Can You Sell Food From Home in Dubai? What the Intelaq Rules Say About Kitchens, Eligibility and Limits

Under the rules Dubai announced for its Intelaq home-business license, you cannot simply cook in your home kitchen and sell the food. For food preparation, the Dubai Media Office states that "a designated kitchen outside the home with an entrance from outside is mandatory", and the license is only for home-based projects 100% owned by UAE or other GCC nationals. That announcement is dated 17 August 2020. We found no newer official page that changes it, but confirm the current rules with Dubai Economy and Tourism and Dubai Municipality before you act.

Which home food license exists in Dubai?

The official route we could verify is Intelaq. The Dubai Media Office release says Intelaq licenses are given to home-based projects in Dubai that are fully owned by UAE or other GCC nationals, and that an applicant cannot hold more than two. Holders can also get Establishment Cards.

For other home-business and social-selling licenses, see the home business license guide and the UAE e-trader license guide. Those cover selling in general. They do not by themselves approve cooking food at home, and we found no official page that says they do.

What can you prepare under Intelaq?

The release distinguishes two kinds of food activity.

For food preparation, the release adds that staff from Dubai SME, Dubai Economy and Dubai Municipality may enter the site to inspect and verify documents. Expect an inspection and plan for it.

What are the rules if you trade food rather than cook it?

If you buy ready-made food, such as dates, honey or coffee, and sell it, the release sets these conditions:

• the home can serve only as a management office, for export and distribution;
• storage and repackaging from home are not allowed. Any storage or repackaging must go through a licensed, accredited institution in Dubai;
• food must come from approved sources and meet safety and nutrition requirements;
• products must be registered on the federal ZAD Portal before import;
• a AED 15,000 financial deposit is required when using the Food Import Re-Export System, FIRS;
• a warehouse must be provided for postponed inspections;
• repackaged food must meet labelling requirements, see the UAE food label requirements guide;
• supplier and service-provider details must be registered on the Food Watch platform;
• transport and delivery must follow Dubai Municipality Food Safety Department procedures.

How long does the license last?

Food-related activities under an Intelaq license are allowed for five years, provided the license is renewed every year, and after that the license must be converted to a commercial license. Plan for that conversion from the start. A commercial license means commercial premises, which is the territory of the cloud kitchen license guide.

Which approvals come from Dubai Municipality?

Dubai Municipality regulates food safety. Its food-safety page lists services such as "Apply to Register and Assess a Food Item", "Request for Permit Related to Food Activities" and "Request for Layout Assessment for Food Establishment Licensing", and shows no fees. Which ones apply to a given home business depends on the activity, so ask the municipality which applies and whether anything has changed since 2020.

We could not verify a fee list, an inspection checklist or a processing time from an official page, and we do not quote the figures blogs give.

Can you sell home-made food on delivery apps?

The apps verify a license first. talabat's UAE partner page lists a trade license or business registration among its documents, and it is written mainly for restaurants. It does not say whether a home-licensed business qualifies. Ask the platform in writing. If you plan to use apps, the talabat partner registration guide and the InstaShop guide show what each does and does not publish.

What should you ask before you start?

Because the official announcement is from 2020 and the detailed forms sit on authority portals we could not read, write these questions and send them to Dubai Economy and Tourism and Dubai Municipality. Keep the replies with your records.

1. Is Intelaq still open for new applications, and does the 100% UAE or GCC national ownership condition still apply?
2. For my planned activity, is it a preparation activity or a trade activity under the rules?
3. What exactly counts as a "designated kitchen outside the home with an entrance from outside", and can it be inside my building complex?
4. Which Dubai Municipality permits and registrations apply, and what are their fees and processing times?
5. Which days must be specified for customer access, and how are inspections scheduled?
6. How do I convert to a commercial license before the five years end, and what changes?
7. If I want to sell on delivery apps or marketplaces, does a home-based license allow it?

A short, specific list gets a better answer than a general enquiry, and it protects you if advice changes later.

What about selling packaged food online?

Packaged food sold online is a different activity from cooking to order, with its own registration and labelling duties. See how to sell food products online in the UAE. Whatever you sell, tax applies once your supplies pass the threshold: the FTA's mandatory VAT registration threshold is AED 375,000 and the voluntary threshold is AED 187,500, per the page updated on 6 April 2026. General information, not tax or legal advice. Confirm with the FTA.

FAQ

Can I sell food from home in Dubai without a license? The rules we could verify tie home food businesses to a license, Intelaq, and to Dubai Municipality oversight. We found no official page that allows selling food without one. Selling without the right license risks enforcement, so ask the authorities before you sell anything.

Can expats sell home-made food in Dubai? Intelaq, as announced in 2020, is for projects 100% owned by UAE or GCC nationals. We could not verify any official route for an expatriate to cook and sell from a residential kitchen. Ask Dubai Municipality and the licensing authority.

Can I cook in my own home kitchen under Intelaq? The release says that for food preparation a designated kitchen outside the home with an entrance from outside is mandatory. That describes a separate kitchen, not your home kitchen. Confirm with Dubai Economy and Tourism.

How many Intelaq licenses can one person hold? No more than two, according to the 2020 release. Check with Dubai Economy and Tourism whether that limit still applies.

Can I store and repackage food at home? For food trade under Intelaq, no. Storage and repackaging from home are not allowed, and must go through a licensed, accredited institution in Dubai, per the 2020 release.

How much does a home food license cost in Dubai? We could not verify a fee on an official page, so we do not quote one. Ask Dubai Economy and Tourism for the license fee and Dubai Municipality for its service fees, and ask for both in writing.

What happens after five years? Food activities are allowed for five years if the license is renewed every year, then the license must be converted to a commercial license, per the 2020 release.

What to do next

Decide whether you qualify for Intelaq, then ask Dubai Economy and Tourism and Dubai Municipality the questions flagged above and keep the answers. If your plan outgrows a home setup, the cloud kitchen license guide is the next step, and Blooprint can then manage your Amazon.ae and noon accounts through Amazon.ae account management.