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Activity Permissions / Food & Beverage

Food & Beverage: which UAE zones permit it

Verified permission status across 8 UAE zones and jurisdictions, including additional licence requirements where a sector regulator sits on top of the zone's own registration.

DED-DXB
requires additional licence

DED licence plus Dubai Municipality Food Establishment Permit; DM inspection after fit-out

Additional licence: Dubai Municipality — DM Food Establishment Permit

Mandatory for any restaurant, cafe or cloud kitchen serving the public in Dubai. Free zone licence does not cover public retail.

DED-AUH
requires additional licence

ADDED licence plus ADFCA food establishment permit; DCAA licence for hotel F&B

Additional licence: ADFCA — ADFCA Food Establishment Permit

Abu Dhabi food regulator. Hotel F&B requires additional DCAA licence.

JAFZA
requires additional licence

JAFZA establishment licence plus DM food production licence for manufacturing; not suitable for retail outlets

Additional licence: Dubai Municipality — DM Food Production Licence

For food manufacturing and processing only. JAFZA F&B licence does not cover public retail outlets.

KEZAD
requires additional licence

KEZAD establishment licence plus ADFCA production licence for food manufacturing

Additional licence: ADFCA — ADFCA Production Licence

Abu Dhabi industrial food production hub. Khalifa Port proximity for raw material import.

DIFC
permitted with conditions

DIFC F&B outlets permitted within DIFC boundary only; cannot operate on Dubai mainland

Additional licence: DIFC — DIFC F&B Outlet Registration

Restaurant inside DIFC is a DIFC-regulated outlet. Cannot serve public outside DIFC boundary.

DMCC
permitted with conditions

F&B outlets within DMCC permitted for DMCC community; not a general public retail licence

DMCC food licence covers trading and import of food products. Public mainland retail requires DED plus DM permit.

ADGM
not permitted

ADGM does not licence F&B retail operations

F&B companies may use ADGM for IP or holding but operating F&B outlets requires Abu Dhabi mainland licence.

HFZA
requires additional licence

Hamriyah FZ for food manufacturing and industrial processing; separate MoHAP/ESMA product registration

Additional licence: ESMA — ESMA Product Registration

Sharjah industrial zone suitable for food manufacturing. Product standards registration mandatory.

Confirm the right structure for food & beverage

Scout's Structure & Jurisdiction Recommendation applies this same permission data to your specific ownership, capital, and client profile.

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11 apps

Comply

Your compliance manager

Govern

Governance and board compliance

Onboard

Client onboarding (KYC/CDD)

Shield

Clients' regulatory compliance

Ledger

Clients' FTA compliance

Scout

Planning your UAE setup

Atlas

UAE setup reference

Verify

Sanctions and PEP screening

Lexara

UAE rulebook library

Vault

Statutory records storage

Scope

What applies to you

Business setup by activity

All 2,100+ activities
Trading & ServicesManufacturingReal Estate & Business ServicesPersonal & Social ServicesTransport, Storage & LogisticsConstruction & ContractingFinancial ServicesVirtual AssetsHealth & Social WorkEducationAgriculture & FishingProfessional & Technical ServicesAccommodation & Food ServicesMining & QuarryingUtilities & Energy
Free zone setup costsFree zone price indexSetup cost calculatorMainland vs free zoneWhich zones permit your activity

UAE free zones by emirate

View all
Dubai
DMCCDIFCJAFZADAFZADSODWCDICDubai Media CityDHCCIFZAMeydanDSCDPCDKPDOCDSPD3DIACDCCDubai Maritime CityDWTCGDP
Abu Dhabi
ADGMKEZADMCFZtwofour54ADAFZICADAAIAFZ
Sharjah
SPCSHAMSHFZASAIFSRTIPSHCC
RAK
RAKEZRAK DAO
Ajman
ACMFZAFZAMC
Fujairah
FOIZFCCFFZ
UAQ
UAQIZUAQ FTZ

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