Dubai just earned another global badge of honour, and this one tastes good. Dubai has been ranked the world’s 2nd best food destination for 2026 in TripAdvisor’s Travellers’ Choice Awards. It’s been placed right behind London and ahead of culinary heavyweights like Rome and Paris. It’s a big win, but not a surprising one.
Dubai Ranked World’s Second-Best Food Destination for 2026 by TripAdvisor
According to a report by Travels Dubai, the ranking reflects how consistently Dubai delivers a standout dining experience. It’s backed by millions of traveller reviews collected over 12 months. These are real opinions from real diners.
Why Food Now Drives Travel Decisions
Food-led travel is no longer niche. Research from Precedence Research shows this segment growing by 20 per cent year-on-year through 2030. Travellers now spend roughly a quarter of their holiday budget on food alone. Over half of food-focused tourists book restaurant reservations before they even lock in flights.
Dubai fits this shift perfectly as the Emirate offers choice, access, and consistency at a scale few places can match.
How Tripadvisor Decides “Best of the Best”
TripAdvisor’s “Best of the Best Destinations 2026” list pulls from user-generated reviews that score high on service, quality, and overall experience. Out of more than eight million listings worldwide, fewer than one percent make the cut.
London took the top spot. Dubai followed in second place. Rome came third, with Hong Kong and Paris rounding out the top five. Majorca, Doha, Crete, Bangkok, and Marrakech completed the top ten.
Dubai’s Dining Scene, By the Numbers
Dubai is home to over 13,000 restaurants and bars, making up around 60 per cent of all food outlets in the UAE.
What sets the city apart is its spectrum. Emirati cuisine sits comfortably alongside Indian, Levantine, East Asian, African, and European food. You can eat budget street food for lunch and book a Michelin-starred tasting menu for dinner without crossing neighbourhoods.
With more than 85 per cent of the population made up of expatriates, the variety the city offers proves to be a game changer.
Michelin Stars And Global Recognition
The Michelin Guide Dubai 2025 lists 19 starred restaurants, including three three-star venues. One standout is Trèsind Studio, the world’s only three-star Indian restaurant.
On TripAdvisor, Trèsind Studio holds a 4.5 rating from around 2,000 reviews, the largest review base among Dubai’s starred restaurants. Ossiano at Atlantis, The Palm also ranks high, pairing strong reviews with its famous underwater setting.
Nobu One Za’abeel hovers 230 metres above the city. Carbone at Atlantis The Royal brings classic New York Italian-American dining to Dubai, tableside service included.
Also Read: UAE Ranks No.1 On World’s Safest Countries List For Gen Z Travellers In 2026; Top 10 Inside!
What This Ranking Really Signals
TripAdvisor’s rankings show a shift in how travellers judge food destinations. Dubai checks every box, and the world is hungry for more.
Cover Image Courtesy: CanvaPro/@Truecreatives
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