Dubai retained its global status as the most alluring destination for diners as the World Culinary Awards ceremony returned to the city. This year's winners accepted their plaques at a glittering ceremony held at Summersalt Beach Club in Jumeirah Al Naseem on Wednesday evening.
Following last year's success, Dubai retained its title as the world's best culinary destination, beating nominees including Jordan, Qatar and Saudi Arabia. Several establishments in the emirate also bagged top honours in the world category, including Ossiano (best culinary experience), Atmosphere (best landmark restaurant) and Pierchic (best fine dining hotel restaurant).
Ariana's Persian Kitchen was labelled the world's best hotel restaurant, while Atlantis The Royal won the world's best hotel for brunch award.
La Dame de Pic took home the title for world's best new restaurant, while Dubai Mall retained its tag as the world's best shopping mall for dining.
In the capital, Conrad Abu Dhabi won the world's best culinary hotel award, Rixos Premium Saadiyat Island was named world's best all-inclusive culinary resort and Hakkasan retained its status as world's best Chinese cuisine restaurant.
Other cuisine winners in the global categories include Asil Restaurant (world's best Middle Eastern cuisine restaurant), Rockfish (Mediterranean), Tresind Studio (Indian) and La Mar by Gaston Acurio (Peruvian).
Only one other restaurant from the Middle East made it to the world category: Al-Sidr in Zulal Wellness Resort by Chiva-Som was named world's best wellness hotel restaurant. Elsewhere, Riyadh, retained its status as the world's best emerging culinary city destination.
Regional categories
World categories aside, organisers also recognised regional and countrywide achievements. Aura Skypool took home the award for Middle East's best rooftop restaurant, while Coya Dubai is the Middle East and Dubai's best restaurant this year.
San, a beach club on Palm Jumeirah, was named as the Middle East and Dubai's best beach restaurant, while Ninive at Bab Al Shams won the Middle East's best new hotel restaurant. The Middle East's best culinary festival award went to Taste of Dubai.
Winners in the capital include Nahaam (Abu Dhabi's best hotel restaurant), LPM (Abu Dhabi's best restaurant) and Fresh Basil – Pitch Black Dining (Abu Dhabi's best culinary experience).
Other emirates were well represented too. In Ajman, Aquario and Vinesse at The Oberoi Beach Resort, Al Zohra, were named best restaurant and best hotel restaurant respectively. In Fujairah, those awards went to Steki and The Copper Lobster in Fairmont Fujairah. In Sharjah, Chie and The Restaurant at The Chedi Al Bait were the top choices. In Ras Al Khaimah, Mekong was named best restaurant and Farmhouse at The Ritz-Carlton Al Wadi desert won best hotel restaurant.
The UAE aside, a number of regional names emerged from countries across the Middle East. As interest in leisure travel to Oman, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and Jordan continue to rise, the awards offer a handy list of venues to dine at.
In Oman, the list singles out Ba Ban (best restaurant), The Beach at Chedi Muscat (best beach restaurant) and Peridot at Jumeirah Muscat Bay (best hotel restaurant).
In Saudi Arabia, the winners include Takara (best restaurant) and Mamo Michelangelo at Al Faisaliah Tower (best hotel restaurant). In Jordan, winners include Alee (best restaurant) and Roberto’s Amman (best hotel restaurant).
In Bahrain, awards were handed out to Cut by Wolfgang Puck (best restaurant) and Primavera (best hotel restaurant). In Kuwait, awards were given to Mei Lei (best restaurant) and Sintoho at Four Seasons Hotel (best hotel restaurant).
In Iraq, 360 Restaurant and Phoenicia Lebanese Restaurant in Grand Millennium Hotel Sulaimani were named best restaurant and best hotel restaurant respectively.
In Qatar, Coya Doha was named best restaurant, Yun at Waldorf Astoria Doha West Bay was its best hotel restaurant and SushiSamba Doha won best beach restaurant.
The list was voted upon before the invasion of Lebanon, for which the winners were Burgundy (best restaurant) and La Ciel at Hilton Beirut Habtoor Grand (best hotel restaurant).
Restaurants and hotels were not the only stars of the evening. Erth Hospitality was recognised as the Middle East's Best Catering Company and ZADK Culinary Academy in Saudi Arabia as the Middle East's Best Culinary Training Institution.
Global winners
In further proof that Thailand is making its mark on the culinary map, Mezzaluna in Bangkok took over from Maison Pic as the world's best restaurant 2024, Su Va Na in Phuket was named world’s best underwater restaurant, and Sirocco retained its status as world’s best rooftop restaurant.
Vietnam, too, made itself known, with Hanoi winning world’s best culinary city destination, and Capella Hanoi restaurant winning world’s best brunch venue, taking over from Zuma Dubai and beating nominees including Balthazar New York, The Ritz Paris and Saffron in Atlantis the Palm.
Nobu, which has two outposts in the UAE, was named the world's best restaurant brand, while Sublimotion Ibiza offers the world’s best fine dining experience.
