The inaugural edition of the FACT Hospitality Awards covers 20 categories across the six GCC countries.
BEST winners are chosen by FACT’s editors and independent experts; FAVOURITE winners are selected by public vote.
Public voting opens on Tuesday, 1 December 2026.
Voting opens on 1 December 2026 as the new accolade replaces the FACT Spa & Wellness Awards.
From city stays to coastal escapes, the Gulf’s hospitality scene has plenty to celebrate. FACT is launching the FACT Hospitality Awards 2027, a new programme recognising hotels, resorts, beach clubs and hotel spas across the region. Public voting opens on Tuesday, 1 December 2026, giving readers the chance to support the places that make their holidays, staycations and weekends memorable.
Replacing the FACT Spa & Wellness Awards, the new awards expand the focus to the wider hospitality experience. Spa excellence will remain part of the programme, with a dedicated Hotel Spa in the Middle East category. Alongside it, the awards will recognise the hotels and resorts that shape how we travel.
What are the FACT Hospitality Awards?
Covering the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait and Oman, the inaugural edition features 20 categories. The line-up combines destination-specific recognition with broader Middle East awards, reflecting a region where a weekend away might mean a waterfront hotel, a desert resort or a mountain hideaway.
Across the UAE, separate categories for City Hotel and Resort in Dubai and Abu Dhabi will recognise different kinds of stay, alongside a Hotel in the Northern Emirates award. Saudi Arabia’s categories cover Riyadh, Jeddah, AlUla, and the Red Sea and AMAALA, while Oman has recognition for hotels in Muscat and destination properties elsewhere in the country. Qatar features both Hotel and Staycation categories, with Bahrain and Kuwait completing the destination line-up.
Regional categories will also celebrate beach clubs, family-friendly hotels and hotel spas. The Newcomer category puts new hotel openings in the spotlight, while Hotel of the Year recognises a single standout property in the Middle East.
Nominees and voting
As with the FACT Dining Awards, the new programme will recognise winners through BEST and FAVOURITE awards. FACT’s editorial team will work with an independent panel of industry experts to select the BEST winners. Readers will decide the FAVOURITE winners through an online public vote. The process gives both expert assessment and public support a place in the awards, recognising the properties that impress hospitality specialists and earn the affection of their guests.
The list of awards:
- Best/Favourite hotel in Kuwait
- Best/Favourite hotel in Bahrain
- Best/Favourite hotel in Muscat
- Best/Favourite destination hotel in Oman
- Best/Favourite staycation in Qatar
- Best/Favourite hotel in Qatar
- Best/Favourite hotel in AlUla
- Best/Favourite hotel in the Red Sea and AMAALA
- Best/Favourite hotel in Jeddah
- Best/Favourite hotel in Riyadh
- Best/Favourite hotel in the Northern Emirates
- Best/Favourite city hotel in Abu Dhabi
- Best/Favourite resort in Abu Dhabi
- Best/Favourite city hotel in Dubai
- Best/Favourite resort in Dubai
- Best/Favourite beach club in the Middle East
- Best/Favourite family-friendly Hotel in the Middle East
- Best/Favourite hotel spa in the Middle East
- Best/Favourite new hotel in the Middle East
- Hotel of the Year in the Middle East
The ceremony
The FACT Hospitality Awards will culminate in a ceremony in spring 2027, bringing together the GCC’s hospitality community for an evening dedicated to achievement and creativity. The event in Dubai will honour established names, rising stars and standout venues.
The launch of the FACT Hospitality Awards offers a new platform to celebrate the industry, while connecting the region to FACT’s growing international awards portfolio.
The legacy
David Tapley, Editor-in-Chief at FACT Magazine, said: “The FACT Hospitality Awards mark a new chapter for us, celebrating the hotels, resorts, beach clubs and hotel spas that shape how people experience the Gulf. Behind every memorable stay is a team that deserves recognition. Our BEST awards will reflect independent editorial and industry expertise, while FAVOURITE will give guests a voice through public voting. We want these awards to celebrate both exceptional hospitality and the places our readers love returning to.”
The FACT Hospitality Awards 2027 are part of a wider initiative by FACT Magazine FZ LLC, with popular dining awards taking place in Abu Dhabi, Bahrain, Doha, Dubai, London, Singapore and Saudi Arabia.
Whether you have a favourite city address, a resort you return to or a hotel spa you recommend to friends, this is your chance to show your support. Mark 1 December 2026 in your calendar, when public voting for the FACT Hospitality Awards 2027 opens.