Published April 25, 2026
Sunset Hospitality Group vice chairman and managing partner Nazih Hafez has credited the UAE leadership with helping the hospitality sector navigate one of its most uncertain recent periods, saying the government responded with “stability, clarity and care” when the industry needed it most.
“A great deal,” Hafez said, when asked how much credit the UAE government deserves for the sector’s ability to weather the period. “During the most uncertain stretch we’ve faced as a business, the leadership of this country responded with exactly what you need most in a crisis: stability, clarity, and care.”
Hafez said the support of the UAE had been central not only to the company’s growth over time, but also to its ability to adapt through tougher trading conditions.
“Dubai gave us a foundation and an identity,” he said. “It’s a city shaped by visionary leadership and a government we’re deeply grateful to, one that has created the conditions for businesses like ours to grow, adapt, and think long-term.”
The comments come as operators across the market continue to focus on resilience, local demand and trading consistency.
Hafez said SHG responded by concentrating on three areas: “our people, our local audience, and how we operate day to day”.
“We’ve streamlined operations and built a more agile, efficient model, one that allows us to scale up or down depending on demand without compromising the guest experience,” he said.
For Hafez, the wider point is that hospitality should be viewed as an ecosystem of jobs, businesses and livelihoods, not simply trading venues.
“Hospitality is a living, breathing ecosystem,” he said. “It’s the chef who’s been with us for years, the venue manager who knows every guest by name, the entrepreneur who bet everything on opening their first concept. It’s families and livelihoods.”
Despite the disruption, Hafez said he remains confident in the sector’s direction and described the current period as temporary.
“This disruption is temporary,” he said. “I believe the demand for hospitality will return, stronger.”
He added that SHG has already started to see “real improvements” in recent days, including stronger footfall and returning energy across its venues.
Founded in 2011, Sunset Hospitality Group has grown from a Dubai-born operator into a global hospitality platform spanning 111 properties across 26 countries, with concepts across dining, hotels, beach clubs, nightlife and entertainment.
But Hafez said the company’s centre of gravity remains unchanged.
“Dubai remains the heart of everything we do,” he said. “It’s not just our biggest market. It’s home.”