Overview

• Dubai’s dining scene has expanded to about 13,000 venues, giving it the second-highest restaurants-per-capita ranking worldwide.
• The emirate issued nearly 1,200 new restaurant licenses last year despite warnings of market oversaturation.
• Prime-area rents exceeding $100 per square foot have eroded profit margins for many operators.
• Traffic gridlock is deterring dine-in customers and prompting greater dependence on delivery apps.
• Safety concerns rose after 17 food couriers died in accidental incidents reported last year.