Looking to Start a Grocery Store in Dubai, UAE (2024) Guide
A grocery store in Dubai is a good business idea due to the opportunities offered by the local economy. Also, the license application process is quite simple and you will get the benefits of any small business in the country. Having a specialized organization is a good way for the process to flow properly. In this article, you will learn everything you need to open your store and comply with every legal requirement. In the same way, we detail the entire process so that you do not miss any aspect of each stage. Let us see: 1. Requirements to set up a grocery store in Dubai Before starting a grocery store in Dubai, you need to know the requirements to be able to do so. These requirements include the following: 1.1 A local sponsor People who want to set up a business in Dubai need to get a sponsor to support their business. The law establishes that the sponsor will own 51% of the business and you the remaining 49%. Therefore, this is an important point to establish your store, unless you do it in a free zone. 1.2 License and registration Another mandatory requirement to establish your business in Dubai is a proper license and other certifications. In this case, the authority in charge of providing these permits is the Department of Economic Development (DED). 1.3 Jurisdiction You can open your store in Dubai Mall or Meena Bazar considering which of these places will do you better. This is because you should consider an appropriate jurisdiction for your grocery store in UAE. This also counts for the shareholding structure that you must follow. 1.4 Procedures You should know that to establish your store, you must carry out the procedures indicated by the local authorities. In addition, you must obtain all the approvals of the departments that govern this type of business in the country. This includes certain permits, including visas and other important documents. 2. Steps to open a grocery store in Dubai If you are interested in opening a food store, you will notice that the procedure is quite simple. However, you can get advice from a professional organization if you want the process to flow smoothly. This will help you if you do not know the market or the procedures for setting up a company in the UAE. Thus, you will be able to obtain your license and all the necessary permits to start your successful grocery business. Therefore, to open your business in Dubai, you will need to follow the steps that we will detail below. 2.1 Initial considerations The first step is to determine some factors that will define the entire process to start the business. These items include the following: The investment you want to make Budget The location of the store Business structure The necessary licenses Market trends You will also need to do some research to find out the cost of licenses for these types of stores. In this case, advice is also important to know each of these aspects. This will give you a clearer vision of what you will need to set up your small business in Dubai. 2.2 Gather all necessary documentation The next step to opening your grocery store in the UAE is to collect all the required documentation. For example, to apply for your business license, you will need to present your visa and passport, as well as that of the other owners. In addition, you must have, among other documents, the following: Leasing contract Ejari Municipal permits Trade mark Having each of these documents will facilitate the corresponding procedures to continue with the process. 2.3 Project approval All the documentation mentioned in the previous point must be submitted to the established government entities. In this way, you will comply with the regulations established by the local government and the Department of Economic Development (DED). One of the first departments you should receive authorization from is the Department of Environmental Defense. With the first approval, you will have authorization from the local government to establish your business in the UAE. 2.4 Trade name The Department of Economic Development is the entity in charge of authorizing the name of your store in Dubai. In addition, the name that appears on the license must be the same as the name that will appear on your store sign. In addition, this name must comply with the standards established by the DED. For example, you must make sure that said name does not contain any kind of controversial or denigrating phrase. In this way, you will avoid incurring legal problems and losing the opportunity to lose your business. 2.5 choose a location for your grocery store The next step is to choose the specific location where you want to establish your business in the Emirate of Dubai. However, this process can be done in advance of the opening request process. In this case, the place must go through a verification process by the economic development department. Thus, from the moment you have the place where you want to settle, get the lease. Additionally, you must apply for the Ejari license to complete this stage. 2.6 Obtain the corresponding license In Dubai, there is a specific license for each type of economic activity that takes place in this emirate. These licenses can be the following: Commercial license Professional license Tourism license Industrial licenses The first of these categories is the most common type of license in the United Arab Emirates. Also, this is the type of license you need to be able to set up your food store in this emirate. Also, it must be that with this license you can only sell the groceries specified in it. Therefore, you will not be able to sell non-edible products such as medicines, pharmaceuticals, or cosmetics. You must pay the fee corresponding to this business license within the period established by the authorities. 2.7 Visa processing Although it appears as the last step,
