FEAST IN CULINARY WONDERLAND
Eat out for a multicultural and memorable experience
Farhana Chowdhury
The UAE may be en route to becoming a trendy urban country in the Middle East, but dining out has already become an integral part of its social fabric. The gathering of friends, relatives and colleagues over hearty meals or light treats is an essential part of the culture, which is why the country is dotted with exciting themed restaurants and delectable dessert parlours to cater to every taste and budget.
Furthermore, the busy metropolitan lifestyle coupled with food offers and great value for money, has made it far convenient to order and dine out than spend time preparing meals from scratch.
Present in a boulevard of shopping districts and state-ofthe-art business centres, there are dining options in every nook and corner to leave even the pickiest taste buds spoilt for choice.
Be it quick bites or a full-course meal, residents are fond of trying out different flavours and cuisines. There are now a number of restaurants and cafés that showcase their culinary expertise either by specialising in one main ingredient, or by serving organic dishes for the health conscious, for example.
According to a report by global audit firm, KPMG, the UAE’s food and beverage (F&B) sector is expected to grow to $13.2 billion in 2018, by around 4 per cent annually. This is supported by the rise of new outlets and growth in tourist numbers.
The report further adds that economic revival encouraged spending on socialising and dining out among both UAE nationals and expatriates, and around 66 per cent of the population prefer to eat out at least once a week, resulting in an average spend of Dh120.
Popular F&B choices are casual dining restaurants, quick service restaurants and food courts. In addition to that, working professionals prefer pre-packed sandwiches or sit down for meals with clients or colleagues on weekdays, instead of bringing home-cooked dishes.
While takeaway and home delivery too are still trying to establish a strong forte, they are being driven forward by the rise of online platforms, which ease the process of placing a meal order.
Word of mouth continues to be the top reason when selecting a place to dine in, but suggestions are no longer limited to mutual friends and family members. The introduction of mobile apps has successfully set up a foodie community, who have built up a network where they can rate an outlet’s quality (ambience, food, service, etc.), share their thoughts, and even upload photos of their meals online for all to see.
Thanks to the network, techsavvy residents can now easily find restaurants across the country that serve their favourite dishes, check menus and decide if it’s worth visiting based on user ratings and feedback.
With so many options available, the UAE is a gastronomic wonderland.
— farhana@khaleejtimes.com