UAE restaurant bookings surge as Covid rules ease – News

Residents and restaurateurs hail how the country is tackling the pandemic, allowing the public to enjoy food even in times of Covid

Image Courtesy: Visit Dubai

Longtime UAE resident Maxine Braddock doesn’t mind paying Dh300 to Dh400 for a meal at a fancy restaurant. Even when Covid hit, “eating out never stopped,” she said.

“I really love Dubai’s food scene. I eat out every weekend, Friday, Saturday, Sunday, and at least one day of the week,” said the expat, whose dining habits reflect A recent survey found.

In an opinion poll, More than half of Dubai residents (52%) Say they eat out up to 3 times a week. Respondents also ranked the UAE as the world’s top food hub, ahead of London and New York.

More residents are expected to dine away from home as COVID-19 restrictions are eased and mask wearing is an option in most public places across the country.

“I’ve never been bothered by Covid-19 except when the lockdown happened. But now as restrictions are eased, I know more people are going to want to eat out,” said Maxine, who has lived in the New York country for 13 years.

Another expat, Hozefa Arsiwala, also believes that the trend towards dining out will fully resume. “Except weekends, I eat out at least twice a week during meetings. My family loves Indian and Arabic food,” she said.

For some families, Covid rules have never been an issue when dining out.

Shukri Deria, an American expat, said: “I don’t think going to restaurants is any different whether or not the mask restrictions are lifted… We usually go to restaurants as a family once a week. My kids love the Cheesecake Factory, so we go there a lot. Sometimes, I Meet my friends and we’ll go to places like PF Chang or Asha or something different.”

Restaurant reservations, inquiries soar

Restaurant owners have seen a huge spike in bookings as Covid rules have been eased. Crowded tables return with live music.

In the past 24 hours, some venues have seen an increase in inquiries for private events. This is the case at High Note Pool & Sky Lounge Aloft Mina, says Hari Kaimal, CEO of Goldmead Hospitality.

“Removing the mask requirement will lead to better revenue for the entire restaurant industry, especially as we enter the peak season. (The increase in inquiries) shows that people are already cheering the decision. We plan to continue sanitation measures and masks in all of our establishments place stringent requirements on food service providers,” Kaimal said.

The same increase was observed at Yummy Dosa restaurants.

“In the two days following the announcement, we saw an uptick in restaurant bookings. This gave us more confidence as a brand to open a third location; as we saw dining out patterns return to pre-Covid levels,” Yummy Dosa’s managing director Jugal Parekh said.

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Amit Gupta, managing partner of Old Castello Jumeirah, said the decision to ease restrictions came at the right time.

“The news of the removal of mask restrictions will boost the confidence of diners in our restaurants as the active season begins… The Old Castle has been the go-to place for many who want to watch some live sports screenings and live music night. Now, customers will be able to enjoy a place like ours better… We can see a positive attitude from our customers who have more inquiries about our hookah deals and live music nights,” Gupta said .

“As the season approaches, with two major World Cups, it’s really time for sports fans to get back into larger groups and enjoy without restrictions.”

The cost of eating out

Residents say that while some restaurants can reduce diners by hundreds, the average cost is still relatively affordable.

Hozefa said her family of three spends around Dh200 to Dh250 at places like The Yellow Chilli, Gazebo and India Palace, with the average family of three spending around Dh200 to Dh250.

With all the promotions available, prices are still reasonable at good restaurants across the country, Maxine said.

“I think if you’re an expat living here and in dirhams, frankly, it’s not much. My brother from the UK asked me how expensive the food was here? He put it in pounds, saying It was £60 to £80, which he thought was expensive. But I think as an expat in the UAE, with the discounts and entertainer deals available, it’s still pretty reasonable,” she said.