Which format fits
Restaurants serve guests on site, so a mainland format with premises, a licence and municipal approvals is usually required. Alcohol and certain other activities require additional permits.
What to pay attention to
- Premises, the lease agreement and approvals affect the launch more than the licence itself.
- It is more convenient to run each venue in a separate company within the group.
- Staffing and visa requirements depend on the number of employees.
Structure and asset protection
Each restaurant sits in its own company, with the brand and concept rights in a holding company. If one project closes, the others are not affected.
The overall logic of the structure is described on the page “Asset protection and ownership structures”.
Bank account
The bank is interested in the lease, cash register turnover and suppliers. For a new business, prepare the concept and a financial model.
More: bank account opening.
Common mistakes
- The licence is registered before the premises are chosen
- All venues are combined in one company
Where to start
Tell us about your business. We will review your situation and propose a company format, a jurisdiction and an ownership structure. You can compare the options in the article “Free zone or mainland”, and costs are covered in the article “How much does it cost to open a company in Dubai”.
Regulations and licensing requirements change. Current conditions must be verified before launch. The decision to open an account is made by the bank. Tax consequences depend on your residency.