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How to Start a Industrial Kitchen & Catering Equipment Trading Business with Meydan Free Zone
The UAE is one of the world's most active hospitality and food service markets. The UAE food service equipment market is valued at USD 520 million, driven by robust hospitality sector growth, rising consumer demand for premium dining, and the rapid expansion of food delivery and cloud kitchens.[1] The UAE hospitality market reached USD 23.9 billion in 2024 and is projected to grow at a CAGR of 5.2% to 2033.[2] Dubai alone welcomed 18.72 million international visitors in 2024.
Every hotel kitchen, restaurant, cloud kitchen, hospital canteen, school cafeteria, and catering company requires the full range of commercial cooking, refrigeration, food preparation, and dishwashing equipment that makes professional food production possible at scale.
Who is this for?
| Audience Segment | Profile |
|---|---|
| HOTELS & RESTAURANTS | HORECA Equipment Traders Traders supplying commercial ovens, grills, fryers, refrigeration, dishwashers, and the full suite of kitchen equipment to hotels, restaurants, cafés, and food service operations across the UAE's world-class hospitality sector. |
| CATERING & INSTITUTIONAL | Industrial Catering Equipment Distributors Distributors supplying high-capacity industrial kitchen equipment to central production kitchens, catering companies, hospital kitchens, airline catering facilities, and institutional food service operators. |
4773.97 - Industrial Kitchen & Catering Equipment Trading
Activity 4773.97 covers the trading of industrial kitchen and catering equipment. This encompasses commercial cooking equipment, commercial refrigeration, food preparation equipment, dishwashers and warewashing, food display equipment, stainless steel fabrication, catering trolleys, and all professional equipment for commercial and industrial food production, storage, and service.
Activity 4773.97 covers industrial kitchen and catering equipment. Bakery and flour mill equipment is covered under activity 4773.44.
Laundry equipment for hotel linen is covered under activity 4773.a3.
In short: if you are trading commercial and industrial kitchen and catering equipment, you are in. Bakery equipment has its own code (4773.44) and laundry equipment falls under 4773.a3.
| Category | Scope |
|---|---|
| Commercial cooking equipmentCommercial ovens, ranges, grills, fryers, steamers, tilting pans, and cooking systems for professional restaurant and industrial kitchen production. | Warewashing & dishwashers Undercounter, hood-type, and tunnel dishwashers, glass washers, and pot washers for commercial kitchen cleaning operations. |
| Commercial refrigerationCommercial refrigerators, blast chillers, cold rooms, ice machines, and chilled display units for commercial food storage and service. | Stainless steel fabrication & fitout Custom stainless steel work tables, sinks, shelving, pass-throughs, and bespoke kitchen fabrication for commercial kitchen fitout projects. |
| Food preparation equipment | Commercial mixers, food processors, slicers, meat mincers, vegetable cutters, and food preparation tools for industrial kitchen use. |
Third-Party Approval
This activity does not require third-party approval to obtain a business license from Meydan Free Zone.
Anti-Money Laundering Compliance
This business activity is not subject to AML compliance requirements.
References
- ¹ Ken Research. (2025). UAE Food Service Equipment Market. kenresearch.com
- ² IMARC Group. (2025). UAE Hospitality Market Size. imarcgroup.com
