As in so many regions around the world, food has long been central to Arab culture, bringing communities together and preserving traditions through nourishment and hospitality.
As countries across the GCC have modernised at a record pace in the past few decades, the foodservice industry has adapted well to fast-evolving markets.
In the past decade alone there has been a drastic transformation. While fine dining and home-cooked feasts remain central to the region’s culture, new avenues have emerged and risen in popularity.
Now, a variety of delivery services, home-based food businesses, and ghost kitchens redefine how food is prepared, served and consumed. This also makes employment and business ownership in the food sector accessible to a wider segment of the population.
The market has responded quickly to changing lifestyles, digital innovation and consumer demands. It is also important to acknowledge how fast digitisation has enabled market growth, led by governments across the region.
Food delivery has seen rapid growth across Middle Eastern markets, particularly in the Gulf. Driven by a high use of smartphones, fast and secure digital payment systems, and a rising demand for convenience, third-party delivery, many platforms such as Talabat, Deliveroo, Careem Food, and Jahez (in Saudi Arabia) have become household names.
The Covid-19 pandemic was also a prominent force that accelerated the demand for food delivery services. Lockdowns and limited access to shared spaces made home delivery across various retail sectors a convenience and, in many cases, a necessity.
According to strategy consultants Redseer Consulting, the food delivery market in the Middle East and North Africa (Mena) was valued at over $9 billion in 2022 and is projected to continue growing at a healthy rate.
This shift has resulted in ripple effects across the foodservice value chain. Restaurants that once relied heavily on foot traffic and dine-in customers had to move quickly to online ordering and last-mile logistics. Many have adopted hybrid models that blend physical and digital presences, using delivery apps and social media to maintain visibility and reach. Several businesses welcome new revenue streams that now have easy access to customers. through delivery apps.
I expect cultural influences to play a key role in driving the food delivery sector forward, offering unique selling points that combine convenience with heritage
Simultaneously, the rise of home-based food businesses has eased their entry into the food industry. With relatively low start-up costs and minimal overheads, many people have channeled their culinary skills into viable enterprises.
This has allowed young entrepreneurs and other strata of the population – who may typically have had to face challenges to working outside their homes – access to an income. Social media has become a powerful tool for marketing, order-taking and building a loyal customer base.
Governments in the region have started to formalise and support these businesses. For instance, Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Municipal and Rural Affairs and Housing launched a licensing programme for home-based food providers, ensuring quality and safety, which empowered local talent. Oman also has a similar process that started in 2022 where every home-based business owner must obtain a license.
Home-based food businesses are often a jewel in the crown of community as they often provide niche products and traditional cuisine made with great care. The growth of this space not only makes employment and entrepreneurship more accessible but also preserves culture and heritage in an increasingly globalised world.
The other big change has been the emergence of ghost kitchens across the region – delivery-only food preparation facilities that operate without a storefront. Also dubbed "cloud kitchens", "dark kitchens" or "satellite kitchens", these spaces are created for efficiency and allow multiple entrepreneurs access to professional food preparation equipment under one roof.
Companies such as Kitopi, iKcon, and CloudEats have taken this model to scale in the Middle East. These tech-enabled kitchens use data analytics, AI and lean operations to reduce costs, optimise menus and shorten delivery times.
Thanks to cloud kitchens, foodservice entrepreneurs can now begin to operate through a low-risk expansion model without having to invest in real estate, equipment and support staff.
They can enter new markets quicker and try out culinary concepts with minimal financial investment. Add to which, consumers are enjoying an increasingly dynamic dining scene, with plenty of options and faster delivery times.
The ghost kitchen model also supports the growing trend of restaurants that maintain an exclusively virtual presence – only accessible through delivery apps without any plans to have a physical location.
Even as the transformation of the foodservice industry has been phenomenal, there are challenges that cannot be ignored. Third-party platforms, for example, charge high commission fees from restaurants, which is something to consider in a sector where profit margins are not very high. Delivery logistics have room to improve as well, with consumers and entrepreneurs in remote areas still being excluded.
The fast pace at which these concepts have been introduced and grown has meant that regulatory frameworks are still catching up. There are ways to go to ensure food safety, quality and accessibility for both operators and customers.
As GCC nations continue to embrace technology and promote entrepreneurship, the future of the foodservice industry appears to be very promising. I expect cultural influences to play a key role in driving this sector forward, offering unique selling points that combine convenience with heritage.
In the current landscape, it is important to be adaptable, digitally proficient and focus on consumers’ preferences, who will undoubtedly benefit from more choice and easier access. For aspiring and established entrepreneurs alike, this market transformation signals a new era of opportunity to innovate and contribute to their nation’s economy.
How to apply for a drone permit
- Individuals must register on UAE Drone app or website using their UAE Pass
- Add all their personal details, including name, nationality, passport number, Emiratis ID, email and phone number
- Upload the training certificate from a centre accredited by the GCAA
- Submit their request
What are the regulations?
- Fly it within visual line of sight
- Never over populated areas
- Ensure maximum flying height of 400 feet (122 metres) above ground level is not crossed
- Users must avoid flying over restricted areas listed on the UAE Drone app
- Only fly the drone during the day, and never at night
- Should have a live feed of the drone flight
- Drones must weigh 5 kg or less
What is the FNC?
The Federal National Council is one of five federal authorities established by the UAE constitution. It held its first session on December 2, 1972, a year to the day after Federation.
It has 40 members, eight of whom are women. The members represent the UAE population through each of the emirates. Abu Dhabi and Dubai have eight members each, Sharjah and Ras al Khaimah six, and Ajman, Fujairah and Umm Al Quwain have four.
They bring Emirati issues to the council for debate and put those concerns to ministers summoned for questioning.
The FNC’s main functions include passing, amending or rejecting federal draft laws, discussing international treaties and agreements, and offering recommendations on general subjects raised during sessions.
Federal draft laws must first pass through the FNC for recommendations when members can amend the laws to suit the needs of citizens. The draft laws are then forwarded to the Cabinet for consideration and approval.
Since 2006, half of the members have been elected by UAE citizens to serve four-year terms and the other half are appointed by the Ruler’s Courts of the seven emirates.
In the 2015 elections, 78 of the 252 candidates were women. Women also represented 48 per cent of all voters and 67 per cent of the voters were under the age of 40.
Quick facts on cancer
- Cancer is the second-leading cause of death worldwide, after cardiovascular diseases
- About one in five men and one in six women will develop cancer in their lifetime
- By 2040, global cancer cases are on track to reach 30 million
- 70 per cent of cancer deaths occur in low and middle-income countries
- This rate is expected to increase to 75 per cent by 2030
- At least one third of common cancers are preventable
- Genetic mutations play a role in 5 per cent to 10 per cent of cancers
- Up to 3.7 million lives could be saved annually by implementing the right health
strategies
- The total annual economic cost of cancer is $1.16 trillion
Tips to keep your car cool
- Place a sun reflector in your windshield when not driving
- Park in shaded or covered areas
- Add tint to windows
- Wrap your car to change the exterior colour
- Pick light interiors - choose colours such as beige and cream for seats and dashboard furniture
- Avoid leather interiors as these absorb more heat
Most sought after workplace benefits in the UAE
- Flexible work arrangements
- Pension support
- Mental well-being assistance
- Insurance coverage for optical, dental, alternative medicine, cancer screening
- Financial well-being incentives
Dubai World Cup Carnival card
6.30pm: Al Maktoum Challenge Round-2 Group 1 (PA) US$75,000 (Dirt) 1,900m
7.05pm: Al Rashidiya Group 2 (TB) $250,000 (Turf) 1,800m
7.40pm: Meydan Cup Listed Handicap (TB) $175,000 (T) 2,810m
8.15pm: Handicap (TB) $175,000 (D) 1,600m
8.50pm: Handicap (TB) $135,000 (T) 1,600m
9.25pm: Al Shindagha Sprint Group 3 (TB) $200,000 (D) 1,200m
10pm: Handicap (TB) $135,000 (T) 2,000m
The National selections:
6.30pm - Ziyadd; 7.05pm - Barney Roy; 7.40pm - Dee Ex Bee; 8.15pm - Dubai Legacy; 8.50pm - Good Fortune; 9.25pm - Drafted; 10pm - Simsir
Joker: Folie a Deux
Starring: Joaquin Phoenix, Lady Gaga, Brendan Gleeson
Director: Todd Phillips
Rating: 2/5
Company profile
Date started: December 24, 2018
Founders: Omer Gurel, chief executive and co-founder and Edebali Sener, co-founder and chief technology officer
Based: Dubai Media City
Number of employees: 42 (34 in Dubai and a tech team of eight in Ankara, Turkey)
Sector: ConsumerTech and FinTech
Cashflow: Almost $1 million a year
Funding: Series A funding of $2.5m with Series B plans for May 2020
Company profile
Company: Rent Your Wardrobe
Date started: May 2021
Founder: Mamta Arora
Based: Dubai
Sector: Clothes rental subscription
Stage: Bootstrapped, self-funded
FFP EXPLAINED
What is Financial Fair Play?
Introduced in 2011 by Uefa, European football’s governing body, it demands that clubs live within their means. Chiefly, spend within their income and not make substantial losses.
What the rules dictate?
The second phase of its implementation limits losses to €30 million (Dh136m) over three seasons. Extra expenditure is permitted for investment in sustainable areas (youth academies, stadium development, etc). Money provided by owners is not viewed as income. Revenue from “related parties” to those owners is assessed by Uefa's “financial control body” to be sure it is a fair value, or in line with market prices.
What are the penalties?
There are a number of punishments, including fines, a loss of prize money or having to reduce squad size for European competition – as happened to PSG in 2014. There is even the threat of a competition ban, which could in theory lead to PSG’s suspension from the Uefa Champions League.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
THE BIO
Bio Box
Role Model: Sheikh Zayed, God bless his soul
Favorite book: Zayed Biography of the leader
Favorite quote: To be or not to be, that is the question, from William Shakespeare's Hamlet
Favorite food: seafood
Favorite place to travel: Lebanon
Favorite movie: Braveheart
Company%20Profile
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A State of Passion
Directors: Carol Mansour and Muna Khalidi
Stars: Dr Ghassan Abu-Sittah
Rating: 4/5
Living in...
This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.
What is graphene?
Graphene is a single layer of carbon atoms arranged like honeycomb.
It was discovered in 2004, when Russian-born Manchester scientists Andrei Geim and Kostya Novoselov were "playing about" with sticky tape and graphite - the material used as "lead" in pencils.
Placing the tape on the graphite and peeling it, they managed to rip off thin flakes of carbon. In the beginning they got flakes consisting of many layers of graphene. But as they repeated the process many times, the flakes got thinner.
By separating the graphite fragments repeatedly, they managed to create flakes that were just one atom thick. Their experiment had led to graphene being isolated for the very first time.
At the time, many believed it was impossible for such thin crystalline materials to be stable. But examined under a microscope, the material remained stable, and when tested was found to have incredible properties.
It is many times times stronger than steel, yet incredibly lightweight and flexible. It is electrically and thermally conductive but also transparent. The world's first 2D material, it is one million times thinner than the diameter of a single human hair.
But the 'sticky tape' method would not work on an industrial scale. Since then, scientists have been working on manufacturing graphene, to make use of its incredible properties.
In 2010, Geim and Novoselov were awarded the Nobel Prize for Physics. Their discovery meant physicists could study a new class of two-dimensional materials with unique properties.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Innotech Profile
Date started: 2013
Founder/CEO: Othman Al Mandhari
Based: Muscat, Oman
Sector: Additive manufacturing, 3D printing technologies
Size: 15 full-time employees
Stage: Seed stage and seeking Series A round of financing
Investors: Oman Technology Fund from 2017 to 2019, exited through an agreement with a new investor to secure new funding that it under negotiation right now.
Emergency
Director: Kangana Ranaut
Stars: Kangana Ranaut, Anupam Kher, Shreyas Talpade, Milind Soman, Mahima Chaudhry
Rating: 2/5
The Brutalist
Director: Brady Corbet
Stars: Adrien Brody, Felicity Jones, Guy Pearce, Joe Alwyn
Rating: 3.5/5
Profile
Name: Carzaty
Founders: Marwan Chaar and Hassan Jaffar
Launched: 2017
Employees: 22
Based: Dubai and Muscat
Sector: Automobile retail
Funding to date: $5.5 million
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Labour dispute
The insured employee may still file an ILOE claim even if a labour dispute is ongoing post termination, but the insurer may suspend or reject payment, until the courts resolve the dispute, especially if the reason for termination is contested. The outcome of the labour court proceedings can directly affect eligibility.
- Abdullah Ishnaneh, Partner, BSA Law
