Great List debuts in Dubai: A curated dining guide for business and leisure

As Dubai welcomes Great List, an international city guide catering to high-quality dining experiences, Gulf Business sat down with its founder, Alexander Sysoev, to explore its unique offering.

Dubai is a hub for businesspeople who value exceptional dining, whether for meetings, networking, or leisure. How does Great List cater to this audience, and what sets it apart from other dining guides? 

The primary purpose of Great List is to highlight venues where food, design, atmosphere, and service all meet the readers’ highest standards. Our team of experts dedicates their time to conducting multiple anonymous restaurant visits, typically between three to four times, to thoroughly review the customer experience and ensure a comprehensive evaluation. If at any point a restaurant fails to meet our carefully listed criteria, the venue does not make it onto Great List’s website. 

We also offer tailored categories to suit various occasions, whether you’re meeting colleagues at a café, celebrating a deal at a smart casual venue, or hosting a potential business meeting at one of our recommended spots. Our features showcase only the finest establishments. 

Can you name a few F&B places featured on Great List that will excite international visitors or impress Dubai’s seasoned food lovers? 

Here’s a personal selection from the list, offering a great variety across different categories: 

Fine Dining: The newly opened FZN by Björn Frantzén, Row on 45, the omakase menu at Takahisa, and the latest tasting menu at Trèsind Studio. 

Smart Casual: Highlighting homegrown brands such as Adaline for its fantastic supper club, Bungalo 34 for its vibrant beachside experience, Mimi Kakushi for its unique atmosphere and bar, and Jun’s with its complex, multi-layered flavours. 

City Café: Sufret Maryam and Em Sherif for their classic Levantine cuisine, Tribal for its organic ingredients, The Grey—where there’s always a queue outside, and Brix Café, which recently represented the UAE in Davos. 

Do your recommendations cover the entire UAE, or are you initially focusing on Dubai? 

At present, we are focused on Dubai, but we are actively exploring expansion opportunities in Abu Dhabi. Additionally, we have recently launched a guide for Doha (Qatar) and operate in six major cities across Russia. 

Does Great List provide insights beyond just where to eat—such as the best dishes to order, exclusive chef insights, or other recommendations? (OR: Many business travellers and executives seek seamless, high-quality dining experiences. What features do you offer to assist them?) 

When the concept of Great List was first developed, a strong focus was placed on incorporating unique elements to make it both personal and insightful. For example, the “Chef Recommends” section was introduced to highlight the personal recommendations of chefs, featuring four to five signature dishes from each venue. Additionally, exclusive video content with chefs is shared on Instagram (@greatlistguide) to further engage the audience. 

Recognising the importance of those working behind the scenes, nearly every restaurant profile includes details about the restaurateur and chef, offering insights into their background and adding a personal touch to the platform. 

Another key aspect was ensuring diners feel well-prepared for their experience. This led to the introduction of a dedicated “Dress Code” section, along with other helpful features such as recommendations on the best tables to book and curated playlists from the restaurants. 

Are there any upcoming developments for Great List, such as expansion into other Middle Eastern cities or new features for Dubai users? 

Looking ahead, we plan to expand Great List to more countries in the region, as well as launch new editions in Bangkok, Singapore, and Hong Kong. Additionally, we are receiving growing interest from CIS countries. 

We will also be hosting culinary events featuring top chefs from the cities included in our guide. For example, this summer, we plan to bring chefs from Dubai and Doha to Moscow, while in the autumn, we aim to roll out even more extensive events showcasing top chefs in every country where the guide is available. 

Looking further ahead to 2026, we have the vision to create the Great List Club—a combination of a concierge service and a premium privilege programme.