How to choose a caterer in Dubai: prices, formats and questions to ask
Over a decade in luxury hospitality, planning private and corporate events with catering in Dubai and Abu Dhabi.
Short answer: Pick the format first (canapés, a standing buffet or a seated dinner), then compare caterers on the full price per guest: food, service staff, equipment, transport and 5% VAT. Ask who the chef is, how allergies are handled, what the caterer needs at your venue, and how the deposit works. One point of contact from the menu to the clearing makes the difference on the day.
1. Start with the format
The format sets the budget, the staff and the mood. In Dubai, the three most common are:
- Canapés, passed among standing guests: the best for receptions, launches and networking. At Odyssia, AED 350 per guest for 10 canapés, AED 500 for 15.
- A standing buffet, self-service: relaxed and easy for team lunches and larger groups. From AED 250 per guest, from 20 guests.
- A seated dinner, plated and served at the table: for board dinners, client dinners and celebrations. From AED 500 per guest, with menus up to AED 1,500.
On a yacht you can also choose a BBQ cooked on board, from AED 150 per guest on selected yachts.
2. Compare the full price per guest
A low price per head often leaves things out. Ask for one written total that includes the food, the waiters and bartenders, the equipment, glassware and crockery, the transport and the 5% VAT. As a guide, passed canapés and seated dinners need about one waiter per 10 guests, a bar about one bartender per 25 guests, and a self-service buffet one waiter per 50.
3. Ask who the chef is
The name behind the menu matters more than the length of the menu. Ask who leads the kitchen, where the food is prepared, and whether dishes are finished on site. Our menus are led by Executive Chef Leonardo Maltese of Roberto’s, prepared fresh and plated at your venue.
4. Allergies and dietary needs
A good caterer labels every dish for dairy, gluten, nuts, fish and shellfish, offers vegetarian and vegan options, and confirms each allergy before the day, not on the day.
5. What the caterer needs at your venue
An office, a villa, a venue and a yacht are not the same job. Ask what space, power and access the team needs, how long set-up takes and who clears everything afterwards. On a yacht, check the capacity: a seated dinner on board works for up to 80 guests on our largest yachts.
6. Timing, deposit and final numbers
Book one to two weeks ahead for most events, and earlier from November to January. Read the terms before you pay: with Odyssia, a 50% deposit confirms the booking, the final guest count and menu are confirmed 7 days before, and the balance is due 7 days before the event.
7. One point of contact
The best events have one person who owns the plan: the menu, the staff, the timing, the music and the details. With Odyssia, one team handles the catering, the service and, if you wish, the venue, from yacht to office or villa.
Questions to ask before you book
- What is the total price per guest, with staff, transport and VAT?
- Who is the chef, and where is the food prepared?
- How many waiters and bartenders will there be?
- What do you bring, and what do you need from the venue?
- How are allergies labelled and confirmed?
- When are the menu and guest count final, and what is the deposit?
- Who is my contact on the day?
Quick answers
How much does catering cost per person in Dubai?
It depends on the format and the service. Drop-off trays cost far less than a chef-led event with waiters. At Odyssia, a standing buffet starts at AED 250 per guest (from 20 guests), canapés at AED 350 per guest for 10, and seated dinners at AED 500 per guest, excluding 5% VAT. Service staff and transport are quoted on top.
How far in advance should I book a caterer in Dubai?
One to two weeks ahead for most events, and earlier from November to January, when December parties, New Year's Eve and the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix fill the calendar.
What deposit do caterers in Dubai usually ask for?
Most caterers ask for a deposit to secure the date. With Odyssia, a 50% deposit confirms the booking, the final guest count and menu are confirmed 7 days before the event, and the balance is due 7 days before.
Alicia McKay, founder of Odyssia
Alicia has spent over a decade in luxury hospitality and the yacht industry. With her team she plans and runs private yacht events in Dubai and Abu Dhabi for brands, companies and private clients, from sunset dinners to Grand Prix hospitality.
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