Establish a Hospitality Business in Dubai

How to set up a hospitality business in Dubai

1. Choose the hospitality activity

   Decide whether you run a hotel, hotel apartment, restaurant or other venue. The activity sets the licence, the classification and which approvals you need.

2. Register the company and licence

   Register the entity and the hospitality activity with the Department of Economy and Tourism, which licenses and classifies the sector in Dubai.

3. Secure the classification and approvals

   Hotels and hotel apartments are classified by the regulator; food venues need a Dubai Municipality food approval, and premises need Civil Defence sign-off.

4. Set up staff visas

   Hospitality runs on people. Set up the establishment card and visa quota so you can sponsor front-of-house, kitchen and operations staff.

5. Open the corporate bank account

   Open a business account to take payments and pay suppliers and staff. We handle your bank account application.

Why start a hospitality business in Dubai?

Dubai's position as a global tourism and events destination sustains one of the region's busiest hospitality markets, from hotels and hotel apartments to restaurants, cafes and venues. Demand is year-round, driven by visitors and a large resident base. Hospitality is a licensed, classified sector, so the setup is more involved than a plain trade licence, and doing it right protects the guest experience the brand depends on.

Hospitality licence: types and cost

A hospitality business runs on a Department of Economy and Tourism licence for the specific activity, with hotels and hotel apartments classified by the regulator, plus a Dubai Municipality food approval for any F&B and Civil Defence sign-off for the premises. Because the activity, classification and visa quota drive the cost, we price your exact setup rather than publish a figure that would not fit it. Get your exact quote.

Documents required

• Passport copies of the shareholders and the manager

• The proposed trade name and hospitality activity

• A tenancy contract for the premises

• Premises and kitchen plans that meet the safety and food-safety standards

How OMC helps you establish your hospitality business

We have handled UAE company formation since 2007, across more than 1,400 companies. We coordinate the licence, the classification and the Dubai Municipality and Civil Defence approvals so they move as one process, and set up the establishment card and staff visas. We also handle your bank account application, so you can take payments as soon as the account opens.

Related services

• Mainland company setup

• Corporate bank account opening

• Company formation in the UAE