The MICHELIN Guide has unveiled its 2026 hotel selection, featuring 82 properties across Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Ras Al Khaimah and the Liwa Desert. Of these, 58 are new additions to the selection, and 25 hotels were awarded a coveted MICHELIN Key.
The UAE's Key hotels break down into 19 One Key properties, five Two Key hotels, and a single Three Key hotel: Atlantis The Royal in Dubai, which retains its status as the country's only property to hold the guide's top distinction.
Dubai claims the largest share of Two Key hotels, including One&Only The Palm, Bvlgari Resort Dubai and The Lana, Dorchester Collection, alongside Atlantis The Royal. In Abu Dhabi, Emirates Palace Mandarin Oriental topped the capital's list with two Keys.
Introduced in 2024, the MICHELIN Key rates the overall quality of a hotel stay much as MICHELIN Stars rate restaurants. Globally, the Key selection now spans more than 9,400 properties, with over 2,800 holding at least one Key. Nine hotels worldwide earned the maximum Three Keys this year, including properties in Saudi Arabia, Morocco, South Africa and India alongside Atlantis The Royal — underscoring Dubai's continued rise as a global luxury hospitality hub.