One of fine dining’s biggest nights
The UAE’s culinary elite gathered last night, February 2, at Atlantis The Royal for the Gault&Millau UAE Gala 2026, one of the most anticipated nights on the region’s dining calendar.
The invitation-only ceremony welcomed 250 of the country’s leading chefs, sommeliers, restaurateurs and hospitality figures, with 18 awards handed out across venue and people categories, including five newly introduced awards, plus the coveted Restaurant of the Year and Chef of the Year titles.
Guests also received the fifth edition of the Gault&Millau UAE Guide, which has expanded from 193 to 203 restaurants, spanning four emirates, reflecting the continued growth and diversity of the UAE’s food scene.
Opening the evening, Ali Akawi, CEO of ITP Media Group, highlighted the guide’s role in supporting the nation’s “surge in creativity”, praising the “growing richness, diversity and reach of the UAE’s restaurant and hospitality sector”.
Venue Awards
Sustainable Kitchen of the Year
Winner: JW Marriott Marquis Dubai
Breakthrough Restaurant of the Year
Winner: Birch, The Ritz-Carlton, DIFC
Home-grown Restaurant of the Year
Winner: Trèsind Studio, St Regis Gardens The Palm
View this post on Instagram
International Brand of the Year
Winner: FZN by Björn Frantzén, Atlantis The Palm
Heritage Award
Winner: Moonrise, Eden House, Al Satwa
Bread Selection of the Year
Winner: Al Muntaha, Jumeirah Burj Al Arab
View this post on Instagram
Cheese Selection of the Year
Winner: Al Muntaha, Jumeirah Burj Al Arab
Non-Alcoholic Offering of the Year
Winner: Orfali Bros, Wasl 51
Sake Offering of the Year
Winner: Zuma Dubai, DIFC
View this post on Instagram
Wine Offering of the Year
Winner: Dinner by Heston Blumenthal, Atlantis The Royal
Champagne Offering of the Year
Winner: TakaHisa, Banyan Tree, Bluewaters
Restaurant of the Year
Winner: Trèsind Studio
View this post on Instagram
People Awards
Pastry Chef of the Year
Winner: Carmen Rueda Hernandez, BRIX Journey
Sommelier of the Year
Winner: Arturo Scamardella, Dinner by Heston Blumenthal
Restaurant Manager of the Year
Winner: Petr Krajča, Row on 45
Future Great of the Year
Winner: Rahul Babu Shrestha, Row on 45
Impact Award
Recipients:
Grégoire Berger
Himanshu Saini
Mika Ueda
View this post on Instagram
Omar Shihab
Samuel Lacroix
Chef of the Year
Winner: Himanshu Saini, Trèsind Studio
The Toques
This year, Gault&Millau awarded 88 toques to various restaurants, including the prestigious five-toques to two history-making restaurants: FZN by Björn Frantzén and Trèsind Studio.
View this post on Instagram
La Dame de Pic, Al Muntaha and Row on 45 received four-toques, while City Social, Orfali Bros, Ossiano, Pierre’s TT, Dinner by Heston Blumenthal, Jara by Martín Berasategui, Ristorante L’Olivo at Al Mahara, Moonrise and TakaHisa received three-toques. For the full list of one and two-toques, visit here.
A Landmark Night for Dining in the UAE
With Trèsind Studio claiming both Restaurant of the Year and Chef of the Year, the 2026 edition firmly cemented the restaurant’s status as one of the UAE’s most influential culinary forces. Meanwhile, wins for establishments such as Al Muntaha, FZN by Björn Frantzén, Zuma Dubai and Dinner by Heston Blumenthal highlighted the breadth of excellence across the country’s fine dining landscape.
As the Gault&Millau UAE Guide continues to expand, the 2026 awards underscored one thing clearly: the UAE’s dining scene is not just growing — it’s thriving on a global stage.
Image credit: @tresindstudio on Instagram
Curious, expressive, and always chasing new ideas, Zainab sees creativity as a way of life. She thrives on discovering new perspectives, connecting with people, and turning inspiration into something tangible. Her work and her world reflect a balance of intuition, imagination, and authenticity.
Contact me: zainab@nommemag.com
