Michelin's Dubai guide promotes Orfali Bros to two stars
A quick map of where Dubai's independent dining scene is going.
Michelin's fifth Dubai selection lists 122 restaurants across 38 cuisines. Orfali Bros, rooted in the founding brothers' Aleppian, Armenian and Turkish heritage, moved up to Two Stars two years after its first. Birch, led by chef Arslan Berdiev, and the Japanese restaurant KIGO enter with One Star, and FZN by Björn Frantzén and Trèsind Studio keep Three Stars. The guide is produced with destination partner Dubai's Department of Economy and Tourism.
Signal CheckPartnered guide: read the stars, discount the framing
How much is substance, and how much is paid or hype?
Michelin produces its Dubai guide with a paid destination partner, Dubai's Department of Economy and Tourism, which is why we label this source sponsored. The inspectors' ratings stand on their own; the celebratory framing of Dubai's "growing global culinary credentials" is the partnership's voice.