McDonald’s UAE has unveiled its 197th restaurant, which is operated entirely by an all-female workforce.
The restaurant is also partially solar powered, continuing the restaurants ongoing mission to have a greener future.
The new venue will serve up meals and McCafé offerings 24 hours a day through the efforts of its female led team.
Is this the first woman-only outlet in the UAE?
The new restaurant marks the first of its kind concept for the brand in the UAE, and builds on the wider business to spearhead diversity and inclusivity efforts across all of our teams.
What inspired it and why is it important?
All of us at McDonald’s UAE are playing an active part in contributing towards prioritising diversity, we believe in empowering women and providing them with a supportive and inclusive environment to thrive in their careers.
The new restaurant in Umm Suqeim is powered by the efforts of its women-only workforce, showing the incredible talent of the female employees across McDonald’s UAE. This is very important to the team as we also work on wider initiatives on this front, such as the push to grow the female presence across the team and leadership roles.
Is the whole restaurant solar-powered or does it still use some electricity?
The restaurant is partially solar powered with the car park also home to electric car charging ports. A greener future has long been a focus for McDonald’s UAE, so introducing this to the new restaurant was a natural next step.
McDonald’s UAE has long cemented its commitment to a greener future over the years, as evidenced by the biodiesel program we have been running since 2011, converting used cooking oil into biodiesel that fuels McDonald’s trucks.
What’s the motto when it comes to the restaurant and leading a female team?
There is already a very supportive and inclusive work culture across McDonald’s UAE through development programs, personal engagement activities and so much more.
We were recently recognised as the number 1 Best Place to Work, large sector in the UAE by ‘Great Place to Work’.
The female-led McDonald’s UAE in Umm Suqeim has implemented these successful ways of working since being open, so the motto would have to be that I’m lovin’ it.
What are the biggest challenges/issues you foresee for the industry?
The increase for customer convenience which opens more opportunities for us to innovate and deliver for our customers.
Alongside the McDonald’s App, the Umm Suqeim restaurant is also the first McDonald’s branch in the UAE to offer curb side ordering, allowing customers to place orders digitally from designated parking spaces for increased convenience.
By: Reem Bitar, PR and Marketing, McDonald’s UAE
