UAE Restaurant Group Celebrates a Successful Open Day
The insightful Open Day, held on February 10th at Dubai Chambers, united industry leaders, government representatives, and stakeholders to discuss key trends and opportunities in the UAE’s F&B sector.
Dubai, UAE – February 2025
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 www.uaerg.ae
