Opening a Restaurant or Cafe in Dubai? Your Chemical Compliance Checklist
Around 40% of new restaurants fail their first Dubai Municipality food license inspection. Missing or incorrect chemical documentation is one of the most common reasons. This checklist covers every cleaning chemical you need — and every document the inspector will ask for.
What Dubai Municipality Inspectors Check on Day One
Your food license inspection happens before you serve your first customer. The Food Safety Department checks your premises, your kitchen layout — and every cleaning chemical on-site.
- SDS in English and Arabic (16-section GHS format) — for every chemical product on the premises. Most common single failure point. If an inspector asks for the SDS of any product and you cannot produce one in Arabic, that product fails.
- GHS-compliant bilingual labels on every container — every bottle, drum and refill container must carry correct hazard pictograms in English and Arabic. Decanting into unmarked spray bottles is a DM violation even if the product itself is approved.
- Certificate of Analysis (COA) — per-batch lab results confirming the product matches its specification.
- Correct storage — chemicals stored away from food, heat sources and incompatible materials. Ventilated and clearly labelled.
- HACCP-compliant food contact chemicals — any chemical contacting food-prep surfaces must be food-safe and rinse-residue free.
The 10 Essential Cleaning Chemicals for Your Restaurant or Cafe
Covering every area DM inspectors examine — kitchen, dining room, restrooms, service areas and staff areas. All supplied with Arabic & English SDS, GHS labels and COA.
All Purpose Cleaner
Tables, counters, surfaces, door handles. 1:20 dilution for general use.
Multipurpose Cleaner
Pre-spray on greasy surfaces before wiping. Light switches, exterior.
Bathroom Cleaner
Descaling for UAE hard water (300–500 ppm). Tiles, basins, fixtures.
Glass Cleaner
Streak-free on mirrors, windows, glass partitions, display cases.
Disinfectant Liquid
Tables, handles, menus, POS terminals. 30–60 sec contact time.
Hand Sanitizer Gel
WHO formula. Entrance, reception, restrooms, service stations.
Antibacterial Floor Cleaner
Kitchen and common areas. Antibacterial activity on every mop cycle.
Dish Soap
Manual dishwashing: crockery, utensils, glassware, pots. Food-contact safe.
Oven & Grill Cleaner
Carbonised grease from ovens, grills, extraction hoods. Dwell 10–15 min.
Order all 10 — pre-filled, one click
Arabic SDS · GHS labels · COA · Free UAE delivery from Jebel Ali
Which Chemical in Which Area
| Area | Product | SKU | Dilution | Frequency |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dining tables & surfaces | All Purpose Cleaner | VT-GC-001 | 1:20 | After every seating |
| Tables between customers | Disinfectant Liquid | VT-DS-002 | Ready to use | Every turnover |
| Kitchen floor | Antibacterial Floor Cleaner | VT-DS-007 | 60ml / 5L | Daily + after service |
| Kitchen surfaces & prep | All Purpose Cleaner | VT-GC-001 | 1:20 | Before and after service |
| Oven, grill, extraction | Oven & Grill Cleaner | VT-KC-005 | Neat · dwell 10–15min | Weekly / as needed |
| Crockery & utensils | Dish Soap | VT-KC-001 | Per label | Every service |
| Mirrors & glass | Glass Cleaner | VT-GC-004 | Ready to use | Daily |
| Restroom tiles & basins | Bathroom Cleaner | VT-GC-003 | Ready to use | Daily + check hourly |
| All staff & guest touchpoints | Hand Sanitizer Gel | VT-DS-003 | Ready to use | Continuous |
Skip the Manual Dilution — ProMax Wall Dispenser
The table above shows exact dilution ratios for every product — a ProMax dispenser applies them automatically at the push of a button, so kitchen and floor staff never have to measure by eye. Wall-mounted, tool-free install, works directly with your Vileson concentrate order.
See ProMax specs & SekureDose dosing cabinets →Step-by-Step — Getting Your Chemicals Ready for DM Inspection
- Order from a DM-compliant supplier — every product must have Arabic SDS, GHS labels and COA. Vileson includes all three automatically.
- Receive and check delivery — confirm Arabic SDS is in the box for each product. File SDS sheets in a folder on-site accessible to all staff.
- Label every container including spray bottles — GHS-compliant bilingual labels must be on every container, including refill spray bottles.
- Store chemicals correctly — away from food, heat sources and daylight. Ventilated storage. Incompatible products separated.
- Train all staff on chemical handling — DM may ask to see evidence of staff chemical handling training. Document and keep records on-site.
- Complete your chemical inventory list — a written list of every chemical product on-site with its SDS reference. DM inspectors may request this during inspection.
FAQ — New Restaurant Opening Chemicals Dubai
9 essential products: All Purpose Cleaner (VT-GC-001), Multipurpose Cleaner (VT-GC-002), Bathroom Cleaner (VT-GC-003), Glass Cleaner (VT-GC-004), Disinfectant Liquid (VT-DS-002), Hand Sanitizer Gel (VT-DS-003), Antibacterial Floor Cleaner (VT-DS-007), Dish Soap (VT-KC-001), Oven & Grill Cleaner (VT-KC-005). All with Arabic and English SDS for Dubai Municipality compliance.
Yes. Dubai Municipality Food Safety Department inspects all chemicals on-site before issuing a food license. They check for Arabic and English SDS, GHS-compliant bilingual labels on every container, and correct storage. Around 40% of first-time applicants fail their initial inspection. Missing Arabic SDS is one of the most common reasons.
A 16-section GHS-format SDS in both English and Arabic, GHS-compliant bilingual labels on every container, and a COA available on request. Vileson Trade FZCO includes all three automatically on every delivery.
Yes, but you must verify the supplier provides Arabic SDS, GHS-compliant bilingual labels and COA. Many suppliers provide English-only documentation, which is non-compliant with DM requirements. Vileson Trade FZCO includes all required documentation on every B2B delivery from Jebel Ali.
Service Areas
Restaurant & Cafe Chemical Starter Pack
All 10 DM-required products · Arabic SDS · GHS labels · COA · Free UAE delivery from Jebel Ali