We'd be better off closed, say #Dubai restaurants - Arabianbusiness

We'd be better off closed, say Dubai restaurants - Arabianbusiness:

Restaurants in Dubai are losing more money by being open than by remaining closed, according to a letter signed by over 100 industry leaders including Marriott International, Tim Hortons, Sunset Hospitality and Solutions Leisure - and which account for over 50% of people working in the F&B sector and 10% of the city’s population. 

In the letter seen by Arabian Business, the restaurants claim to be facing severe negative cashflow due to rental obligations and employee liabilities amid strict Covid-19 restrictions which limit their seating capacity to 30 percent in line with social distancing measures.

"The F&B sector was hit first and hit hardest due to social distancing. Fear of the virus and the long-term need for physical distancing will mean that most restaurant and café businesses will not have sufficient income to cover monthly expenses to reopen,” reads the letter addressing Secretary General of the Executive Council of Dubai, Abdulla Mohammed Al Basti.