Dubai: When temperatures soar and many residents leave the UAE for their summer holidays, business activity often slows across several industries. But for many small business owners, the quieter months have become less about waiting for customers to return and more about investing in the future.
Rather than viewing summer as a setback, entrepreneurs across healthcare, hospitality, automotive, and food businesses are using the season to improve operations, strengthen customer relationships, and explore new revenue opportunities.
A Chance to Improve
For healthcare providers, summer often means fewer appointments as families travel abroad. Instead of treating this as lost business, Dr. Osama Al Hashimi, owner of Osama Al Hashimi Dental Clinic, sees it as an opportunity to prepare for busier months ahead.
“Every summer, many of our patients travel for their holidays, so appointments naturally slow down. Rather than seeing this as a setback, we use the quieter period as a chance to improve,” he said.
The clinic uses the period to review internal processes, provide additional staff training, and enhance the overall patient experience. It also remains active on social media by sharing oral health advice and seasonal treatment information, helping maintain patient engagement throughout the holidays.
For Al Hashimi, lasting success comes from trust rather than short-term appointment numbers.
“It has never been only about numbers. It has always been about earning people’s trust.”
Finding Opportunity in Seasonal Demand
While some sectors experience fewer customers, others benefit from changing consumer habits.
At Luxurion FF Auto Service Centre, many customers schedule vehicle servicing while travelling abroad, allowing repairs and maintenance to be completed before they return.
“As summer is the time when a lot are planning to go on vacation, it is also the time when we engage customers to plan on dropping off their cars for any repair and maintenance requirements,” said Frando Sarmiento, partner, co-founder, and advisor.
The business has also adapted its operations to protect employees from extreme temperatures by extending midday breaks during the hottest hours. At the same time, it promotes annual maintenance packages and warranty plans to help customers manage long-term vehicle care.
Sarmiento believes quieter months often present the best opportunity to win new customers.
“If they are not as engaged with clients because they feel it should be a lean month, the more that it’s the time to eat up market share and win more customers.”
Challenging Seasonal Assumptions
Not every business experiences a summer slowdown.
For Ichiryu Ramenhouse, warmer months have become one of the busiest periods of the year.
“Surprisingly, summer has become one of our strongest seasons,” said Nico De Guzman, chairman and chief design officer.
Customers continue visiting the restaurant’s air-conditioned dining area while takeaway and delivery orders remain strong. Instead of worrying about demand, the business focuses on maintaining consistent food quality and service during peak periods.
Social media campaigns, loyalty programmes, seasonal promotions, and collaborations with content creators have helped the restaurant maintain customer engagement throughout the season.
According to De Guzman, businesses should avoid assuming that summer automatically means lower sales.
“Don’t assume that summer automatically means slow business. Every brand has its own customer behavior, so it is important to understand your market.”
Diversifying Revenue Streams
For many restaurants, however, summer still brings fewer dine-in customers as residents travel or spend more time indoors.
Liberty Galang, owner of Naderang Restaurant, said the business has responded by improving operational efficiency while expanding beyond traditional restaurant services.
“Summer in the UAE is one of the most challenging seasons for restaurants,” she said.
Alongside maintaining strict food safety standards and equipment maintenance, the restaurant has strengthened its partnerships with delivery platforms and expanded its wholesale business by supplying desserts to cafés and commercial clients across the UAE.
Galang believes developing multiple income streams helps businesses become more resilient during seasonal fluctuations.
“Summer is not just a season to survive. It’s also an opportunity to improve your systems, strengthen customer relationships, and explore new sources of income.”
Relationships Matter Year-Round
For Regina Malabad, owner of Pansit Malabad Cafeteria, customer loyalty is built long before promotional campaigns begin.
Rather than contacting customers only when offering discounts, the business stays in touch throughout the year, making its outreach feel more personal and genuine.
“This approach changes how our outreach is received because we’re already in the habit of following up as a way of caring for the relationship,” she explained.
She also stressed the importance of maintaining strong relationships with suppliers, particularly during slower months when businesses may need greater flexibility in managing inventory and cash flow. Regular team activities, she added, also help maintain employee morale and service quality during quieter periods.
A Different Way to View Summer
Although every business faces its own seasonal challenges, many UAE entrepreneurs now see summer as a period for strategic investment rather than reduced activity.
Whether through staff training, operational improvements, stronger customer engagement, new services, or diversified revenue streams, the quieter months provide an opportunity to build a stronger business before demand picks up again.
For many small businesses, summer is no longer simply a season to endure. It is time to prepare for the next phase of growth.
Source: Gulf News
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Clockwise from top left: Dr. Osama Al Hashimi, Regina Malabad, Frando Sarmiento, Liberty Galang, and Nico De Guzman
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