Research2025 Uae Restaurant Trends
2025 UAE Annual Report

UAE Restaurant Industry Trends

How brands are using tech to deepen relationships and exceed diner expectations in the age of SuperHuman Hospitality™

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Introduction

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).


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.

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.

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

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.

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

*Revenue is calculated based on bookings from email and text campaigns linked to completed POS spend data; if unavailable, an average spend per cover is used. †Data sourced globally. ** ROI is calculated by subtracting subscription fees paid by the restaurant from the total revenue generated from text and email campaigns.