If you are interested in running a food truck in Dubai, you are not required to apply for a special food truck license. Instead, business owners are first expected to set up a regular food and beverage business. Once your food and beverage license is approved, you will then add the approvals to allow you operate from a mobile unit. Think of the process in two parts. Your trade license comes from the Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism (DET). The food safety and vehicle approvals come from Dubai Municipality and the Roads and Transport Authority.
Step 1. Choose your activity and register the company
Start by choosing the activity that matches your culinary concept. For most food trucks this will be a Restaurant, Cafeteria, Catering, or Food Trading. These are standard activities on the DET list and sit on a professional or commercial license. Register the company and secure the initial trade name and activity approval through DET or through your chosen free zone if you plan to set up there. The trade license defines what you are allowed to do. Choosing the right activity avoids change requests later.
Step 2. Prepare your food safety plan and kitchen layout
The Dubai Municipality’s Food Control Department will audit your business to ensure you handle food, store ingredients, control temperatures, and set up the kitchen inside your truck or trailer to meet all requirements. At its foundation, the process of obtaining a food license happens in two distinct steps.
- All applicants are required to submit a food safety plan to the HACCP that explains processes from delivery to service.
- All applicants are required to submit a kitchen layout that clearly identifies equipment, hand wash stations, three compartment sinks, chilled and frozen storage, and waste handling.
Once all of the above requirements are submitted, an inspector will review these documents and schedule an onsite visit to confirm the truck meets all of the requirements of the Dubai Food Code. It can be helpful to work with an approved food safety consultant to ensure your plan and drawings are right the first time you submit your application.
Step 3. Modify and approve the vehicle
The mobile food truck vehicle you prepare food in must be suitable for commercial cooking. That requires proper ventilation, fire suppression, safe gas or electrical systems, and secure storage. The Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) reviews modifications and can issue permits tied to the way you plan to use the truck, including where you will park and trade. Final approval involves inspections to verify safety equipment and compliance with transport rules.
Step 4. Obtain location permissions and operating permits
It is very important you specify exactly where you will be preparing and serving food, as businesses can only serve food in designated locations. Examples include approved food truck zones, private property with the owner’s consent, permitted parks and beaches, and event sites that have approval from the organizer or Dubai Municipality. Be sure to list the locations, waste management method, and hours in your operating plan. Municipal permits and any required parking permissions sit alongside the DET trade license in your file.
Step 5. Final inspections and go live
After you have your trade license, food safety approvals, and RTA permits, book the final inspections. Inspectors will check build quality inside the truck, temperature control, potable water and wastewater systems, and staff training records. Once you pass, you can start serving at your permitted locations on your set schedule. Keep good records for temperature logs, cleaning, pest control, and staff health cards.
What it costs
Actual costs depend on your activity, where you set up, and whether you choose the mainland or a free zone. The ranges below are common figures used for planning. Use them to build a budget and confirm the latest fees before you commit.
Trade license and company setup
Plan for about AED 15,000 to AED 25,000 for a basic mainland trade license with a single food activity. Free zones offer their own packages that may fall outside this range.
Vehicle and fit out
A compliant truck or trailer with a commercial kitchen typically costs AED 110,000 to AED 280,000. Price depends on the base vehicle, extraction and fire systems, refrigeration, and finishes. A used shell with a refit can reduce the total. A new custom build with high specification equipment will be at the higher end.
Permits and inspections
Allow AED 10,000 to AED 15,000 for municipal and other authority fees tied to food permits, inspections, and related approvals. RTA fees apply for commercial vehicle permits and for any route or parking permissions.
Insurance and running costs
Insurance for the vehicle and public liability is an approximate cost of AED 8,000 to AED 12,000 per year. Additional ongoing costs may include but are not limited to: rental fees, staff salaries, fuel, supplies costs, and maintenance.
Quick budgeting tips
Set aside a contingency of 10 to 15 percent for unexpected items. Compare the cost of a new build versus a used unit early in the process. Confirm fees with the authorities before ordering the vehicle or booking fit out work.
Practical tips
Pick the right activity at the start. Restaurant or Cafeteria is the most common choice for a truck that cooks and serves meals. Catering can fit event based service. Food Trading fits packaged items. The activity anchors your municipal permits. ExpressPRO
Design the kitchen for inspections. Show clear flows for raw and cooked food, hand wash access, separate three sink washing, and proper chilled storage. Specify certified materials and finishes that are easy to clean. Align the equipment list with your menu so the plan and reality match. Dubai Municipality+1
Plan your locations early. Some zones and private venues require separate approvals or contracts. Your operating plan should include waste management and grey water disposal in line with municipal rules. INLEX-PARTNERS
Train the team. Dubai expects trained food handlers and a named person in charge with advanced food safety training. Keep certificates on file and up to date.
Your roadmap to launching a food truck in Dubai
If you want to launch a food truck in Dubai, your main job is to match a standard food business license from DET with the right municipal and transport approvals. When you tackle the steps in the right order, the process becomes far simpler.
Start by securing your trade license and clearly defining your business activity. Then move on to food safety approvals, vehicle permits, and site permissions. With a clear plan and sequence, you’ll get open sooner, avoid costly delays, and operate your food truck with confidence.
