The Ultimate Restaurant Startup Costs Checklist for 2025 (UAE Edition)

Opening a restaurant in the UAE is an exciting journey filled with opportunity, but it comes with substantial financial commitments. Whether you’re building a cozy café, a dark kitchen, or a full-scale fine dining restaurant, understanding the full scope of startup costs is essential to avoid surprises and set your business up for success.

This checklist is designed to give you a broad estimation of the various costs associated with launching a restaurant in the UAE in 2025. The figures provided are based on industry experience and market trends on a smaller restaurant, but should be used strictly for visualisation and planning purposes only.

Real-life costs can vary significantly depending on:

• The location
• Your concept (dark kitchen vs. dine-in vs. fine dining)
• The size and execution strategy
• The type of subcontractors you hire

For example, launching a premium, design-heavy brand in a prime location could push budgets far higher—there’s no upper limit when luxury is involved. Meanwhile, working with local subcontractors might lower your costs, while choosing international firms could significantly increase them. Each decision in your business plan affects your final budget, quality, and timeline.

Use this guide as a baseline framework, not a fixed budget. For accurate financial forecasting, a tailored feasibility study is essential. Dont forget, in a lot of categories the „sky is the limit!”

Restaurant Startup Costs Checklist

1. Company Formation & Legal Setup

• • Trade License (Mainland or Free Zone): AED 10,000 – 45,000
  • Legal consultancy fees: AED 2,000 – 5,000
  • Immigration card & establishment card: AED 2,000 – 3,500
  • Local sponsor or service agent fees (if applicable): AED 5,000 – 20,000

2. Location & Rent

• • Security deposit (refundable): 3-6 months rent
  • Advance rent (3–12 months): AED 50,000 – 500,000+
  • Agency commission: (if applicable) 5% of annual rent
  • Ejari registration: AED 200 – 500

3. Fit-Out & Design

• • Interior design consultancy: AED 15,000 – 50,000
  • Fit-out works (including civil, MEP, flooring, ceiling): AED 1,000 – 3,000/sqm
  • Signage & branding: AED 5,000 – 40,000
  • Municipality approvals & fees: AED 5,000 – 15,000

4. Kitchen & Equipment

• • Commercial kitchen equipment: AED 80,000 – 300,000
  • Smallwares, utensils, tools: AED 10,000 – 25,000
  • Exhaust & ventilation system: AED 15,000 – 50,000
  • Fire suppression system: AED 5,000 – 30,000

5. Furniture & Fixtures

• • Dining tables & chairs: AED 15,000 – 50,000
  • Lighting & decorative elements: AED 5,000 – 40,000
  • Shelving, cabinets, service counters: AED 5,000 – 20,000

6. Licensing & Approvals

• • Food safety training: AED 300 – 500/staff
  • Food handler card: AED 200/staff
  • Civil Defense approvals: AED 2,000 – 5,000
  • Food Control Department (Dubai Municipality): AED 2,000 – 4,000

7. Tech & Systems

• • POS system + hardware: AED 10,000 – 25,000
  • Kitchen Display System (KDS): AED 3,000 – 8,000
  • Inventory & accounting software: AED 3,000 – 10,000
  • Wi-Fi setup, CCTV, and speakers: AED 5,000 – 15,000

8. Staffing & HR

• • Recruitment agency fees (optional): between 12-18% of the annual salary / person
  • Visa costs per staff: AED 4,000 – 9,000
  • Uniforms: AED 500 – 1,500/staff
  • Pre-opening salaries (1–2 months): AED 30,000 – 150,000

9. Marketing & Launch

• • Branding & logo design: AED 3,000 – 10,000
  • Website & menu photography: AED 5,000 – 15,000
  • Launch event & influencer collaboration: AED 10,000 – 30,000
  • Signage, flyers, and printed materials: AED 2,000 – 5,000

10. Initial Inventory

• • Food & beverage stock: AED 20,000 – 60,000
  • Cleaning & disposables: AED 3,000 – 7,000

11. Contingency & Emergency Fund

• • Recommended: 3–6 months of operational costs
  • Monthly burn rate (staff, rent, utilities, basic supplies): AED 50,000 – 200,000/month
  • Emergency fund: AED 150,000 – 1,000,000

Total Estimated Range

• Low Budget Concept: AED 450,000 – 700,000
• Mid-Range Concept: AED 750,000 – 1,300,000
• High-End Concept: AED 1.3M – 2.5M+

Final Tip

Every concept is different. These numbers serve as a benchmark – your actual costs will depend on your concept, location, size, and vision. It’s crucial to work with experienced consultants, contractors, and operators to keep things realistic, efficient, and compliant.

Need help planning your restaurant’s launch?

Get in touch with Zeora Hospitality for full A–Z support, from idea to opening day.