Total number of restaurants and coffee shops in Dubai reached 10,914 as of end of November 2018, according to figures released by Dubai Department of Economic Development. Most of them are located in Bur Dubai and Deira.

1,000 new restaurant and cafe were licensed in 2018 compared to 900 in 2017.

Most new licensees are Indians and Pakistanis, whereas Egyptians, Brits, and Kuwaitis constitute the rest of the top five. The sector employs over 183,500 workers.