How to open a cloud kitchen in Dubai, UAE

The food delivery market in the UAE has seen a steady annual growth of 6%. With the trend towards convenience and touchless service, especially after suffering a pandemic, these virtual establishments have become an ideal solution. With changing customer preferences, new business mechanisms and the low profitability of traditional catering, most caterers in Dubai are considering switching to cloud-based kitchens. In today's realities, it is also a great opportunity for investors in search of new business ideas.
Orders in cloud kitchen models are taken through third-party platforms, websites, hotline numbers or mobile apps. Of course, most rely on online aggregators to handle large online orders. Such food delivery services include Deliveroo, UberEats and DoorDash.

It's not hard to see that cloud kitchens differ from the usual traditional cafes with lower costs. Working under this model, there is no need for dining areas for visitors: instead, processes for food delivery and takeaway orders are optimized. The absence of dining areas, utensils, and customer service staff provides delivery with flexibility and cost efficiency. Another non-obvious plus is the flexibility of the digital menu: at any time you can put the dishes on “stop” or change the menu by removing or adding items.

Thus, you are deprived of the red tape and financial losses with printed versions of menus. Thus, a virtual kitchen is relatively easy to operate and manage, and provides higher profits for employers. Free finances can be spent on marketing, staff training, state-of-the-art equipment and scaling up.

Having understood the advantages of this type of company, it is worth paying attention to the legal aspects of organizing a business in Dubai.

To register your business in the field of catering, there are a few basic steps to go through:

  • Choosing the optimal economic zone and the organizational-legal form of the company. Since there are many options for business location, each of which has its own advantages, we advise you to contact experienced professionals to select the most suitable option for your purposes.
  • Reservation of trade name. It is drawn up in accordance with the norms of the law and approved by the regulatory authorities.
  • Rent of the main premises for the storage of products and the work of cooks. For a successful launch, you do not need to look for a place in a popular or passable neighborhood, which also significantly reduces costs.
  • After obtaining preliminary approval from the regulatory authorities and submitting all the necessary documents, a license is issued, allowing you to conduct the activities specified in it.
  • Prior to opening, the premises and products must undergo a compliance inspection from the Department of Food Safety. Ensure all health, safety and food hygiene regulations are met in advance.
  • After successful registration, you can apply for a corporate account with a local bank and connect the necessary payment services for your delivery.
  • Hiring work staff and processing work visas for citizens of other countries. For this step, you need to register with the Ministry of Labor and obtain visa quotas.
In addition to paperwork and placement on aggregator sites, it is important to take care of creating a mobile app or website that is convenient for your customers and preparing quality packaging for food delivery. It has a significant role in maintaining the reputation of your brand. So, don't forget to take into account the trend of eco-friendly materials that customers can later send for recycling.

The city's diverse population, dynamic lifestyle and fast-growing food delivery market offers an affordable and efficient way to meet the demand of Dubai residents for a variety of dining options.

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