The Michelin Guide, a French fine dining restaurant guide, will launch its first Dubai edition later this year, the company announced at an event on Tuesday.

The announcement comes hot on the heels of the news that fellow French critique brand Gault&Millau would enter the UAE market later this year, emphasizing Dubai’s role as a global culinary destination.

The Michelin Guide has partnered with the Dubai Corporation for Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DCTCM) for its launch, with its selection of restaurants set to be revealed later in the year.

“We are delighted to announce that Dubai will be joining the MICHELIN Guide family. Our team of inspectors is already in the field, in order to prepare the first selection of restaurants, which will be revealed in June.” said Gwendal Poullennec, the International Director of the MICHELIN Guides.

The launch of the Dubai version of the guide is a reflection of the city’s culinary scene, according to Michelin, with credit of the launch “owed to the talent of Chefs who embody the local culinary scene, which attracted our inspectors’ eyes and taste buds,” the company said in a statement.

Gwendal Poullennec

Michelin uses the same methodology for its inspectors in every location that the guide operates, using five criteria including: the quality of the ingredients, the mastery of cooking, the harmony of flavours, the personality of the chef through the cuisine and the consistency both over time and across the entire menu.

The highest grades that Michelin awards are through its star system. One Michelin Star is awarded to restaurants for “high-quality cooking that is worth a stop,” two Michelin Stars for “excellent cooking that is worth a detour,” and three Michelin Stars for “exceptional cuisine that is worth a special journey.”

In addition to the guide’s star ranking, it also includes the Bib Gourmand category, which is awarded for restaurants that provide value-for-money three-course meals.

“We will be showcasing the best of Dubai’s gastronomy, to reflect not just the sophistication that the city is famed for, but also the wide diversity of cuisines that the city’s location and history provide,” Poullennec added.

Dubai is a popular tourism hub, with the launch of the Michelin Guide adding further gravitas to the emirate’s thriving culinary scene.

“Already one of the world’s most popular destination, this latest accolade for Dubai is also recognition of its emergence as a global gastronomy hub, inspired by the goal of our visionary leadership to make Dubai the world’s most sought-after destination and the best city to live and work in,” said Issam Kazim, the chief executive officer of the Dubai Corporation for Tourism and Commerce Marketing.

Issam Kazim

“With Dubai home to thousands of restaurants serving a variety of cuisines from fine dining to street food, and talented Chefs, the MICHELIN Guide Dubai will provide a fresh perspective and new insights into the diversity, creativity and multi-cultural nature of Dubai’s culinary offering. We are excited to discover the special selection for Dubai,” Kazim added.