Restaurant marketing in Dubai: where diners find you
Diners in Dubai find restaurants on Google Search and Maps, review sites, discovery apps and social media. Several of those listings are free, and you control them. Set those up first. Then decide whether an F&B marketing agency is worth a monthly fee. This guide covers the free channels, the booking apps and the agencies that work only with restaurants.
Start with the listings you control
| Channel | What it does for a restaurant | Cost to list |
|---|---|---|
| Google Business Profile | Shows you on Google Search and Maps with hours, contact details and reviews. Guests can order or book from the profile. | Free |
| Tripadvisor | Claim your listing to update details and photos, reply to reviews and track performance. | Free to claim |
| District by Zomato | UAE going-out app where people find restaurants alongside events, concerts and shows. | Ask District |
| Ambl | Chat-based app that recommends and books restaurants and bars in Dubai and London. Venues apply to partner. | Ask Ambl |
Set up Google Business Profile properly
Google Business Profile is free, and it puts you on Google Search and Maps. Get these right:
- Hours and contact details. Update them before every holiday, Ramadan schedule and private event.
- Orders and reservations. Turn on ordering or booking from the profile so guests don't have to leave Google.
- Review replies. Reply to reviews, including the bad ones. Other guests read the replies.
- Posts. Use posts for offers, events and menu changes.
Do the same on Tripadvisor: claim the listing, fix the photos and reply to reviews.
When an F&B marketing agency is worth it
An agency makes sense when you need consistent content and ads every week, or when you are launching and need press and influencer coverage in a short window. Two agencies on Run The Shift work only with food and beverage businesses:
| Agency | Best for | What it covers | Track record it reports |
|---|---|---|---|
| AW Enterprises | Openings and launches | Naming, branding and positioning; launch PR and press; social, influencer and UGC campaigns; menu and packaging design | 30+ restaurant openings |
| Upscale Media | Ongoing marketing | Social media, SEO, paid ads, food photography, influencer campaigns, regular reporting | 350+ restaurants, cafés and cloud kitchens in the UAE since 2016 |
If you need the brand built before any marketing starts, F&B consultancies also do this work. Food Forward covers concepts, menus and branding. Tribe Creators writes brand and operating guidelines for hotels and restaurants.
What to put in an agency brief
Keep it to one page:
- Concept, cuisine and average spend per head
- Who you want through the door, and when (weekday lunch, weekend brunch, late night)
- Your monthly budget, split between agency fee and ad spend
- The number you will judge them on: covers, bookings, delivery orders or reviews
- What you already have: photos, brand guidelines, ad accounts, follower counts
Questions to ask an agency before you sign
- Which UAE restaurants do you work with now, and can I speak to one of them?
- Who on your team will run my account day to day?
- Of my monthly budget, how much goes to ad spend and how much to your fee?
- Who owns the ad accounts, the photos and the social accounts if we stop working together?
- What will you report, how often, and which number tells us it's working?
Frequently asked questions
Does a new restaurant in Dubai need a marketing agency?
Not on day one. Set up Google Business Profile and Tripadvisor yourself first, because both are free and you control them. Hire an agency when you need launch PR, steady content every week or paid ads you don't have time to run.
How do I get my restaurant on Google Maps?
Create or claim your free Google Business Profile. Add your hours, contact details and photos, and switch on orders or reservations if you take them. The profile then appears on Google Search and Maps.
Is Tripadvisor free for restaurants?
Claiming a Tripadvisor listing is free. Once it's claimed, you can update details and photos, reply to reviews and see performance insights.
What is District by Zomato?
District is a UAE going-out app from Zomato. People use it to find restaurants, events, concerts and live shows in one place, on iOS and Android.
Which marketing agencies in Dubai specialise in restaurants?
On Run The Shift, Upscale Media and AW Enterprises both work only with F&B businesses. Upscale Media focuses on ongoing social media, SEO, ads and photography. AW Enterprises focuses on branding, launch PR and openings.
Sources
- Partner details: each company's own website, linked from its Run The Shift profile.
Last updated: 8 October 2026. Partner details come from each company's own website, summarised on its Run The Shift profile. Partners are listed in alphabetical order. Some partners sponsor Run The Shift, and that does not change where or how they appear in this guide. Spotted something out of date? Use the claim link on the partner's profile.