How Gen Z Is Reshaping Restaurants, Cafés & Hospitality Spaces in the GCC

In today’s competitive hospitality industry in Dubai, Saudi Arabia and the GCC, restaurants, cafés and hotels are under pressure to deliver more than just food. Guests now seek memorable dining experiences, social interaction and visually engaging environments.

One of the fastest-growing trends driven by Generation Z (Gen Z) is the return of Communal Tables — large shared tables that bring guests together and transform restaurants into vibrant social spaces.

This concept is now widely adopted across modern restaurants, hotel dining halls, café concepts and co-working food spaces in Dubai, Riyadh, Jeddah and Muscat.

Gen Z is known as the digital-native and experience-driven generation. Unlike previous generations, they choose restaurants and cafés based on:

•Social atmosphere

•Shareable moments

•Interior design & branding

•Authentic community experience

Communal tables allow guests to connect, interact and feel part of a lively hospitality environment — something especially attractive in urban restaurant concepts, lifestyle cafés and luxury hotel dining spaces.

Market data shows that Gen Z customers are up to 90% more open to shared dining environments compared to older generations, making this trend a powerful growth tool for hospitality brands in the Middle East.

Shared tables allow restaurants, cafés and hotel restaurants to increase seating capacity without expanding floor space.

For high-rent locations such as Dubai Mall, Downtown Dubai, Business Bay, Riyadh Boulevard and Jeddah Corniche, this directly impacts profitability.

Guests seated together are more likely to order sharing platters, beverage packages and group menus, increasing total sales per table.

Communal tables help restaurants stand out in a crowded Dubai restaurant market, reinforcing brand storytelling and social engagement.

To succeed, hospitality businesses must combine communal layouts with professional restaurant equipment and trained staff.

•Advanced POS systems

•Premium restaurant furniture

•Durable hotel and restaurant tableware

•Efficient service stations & buffet equipment

These tools ensure smooth operations in busy hospitality environments.

Design for Experience

When paired with luxury restaurant furniture, modern lighting, hotel décor and premium tableware, communal tables create a signature look that encourages repeat visits.

Restaurants and hotels can organize:

•Shared dining nights

•Tasting events

•Networking dinners

•Corporate hospitality experiences

These events attract Gen Z, young professionals and tourists across the GCC.

The most successful hospitality concepts in Dubai and Saudi Arabia combine private tables and communal seating, offering guests freedom of choice and higher satisfaction.

The return of communal tables reflects a deeper transformation in hotel and restaurant design trends across the Middle East.

For hospitality brands, this is not a trend — it is a strategic opportunity to grow revenue, optimize space and enhance guest experience.

Your Partner in Hospitality Excellence

Mirzaee Hotel Equipment Group is a leading supplier and importer of hotel, restaurant and café equipment from the UAE and Türkiye, serving clients across Dubai, Saudi Arabia, Oman and the GCC.

We provide:

•Professional restaurant kitchen equipment

•Premium hotel & café furniture

•High-quality tableware & service equipment

•Buffet stations, display counters & hospitality solutions

We help restaurants, hotels and cafés create luxury, efficient and profitable hospitality environments.

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