The Michelin Guide is launching in Dubai

The Michelin Guide is launching in Dubai, with its first selection coming this year 

The Guide has partnered with the Dubai Corporation for Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DCTCM) to set up its inspectors in the country, and will reveal its selection of restaurants later in the year. 

In a statement, the tyre company said that Dubai has "developed a very interesting dining culture" due to it becoming "one of the world’s most diverse business and travel destinations."

The news will likely be cause for discussion within the industry, as the company has often been called out for operating in particular locations on the basis of profitability, rather than a preponderance of good restaurants. 

The Michelin Guide operates in 25 countries, but excludes locations such as South Africa, Canada and Australia, despite their vibrant restaurant industries.

Many of the places the Guide has set up are mostly either locations in Europe or trading hubs in East Asia, including Hong Kong and Singapore, the Taiwanese cities of Taipei and Taichung.

In 2019, the Guide was paid $600,000 dollars by the local tourism board to release a guide for the state of California in the United States.

It is a known fact that Michelin is good for tourism and, with the company working so closely with Dubai's tourism board, it seems plausible that money changed hands to get Michelin to Dubai. It is perhaps worth noting that the U.A.E is the third richest country in the world behind Qatar, its nearby neighbour, and Luxembourg (a location the Guide already covers).

However, recent actions by Michelin do suggest that the company doesn't just care about money - as its recent decision to Russia suggests some sense of moral duty (or savvy public relations strategy).

On a slightly less jaded note, Michelin publishing a guide for Dubai might also introduce the world to styles and flavours of food less often seen on the world stage, which can only be seen as a positive in the restaurant world.

What are your feelings on the Michelin Guide's announcement? Let us know in the comments below!