How to open a cafeteria in Ajman?

How to open a cafeteria in Ajman?

Your Guide To Opening Up A Cafeteria In Ajman

UAE is one of the foremost nations in terms of economic growth and prospects, and Dubai's contribution to the same cannot be overlooked. Within this growth strategy, one can find that the food business is taking off well. The UAE foodservice market is a treasure trove of opportunities, with a projected compounded annual growth rate of 5.22% till the year 2024.

The industry has suffered adversely in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic. Many businesses have been shut down, and the market is wide open for anyone to capture. The time is ripe for opening a cafeteria in Dubai. The Ajman Free Zone, also known as the Ajman Media City, is one of the hotspots for businesses right now.

The administration has streamlined the business opening process in Dubai down to the last T. There are a few simple steps to follow, paperwork to complete and licenses to procure before one can open the shutters of their cafeteria.

However, not adhering to the few compliances can land the owner in a bit of a soup, and the business might suffer economic losses in the form of delays or permanent closure.

In order to avoid any mishap, one needs to be armed with the right information to be thorough in the business registration process. This article lists all the procedural nitty-gritty one needs to be mindful of while opening a cafeteria in Ajman.

How To Open A Cafeteria In Ajman

Opening up a cafeteria in Ajman would require the procurement of a Cafeteria Business License. That license in necessary for any establishment to set up a food service business. Cafeteria licenses are granted by the Food and Safety Department.

On the other hand, it is fundamental that a business acquires a Trade License from the Department of Tourism and Commerce for running its operations in any part of Dubai.

Cafeteria License Procedure

· The first step towards opening your cafeteria is to obtain a trade license and food license from the respective authorities. There are three kinds of trade licenses: Commercial, Industrial, and Professional. Running a service requires a professional trade license.

· The next step involves looking for a local to be a sleeping investor/partner in your business. Every business set up in the UAE has a local from the business's area

involved. It is not necessary that the local-only act in a passive capacity. They can be active partners too.

· Get a seal of approval for the construction plans for your cafeteria or restaurant, keeping in mind the specifications of the Food and Safety Department. There are several guidelines that must be followed lest the establishment can fall into jeopardy. These guidelines have been mentioned later. If the cafeteria premises are rented, the owner would have to sign a tenancy contract and put it up on the EJARI. EJARI is an online portal where business residence related documents are to be uploaded for record-keeping.

· Signing of contract with the local partner in front of the notary and submission of all relevant documents to the Department of Economic Development.

· A No Objection Certificate (NOC) must be issued from the Food and Safety Department.

· The cafeteria license is provided by the authorities within a week of acquiring the trade license and NOC from the DED and Dubai Municipality.

· After the trade and cafeteria licenses are acquired, the owner can apply with the Ministry of Labour and Immigration for a grant of visa for the required number of workers in the organisation.

Cost Of The Cafeteria Opening Procedure In Ajman

Opening a cafeteria in any part of Dubai requires a lot of investment in the form of time and money, so one should set aside a budget for the same. There are various kinds of fees and charges to be paid, both to the authorities as well as any business consultant that you might hire for seamless set up of your operations. Roughly speaking, the cafeteria license costs anywhere between AED 140,000 to 200,000 and has to be renewed on a yearly basis, which only the DED can do.

Preliminary expenses for setting up a restaurant or cafeteria vary with respect to several factors like location, number of employees and space. Some of the fees to be paid are listed below -

· Trade Name Reservation Fee

· Initial Approval Fee

· Cost of Typing the Memorandum of Association

· Memorandum of Association Notarising Fee (The notary charges a hefty fee in free zones especially)

· EJARI Fees

· Stamp Fees

· Labour File Charges

· Market Fees

Food Safety Guidelines For Cafeterias

The Food and Safety Department has strict guidelines in place to ensure hygiene in service and waste disposal. These guidelines are to be taken seriously. The food establishment must be placed almost 50 meters from a waste disposal facility while at least 10 meters of the area encompassing the establishment must be kept clean at all times. Various other licenses and permits are requisite of the purpose of transportation of food (domestic), handling of pork as

well as releasing of food consignments. Import/export of food is governed by an altogether different set of laws.

Location Guidelines For Cafeterias

The food establishment must have adequate spacing to place all equipment easily and properly such that it does not jeopardize the cooking process. The premises must be fortified with a smoke management system, and have non-absorbent, washable, fireproof walls. Pests in the food establishment premises are a strict violation of health and safety codes and most likely to lead to closure. Washrooms and storage space must be segregated, and vegetables and meat must have their own washbasins in the kitchen.

Required Documents For Approval of Licenses

1. For Restaurant Blueprints -

Clear demarcation must be made for -

· food storage space and processing

· washrooms

· windows and ventilation system

· entry and exit passages

· location of different equipment used in the various processes

The layout has to be approved beforehand in order to obtain the food license approval from the Food and Safety Department. If an establishment is to be located outside a shopping centre, additional approval from the Planning Department is necessary.

In Conclusion

In the paragraphs above are explained the crucial steps on how to open a cafeteria in Ajman. The process is streamlined, and a few licenses and approvals are required to form the authorities. There are several guidelines one must pay heed to while setting up a food service in any part of Dubai.