The Business of Food
Results, deals, franchising and technology: the numbers and decisions behind the Gulf’s restaurant economy.
8 stories
The Gulf Restaurant Economy Is Growing — but Not Every Segment Moves Together
Market forecasts still point to double-digit growth across Gulf foodservice, but 2026 data from chains, regulators and software vendors shows quick service, delivery and dine-in pulling in different directions.
Americana’s 59% Profit Jump and Taco Bell’s Return to the UAE
The region’s largest restaurant operator reported a 59.2% rise in first-half net profit to $147.2 million, then announced that Taco Bell will come back to the UAE after 14 years.
118 Million Orders in One Quarter: Inside Saudi Arabia’s Delivery Boom
The Transport General Authority counted more than 118 million delivery orders in the first quarter of 2026. The figure covers the delivery sector as a whole, not only restaurant food.
Gulf Restaurant Investment: Acquisitions, Expansion and a Changing Market
From Saudi franchise buyouts to a London portfolio worth at least £1 billion bought by an Abu Dhabi group, the past 18 months of Gulf restaurant dealmaking show where capital is heading and what it is paying for.
Why International Restaurant Brands Are Betting on Saudi Arabia
Visitor numbers, a growing food-service market and a deep bench of franchise partners help explain why Chipotle, Berenjak, Manna and others are opening in the kingdom.
The Franchise Pipeline Connecting London, Dubai and Riyadh
London restaurant brands now reach the Gulf through licences, franchises and local partners, and the route no longer runs in one direction: some arrived in Riyadh before Dubai.
Foodics Buys Norma AI as Restaurant Tech Bets on Data
The Riyadh-based restaurant software group has completed its purchase of Norma AI, the Greek analytics start-up whose natural-language tools are already used across more than 10,000 customer branches.
Cloud Kitchens, Virtual Brands and the Next Restaurant Operating Model
Delivery-only kitchens let Gulf operators add brands without adding dining rooms. The model is spreading, but commissions, discovery costs and new regulation show where its limits lie.