Dh1,200 is UAE families eating out spend monthly

The average monthly household spend in the UAE on eating out is Dh1,200, as estimated by a UAE-based food and beverage expert.

Hamad Al Hareb, Chairman of Al Koufa & Al Dahleez Services, a leading food restaurants chain in Dubai and owner of a series of standalone restaurants brands, says the culture of eating out differs a lot from Europe or North America.

In the UAE, people are largely dependent on restaurants on a day-to-day basis, unlike in other parts of the world where dining out is less frequent, he added. The study covered UAE nationals as well as expatriates. The average size of a household in the UAE is 5.1, according to a report released by the UAE Ministry of Economy.

In the UAE, people are largely dependent on restaurants on a day-to-day basis, unlike in other parts of the world where dining out is less frequent. Al Hareb was speaking at a press conference to launch a loyalty programme for his company’s chain of eight restaurants.

Talking about the local hospitality brands in the UAE, Al Hareb added: “The hospitality industry in the UAE succeeded in creating unique local brands with clear brand proposition. These brands could also be exported to other parts of the Middle East in terms of cuisine, design and overall concept philosophy.”

Al Hareb added: “An innovative concept is simply a nice sitting area and a beautiful décor to go with, complemented by a relaxing environment and tasty food delivered in an innovative way.”

Speaking about the food industry in general, Al Hareb said the UAE Government was making great strides to increase the number of food-manufacturing plants within the country and has invested $1.4b since 1994 in this area. He added that there are now around 150 food processing plants operational throughout the UAE which gives a push to the local restaurants that can rely on local supply instead of importing the ingredients and other material.

Follow Emirates 24|7 on Google News.