The MICHELIN Guide has unveiled its 2026 hotel selection, naming 25 UAE properties as MICHELIN Key winners. The awards span Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Ras Al Khaimah, underscoring the country’s growing hospitality profile.
UAE Hotels Earn MICHELIN Keys
The UAE roster features 83 hotels in total, of which 58 are listed as selected properties and 25 receive MICHELIN Keys. The distinction breakdown includes 19 One‑Key, five Two‑Key and a single Three‑Key property.
Atlantis The Royal in Dubai retains its status as the only UAE hotel with a Three‑MICHELIN Key, marking it as an extraordinary stay. Dubai contributes 14 of the 25 Key‑awarded venues, with One&Only The Palm, Bvlgari Resort Dubai and The Lana, Dorchester Collection each holding Two‑Key status.
Abu Dhabi showcases nine Key hotels, led by Emirates Palace Mandarin Oriental Abu Dhabi, which earned Two MICHELIN Keys. Other recognised venues include Conrad Abu Dhabi Etihad Towers, ERTH Abu Dhabi Hotel, Four Seasons Hotel Abu Dhabi at Al Maryah Island, Jumeirah at Saadiyat Island Resort and Rosewood Abu Dhabi.
Ras Al Khaimah’s two Key properties are The Ritz‑Carlton Ras Al Khaimah, Al Wadi Desert (Two‑Key) and Anantara Mina Ras Al Khaimah Resort (One‑Key). These additions round out the emirate’s representation in the guide.
Global Landscape and Industry Perspective
Worldwide, the MICHELIN Guide now covers more than 9,400 hotels, including 2,832 MICHELIN Key properties. The global tally comprises 155 Three‑Key, 657 Two‑Key and 2,020 One‑Key hotels, with over 2,200 new entries added since the October 2025 announcement.
In Asia and the Middle East, the 2026 selection lists 600 MICHELIN Key hotels, featuring 173 new Keys and 34 Three‑Key venues. The guide also expands into Mongolia, Myanmar, Armenia and Kazakhstan for the first time.
“This second global selection of the MICHELIN Keys reflects the extraordinary momentum driving the hospitality sector once again this year. With nearly 470 newly distinguished establishments, we are witnessing a continuous upscaling of the offering, driven by even more creative and ambitious projects.”
— Gwendal Poullennec, International Director of the MICHELIN Guide
The guide did not specify the exact criteria used to award the Keys, leaving the assessment process opaque to the public.