Opening a restaurant and food business in Dubai and the UAE
Dubai is an ideal place for opening a restaurant and food businesses for Israeli entrepreneurs. Dubai, inter alia, is a coveted tourist destination, has a rich and varied cultural fabric, a new demand for kosher food has been created, and it is possible to open businesses there fairly easily. All these constitute excellent opening conditions for whoever wishes to set up food businesses in Dubai and the United Arab Emirates.
In this article an attorney from our office explains how this can be done.
For any questions and consultation in the matter of visas and licenses for the purpose of opening a restaurant and other businesses in Dubai and the United Arab Emirates, you can contact the experts in emigration law and commercial law at our law firm. Our office assists Israeli and international clients in company registration and in opening businesses in the UAE and other countries. All this is with full compliance vis-a-vis the authorities and in conjunction with leading companies in the field of emigration in these countries.
THE ENTRY OF ISRAELIS INTO THE FOOD INDUSTRY IN DUBAI AND THE UNITED ARAB EMIRATES
Dubai is one of the most important tourist destinations in the world. Accordingly, it is possible to find a very wide variety of restaurants and food businesses here. These include street food, food markets, bars, prestigious restaurants and everything in-between. The cultural variation which arises from the fact that the majority of the population in the United Arab Emirates (around 88%) comprises of immigrants from all over the world is very noticeable in the culinary field. Following the peace agreement allowing Israelis to visit and obtain visas for Dubai, quite a few Israelis have already begun to express an interest in opening businesses in Dubai, including in the food and restaurant industries.
The Israeli interest in the field is not surprising, as Israel is a rising star on the culinary scene. Many Israeli chefs have already opened restaurants abroad, and gained enthusiastic reviews and even awards, including Michelin stars. Furthermore, tourism from Israel will naturally create a demand for kosher food. The ease of setting up businesses in Dubai and the United Arab Emirates is also likely to have a favorable effect on the opening of “blue and white” food businesses there.
WHAT IS REQUIRED IN ORDER TO OPEN A RESTAURANT AND FOOD BUSINESSES IN DUBAI AND THE UNITED ARAB EMIRATES?
Dubai’s high ranking in the global Ease of Doing Business Indices is also apparent in the field of food and the restaurant business. Israelis and foreign citizens who are interested in setting up food businesses in Dubai and the United Arab Emirates may obtain a work visa and business licence through a relatively speedy procedure. Nevertheless, this requires some forethought about the type of licence required and the selection of the area in which the business will operate.
There are various types of business licenses in Dubai and in the other Emirates – an industrial licence, a commercial licence, a licence for the tourism business etc. Each will be appropriate for a different purpose and will necessitate filing an application and various documents. It is very important that you obtain the relevant licence, because it is not possible to convert a licence that has already been issued into a licence of another type.
In addition to this, the United Arab Emirates are divided into regions. The basic division is between the main regions (Mainland) and the free trade regions (Free Zones). As a rule, the opening of food businesses in the Mainland areas requires division of ownership in the business and registration of the local sponsor as being the holder of at least 51% of the shares in the business.
On the other hand, opening businesses in the Free Zones allows full ownership of the business (100%) but still requires registration of a local representative (Agent). Our office assists Israelis in setting up businesses in Dubai and the United Arab Emirates, and for this purpose it is in contact with the authorities and cooperates with the leading company in the field. Within this framework we assist in liaising between Israelis and the sponsors and agents.
ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS FOR THE PURPOSE OF OPENING A RESTAURANT AND FOOD BUSINESSES IN DUBAI AND THE UNITED ARAB EMIRATES
The regulation in the field of food is identical all over the United Arab Emirates, and most of the rules in the matter are contained in the Food Code. This is a collection of procedures that determine various criteria for hygiene, manufacturing methods, packaging, and the serving of food etc. Compliance with the conditions of the Code is essential for the purpose of operating businesses in the field of food throughout the United Arab Emirates. Furthermore, there are additional rules for the purpose of opening specific businesses. Examples: the sale of alcohol requires the issue of a special permit and will only be allowed in certain regions. Likewise a special permit is also required for the purpose of opening food businesses in malls.
CONTACT THE ATTORNEY SPECIALIZING IN EMIGRATION LAW IN THE MATTER OF OPENING A RESTAURANT AND FOOD BUSINESSES IN DUBAI AND THE UNITED ARAB EMIRATES.
As may be proved, setting up a restaurant and food businesses in Dubai and the other Emirates is a possible and not an especially complex investment. If you are considering activity in the field and you have further questions, you can make contact with us and we will be happy to assist you. Our law firm in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem, specializes in emigration law and commercial law, and assists Israelis wishing to set up and do business in the United Arab Emirates and in a variety of countries.
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