About Us
Middle East & North Africa's 50 Best Restaurants is a celebration of the best places to eat across 19 countries in the MENA region. Launched in 2022, the annual list reflects the best restaurant experiences of the Middle East & North Africa’s 50 Best Restaurants Academy, an influential group of 250 leaders in the restaurant industry across the region, each selected for their expert opinion of Middle East and North Africa’s restaurant scene.
In light of the current circumstances and challenges faced in the Middle East, 50 Best is not hosting a live event programme for Middle East & North Africa’s 50 Best Restaurants 2024. The collective thoughts of the organisation remain with those impacted by the situation at present, and 50 Best believes that hosting an in-person, celebratory awards ceremony and associated events would not be appropriate at this time.
The organisation is steadfast in its commitment to acknowledging and shining a spotlight on the exceptional talent within the Middle East & North Africa culinary scene. With this in mind, 50 Best published a list of Middle East & North Africa’s 50 Best Restaurants 2024 on 13th February 2024. Details about the ranked restaurants were communicated through appropriate channels, ensuring that their culinary excellence receives the recognition it deserves, with all restaurants across the MENA region remaining eligible.
Looking ahead, 50 Best remains optimistic that it will resume with a full MENA’s 50 Best Restaurants event programme in Abu Dhabi in 2025.
Middle East & North Africa’s 50 Best Restaurants takes in six voting regions: the Gulf; Saudi Arabia; Levant-plus; Israel; North Africa (East) and North Africa (West). These regions cover the following countries: Algeria; Bahrain; Egypt; Israel; Iran; Iraq; Jordan; Kuwait; Lebanon; Libya; Morocco; Oman; Palestine; Qatar; Saudi Arabia; Syria; Tunisia; United Arab Emirates; Yemen. Read more about the voting process and the Academy, and consult our FAQs.
In 2022 and 2023, an extensive event programme surrounding the announcement of Middle East & North Africa's 50 Best Restaurants was hosted in Abu Dhabi in partnership with the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi. The programme, including the awards ceremony and unveiling of the list, provided a unique opportunity to unite chefs, gourmets, and food and travel media from all over the region at a captivating celebration of cuisine and hospitality, while also promoting the culinary strength and diversity of the region as a whole to a global audience.
The launch of Middle East & North Africa’s 50 Best Restaurants marked a critical step in the 50 Best brand's continuous drive to inspire people to travel, explore and seek out new culinary adventures, putting the spotlight on up-and-coming chefs and food trends, and showcasing the subtlety and complexity of various cuisines from around the world.
Middle East & North Africa's 50 Best Restaurants is part of the 50 Best brand, published by William Reed. Read more about 50 Best here.
