How to Start a Successful Business in Dubai In a Few Months Without Having a Million Dollars

According to the survey findings, Dubai ranked first in terms of the amount of investment attracted. The services industry received the largest capital injections, namely 28% of the total investment. It is followed by residential construction with 15%, while the power sector rounds out the top 3 with 10%.

As business and the influx of tourists are on the rise, the service sector has been growing as well. In light of this, it’s unsurprising that this sector is booming. This is especially true when it comes to high-end coffee shops, one of the most profitable niches in the food and beverage segment.

In this article, Ivan Kroshnyi, investor and co-owner of the Roasters Specialty Coffee House chain, shares how to open a cafeteria in Dubai and reveals the secret behind the success of such an establishment.

How to open a cafeteria in Dubai and make it big: Top 3 tips

Roasters Specialty Coffee House was my first project originating from the food & beverage segment. Even though a group of companies, of which I am a co-owner, already included 18 businesses at the time, I still decided to give this one a go.

It took my partner Konstantyn Harbuz and me only 5 days to agree on my involvement in the high-end coffee house startup. That is how much time passed from the moment I learned about it, and until the moment we stroke the deal and I invested. So, my first piece of advice to those who wish to start a business in Dubai is to learn how to make faster decisions. Dubai is a highly fast-paced city where people don’t think too long before they make a final deal.

The second piece of advice to those who want to open a cafeteria in Dubai goes like this: for a coffee shop to be popular and generate solid revenues, you need to make sure you surprise your guests. You can buy our franchise as we already have our own unique style and concept, or you can come up with your own.

The signature features of Roasters Specialty Coffee House cannot be described in just a few words. These include:

• Mind-blowing locations in the central parts of the city overlooking Dubai.
• Elite coffee varieties, some of which are offered at our coffee shops only.
• In-house coffee roasting enables us to keep the product quality intact while boosting the margin.
• Professional baristas trained by the best experts in the coffee industry.
• The general vibe and interior design. Our guests feel at ease in our coffee houses. The tables are arranged at a sufficient distance from each other, which ensures conversation privacy and lets our guests have enough space.
• This is not just your regular coffee shop with delicious coffee and Instagram-worthy interior and views. It is a place where you can unwind, meet up, and network.

Our company is a member of the Specialty Coffee Association (SCA), an organization that brings together coffee experts from around the world. And this is what my third piece of advice to those who intend to open a cafeteria in Dubai boils down to: become a member of this organization to get access to critical research data relating to coffee and the coffee market. You will also be able to follow trends, respond to changes in a timely manner and apply the latest innovative technologies in this niche.

From the first coffee house to a fancy chain in under a year: The success story

The fourth piece of advice is to get the feel of the market and ride the wave. That’s how my partner and I managed to create a network of high-end coffee shops in less than a year.

In October 2021, we opened our first coffee shop in the Roasters Specialty Coffee House chain. This is a 3-storey villa located in the very heart of the city. It has 130 seating capacity, a VIP room, and a spectacular view of the Burj Khalifa.

A strong focus of the coffee house was placed on the location, atmosphere, and elite coffee varieties. Jamaica Blue Mountain coffee, for instance, is imported to the UAE by two companies, and we are one of them. A true attention grabber is the Guatemala Geisha Freddy Morales Farm microlot coffee, the winner of the Guatemala Cup of Excellence. On top of that, we’re the only Middle-East-based coffee house that purchased this coffee variety. You will have a hard time finding it in other countries as well. Only 150 kg of this microlot was available in the whole world.

The coffee shop quickly gained popularity. You can google it and read reviews from the visitors.

We opened a second coffee house in March 2022 in Dubai Mall, the world’s largest shopping mall. In July 2022, we unveiled NFT Gallery & Specialty Coffee, the first-ever concept like this in the Middle East with a focus on the blockchain community.

We knew that the market was already warmed up, with an increased demand for high-end coffee shops. So, we decided to expand our network further by offering and selling franchises in Dubai.

Roasters Specialty Coffee House franchise: Key to popularity

As we offer a turnkey business option to franchisees, we have already received a number of requests from people wishing to open a cafeteria in Dubai.

The first franchise cafe and the fourth one of the chain are going to open in one of the fanciest city areas this coming winter. In addition, we have practically decided on a location for the fifth and sixth coffee shops.

The fifth piece of advice to those who want to start a franchise business in Dubai is to always check what franchisors offer you.

Here’s what Roasters Specialty Coffee House provides:

• Assistance with project organization such as selection of a suitable location, concept development, interior design, menus, staff training, etc.
• We also take an active part in the project launch. That way, we can make sure that the franchise cafe keeps the bar to the highest standards. Plus, the franchisees are able to optimize the emotional costs and time spent during the launch.
• We support and assist franchisees at every stage of the process. We have an operational team of 20 people who help figure out the ins and outs of the business, guide, and train franchisees every step of the way.
• The company provides a brand book describing every crucial aspect ranging from the interior to working with guests and staff. Having this guide at their fingertips, the franchisees are able to get into this business a lot faster.
• Another major advantage is that our franchisees become the SCA members.

While my partner and I were opening new coffee shops, we also made a number of market surveys, examined attendance rate, and requests from our guests. This helps to adjust the business in a timely manner to make sure that it meets the customers’ needs to the highest degree. So, the sixth piece of advice is to never stop evolving. If you decide to start your business in Dubai, do regular market and target audience screenings. Those who purchase a franchise in Dubai can use the help from the franchisor itself.

If you are interested in starting a franchise business in the UAE under watchful eye of an expert team, you can become a Roasters Specialty Coffee House franchisee. The expansion into domestic and global markets has only just begun. Feel free to send your requests and inquiries at beans@roasterscoffee.ae .

My final seventh piece of advice to those who wish to start a business in Dubai is to not put this decision on the back burner. If you have sufficient funds and strong desire to do this, don’t wait too long to make a move. This is a rapidly-developing region. The number of business licenses issued grows by 3-5% annually. The longer you wait, the more likely it is that your competitors will be quicker to fill your niche, be it your own business or a franchise. You must act consciously but boldly if you wish to make money and strike it big.