Dubai's Michelin Stars: Inspectors' Insider Insights

Dubai's Michelin Guide: How Inspectors Decide, Dining 300 Times a Year

The Michelin Guide is far more than a simple restaurant list—it's a globally recognized quality benchmark that top chefs and dining establishments strive for. But how is a Michelin star decision made? What should be known about the backstage work?

Passion and profession—not just a hobby

Michelin inspectors are not just culinary enthusiasts. They are highly trained professionals who dine at restaurants at least 300 times a year—this includes both lunch and dinner. It is a full-time job that demands deep commitment, passion, and open-mindedness. Inspectors don't go to restaurants just for enjoyment: every meal is part of a precise, objective evaluation process.

Why does a restaurant lose or gain a star?

Michelin stars are never forever. Every year, all previously awarded restaurants are reevaluated, and if any place's quality drops, changes concept, or even closes, it can lose its star. It's important to note that sometimes the restaurant owners themselves decide to take a new direction, thus renouncing the Michelin rating. For example, this year, three restaurants were removed from the Dubai list that were once one-starred.

The 2025 Dubai Edition

The 2025 edition of the Dubai Michelin Guide features 119 restaurants representing 35 different cuisines. Among them, 14 places received one star, three restaurants received two, and for the first time, two Dubai restaurants won the coveted three Michelin stars. This is a huge recognition that elevates Dubai's gastronomic map to the forefront of the world.

The secrets of the inspection process

Michelin decisions are never in the hands of just one person. A restaurant is visited by several inspectors at different times to ensure consistency and fairness. In a typical week, an inspector might visit a starred place for dinner, have lunch at a Bib Gourmand (excellent value for money) restaurant, or discover a previously unknown hidden gem.

Not every meal is perfect—the inspectors experience outstanding, mediocre, and poor performances alike, all part of their job.

Anonymity is strictly guarded

One of the most interesting features of the Michelin Guide is that inspectors work in complete anonymity. In many cases, even their family members do not know what they do. Before achieving full inspector status, a new colleague undergoes 1 to 3 years of intensive training to familiarize themselves with multiple regions and cuisines.

Evaluations are conducted based on five strict, universally standardized criteria:

- the quality of the ingredients

- the mastery of cooking techniques

- the harmony of flavors

- the chef's personality expressed in the dishes

- consistency, over time and across the entire menu.

Inspectors never reveal their identities, dine like any other guest, and always pay the full price. During a given evaluation period, no inspector returns to the same restaurant twice.

Why is this important to guests?

The Michelin Guide not only holds enormous prestige for restaurants but also guarantees an excellent experience for guests. The diversity and quality of Dubai's gastronomic offerings have now reached a level that it includes two three-star places for the first time. This makes Dubai an even more attractive destination for gastronomy enthusiasts worldwide.

(Source of the article: Michelin Guide.)