Frequently Asked Questions

'Why has Middle East & North Africa's 50 Best Restaurants changed name to The 50 Best Restaurants Middle East & North Africa?' 

Launched on 9 September 2026, The 50 is the new unified master brand for 50 Best, bringing together its globally recognised rankings, awards, content and Discovery platform under one clear and distinctive identity. The 50 Best Restaurants Middle East & North Africa's name change reflects this evolution.

Formerly known as Middle East & North Africa's 50 Best Restaurants, The 50 Best Restaurants Middle East & North Africa remains focused on recognising excellence and celebrating the very best restaurants across the region. The new naming convention creates greater consistency across The 50's global portfolio and better reflects the scale and breadth of what we do today. This is an evolution of the brand rather than a change to the ranking itself, and the ranking's credibility, independence and methodology remain unchanged.

When did The 50 Best Restaurants Middle East & North Africa 2026 awards take place?

The awards ceremony for The 50 Best Restaurants Middle East & North Africa took place in Abu Dhabi, UAE on 3 February 2026.

Why did you choose to host the awards in Abu Dhabi again?

The UAE capital continues to establish itself as a culinary force, launching initiatives previously such as Abu Dhabi Culinary Season, the Emirati Cuisine Programme, and the Abu Dhabi Food Festival, providing broader cultural and hospitality experiences for both visitors and residents alike. Bringing year-round food and beverage-inspired events to the capital as well as being home to numerous restaurants and chefs pushing culinary boundaries, Abu Dhabi offers an inspiring mix of unique, experiential and world-class dining offerings in incredible locations, and was a clear choice to be the host city for the fourth edition of The 50 Best Restaurants Middle East & North Africa. The city also has world-class infrastructure and great international accessibility, which helps facilitate the hosting of another successful event programme.

Was there an events programme in addition to the awards ceremony?

Yes, highlights from the programme in Abu Dhabi included the return of thought-leadership forum The 50 Best Talks and an extensive series of The 50 Signature Sessions: collaborative dining events featuring leading chefs from across the world, as well as the best regional talent. Flavours of 50 Best brunch was also a part of the 2026 events programme, following its successful debut in 2023.

How is The 50 Best Restaurants Middle East & North Africa list created?

The ranking for The 50 Best Restaurants Middle East & North Africa reflects the best restaurant experiences based on the votes of 250 voters, made up of anonymous restaurant experts (including chefs, restaurateurs, food/restaurant journalists and well-travelled gourmets) from 19 countries across the entire region. Under the new voting requirement, establishments must receive votes from a minimum of two countries in the region to be included in the ranking. This creates a voting framework that demands more diverse perspective and appeal – and subsequently enhances true regional recognition. This, we feel, is an essential ingredient for identifying each region's best establishments and celebrating excellence. Members of The 50 organisation do not vote and do not control the composition of the list; that is the collective role of the voting Academy. This means that restaurants cannot apply to be on the list.

Which countries in the Middle East & North Africa are included in the voting?

Algeria; Bahrain; Egypt; Israel; Iran; Iraq; Jordan; Kuwait; Lebanon; Libya; Morocco; Oman; Palestine; Qatar; Saudi Arabia; Syria; Tunisia; United Arab Emirates; Yemen.

Were there any exclusions in the list?

All restaurants in the region are eligible for the list.

Why was The 50 Best Restaurants Middle East & North Africa launched?

Following the success of The 50 Best Restaurants, sponsored by S.Pellegrino & Acqua Panna, over the last 20+ years and the establishment of both The 50 Best Restaurants Asia and The 50 Best Restaurants Latin America since 2013, The 50 launched The 50 Best Restaurants Middle East & North Africa in 2022 to shine a much-deserved spotlight on the region as a world-class culinary destination.

What steps can a restaurant take to be featured in The 50 Best Restaurants Middle East & North Africa list?

The ranking provides an annual snapshot of the opinions and experiences of our experts, therefore if diners have been experiencing the outstanding characteristics of your restaurant, then it will be reflected in future results. What constitutes 'best' is up to each voter to decide – as everyone's tastes are different, so is everyone's idea of what constitutes a great restaurant experience. Of course, the quality of food is going to be central, as is the service – but the style of both, the surroundings, atmosphere and indeed the price level are each more or less important for each different individual. Restaurants do not have to fit a certain criterion. We therefore urge restaurants simply to be the best they can be for their customers first and foremost and not to focus on such rankings or awards, but to see them as a welcome by-product of their hard work and talent.

Can a restaurant nominate itself to be on the list?

The ranking for The 50 Best Restaurants Middle East & North Africa reflects the best restaurant experiences based on the votes of 250 voters, made up of anonymous restaurant experts (including chefs, restaurateurs, food & restaurant journalists and well-travelled gourmets) from 19 countries across the entire region. Members of The 50 organisation do not vote and do not control the composition of the list; that is the collective role of the voting Academy. This means that restaurants cannot apply to be on the list.

What does it mean to be included in The 50 Best Restaurants Middle East & North Africa ranking?

It provides recognition of the dedication, passion and skill of the teams behind those restaurants. It also helps promote those establishments internationally to well-travelled, discerning gourmets, boosting the restaurants' profiles and business.

Does a restaurant have to fit certain criteria?

No. They do not have to sell a certain product, they do not have to have been open a certain number of years and they do not have to have won any other culinary accolades. Any restaurant in the MENA region is eligible to be voted for by The 50 Best Restaurants Middle East & North Africa Academy as long as it has been open during the voting period, and as long as it is not planning on closing shortly after we publish the results (although we cannot always know this, of course).

The 50 reserves the right to remove restaurants from the list where there may be reputational issues that discredit The 50 organisation by way of these venues' inclusion.

Who organises The 50 Best Restaurants Middle East & North Africa?

The results and the awards are organised and published by William Reed. None of the sponsor partners has any involvement with the compilation of the results or awards. None of our commercial partners, nor any of the employees of William Reed, votes in the poll.