Restaurant & Café Business Setup in Dubai – Complete 2025 Cost & Approval Breakdown

Opening a restaurant or café in Dubai in 2025 is one of the most profitable moves you can make — if you survive the approval jungle. A perfectly executed business setup in Dubai for an F&B business now costs between AED 185,000 and AED 650,000+ depending on size and location, and takes 45–120 days from zero to grand opening. This is the ultimate no-stone-unturned guide used by the 1,800+ new restaurants that launched successfully in 2025.

Why Dubai Remains the F&B Gold Rush in 2025

• 21+ million tourists expected (pre-COVID record already broken)
• Average monthly spend per resident on dining out: AED 2,200
• 42 % profit margins common (zero income tax + high ticket sizes)
• 1,200+ new F&B licenses issued Jan–Oct 2025 alone

The 6 Mandatory Licenses & Approvals You Cannot Skip

Approval	Issuing Authority	Time Required	Cost 2025 (AED)
Trade License (Food & Beverage)	DED or Free Zone	7–14 days	15,000–45,000
Food Safety Approval	Dubai Municipality	21–45 days	12,000–35,000
Kitchen & Shop Drawing Approval	Dubai Municipality	14–30 days	8,000–25,000
Alcohol License (if applicable)	Dubai Tourism (DTCM)	45–90 days	35,000–120,000
Outdoor Seating / Shisha (if any)	DLD + DM	14–30 days	15,000–60,000
Live Music / Entertainment	DTCM	30–60 days	25,000–80,000

Skip any one → instant closure order.

Step-by-Step 10-Phase Timeline (Average 78 Days)

Phase 1 – Concept & Location (Weeks 1–4)

Decide cloud kitchen vs. 50-seat café vs. fine-dining. Prime locations left in 2025:

• JLT cluster P–Z (cheaper than Downtown)
• Al Quoz industrial gourmet zone
• Dubai Hills Estate & Damac Hills (new family hotspots)

Phase 2 – Company Formation (Days 1–14)

Mainland LLC mandatory for restaurants (free zones do NOT allow F&B with public access).

Recommended: Dubai Multi Commodities Centre (DMCC) or Meydan mainland branch.

Phase 3 – Secure Premises & Ejari (Weeks 3–6)

Minimum built-up kitchen area: 400 sq ft + 120 sq ft cold room.

Average shell & core rent 2025:

• JLT / Business Bay: AED 180–280/sq ft
• Downtown / Marina: AED 350–550/sq ft

Phase 4 – Architectural Drawings & DM Approval (Weeks 5–10)

Must include: grease trap, exhaust system, 3-compartment sink, pest control plan.

2025 change: All drawings must now be submitted via Dubai Building Permit System (not email).

Phase 5 – Food Safety Training & HACCP Plan

Manager + 50 % of staff must complete Dubai Municipality Level 2–3 food safety course (AED 750/person).

Phase 6 – Final DM Inspection & Food License

Two inspections minimum. Pass rate on first visit in 2025: only 38 %.

Phase 7 – Alcohol License (Optional but Lucrative)

2025 quota exhausted in Downtown & Marina by March → apply in JLT or new areas early.

Phase 8 – Signage, Civil Defence & Final Fit-Out

Civil Defence approval now mandatory before DM food license (new 2025 rule).

Phase 9 – Staff Visas & Medicals

You need at least 1 UAE/GCC chef or F&B manager for approval.

Phase 10 – Soft Opening & Grand Opening

First 30 days classified as “trial period” — no marketing allowed until full license sticker displayed.

Full Cost Breakdown 2025 – Three Real Scenarios

Item	Cloud Kitchen (20 seats)	Mid-Range Café (60 seats)	Fine Dining (100+ seats)
Company + trade license	35,000	65,000	120,000
Premises rent + Ejari (first year)	120,000	450,000	1,200,000+
Fit-out & kitchen equipment	180,000	550,000	1,800,000+
Licenses & approvals	45,000	95,000	220,000
Alcohol license (if any)	N/A	80,000	120,000
Staff visas (first 10)	45,000	80,000	150,000
First-year total	AED 425,000	AED 1,320,000	AED 3,610,000+

Average breakeven: 4–9 months (cloud kitchens fastest).

The 2025 Fast-Track Secrets Used by Top Consultants

1. Use pre-approved kitchen shells in Al Quoz 1 & 3 (DM already inspected)
2. Partner with existing licensed F&B company for first 6 months (legal “umbrella”)
3. Apply for alcohol quota in January (first-come, first-served)
4. Hire a Dubai Municipality-ex-employee as consultant (90 %+ first-inspection pass rate)

Dubai’s F&B scene added AED 42 billion in revenue in 2025 so far. Follow every step above and your restaurant won’t just survive — it will print money in one of the hungriest cities on earth.