How to sell food and beverages in the UAE?

The sale of food and beverages refers to the commercial activity involving the exchange of goods in these categories. This includes selling various food items such as groceries, snacks, prepared meals, and beverages such as soft drinks. These goods are typically sold through various retail outlets such as supermarkets, convenience stores, restaurants, bars, and specialized shops.

The business activities that fall under Food Catering are:

4630. Wholesale of food and beverages

The wholesale of food and beverages refers to purchasing large quantities of food and beverage products from manufacturers or producers at discounted prices and then selling these products in bulk to retailers, restaurants, catering companies, hotels, and other businesses. Wholesale distributors typically operate large warehouses or distribution centers where they store and manage inventory before distributing it to customers. 

This class allows you to do wholesale of fruit and vegetables, dairy products, eggs and egg products, edible oils and fats of animal or vegetable origin, meat and meat products, fishery products, sugar, chocolate, and sugar confectionery bakery products, beverages coffee, tea, cocoa, and spices feed for pet animals.

Other requirements: 

Third-party approval: Selling food and beverages in bulk may require approvals from the relevant authorities after obtaining the business license.

Filing of Economic Substance Return: This business activity is exempt from this requirement.

Anti-money laundering compliance: This business activity is exempt from this requirement.

4721. Retail sale of food in specialized stores

The retail sale of food in specialized stores refers to selling food products through establishments that specialize primarily in food items. These stores may include various formats such as supermarkets, grocery stores, convenience stores, gourmet food shops, health food stores, and specialty food stores. They typically offer a wide range of food products including fresh produce, meat, dairy, bakery items, canned goods, frozen foods, snacks, beverages, and specialty items catering to specific dietary needs or preferences. 

This class allows you to do retail sales of any of the following types of goods: 

Fresh or preserved fruit and vegetables, dairy products and eggs, meat and meat products (including poultry), fish, other seafood, and products thereof, bakery products, sugar confectionery, and other food products. 

However, this class of activities doesn’t include the manufacturing of bakery products, i.e. baking on premises. 

Other requirements:  

Third-party approval: Selling food and beverages in bulk may require approvals from the relevant authorities after obtaining the business license.

Filing of Economic Substance Return: This business activity is exempt from this requirement.

Anti-money laundering compliance: This business activity is exempt from this requirement.

2825.00 Manufacture of machinery for food and beverage processing

This business activity allows you to manufacture agricultural dryers and machinery for the dairy industry such as cream separators, milk processing machinery, milk-converting machinery, and cheese-making machines,  as well as the manufacture of machinery for the grain milling industry like machinery to clean, sort, or grade seeds, grain, or dried leguminous vegetables, machinery to produce flour and meal. Under this class you can also manufacture presses, crushers, etc. used to make cider, fruit juices, etc, manufacture machinery for the bakery industry or for making macaroni, spaghetti, or similar products such as bakery ovens, dough mixers, dough-dividers, molders, slicers, cake depositing machines equipment to process diverse foods, make confectionery, cocoa, or chocolate; to manufacture sugar; for breweries; to process meat or poultry; to prepare fruit, nuts or vegetables; to prepare fish, shellfish, or other seafood, filtering and purifying and other machinery for the industrial preparation or manufacture of food or drink, machinery for the extraction or preparation of animal or vegetable fats or oils, and machinery for the preparation of food in hotels and restaurants

On the other hand, this class does not include other business activities such as the manufacturing of food and milk irradiation equipment, manufacturing of packing, wrapping, and weighing machinery, and the manufacture of cleaning, sorting, or grading machinery for eggs, fruit, or other crops (except seeds, grains, and dried leguminous vegetables).

Other requirements:  

Third-party approval: Selling beverages may require approvals from the relevant authorities after obtaining the business license.  

Filing of Economic Substance Return: This business activity is exempt from this requirement.  

Anti-money laundering compliance: This business activity is exempt from this requirement. 

3312.16 Repair and maintenance of food and beverage processing machinery

The repair and maintenance of food and beverage processing machinery involves servicing and fixing equipment used in these industries to ensure optimal functionality and safety. Technicians inspect, troubleshoot, and repair various machinery components such as mixers, conveyors, and packaging systems.

Other requirements:  

Third-party approval: Selling beverages may require approvals from the relevant authorities after obtaining the business license.

Filing of Economic Substance Return: This business activity is exempt from this requirement.

Anti-money laundering compliance: This business activity is exempt from this requirement.

4711.00 Retail Sale in Non-Specialized Stores With Food Or Beverages Predominating

This class includes retail sale of a large variety of goods of which, however, food products, and beverages should be predominant, such retail sale activities of general stores that have, apart from their main sales of food products, beverages, and several other types of goods such as wearing apparel, furniture, appliances, hardware, cosmetics, etc.

What you can’t do under this business activity is retail fuel sales in combination with food, beverages, etc., with fuel sales dominating.

Other requirements:  

Third-party approval: Selling beverages may require approvals from the relevant authorities after obtaining the business license.

Filing of Economic Substance Return: This business activity is exempt from this requirement.

Anti-money laundering compliance: This business activity is exempt from this requirement.

4781.00 Retail Sale Via Stalls and Markets of Food and Beverages

This class allows you to do the retail sale of food and beverage products via stalls or markets, whereas you can’t do the retail sale of prepared food for immediate consumption (mobile food vendors),

Other requirements:  

Third-party approval: Selling beverages may require approvals from the relevant authorities after obtaining the business license.

Filing of Economic Substance Return: This business activity is exempt from this requirement.

Anti-money laundering compliance: This business activity is exempt from this requirement.

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