United Arab Emirates (UAE) Culinary Tourism Market Overview, 2029

Dubai's culinary culture is a diverse mix of worldwide flavours, from luxurious fine dining to authentic street food experiences and inventive fusion cuisines. Dubai, known as a culinary hub, attracts worldwide chefs and renowned restaurants, presenting Michelin-starred institutions amid lively street food tours that appeal to a wide range of budgets and preferences. Hospitality is profoundly embedded in the culture, with a great focus on sharing meals and making visitors feel welcome. Furthermore, there is a growing interest in sustainability and locally sourced ingredients, as well as an increase in food trucks, pop-up events, and tailored culinary experiences. The Dubai and Abu Dhabi Food Festivals showcase the region's unique gastronomic choices. Events like the Dubai Food Festival and the Abu Dhabi Food Festival highlight the region's gastronomic diversity and draw foodies from all over the world. Despite hurdles such as competition from existing culinary destinations and visa restrictions, the UAE's culinary tourism industry is primed for expansion, fuelled by expanding tourism, rising disposable incomes, and government assistance. With strict cleanliness standards and halal certification criteria, the UAE maintains quality control and meets the needs of Muslim travellers. Looking ahead, the UAE's culinary tourism business appears to have a bright future, with prospects for innovation and growth based on the country's distinct cultural heritage and cuisine.

According to the research report "UAE Culinary Tourism Market Overview, 2029," published by Bonafide Research, the UAE culinary tourism market is expected to grow to more than 20% CAGR from 2024 to 2029, the UAE's culinary tourism industry is poised for significant growth, leveraging its unique cultural tapestry and culinary offerings to become a premier global destination. Booming tourism, government initiatives, rising disposable incomes, and young, adventurous population present ample opportunities for growth. However, competition from established culinary destinations and visa complexities pose challenges. Strict hygiene standards, halal certification requirements, and government support for local producers ensure quality and promote sustainability. Dubai, the Middle East's culinary powerhouse, has a wide range of dining options, from elegant Michelin-starred restaurants to simple street food vendors. The city's culinary landscape reflects its reputation as a melting pot of diverse flavours, attracting both foreign chefs and food connoisseurs. Hospitality is central to Emirati culture, with meals frequently serving as a means of bringing people together and making guests feel welcome. Sustainability and locally produced products are becoming increasingly important, as is the popularity of food trucks, pop-up events, and personalized culinary experiences.

Travellers looking for immersive culinary experiences can choose from a variety of activities that are tailored to their preferences and interests. Culinary trials are customised adventures into the unique delicacies of a region or culture, allowing participants to taste local flavours and traditional recipes. Cooking classes offer structured instructional sessions in which individuals or groups can learn and practise culinary skills with the help of instructors or chefs. Restaurants, as commercial facilities, provide clients with the option of eating on-site or ordering takeout and delivery. Food festivals promote varied culinary choices by bringing together aficionados, chefs, and local vendors in outdoor venues, marketplaces, parks, or designated areas. Other interesting possibilities include food tours, cooking competitions, and pop-up eateries. Travellers have several options for booking these excursions. Online Travel Agents (OTAs) offer a web-based platform for easy booking of travel-related services and lodgings. Traditional agents, who work in actual offices, provide in-person or phone assistance with flight and hotel reservations, among other things. Direct booking enables customers to make reservations or purchases directly with businesses, avoiding third-party intermediaries. Culinary tours can be classified as domestic or international. Whether discovering local flavours in one's own nation or travelling overseas to sample global cuisines, the numerous alternatives cater to a wide range of preferences and travel goals.

The UAE's reliance on imports for many products due to low local production has an impact on both sustainability and cost, forcing the government to promote vertical farming and local sourcing. Collaboration with neighbouring countries is intended to improve regional food security. Analysts anticipate a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) fuelled by ongoing tourism growth, increased disposable incomes, and government expenditures in infrastructure and culinary tourism. Geopolitical volatility and economic swings are two major challenges. Experts emphasize the necessity of developing local supply chains, providing immersive culinary encounters, and embracing digitalization in marketing. Compared to regional competitors such as Turkey and Lebanon, the UAE provides a modern, cosmopolitan gastronomic experience, but at a higher cost and with less firmly ingrained culinary traditions.

Niche activities such as culinary workshops and food truck festivals diversify offers, while emphasizing cultural and experiential components draws discriminating guests. Government-sponsored campaigns, online platforms, and culinary events are all examples of promotional activities. Covid-19 initially disturbed the industry but hastens digitalization tendencies. Dubai dominates the market, although other emirates such as Abu Dhabi and Sharjah provide unique experiences. Income distribution, travel patterns, and cultural nuances are all important factors to consider when targeting marketing. Traditional food markets and culinary heritage events play an important role in preserving cultural identity, and culinary tourism has the potential to benefit local communities and sustainable agriculture. Furthermore, the influence of Expo 2020 on infrastructure and culinary options across the emirates is significant.



Considered in this report
• Historic year: 2018
• Base year: 2023
• Estimated year: 2024
• Forecast year: 2029

Aspects covered in this report
• Culinary Tourism market Outlook with its value and forecast along with its segments
• Various drivers and challenges
• On-going trends and developments
• Top profiled companies
• Strategic recommendation

By Activity Type
• Culinary Trials
• Cooking Classes
• Restaurants
• Food Festival
• Others

By Mode of Booking
• Online travel agents (OTA)
• Traditional agents
• Direct booking

By Tour
• Domestic
• International

The approach of the report:
This report consists of a combined approach of primary and secondary research. Initially, secondary research was used to get an understanding of the market and list the companies that are present in it. The secondary research consists of third-party sources such as press releases, annual reports of companies, and government-generated reports and databases. After gathering the data from secondary sources, primary research was conducted by conducting telephone interviews with the leading players about how the market is functioning and then conducting trade calls with dealers and distributors of the market. Post this; we have started making primary calls to consumers by equally segmenting them in regional aspects, tier aspects, age group, and gender. Once we have primary data with us, we can start verifying the details obtained from secondary sources.

Intended audience
This report can be useful to industry consultants, manufacturers, suppliers, associations, and organizations related to the Culinary Tourism industry, government bodies, and other stakeholders to align their market-centric strategies. In addition to marketing and presentations, it will also increase competitive knowledge about the industry.