Dubai has transformed itself into a global tourist destination. The United Arab Emirates is home to the world’s most luxurious hotels, incredible architecture, and mouth-watering restaurants with food and chefs from around the world.
Dubai’s beverage industry plays a vital role in the growth of the United Arab Emirates economy. If you’re considering opening a beverage business in Dubai, Trade License Zone has created this helpful guide to get you started on the right path.
In this article, we’ll cover:
- An overview of the beverage industry in the UAE
- Steps to get a beverage trading license in Dubai, UAE
- Cost of starting a beverage trading business in Dubai, UAE
- Documents needed to start a beverage business
- Working with Trade License Zone
An overview of the beverage industry in the UAE
Dubai attracts more than 5 million tourists a year. As with all other business sectors in the UAE, the beverage industry is growing – with even higher numbers expected in the short term.
Expats can take advantage of the many benefits of starting a business in Dubai. It boasts one of the world’s most stable and diverse economies, with foreign national entrepreneurs and overseas investors supporting its growth. The UAE is free from income tax and VAT levied on personal and corporate properties, adding to its appeal as an investment destination.
Dubai also boasts a high quality of life for its residents, thanks to world-class infrastructure of roads, seaports and airports, amenities, entertainment, and more.
Dubai is the gateway to the Middle East and links North Africa and Europe for your business. Dubai Airport offers direct flights to over 90 countries to make for streamlined international business.
Steps to get a beverage trading license in Dubai, UAE
All businesses in the UAE require a trade license to operate legally. It might seem daunting if you’re unfamiliar with the business setup process in Dubai. These six steps will help you get a beverage trading license in Dubai for your beverage business to trade legally.
Step 1: Partner with Trade License Zone
The first step in starting a beverage trading business in Dubai is to partner with Trade License Zone. Our professional team will manage all aspects of your beverage trading company’s registration, beverage trading license application, and setup process. We will guide you on all the documentation required for the various government authorities and agencies on your behalf for you to begin trading as soon as possible.
Step 2: Choose a business name
Trade License Zone will help you choose and register your beverage trading business name with the UAE’s Registry Office. You can use your name in the beverage trading company name, but you must use it in full instead of just your surname or initials. The business name must adhere to the UAE’s naming policies, including that it cannot include offensive or profane language or references to Allah or Islam.
Step 3: Choose your business activities
All businesses in the UAE must choose their activities for their trading license applications to operate legally in Dubai. Your trade license enables you to carry out several business activities – but only those listed on your business license. You can select the appropriate activities you wish to pursue in Dubai from an extensive list of more than 2,000 on Dubai’s Department of Economic Development (DED) website. Failure to list all your business activities on your trading license may result in penalties.
Partnering with a company formation expert such as Trade License Zone will ensure that your trading license application and business activities are aligned.
Step 4: Choose the right location
A crucial step for your beverage trading business in Dubai is its location. Site location near your customers lowers your transport costs and makes your processes more efficient. Renting a warehouse or yard near your customers will also make sourcing products from wholesalers more streamlined.
Step 5: Choose a business jurisdiction
Your chosen business activities will affect the kind of setup and trade license most suitable for your company. The UAE has two main business jurisdiction types: Free Zone and Mainland company setups. Each has specific benefits, regulations, and operating guidelines.
Free Zone companies are the most popular and cost-effective of the two types. While they offer foreign nationals 100% ownership of the companies, Free Zone companies must take additional steps (such as opening a branch or a distributor) to trade within the UAE legally.
There are more than 40 Free Zones to choose from, each targeting specific business and commercial activities.
A Mainland company setup allows you to trade within the UAE market without extra steps, and now includes the benefit of 100% expat ownership too.
This might be the most straightforward option for your beverage trading business in the UAE.
Selecting the correct business setup for your beverage trading business might seem complicated. When you contact the highly experienced consultants at Trade License Zone, we will help you to choose the best company setup formation to start trading as soon as possible.
Step 6: Apply for your trade license
Once you have completed the documents for your business registration and company setup, you can submit those documents to the UAE government entities for your beverage trading license application. For this critical step, Trade License Zone can streamline the process to avoid any errors or mistakes.
Cost of starting a beverage trading business in Dubai, UAE
To start a beverage trading business in Dubai, you would need AED 15,000 to AED 50,000. The cost of starting a beverage trading business in Dubai is determined by many factors, such as the company’s location, business setup, trade license, office space, warehouse costs, transport and logistics services, and more.
For an accurate – and free – quote to help you better prepare for starting your own beverage trading company in Dubai, contact the expert team at Trade License Zone today.
Documents needed to start a beverage business
You will need the following documents to apply for a beverage business trading license and start your company in Dubai:
- A food and beverage trade license application
- Your company’s business plan
- Initial approval from the Department of Food and Safety (DFS)
- Initial approval from the Department of Economic Development (DED)
- Tenancy contract
- Copies of shareholders’ passports and colour photographs
Working with Trade License Zone
Starting a business in Dubai, such as a beverage trading company, can be tricky when it comes to applying for a trade license, business setup, and more. Business setup in the UAE is straightforward when you partner with a team of experts, such as Trade License Zone.
When you partner with Trade License Zone, we will save you from unnecessary delays or rejections and streamline the entire process.
The specialists at Trade License Zone can get started once you provide us with some basic documentation and a little information about the nature of your company and business activities.
Then, please sit back and let our team take care of the rest. We’ll manage your beverage trading license and visa applications, communicate with all relevant local departments and authorities and report back to you when you’re ready to trade. It really is that simple.