Pest control rules for restaurants and food shops in Dubai

Short answer

• Dubai's Food Code requires food premises to be pest-free, inspected regularly, and treated only by licensed specialists using approved chemicals.
• Keep a copy of the pest control contract and records of every visit, technician, chemicals and methods on site.
• Electric fly killers need catch trays, must be at least 1.5 metres from food handling, and never directly above food.
• No spraying or baiting during food preparation; store any chemicals separately in a lockable area.
• Check your contractor is on Dubai Municipality's approved list, and call 800900 for current penalties.

In this guide (10 sections)

1. What does the Dubai Food Code say about pest control?
2. Do restaurants in Dubai need a pest control contract?
3. What pest control records must a food business keep?
4. Where can you put an electric fly killer in a restaurant?
5. Can pest control spray while food is being prepared?
6. How should pesticides be stored in a food business?
7. How do you stop pests getting in?
8. What happens if a food business has no pest control contract?
9. Food business pest control checklist
10. What to check before you act

A restaurant, café, grocery or other food business in Dubai must keep its premises free of pests and use a licensed pest control company with approved chemicals. It must also keep a copy of the pest control contract and records of every visit on site. These rules come from Dubai Municipality's Food Code (the 2013 English edition, sections 4.3 and 4.4), which we checked on 23 October 2026.

This page is general information, not legal advice. If an inspector has raised a problem with your premises, follow the inspector's written instructions and ask Dubai Municipality (800900) if anything is unclear.

What does the Dubai Food Code say about pest control?

Section 4.3 of the Food Code sets four basic duties:

• Keep pests out. Food premises must be free of pests. The Code counts rodents, insects, birds and other animals as pests (4.3(a)).
• Inspect regularly. The premises and the area around them should be checked often for signs of pests (4.3(b)).
• Act quickly. If you find pests, take corrective action promptly (4.3(c)).
• Use licensed specialists. Only licensed specialist agencies may carry out pest control, using approved chemicals and methods (4.3(d)).

Section 4.4 then explains how to prevent and control infestations. It covers keeping pests out of the building, removing hiding places and food sources, getting rid of pests, and keeping records. The sections below summarise those parts in plain English.

Do restaurants in Dubai need a pest control contract?

Yes, in practice. Section 4.4(d)(iv) says pest control must be done by agencies licensed and approved by the relevant Dubai department. Section 4.4(e)(ii) says your records should include a copy of the pest control contract. A business that has no contractor has nothing to show an inspector.

The Code also keeps the responsibility with you. Under 4.4(d)(iv), the food establishment, not the contractor, is mainly responsible for making sure a competent person supervises the work.

Dubai Municipality's Public Health Pest Control Section licenses and regulates pest control companies. It issues the no-objection certificate a company needs before it can get a trade licence. Before you sign a contract, check that the company appears on Dubai Municipality's approved list. Our guide how to check a pest control company is Dubai Municipality-approved explains how to read that list.

What pest control records must a food business keep?

Under section 4.4(e), management must keep proper records of pest inspections, surveys, maintenance and service visits. It should also note anything the technician may need for follow-up work, such as where you saw droppings or which door seal is damaged.

Section 4.4(e)(ii) lists what the records should include:

Record	What it should show
Contract	A copy of your current pest control contract
Technician	The name of the technician responsible for your site
Chemicals	Which chemicals were used and at what concentrations
Methods	The procedures and methods used (for example baits, traps or sprays)
Frequency	How often treatments are carried out
Monitoring	Inspection and monitoring records (trap checks, sightings, findings)

A simple way to stay organised is to keep one folder or binder that holds the contract and every service report the contractor leaves. Add your own sightings log, and file each new report after every visit. If your contractor uses a digital reporting system, make sure staff on shift can open the latest reports when an inspector arrives.

Where can you put an electric fly killer in a restaurant?

Section 4.4(d)(iii) allows electric fly killers (often called EFKs or insect light traps) if they have catch trays. The Code also sets placement rules:

• At least 1.5 metres from food handling areas. The Code says 4.5 to 6 metres is preferable.
• Mounted low on a wall or on the ceiling.
• Never directly above food preparation or food storage areas.

Section 4.4(d)(ii) adds that sticky or other insect traps must be placed so dead insects cannot fall onto food or equipment. Sticky pads must be replaced regularly, or sooner once they fill up.

Worked example: a small kitchen has a 3-metre prep counter along one wall. An EFK mounted on the wall directly above that counter breaks the rule even if it is high up, because it sits above food preparation. Moving it to the opposite wall by the back door, at least 1.5 metres from the counter and ideally further, fits the Code. That position also catches flies as they come in.

Flies are the usual reason kitchens fit these units. Numbers often rise after rain, as our guide on mosquitoes after rain in Dubai explains.

Can pest control spray while food is being prepared?

No. Section 4.4(d)(v) says rodenticides and insecticides must not be applied during food preparation. They must be applied in a way that does not contaminate food, and all open food must be covered.

The Code recognises that some businesses, such as 24-hour restaurants, never fully stop working. In those cases it prefers physical control methods (for example traps and proofing) over chemicals, and especially over sprays.

After an infestation, section 4.4(d)(vi) says you must clean and disinfect contaminated equipment, utensils and food-contact surfaces. Any food contaminated by pests or by pest control chemicals must be thrown away. Section 4.4(d)(i) adds that places, clothing and equipment contaminated by pests should be cleaned and disinfected as soon as possible.

Agree treatment times with your contractor in writing, such as after closing or before the morning shift, so that this rule is part of the contract.

How should pesticides be stored in a food business?

Section 2.12(e) of the Food Code, which covers storage areas, says these chemicals must be stored separately in a lockable area where they cannot contaminate food. They must also be kept away from food-contact surfaces and from items such as utensils, linens, single-use articles and packaging.

In practice, most small food businesses should not keep professional pesticides at all. Treatment is the licensed contractor's job, and the contractor brings and removes its own products. If you store any cleaning chemicals or pest control products on site, keep them in a locked cupboard away from food, never in the dry store next to ingredients.

Never use illegal "bombs" or fumigant tablets to deal with pests yourself. Our guide on aluminium phosphide explains why these are banned in homes and have caused deaths in the UAE.

How do you stop pests getting in?

Much of section 4.4 is about prevention rather than spraying. The Code expects you to:

• Seal gaps. Close holes and gaps in ceilings, walls and floors with cement or metal plates (4.4(a)(i)).
• Proof doors. Keep gaps under doors to 6 mm or less and fit metal kick plates to stop rats and mice (4.4(a)(ii)).
• Screen openings. Fit mesh screens to windows, vents and doors, and keep doors self-closing and shut (4.4(a)(iii)).
• Fix drains. Replace missing or damaged drain gratings straight away (4.4(a)(iv)).
• Remove hiding places. Avoid false ceilings in prep and storage areas where possible, repair damaged walls and floors promptly, and do not keep unused equipment lying around (4.4(b)).
• Remove food sources. Cover food, store it in sealed containers, keep floors free of debris overnight, and use lidded bins emptied at least daily (4.4(c)).

These steps matter most against cockroaches, which hide in gaps behind equipment and in drains.

What happens if a food business has no pest control contract?

The most detailed public statement we found is old. In September 2018, an official from Dubai Municipality's Public Health Pest Control Section told Gulf News that premises related to public health had to hold a contract with a licensed pest control company. That included restaurants, groceries, malls and food warehouses. The article set out three steps for premises that ignored warnings:

Step (as reported in 2018)	What happens
First offence	Warning
Second offence	AED 400 fine
Third offence	Shutdown, with water and electricity cut in coordination with DEWA

Treat this as history, not as today's fine schedule. Penalties and inspection systems may have changed since 2018, and we did not find a current published fine for this specific breach. Ask Dubai Municipality on 800900 for current penalties.

Food business pest control checklist

Use this as a quick self-check before an inspection. It summarises the Food Code sections above.

Check	Food Code section	Done?
Contract signed with a pest control company on the DM approved list	4.3(d), 4.4(d)(iv)	☐
Copy of the contract kept on site	4.4(e)(ii)	☐
Every service report filed (technician name, chemicals and concentrations, methods, frequency)	4.4(e)(ii)	☐
Own log of inspections, sightings and repairs	4.4(e)(i)	☐
Premises and surroundings checked regularly	4.3(b)	☐
EFKs have catch trays, are ≥1.5 m from food handling and low wall or ceiling mounted	4.4(d)(iii)	☐
No EFK or sticky trap directly above prep or storage areas	4.4(d)(ii)–(iii)	☐
Sticky pads replaced regularly	4.4(d)(ii)	☐
No spraying or baiting during food preparation; open food covered	4.4(d)(v)	☐
Any chemicals stored separately in a lockable area	2.12(e)	☐
Gaps sealed, door gaps ≤6 mm, screens fitted, drain gratings intact	4.4(a)	☐
Food covered, floors clean overnight, lidded bins emptied daily	4.4(c)	☐
Contaminated surfaces cleaned and contaminated food thrown away after an infestation	4.4(d)(i), (vi)	☐

For a sense of what residential treatments cost, see our pest control prices in Dubai guide. Commercial contracts are usually quoted after a site survey.

What to check before you act

• Confirm the contractor is on Dubai Municipality's current approved list, and that the technician carries a pest control ID card.
• Read the contract for visit frequency, treatment times outside food preparation, and what each service report will include.
• Check that every report names the technician and lists the chemicals and concentrations used.
• Walk the kitchen and check EFK positions against the 1.5-metre and "not above food" rules.
• Lock away any chemicals, and keep them out of food storage.
• For current fines or anything an inspector has raised, call Dubai Municipality on 800900.

Questions people ask

General information only, not professional, medical or legal advice. Rules, services and prices change; confirm with Dubai Municipality or a licensed company before you act. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.

Sources

1. Food Code 2013, English (Dubai Municipality)checked 23 October 2026
2. Fines await owners of Dubai buildings with rat infestation (Gulf News)checked 23 October 2026
3. Public Health Pest Control Section (Dubai Municipality)checked 23 October 2026
4. Approved pest control companies (Dubai Municipality)checked 23 October 2026
5. Approved pest control companies list, July 2026 (Dubai Municipality)checked 23 October 2026