PIC Training

Dubai Municipality operates a two-tier scheme. The standard PIC certification covers core food safety principles and is required for supervisors in most food establishments. The Advanced PIC certification goes deeper into HACCP system design and is required for managers in larger or higher-risk operations such as hotel kitchens, central production units, and high-volume catering facilities. Make My Restaurant assesses your establishment category and recommends the correct level before enrolment.

The PIC certificate issued by accredited awarding bodies (such as Highfield/HABC) is valid for 5 years. Dubai Municipality requires renewal before expiry to maintain your establishment's compliance status. Make My Restaurant tracks expiry dates for all staff we certify and sends renewal reminders well in advance of your inspection window, eliminating compliance gaps.

Yes. We offer in-house group training at your restaurant or central kitchen, which is cost-effective for businesses certifying multiple managers across branches. In-house delivery allows us to contextualise HACCP examples to your specific menu, layout, and workflows, producing higher pass rates and better on-the-job application than open-venue courses attended by mixed-industry delegates.

Dubai Municipality classifies food establishments into risk categories. Low-to-medium-risk outlets (cafes, quick-service, small restaurants) require a standard PIC certification. High-risk operations -- hotel kitchens, central production units, large catering facilities, and high-volume commissaries -- require Advanced PIC. Make My Restaurant reviews your DM establishment category and recommends the correct tier before enrolment to avoid wasted training costs.

The standard PIC programme runs 1.5 -- 2 days of training followed by an accredited multiple-choice exam. Advanced PIC typically takes 2 -- 3 days. Make My Restaurant includes structured mock assessments and HACCP revision in the preparation schedule, and candidates sit the accredited exam with an EIAC-recognised awarding body (such as Highfield) immediately after the course, with results usually available within a week.

A PIC certificate issued by a Dubai Municipality-recognised accredited body (Highfield/HABC under EIAC ISO 17024 accreditation) is the national benchmark and is accepted as evidence of competency by food authorities in Sharjah, Abu Dhabi, Ajman, RAK, UAQ, and Fujairah. However, each emirate's food authority may have its own additional enrolment or registration step. Make My Restaurant advises on local requirements for each emirate branch.

The accredited exam is typically a written or computer-based multiple-choice assessment covering food law, HACCP principles, contamination control, temperature management, and personal hygiene. Pass marks are set by the awarding body -- generally 70% or above. Make My Restaurant's exam-prep module includes full mock papers mapped to the actual exam blueprint, which consistently produces high first-attempt pass rates.

Operating a food establishment without a certified PIC on every shift is a direct violation of the UAE Food Code 2020 and the Dubai Municipality licensing conditions. Inspectors can issue an immediate improvement notice, impose fines, or recommend licence suspension. Make My Restaurant recommends certifying a minimum of two managers per outlet so a backup PIC is always available for leave, sick days, and staff turnover situations.

The certified PIC must be actively on duty and reachable during the shift -- not just holding a certificate on file. Dubai Municipality inspectors may ask to speak directly with the PIC during a site visit and may request shift schedules showing which certified individual was on duty at a given time. A manager who holds a certificate but is off-site is not considered compliant under the Food Code.

Yes -- and in most small-to-medium restaurants, one or two managers hold all three levels: Level 1 Basic Food Safety, Level 2 HACCP-awareness supervisor, and Level 3 PIC. PIC certification subsumes and builds on the lower levels, so a certified PIC is by definition also a trained food handler. Make My Restaurant typically recommends bundling all three levels in a single training engagement for efficiency.

PIC certification costs AED 450 -- 950 per candidate depending on level and provider. The certificate is valid for 5 years, making it a long-term investment compared to annual OHC renewal. Renewal at the 5-year mark requires a re-sit of the exam -- refresher coursework is recommended. Make My Restaurant tracks expiry dates and sends advance renewal reminders to prevent unexpected compliance gaps.