chefsin my city

Private chef in Dubai: what it costs and how to book in 2026

By Chefs in My City 9 min read

A private chef dinner in Dubai usually costs between AED 355 and AED 532 per person on Take a Chef, one of the main booking platforms. That price normally includes the groceries, the cooking, serving at the table and cleaning your kitchen afterwards. The final number depends mostly on one thing: how many people you're feeding.

This guide covers what private chefs in Dubai charge in 2026, what you get for the money, what costs extra, and how to book one without surprises. Every price below links to where we found it, checked in October 2026.

How much does a private chef cost in Dubai?

Take a Chef publishes the clearest price list for Dubai. Its per-person price falls as your group gets bigger:

GuestsPrice per personExample total
2AED 532AED 1,064 for 2
3 to 6AED 468AED 2,808 for 6
7 to 12AED 371AED 3,710 for 10
13 or moreAED 355AED 4,615 for 13

Source: Take a Chef Dubai, prices seen 16 October 2026. Totals are the per-person price multiplied by the number of guests.

Other services price differently:

  • Cozymeal lists private chef experiences in Dubai starting at AED 216 per person, with premium menus going above AED 367. It says VAT is included in the total. Many of the chef profiles on that page list home cities outside the UAE, so check that the chef you pick is actually based here.
  • Eazchef sells a gift voucher for a four-course dinner for two guests from AED 975, VAT included, lasting about three hours.
  • Home cook services like InstaChef work differently. A cook comes to your home and makes three or four everyday dishes in about two hours, using groceries you buy. Its FAQ lists a single session at AED 100, and its homepage advertises a free first trial.

So for a proper dinner party with a chef who shops, cooks and serves, budget roughly AED 350 to AED 550 per guest. For two people, expect about AED 1,000 in total.

Why the price per person drops for bigger groups

A chef's time costs about the same whether they cook for 2 or for 12. Shopping, travel, prep and cleanup barely change, so the cost gets shared across more plates. On Take a Chef's Dubai rates, a dinner for 13 costs a third less per person than a dinner for two.

Take a Chef also says seasonal ingredients, your location and how soon you book affect the final price. Demand rises around busy dates such as Valentine's Day and Mother's Day, so book those early.

What's included in the price

For a standard chef-at-home dinner booked through a platform, the price usually covers:

  • Planning a menu with you, including dietary needs
  • Buying all the ingredients
  • Cooking in your kitchen
  • Serving each course at the table
  • Cleaning the kitchen and the spaces they used

What usually costs extra or isn't provided:

  • Drinks. These are not typically included, though you can ask the chef to add them.
  • Plates, glasses and cutlery. Tableware and glassware aren't included, so plan to use your own or rent some.
  • Extra waiters. One chef serving the table is fine for a dinner of six. For 20 guests, ask whether serving staff cost extra.
  • Tips. These are optional (more on that below).

Check VAT before you compare quotes. UAE VAT is 5%, and businesses registered for VAT must show prices with VAT included. Cozymeal and Eazchef say their prices include it. If a freelance chef sends you a quote, ask whether VAT is included.

Private chef prices in Abu Dhabi vs Dubai

Abu Dhabi is slightly cheaper on the same platform. Take a Chef's Abu Dhabi rates run from AED 349 to AED 490 per person:

GuestsDubaiAbu Dhabi
2AED 532AED 490
3 to 6AED 468AED 394
7 to 12AED 371AED 358
13 or moreAED 355AED 349

The biggest gap is for groups of three to six, where Abu Dhabi works out about 16% cheaper. For big groups, the two cities cost almost the same. You can browse chefs in Abu Dhabi or chefs in Dubai on Chefs in My City.

Other ways to have a chef cook at home

A dinner party isn't the only option. Depending on what you need, one of these may suit you better.

Weekly meal prep

A chef or home cook comes once or several times a week and fills your fridge. Services usually quote these by package rather than publishing prices, so ask for a monthly rate. Meal prep chefs on Chefs in My City show their starting prices on their storefronts.

A cooking class at home

Some chefs teach while they cook. One Cozymeal Dubai listing offers a 2.5-hour seafood class with a three-course meal for AED 584 per person.

A full-time private chef

Some families hire a chef full time. Recruiter job posts from 2025 and 2026 offer AED 15,000 to AED 20,000 a month for a live-in chef, and one 2026 post offers AED 25,000 to AED 30,000 for a live-out chef with yacht or private household experience. Visa, medical insurance and paid leave come on top.

If you hire a cook to live with your family, UAE domestic worker rules apply. "Cook" is one of the jobs covered by the domestic workers law. That means a valid work licence, a signed Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MoHRE) standard contract with a copy for the worker, one paid day off a week, 30 days of paid annual leave and medical care or health insurance.

How to book a private chef in Dubai

  1. Decide the basics. Pick the date, number of guests, your area, a rough budget, and any allergies or dietary needs.
  2. Shortlist two or three chefs. Look at their menus, photos and starting prices. Browse private chefs in Dubai and filter by cuisine or occasion.
  3. Send each one the same details. Include the date, guest count, budget and dietary needs, so the quotes are easy to compare.
  4. Agree the menu and the price in writing. Make sure it says what's included: groceries, serving, cleanup, VAT and any extra staff.
  5. Confirm the day's plan. Agree the arrival time, parking or building access, and what equipment your kitchen has.

Take a Chef's guide allows 30 to 45 minutes for the chef to arrive and set up, and says a typical dinner takes about 4.5 hours from arrival to the end of cleanup. A tasting menu can run close to six hours.

How far ahead should you book?

For an ordinary dinner, a few days to a week is usually enough. Take a Chef says chefs reply with menu proposals in about four hours on average.

Book further ahead for busy periods. During Ramadan some families book a chef for several iftars a week, and Take a Chef advises booking a few weeks in advance. It's sensible to plan early for December weekends and New Year's Eve too.

Questions to ask before you book

  • Is the price per person or per event, and does it include VAT?
  • Are all ingredients included, or do I buy anything?
  • Who serves, and do I need extra staff for my group size?
  • What tableware or equipment do I need to have ready?
  • Can you cook halal, and how do you handle allergies?
  • What's the cancellation policy, and is there a deposit?
  • Do you have a food safety certificate?

That last question is worth asking. Dubai Municipality requires everyone who handles food in a licensed food business to complete food safety training. Basic Food Safety covers kitchen staff, and Person in Charge (PIC) certification covers supervisors. The rule is written for food businesses rather than chefs cooking in a private home, but a certificate is still a good sign the chef takes hygiene seriously. Ask to see it. PIC certificates are valid for five years.

Drinks, halal food and the alcohol licence

If you need halal food, say so clearly when you book and mention any ingredients to avoid, including alcohol used in cooking. For Ramadan bookings, Take a Chef says its chefs buy certified halal meat.

Chefs usually don't supply alcohol. If you want wine with dinner, the host normally buys it. In Dubai, residents need a free personal alcohol licence to buy alcohol for home, and the legal drinking age across the UAE is 21. Abu Dhabi dropped its licence requirement in 2020, and Sharjah is a dry emirate. Check the current rules for your emirate before the party.

Should you tip a private chef?

Tipping is optional. Take a Chef says gratuity is entirely at your discretion, and Cozymeal suggests 10% to 25% if you want to say thanks. In Dubai restaurants, 10% to 15% is a common tip for good service, which is a fair guide if the evening went well.

Find a private chef on Chefs in My City

Chefs in My City is a free directory of private chefs across all seven emirates. Each chef has a storefront with sample menus and starting prices in AED. You message the chef directly on WhatsApp or through the request form, and agree the menu and price with them. We don't add booking fees or take a commission.

Browse private chefs in Dubai, or if you're a chef, create your free storefront.

Sources

Questions people ask

How much does a private chef cost in Dubai?

On Take a Chef, a private chef dinner in Dubai costs AED 355 to AED 532 per person as of October 2026, depending on group size. A dinner for two is about AED 1,064 in total. Cozymeal lists experiences from AED 216 per person.

Does the price include ingredients?

On booking platforms such as Take a Chef, Cozymeal and Eazchef, yes: the chef buys the groceries. Home cook services such as InstaChef ask you to supply the ingredients.

How far in advance should I book a private chef in Dubai?

A few days to a week is usually enough for an ordinary dinner. Book a few weeks ahead for Ramadan, and plan early for December weekends and New Year's Eve.

Do I need to tip a private chef?

No, tipping is optional. If you want to say thanks, 10% to 15% matches the usual tip in Dubai restaurants.

Can a private chef bring alcohol to my dinner party in Dubai?

Chefs usually don't supply alcohol, so the host buys it. Dubai residents need a free personal alcohol licence to buy alcohol for home, and the legal drinking age in the UAE is 21.

Is a private chef cheaper in Abu Dhabi?

Slightly. Take a Chef's Abu Dhabi rates run from AED 349 to AED 490 per person, compared with AED 355 to AED 532 in Dubai.