Food & Beverage

The F&B sector in the UAE, particularly in Dubai and Abu Dhabi, is a vibrant and competitive market that caters to a diverse, cosmopolitan population and a thriving tourism industry. The sector is valued at over $11 billion and is expected to grow driven by factors like high disposable incomes, a young demographic, and a culture that values dining out. The UAE's restaurant scene is eclectic, featuring everything from local Emirati cuisine to high-end celebrity chef restaurants, making it a global gastronomic destination. In retail, the UAE is a key market for global F&B brands, with hypermarkets coexisting with specialty stores and online grocers. The government's focus on food security has spurred investments in agritech, and growing consumer interest in healthy and sustainable products are shaping the sector, offering opportunities for suppliers, restaurateurs, and tech startups alike.

Our F&B practice advises clients across the supply chain, from local producers and international importers to restaurant groups and food tech startups. For retail and hospitality clients, Hadef & Partners provides crucial guidance on commercial leasing in prime locations, structuring franchise agreements for international brands entering the market, and complying with labor laws in an industry known for its high staff turnover. The firm's intellectual property team protects brands, recipes, and innovative packaging designs, while its corporate specialists advise on M&A activities in this consolidating sector. Our expertise also extends to the digital realm, advising food delivery platforms and cloud kitchens on e-commerce regulations, data protection, and structuring partnerships with restaurants and drivers.

• Advising a multi-national food chain on the consumer terms and conditions and privacy policy to be used with an in-restaurant ordering app and a cross-border closed-loop loyalty scheme.
• Advised the operator of five restaurants located in Downtown Dubai on an equity investment by a new investor in a transaction valuing the business at approximately AED55 million.
• Acted for the owners of a F&B group with respect to the sale of 40% of the share capital to a private equity for USD 55 million.
• Advised the owners of a food processing group on the sale of 40% of the equity in the group to a private equity firm for USD55 million.
• Advised an Emirati donut manufacturer on the use and protection of its name being used in other GCC countries.
• Advised on the restructuring and sale of a major coffee chain in drafting asset transfer and tri-partite employee transfer agreements, along with ongoing regulatory and procedural advice, particularly regarding the absence of automatic transfer of employment regulations in the UAE.
• Advised a fast-growing eatery expanding across the GCC, on employment matters.
• Advised Lincoln Investment LLC on its investment in Taikun Restaurant and Lounge at the Hilton Hotel, Habtoor City, Dubai.
• Advised a rapidly expanding Middle Eastern restaurant chain on global trademark protection, franchise rollout, and the establishment of a new IP holding company.
• Advised an emerging UAE brand on developing and protecting its premium non-alcoholic beverage line, navigating trademark clearance and ownership considerations while strategically leveraging international conventions for global expansion, showcasing expertise in aligning brand concepts with cultural frameworks for international distribution and future licensing agreements.
• Retained a large German chain of coffee retailers and cafés to advise and assist them on setting up in the UAE.