The Rise of Food Halls in MENA

Omar Ramy, Staff Writer in collaboration with Ali El Sakhawy

Step into Dubai’s Time Out Market at Souq Al Bahar, and you’re instantly greeted by the lively hum of conversations, the aroma of dishes sizzling in 17 different kitchens with the view of the Dubai Fountain from its terrace. It’s a space where generations and tastes converge, celebrating food, culture, and music in a way that echoes the legendary food stall markets of abroad but with a distinctly MENA twist.

As global food hall trends redefine dining, MENA is emerging as a hotbed for this culinary experience, with Dubai and Riyadh at the forefront. These spaces are far more than dining venues; they’re representative of strategic investments driving economic growth, fostering local entrepreneurship, and creating immersive cultural experiences that welcome a global audience.

Unlike food courts, food halls feature vibrant decor, high-quality menus, interiors and cultural elements like art and live events. While food courts prioritize quick service for their visitors, food halls are catering to experience-seeking diners, positioning themselves as a compelling investment opportunity that blends gastronomy with social and economic impact

Factors Driving Growth and Shifts in Consumer Habits

The food service market in the MENA countries is speculated to grow from USD 100.95 billion in 2025, to reach USD 189.87 billion by 2032; showcasing a 9.44% CAGR during this period.

Generation Z and Millennials, who will make up 48 percent of all retail spending by 2030, are driving the trends in the food and beverage sector with their strong preferences in engaging and social elements. Fifty-seven percent of millennials have reported fascination with learning about other cultures, and 47% consider themselves to be global citizens. Food halls are uniquely positioned to meet these preferences, offering variety, novelty and immersive dining. In parallel, Gen Z consumers prefer to purchase and consume food and beverages in physical settings, aligning with the experiential and social nature of food halls.

Why Food Halls are Capturing the MENA Market

Saudi Arabia is witnessing a significant cultural shift with a growing openness to communal social settings. Food halls embody communal dining, seamlessly blending diverse dining options with a dynamic space for social interaction.

One standout example is Al Mamlaka Social Dining, a luxury food hall in Riyadh’s Kingdom Centre Spanning 2,400-square-meter with 21 different kitchen spaces, It has attracted an average of 7,000 daily visitors since its August 2023 opening, highlighting the public’s appetite for such spaces.

Riyadh is also set to welcome London’s Arcade Food Hall opening atop Solitaire Mall. This venue will feature international brands, homegrown restaurants and signature concepts reflecting the Kingdom’s love for different dining experiences.

In Dubai, there’s another major project on the horizon: Timbuktu Market. Opening in Barsha Heights in the coming year, it will be a two-story food hall inspired by London’s Borough Market. Gyoza Guys, Churros Garcia and Sushi Amemiya are some of the dining concepts that will offer international and local flavors. Curated by food blogger Hani Al Malk, known on Instagram as @bedouinfoodie, the venue will also have a coffee shop, fitness studio and artisanal produce stores.

Countries like Egypt and Morocco are untapped opportunities for the food hall model, but have huge potential with their rich culinary heritage, growing urban populations and underutilised historical spaces. Rowan Kandil, TGP’s Regional Design Manager says food halls can revive these spaces, offer adaptive reuse opportunities and create a sense of community and entrepreneurship. Food halls provide a platform for chefs and small businesses to test new concepts, reduce operational risks and appeal to a wider audience, locals and tourists.

Having said that, Egypt has started to experiment with new culinary experiences like Grill Setup, a pop-up concept where food, drinks and music come together to create a social experience. This project signals the country’s readiness for new dining formats as it works on building more permanent food halls.

Economic and Social Impact of Food Halls

The food hall concept allows F&B entrepreneurs to lower their overhead costs, while focusing on their food and dining experience. CBRE Montreal’s Christopher Rundle stated, “It’s pretty much plug-and-play and involves minimal start-up costs.” This makes them particularly appealing to investors and entrepreneurs seeking lower barriers to entry.

The impact of food halls goes beyond the vendors themselves; they create jobs across various sectors from food service to logistics. 

Will Donaldson, CEO of Politan Row, noted that food halls provide a built-in customer base, thanks to their vibrant and bustling atmosphere, eliminating the challenge of attracting initial foot traffic faced by standalone restaurants. This high traffic plays a crucial role in attracting investments, as many restaurants are eager to capitalize on it, pushing them to deliver the highest quality service to meet customer expectations and operate effectively.

Chelsea Market in New York exemplifies this success–it was sold to Google in 2018 for a staggering $2.4 billion, showcasing the potential for food halls to significantly enhance property value. The MENA region is ripe for this concept, with culinary tourism in the UAE alone expected to grow from $511 million in 2023 to over $2 billion by 2030.