F&B Economy
Results, deals and the numbers behind the Gulf’s restaurant economy.
4 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.