Dubai Media City venue Q43 shuts down for good

Popular hangout Q43 has announced it is closing its doors permanently, bring down the curtain on a true Dubai institution. The venue was popular as an after-work hangout for those working in Media City, Internet City and beyond.

The restaurant and bar occupied the 43rd floor (hence the name) of Media One Hotel off Sheikh Zayed Road.

Its popular offerings included Thursday and Friday evening brunches and Tuesday and Saturday ladies’ nights.

The news was announced on Tuesday, July 28 through social media, disappointing many a devoted fans. “All good things must come to an end. We may have built it, but you guys made it.” A statement posted on the venue’s Instagram page proclaimed.

Q43 was operated by Solutions Leisure Group, which also owns Asia Asia, Lock, Stock and Barrel and STK brands.

“It is a venue that we are all very proud of, and one that placed us firmly on the food and beverage map here in Dubai. We have always said out loud that Q43 started it all for us, and without it, we wouldn’t have begun this incredible journey,” Spencer Heartwell ales and Marketing director of Solutions Leisure Group said.

Read: Dubai Chamber creates new restaurants business group to support the industry

The Covid-19 pandemic has wrecked the F&B sector. In a letter addressed to Abdulla Mohammed Al Basti, secretary-general of the Dubai Executive Council in May, F&B sector stakeholders said they were facing monthly losses of up to Dhs1bn in staff salaries, housing and benefits, excluding rents and operational costs.