F&B Economy
Results, deals and the numbers behind the Gulf’s restaurant economy.
5 stories
Beyond the Battlefield: How Regional Conflict Is Reshaping the Gulf’s Restaurant Industry
From disrupted supply chains and rising operating costs to changing consumer behaviour and shrinking margins, the Middle East’s food and beverage industry is confronting a new reality — one in which resilience may matter more than expansion.
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.