Hospitality

THE AGILITY AND RESILIENCE OF THE UAE HOSPITALITY SECTOR

Published

2 months ago

April 21, 2026

Words by Professor Scott Richardson, PhD. Academic Dean, Abu Dhabi Hospitality Academy – Les Roches

The UAE’s hospitality sector has, despite major unprecedented situations over the last few years, consistently demonstrated strong resilience, supported by strategic planning and long-term investment. This resilience is built on four key factors: continued government support and foreign capital investment in hospitality attractions and large-scale events, strong air connectivity and ease of travel, diversified guest and visitor experiences, and world-class infrastructure. These elements position the nation as one of the most adaptable markets in the world, where operational excellence is reinforced by a highly skilled workforce capable of responding to shifting global conditions with agility and empathy.

The Role of Education in Driving the UAE’s Hospitality Sector

The UAE’s Tourism Strategy 2031 outlines an ambitious vision to increase the sector’s contribution to AED 450 billion in GDP while attracting 40 million visitors annually. Tourism has a direct correlation to hospitality, and the sector is already performing strongly. Over the first nine months of 2025, hotels across the Emirates welcomed more than 23 million visitors, up nearly 5% on the same period in 2024. By late 2025, the UAE’s hotel inventory had reached approximately 1,260 properties with 216,900 rooms, and occupancy reached 79.5% between January and November. Looking ahead, the market is projected to add over 26,000 new hotel rooms across more than 100 projects through 2026, highlighting a substantial development pipeline that will shape the sector’s growth trajectory. As both capacity and demand rise, the focus inevitably shifts towards the people behind the experience, reinforcing the need for a workforce equipped to support this growth and deliver unparalleled visitor experiences.

Educational institutions are uniquely positioned to drive this growth. By embedding real-world training, critical thinking, and adaptability into academic frameworks, they ensure that graduates enter the industry prepared to navigate complexity without compromising on service standards. Through our curriculum here at Abu Dhabi Hospitality Academy – Les Roches, for example, students not only acquire world-class operational and management skills, but also embrace the Emirati Hospitality Identity in everything they do. They are prepared to deliver service grounded in the warmth of Emirati customs, guest etiquette, and cultural storytelling, while ensuring a modern guest experience. In this way, our graduates are prepared to respond to any operational challenges while meeting the nuanced expectations of a diverse and international guest base.

Industry Collaboration

Collaboration between tourism boards, private-sector operators, and education institutions helps hospitality professionals develop the skills required to navigate periods of uncertainty, while maintaining high service standards. At Abu Dhabi Hospitality Academy – Les Roches, our programmes are designed in close collaboration with public and private sector partners to support the UAE’s Emiratization goals and larger 2030 Tourism Strategy, empowering local talent with the tools and leadership capabilities needed to shape the future of the nation’s hospitality sector. Emiratis currently represent 41% of the student body, including 21% of BSc students and 59% of MSc students who are Emirati women, underscoring our commitment to advancing inclusive talent development, while supporting long-term workforce stability. As educators, it’s our responsibility to ensure that learning extends beyond the classroom, for our future leaders to grow alongside an industry that continues to evolve quickly.

Looking Ahead: Building a Workforce for a Resilient Hospitality Sector

Agility has become a defining feature of the UAE’s hospitality sector, evident in the way service is delivered, guest expectations are managed, and how teams maintain composure under pressure. The impact of recent regional airspace closures, which left many travelers unexpectedly stranded, highlights this. Hotels across the country worked closely with local authorities to provide extended accommodation and meals for affected travelers at no extra cost, with some properties opening additional rooms, ensuring all guests were looked after. It’s a testament to the sector’s high responsiveness and commitment to guest wellbeing, even in the most unexpected situations.

The UAE’s position as a leading global destination is the result of sustained investment, robust infrastructure, and an unwavering commitment to excellence. As the hospitality sector continues to evolve, it is essential to nurture talent that is ready to strengthen that position, responding with agility, professionalism, and genuine care for every guest. By placing education at the center of this progression, we can reinforce the foundation of the sector, equipping our talent to maintain high service standards through periods of change and uncertainty, while supporting the UAE in rebuilding and delivering the world-class hospitality it’s renowned for.

Hospitality

THE COVE ROTANA RESORT RAS AL KHAIMAH APPOINTS AZMI SHALABY AS GENERAL MANAGER

Published

2 weeks ago

June 5, 2026

Integrator Web-Admin

The Cove Rotana Resort Ras Al Khaimah is proud to announce the appointment of Mr Azmi Shalaby as the new General Manager of the five-star property.

Set along a private stretch of coastline between rolling hills, lagoons, and lush landscaped gardens, the resort continues to strengthen its position as one of the emirate’s leading leisure destinations with the appointment of Shalaby as General Manager. Under his leadership, the property will focus on further elevating the guest journey, refining the resort in line with Rotana brand standards, strengthening commercial growth, and introducing new activations across the destination.

In his new role, Shalaby will oversee all aspects of the resort’s operations, supporting the continued evolution of the property while reinforcing Rotana’s commitment to delivering exceptional hospitality experiences across the region.

Commenting on his appointment, Shalaby said: “I am pleased to join The Cove Rotana Resort Ras Al Khaimah at such an exciting stage in its journey. The resort already holds a distinctive position within the region’s hospitality landscape, and I look forward to working closely with the team to further enhance the guest experience, build on the property’s strong reputation, and continue creating memorable stays shaped by genuine hospitality and operational excellence.”

Bringing with him nearly 30 years of hospitality experience, Shalaby joins the resort following an accomplished career across internationally recognised hospitality brands. Having started his journey in the industry in 1996, he previously held leadership roles with InterContinental Hotels Group before joining Rotana in 2008 at Grand Rotana Resort & Spa.

Over the course of 18 successful years with Grand Rotana Resort & Spa, Shalaby played a key role in driving operational excellence, guest satisfaction, and commercial performance, while contributing to several notable industry achievements and awards. His extensive experience in resort operations, team leadership, and strategic planning positions him strongly to lead the next chapter of the resort’s journey.

Hospitality

GAULT&MILLAU SAUDI ARABIA LAUNCHES FIRST EDITION, HONORING ALMOST 250 RESTAURANTS ACROSS THE KINGDOM

Published

2 weeks ago

June 3, 2026

Integrator Web-Admin

The first edition of the Gault&Millau Saudi Arabia Gala took place on June 2, 2026, at Radisson Manhal – Riyadh, marking a major milestone for the Kingdom’s rapidly evolving culinary and hospitality sectors. In the presence of ambassadors and official representatives, the gala and awards ceremony brought together chefs, restaurants, hospitality professionals, journalists, influencers and partners to highlight culinary excellence and honor the talents shaping the future of Saudi gastronomy.

Held in collaboration with the Saudi Culinary Arts Commission, under the Ministry of Culture, with the support of HSME, the event marks the official launch of Gault&Millau Saudi Arabia and reaffirmed the standing of the prestigious Yellow Guide as a trusted benchmark for culinary quality, creativity and excellence in the Kingdom.

A major highlight of the evening was the unveiling and distribution of the official Gault&Millau Saudi Arabia Guide. Featuring a carefully curated selection of almost 250 restaurants across five of the Kingdom’s major cities — Riyadh, Jeddah, AlUla, Abha and Dammam — the guide sets a new national benchmark for culinary quality and creativity, positioning Saudi Arabia firmly on the global gastronomic stage. Through this national selection, the guide aims to uncover hidden gems, showcase regional diversity and highlight Saudi Arabia’s distinctive flavors, traditions and innovations. The guide also shines a spotlight on the remarkable achievements of women restaurateurs and chefs, whose leadership continues to shape and elevate Saudi Arabia’s dining scene.

Each selected restaurant receives an official Gault&Millau plaque, reflecting its inclusion in the national guide and acknowledging its contribution to the growth and visibility of the Kingdom’s dynamic F&B industry.

The evening also honored exceptional culinary and hospitality talent through five special trophies, three of which were presented to brilliant women in the industry:

Chef of the Year: Wed Saleh
Pastry Chef of the Year: Hachem Taleb
General Manager of the Year: Sara Katanani
Emerging Chef of the Year: Elia Kaadi
Young Talent of the Year: Nihal Felemban

A special Inspiring Leadership Award was presented to Mayada Badr, CEO of the Culinary Arts Commission, for empowering the industry and for her valuable work and vision

Patrick Hayoun, CEO of Gault&Millau France and International, said: “The launch of Gault&Millau Saudi Arabia represents an important step in our international journey and reflects the remarkable momentum of the Kingdom’s culinary scene. Through this first edition, we are proud to highlight almost 250 restaurants and recognize the chefs, teams and talents shaping a distinctive Saudi gastronomic identity. Gault&Millau’s mission has always been to discover, support and promote culinary excellence, and Saudi Arabia offers an extraordinary landscape of creativity, ambition and authenticity.”

Mayada Badr, CEO of the Saudi Culinary Arts Commission, added: “The launch of the first Gault&Millau Saudi Arabia Gala reflects the growing maturity, creativity and diversity of the Kingdom’s culinary sector. At the Culinary Arts Commission, we are committed to preserving Saudi culinary heritage while empowering chefs, restaurants and hospitality professionals to innovate and reach new levels of excellence. This platform contributes to strengthening the visibility of Saudi gastronomy locally and internationally while supporting the Kingdom’s broader cultural transformation.”

Joumana Dammous Salame, managing director of HSME, commented: “We are proud to support the launch of Gault&Millau Saudi Arabia in collaboration with Gault&Millau and the Saudi Culinary Arts Commission. This first edition is an important moment for the Kingdom’s culinary scene, bringing together restaurants, chefs, journalists, influencers and partners around one shared ambition: to celebrate excellence, encourage innovation and give Saudi gastronomy the recognition it deserves on both the regional and international stage.”

Beyond recognition, the gala provided a platform for connection and collaboration, fostering dialogue, visibility and new opportunities for Saudi culinary talent within the region and beyond.

The Gault&Millau Saudi Arabia platform is built around three primary components:

Printed Guide: The Gault&Millau Saudi Arabia Guide will serve as a key resource for exploring the Kingdom’s culinary scene. The edition includes expert reviews of top restaurants, chef profiles and signature recipes. It also features city- and region-based highlights, along with toque ratings from 1 to 5, covering a wide range of price points and making the guide accessible and inclusive for all readers.

Digital Platform: The Gault&Millau Saudi Arabia website, part of the international platform, will offer an engaging digital experience with updated restaurant reviews, practical details and direct links, providing greater visibility for local establishments.

Annual Gala: The Gault&Millau Saudi Arabia Gala is designed as an annual cornerstone gathering, offering networking opportunities for chefs, journalists, influencers and partners while showcasing Saudi culinary excellence to both national and international guests. Honoring the country’s top culinary talents, the event will feature an awards ceremony with Gault&Millau plaques and trophies.Through this collaboration, Gault&Millau and the Saudi Culinary Arts Commission aim to elevate local culinary talent, create new industry standards and promote international connections that will help shape the future of Saudi Arabia’s culinary landscape. Further editions are planned, with new cities set to join the prestigious listing

Editor’ note: Attached list of

restaurants with 3 toques – REMARQABLE RESTAURANTS
restaurants with 2 toques- CHEF’S RESTAURANTS
restaurants with 1 toque- GOURMET RESTAURANTS
Selected restaurants

ABOUT GAULT&MILLAU

Founded in 1969 by journalists Henri Gault and Christian Millau, the Yellow Guide has dedicated over 50 years to identifying and listing the finest restaurants, artisans and specialty shops across various regions. Today, Gault&Millau continues its mission to support chefs and emerging talents worldwide by discovering and promoting local gastronomy on a global scale.

As a recognized authority in gastronomy and hospitality across 20 countries, Gault&Millau has become a benchmark for culinary excellence, building a prestigious network of over 14,000 restaurants and attracting millions of followers. With the expertise of more than 400 professional inspectors, Gault&Millau aims to discover, celebrate and elevate both established and emerging culinary talents. The brand’s mission is to showcase local culinary traditions globally, offering a trusted standard of quality and fostering growth within the industry.

ABOUT THE SAUDI CULINARY ARTS COMMISSION

Founded in 2020, the Saudi Culinary Arts Commission is leading the further development of the Kingdom’s culinary arts sector. By driving investment and building robust regulatory frameworks, the Commission is supporting the next generation of Saudi chefs and hospitality professionals as they aspire to reach their full potential.

Together with the Ministry of Culture, the Commission is working to unlock a thriving cultural sector to preserve and elevate the culinary traditions that make the Kingdom unique.

To learn more about the Saudi Culinary Arts Commission, please visit https://culinary.moc.gov.sa/en and the Commission’s pages on Instagram @mocculinary and X @MOCCulinary.

ABOUT HOSPITALITY SERVICES MIDDLE EAST (HSME)

Founded over 30 years ago, Hospitality Services specializes in organizing hospitality and foodservice exhibitions and events across the region, including HORECA Lebanon, HORECA Jordan, HORECA Kuwait, HORECA Riyadh, HORECA Oman, Salon du Chocolat et de la Pâtisserie Dubai, Salon du Chocolat et de la Pâtisserie Riyadh and Whisky Live Beirut. The firm’s events extend to publications and platforms that serve the hospitality, foodservice and tourism industries, namely Hospitality News Middle East, Lebanon Traveler and Taste & Flavors.

Hospitality

YOUR OFFICE JUST GOT AN UPGRADE: VOCO BONNINGTON DUBAI LAUNCHES ITS WORKATION EXPERIENCE

Published

2 weeks ago

June 3, 2026

Integrator Web-Admin

As Dubai’s professionals redefine what a productive workday looks like, voco Bonnington Dubai is introducing its Workation offer, a 24-hour stay package for those who believe where you work is just as important as how you work

There is something to be said for a change of scenery. Positioned in the heart of Jumeirah Lake Towers and moments from the DMCC Metro, voco Bonnington brings together the comfort of a luxury stay with the infrastructure of a fully equipped workplace. The result is a seamless experience where productivity and indulgence don’t just coexist, they quietly elevate each other.

The Workation package starts from AED 275 and includes a 24-hour stay with a complimentary upgrade to a deluxe room, access to the pool and gym, two hours of meeting room access for up to five guests, complimentary coffee or tea in the meeting room or Author’s Lounge, and a 20% discount across all food and beverage outlets. Terms and conditions apply.

For anyone who has ever wondered what their workday could look like with a little more breathing room, the answer might be closer than expected. Built around the idea that productivity thrives when the environment does too, the Workation moves away from the tired “work from the beach” fantasy and toward something far more useful: a city-based experience shaped around real schedules and real results.

In a city that rarely slows down, this is something quietly radical. An intentional pause that doesn’t require leaving Dubai or clearing your calendar. Just a better version of the workday, right in the middle of it.