Montauk Boutique Cafe in Abu Dhabi, owned and operated by Mariam Almansoori. Photo: Courtesy of Restaurant Secrets Inc.
Aspiring female Emirati restaurateurs can soon apply to win AED 500,000 worth of consultancy support. Launched ahead of Emirati Women’s Day (August 28) by Restaurant Secrets Inc. (RSI), the initiative will reward one Emirati woman aiming to run her own restaurant with AED 500,000 worth of consultancy services.
RSI, which is a woman-owned firm, will accept application from August 28 – September 27 via its website, or a link that can be found on its Instagram page. Candidates can also obtain a downloadable application pack from the link in the Instagram bio.
The winning applicant receives AED 500,000 worth of restaurant consultancy support services as well as a chance to learn about the creation, operation and launch of a sustainable restaurant business model, with the support of RSI. The consultancy will also help with conceptualization and feasibility studies, recruitment, pre-opening support and restaurant launch.
Montauk. Photo: Courtesy of RSI
To enter, applicants must be female and UAE nationals. They must have a simple business plan that covers their reasons for opening a restaurant, explaining their USPs and their vision statement. Applicants must also have a record of their entrepreneurial spirit, or evidence of a business degree or in running a small business. The applications will be then reviewed by a panel that consists of RSI’s senior management and one of RSI’s former Emirati female clients, who has also taken the journey to open her own restaurant.
Gabrielle Mather. Photo: Courtesy of RSI
Gabrielle F Mather, the founder and CEO of RSI, who has been living in the UAE for 25 years said that she is constantly inspired by Emirati women every day. “RSI is looking forward to once again being part of someone’s journey of success, this time by pledging our professional support to the women of the UAE,” she says. “We are looking for visionary and bold women with a dream to channel their creativity and passion into building a sustainable and successful restaurant business.” Mather also added that the winning question they are posing to the candidates is the “why” to the “what” and it is that question that they need to answer best.
RSI currently has clientele spanning over 300 brands since its creation in 2001. Some of their most successful projects, a large portion of which have been launched by Emirati women, include Mitts & Trays, Montauk Boutique Café, Jolie Café, Utopia Bakery, That Café, and Duchess Café.
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