McDonald’s UAE said on Thursday its operations, supply chain spending and employee wages contributed AED 2.32 billion ($631.7 million) to the UAE economy in 2024, according to its first Economic Impact Report conducted by Oxford Economics.
The report said the company supported more than 13,100 jobs across its restaurants and supply chain last year, spanning restaurant operations, logistics, food production and local suppliers.
McDonald’s UAE, operated locally by Emirates Fast Food Company since 1994, said that for every AED 1 million in direct gross domestic product generated by the business, another AED 2.7 million was supported across the wider economy.
The company said 22% of its workforce was aged between 18 and 24, reflecting its role in early-career employment. Women accounted for 41% of employees, which the report said was 17 percentage points above the national average. The company also operates a fully female-staffed restaurant in Umm Suqeim, Dubai.
“Over the past three decades, McDonald’s UAE has proudly grown alongside the nation, creating jobs, supporting local suppliers, and investing in communities,” Chief Executive Walid Fakih said in a statement.
The company said its restaurants served more than 62 million customers in 2024 and delivered over 14 million meals to homes and workplaces.
Investment and expansion plans
The report said McDonald’s UAE invested about AED 87 million in new restaurants and upgrades in 2024, representing around 7% of total supplier spending.
The company said the spending formed part of its long-term expansion strategy in the UAE and reflected continued investment in operations and infrastructure.
Oxford Economics said the findings highlighted the role of local ownership, domestic sourcing and supplier relationships in generating wider economic activity.
Sustainability and community initiatives
McDonald’s UAE said sustainability and community programmes remained central to its operations.
The company said it has recycled used cooking oil into biodiesel for the past 15 years, helping reduce emissions by 2.8 million kilograms of CO₂ equivalent in 2024.
It also cited community contributions, including 1,000 donated meals during the UAE floods, more than AED 1.7 million contributed to the Emirates Red Crescent to support healthcare access, and AED 1 million donated to the Mother Endowment Campaign.
The company said it invested AED 1.6 million in its Junior Padel Academy initiative, which provided training opportunities for more than 1,200 children aged between 8 and 12.
