Dubai residents power hospitality growth”

LOCAL CUSTOMERS CUSHIONING BLOW AS TOURISM DIPS, SAYS MCGETTIGAN

- BY DHANUSHA GOKULAN Chief Reporter

Even as flight disruptions and jet fuel shortages unsettle travel across the region, Dubai’s community-driven hospitality venues are proving unexpectedly resilient — a sign, says McGettigan’s owner, Dennis McGettigan, that the emirate’s strong resident customer base is helping steady the food and beverage sector through another spell of uncertainty.

“There is no question that footfall has softened since February 28, and you can feel a shift in consumer sentiment,” McGettigan, founder and CEO of Vision Hospitality, told Gulf News. “People are a bit more cautious and less spontaneous with their spending.”

Vision Hospitality’s other brands include McG’s by McGettigan’s, Brasserie by McGettigan’s, Bla Bla by McGettigan’s and more.

Yet, the slowdown has not been uniform. While international visitor traffic has sharply declined at some venues, long-established neighbourhood outlets such as McGettigan’s JLT have remained comparatively stable, underscoring how heavily Dubai’s hospitality market pivots toward resident loyalty when tourism is disrupted.

In this interview with Gulf News, McGettigan explains why community-led venues in Dubai are proving resilient, how legacy brands like McGettigan’s are weathering the turbulence, and why the UAE hospitality market is better prepared today than during Covid.

What has been the immediate impact on footfall and consumer sentiment across your venues since February 28?

There is no question that footfall has softened since February 28, and you can feel a shift in consumer sentiment. People are a bit more cautious and less spontaneous with their spending. That said, we are seeing strong resilience in community-driven locations such as JLT, which have a consistent resident base.