchen layout matches approved plans
Equipment meets specifications
Proper ventilation and exhaust
Staff facilities adequate and separate
Food storage temperatures correct
Cleaning and sanitation procedures
Pest control measures
Staff health certificates

Common Failure Points:

Inadequate ventilation
Staff toilet sharing with customer toilets
Missing handwashing stations
Improper food storage
Incomplete pest control

If inspection passes: Receive food safety certificate If fails: Correct issues and schedule re-inspection (1-2 weeks)

Step 14: Civil Defence Fire Inspection

Inspector verifies:

Kitchen suppression system functional
Fire extinguishers properly placed
Emergency exits accessible
Emergency lighting works
Fire alarm system operational
Evacuation routes clear

Common Issues:

Suppression system not tested
Blocked emergency exits
Inadequate emergency lighting
Fire extinguishers missing or expired

If passes: Receive Civil Defence approval certificate If fails: Fix and re-inspect (add 2-3 weeks)

Step 15: Trade License Issuance (DED)

Final requirements:

DM food safety certificate
DCD fire safety certificate
Building fitout completion
Final inspections passed
All fees paid

DED issues trade license (usually 1-2 days after submitting certificates)

Phase 7: Opening Preparation (Week 12+)

Step 16: Soft Opening

Test operations with limited service
Train staff on food safety procedures
Verify all systems working
Address any operational issues

Step 17: Grand Opening

All licenses displayed at restaurant
Staff health cards obtained
Menu pricing compliant
Operating hours as licensed

Timeline by Restaurant Type

Restaurant Type	Best Case	Typical	Complex
Cloud Kitchen	4-6 weeks	6-8 weeks	10-12 weeks
Cafe (Simple)	6-8 weeks	8-10 weeks	12-14 weeks
Casual Restaurant	8-10 weeks	10-12 weeks	14-16 weeks
Fine Dining	10-12 weeks	12-16 weeks	18-20 weeks
Mall Restaurant	10-14 weeks	12-18 weeks	20-24 weeks

Timeline from lease signing to opening, assuming no major delays

Cost Breakdown 2025

Professional Consultant Fees:

Service	Cost Range
Complete F&B Licensing Service	AED 22,000 - 65,000
Architect (fitout design)	AED 15,000 - 35,000
MEP Engineer	AED 8,000 - 18,000
Civil Defence Consultant	AED 6,000 - 15,000
Project Management	AED 10,000 - 25,000

Government & Authority Fees:

Dubai Municipality:

Food license application: AED 1,000 - 3,000
Health inspection: AED 500 - 1,000
Annual renewal: AED 1,000 - 2,500

Civil Defence:

Fire safety approval: AED 500 - 2,000
Inspection fees: AED 300 - 800

Dubai Economy Department:

Trade license (mainland): AED 15,000 - 30,000/year
Trade license (free zone): AED 10,000 - 25,000/year

Mall Management (if applicable):

Design approval: AED 2,000 - 5,000
Fitout supervision: 2-3% of fitout cost

Equipment & Systems:

Kitchen Suppression System:

Installation: AED 15,000 - 35,000
Depends on kitchen size and equipment

Fire Safety Systems:

Fire alarm: AED 8,000 - 15,000
Emergency lighting: AED 3,000 - 8,000
Fire extinguishers: AED 2,000 - 5,000

Total Example (Casual Restaurant):

Consultant Fees:              AED 35,000
Government Fees:              AED 20,000
Fire Safety Systems:          AED 28,000
Mall Fees (if applicable):    AED  5,000
──────────────────────────────────────
Total Licensing Cost:         AED 88,000

Plus fitout construction (AED 250,000 - 1,500,000 depending on concept)

Common Mistakes & How to Avoid

Mistake #1: Poor Kitchen Design

Problem: Non-compliant layout rejected by health inspector Solution: Hire F&B-specialized architect familiar with DM requirements Cost of Error: AED 50,000 - 150,000 in redesign and delays

Mistake #2: Starting Fitout Before All Approvals

Problem: Changes required mid-construction Solution: Obtain DM and DCD preliminary approvals before building Cost of Error: 4-8 weeks delay + reconstruction costs

Mistake #3: Inadequate Ventilation

Problem: Most common health inspection failure Solution: Proper MEP design with adequate CFM for kitchen size Cost of Error: AED 30,000 - 80,000 to upgrade system

Mistake #4: Wrong Fire Suppression System

Problem: System doesn't meet DCD standards Solution: Use approved vendors and certified systems only Cost of Error: Complete replacement (AED 20,000 - 40,000)

Mistake #5: Underestimating Timeline

Problem: Promised opening date missed Solution: Add 4-6 weeks buffer to all estimates Cost of Error: Lost revenue + lease payments + staff costs

FAQ: Restaurant Licensing Dubai

How long does it take to get restaurant license in Dubai?

Timeline: 4-12 weeks for licensing approvals, plus 8-16 weeks for fitout construction.

Breakdown:

DM food license: 2-4 weeks
DCD fire safety: 3-5 weeks
Trade license: 1-2 weeks (after certificates)
Fitout construction: 8-16 weeks
Total: 14-28 weeks from lease to opening

Express services can reduce this by 2-4 weeks with premium fees.

How much does restaurant license cost in Dubai?

Licensing approvals only: AED 22,000 - 65,000 Total investment including fitout: AED 300,000 - 2,000,000+

Cost depends heavily on:

Location (mall vs street vs free zone)
Restaurant size and concept
Kitchen complexity
Design requirements

Can I open a restaurant in free zone?

Yes. Free zones (JAFZA, DMCC, DIFC) have their own approval processes:

Different authority (not Dubai Municipality)
Sometimes faster approvals
Lower licensing costs
May have restrictions on mainland delivery

We handle both mainland and free zone restaurant approvals.

What happens if I fail health inspection?

If you fail:

Receive detailed report of deficiencies
Must correct all issues
Schedule re-inspection (1-2 weeks)
Pay re-inspection fee (AED 500-1,000)
Cannot open until you pass

Common fixes take: 1-3 weeks Our clients: 95%+ first-time pass rate with proper preparation

Do I need separate approvals for delivery?

Yes, food delivery requires:

Food safety certificate (same as dine-in)
Proper packaging compliance
Delivery vehicle permits (if own fleet)
Third-party platform agreements (Talabat, Deliveroo, etc.)

Cloud kitchens (delivery-only) still need full DM and DCD approvals.

Need Help with Restaurant Licensing?

Gravity Engineering specializes in F&B licensing for restaurants, cafes, and cloud kitchens across Dubai with a 100% approval success rate.

Our Restaurant Licensing Service:

Complete kitchen design (DM compliant)
All authority approvals (DM, DCD, DED)
Fire safety system coordination
Mall management liaison
Inspection preparation and coordination
Fast-track processing available
Opening day support

Get Your Quote:

📞 Call: +971 52 244 8485
💬 WhatsApp: Chat with F&B specialist
🔗 Calculate Cost

Free Consultation: Share your F&B concept and location - we'll provide detailed timeline and cost within 24 hours.

About This Guide: Written by Gravity Engineering's F&B licensing specialists with experience opening 100+ restaurants, cafes, and food concepts across Dubai including Dubai Mall, Marina Mall, JBR, and all major F&B destinations.

Last Updated: December 2025

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