Key takeaways
- There is no single “food licence” certificate in Dubai. Your trade licence (from DET or a free zone) carries a food activity regulated by Dubai Municipality, and the Municipality’s Food Safety Department adds its own approvals on top.
- The first Municipality approval is the kitchen layout. Dubai Municipality lists it with no fee and a reply within 3 working days, and the trade licence carries a remark until it is approved.
- Every food establishment needs a certified Person in Charge (PIC). Restaurants, cafeterias and cafés need an advanced-certified PIC on every shift in the kitchen.
- Food trucks, kiosks, vending machines and event stalls need a separate permit: AED 160 for events or AED 200 for the others, plus AED 20, processed within 1 working day.
- Inspectors check records as well as kitchens. The Dubai Food Code lists 18 documents to keep on site, including pest control, grease trap and water tank cleaning contracts and temperature records.
- The costliest mistakes are avoidable. Building before the layout is approved, running a shift without a certified PIC and holding food between 5°C and 60°C each break a specific Food Code rule.
In short: As of October 2026, a Dubai food business needs a trade licence with a food activity regulated by Dubai Municipality, a kitchen layout approval (no fee, 3 working days), a certified Person in Charge and trained staff, then passes Municipality inspections. Trucks, kiosks and event stalls also need a permit costing AED 160 to 200 plus AED 20.
To get a food license from Dubai Municipality, you do not apply for one certificate: you clear a set of Food Safety Department approvals attached to your trade licence. Choose a food activity, submit a scaled kitchen layout before you build, fit out exactly to the approved plan, appoint a certified Person in Charge, train your food handlers and keep the records the Dubai Food Code asks for. Mobile and temporary formats then add a permit of their own.
This is the deep page for the Dubai Municipality side of any food business: restaurants, cafés, cloud kitchens, home kitchens, food trucks and kiosks, bakeries, catering, foodstuff trading and supermarket food sections. Facts come from Dubai Municipality’s service cards, the Dubai Food Code, the Municipality’s food safety guidelines and Invest in Dubai’s activity register, all checked on 16 October 2026. Opening a restaurant or café? Our guide on how to open a restaurant in Dubai covers the whole business plan; this page goes deeper into the food permit itself.
What is a Dubai Municipality food permit?
A Dubai Municipality food permit is not one document but the group of Food Safety Department approvals a food business must hold: the layout approval, the Person in Charge requirement, permits for special formats, product registration and routine inspections. The trade licence itself comes from DET or a free zone.
On the Invest in Dubai activity register, Restaurant (5610001), Cafeteria (5610003), Coffee Shop (5630001) and Catering Services (5629002) are “Professional” activities regulated by Dubai Municipality under Local Order No. 11 of 2003, each with the requirement “Request for Layout Assessment for Food Establishment Licensing”. The Dubai Food Code adds three rules from day one:
- The activity must be food-related and exact (section 2.1), and you may not carry out activities that are not on the licence.
- Layouts are approved before construction (section 2.2); major changes later need a new approval.
- A certified Person in Charge must be employed (section 3.1.1), with the name displayed where customers can see it.
Our Dubai mainland licence types guide explains how activities and external approvals fit together.
Which Dubai Municipality approvals does each food business need?
The Dubai Municipality approvals a food business needs depend on its activity: food service and manufacturing activities need a kitchen layout approval, mobile and temporary formats need a separate permit, and every format needs a Person in Charge.
| Business type | Example DET activity (code) | Layout approval | Extra Municipality permit | Person in Charge rule |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Restaurant | Restaurant (5610001), Professional | Yes, before fit-out | None for a fixed unit | One advanced-certified PIC per shift in the kitchen |
| Cafeteria or coffee shop | Cafeteria (5610003) or Coffee Shop (5630001), Professional | Yes | None for a fixed unit | One advanced-certified PIC per shift in each kitchen |
| Cloud kitchen | No “cloud kitchen” activity exists; use a food service activity | Yes; each unit in a shared cloud kitchen at least 200 sq ft | None for a fixed unit | As for the activity chosen |
| Home kitchen | A home-business licence route with a food activity | Same kitchen rules as any food establishment | Depends on how and where you sell | At least one certified PIC |
| Food truck or kiosk | No “food truck” activity exists; the truck or kiosk needs a permit from the licensing authority | Scaled layout of the unit with the permit application | Annual permit: AED 200 plus AED 20 | As for the activity chosen |
| Bakery | Bakery Products Manufacturing (1071001), Industrial | Yes | None for a fixed unit | Meat, egg, cream or milk products: advanced PIC per shift; bread and sweets: one PIC per establishment |
| Catering company | Catering Services (5629002), Professional | Yes | School supply permit (AED 200) if you feed schools | Advanced-certified PIC per shift |
| Foodstuff trading or supply | Foodstuff Supply Services (4630211) or Bread and Bakery Products Trading (4721013), Commercial | Where you store or handle food; the layout service covers warehouses | Product registration and label assessment | One PIC per establishment |
| Supermarket or grocery | Supermarket (4711002) or Grocery Store (4711003), Commercial | Listed for Supermarket; not listed on the Grocery Store card | SIRA security system certificate within 3 months (both) | Grocery with pre-packed food only: licence holder or manager with PIC certification |
Sources: Invest in Dubai activity cards; Dubai Municipality services 2976 and 2975; guideline DM-FSD-GU64, Table 3. Ready-made Meals and Dishes Preparation (1075004) is a separate Professional activity for food cooked, packed and chilled or frozen for later reheating, not food served immediately.
How much do Dubai Municipality food approvals cost?
Dubai Municipality food approvals cost little in fees: the kitchen layout approval has no fee, and permits for food trucks, kiosks, vending machines, non-Halal food, school supply and label changes cost AED 200 each (AED 160 for events), plus AED 20 Knowledge and Innovation.
| Dubai Municipality service | Fee | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Design layout approval for food establishments | No fee | 3 working days |
| Food activity at events | AED 160 + AED 20 | 1 working day; apply at least 3 working days before the event |
| Annual food truck permit | AED 200 + AED 20 | 1 working day |
| Annual food kiosk permit | AED 200 per kiosk + AED 20 | 1 working day |
| Food vending machine | AED 200 + AED 20 | 1 working day |
| Supplying food to schools | AED 200 + AED 20 | 1 working day |
| Non-Halal food activity | AED 200 + AED 20 | 1 working day |
| Modify an approved food label or packaging | AED 200 per permit (up to 5 items) + AED 20 | 1 working day |
| Food product registration / label assessment | Shown on the service card when you apply | 1 working day / 5 working days |
Sources: Dubai Municipality Permit for Food Related Activities, Approval of the Design Layout for Food Establishments and Register and Assess a Food Item. The bigger costs are the licence, unit, fit-out, equipment, training and service contracts; use our business setup cost planner and mainland cost guide for the licence side.
What is the step-by-step process for a Dubai Municipality food permit?
The Dubai Municipality food permit process runs in a fixed order: activity and trade licence first, then the layout approval before any fit-out, then building to the approved plan, staffing with a certified PIC, and finally the Civil Defence certificate and opening.
1. Choose the exact food activity
Match the activity to what you will actually do; the Food Code bars activities that are not on the licence.
2. Trade name and initial approval
On the mainland, the DET trade name and initial approval; in a free zone, the zone’s licence.
3. Check the unit before you sign
Dubai Municipality’s April 2020 requirements set minimum food areas, for example 300 sq ft of kitchen for a restaurant, 1,000 sq ft for catering and 2,000 sq ft for a supermarket. Our premises guide covers Ejari.
4. Submit the layout
A scaled layout showing receiving, processing, storage and utility areas with equipment specifications; free zone applicants attach their licence. Reply within 3 working days.
5. Fit out exactly to the approved plan
Changes to space, preparation areas, equipment placement or process flow need a new approval first.
6. Licence activated
Once the layout is approved, the Food Safety remark is removed from the trade licence.
7. People
Appoint a certified PIC, train food handlers with a Municipality-approved trainer, check occupational health cards, then process the establishment card and visas.
8. Safety certificate and contracts
Get the annual Dubai Civil Defence certificate of compliance with preventive and safety conditions, and sign pest control, grease trap and water tank cleaning contracts.
9. Open and stay inspection-ready
Keep the records below in one folder. Trucks, kiosks and event stalls apply for their permits, which need a valid inspection grade.
| Stage | Published time | Who decides |
|---|---|---|
| Layout approval | 3 working days per submission | Dubai Municipality, Food Safety Department |
| Truck, kiosk, vending or event permit | 1 working day after submission and payment | Dubai Municipality |
| Food product registration | 1 working day (label assessment 5) | Dubai Municipality |
| Replacing a departed PIC | Designate within 30 days; certified within 45 days | Your business, under Food Code 3.1.1(e) |
| Fit-out | Not set by any authority | You and your contractor |
What do Dubai Municipality inspectors check? A pre-inspection checklist
Dubai Municipality inspectors check that the premises match the approved layout, that a certified Person in Charge is present, that food is kept at safe temperatures, and that the records the Dubai Food Code lists are on site. Use this checklist, built from the Food Code’s own sections, before your first inspection.
| Check | What the Food Code expects | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Layout and licence | Approved layout and trade licence copies on site; no unapproved changes; only licensed food activities carried out | 2.1, 2.2; Annex A 3, 4 |
| Person in Charge | Certificate on file (valid 5 years); PIC present on every shift where high-risk, ready-to-eat or raw food is prepared; name displayed | 3.1.1; Annex A 7 |
| Training and health | All food handlers trained by an approved trainer, with records; medical fitness tests and occupational health cards; sick staff reported | 5.1, 6.2; Annex A 5, 6, 14 |
| Hand-wash stations | At least one in each food preparation area, with liquid soap, paper towels, water at a suitable temperature and a sign; used only for hand washing | 2.18 |
| Cold and frozen food | High-risk food at or below 5°C; frozen food at -18°C | 3.2.3, 3.6.2 |
| Cooking and hot holding | Core temperature at least 75°C for raw food of animal origin; hot food held at 60°C or above | 3.2.8, 3.2.10 |
| Cooling and reheating | 60°C to 20°C within 2 hours, then to 5°C within 4 hours; reheat above 75°C for hot holding | 3.2.11, 3.2.13 |
| Temperature records | Time and temperature logs for receiving, storage, cooking and holding; thermometer calibration records | Annex A 12, 13 |
| Pest control | No pests; work by a specialist licensed pest control agency; original contract and visit records | 4.3; Annex A 8 |
| Grease trap | Suitable, regularly inspected trap, outside the premises where possible; cleaning contract | 2.15; Annex A 9 |
| Water tanks | Cleaned and disinfected at least twice a year by an approved company; evidence even when a mall shares the tank | 2.13; Annex A 16 |
| Waste and chemicals | Enough labelled bins with foot-operated lids; chemicals stored apart from food in labelled non-food containers | 2.14, 4.5 |
| Food safety programme | Written HACCP-based programme that identifies and controls hazards, reviewed at least yearly | 3.1.3 |
| Other records | Inspection book, PIC handbook, cleaning programme, supplier details, complaint record, recall form, vehicle permits where needed | Annex A 1, 2, 10, 11, 15, 17, 18 |
Water tank cleaning companies need their own Dubai Municipality approval under Approval for Food-Related Establishments, so ask your contractor for it before you sign.
Why do food inspections fail or applications get returned?
Food inspections fail and applications get returned in Dubai when a business breaks a specific, published rule: a layout that does not match the plan or the code, no certified PIC on shift, food in the 5°C to 60°C danger zone, or missing records. This table is illustrative, compiled from Dubai Municipality’s rules, not from inspection statistics.
| Common problem (illustrative) | Why it fails | How to avoid it |
|---|---|---|
| Fit-out started before layout approval | Approval is required before construction or renovation | Build only to the approved drawing |
| Layout returned as incomplete | The drawing must be scaled and show every area and the equipment specifications; free zone files need the licence | Mark every zone, sink and machine; attach specifications |
| Unit below the minimum food area | Minimum areas are set by activity | Measure against your activity’s figure before signing |
| No certified PIC on the night shift | High-risk kitchens need a PIC during all shifts | Certify one PIC per shift, plus a back-up |
| PIC left and was not replaced | Replace within 30 days; certify within 45 | Diary the dates the day notice is given |
| Hand-wash sink used for vegetables or unstocked | Hand-wash stations are for hand washing only, with soap and towels | Sign each sink; check supplies every shift |
| Food left between 5°C and 60°C | This is the Food Code’s temperature danger zone | Probe thermometer and written logs |
| Expired pest control or tank contract | Both are listed records; tanks need cleaning twice a year | Set renewal reminders; file visit reports |
| Event permit requested too late | Event permits need at least 3 working days’ notice | Apply when the participation letter arrives |
| Truck or kiosk permit refused | Applicants need a valid grade, typically A, B or C without major violations | Clear violations from the last inspection first |
When a layout comes back, Dubai Municipality explains the required changes in the application comments, and you re-submit through the same process.
Who needs a Person in Charge, and how many?
Every Dubai food establishment needs at least one Person in Charge certified in food safety, and Dubai Municipality’s training guideline sets the number and level by business type, from one advanced PIC per shift in a restaurant kitchen to one PIC per food trading company.
| Business type (guideline wording) | Number of PICs | Qualification |
|---|---|---|
| Restaurant | One per shift in the kitchen or production area | Advanced PIC |
| Cafeteria and café | One per shift in each kitchen | Advanced PIC |
| Bakery with meat, egg, cream or milk products | One per shift in the production area | Advanced PIC |
| Bakery making bread, chocolate or sweets | One per establishment | PIC |
| Catering with preparation at the service site; central kitchens | One per shift | Advanced PIC |
| Grocery, pre-packed food only | One per licence (holder or manager) | PIC |
| Food trading companies | One per establishment | PIC |
Source: Dubai Municipality, Requirements for Integrated Training Management System for Food Establishments (2022). The same guideline says PIC certificates are valid for 5 years, food handlers take a basic course (3 learning hours, or 5 for the food service version) with a refresher every three years, and trainers need Municipality approval.
What are Foodwatch and Montaji, and when do you need them?
Foodwatch and Montaji are Dubai Municipality’s digital food safety platforms: Foodwatch links food establishments, their Persons in Charge and inspectors, while Montaji+ is the platform for registering and approving food products. Restaurants mainly meet Foodwatch; traders and importers also meet Montaji.
- Foodwatch. In its 2020 announcement (72,108 mandatory PICs at the time), Dubai Municipality said PICs share daily reports through Foodwatch and report corrective actions to inspectors through the smart inspection system. Some current service cards also refer to a “DM Checked” platform.
- Montaji+. Dubai Municipality described it in February 2025 as a food product regulation platform holding over 1.7 million registered products.
- Product registration. Fresh fruit and vegetables are the only products exempt from label assessment, and products already on the federal ZAD system need no re-registration, only a label assessment for sale in Dubai.
Importers also need a Dubai Customs code; see our customs code guide and import and export guide.
What is different for cloud kitchens, home kitchens, food trucks and kiosks?
Cloud kitchens, home kitchens, food trucks and kiosks follow the same Dubai Food Code as restaurants, with one rule that changes each plan: a minimum unit size, an annual Municipality permit, or kitchen standards that apply even at home.
- Cloud kitchens. Each unit in a shared facility must be at least 200 sq ft, with storage, preparation and washing areas allowed to be shared.
- Food trucks and kiosks. The annual permit needs a truck or kiosk permit from the licensing authority and a scaled layout showing equipment and staff facilities. The Food Code (2.23) requires prior approval for mobile vendors.
- Event stalls. Each event needs its own permit, and each kiosk at an event such as Global Village needs a separate one.
- Home kitchens. Food made at home for sale still needs a licence with a food activity and a kitchen that meets the Food Code; see our home business licence guide for who qualifies.
Which approvals apply to bakeries, catering, foodstuff trading and supermarkets?
Bakeries, catering companies, foodstuff traders and supermarkets are all regulated by Dubai Municipality, but bakery manufacturing is an Industrial activity, catering is Professional, and trading, grocery and supermarket activities are Commercial, each with different extra approvals.
- Bakeries: Bakery Products Manufacturing (1071001) lists the layout assessment; cream or meat products need an advanced PIC on every shift.
- Catering: supplying schools needs the AED 200 school supply permit, a school contract and a food list approved by the Food Safety Department.
- Foodstuff trading: mostly warehouses, product registration and label assessment; our general trading licence guide explains when a broader licence fits.
- Supermarkets: the activity lists the layout assessment and a SIRA security system certificate within three months. Stores with open high-risk counters fall in the guideline’s mixed-activity category, where staff take the food service version of the basic course.
Can a free zone food business get Dubai Municipality approval?
A free zone food business can get Dubai Municipality approval: the layout approval and the food-related permits accept free zone applicants, who attach the trade licence issued by their Dubai licensing authority. Check that the zone offers your food activity; our Dubai free zones list and start a business route map compare the options.
Illustrative scenarios (examples, not real cases)
| Example business | Municipality approvals to plan for | The trap to avoid |
|---|---|---|
| A delivery brand in a shared cloud kitchen | Food service activity, layout approval, advanced PIC per shift | A unit under 200 sq ft |
| A coffee truck at weekend markets | Licensing authority truck permit, annual Municipality permit, event permits | Applying fewer than 3 working days before an event |
| A cake bakery using fresh cream | Bakery manufacturing activity, layout approval, advanced PIC each shift | One PIC for a two-shift kitchen |
How MIRDXB PRO helps with Dubai Municipality food approvals
We prepare and submit Dubai Municipality food applications on the client’s behalf: checking your activity and unit before you sign, preparing the layout submission with your designer, filing truck, kiosk, event and product requests, and handing you a pre-inspection folder built on the checklist above. Our fee is a fixed fee quoted after we see your layout and activity. Government fees are paid at cost. We are a private PRO and visa services company in Al Barsha 1, Dubai, not Dubai Municipality, and we do not train or certify PICs. See our business setup service for the licence side.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a food license from Dubai Municipality?
Yes, in effect. Your trade licence comes from DET or a free zone, but food activities are regulated by Dubai Municipality, which must approve your kitchen layout before the licence is activated. You also need a certified Person in Charge, trained food handlers and, for trucks, kiosks, vending machines or events, a separate Municipality permit.
How much does Dubai Municipality charge for a food permit?
The kitchen layout approval has no fee. The permits for food trucks, kiosks, vending machines, school supply and non-Halal food are AED 200 each, and an event permit is AED 160, all plus a AED 20 Knowledge and Innovation charge. Licence, rent, fit-out and training costs are separate and much larger.
How long does Dubai Municipality layout approval take?
Dubai Municipality says it replies within 3 working days, with the layout approved, rejected or returned for changes. A returned layout must be corrected and re-submitted, which starts a new review, so a complete, scaled drawing with every zone and piece of equipment marked is the fastest route to approval.
Can I start fit-out before the layout is approved?
You should not. The Dubai Food Code requires layout approval before construction or renovation, and no alterations are allowed afterwards without prior approval. Building first risks tearing out sinks, walls or equipment that the Municipality will not accept, which costs far more than waiting three working days for the answer.
What is a Person in Charge (PIC) in Dubai?
A PIC is the staff member directly responsible for food safety in the establishment and the link with Dubai Municipality. Every food establishment needs at least one full-time, on-site PIC certified in food safety. The certificate is valid for 5 years, and the PIC’s name must be displayed where customers can see it.
How many PICs does a restaurant need?
Dubai Municipality’s training guideline asks restaurants, cafeterias and cafés for one advanced-certified PIC per shift in the kitchen. A kitchen running two shifts therefore needs at least two certified PICs. If a PIC leaves, a replacement must be designated within 30 days and certified within 45 days.
What temperatures do Dubai inspectors check?
The Dubai Food Code sets high-risk cold food at 5°C or below, hot holding at 60°C or above, a cooking core temperature of at least 75°C for raw food of animal origin, and frozen storage at -18°C. Cooked food must cool from 60°C to 20°C within 2 hours, then to 5°C within 4 hours.
Do food businesses in Dubai need a pest control contract?
Yes. The Food Code says pest control must be done by specialist licensed pest control agencies using approved chemicals and methods, and it lists the original pest control contract and record of visits among the documents to keep on site for the inspector. Grease trap and water tank cleaning contracts are on the same list.
How often must water tanks be cleaned for a food business?
The Dubai Food Code says water storage tanks should be cleaned and disinfected at least twice a year, or more often if needed, by a cleaning company approved by the Municipality. If a mall shares one tank among several outlets, each food establishment should still be able to show documented evidence of cleaning.
Does a cloud kitchen need Dubai Municipality approval?
Yes. A cloud kitchen holds a food service activity and needs the same layout approval as a restaurant. Dubai Municipality says each unit in a shared cloud kitchen must be at least 200 sq ft, with storage, preparation and equipment washing areas allowed to be shared among the kitchens.
What permit does a food truck need in Dubai?
A food truck needs a truck permit from the licensing authority and Dubai Municipality’s annual food truck permit, which costs AED 200 plus AED 20 and is processed within 1 working day. The application includes a scaled layout of the truck, and applicants need a valid inspection grade, typically A, B or C.
Can a free zone company get Dubai Municipality food approval?
Yes. Dubai Municipality’s layout approval and food-related permit services accept free zone applicants, who attach the trade licence issued by their Dubai licensing authority. The same Food Code, PIC rules and inspections apply, so check that your zone offers the food activity and that your unit can meet the kitchen requirements.
- Approval of the Design Layout for Food Establishments (service 2976): Dubai Municipality
- Permit for Food Related Activities (service 2975): Dubai Municipality
- Register and Assess a Food Item (service 2974): Dubai Municipality
- Approval for Food-Related Establishments (service 2978): Dubai Municipality
- Dubai Food Code, sections 2, 3.1, 3.2, 4.3, 4.5, 5.1, 6.2 and Annex A: Dubai Municipality
- Requirements for Integrated Training Management System for Food Establishments (2022): Dubai Municipality
- Food Establishment Requirements Based on Activity (April 2020): Dubai Municipality
- PIC programme and Foodwatch (2020): Dubai Municipality
- Digital food safety services and Montaji+ (2025): Dubai Municipality
- Business activity register: Invest in Dubai
- Certificate of Compliance with Preventive and Safety Conditions: Dubai Civil Defence
Please note. This guide sets out Dubai Municipality’s food establishment approvals, permits, fees and inspection rules as published by Dubai Municipality, Invest in Dubai and Dubai Civil Defence, checked 16 October 2026. Minimum areas come from Dubai Municipality’s April 2020 requirements and may have changed, so confirm the figure for your activity before you sign a lease. MIRDXB PRO is a private PRO and visa services company in Al Barsha 1, Dubai. It is not Dubai Municipality, a licensing authority or a food safety training provider, and it prepares and submits applications on the client’s behalf. Approvals, grades and permits are decided by the relevant authority, and fees and rules change without notice. General information, not legal advice.
