Restaurant Trends in Dubai: The New Wave of Dining
Dubai's cafe and restaurant scene is as dynamic and diverse as the city itself. The thought that "luxury is everything" is fading into the past.

Bearing an idea of launching a venue?
We've prepared the Top 4 venue trends that might inspire you or correct your business plans.
Check them out!

Every entrepreneur who comes to Dubai to open a restaurant or cafe faces the eternal question: How can we attract clients to start making a profit?
Well, there is no answer without a clear understanding of the market.
As travelers worldwide flock to your establishment, their needs and preferences will naturally differ. From desired experiences to payment methods, a one-size-fits-all approach won't cut it anymore.
This article uncovers the most impactful venue trends, ensuring your business stays ahead of the curve.
We've decided to highlight four main tendencies for Dubai establishments.

Family-oriented
Cozy family-style venues are designed to be comfortable, homey, and inviting for families with children. These establishments typically have a warm and welcoming atmosphere and offer amenities designed to make families feel at home.
However, it's not only about quiet "Sunday-morning cafes" — Dubai also offers loud traditional family restaurants with dances, laughs and entertainment. Thus, Mykonos, a popular restaurant, invites customers to enjoy Mediterranean-inspired cuisine and have fun smashing plates.
Family-type cafes and restaurants are fully booked 24/7, which proves their relevance.

What brings them in demand?
Their atmosphere, amenities (play areas or games for children), menu, cuisine, and staff (friendly and patient with young children).
Franchise
Dubai's restaurant business doesn't avoid franchises. Loud and popular names attract many customers. People look for time-tested venues, and it's understood—they already know what to expect. Reputation precedes: if you become a franchise partner, you will get a piece of this audience pie.
The target audience of franchises is tourists. People from all over the world come to see Dubai. Yet, they haven't discovered local venues they'd love. Familiar cafes or restaurants will be "a lifeline" for them.
With a lack of a local vibe, world franchises offer customers something in return—the realization that they will get guaranteed good service and tasty food.
Besides, you get marketing and advertising support as franchise chains typically have larger marketing budgets than independent cafes.

What brings them in demand?
Brand recognition and consistency, standardized operations, quality control, and menu.
Experiential dining
Creating unique experiences is everything. In our era of digitization and AI, there are more ways to impress your customers.
For example, some cafes offer authentic art experiences. Customers eat with their eyes closed to aggravate flavoring. Other venues remind of galleries or science clubs — with their art or scientific objects.
Food also matters. For instance, Scoopi Cafe specializes in liquid nitrogen ice cream and offers charcoal ice cream.
Some Dubai venues implement innovative technologies. Some smart kitchen tools are surprisingly user-friendly, affordable, and widely used. For instance, drone food delivery is becoming more popular, making it quicker and cheaper for customers.
Robot cafes are also gaining popularity. These venues offer smart robot barista technology and food delivery. Dubai embraces the future — and does it well!
Many cafes and restaurants offer Instagram spots, which is smart: it helps popularize venues on social media and attract new customers.

What brings them in demand?
Their uniqueness, creativity, and aesthetics.
Classic
Trends fade, but the classic is eternal.
Oriental restaurants remain at the top of Dubai's popular venues. However, they are mixed with modern tendencies. And that's what we get: classic Eastern cuisine with up-to-date authentic style.
Apart from this, there is a strong international influence. Thanks to Dubai's cosmopolitan nature, restaurants serving everything from Pan-Asian fare to Latin American dishes are flourishing.

What brings them in demand?
Familiarity, comfort, high-quality ingredients, sense of legacy and history, nostalgia factor.
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