Fine Dining in Dubai and Across the Middle East

For Americans, the biggest surprise is how international the table is. Dubai alone has more than a hundred restaurants in the MICHELIN Guide, and Abu Dhabi, Doha, Istanbul and Saudi Arabia now have guides of their own, so a trip can be planned around great kitchens the way it might be in Paris or Tokyo.

The rhythm is different from home. Dinner starts late, often at nine or ten, and families eat together into the night, especially on the weekend. Brunch is a Gulf institution on Fridays and Saturdays. During Ramadan, restaurants serve iftar at sunset and stay busy until the early hours; see our Ramadan travel guide.

Alcohol is served in licensed hotels and restaurants in the UAE, Bahrain, Qatar, Oman, Jordan, Egypt, Morocco, Türkiye, Israel, Lebanon and Cyprus, and not in Kuwait or most of Saudi Arabia. Tipping of 10 to 15 percent is appreciated where service is not included; see money and tipping. To understand the food itself, from Emirati machboos to Moroccan pastilla, start with the cuisine of the region.

Our guide to the finest restaurants in the Middle East is led by the MICHELIN Guide, which now covers Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Doha, Istanbul and Saudi Arabia. In Dubai, FZN by Björn Frantzén and Trèsind Studio hold three stars, and homegrown talent such as Orfali Bros has earned international acclaim.

Beyond the great dining rooms, the region excels at the long, sunlit lunch. Our pick of beach clubs covers Dubai, Abu Dhabi and the Red Sea, and private chefs and catering brings a starred kitchen to your villa or yacht.