Director of Food & Beverage

Role summary

Written by MyIslandJob from the job title and employer. See the employer's page for the full description.

The Director of Food & Beverage leads all restaurant, bar, banquet, room-service and related dining operations, ensuring excellent guest experiences and strong financial performance. Candidates typically need extensive luxury-hotel or resort experience, proven leadership across multiple outlets, sound knowledge of food and beverage standards, budgeting, cost control, menu development and revenue management. Strong commercial awareness, communication skills and the ability to coach diverse teams are essential. The successful candidate is expected to maintain Shangri-La service standards, improve profitability, build guest loyalty, coordinate with other departments and ensure compliance with hygiene, licensing and safety regulations. Experience in the UAE or an international luxury hospitality environment, along with relevant qualifications, is generally preferred.

About the employer

Shangri-La is a leading luxury hospitality group founded in Hong Kong, with hotels, resorts and residences across Asia, the Middle East, Europe, North America and other international markets. The brand is known for warm Asian hospitality, personalised service and high standards across accommodation, dining, wellness and events. Its properties range from urban business hotels to large beachfront resorts, creating opportunities in food and beverage, rooms, culinary operations, sales and corporate support. Shangri-La places strong emphasis on guest satisfaction, colleague development, cultural awareness and responsible business practices. In the United Arab Emirates, the group operates prominent luxury properties serving leisure travellers, business guests, weddings and major events. A Director of Food & Beverage would typically work closely with the general manager and executive committee to shape the dining strategy, manage outlet performance and represent the hotel’s service culture.

Working in United Arab Emirates

The United Arab Emirates is a federation of seven emirates rather than an island, offering strong opportunities in luxury hotels, resorts, restaurants, events, aviation, retail and tourism. Dubai and Abu Dhabi have the largest hospitality markets, while Ras Al Khaimah, Fujairah and other coastal destinations provide resort-focused roles. The culture blends Emirati traditions with a highly international workforce; modest dress, respect for religion and awareness of local customs are important. Lifestyle is modern and convenient, with excellent shopping, dining, beaches and transport, though summers are extremely hot and accommodation costs can be high. Most overseas employees need employer-sponsored residence and work visas, with medical checks, Emirates ID registration and document attestation often required. Employers may provide housing, transport, insurance and flights. Candidates should confirm package details, probation terms and licensing requirements before relocating.