A year in Dubai
This piece was originally shared on LinkedIn.
I’m publishing it here as part of an ongoing body of thinking around restaurant strategy, market entry, and operational decision-making.
Whilst a year has flown by, it also feels like I’ve been here much longer.
- In just the past 12 months, we have;
- Expanded our business into London, Marbella and soon the US
- Opened six new venues, with plans for six more by the end of the year
- Added over 1,000 new team members
- Widened our portfolio with our first beach club
- Established several exciting partnerships
On a personal level, I have;
- Celebrated Gaia’s first birthday
- Reaclimatised back to the heat (almost)
- Finally settled, after five temporary homes over the previous year
- Ticked numerous items off my Dubai bucket list
- Racked up countless air miles, visiting all our venues across the globe.
- Met many great new connections through LinkedIn
It's been a hectic yet incredibly rewarding year, and I’m excited to embrace some exciting new challenges over the next 12 months.
Andrew Jobes is the founder of Jobes & Co., a Dubai-based advisory working with restaurant and hospitality businesses across the Middle East and international markets.