Restaurants that fail to provide filtered tap water are putting a thirst for profits before customer satisfaction, industry experts said.
Diners have long bemoaned being asked to pay Dh20 ($5.45) to Dh40 ($9) for imported bottled water, with just a handful of venues offering free or low cost water.
In Dubai, an edict planned for 2020 mandated hotels and restaurants to offer local alternatives to bottled drinking water. The regulations were to be set out in a food code published by Dubai Municipality, but are yet to be put into effect.
Local water produced in the Emirates is typically sold in shops for Dh1 ($0.27), with imported bottles between Dh3 and Dh6. The gulf in prices shows the profits that restaurants make.
You’re being asked to make an uneducated decision based on a question that’s being thrown at you — the margins are very healthy on that
Naim Maadad,
restaurant owner
Haider Madani, founder and co-owner of Dubai restaurant Cassette, says that a failure to provide filtered local water options was short-sighted.
His restaurant has offered free bottles of filtered tap water to customers for the past four years. He sells mineral water bottles for Dh12 ($3.20)
“I get that restaurants want to make money but focusing on customer experience and providing the options they want is the best strategy,” said Mr Madani.
“That will draw in more clientele and, as a result of that, make you more money.
“It’s just really a matter of education and changing the established way of thinking.
“I come from an English background and we always had tap water available to drink in restaurants free of charge.
“That’s the way it should be everywhere.”
Mr Madani said the reason why many restaurants in Dubai have not adopted the policy was an obvious one.
“The profit margins are much higher when you are selling someone a bottle of imported mineral water for more than Dh35, in some cases,” he said.
“In the long run, your customers will start to drift away and go elsewhere.”
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Michelin-starred restaurants in Dubai - in pictures
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The issue of drinking water being freely available in restaurants is not just isolated to Dubai or the GCC region.
Licensed premises, that serve alcohol, in England, Scotland and Wales are obliged to provide free drinking water upon request.
However, with many customers unaware of their rights this has not always proven to be the case.
The Telegraph in the UK reported last year how customers were being charged up to £4 (Dh18.2) for what were clearly jugs of tap water in one London restaurant.
Another major issue is the environmental impact of importing bottled water into a country.
A recent report from the World Economic Forum (WEF) said plastic bottles were a major issue when it came to climate change.
Plastic bottles represented almost 12 per cent of the waste items that end up in the world’s oceans, only plastic bags, at just over 14 per cent, were a bigger problem.
Another restaurant owner said many businesses in Dubai had taken advantage of the fact the proposed changes had “gone by the wayside”.
“A lot of restaurants are taking advantage and it’s common to be asked do you want still or sparkling water as soon as you sit down and haven’t even seen a menu,” said Naim Maadad, owner of popular Dubai restaurants Reform Social & Grill, Folly and Bistro des Arts.
“You’re being asked to make an uneducated decision based on a question that’s being thrown at you — the margins are very healthy on that.
“People are happy to take advantage of that but it’s short-term thinking as people will analyse what they spend afterwards.”
Mr Maadad said most customers were clued-in and would only return to a restaurant if they felt it was offering them decent value.
Customers at his restaurants are able to order bottles of house water for Dh22, which can then be refilled as many times as they like.
Reigniting debate
The subject of Dubai restaurants offering filtered water to customers, in addition to more expensive options, has been a hot topic on social media this week.
Emirati entrepreneur Ahmed Bin Mohamed Zakaria sparked debate when he broached the subject on Twitter.
“There are times when I go to a restaurant with my family and the cost of water is almost 30 per cent of the total bill,” he said.
“Some places can charge up to Dh40 for a bottle of water and it is just ridiculous.
“I often ask for local water and am told ‘sir, we don’t serve local water’.
“Something needs to change. Restaurants should be offering both local and imported water to give people the choice.”
The National contacted Dubai Municipality for an update on the rules around serving water in restaurants.
The low down
Producers: Uniglobe Entertainment & Vision Films
Director: Namrata Singh Gujral
Cast: Rajkummar Rao, Nargis Fakhri, Bo Derek, Candy Clark
Rating: 2/5
ELIO
Starring: Yonas Kibreab, Zoe Saldana, Brad Garrett
Directors: Madeline Sharafian, Domee Shi, Adrian Molina
Rating: 4/5
Ferrari 12Cilindri specs
Engine: naturally aspirated 6.5-liter V12
Power: 819hp
Torque: 678Nm at 7,250rpm
Price: From Dh1,700,000
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Living in...
This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.
10 tips for entry-level job seekers
- Have an up-to-date, professional LinkedIn profile. If you don’t have a LinkedIn account, set one up today. Avoid poor-quality profile pictures with distracting backgrounds. Include a professional summary and begin to grow your network.
- Keep track of the job trends in your sector through the news. Apply for job alerts at your dream organisations and the types of jobs you want – LinkedIn uses AI to share similar relevant jobs based on your selections.
- Double check that you’ve highlighted relevant skills on your resume and LinkedIn profile.
- For most entry-level jobs, your resume will first be filtered by an applicant tracking system for keywords. Look closely at the description of the job you are applying for and mirror the language as much as possible (while being honest and accurate about your skills and experience).
- Keep your CV professional and in a simple format – make sure you tailor your cover letter and application to the company and role.
- Go online and look for details on job specifications for your target position. Make a list of skills required and set yourself some learning goals to tick off all the necessary skills one by one.
- Don’t be afraid to reach outside your immediate friends and family to other acquaintances and let them know you are looking for new opportunities.
- Make sure you’ve set your LinkedIn profile to signal that you are “open to opportunities”. Also be sure to use LinkedIn to search for people who are still actively hiring by searching for those that have the headline “I’m hiring” or “We’re hiring” in their profile.
- Prepare for online interviews using mock interview tools. Even before landing interviews, it can be useful to start practising.
- Be professional and patient. Always be professional with whoever you are interacting with throughout your search process, this will be remembered. You need to be patient, dedicated and not give up on your search. Candidates need to make sure they are following up appropriately for roles they have applied.
Arda Atalay, head of Mena private sector at LinkedIn Talent Solutions, Rudy Bier, managing partner of Kinetic Business Solutions and Ben Kinerman Daltrey, co-founder of KinFitz
SPECS
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
MATCH INFO
Karnataka Tuskers 110-5 (10 ovs)
Tharanga 48, Shafiq 34, Rampaul 2-16
Delhi Bulls 91-8 (10 ovs)
Mathews 31, Rimmington 3-28
Karnataka Tuskers win by 19 runs
Dengue%20fever%20symptoms
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Common%20symptoms%20of%20MS
%3Cul%3E%0A%3Cli%3EFatigue%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3Cli%3Enumbness%20and%20tingling%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3Cli%3ELoss%20of%20balance%20and%20dizziness%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3Cli%3EStiffness%20or%20spasms%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3Cli%3ETremor%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3Cli%3EPain%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3Cli%3EBladder%20problems%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3Cli%3EBowel%20trouble%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3Cli%3EVision%20problems%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3Cli%3EProblems%20with%20memory%20and%20thinking%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3C%2Ful%3E%0A
Lexus LX700h specs
Engine: 3.4-litre twin-turbo V6 plus supplementary electric motor
Power: 464hp at 5,200rpm
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Transmission: 10-speed auto
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HOW TO WATCH
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Killing of Qassem Suleimani
More from Rashmee Roshan Lall
Company%20profile%20
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EName%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EElggo%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarted%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20August%202022%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFounders%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Luma%20Makari%20and%20Mirna%20Mneimneh%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Dubai%2C%20UAE%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ESector%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Education%20technology%20%2F%20health%20technology%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ESize%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Four%20employees%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestment%20stage%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Pre-seed%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Voices: How A Great Singer Can Change Your Life
Nick Coleman
Jonathan Cape
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
The biog
Date of birth: 27 May, 1995
Place of birth: Dubai, UAE
Status: Single
School: Al Ittihad private school in Al Mamzar
University: University of Sharjah
Degree: Renewable and Sustainable Energy
Hobby: I enjoy travelling a lot, not just for fun, but I like to cross things off my bucket list and the map and do something there like a 'green project'.
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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Which honey takes your fancy?
Al Ghaf Honey
The Al Ghaf tree is a local desert tree which bears the harsh summers with drought and high temperatures. From the rich flowers, bees that pollinate this tree can produce delicious red colour honey in June and July each year
Sidr Honey
The Sidr tree is an evergreen tree with long and strong forked branches. The blossom from this tree is called Yabyab, which provides rich food for bees to produce honey in October and November. This honey is the most expensive, but tastiest
Samar Honey
The Samar tree trunk, leaves and blossom contains Barm which is the secret of healing. You can enjoy the best types of honey from this tree every year in May and June. It is an historical witness to the life of the Emirati nation which represents the harsh desert and mountain environments
MWTC info
Tickets to the MWTC range from Dh100 and can be purchased from www.ticketmaster.ae or by calling 800 86 823 from within the UAE or 971 4 366 2289 from outside the country and all Virgin Megastores. Fans looking to attend all three days of the MWTC can avail of a special 20 percent discount on ticket prices.
