The total number of operational restaurants and cafes in the emirate of Dubai reached 427 during the first four months of 2019, according to a report issued by the Business Registration & Licensing (BRL) sector in the Department of Economic Development (DED), Dubai. This includes 258 restaurants and 169 coffee shops, a growth of 25% compared to the same period in 2018 (198 restaurants and 143 coffee shops). The increase was driven by Dubai's advanced infrastructure and its conducive environment for doing business. At least two restaurants and one coffee shop opened daily in Dubai, as per the report.
The ‘restaurants and cafes’ sector is one of the fastest growing in the region, especially in Dubai, as the emirate is home to people from across the world. In addition, the city has a flourishing tourism sector and modern lifestyle that support restaurants and cafes. More than 200 nationalities live and work in Dubai, which is today among the top destinations in the world. International and regional restaurants and coffee shops operating in Dubai attract all segments of the community including locals, residents and visitors.
The report highlighted the distribution of operational restaurants and cafes in Dubai’s main areas, with Bur Dubai accounting for the largest share (267) followed by Deira (160). The top ten sub-regions, which account for 51.3%, were: Burj Khalifa (77); Al Marar (29); Al Garhoud (20); Jumeirah 1 (18); Al Barsha 1 (17); Al Nahda 1 (14); Port Saeed (14); Al Muraqabat (12); Trade Centre 1 (10) and Al Warqa 1 (8).
Restaurants and cafes are an integral part of the social culture, and the sector is profitable despite their large numbers. They have a stable base of customers in Dubai as long as they offer a high standard of products and service. There is a growing diversity of foreign and local concepts in the sector, which has also raised the level of competition. Restaurants and cafes must maintain the highest standards to be accepted by the public, citizens, residents and tourists.
The report also showed that the top ten nationalities investing in this sector during the first four months of 2019 were led by India, followed by Britain, Ethiopia, Pakistan, Lebanon, Egypt, Kuwait, Turkey, Saudi Arabia and China. The total number of workers in the active restaurants and cafes in Dubai reached 1,566.
Dubai is a dynamic food and beverage market in the region, and the emirate is an attractive destination internationally, generating significant revenue for independent restaurants and cafes, which are sometimes more successful in Dubai than in other parts of the world. This is mainly due to Dubai's sustainable development and the growth opportunities it offers.
