ItsRaw.ai Launches AI Powered PR Platform to Support UAE Restaurant Industry Growth

ItsRaw.ai has officially entered the United Arab Emirates market, offering a specialized artificial intelligence platform for the food and beverage sector. Designed to bridge the gap between independent restaurants and major media outlets, the tool enables operators to draft and distribute professional press releases for a fraction of traditional agency costs. The service arrives at a critical time for the local hospitality industry as it navigates increasing competition and shifting consumer habits across the region.

Empowering Local F&B Outlets

Founded by the team behind Dubai based agency duke+mir, the platform addresses the high marketing spend of the UAE's 28,000 F&B outlets. These businesses currently spend over AED 3.7 billion annually on marketing and PR, often with varying degrees of success. ItsRaw.ai targets this demographic by offering subscriptions starting at AED 367 per month, which the founders describe as the price of a single brunch. Users can generate news content in three streamlined steps by setting up a restaurant profile that learns about their specific location and cuisine. The proprietary technology then guides operators through structured questions to create newsworthy announcements about deals, menu launches, or events. Once finalized, the platform provides direct access to a curated database of UAE based journalists, food bloggers, and influencers.

Enhancing Digital Discoverability

Beyond traditional media placements, the platform focuses on digital discoverability and SEO. By using structured data, it ensures that restaurant news is more easily picked up by search engines and modern AI platforms such as ChatGPT. This approach helps restaurants stay visible in an era where diners increasingly rely on digital assistants to discover new dining locations.

Co-founders Jonathan Ivan-Duke and Mir Murtaza Khurshid bring decades of experience to the venture. Ivan-Duke is a former Sky broadcast journalist who previously led PR for global brands like Airbnb and Savills. Khurshid has managed integrated campaigns for high profile hospitality names such as Five Guys, Tashas Group, and Michelin starred concepts across the Middle East.

A significant feature of the platform is its ability to solve common frustrations faced by media editors and food critics. The software ensures the inclusion of critical details like timings, location, and booking information that are often missing from manual pitches. This standardization makes it significantly easier for journalists to cover stories or plan reviews without lengthy follow up correspondence.