Dubai is one of the world’s most profitable and fast-growing F&B markets. With millions of tourists, high spending power, and a multicultural food-loving population, opening a restaurant here can be extremely rewarding — if done with the right planning.
But the process of starting a restaurant in Dubai involves licensing, compliance, concept development, financial planning, and operational setup. This guide breaks it all down step-by-step so you can launch confidently.
1. Define Your Restaurant Concept
Before you start working on costs or licenses, you must finalize:
- Cuisine & theme
- Service style (dine-in, café, cloud kitchen, QSR, fine dining)
- Target audience
- Price positioning
- Brand identity
- USP that makes you stand out
Dubai is competitive — your concept must be clear, unique, and market-backed.
👉 OPBFRA provides full restaurant concept development & feasibility for new and international brands.
2. Conduct a Feasibility Study
A feasibility study helps you understand:
- Market demand
- Menu viability
- Competitor analysis
- Expected footfall
- Licensing requirements
- Investment estimate
- Break-even timeline
Launching a restaurant without feasibility is one of the main reasons new outlets fail in Dubai.
👉 OPBFRA prepares detailed feasibility reports for restaurants of all sizes.
3. Choose the Right Location
Your location will directly impact your revenue. Consider:
Top locations for restaurants in Dubai:
- Jumeirah
- Dubai Marina
- Business Bay
- Downtown Dubai
- Deira & Bur Dubai (high traffic)
- Motor City
- JLT
Evaluate:
- Rent
- Visibility
- Nearby competition
- Parking availability
- Footfall patterns (residential, tourist, office crowd)
4. Determine Your Budget & Investment
Costs depend on size, cuisine, and restaurant style.
Typical cost range:
- Small café: AED 200,000 – AED 300,000
- Casual restaurant: AED 500,000 – AED 100,000
- Fine dining: AED 1.5 million+
Major cost components:
- Licensing
- Fit-out
- Kitchen equipment
- Interior design
- Staff recruitment
- Branding
- Marketing
- Working capital
👉 OPBFRA helps clients build accurate cost sheets before they invest.
5. Get Your Trade License
To legally open a restaurant, you need:
A. Trade License
Issued by the Department of Economic Development (DED).
B. Food License
Issued by the Dubai Municipality.
Documents may include:
- Business plan
- Tenancy contract (Ejari)
- Layout drawings
- Passport copies of owners
- Approvals depending on the concept (shisha, alcohol, entertainment, etc.)
6. Restaurant Layout & Approvals
Before fit-out, you must prepare:
- Architectural drawings
- MEP drawings
- Fire & safety plans
These must be approved by:
- Dubai Municipality
- Civil Defense
- Food Control Department
Mistakes in drawings cause delays — make sure they follow all UAE regulations.
7. Fit-Out & Interior Design
Your restaurant’s interior sets the tone for guest experience.
Key design considerations:
- Kitchen-to-dining ratio
- Ventilation & exhaust
- Fire safety
- Storage planning
- Staff flow
- Premium customer experience
👉 OPBFRA works with licensed contractors to manage your full fit-out process.
8. Build Your Menu
Dubai’s audience is diverse — your menu must be:
- Profitable
- Trend-conscious
- Easy to execute
- Market-ready
Consider:
- Food cost %
- Portion sizing
- Signature hero dishes
- Local taste adaptation
- Allergen & packaging compliance
👉 Our culinary team at OPBFRA builds high-performing menus for all cuisines.
9. Recruit & Train Staff
Recruitment includes:
- Chefs
- Baristas
- Service staff
- Cashiers
- Kitchen helpers
- Managers
- Delivery staff (if cloud kitchen)
Training is essential for:
- Service standards
- Food safety
- SOPs
- Upselling techniques
10. Pre-Launch Marketing & Brand Identity
Your brand must feel premium and trustworthy.
Focus on:
- Logo
- Brand identity
- Professional photography
- Social media setup
- Pre-launch buzz
- Influencer partnerships
- PR
- Paid ads
Opening day success heavily depends on how well you create hype beforehand.
11. Soft Launch & Grand Opening
A soft launch helps you:
- Test menu
- Fix issues
- Train staff in real customer flow
- Adjust recipes and service speed
After improvements, launch with a grand opening event.
12. Continuous Support & Management
After opening, success depends on:
- Cost control
- Menu engineering
- Staff performance
- Customer reviews
- Marketing consistency
- Inventory management
Dubai’s competitive F&B market requires ongoing support to stay profitable.
👉 OPBFRA provides long-term operational support & consulting for restaurants.
Conclusion
Starting a restaurant in Dubai is an exciting opportunity — but requires proper planning, expert guidance, and market understanding. With the right concept, financial planning, compliance, and execution, your restaurant can thrive in one of the world’s most dynamic F&B markets.
At OPBFRA, we handle everything from concept to launch to ongoing support, helping entrepreneurs and international brands build successful hospitality businesses in the UAE.