Food Safety Training Dubai

EFST (Essential Food Safety Training) is the Abu Dhabi ADAFSA framework covering all food handlers in the emirate. Basic Food Safety is the Dubai Municipality equivalent for entry-level handlers. The PIC program is a higher-level Dubai Municipality course mandatory for supervisors and managers, covering full HACCP application, Food Code compliance, and operational leadership.

Yes. We offer fully on-site group training across Dubai, Sharjah, and all seven emirates. We work around your shift pattern so operations are not disrupted. A single engagement can cover Level 1 for kitchen helpers, Level 2 for team leaders, and Level 3 PIC certification for your manager — all in one visit where feasible.

Expired certificates can result in fines, a failed inspection score, or in serious cases temporary closure of the establishment. Dubai Municipality inspectors verify certificates against the Foodwatch database in real time. Make My Restaurant can arrange an urgent group session within 48–72 hours and provide interim compliance documentation while training is scheduled.

Dubai Municipality requires every food handler -- including kitchen helpers, prep staff, and servers who handle open food -- to hold a valid Level 1 Basic Food Safety certificate. The Level 3 PIC certification is separately mandatory for at least one supervisor per shift. All certificates must be registered on the Foodwatch platform and verifiable during a DM inspection.

Level 1 Basic Food Safety training typically costs AED 100 -- 300 per person. Level 2 HACCP-awareness courses run AED 250 -- 500. The Level 3 PIC programme is AED 450 -- 950 depending on the accredited provider. Group on-site sessions with Make My Restaurant reduce per-person cost for larger teams. Contact +971 58 570 7110 or info@makemyrestaurant.com for a group quote.

No -- they are separate requirements. An Occupational Health Card (OHC), renewed annually at AED 300 -- 600, confirms a food handler is medically fit and free of communicable diseases. A food safety certificate confirms they have been trained in hygiene and safe handling practices. Dubai Municipality requires both: an OHC without a food safety certificate does not satisfy the training compliance requirement.

DM inspectors verify certificates in real time against the Foodwatch database using the employee's Emirates ID or passport number. A certificate that was issued but not correctly uploaded to Foodwatch by the training provider is treated as non-existent during inspection. Make My Restaurant ensures all certificates are registered on Foodwatch immediately after the assessment so there are no database gaps during a spot check.

The certificate itself does not expire on menu change, but DM guidelines recommend refresher training whenever new hazard categories are introduced -- for example, adding raw-fish handling, a tandoor oven, or allergen-listed dishes. If your establishment category (A-D) changes, a full re-assessment of which training levels are required is needed, as higher-risk categories require more advanced certifications.

HACCP (Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points) is the internationally recognised food-safety management system mandated for all commercial food establishments under the Dubai Food Code. It is covered at Level 2 in supervisor training and more deeply at Level 3 PIC level. Level 1 introduces the concept, but hands-on HACCP plan design is a Level 2 and Level 3 topic relevant to team leaders and managers.

Yes. Dubai Municipality-approved exams are available in multiple languages including Arabic, English, Tagalog, Hindi, and Urdu through approved testing centres. Make My Restaurant delivers bilingual instruction in Arabic and English and can coordinate exam sessions in the language of your choice, significantly improving first-attempt pass rates for teams where English is not the primary language.

Dubai Municipality administers training via the Foodwatch platform with its own approved-provider list and DM Food Code. Abu Dhabi uses the ADAFSA framework (EFST -- Essential Food Safety Training), and other northern emirates generally align to their respective municipality requirements. Make My Restaurant maps the correct program to the emirate where each branch operates, so multi-location groups get the right certificate for each authority.