From budget bites to curated dining weeks and community coffee pop-ups, DSS 2025 is giving homegrown SMEs a citywide stage

Dubai, United Arab Emirates, 13 August 2025: Dubai is one of the world’s most exciting gastronomic destinations, serving up a mosaic of global flavours that reflect the emirate’s rich multicultural identity shaped by a population representing nearly 200 nationalities. With nearly 1,200 new restaurant licenses issued in 2024 alone^[1], homegrown F&B brands are at the heart of Dubai’s culinary scene. Amplifying the city’s homegrown F&B talent are ongoing citywide initiatives like the Dubai Summer Surprises (DSS), empowering independent players to scale within a competitive landscape while contributing to the economic growth of Dubai’s thriving gastronomy sector.