Directive for Food Establishments in Dubai: Restaurants, Cafes, and Catering Businesses
In the bustling metropolis of Dubai, maintaining food safety is of utmost importance for businesses operating within the food industry. To ensure compliance with regulations, food establishments must adhere to a series of key requirements and daily operational standards.
**Key Permits and Approvals**
Obtaining the necessary permits and approvals is the first step towards food safety compliance in Dubai. This includes securing a business license appropriate for your food business activity from the Department of Economic Development (DED). For food manufacturing, an Industrial License may be required.
Furthermore, food premises must meet Dubai Municipality’s hygiene and safety standards. This is achieved by submitting a detailed layout plan to the Food Safety Department for approval. Upon inspection, final approval is granted by the Food Control Department.
Ensuring the use of FoodWatch-approved suppliers is crucial for traceability and accountability. Registered food products must comply with UAE labeling and safety standards.
**Daily Operational Requirements**
Implementing a Food Safety Management System (FSMS) is essential for identifying and managing potential hazards in food production. Following either HACCP principles or the ISO 22000 standard, businesses must maintain, update, and review their FSMS regularly.
Maintaining detailed records of suppliers, including approvals, sourcing records, and delivery notes, is also necessary. Strict hygiene practices must be enforced, and the premises must be regularly cleaned and sanitized.
Labeling and packaging compliance is crucial. All food products must be labeled with ingredients in descending order, expiration dates, allergen warnings, nutritional details, and Arabic translations.
**Operational Tips**
Regular training for staff, inspections of equipment and facilities, and compliance reviews are essential operational tips. Businesses should regularly review and update their FSMS and operational procedures to ensure compliance with evolving regulations.
Every food business in Dubai must be registered and managed through Dubai's digital food safety management system, FoodWatch. If there is a foodborne illness, a customer complaint, contamination, or a product recall, the business must report it immediately to Dubai Municipality.
Dubai mandates that all staff handling food receive certified training, including Basic Food Safety Training and the Person in Charge (PIC) Program. The PIC is responsible for monitoring food safety risks, verifying hygiene practices, managing staff performance and training, handling complaints and supplier checks, and updating FoodWatch with daily records.
Building a trusted food business in Dubai involves more than passing inspections; it requires embracing a culture of safety, transparency, and continuous improvement. Forward-thinking businesses in Dubai are adopting predictive analytics, AI-enabled monitoring, and smart kitchen equipment to improve efficiency and reduce food safety incidents.
It is important to note that Dubai Municipality imposes severe penalties for non-compliance with food safety laws. These penalties include fines and jail time for unsafe or adulterated food, selling pork/alcohol without a license, mislabeling or false claims, ignoring recall or safety incidents, and poor inspection grades.
Only Dubai Municipality-approved disinfectants are allowed for cleaning and sanitizing kitchens, equipment, and surfaces. Water used in food establishments must comply with UAE.S GSO 1025 standards for potable water. Businesses must also regularly calibrate their thermometers, fridges, freezers, and weighing scales.
Businesses have the right to appeal decisions within the prescribed timeline. PIC certification is valid for five years and is subject to withdrawal if standards are not maintained. By following these guidelines, a food business in Dubai can effectively manage daily operations while maintaining compliance with food safety regulations.
- To start a food business in Dubai, obtaining a business license from the Department of Economic Development (DED) is vital, especially an Industrial License for food manufacturing.
- Food premises must adhere to Dubai Municipality’s hygiene and safety standards, which can be achieved by submitting a detailed layout plan for approval and passing inspections from the Food Control Department.
- Using FoodWatch-approved suppliers is crucial for traceability and accountability, ensuring registered food products comply with UAE labeling and safety standards.
- Adopting a Food Safety Management System (FSMS) and following either HACCP principles or the ISO 22000 standard is essential for hazard management in food production.
- Keeping detailed records of suppliers, maintaining hygiene practices, and regularly cleaning and sanitizing the premises are necessary daily operational requirements.
- Labeling and packaging compliance is crucial, with all food products labeling requirements such as ingredients, expiration dates, allergens, and nutritional details to be followed.
- Regular staff training, inspections of equipment and facilities, and compliance reviews should be practiced to ensure continuous improvement and adherence to regulations.
- Registering and managing food businesses through Dubai's digital food safety management system, FoodWatch, is mandatory for reporting foodborne illnesses, customer complaints, contamination, or product recalls.
- Embracing a culture of safety, transparency, and innovation is essential in building a trusted food business in Dubai. This can be achieved by adopting predictive analytics, AI-enabled monitoring, and smart kitchen equipment to improve efficiency and reduce food safety incidents.
