The MICHELIN Guide Dubai marked its fifth anniversary with a ceremony at Atlantis The Royal, its selection nearly doubling since its debut to reach 122 restaurants. Gwendal Poullennec, International Director of the MICHELIN Guides, said the city “is developing its own culinary identity while embracing traditions from around the world.”
The night’s standout story came from Orfali Bros, run by Syrian brothers Mohammad, Wassim and Omar, which rose from one star to two — a leap Michelin described as a transformation “from a brilliant neighbourhood bistro into a flagship of Middle Eastern gastronomy.” The city’s Three-Star restaurants, FZN by Björn Frantzén and Trèsind Studio, retained their distinctions, as did fellow Two-Star holders Il Ristorante-Niko Romito, Row on 45 and STAY by Yannick Alléno.
Two new One-Star entries also drew attention: Birch, led by Turkmen-born chef Arslan Berdiev and shaped by his travels, and KIGO, a Japanese fine-dining address built around omakase and kaiseki menus. Special awards went to Window in Alserkal (Opening of the Year), Ninad Jani of avatāra (Sommelier), Zahra Erfanian Azmoodeh of Carbone Dubai (Exceptional Cocktails), and Rémy Marquignon of Ossiano (Young Chef).
The guide now covers 122 establishments in total — 20 starred restaurants, 22 Bib Gourmand picks and 80 MICHELIN-Selected addresses — a clear marker of Dubai’s rise as a global dining capital over the past five years.
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