Dubai opens new restaurants every week, and diners search for them constantly. For a new restaurant, the first weeks of social content decide whether it becomes the place everyone is talking about.
Quick answer
New restaurants in Dubai are mostly discovered through Instagram and TikTok food creators in the first weeks after opening. A launch plan with creator visits across the first month helps an opening look busy and worth booking. Fleek lets restaurants invite creators free with no commission.
Most people hear about a new restaurant on Instagram or TikTok, through food creators, friends' stories and tagged posts, long before they read a review. Search for 'new restaurants in Dubai' is high every month, but what convinces people to book is seeing the dishes, the room and real diners. That makes the launch window important. A steady flow of creator content over the first month makes a new opening look busy and worth trying.
Week one: invite a small group of food creators for a soft opening so you have content on day one. Week two: invite creators who cover your area and cuisine. Week three: focus on your signature dishes and any brunch or business lunch. Week four: reshare the best content, invite back your strongest creators and ask for honest feedback.
Offer a tasting menu or set meal for two with a clear value, and add a cash fee if you want larger creators or guaranteed dates. Agree deliverables in writing, such as one reel and three stories with your account and location tagged.
List your opening as a free Collab on Fleek. Creators with at least 1,000 followers apply on WhatsApp, you approve the ones that fit and host them on dates you choose. There is no subscription or commission.
If you post about new restaurants, browse live Collabs on Fleek. New openings are often the most generous hosts, because they need content fast.
Instead of chasing discounts, many Dubai creators get hosted free through Fleek Collabs in return for honest content.
Creator content is one of the fastest ways to fill a promotion night or a new menu.
Open the Collabs page and filter by category or area to see what Dubai venues are offering right now.
Read the package, cash fee if any, available days, minimum followers and the content the venue wants.
Tap apply and send the pre-filled WhatsApp message. The venue approves the creators it wants to host.
Confirm your date, enjoy the experience and post the agreed content with clear disclosure.
Practical tips that help you get the most from it.
Invite creators before the official launch.
Make one dish the hero of every reel.
Return visits from strong creators build trust.
A quick side by side to help you choose.
| Option | Strength | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Creator Collabs | Authentic reach and bookings | Free to list |
| Own social posting | Builds your page | Time |
| Paid ads | Targeted reach | Ad spend |
| PR agency | Press and events | Retainer |
Combine creator content in the first month with your own posting and small ads on the best reels. Fleek lets you invite creators for free.
Many start with eight to twelve creators across the first four weeks, spread over different days.
Smaller creators often accept a hosted meal. Larger creators usually ask for a fee. You can add cash to any Fleek Collab.
Browse live Collabs on Fleek and apply on WhatsApp.
Fleek is a free Dubai platform that connects venues with influencers. Venues list Collabs with a free experience and sometimes a cash fee, and creators with at least 1,000 followers apply on WhatsApp.
Yes. Venues list Collabs for free and creators apply for free. Fleek takes no commission from either side.