The annual awards celebrate the best restaurants across Abu Dhabi, Dubai, London, Singapore and Riyadh, with one clear promise: they are free to enter, attend and win.
The FACT Dining Awards return each year to celebrate the restaurants, cafés, chefs and teams shaping the region’s ever-evolving food and beverage scene. Held annually in September in London, October in Abu Dhabi, November in Riyadh and Dubai, and April in Singapore, the awards have become a firm fixture on the hospitality calendar.
For almost two decades, FACT has championed dining across Bahrain, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom and Singapore. Built on independent reviews, local insight and a deep understanding of the dining landscape, the brand has become a trusted voice for where to eat across the Middle East and beyond.
What makes the FACT Dining Awards different is simple. No money is exchanged. Restaurants do not pay to nominate themselves, enter the awards, attend the ceremony or win. The FACT Dining Awards are free to enter, free to attend and, most importantly, free to win.
This approach has helped the awards earn a strong reputation within the industry. In a region where chefs, concepts and restaurant groups continue to evolve, FACT’s commitment remains consistent: to celebrate great dining based on merit, experience and quality.
FACT reviews are based on independent dining experiences and are not influenced by advertisers, family or friends. Winners are chosen by a dedicated team of diners, made up of in-house staff, contributors and trusted local voices. These are people who are out in the city each week, visiting new openings, returning to established favourites and following the restaurants that shape daily life across the region.
FACT’s Publisher Edward Smith explained: “The FACT Dining Awards have become a highlight in the hospitality calendar, an event that we are very honoured to host. It’s our privilege to recognise and award the efforts of all the excellent food and beverage outlets across the GCC, the UK and Singapore.”
“The dining scene is so diverse and dynamic, with so many beloved venues alongside exciting new ventures that are opening up all the time. As members of the media, it is our duty to give credit to the venues that have become such a big part of daily life in the region”.
FACT Magazine’s Editor-in-Chief David Tapley said: “The integrity of the FACT Dining Awards has always been incredibly important to us. Restaurants cannot buy their way onto a shortlist or pay to win an award. Every decision is rooted in genuine dining experiences, editorial judgement and the opinions of people who spend their lives following these cities and their restaurant scenes.”
He continued: “Being free to enter, free to attend and free to win allows us to keep the focus exactly where it should be: on the food, the hospitality and the talented teams behind the restaurants. Whether we are celebrating a neighbourhood favourite or one of the world’s most ambitious dining rooms, recognition should always be earned on merit.”
How To Enter The FACT Dining Awards 2026
Restaurants interested in taking part can contact the FACT team, who will guide them through the process. From nominations and shortlists to the final awards ceremony, the team will explain how each stage works.
Each category features two awards: BEST and FAVOURITE. BEST is the critic’s choice, decided by the FACT editorial team and an independent panel of industry experts. FAVOURITE is decided by the public through an online vote.
Together, the two awards reflect both critical recognition and public support, giving restaurants a chance to be celebrated by the industry and the diners who love them.
Good luck.