McDonald’s UAE opens first outlet with all-female staff, features partial solar PV roof, EV charging ports

McDonald’s UAE has opened its 197th restaurant in the country. Located in Umm Suqeim 2, Dubai, the new outlet is the brand’s first restaurant in the country to be operated entirely by an all-female workforce.

The new venue will serve guests 24 hours a day.

Prioritising gender diversity within the quick service restaurants sector, the Umm Suqeim restaurant follows on from the launch of the McDonald’s UAE Women Leadership Network (WLN) in 2020.

The WLN is dedicated to supporting in-house female team members.

Walid Fakih, CEO at McDonald’s UAE, commented on the launch, “Our people and our planet are at the heart of McDonald’s UAE operations, and the newest restaurant in Umm Suqeim brings innovation, sustainability and inclusivity all together. We take immense pride in empowering women and providing equal opportunities in every aspect of the business. The new restaurant forms part of our commitment to uplift our female talent, showcasing their drive and enthusiasm while also contributing to a greener planet.”

McDonald’s is working towards sustainability targets

The restaurant’s other key highlights include a partially solar panelled power source and electric vehicle charging ports.

The company has been working to offset its carbon footprint over the years, as seen by the BioDiesel programme which has been running since 2011, converting used cooking oil into biodiesel for McDonald’s trucks.

The latest venue features another ‘first’, as the branch has also introduced curbside ordering, allowing customers to place orders digitally from designated parking spaces for increased convenience.

The restaurant accepts orders via its app, as well as the drive thru.