How to Buy a Cafeteria in Dubai: Licence, Lease & Checks
Short answer: To buy a cafeteria in Dubai, agree a price for the running business, check its trade licence, Ejari lease, food safety record and real daily sales, then transfer the licence and lease into your name before you release the full payment. In 83 past cafeteria listings on BusinessFinder.me, the median asking price was AED 150,000, and Dubai cafeterias had a median of AED 175,000. You can browse every current cafeteria for sale in Dubai on our listings page.
Last updated: October 28, 2026
BusinessFinder.me is a UAE marketplace for buying and selling running businesses, with asking prices in AED. This guide is part of our buyer series; for the full process, see the main guide on how to buy a business in Dubai.
What do you get when you buy a cafeteria in Dubai?
When you buy a running cafeteria, you normally take over the whole package: the trade licence (or its transfer), the shop lease, the kitchen equipment and fit-out, the name and signboard, and often the existing staff. You are paying for a working outlet that already has approvals and customers, not just an empty unit.
Key terms you will see in cafeteria listings
- Cafeteria: in Dubai, usually a small food outlet selling tea, juice, sandwiches and snacks, often with a counter and a few seats and a strong delivery trade.
- Key money: the amount paid to the outgoing owner for the location, fit-out, equipment and trade.
- Ejari: the registration of a tenancy contract in Dubai with the Dubai Land Department.
- Person in Charge (PIC): the staff member certified in food safety whom Dubai Municipality requires at every food establishment.
- TOGC: transfer of a going concern, a VAT rule for selling a whole business.
How much does it cost to buy a cafeteria in Dubai?
Past cafeteria ads on BusinessFinder.me give a real picture of asking prices. We counted listings with “cafeteria” in the title from 2019 to 2026, removed likely reposts and placeholder prices, and kept 83 ads with an asking price.
| Measure (cafeteria asking prices) | Result |
|---|---|
| Priced listings, UAE | 83 |
| Median asking price, UAE | AED 150,000 |
| Middle half of asking prices, UAE | AED 80,000 to AED 250,000 |
| Dubai listings / median | 67 / AED 175,000 |
| Listings at AED 100,000 or less | 30 of 83 |
| Listings above AED 500,000 | 6 of 83 |
| Median yearly rent stated in ads | AED 45,000 (46 ads) |
Prices depend mostly on location, footfall, rent and how much delivery trade the cafeteria has. For a wider view that also covers cafés and coffee shops, see our guide on how much a coffee shop costs in Dubai. These are asking prices, not final sale prices, so expect to negotiate.
Examples of cafeterias currently listed on BusinessFinder.me
These listings were live on October 28, 2026, with the asking price shown on each ad:
- Running cafeteria in International City, AED 110,000
- Fully equipped cafeteria in Hor Al Anz, Deira, AED 120,000
- Well running cafeteria in Al Karama, AED 150,000
- Running cafeteria in Oud Metha, Bur Dubai, AED 250,000
- Well running cafeteria in Bur Dubai, AED 350,000
You can see more on the cafeteria for sale in Dubai tag page.
How do you buy a cafeteria in Dubai, step by step?
Buying a cafeteria follows the same basic path as any running business in Dubai, with extra checks on food safety and the kitchen.
- Set your budget. Include the asking price, the transfer and licence costs, a deposit for the new lease, and working cash for the first two or three months.
- Shortlist and visit. Visit at breakfast, lunch and late evening, and count customers and delivery orders yourself.
- Ask for documents. Request the trade licence, Ejari and tenancy contract, sales records, delivery-app reports, supplier bills and staff list.
- Check food safety and the kitchen. Confirm the Person in Charge, the condition of equipment and any Dubai Municipality inspection issues.
- Agree terms in writing. Put the price, what is included, the handover date and how staff will be handled in a signed sale agreement.
- Transfer the licence and lease. Change the licence owner with the Department of Economy and Tourism and register a new or amended Ejari.
- Pay in stages. Pay a deposit, then most of the price on transfer, and hold back a part until the licence and lease are in your name.
What should you check before buying a cafeteria?
A cafeteria can look busy and still lose money. These checks protect you from the most common problems.
Is the lease safe and transferable?
The lease is often worth more than the equipment. In Dubai, tenancy contracts are registered through Ejari with the Dubai Land Department. Check how long the lease has left, the yearly rent, whether the landlord agrees to the transfer and whether the landlord will raise the rent or charge a fee for it.
Does the cafeteria meet Dubai Municipality food safety rules?
The Dubai Municipality Food Code says every food establishment must employ at least one full-time, on-site Person in Charge certified in food safety, and the certificate is valid for five years. If the certified person leaves with the seller, the Food Code gives the business up to 30 days to designate a new one. Ask who holds the certificate and whether they are staying.
Are the sales real?
Ask for at least 6 to 12 months of sales. Compare point-of-sale reports with bank deposits and delivery-app statements, and check supplier bills for tea, milk, bread and gas, because purchases should match the sales the seller claims.
What about staff, visas and gratuity?
Staff visas and contracts are tied to the licence holder. Under UAE labour rules, private-sector employees are entitled to end-of-service gratuity, so agree in writing who pays the gratuity built up under the old owner.
Is VAT charged on the sale?
Not always. The Federal Tax Authority explains that the sale of a whole business as a going concern can be outside the scope of VAT if the conditions are met, including that the buyer is registered or must register for VAT. Ask an accountant to confirm before signing.
Is it better to buy a running cafeteria or start a new one?
| Buy a running cafeteria | Start a new cafeteria | |
|---|---|---|
| Time to open | Days to weeks after transfer | Months for fit-out and approvals |
| Customers | Existing walk-in and delivery trade | Built from zero |
| Upfront cost | Asking price plus transfer costs | Fit-out, equipment, licence and deposits |
| Main risk | Hidden debts, short lease, inflated sales | Slow start and fit-out delays |
A running cafeteria suits buyers who want income quickly and can check the numbers carefully. Starting fresh suits buyers who want full control of the concept and location.
Where can you find a cafeteria for sale in Dubai?
On BusinessFinder.me you can browse running cafeterias, cafés and restaurants for sale across Dubai and the wider UAE, each with an asking price in AED. Start with the cafeteria for sale in Dubai page or browse all businesses for sale in the UAE.
Key takeaways
- A running cafeteria in Dubai is usually sold with its licence, lease, equipment, fit-out and often staff.
- In 83 past cafeteria listings on BusinessFinder.me, the median asking price was AED 150,000; Dubai cafeterias had a median of AED 175,000.
- Check the Ejari lease and landlord consent first; the location is most of the value.
- Dubai Municipality requires a certified food safety Person in Charge at every food establishment.
- Verify sales against bank and delivery-app statements, and hold back part of the price until the licence is in your name.
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to buy a cafeteria in Dubai?
In 67 Dubai cafeteria ads on BusinessFinder.me from 2019 to 2026, the median asking price was AED 175,000. Across the UAE, 83 priced cafeteria ads had a median of AED 150,000, and the middle half asked between AED 80,000 and AED 250,000.
What documents should I ask for when buying a cafeteria?
Ask for the trade licence, the tenancy contract and Ejari, 6 to 12 months of sales and bank statements, delivery-app reports, supplier bills, the staff list with visa details, and the food safety Person in Charge certificate.
Do I need a food safety certificate to run a cafeteria in Dubai?
Yes. The Dubai Municipality Food Code requires every food establishment to employ at least one full-time, on-site Person in Charge certified in food safety. The certificate is valid for five years.
Can the cafeteria licence be transferred to a new owner?
In most cases, yes. The owner can be changed on the existing trade licence through the Department of Economy and Tourism, and the lease is then registered or updated in Ejari. The landlord usually has to agree.
Is VAT charged when you buy a cafeteria?
Not always. If the sale qualifies as a transfer of a going concern under Federal Tax Authority rules, it can be outside the scope of VAT. Confirm with an accountant before you sign.
Where can I find a cafeteria for sale in Dubai?
BusinessFinder.me is a UAE marketplace for buying and selling running businesses, with cafeterias listed with asking prices in AED. Premium members can see the seller’s contact on every listing.
Find or sell a cafeteria on BusinessFinder.me
Browse every cafeteria for sale in Dubai or all businesses for sale in the UAE. Own a cafeteria you want to sell? Post your business for sale.
Sources: Dubai Municipality, Food Code (sections 3.1.1, Person in Charge); Dubai Land Department, Register / Renew Tenancy Contract (Ejari); Department of Economy and Tourism via Invest in Dubai, request to amend a trade licence; Federal Tax Authority, VAT Public Clarification VATP015 (Transfer of a Business as a Going Concern); UAE Government portal (u.ae), end-of-service benefits for private-sector employees; BusinessFinder.me listings data (83 priced cafeteria ads from 2019 to 2026, and live listings checked 28 October 2026).
