Latest news with #UAERestaurantGroup
Web Release
12-06-2025
- Business
- Web Release
UAE Restaurant Group and IMAGES RetailME Return with the Second Edition of Sector-Shaping Forums
As two of the region's leading forces shaping the future of the food and retail industries, the UAE Restaurant Group (UAERG) and IMAGES RetailME will come together to host another edition of their insightful forums. UAERG, the official representative body of the UAE's food and beverage sector, will present the Food Service Forum with a focus on the HoReCa ecosystem, while IMAGES RetailME, the region's premier retail business intelligence platform, will lead the Food Business Forum, spotlighting the food and grocery retail market. Set to take place on June 19th at JW Marriott Marina, both concurrent events will feature keynote speeches, panel discussions, and networking opportunities, concluding with a UAERG Partners Felicitation Ceremony. UAERG Food Service Forum In recent years, MENA has experienced a surge of fine-dining restaurants, cafés, bars, international fast-food chains, and homegrown culinary concepts, catering to the region's evolving palate and growing appetite for unique dining experiences. Helping participants tap into the local market's immense potential, the UAERG Food Service Forum will feature a series of impactful roundtables, exhibition areas, and networking sessions, as well as the chance to meet the region's most powerful food service professionals. To set the tone for the forums, Amit Nayak, Vice Chairman of UAE Restaurant Group and Vice President of HAMA MEA, and Amitabh Taneja, Editor-in-Chief at IMAGES Retail, will deliver an introductory speech. After, participants can dive into the discussions, starting at 10.20am with an inaugural session exploring the balance between ultra-fast delivery models and food quality, featuring Jaskaran Singh, Vice President of Product at Careem. Later at 2.00pm, a session on experiential dining will examine whether premium restaurant concepts and entertainment hybrids are worth the investment for shopping centres, with key insights from Jitin Joshi, Chef and Culinary Leader at Revolver (Culinary Arts Group), and Fay Economides, Executive Managing Director at M Management Company. Other highlights include an expert-led discussion on transforming café brands into lifestyle icons with various industry leaders sharing their experiences, including Duncan Muir, Senior Director of F&B and Retail at Bateel. The food service forum will also explore AI integration in the kitchen, with a panel featuring Sheikha Al Mheiri, Owner of MAD Hospitality, and Tapan Vaidya, Treasurer at UAERG and CEO of PJP Investments Group. Finally, Naved Nasir, Founder of Khadak, will join fellow industry trailblazers to share the ingredients for long-term success. Through meaningful events like the Food Service Forum, UAERG aims to provide a platform for dialogue and collaboration, helping shape the future of the UAE's dynamic F&B scene. In line with this role, the group is led by four key committees: the Education & Innovation Committee, headed by Board Member Walid Fakih, which keeps members informed on trends and tech, and the Membership Engagement & Events Committee, led by Treasurer Tapan Vaidya, aimed at fostering connection and knowledge-sharing. Meanwhile, Vice Chairman Amit Nayak leads both the Sustainability Committee and the Government Relations & Advocacy Committee, which ensures their voices are heard in policy and regulatory matters. Amit Nayak, Vice Chairman of UAE Restaurant Group and Vice President of HAMA MEA, shared, 'The second edition of UAERG Food Service Forum and IMAGES RetailME Food Business Forum comes at a crucial turning point. Several factors, including lifestyle changes, sustainability, and technology, are completely transforming how diners engage with concepts. Through events like this, we hope to contribute to the greater success of the UAE's food service industry, sharing expert insights and practices that will help businesses of all sizes thrive.' IMAGES RetailME Food Business Forum In the realm of Food & Grocery Retail, the MENA market is experiencing a profound shift, driven by the evolving needs of modern consumers, rapid technological advancements, and diversified products. This year's IMAGES RetailME Food Business Forum seeks to empower participants to navigate these industry shifts and highlight emerging trends by bringing together key industry players from leading hypermarkets, supermarkets, convenience stores, and specialty retailers. One of the day's standout sessions is the 12.00pm CEO Power Panel, which will explore how both legacy and next-gen brands are reinventing themselves through agile strategies, new formats, and bold market experimentation. Following the expert-led discussions, the forums will conclude with the UAERG Partners Felicitation Ceremony, honouring outstanding contributions across the food sector. Spanning a range of categories, the event will spotlight companies driving innovation, growth, and positive change within the industry. Abdulla Al Mulla, Chairman of UAERG, said, 'We are thrilled to be working with IMAGES RetailME once again, uniting some of the most renowned names in the food and beverage industry to exchange knowledge, share practical insights, and address the challenges shaping our sector. These forums represent more than just an opportunity to gather – they reflect our collective ambition to push boundaries, inspire innovation, and position the UAE and the greater MENA region as a global gastronomic hub of culinary excellence and business leadership.' After a successful inaugural edition, the second UAERG Food Service Forum and IMAGES RetailME Food Business Forum aim to build on that momentum. This year's edition offers a dynamic platform to stay ahead of emerging trends, forge meaningful connections, and uncover new avenues for growth, making it a must-attend for industry professionals and business owners alike. To register, please visit For more information about UAERG, please visit To learn more about IMAGES RetailME, please visit
Web Release
13-02-2025
- Business
- Web Release
UAE Restaurant Group Celebrates a Successful Open Day
? The UAE Restaurant Group (UAERG), the official representative body of the UAE's food and beverage sector, recently hosted its second Open Day. The event, held at Dubai Chambers on February 10th, once again welcomed UAERG members, government representatives, and industry leaders to join the conversation. Featuring panel discussions, keynote speeches, and networking opportunities, attendees were given valuable insights into the trends shaping the future of the UAE's F&B industry. The Open Day kicked off with a warm welcome from?Abdulla Al Mulla, Chairman of UAERG, followed by an overview of the day's agenda by?Tapan Vaidya, Treasurer of UAERG. Afterward, attendees were treated to a keynote speech from?Maha Al Gargawi, Vice President of Business Advocacy at Dubai Chambers, highlighting the role of the F&B industry in Dubai and UAE's economies. ? Continuing the conversation,?Daniela Mombelli, Director of Business Consulting, discussed Performance & Talent Management, emphasising how leveraging technology can empower leaders to make data-driven decisions, streamline performance reviews, and identify future leaders through performance metrics. Her talk also explored the Value Chain of Key Functions within the industry, categorising them into primary, strategic, and enabling functions. ? Innovations in restaurant technology were highlighted by?Tjalling van den Burger, VP Enterprise at Adyen. Notably, contactless payment methods are on the rise, with 28% of consumers opting for digital wallets, and 27% reporting a year-on-year increase in contactless payments. Meanwhile,?Claudia De Brito, Middle East Academy Chair for World's 50 Best Restaurants, provided insights into the voting process for MENA's 50 Best, highlightimg the diversity and balance within the voting panels. ? Additionally,?Christopher Hewett, Secretary General of UAERG, shared exciting developments in Ras Al Khaimah, outlining opportunities in sectors such as hospitality, residential development, experiential dining, and community retail. The vision for RAK Central as a 'work-live-play' destination was particularly emphasised, aiming to attract corporate tenants and enhance the living standards in the area. ? The Open Day also featured engaging panel discussions, one of which brought together top industry leaders?Stefano Mihalitsianos, Managing Director of Tashas Group,?Peggy Li, Founder & CEO of SPS Affinity,?and?Naved Nasir, Founder of Khadak.?Moderated by?Richard Dean of Dubai Eye, the conversation delved into strategies for navigating challenges and maximising success in the sector. ? The day concluded with a compelling talk featuring government representatives from the Department of Economy & Tourism, Dubai Municipality, and Dubai Police. Finally, closing remarks by?Amit Nayak, Vice Chairman of UAERG, highlighted the thriving tourism and hospitality industry, noting a 9% increase in visitation and hotel occupancy rates reaching 80% for the year 2024. Abdulla Al Mulla, Chairman of UAERG , said, 'Bringing together key voices from across the UAE's F&B industry was truly an honour, and we are grateful to everyone who contributed their insights to this vital discussion. We look forward to continuing to serve as a platform for collaboration, ensuring the UAE remains at the forefront of the ever-evolving F&B landscape.' ? Reflecting on the success of the Open Day,?Amit Nayak, Vice Chairman of UAERG, added, 'Following the positive feedback from our first UAERG Open Day in collaboration with Dubai Chamber of Commerce, we were delighted to offer attendees an even more insightful experience this time around. By bringing industry leaders across the Emirates together, UAERG continues to provide a space where professionals can share perspectives, address challenges, and develop innovative solutions that will shape the nation's dynamic economy.' ? The success of the Open Day reinforced UAERG's role in uniting the UAE's restaurant community and strengthening its global competitiveness. Through initiatives like these, the UAE Restaurant Group continues to drive collaboration, innovation, and growth within the food and beverage sector. For more information, please visit
Hi Dubai
11-02-2025
- Business
- Hi Dubai
Dubai Dining Costs Surpass Paris, London, and Tokyo: What's Driving the Price Surge?
The cost of dining out in Dubai has surged due to a combination of global economic factors, including rising commercial rents and supply chain disruptions, industry leaders revealed on Monday. Stefano Mihalitisianos, Managing Director for the Middle East at Tashas Group, attributed the price hikes to the broader political and economic climate, particularly the impacts of the Ukraine-Russia war. "The cost of goods has gone up globally, and rents have increased significantly in recent years," he noted during a panel discussion organized by the UAE Restaurant Group at the Dubai Chamber. A recent study by UK-based Holidu ranked Dubai 98th among 150 cities for dining costs. Inexpensive meals in the city average 10 euros (Dh38), while mid-range meals for two cost around 62 euros (Dh197). Surprisingly, Dubai outperforms cities like Paris, London, and Tokyo in terms of dining affordability. Meanwhile, Abu Dhabi ranked 75th globally, with an inexpensive meal costing 6.2 euros (Dh23.5) and a mid-range meal priced at 49.5 euros (Dh187). Despite the price increases, Mihalitisianos emphasized that restaurants are not exploiting the situation. 'Restaurants are navigating through rising labor costs, rents, and inflation while staying competitive,' he explained. Naveed Nasir, founder of Khadak restaurant chain, urged transparency in pricing, stressing that compromising on quality for short-term gains can harm a business in the long run. Maha Al Gargawi, Vice President of Business Advocacy at Dubai Chamber, highlighted the growth potential in the restaurant sector, noting that the UAE's food services industry is projected to surpass $23.2 billion this year and reach $52.7 billion by 2030. News Source: Khaleej Times
