To launch a food truck business may seem an attractive proposition for entrepreneurs who look to make profits in Dubai.

Right approvals are required besides location. As this turns your idea into a successful enterprise. To get a food truck license, you need a compelling business plan, an approved blueprint of the fit-out and a compliant central kitchen. Being at the top of the process would save you time as you can start trading more quicker.

Four steps to create a successful food truck startup in Dubai

Submission of a compelling business plan to the Dubai Economic Department (DED)

Once you win the DED approval, the quicker you could start your food truck. The burgeoning market for pop-up events, world-renowned trade fairs and fantastic climate comes in. Dubai can be seen as an ideal city to set up a food truck business.

You have to prepare your menu before you dive in to buy a food truck. You have to create a strong business plan to submit to the DED and Dubai Municipality for approval.

The business plan should showcase your idea, budgets and plan of action. This must convince government entities that your food truck concept would work.

You can check out the competition and note what makes the popular food trucks a hit with customers. You have to consider the uniqueness of your offering and what would persuade people to part with their dirhams.

The details of how you fund your startup must be included. The plans to scale-up and ways to manage them should be incorporated. Take an account of regulatory, market risks and the variables that adversely affect your business. You have to plan for reserve cash to meet the cash flow problems. This should be as realistic and detailed as possible when providing the financial data. Be careful of business plans in UAE, as they require detailed research than needed in other countries.

Obtain HACCP approval for your kitchen and truck

You have to know the ways to obtain health and safety certificates for saving your money and time. For operating a food truck business in Dubai, entrepreneurs must get safety and two important health certifications for official approval.

You have to get HACCP (Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point) certification for the layout of your central kitchen when you plan to pre-prepare some of your offerings. Then get a HACCP certification for the blueprint of the design and fit-out for your food truck.

The HACCP certification gives assurance on the safety of consumption of the product you intend to sell. This is based on the identification, control, elimination of hazards and risk factors that adversely affect the product.

After getting the HACCP certificates, you have to submit them for approval to the government. After the approvals, you can start trading so it pays to get advice from leading consultants based in Dubai. So follow the correct procedures.

Choosing a great location

Higher footfall leads to a greater chance of higher profits.

The research related to the food truck business

Do your research and plan work diligently? The food trucks in Dubai are not allowed to move sound. They have to be placed at a pre-secured location.

You have to scan the city for possible locations and find out who owns the land. The best locations go quickly when a new pop-up event, fair or market opens in Dubai. Thereby you will be on the ball to profit from popular eating spots.

Locations are limited and owned by private landlords. You can develop contacts, know the landlords, keep up to date with urban renovations and developments in the city where food trucks are authorized. This secures a competitive advantage.

Food trucks pop all over the city in Dubai. The popular spots are Kite Beach, getting established itself as a foodie destination and the home for the award-winning Salt burger joint. The Palm Jumeirah, where 30 pop-ups are planned.

Never confine your search to the centre of Dubai. You have to consider the new themed food truck sites on key routes on the outskirts of the city. The last exit now runs sites at Al Qudra, Al Khawaneej and Jebel Ali.

The food truck parks are springing all over Dubai. They have Truckers DXB popping up around the city in winter, and the Truckers Summer Warehouse.

As you spot a great site, vastly secure it so you can gain a foothold in your chosen location before other food trucks move on to the neighbouring locations.

Obtain your license, buy your truck and start trading

The food truck license is your passport to success. As you buy your truck, design it with fit-out approved by the authorities. The truck must be supportive of your kitchen, have proper ventilation and capable of handling the heat.

As you obtain your food truck license, start preparing and cooking your delicious food. Ensure it tastes good as you say it does. Get help if required. The passion for outdoor eating, tasty food, wealth of new sites and pop-ups creates a flourishing food truck scene in Dubai.

When entering the market, you can join in an exciting time in its growth. You can create a thriving business with a great concept and site. The possibility to expand on other sites or other forms of catering.

Obtaining a license is not easy, particularly for newcomers. To avoid hassle, consider working with a specialist. The Arabic-speaking consultancy having local knowledge on how to obtain DED and HACCP approvals would do better.

Help is available to design, brand, fit-out and operate your food truck. This would be costly for the startups, but it may come in handy for first-time entrepreneurs and gives you more time to focus on core activities.

To set up your own business has never been easy. We take care of it all, so you can focus on what matters – building your business.

Setup your Business Today!