Running a restaurant or café in Dubai is a dynamic and highly competitive venture. The city’s diverse population, booming tourism, and demand for high-quality service make it a fertile ground for food businesses. However, to operate successfully—whether you’re running a specialty coffee shop in Al Quoz or a fine-dining restaurant in Downtown—you need more than just great food and ambiance. A powerful, compliant, and user-friendly Point of Sale (POS) system is crucial.
This detailed guide provides an in-depth overview of café and restaurant POS systems in Dubai, including:
- An overview of the Dubai F&B POS landscape
- Regulatory and fiscal compliance considerations (e.g., UAE VAT, digital invoicing)
- A breakdown of the top POS systems used in cafés and restaurants in Dubai
- Comparison of local vs. international POS providers
- Key features to look for in a Dubai-friendly POS system
- Cost considerations and ROI
- Integration with payment gateways, delivery apps, and loyalty tools
- Tips for choosing the right system
1. Overview of the POS Landscape in Dubai
Dubai’s food and beverage (F&B) market is modern, fast-paced, and digitally advanced. Consumers expect quick service, digital menus, and mobile payments. At the same time, the government has implemented strong fiscal controls such as VAT (Value Added Tax), requiring accurate and auditable records from F&B establishments.
Most café and restaurant operators in Dubai rely on cloud-based POS systems. These systems offer flexibility, multi-location management, real-time reporting, and integrations with delivery platforms like Talabat, Deliveroo, Noon Food, and Careem.
In 2025, there is also a trend toward hybrid POS systems—cloud-based systems with offline capabilities to ensure continuous operations during internet outages, which are still a concern in some areas.
2. Regulatory and Fiscal Compliance in Dubai
If you’re setting up a café or restaurant in Dubai, your POS system must be VAT-compliant and capable of generating proper tax invoices. Compliance requirements include:
- 5% VAT implementation (standard UAE rate)
- Digital recordkeeping for 5–15 years (depending on the business structure)
- Generation of FATOORA-style tax invoices (invoice number, TRN, tax breakdown, etc.)
- Integration with accounting software (like Zoho Books, QuickBooks, or Xero) for simplified tax filing
Many restaurant POS systems available in Dubai are already pre-configured to align with Federal Tax Authority (FTA) guidelines.
3. Top Café and Restaurant POS Systems in Dubai
Here’s a breakdown of the most commonly used and highly rated POS systems in Dubai’s food service industry.
🇦🇪 Local POS Systems in Dubai
1. Foodics (UAE-Saudi Origin)
Type: Cloud-based
Used by: Coffee shops, QSRs, bakeries, restaurants
Strengths:
- Fully Arabic/English bilingual interface
- Built-in e-invoicing and VAT compliance
- Inventory and kitchen management
- Integrated loyalty and CRM tools
- Seamless integration with delivery aggregators (Talabat, Deliveroo, Careem)
Pricing: Starting AED 200–400/month per terminal
Ideal for: Chains and growth-focused cafes
2. Sapaad (Dubai-based)
Type: Cloud-based
Used by: QSRs, cafes, small-medium restaurants
Strengths:
- Strong delivery integration (Talabat, Zomato, Deliveroo)
- Online ordering via branded web app
- Inventory and recipe costing
- Simple UI for staff
- FTA VAT-compliant e-invoices
Pricing: From AED 199/month (add-ons priced separately)
Ideal for: Cafes with delivery and dine-in
3. POSRocket (MENA-focused)
Type: Cloud POS
Strengths:
- Offline mode with auto-sync
- Fast onboarding and local support
- Easy-to-use UI for café staff
- Real-time analytics dashboard
Pricing: Around AED 250–350/month
Ideal for: Small cafés and bistros
4. eZee Optimus (Indian-MENA POS with Dubai presence)
Type: Hybrid (cloud-based with offline mode)
Strengths:
- Easy invoice customization for VAT compliance
- Menu management and modifiers
- Kitchen Display System (KDS)
- Optional mobile POS and waiter tablets
Pricing: ~AED 150–350/month
Ideal for: Cafes with complex menu setups
🌍 International POS Systems Used in Dubai
5. Slant POS
Type: Cloud POS (U.S.-based, but fully available in UAE)
Strengths:
- Free starter plan
- Great for small cafes or food trucks
- Multi-language Arabic/English
- Fast ordering and customer CRM
- Kitchen Display System (KDS), loyalty, promotions
- Simple design and easy setup
Limitations: - Limited integration with regional food delivery platforms
Ideal for: Small cafés, QSRs and restaurants
6. Lightspeed POS
Type: Cloud POS
Strengths:
- Advanced inventory tools
- Multi-location café chain management
- Good for restaurants with retail component (e.g., baked goods, merch)
Challenges: - Requires customization for full VAT compliance
- Pricey compared to local options
Ideal for: Upscale café chains or hybrid café-retail models
7. Revel Systems
Type: iPad POS (Hybrid with offline capability)
Strengths:
- Enterprise-level features
- Customizable menu engineering
- Integrated payment systems
Drawbacks: - Higher cost and complexity
- Support is not regionally focused
Ideal for: Franchise restaurants or high-volume operators
4. Key Features to Look for in a Dubai-Friendly POS System
Whether you’re choosing a POS system for a café, fine-dining outlet, or delivery-first restaurant, your system should include:
| Feature | Importance |
|---|---|
| VAT-compliant invoicing | Essential for FTA audit readiness |
| Multi-language support (Arabic/English) | Helpful for diverse staff and customers |
| Inventory & recipe costing | Critical for food cost control |
| KDS (Kitchen Display System) | Useful for streamlining kitchen operations |
| Delivery aggregator integration | Must-have for modern cafés doing delivery |
| Mobile POS or table-side ordering | Great for full-service restaurants |
| Loyalty and CRM tools | Drives repeat visits |
| Offline mode | Avoids downtime during internet issues |
| Reporting dashboard | For daily sales, inventory, and employee performance |
| E-payment and tip integration | Compatible with Apple Pay, Samsung Pay, credit/debit |
5. Pricing Overview for POS Systems in Dubai
| Provider | Setup Cost | Monthly Fee (per terminal) | Add-ons |
|---|---|---|---|
| Foodics | AED 1,000–2,500 | AED 200–400 | Loyalty, accounting, KDS |
| Sapaad | AED 500–1,000 | AED 199–299 | Delivery modules, mobile POS |
| POSRocket | ~AED 500 | AED 250–350 | Inventory, CRM |
| eZee Optimus | Free–AED 500 | AED 150–350 | Mobile app, KDS |
| Slant POS | Free | Free–AED 145 | All Included |
| Lightspeed | AED 2,000+ | AED 400–600 | Multilocation, loyalty |
| Revel | AED 3,000+ | AED 500+ | Enterprise integrations |
Tip: Many POS providers in Dubai offer free demos or trial versions. Always request one before committing.
6. Integration with Dubai-Based Services
Here are the most important integrations your POS should support in the Dubai ecosystem:
📱 Delivery Apps
- Talabat
- Deliveroo
- Careem NOW
- Noon Food
- Smiles (Etisalat)
💳 Payment Gateways
- Network International (UAE’s largest processor)
- PayTabs
- Checkout.com
- Telr
- Stripe UAE
- Emirates NBD SmartBUSINESS integration
📈 Accounting Tools
- Zoho Books UAE Edition
- Xero (VAT enabled for UAE)
- QuickBooks MENA version
- TallyPrime with VAT modules
📲 Loyalty & CRM
- Yollty
- Urban Piper (aggregator & loyalty integrator)
- Blinq
- Eat App (CRM + reservations for upscale dining)
7. POS Systems by Type of Food Business
| Type of Business | Recommended POS Systems |
|---|---|
| Coffee Shop | Slant POS, Foodics, Sapaad, POSRocket |
| Bakery or Dessert Café | Slant POS, eZee Optimus, Foodics |
| Fine Dining | Revel, Lightspeed, Foodics |
| Quick Service Restaurant (QSR) | Slant POS, Sapaad, Foodics, POSRocket |
| Ghost Kitchens | Foodics + UrbanPiper |
| Multi-Location Chain | Foodics, Lightspeed, Revel |
8. Tips for Choosing the Right POS System in Dubai
- Check for FTA compliance – Especially for VAT invoicing and audit readiness
- Evaluate support quality – Choose a POS provider with strong local support in Dubai
- Test for integration – Your POS should integrate with Talabat/Deliveroo if you offer delivery
- Avoid vendor lock-in – Choose systems that export data freely and allow migration
- Start small, scale later – Choose a modular system that grows with your café/restaurant
- Use demos extensively – Most POS providers in Dubai offer free demos—insist on a walkthrough with your actual menu and modifiers
- Ask other F&B owners – The best POS systems often spread by word-of-mouth
9. Conclusion
Dubai’s café and restaurant scene is thriving, but success hinges on operational efficiency, customer experience, and regulatory compliance. Your POS system is more than just a cash register—it’s the digital backbone of your business. From front-of-house order taking and payments to back-of-house inventory management and delivery coordination, the right POS can reduce labor costs, improve accuracy, and enhance the customer journey.
Among the many options available, Foodics and Sapaad stand out as leading solutions tailored to the UAE market, with strong compliance and regional integration features, as well as new entrants such as Slant POS. However, your choice should reflect your café’s size, complexity, and future growth plans.
