Riyadh and Dubai Are Writing the Next Chapter of Middle Eastern Dining
Two cities are shaping the conversation around food in the Middle East — but they are doing it in very different ways.
Two cities are shaping the conversation around food in the Middle East, but they are doing it in very different ways. Riyadh is accelerating its transformation into a destination for ambitious international concepts and homegrown talent. Dubai, already a global dining capital, is pushing further into the world of culinary recognition and high-profile openings.
In Saudi Arabia, Chotto Matte was named Restaurant of the Year at the What’s On Saudi Arabia Awards 2026 in September — a headline result in an increasingly diverse restaurant landscape, where global operators, regional brands and Saudi-led concepts all compete for attention.
Dubai’s story is defined in part by Michelin recognition. Orfali Bros advanced to two Michelin stars in the 2026 Dubai guide, announced on 7 October, underlining the growing international stature of a restaurant rooted in the culinary imagination of the region.
“The Gulf’s restaurant story is no longer simply about importing prestigious names.”
The next few weeks promise another wave of activity. The seventh Riyadh Season is set to begin on 21 October, while Yannick Alléno’s coastal-Italian Casea 101 is scheduled to open on 19 October at One&Only The Palm, with his L’Abysse omakase counter expected alongside it.
Together, these developments suggest that the Gulf’s restaurant story is no longer simply about importing prestigious names. It is also about local identities, investment, creativity and a new generation of diners demanding more.
