McDonalds say no sign of milkshakes flowing back into UAE
McDonald’s UAE will not be re-introducing milkshakes to its menus – despite the pleas of 7DAYS readers.
In countries such as the UK – where McDonald’s said it sold more than 116 million milkshakes in 2014 – the sweet treat is a popular choice for fans of the fast-food chain.
McDonald’s sold milkshakes between 1994 and 2008 in the UAE but removed them from the menu due to “low demand”.
And despite the requests from writers to the 7DAYS Letters page, such as ‘Disappointed chocolate shake fan, UAE’, asking for the drink to be brought back, McDonald’s UAE has declined to do so.
Confirming the news in a statement to 7DAYS, Walid Fakih, the general manager of McDonald’s UAE, said: “Whilst the decision has remained, McDonald’s UAE endeavour to continue to surprise their consumers, introducing a number of new, delicious dessert and beverage items, including the McFizz and McFlurry, ensuring we cater to the varying tastes of our customers throughout the UAE.”
Rob Scott, a 27-year-old Scottish expat who has lived in Dubai most of his life but went to university in Scotland, said he didn’t remember milkshakes being sold at McDonald’s in the UAE when he was younger.
However, Scott, who said the drinks were his favourite thing on the McDonald’s menu, was surprised to hear they hadn’t been best sellers – and described the decision not to bring back milkshakes into the UAE market as “poppycock”.
The vanilla milkshake fan said he thought “the climate” of the UAE would have made it a top choice for McDonald’s customers.
“It’s chilled and the texture of it is so creamy but not too thick – it goes down so well,” the salesman.
Dubai-based Australian national Will Langmead said he enjoyed McDonald’s milkshakes in other parts of the world, especially a “vanilla and chocolate mix”, and was disappointed to hear they wouldn’t be coming here again.
“I’ll just go somewhere else,” Langmead said. “They’re missing out – especially with it being so hot.”
He added: “I’ll just go to Shake Shack.”
A spokesperson for McDonald’s UK said that milkshakes come in four flavours there – chocolate, strawberry, vanilla and banana – and that prices for the drink started from £1.59 (about Dhs9) for a medium-sized shake.
The drink contains between 377 and 386 calories, depending on the flavour.
