FOOD MADE GOOD IN THE UNITED ARAB EMIRATES
Omar ShIhAb
In a region that has more restaurants per capita than London or New York, demand for sustainability support is at an all-time high. Restaurateur Omar Shihab of BOCA in Dubai acts an advisor for us on the ground in Dubai, offering his insights both as an experienced part of the region's hospitality sector and as a leader in sustainable practices within that scene.
In 2023, Omar's restaurant BOCA completed the Food Made Good Standard themselves — a first for the UAE and the region — earning a well-deserved three stars. He said of the accomplishment, "The Food Made Good Standard process has been an invaluable learning experience, prompting the formulation of sourcing policies, energy consumption reduction practices, and plans to enhance working conditions in the restaurant."
Read more about what made Omar want to get involved with Food Made Good below.
WHAT IS THE FOOD MADE GOOD STANDARD?
Developed by The Sustainable Restaurant Association, the Food Made Good Standard is the only global sustainability certification that has been designed especially for the hospitality industry. Robust and evidence-driven, the Standard takes a comprehensive, holistic approach to what sustainability should mean for this influential industry, based on detailed criteria across its three pillars of Sourcing, Society and Environment. The Standard measures progress, encourages a culture of continuous improvement and rewards excellence, and is a core part of how we work to achieve our mission of driving positive change through the F&B sector worldwide.
Where IS THE FOOD MADE GOOD STANDARD AVAILABLE?
In summer 2023, a new version of the Food Made Good Standard was launched, with a new more user-friendly platform and a brand new website. As we redeveloped the the question set that restaurants must complete for their evaluation and the supporting evidence required, we called on a range of experts to contribute. Not only is the Standard now more rigorous and comprehensive, but it's also globally accessible and relevant for F&B businesses anywhere in the world. The Food Made Good Standard now has a presence in almost 30 countries, with our network including restaurants, hotels, cafés, bars, catering companies and universities. You can read more here about how the Food Made Good Standard continues to drive change across the globe.