Putting culture on the menu in Dubai
With the growth of a strong homegrown culinary scene, Dubai’s food offering is changing. And with it comes the chance for international association events to serve up exciting ways for delegates to discover a sense of place and a taste of the local heritage and culture
Dubai’s diverse and eclectic food scene is a big draw for delegates. But it also offers international association event organisers the opportunity to incorporate different cultures into their event planning with a focus on the food and beverage offer.
With 200-plus nationalities, Dubai’s culinary choices are exceptionally varied. And the recent exciting developments have been away from the celebrity glamour of fine dining and become more reflective of the traditional culture and hospitality of the UAE.
Serving up local heritage
A traditional meal at the Sheikh Mohammed Centre for Cultural Understanding is highly recommended. Located at Dubai Creek, it has been designed as a place to welcome visitors to taste local food while learning about the culture and heritage of Dubai. With its motto: Open doors, open minds, questions and discussion with a local Emirati are encouraged. It can help to engender cultural intelligence for participants and provides a fascinating experience in this heritage area of the city.
Large groups can experience the majesty of the desert at an atmospheric tented camp. Arrive by jeep to dine under the stars and taste local foods while enjoying traditional music by the light of lanterns and open fires. Lots of activities can be added from camel rides, henna tattoos and jewellery stalls.
For a taste of new and old Dubai, delegates can be encouraged to head to the neighbourhood of Karama. Here they’ll find the street food-inspired SS Bucket Biryani, Little China, Amaravathi and Time Out Award-winning Indian Calicut Paragon as well as fine dining at Brasserie Boulud.
A chilled and stylish beach club could be the perfect place to encourage networking while feasting on dishes from around the world. Many of Dubai’s hotels can offer a similar buffet-style networking evening with other cultural activities included.
With a little thought, the food and beverage offering at an event can give delegates a flavour of many cultures in one destination.
MICHELIN milestone
While spectacular fine dining may be only one ingredient on the list, the introduction of the MICHELIN Guide to Dubai in 2022 marked an important moment for the city. And it’s interesting to see that it came about largely thanks to the thriving homegrown food scene rather than the work of celebrity chefs.
“We never had any doubt about Dubai’s culinary potential, and this year this fascinating destination confirms its gastronomic appeal,” says Gwendal Poullenec, International Director of the MICHELIN Guides. “Dubai boasts many diverse culinary concepts, from Peruvian to Emirati, modern French, traditional British to contemporary Japanese, ensuring that everyone feels at home here. We’re so pleased to witness its gastronomic growth on an international scale.”
The first city in the region to feature its own MICHELIN Guide, the 2023 selection ranks 56 restaurants: 17 have been awarded a Bib Gourmand (which recognises restaurants providing exceptional value-for-money experiences), 11 received a MICHELIN Star and three - Il Ristorante – Niko Romito at the Bulgari Resort Dubai, STAY by Yannick Alléno at the One&Only The Palm and Trèsind Studio serving Indian cuisine on Palm Jumeirah - received two MICHELIN Stars.
Diversity and sustainability
Increasingly popular are the Food Halls opening around the city, ideal for dinearounds where participants can mingle while they choose the type of food they fancy. The Time Out Market Dubai, for instance, showcases 17 food concepts developed by some of the city’s best local restaurants in Downtown Dubai.
And, in typical Dubai style, located nearby is spectacular fine dining at At.mosphere, the world’s highest restaurant located on the 122nd floor of the Burj Khalifa, as well as Ting Irie, a Jamaican restaurant and lounge.
Many restaurants and catering companies are making big efforts to reduce their carbon footprint, cut food waste and donate to food banks. Renowned for the quality of its catering, the Dubai World Trade Centre, for instance, has implemented measures to reduce food wastage and is working with the UAE Food Bank. It is home to the 145,000 sqm Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre, where many of the city’s major events take place.
Two restaurants have recently been awarded a MICHELIN Green Star, which highlight gastronomic experiences that adopt an environmentally inspiring approach. Boca, offering wonderful Mediterranean cuisine, follows a commended sustainable ethos while Teible is known for showcasing seasonal, local ingredients combined with innovation and simplicity.
Dubai was declared the world’s fourth-best destination for food lovers in Tripadvisor’s Choice Awards 2022, ranking above Barcelona, New York, Bangkok and Singapore by its visitors. And it ranked so highly not just because of the quality on offer at different price points but the sheer variety. It really does provide huge opportunities for international association events to spice up their programmes.
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