It’s official: The MICHELIN Guide is coming to Abu Dhabi

The city will be the 41st destination covered by the MICHELIN Guide globally.

The world-renowned MICHELIN Guide currently covers 40 destinations, spanning cities, regions or countries that are regularly visited by its inspectors who evaluate restaurants to build their yearly selection. And today, a 41st destination has been added to the mix: Abu Dhabi. The capital of the United Arab Emirates has developed a dynamic dining scene thanks to its melting pot of cuisines and cultures.

The city has become a gastronomic hotspot known for its rich yet diverse culinary offers from local Emirati eateries to luxury dining rooms. In November, the MICHELIN Guide will unveil its first-ever restaurant selection for Abu Dhabi.

Speaking to FACT ahead of the announcement, Gwendal Poullennec, International Director of the MICHELIN Guides, said: “The MICHELIN Guide inspectors have been working in Abu Dhabi for some time now, discovering and enjoying the rich and varied cuisines that the city has to offer, from creative and cosmopolite dishes to more traditional cuisines of the region, like Middle Eastern, Lebanese, and of course Emirati. The inspectors have relished the diversity and quality of all that the gastronomy of Abu Dhabi has revealed, and they can’t wait to share their discoveries with our community of international gourmets.”

The selection will be made according to the tried-and-tested methodology applied all over the world by the inspectors of the MICHELIN Guide, based on its universally applied set of five criteria: 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. These are applied to all the selected restaurants in order to help bona fide foodies make an informed choice from among high-quality options. The MICHELIN Guide conveys its restaurant reviews through an extensive system of distinctions, the most revered of which are its globally renowned MICHELIN stars.

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”. Besides the coveted star ratings, the selection will also include the popular Bib Gourmand category, a distinction awarded to establishments that provide value-for-money three-course meals. The full selection of the MICHELIN Guide Abu Dhabi 2023 will be available free of charge on both the MICHELIN Guide website, where users can research restaurants following their locations, cuisine types, or additional features in order to find the perfect match.

The announcement of The MICHELIN Guide Abu Dhabi continues the brand’s expansion in the Middle East region, following the unveiling of the first-ever MICHELIN Guide Dubai in June of this year.

Stay tuned for more details about The MICHELIN Guide Abu Dhabi.

GO: Visit https://guide.michelin.com for more information.