The 50 Best Restaurants Middle East & North Africa 2027 returns to Abu Dhabi

The UAE capital welcomes back the regional culinary community for the sixth edition of the awards.

With its rich heritage and warm hospitality, Abu Dhabi is a fitting host city for The 50 Best Restaurants Middle East & North Africa 2027. The sixth edition of the awards, sponsored by S.Pellegrino & Acqua Panna and hosted in partnership with the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi, is returning to the UAE capital for the fourth consecutive year. A specially curated week of events will lead up to the awards ceremony on Tuesday 26 January 2027.

Talks, tastings and the big reveal

The awards ceremony will cap off an event-filled week. The 50 Best Talks returns with thoughtful discussions among some of the region's most creative culinary minds. Flavours of 50 Best brings dishes from world-leading chefs and bartenders to the table for one night only. And showcasing the local dining scene, Abu Dhabi restaurants will host visiting chefs in The 50 Signature Sessions programme. Watch this space for details on the chef line-up and when reservations open for the hottest dining collaborations of the year.

Ahead of the ceremony, The 50 Best Restaurants Middle East & North Africa 2027 will announce the winners of the Champions of Change Award, the Art of Hospitality Award and the One to Watch Award.

At the ceremony itself, the full 1-50 list of The 50 Best Restaurants Middle East & North Africa 2027 will be unveiled, alongside accolades including the Best Female Chef Award and the Icon Award.

A historic night in 2026

The 2026 ceremony at Emirates Palace Mandarin Oriental produced one of the region's biggest gastronomic stories. Khufu's in Giza was crowned The Best Restaurant in the Middle East & North Africa 2026 – the first time a restaurant in Egypt had taken the top spot, breaking Orfali Bros' No.1 streak for three consecutive years prior.

The win celebrates the steady growth of Khufu's, which was ranked No.4 on the 2025 list and went on to win the Resy One To Watch Award, as part of The World's 50 Best Restaurants 2025. Behind its rise are restaurateur Giovanni Bolandrini and executive chef Mostafa Seif, whose modern Egyptian cooking draws on the culinary traditions of the Nile Valley, served against a backdrop of ancient pyramids. On the news, Seif said the win belonged to Egypt and that he was proud the team had put national cuisine on the global radar.

The 2026 list includes restaurants from 14 cities, with 16 new entries making their debut. The ranking is compiled by an Academy of 250 independent experts across the region.

The 50 Best Restaurants Middle East & North Africa 2027 will be revealed at an awards ceremony in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday 26 January 2027. Discover the 2026 list.