Grease Trap Cleaning FAQs

How often should a grease trap be cleaned?

It depends on your kitchen volume. A busy hotel restaurant doing 300+ covers a day typically needs weekly cleaning. A small cafe with light frying can get away with monthly service. Dubai Municipality’s Technical Guideline No. 13 requires regular cleaning but does not specify a fixed interval – it is based on trap capacity and grease accumulation rate. We assess your setup and recommend a schedule that keeps you compliant without overpaying for unnecessary visits. Most of our clients are on monthly or bi-weekly contracts.

What happens if I do not clean my grease trap?

Three things, in this order: the trap overflows and sends FOG (fats, oils, grease) into the municipal sewer, you get a blockage that backs sewage into your kitchen, and then Dubai Municipality issues a fine. Fines for grease trap violations start at AED 500 and go up to AED 1,000 per offence. Repeat violations can affect your food trade licence renewal. Beyond the fines, a grease overflow during service hours means shutting down your kitchen until it is cleaned – and that lost revenue adds up fast.

How much does grease trap cleaning cost in the UAE?

Prices start from AED 99 for a standard cleaning. The final cost depends on trap size, grease levels, access difficulty, and whether you are on a one-off or contract rate. Contract clients pay less per visit because we schedule efficiently across multiple sites in the same area. We give you a fixed quote before starting – no hidden charges, no surprises. Call +971 58 570 7110 for a free quote based on your specific trap setup.

What size grease trap do I need for my restaurant?

Trap sizing is based on your peak wastewater flow rate and the number of fixtures connected. A small cafe with one sink might need a 50-litre under-sink unit. A full-service restaurant kitchen typically needs a 500-1,000 litre in-ground trap. Hotel kitchens and food courts can require 2,000+ litres. Dubai Municipality requires the trap to be sized according to DM Technical Guideline No. 13 – if your trap is undersized, you will fail inspection even if it is clean. We do free site assessments and recommend the right size based on your actual kitchen layout and menu type. See our supply and installation page for more details.

Is grease trap cleaning required by law in the UAE?

Yes. Dubai Municipality mandates grease traps for all commercial food establishments under Technical Guideline No. 13. Abu Dhabi, Sharjah, and other emirates have similar requirements under their municipal regulations. You need to maintain cleaning records with dates, photos, and signed service reports – inspectors will ask for them during food trade licence renewals and routine inspections. We have seen restaurants fined simply because they could not produce records, even though the trap was actually maintained. Our service reports are formatted to meet DM inspection requirements.

Can I clean the grease trap myself?

Technically, yes – but most restaurant operators find it impractical. Proper cleaning requires vacuum equipment to remove all FOG and sludge, manual scrubbing of baffles and interior walls, and correct disposal of waste through a licensed facility. Pouring grease down the drain or dumping it in general waste bins is illegal in the UAE. You also need to document every cleaning with before/after photos and measurements for your compliance file. Most kitchens do not have the equipment, time, or trained staff to do this properly. That is why over 1,500 food businesses across the UAE use our professional cleaning service instead.

What is a bio-dosing system and do I need one?

A bio-dosing unit automatically drips beneficial bacteria into your drain line between scheduled cleanings. The bacteria break down fats, oils, and grease before they reach the trap, which means slower grease buildup, fewer odours, and longer intervals between pump-outs. It does not replace cleaning – it extends the time between cleanings and reduces emergency call-outs. We recommend bio-dosing for any kitchen producing more than 100 covers a day or using heavy frying. The units cost from AED 1,200 installed and the monthly bacterial refill runs about AED 150. See our bio-dosing systems page for the full breakdown.

How long does a grease trap cleaning take?

A standard cleaning takes 45-90 minutes depending on trap size and grease levels. That includes pre-inspection, full pump-out, manual scrubbing of walls and baffles, pressure rinsing, post-inspection, and documentation with photos. We do not do 15-minute pump-and-go jobs. If the trap has been neglected and grease has hardened, it can take longer – sometimes up to 2 hours for a heavily impacted 1,000-litre trap. We schedule around your kitchen hours so cleaning does not disrupt service.

Do you provide service reports for municipality inspections?

Yes. Every cleaning comes with a signed service report that includes the date, technician name, before and after photos, grease levels measured, trap condition assessment, and any maintenance recommendations. These reports are formatted to meet Dubai Municipality’s inspection requirements. When the inspector asks for your cleaning records, you hand over a complete file – dates, photos, measurements, everything. No scrambling, no gaps. We keep digital copies of all reports so you can request duplicates anytime.

What areas do you cover?

All 7 UAE emirates: Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Sharjah, Ajman, Ras Al Khaimah, Fujairah, and Umm Al Quwain. Within Dubai, we cover every area from Palm Jumeirah and Dubai Marina to Al Quoz, DIP, and Al Khawaneej. In Abu Dhabi, we service Mussafah, Khalifa City, Reem Island, and downtown. Our vans are GPS-dispatched so we send the nearest available crew to your location. Same-day service is available across all emirates.

Do you install new grease traps?

Yes. We supply and install grease traps from 20 litres (under-sink units for small cafes) up to 5,000 litres (in-ground systems for hotel kitchens and food courts). Installation includes site assessment, DM-compliant sizing, civil work coordination, plumbing connections, and commissioning. We handle the full process so you do not need to coordinate between a plumber, a civil contractor, and a supplier. Visit our grease trap supply and installation page for sizing guides and pricing.

What other kitchen maintenance services do you offer?

Beyond grease trap cleaning and installation, we provide kitchen hood and exhaust cleaning, water tank cleaning, drain unblocking and jetting, and bio-dosing system supply and maintenance. Many of our contract clients bundle two or more services for better rates and coordinated scheduling. Check our full services page for everything we cover.