Launching a Cloud Kitchen in Dubai: A Step-by-Step Guide to Success

Nowadays, people are more interested in ordering food than getting ready, and going out to have food. For the same reason, Cloud Kitchen’s demand is growing more and more. Basically, a cloud kitchen is a place where you cook and serve food without having a dining space for people to come. Brilliant, right? Less investment than the traditional way of opening a restaurant and still earning from your skills and expertise. Today, let’s explore how one can launch a cloud kitchen in Dubai.

What is Cloud Kitchen?

In simpler words, a cloud kitchen is the best to earn money without much investment and the best for people who want to eat food without leaving the home. So, it offers benefits for both parties. Cloud kitchen owners can cook food as per their expertise, and then they can send the food to the customers via third-party apps like Uber Eats & Zomato. Basically, cloud kitchens let you earn a good amount of money with your culinary expertise and help you turn your skills into making money.

Step-by-Step Guide to Setup Your Cloud Kitchen in Dubai.

Here’s a step-by-step guide that helps you in setting up your business in Dubai, UAE. This simple guide helps you, and if you feel like needing expert advice or a helping hand, feel free to call Bizvisor.

1. Finalize your culinary niche: As you are an expert in cooking, you know there are so many options when you want to open a cloud kitchen. You just have to find which culinary niche is your expertise, and if that niche is in trend, and based on all this, you have to finalize your culinary niche and put your mind, energy, time, and money into it. Don’t just start it because you want to, think about everything and then step a foot into the cloud kitchen.
2. A mindful budget: Everything works best when you have a proper, tight, and mindful budget. Starting a business might come with new expenditures that you were not aware of earlier, or something can be out of your budget. At that time, make a mindful choice rather than just buying it because you want it. Think, calculate, and then make mindful choices as per your budget.
3. A concrete business plan: Starting a business in Dubai comes with  different business structures:
   • Limited Liability Company
   • Free Zone entity
   • Sole proprietorship

     One has to select from the above-given business structure. Based on that, you have to make decisions about your cloud kitchen setup in Dubai.Also, with that, you have to keep in mind creating a tempting menu that attracts everyone’s attention. And based on the selected menu, create a list of suppliers who deliver essentials for your cloud kitchen. Manage an inventory in a way that you avoid running at the last moment.

4. Trade name and register with the DED: While selecting a name, choose the one that is not yet used by anyone else. After choosing, reserve your business name with the Dubai Department of Economic Development. After this comes the step of registering your business under whichever legal structure you’ve chosen. Submit your legal entity, supported documents, and everything with the DED.
5. Obtain a UAE residency visa: To conduct business in Dubai, one must need to have a UAE residency visa. One can apply for a Golden visa or Green visa to live and work in Dubai. For the same, you have to submit proof of investment and health screening.
   • If you’re starting your business in a Free Zone, then the Free Zone authority can sponsor your visa. This makes the visa process easier and smoother.
   • You need to have proper documents, and that follows: business registration proof, passport photocopies, and bank statements.
   • Submit all the documents and wait for your approval. Once approved, you can have a visa for three years.
6. Obtain residency license:  To start your cloud kitchen, you need the below-listed licenses.
   • Commercial license: To acquire this license, you have to submit your business plan and other required documents with the DED.
   • Food license: With a commercial license, additionally you need a food license from the Dubai Food Municipalty’s Food Safety Department. In this, you have to pass kitchen inspection and adhere to food safety regulations.
   • Trade license: In this, you have to specify your business activities of food production, business, and delivery.
   • Liquor license: If you wish to sell liquor in your cloud kitchen, a liquor license is mandatory.
7. Choose a suitable location: After all the paperwork and mindful thinking are done, the next step is to choose a location that goes as per your budget and as per the third-party delivery convenience. Buy equipment that works the best as per the menu you have chosen.  And lastly, ensure that everything is as per Dubai’s health and safety standards.
8. Partner with delivery platforms: As you are a cloud kitchen owner, you have to find a third-party delivery partner. There are many options like Uber Eats, DoorDash, and Deliveroo. Find out their policies are they match what your customers want and are these policies work for you. Or else your staff can also deliver the food. It totally depends on you and how you can save big.
9. Hire and train your staff: Hire a staff that knows which kind of food they have to cook and is the best in what they cook. Make sure they have a work visa. If you feel the need, train them as per your work ethic and food taste. Plus, ensure that you follow the payroll system as per Dubai’s labor laws, including the Wages Protection System for safety.
10. Open a corporate bank account: To run a business, you need a corporate bank account to manage your transactions, savings, etc. Also, it works best if your bank’s policies work in accordance with your business goals.
11. Secure insurance coverage: There are some insurances you must take care of while running a business.
    • Property insurance: Protect your cloud kitchen’s physical assets with this.
    • Liability insurance: This insurance safeguards you against legal liabilities arising from injuries occurring on your properties.
    • Product liability insurance: This one covers risk with products and health safety.
    • Worker’s compensation insurance: If your employees get any injuries during working hours, this insurance helps.
12. Marketing and branding: After starting your business, you must focus on how you can reach the audience. And for that, try to follow the best marketing advice. Build your brand logo, and packaging, and do the necessary campaigns to reach the targeted audience. You can also hire a social media marketing team that manages your social media account and helps you reach the right audience.
13. Launch your cloud kitchen: After everything is done, it’s time to launch. But first, try to do it on a small scale. Open it in a way that you attract customers, get their feedback, and know if what you’re doing is perfect or not. If you find it perfect, go for the grand opening through social media, YouTube videos or influencer marketing.

This is the guide that will surely help you open your cloud kitchen in Dubai. But we understand that opening a new business will always be a happy, stressful process as you are excited but scared too. That is why you can reach out to Bizvisor, and we will make the process only happier one, eliminating the stress factor for you.