Dubai Restaurant Week returns until 17 May 2026 with more than 125 participating restaurants, curated set menus from AED 125, and a stronger focus on Dubai’s growing fine dining and homegrown restaurant scene.
Dubai Restaurant Week returns this May with its largest edition to date, bringing together more than 125 restaurants across Dubai and reinforcing the city’s position as one of the region’s most active dining destinations.
Running until 17 May 2026, Dubai Restaurant Week gives residents and visitors access to specially curated lunch and dinner menus at some of Dubai’s best restaurants, with bookings available exclusively through Careem DineOut.
This year’s edition includes more than 25 cuisines and a broad mix of restaurants ranging from fine dining venues to premium casual concepts and established homegrown brands. Lunch menus are priced at AED 125 for two courses, while three-course dinner menus are offered at AED 250 per person.
The line-up includes over 30 restaurants featured in the Michelin Guide, including Michelin-starred venues, alongside concepts recognised by Gault&Millau and MENA’s 50 Best Restaurants.
Among the participating chefs are Nobu Matsuhisa, Gordon Ramsay, Izu Ani, Akira Back, Kelvin Cheung and Alvin Leung. The 2026 edition also gives stronger visibility to regional and independent concepts, including Girl & The Goose and Gerbou.
Dubai Restaurant Week has expanded significantly since launch. According to Ahmad Al Khaja, CEO of Dubai Festivals and Retail Establishment, the event started with around 30 restaurants and now includes more than 125 participating venues across the city.
The pricing structure remains one of the main reasons behind the event’s popularity. Restaurants that would normally require substantially higher spend levels are offering condensed tasting-style menus at fixed rates, allowing diners to revisit established venues or test new openings without committing to a full à la carte experience.
Dubai Restaurant Week also reflects how Dubai’s restaurant market has evolved over the past five years. The city now supports a larger ecosystem of chef-led restaurants, independent operators, and internationally recognised dining brands than at any previous point. Districts such as Dubai International Financial Centre, Jumeirah, Downtown Dubai and Palm Jumeirah continue to absorb new restaurant openings despite rising operating costs and increased competition.
For restaurants, Dubai Restaurant Week functions less as a discount campaign and more as a customer acquisition tool during a quieter seasonal period before the summer slowdown.
For diners, it remains one of the few citywide opportunities to access curated menus across multiple high-profile venues within a short period.
