Will you pay Dh2,000 for New Year dinner in Dubai?

Dubai - Eateries circling Dubai Fountain at the foot of the world's tallest manmade structure are charging Dh1,200 to Dh2,000 per person.

New Year will become dearer for diners wishing to enjoy their delicacies while watching the fireworks from the iconic Burj Khalifa.
Eateries circling Dubai Fountain at the foot of the world's tallest manmade structure are charging Dh1,200 to Dh2,000 per person, and most of these restaurants and cafes have been fully booked for New Year's Eve since the last four months.
Most of these restaurants said only tables with three or more persons will be served on New Year's Eve.
All eateries had announced that bookings were to be made personally and payments in full before arriving for dinner.
Yet, a number of managers of restaurants, cafes and hotels overlooking areas where the New Year celebrations will take place, said the occupancy rate had reached 100 per cent, and a large number of tables had been booked since more than the last four months, with some booking made for Dhs2,000 per person.
With the New year just round the corner, Dubai will see an influx of tourists who will enjoy the spectacular finale of this year which feature the launching of fireworks.
"The high demand on restaurants, cafes and hotels had hiked the prices, coupled with other multifaceted factors of which those who frequented Dubai Down Town neighborhood to enter the place in their motor vehicles in the wee hours in case they get tickets for booking at a restaurant in the area", managers of the eateries and cafes said.
Popular cafés like Starbucks, Tim Hortons and Kino's Café at The Dubai Mall are charging minimum prices ranging from Dh300 to Dh600 per person for the night. A burger joint is reportedly offering a gold seat with the best views of the Burj Khalifa for Dh1,200 while Dh1,000 will fetch a silver seat that will offer a less impressive view.
An executive in charge at a restaurant overlooking Burj Khalifa said: "Those in charge of restaurants and cafes in the area are waiting with tenterhooks the New Year due to the huge revenue they generate from customers in their facilities where they will be thick on the ground."
The in-charge, who spoke anonymously, said a large number of tables in his restaurant are prematurely booked from outside and inside UAE since more than five months, while at one point the amount paid for booking in some reached Dh2,000 and the rate of booking was 100 per cent.
Hatim, an employee at a café said New Year Eve is the peak of the season for the cafes and restaurants, particularly those overlooking the venues of celebrations where people can have a close look in an aura of joy and blithe.
However, some citizens and residents said the skyrocketing prices charged by the eateries at venues of celebrations in general spoil the festivities.
"Last year the visitors to the City Walk area were shocked as the eateries fixed a minimum of Dh500 per seat.It was too much and unreasonable," Emirati Ahmed Al Shamsi said calling for consumer rights protection authorities to intervene.
Dana Abdullah, an Arab expat, said authorities should make sure eateries are not exploiting the customers in the name of festivities. "There should be guidelines and rules for hiking the prices on special occasions like this."
salah@khaleejtimes.com

• UAE
• Food and Dining
• Dubai