Dubai on the Global Culinary Map: Highlights from the 2026 Michelin Guide

- The UAE celebrated the launch of the fifth edition of the Michelin Guide Dubai during a ceremony hosted at the "Atlantis The Royal" hotel, featuring 122 restaurants from cuisines representing 38 types of food. The selections reflect the diversity of the culinary scene, ranging from local eateries to fine dining destinations, reinforcing Dubai's position on the global culinary map.

What are the highlights of the 2026 edition? The Dubai restaurants "FZN by Björn Frantzén" and "Trèsind Studio" maintained their three Michelin stars, confirming their exceptional status, which is the highest rating awarded by the guide for restaurants deserving a special visit. The Michelin star restaurant "Orfali Bros" rose to two Michelin stars just two years after receiving its first star, enhancing its status as one of the leading restaurants embodying culinary arts in the Middle East.

The restaurant combines the Aleppine, Armenian, and Turkish roots of the Orfali brothers, while its distinctive dishes and the "Voyage" menu reveal a cooking style that is more precise, deep, and personal. Meanwhile, the following restaurants maintained their ratings in the 2026 selections: one Michelin star. Two new restaurants entered this year's list and received one Michelin star.

"Birch" offers a modern experience inspired by the roots of chef Arslan Burdiyev from Turkmenistan, while "KIGO" provides a seasonal Japanese experience that combines the "Sushi Omakase" and "Kaiseki" styles. With their addition to the 12 restaurants that retained their star, the total number of restaurants with one star rises to 14. Four new restaurants receive "Bib Gourmand". The Michelin Guide Dubai 2026 awarded four new restaurants the "Bib Gourmand" prize, which honors exceptional restaurants at reasonable prices, bringing the total number to 22 restaurants.

Italian cuisine is offered in a simple and generous style, in an atmosphere that combines a "bistro" and a specialty shop, where guests can browse cookbooks alongside the menu. Chef Shane presents bold and authentic Asian dishes, including mango with sticky rice and milk cake.

The restaurant, a sibling of "Orfali Bros," offers dishes inspired by the roots of the three Syrian brothers and their memories and journeys. It serves Japanese rolls prepared to order right in front of the guests, along with pickles and dressings that add a distinctive flavor to the menu.