How to choose a restaurant reservation system in Dubai

1. Who owns the guest?

Some booking tools are marketplaces. Guests book through the marketplace's app, which also shows them other restaurants nearby. Ask whether guests book on your own page, and whether you can export your full guest list, with contact details and visit history, whenever you want. Our guide to your own booking page vs a marketplace app compares the two fairly.

2. Are the times real?

A booking page should only offer times when a table that fits the party is actually free, using your table sizes, turn times and service hours. Ask how it handles a party of seven when your largest table seats six, and whether tables can be joined.

3. What happens while the guest is booking?

Two guests can try to book the last table at the same moment. A good system holds the table for a few minutes while one guest confirms, so you never get a double booking to untangle at the door.

4. How are walk-ins and late tables handled?

Dubai dining runs late and visits overrun. Ask whether the system stops a host from seating a new party at a table that is still occupied, and how fast a walk-in can be added on a full night.

5. Does it understand UAE details?

Guests give numbers as +971, 05 or with a country code from abroad. Search should find the same guest either way. Bookings after midnight should count for the right service day, and staff should be able to use it on a tablet at the host stand.

6. Who on your team can see what?

A host needs bookings and table notes. They usually don't need guest spend, private notes or the ability to export the whole list. Look for roles per restaurant, single permissions you can switch off and a log of changes.

7. Can you bring your history with you?

If you are moving from another system, ask whether they import your guest list, past bookings and upcoming reservations, whether they check the counts match, and whether they keep your original export. Guests should never be merged just because they share a phone number.

8. Can you see where bookings come from?

You spend on Google, Instagram, ads and creators. The system should tag each booking with its source, so you can see what actually fills tables. This is what turns a booking tool into a marketing tool.

9. What do the reports show?

At minimum: covers, bookings by source, no-shows and cancellations, turn times and busy hours, filtered by date and exportable. If the system connects to your menu or POS, spend per guest is the next step.

10. How is it priced and supported?

Some systems charge per cover, others a flat monthly fee. Work out what a busy month would cost under each. Ask who sets up your floorplan, who trains your team, and whether there is someone in the UAE to call during service.

A short checklist

• Guests book on my own page, and I can export my guest list at any time
• Times come from my real tables, with a short hold while the guest confirms
• Occupied tables can't be double-seated
• Search works with +971 and 05 numbers
• Roles per restaurant, with spend and exports limited
• My history comes with me, checked and unchanged
• Every booking shows its source
• Setup, training and support in the UAE

Where Kolshi fits

Kolshi Table was built in Dubai with these questions in mind. It works with Kolshi's digital menu and guest profiles, and our team sets it up for you. If you are comparing systems, a free demo with your own tables is the quickest way to judge it. Still on paper? Read paper reservation book vs a reservation system.