Food is the most heavily approved business category in the UAE, and it is the one where the licence is the cheap part. Dubai Municipality has to sign off your kitchen layout, your extraction, your staff's health cards and your menu category before anyone is served anything.
Each guide follows one activity from licence type through to municipality approval, with the fees split so you can see which are the government's and which are ours.
A Dubai tea shop is licensed as a coffee shop (150 sq ft), a cafeteria if it adds sandwiches (200 sq ft), or tea trading for packed tea. Fees and steps.
What a Dubai supermarket needs beyond a grocery license: the non-halal permit, promotion permits, hot-food counters, and the fees and fines that apply.
A Dubai cloud kitchen needs a DET food license, a municipality-approved layout, a certified Person in Charge each shift and delivery that meets municipal rules.
A vending machine business in Dubai needs a DET trade license, a location agreement for each machine and Dubai Municipality approval for food. Permits and steps.
A food truck license in Dubai costs about AED 20,000 to 40,000; a full launch runs AED 120,000 to 250,000. Approvals, documents and the steps in order.
Planning a food trading business in Dubai? Learn the foodstuff trading license cost, approvals, documents, and step-by-step process for 2026.
A grocery license in Dubai costs about AED 12,000 to 20,000; a small shop costs AED 70,000 to 150,000 to open before rent. Approvals, documents and fines.
Learn how to start a restaurant in Dubai step-by-step in 2026. Licensing, approvals, costs, and food safety rules explained for investors.
A cafeteria license in mainland Dubai costs about AED 12,000 to 18,000 in government fees; a small cafeteria runs AED 120,000 to 250,000 to open. Full breakdown.
Planning to start a food business in Dubai? Get 2026 license costs, approvals, real setup steps, and hidden expenses before you invest. Expert guide inside.
A bakery license in Dubai costs about AED 15,000 to 30,000; opening a bakery runs AED 150,000 to 400,000. DET and Dubai Municipality approvals, step by step.
A cafeteria license in Sharjah costs about AED 8,000 to 15,000 in government fees; opening a small cafeteria runs AED 60,000 to 120,000. Full fee breakdown.
