UAE Restaurant Industry Trends
How brands are using tech to deepen relationships and exceed diner expectations in the age of SuperHuman Hospitality™
To deliver on rising expectations, high-touch hospitality needs high-tech
Consumers in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) are seeking both personalization and meaningful connections in their dining experiences. To keep up, operators are embracing AI and automation to enhance efficiency and strengthen guest relationships.
Welcome to the era of SuperHuman Hospitality™
Personalization is the key to hearts and wallets
Across the UAE, consumers are splurging on unique, personalized events and experiences.
Restaurants are the new lifestyle brands
Restaurants are unlocking new revenue streams, selling pantry items, home goods and branded products.
AI is here to help, and diners are ready for it
Consumers are ready for AI assistance during the reservation process (and so much more).
TREND ONE
Savvy diners and smarter search are reshaping restaurant discovery
Diners are driving the discovery journey—from social buzz to Google searches—while embracing AI for seamless booking.
Social draws in new diners, with influencers and Instagram topping the list
Social media fuels restaurant discovery—74% of diners find new spots there, and 1 in 4 discover restaurants via influencers. Instagram is the leading channel, and SevenRooms UAE customers are embracing the trend, with 44% now offering direct bookings through Instagram.
Consumers find and book restaurants using search & AI
1 in 3 diners use Google to discover restaurants, leading 60% of operators to invest in paid Google ads this year. And when it comes to booking reservations, 95% of UAE consumers are comfortable with restaurants using AI.
TREND TWO
To scale personalization from text to tableside, the human touch alone won’t cut it
Personalization drives guest loyalty and engagement. Today, operators are turning to automation and leveraging text and email to deliver personalized marketing at scale.
Restaurant personalization opportunities
of operators say they personalize experiences to a great extent
of diners would sign up for restaurant marketing for exclusive offers
OF CONSUMERS WANT PERSONALIZED GROUP OR PRIVATE DINING OPTIONS
Personalized emails turn clicks into covers
Email is a powerful tool for driving bookings and revenue. SevenRooms data reveals that personalized, automated emails generate 12X more revenue per send than mass emails.*†
Texts take the crown with consumers
1 in 4 diners prefer getting texts from restaurants. 24% want a text when a hard-to-book reservation opens up, and 25% prefer text for menu updates. And text marketing doesn't just engage—it delivers, with an average 24X ROI.*†
Average ROI for text marketing on SevenRooms**†
Average revenue generated per text campaign on SevenRooms*†
Highest revenue generated from a single text campaign on SevenRooms*†
TREND THREE
Consumers are willing to splurge on curated, luxe experiences
Guests want more than just a meal out—89% of consumers
plan to or have already returned to a restaurant after a unique experience. They’ll even pay for personalized upgrades like customized tasting menus.
Personalized experiences diners are willing to pay for
Diners are hungry for elevated experiences worth the splurge
Consumers are actively seeking interesting dining experiences that stand out and create memories, and they want to add on upgrades and customizations to make the occasion even more special.
TREND FOUR
Restaurants are selling more than meals, they’re selling a lifestyle
Consumers want to connect with their favorite restaurant brands outside the dining room. That includes buying merch, like pantry items, branded retail or home goods, which opens up new revenue streams.
Consumers are hungry for more diverse offerings from restaurants
87% of consumers would buy a different type of offering from a restaurant—like pantry items or at-home meal kits.
Pantry items like spices or dried pasta
Food subscriptions like cheeses or frozen items
At-home meal or cocktail kits
Branded products through other retailers
Home goods like dishes or glassware
Online classes or workshops
TREND FIVE
Trust wins tables and strong brands foster long-term loyalty
Operators want to understand guests, but they’re over-relying on third-party reviews—they’re the most common way operators determine who their ideal guests are and guests’ perception of the brand.
Operators are leaning on reviews as strategic data
More than half of operators (65%) use third-party reviews to understand guests’ perception of their brand but a rising number are using feedback surveys (61%) and guest and sales data (45%) to evaluate guest perception, which provides a more accurate view of brand sentiment.
How, if at all, does your organization evaluate your guests' perception of your brand?
TREND SIX
AI is serving up smoother restaurant operations
Nearly all operators using AI are already finding benefits. As margins get squeezed, restaurant teams need all the help they can get to keep things running smoothly, train staff and maintain close customer relationships.
If restaurants haven’t jumped on the AI train, they’re behind
of operators in the restaurant and hospitality space are using AI
of operators using AI have already seen benefits
of operators are using AI for customer service, marketing and data analytics.
Restaurants using SevenRooms' AI messaging solutions respond to guests faster
