The first-ever Michelin Guide Dubai will debut this June

There are close to 11,000 restaurants in Dubai, according to Issam Kazim, CEO of Dubai Corporation for Tourism and Commerce Marketing. The emirate is home to over 200 nationalities, making the city quite literally a melting pot of global cuisines. It’s only fitting then that Dubai has become the first destination within the Middle East where the reputed Michelin Guide is set to debut this June.

“We are delighted to announce that Dubai will be joining the Michelin Guide family. Our team of inspectors is already in the field, in order to prepare the first selection of restaurants, which will be revealed in June.” Gwendal Poullennec, international director of the Michelin Guides said at the launch event held on Tuesday at Dubai’s Museum of the Future.

Poullennec explained that on average, the inspectors whose identity is always anonymous and pay for their meals, have upto 300 meals per year on the field. They never visit the same restaurant twice, and the decision on the rating is a collaborative decision.

The inspectors base their decisions on five criteria, including the quality of the ingredients, the mastery of cooking, the harmony of flavours, the personality of the chef through the cuisine and the consistency both over time and across the entire menu.

The Michelin Guide assigns Michelin stars to restaurants that meet the inspector’s stringent evaluation criteria. One Michelin Star is awarded to restaurants for “high quality cooking that is worth a stop”; two Michelin Stars for “excellent cooking that is worth a detour”; and three Michelin Stars for “exceptional cuisine that is worth a special journey.”

Dubai becomes the 36th destination globally for the Michelin guide to be present within. In June, the inaugural list of restaurants that make the cut to the guide will be showcased across Michelin’s digital platforms.

Besides the coveted star ratings, the selection will also include the Bib Gourmand category, which is a distinction awarded to establishments that provide value-for-money three course meals.

“We will be showcasing the best of Dubai’s gastronomy, to reflect not just the sophistication that the city is famed for, but also the wide diversity of cuisines that the city’s location and history provide,” said Poullennec.

“Already one of the world’s most popular destinations, this latest accolade for Dubai is also recognition of its emergence as a global gastronomy hub, inspired by the goal of our visionary leadership to make Dubai the world’s most sought-after destination and the best city to live and work in. With Dubai home to thousands of restaurants serving a variety of cuisines from fine dining to street food, and talented Chefs, the Michelin Guide Dubai will provide a fresh perspective and new insights into the diversity, creativity and multi-cultural nature of Dubai’s culinary offering,” added Kazim who further noted that 25 per cent of all visitors to Dubai are repeat visitors.

Dubai hosted 7.28 million international overnight visitors between January and December 2021, representing a 32 per cent year-over-year growth.

Read: Dubai received 7.28 million overnight visitors in 2021