Dubai Food Guides: Michelin, G&M, 50 Best Compared

Decoding Dubai's Dining Stars: Michelin, G&M, and 50 Best

April 29, 2025

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Dubai's transformation into a global gastronomy hub is undeniable. The city boasts an incredible array of dining options, making it a paradise for food lovers. But with so much choice, how do you navigate the vast landscape of high-quality restaurants? That's where the experts come in. Several prestigious international guides now operate in Dubai, including the famous Michelin Guide, the detailed Gault&Millau (G&M), and the influential World's 50 Best Restaurants list, specifically its MENA counterpart [5.2 Intro]. The arrival of these guides signifies the maturity of the Dubai food scene

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. This article aims to demystify these key Dubai restaurant guides, explaining their unique approaches, rating systems, and what their accolades really mean for your dining choices.

Gault&Millau UAE: The Holistic French Perspective

Originating in France in 1969, Gault&Millau was founded by journalists Henri Gault and Christian Millau, initially positioning itself against the perceived traditionalism of Michelin by championing 'nouvelle cuisine'

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. Its official launch in the UAE in early 2022, brought by ITP Media Group, was a major nod to the world-class standard the local culinary scene had achieved

. This arrival marked a significant step, supporting the next phase of the UAE's gastronomic journey as it competes with established global food destinations

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. The first Gault&Millau UAE gala took place fittingly at the Burj Al Arab Jumeirah in June 2022

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So, how does Gault&Millau assess restaurants? While historically focused purely on food quality, the modern Gault&Millau UAE guide adopts a more holistic evaluation

. It meticulously assesses the food, service, atmosphere, value for money, drinks selection, staff knowledge, and the overall restaurant environment

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. The rating system uses a scale of 1 to 20 points, though restaurants scoring below 10 are rarely featured

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. Achieving 11 points or more can earn a restaurant one to five 'toques' (chef's hats), signifying different levels of excellence

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One toque (13-13.5 points) indicates mastery of techniques, like that seen at Il Borro Tuscan Bistro

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. Two toques (14-14.5 points) suggest cuisine with a fresh perspective, awarded to places like Moonrise

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. Three toques (15-16.5 points) represent established artistic expression, a level achieved by Ossiano and Al Muntaha in the 2022 guide

. Four toques (17-18.5 points) signify cuisine that evokes emotion with exceptional products and a personal signature – Al Muntaha reached this level in 2024, and Row on 45 was named Restaurant of the Year for 2025, likely also earning four toques

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. The highest honour, five toques (19-20 points), is reserved for globally outstanding restaurants offering insight into a chef's unique universe

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Gault&Millau maintains independence through anonymous reviewers who pay for their meals, similar to Michelin

. The UAE guide also uses independent investigators and, uniquely, has a public-facing 'Chief Investigator' to uphold standards

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. Beyond ratings, Gault&Millau UAE hosts annual galas, presents special awards like Chef of the Year and Future Great, curates "Culinary Innovators" events, and even introduced the UAE's first Champagne Index for price transparency

The World's 50 Best & MENA's 50 Best: Peer-Driven Acclaim

Offering a different lens on culinary excellence is The World's 50 Best Restaurants list, established by UK media company William Reed in 2002

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. Instead of inspector-led reviews against set criteria, this list is compiled from votes cast by a large, diverse group of industry insiders

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. Consequently, it often acts as a barometer for global gastronomy, reflecting current trends and influential dining experiences

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The magic lies in The World's 50 Best Restaurants Academy, a gender-balanced group of over 1,000 international experts (chefs, writers, gourmets) spread across 27 regions

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. Each regional panel votes for their "best restaurant experiences" within the last 18 months, based entirely on their subjective judgment – there are no predefined criteria

. Voters must remain anonymous, have dined at the venues they vote for, and follow rules about regional voting to ensure a global scope, with Deloitte independently adjudicating the process

. Restaurants can't apply; eligibility is universal unless a venue is closed or a previous No. 1 winner (now part of the "Best of the Best" group)

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Recognizing the region's dynamic food scene, MENA's 50 Best Restaurants launched in 2022, with the first awards held in Abu Dhabi

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. It uses the same peer-voting methodology but focuses on the Middle East and North Africa, with a dedicated MENA Academy of 250 experts

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. For the 2025 list, members cast up to 10 votes, ensuring at least four were for restaurants outside their home country

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Dubai restaurants consistently shine on these lists. In the MENA's 50 Best 2025 rankings, Dubai dominated, with Orfali Bros Bistro securing the No. 1 spot for the third year running

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. Trèsind Studio (No. 2) and Kinoya (No. 3) followed, showcasing the city's strength

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. The UAE boasted 22 restaurants on the list, the highest regional representation

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. Other top Dubai performers included Ossiano (No. 5), Jun's (No. 7), Moonrise (No. 10), Boca (No. 12), 3 Fils (No. 14), Row on 45 (No. 17), and Zuma (No. 19)

. Several Dubai establishments like Orfali Bros Bistro, Trèsind Studio, and Jun's have also gained recognition on the global World's 50 Best list, further cementing their international standing

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Like G&M, the 50 Best platform also presents special awards. In 2025, Dubai's Ossiano won the Art of Hospitality Award, Omar Shihab of Boca received the Icon Award, Boca also snagged the Sustainable Restaurant Award, and Carmen Rueda Hernandez of Brix was named Best Pastry Chef

. Other accolades include the Chefs' Choice Award, One To Watch, and Highest Climber

Michelin Guide in Dubai: The Established Benchmark

The arrival of the Michelin Guide in Dubai in 2022 was undoubtedly a significant milestone for the city's dining scene [5.2 Intro]. Often viewed as the traditional benchmark, its core focus remains primarily on the quality of the food served

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(implicit). Michelin inspectors anonymously assess consistency, mastery of cooking techniques, the personality of the chef reflected in the cuisine, the harmony of flavours, and value for money

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(implicit). Its key recognitions are the coveted Michelin Stars (One, Two, or Three), the Bib Gourmand award for good value cooking, and the Green Star highlighting sustainability efforts

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. For many, Michelin represents the gold standard for food-centric excellence.

Comparing the Guides: Michelin vs. G&M vs. 50 Best

So, how do these three major players stack up against each other? Their fundamental approaches differ significantly. Michelin and Gault&Millau rely on anonymous professional inspectors conducting rigorous assessments

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. In contrast, The World's 50 Best uses a peer-voting system based on the subjective experiences of a large academy of industry experts

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. This difference in methodology naturally leads to variations in focus.

Michelin zeroes in on the food – its quality, consistency, and the technique behind it

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(implicit). Gault&Millau, while also rigorous about food, takes a more holistic view, explicitly factoring in service, ambiance, and the overall dining experience into its detailed point and toque ratings

. The 50 Best list, lacking fixed criteria, tends to reflect current culinary trends, influence, and the overall "buzz" surrounding a restaurant, highlighting destinations deemed exceptional by industry peers

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Their outputs also differ. Michelin awards Stars, Bib Gourmands, and Green Stars

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. Gault&Millau uses points and the iconic toques

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. The 50 Best generates a ranked list

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. In terms of transparency, Gault&Millau UAE stands out slightly with its public-facing Chief Investigator, whereas Michelin maintains complete inspector anonymity

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. Understanding these distinctions helps diners interpret the accolades and choose guides that align with their priorities – be it proven culinary consistency, a comprehensive experience assessment, or discovering peer-recommended hotspots.

Other Notable Dubai Food Awards

Beyond the big three international guides, Dubai's vibrant food scene is also celebrated by several established local and regional awards. These offer valuable perspectives, often covering a broader spectrum of dining experiences. The Time Out Dubai Restaurant Awards, for instance, are long-running, relying on anonymous reviews by their local team who pay for their meals, just like regular diners

. They cover numerous categories, from fine dining newcomers to specific cuisines and brunches

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Similarly, the BBC Good Food Middle East Magazine Awards involve extensive reader voting across dozens of categories, reflecting popular opinion among diners in the region

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. The World Culinary Awards operate on a global and regional scale, using votes from both industry professionals and the public to determine winners across various hospitality sectors

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. These awards provide complementary insights, highlighting excellence in areas like casual dining, specific themes, and reflecting local tastes and preferences [Comparative Focus]

Dubai's sophisticated dining landscape clearly benefits from this multitude of credible guides and awards [5.2 Intro, Comparative Focus]. Each offers a unique lens: choose Michelin for proven, food-first excellence and consistency

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. Opt for Gault&Millau when seeking a detailed, holistic assessment of the entire dining experience, from plate to ambiance

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. Turn to the 50 Best lists to discover trendy, influential, and peer-recommended dining hotspots making waves in the culinary world

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. Ultimately, no single guide holds all the answers; using them together allows you to fully explore the incredible richness and diversity of Dubai's ever-evolving culinary scene.

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