Dubai’s food scene: Emirate ranks second globally as gastronomy capital

The Dubai International Brand Tracker has revealed the emirate’s prominent standing in the gastronomy and culinary arts sector.

Data from the first half of 2024 shows that Dubai ranked second globally, behind Paris, as a leading global capital for food, restaurants, and culinary arts, surpassing other prominent destinations such as London, New York, and Tokyo.

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Dubai also topped the list for offering the most variety of dining experiences, ahead of Paris and Singapore.

Dubai’s status as a destination for food tourism

Dubai’s growing status as a leading destination for food tourism and one of the world’s fastest-growing gastronomy capitals in 2024 has been highlighted in the third annual Dubai Gastronomy Industry Report, issued by the Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism.

According to a WAM report, the findings also reflect the latest trends, major achievements, and key milestones in the emirate’s food and restaurant sector over the past year, including the issuance of 1,200 new restaurant licenses across various categories and cuisines.

These achievements reflect Dubai’s multicultural identity and reinforce its commitment to offering a diverse range of options that cater to the tastes of both residents and visitors.

Food lovers survey results

The latest edition of the “Gastronomy Always On” campaign report by the Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism yielded positive results, with customer satisfaction reaching 62 percent. The results were based on a survey conducted among food lovers and restaurant-goers in Dubai during September and October 2024.

The report included feedback from more than 1,100 respondents from various demographic groups in Dubai. The sixth edition revealed shifts in food preferences and tastes.

The report highlighted high satisfaction levels based on key factors that residents consider when choosing a dining destination. These include:

• Variety (70 per cent satisfaction, up 3 per cent from the fifth edition)
• Innovation (61 per cent, up 2 per cent)
• Cultural heritage (58 per cent, up 1 per cent)
• World-class chefs (64 per cent, up 2 per cent)

“Dubai’s food and restaurant sector is a key pillar of the emirate’s tourism strategy and ambitious vision. Its continued growth reflects the wise leadership’s vision to achieve the objectives of the Dubai Economic Agenda D33, which aims to make the emirate the best city in the world to live, work, and visit,” said Ahmed Al Khaja, CEO of Dubai Festivals and Retail Establishment at the Department of Economy and Tourism.

The 2024 Gastronomy Industry Report reaffirms Dubai’s leading position as a global center for gastronomy and culinary arts and highlights the diversity of its food offerings and unique restaurant concepts, inspired by the approximately 200 nationalities residing in Dubai, Al Khaja emphasized.

Role of social media

Social media and digital platforms have played a significant role in promoting Dubai’s culinary offerings and enhancing engagement with food lovers.

According to data from the Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism, 70 percent of restaurant-goers in the UAE seek recommendations from social media before choosing a restaurant to visit.

Dubai residents place great importance on hygiene when selecting a dining destination, aligning with the city’s commitment to best practices and enhancing the sense of reassurance among diners.

The survey showed that 50 percent of respondents considered hygiene the most important factor, followed by cuisine type (49 per cent), ambiance (43 per cent), service quality (42 per cent), and value for money (38 per cent).

Online reviews and feedback from diners also play an increasingly significant role in restaurant selection, influencing everyday meal choices (27 per cent) and special occasions (34 per cent).

Google data also recorded 741,500 online searches related to Dubai’s food and beverage offerings during the first seven months of 2024. This shows a 23.5 per cent increase compared to 600,500 searches during the same period the previous year.