Buying commercial kitchen equipment in the UAE
In Dubai, your kitchen layout, including where the equipment goes, needs approval from Dubai Municipality's Food Control Department before you build. Buy equipment against that approved layout. The Food Code also sets rules on equipment materials, grease traps, handwash stations and holding temperatures. This guide covers those rules and compares 9 UAE kitchen equipment suppliers.
What Dubai's Food Code says about kitchen equipment
The rules below come from the Dubai Municipality Food Code. Abu Dhabi and the other emirates have their own food authorities, so check with yours if you are outside Dubai.
- Layout approval comes first. Layouts for new construction or renovation must be approved by the Food Control Department before work starts (section 2.2). The layout plan must show where equipment goes and where pot washing, dishwashing and handwashing happen.
- Moving equipment later needs approval too. Adding, removing or repositioning equipment "of a substantial and permanent nature" counts as a change to the approved layout (section 2.2b). Adding shelves to a store room does not.
- Materials. Food-contact surfaces must be smooth, non-toxic, non-absorbent and resistant to denting, pitting, chipping and cracking. Painted food-contact surfaces are prohibited. Equipment must be free of hard-to-clean corners and crevices (section 2.9.1).
- Grease traps. These should be located outside the premises whenever possible, and inspected regularly (section 2.15).
- Handwash stations. Every food preparation area needs at least one (section 2.18).
- Temperatures. High-risk food must be kept at or below 5°C, or at or above 60°C. Hot-held food should stay at or above 60°C for no more than 4 hours. Buy fridges and hot-holding units that can hold those temperatures during a busy service.
Ways to buy kitchen equipment in the UAE
| Route | When it fits | Suppliers |
|---|---|---|
| Design and build (turnkey) | New kitchens and full renovations that need drawings, fabrication and installation | Falcon Professional Kitchen, Alpha Kitchen, Excel Kitchen, Al Diwan |
| Brand-name equipment | You know the oven, dishwasher or coffee machine you want | Kitchen Souk, Mariot Store |
| New and used, on a budget | Prep equipment, smaller openings, replacing single items | Kitchen Warehouse |
| Rental | Pop-ups and seasonal events | Ekuep (Saudi Arabia only) |
The 9 suppliers compared
| Supplier | Based | What it does | Worth knowing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Al Diwan Kitchen Equipment | UAE, since 1990 | Kitchen, bakery, refrigeration and laundry equipment; custom stainless steel | UNOX combi ovens; online store with free UAE delivery |
| Alpha Kitchen | Ajman factory | Equipment supply, kitchen planning and design, custom stainless steel | Single machines or full equipment lists |
| Ekuep | Saudi Arabia | Equipment and mobile kitchen rental | Delivery, installation and pickup; rental site serves KSA only |
| Excel Kitchen | UAE | Equipment supply, kitchen design and installation | Cloud kitchen and multi-brand kitchen equipment; buy online or get a quote |
| Falcon Professional Kitchen | Dubai, since 2007 | Turnkey design, MEP layouts, in-house fabrication, installation, maintenance | 24/7 service desk; staff training |
| Kitchen Souk | Dubai | Online store of Al Zabar Kitchen, 20+ years in foodservice | Rational, Hoshizaki, Meiko, Hobart, Electrolux, Alto-Shaam |
| Kitchen Warehouse | Sharjah | New and used equipment, maintenance | Free shipping over AED 1,000; buy now, pay later |
| Mariot Store | Dubai, Sharjah, Abu Dhabi | Kitchen, bakery, supermarket and laundry equipment | Nuova Simonelli coffee machines; delivers across the GCC |
| KitchenOS | Northern Ireland, UK | Food safety software: digital HACCP, temperature monitoring, allergen menus | Software only; 14-day free trial |
Questions to ask every supplier
- Can you produce the layout drawings for Food Control approval? Falcon offers kitchen design and MEP layouts. Alpha Kitchen and Excel Kitchen offer kitchen planning and design. If your supplier doesn't, you will need a separate consultant.
- Does the quote include installation and connections? Check whether plumbing, power and extraction connections are in the price.
- Who services it, and where are the spare parts? Falcon runs a 24/7 service desk and Kitchen Warehouse offers maintenance. For imported brands, ask whether spares are held in the UAE.
- What is the lead time? Get delivery dates in writing, tied to your fit-out schedule.
- What does the warranty cover, and for how long? Ask for it in writing for each item, including used equipment.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need approval before installing kitchen equipment in Dubai?
Yes. Dubai Municipality's Food Control Department must approve your layout, including the equipment layout, before construction or renovation starts. Adding, removing or moving substantial, permanent equipment later also needs prior approval.
Can I buy used commercial kitchen equipment in the UAE?
Yes. Kitchen Warehouse in Sharjah sells new and used equipment and offers maintenance. Used equipment still has to meet the Food Code: smooth, non-absorbent food-contact surfaces with no chips, cracks or painted surfaces. Inspect it before you pay.
What temperature must a restaurant fridge hold in Dubai?
High-risk food must be kept at or below 5°C under the Dubai Municipality Food Code. Hot food must be held at or above 60°C, for no more than 4 hours.
Where should a grease trap go?
The Food Code says grease traps should be outside the premises whenever possible, and regularly inspected, with greasy waste removed promptly.
Can I rent restaurant equipment instead of buying it?
Ekuep rents mobile kitchens, cold rooms, refrigerators and coffee machines for pop-ups and events, but its rental site serves Saudi Arabia only. We haven't listed a UAE rental supplier yet.
Sources
- Dubai Municipality Food Code (English), sections 2.2, 2.9.1, 2.15, 2.18 and 3.2.
- Supplier details: each company's own website, linked from its Run The Shift profile.
Last updated: 8 October 2026. Partner details come from each company's own website, summarised on its Run The Shift profile. Partners are listed in alphabetical order. Some partners sponsor Run The Shift, and that does not change where or how they appear in this guide. Spotted something out of date? Use the claim link on the partner's profile.