It is all about the mix when it comes to this big winner. Mastering the true art of combining different cuisines, this category is dedicated to restaurants that have managed to strike the perfect balance between foods from around the world. The Leading Fusion Restaurant will create awe-inspiring dining experiences for guests – while staying true to the essence of each cuisine and highlighting some of its most defining characteristics.

Looking for tasty sips or quick bites? Cafés in the region are one step ahead when it comes to solid offerings – the beating heart of the dining scene. Known for some of the best spots, the Middle East has brought extra flair and attention to detail to the concept, and that is why we will be awarding whoever has done it best this year in this important category.

This award celebrates a Middle Eastern restaurant that delivers authentic dishes, and whose atmosphere and experience takes diners on a cultural exploration of exceptional flavours and traditions of the Middle East.

We are looking for the best Indian restaurant in the region. From taste to design, this award will honour the restaurant that best captures the rich flavours of Indian cuisine while taking guests on a cultural journey.

A continent incredibly rich and diverse when it comes to different cultures and cuisines. This award honours a restaurant that has truly brought the distinctive aromas and traditions of East Asia to the Middle East.

When choosing a restaurant, food, price, and location are all key, but many have added another layer – this award goes to the best-themed restaurant in the region that has gained popularity with its out-of-this-world uniqueness.

Hygiene in restaurants is of paramount importance. This award goes to the restaurant that displays impeccable hygiene that goes above and beyond standard guidelines.

The restaurant that wins this award demonstrates a true understanding of what it means to work with the land and takes its commitment to the environment seriously. We are looking for a restaurant that has the highest environmental and social responsibility practices and ratings.

From superior kid-friendly cuisine to indoor play spaces and edutainment offerings, this award goes to a restaurant that prides itself on being a family favourite for every parent, teen, and especially child.

This award celebrates the best ranking fast-food chain in the region, from quality, service, revenue, and reach.

Tacos, tortillas, chips and guac– from cuisine to ambience we will be crowning the best Mexican restaurant in the region.

With so many sushi options to choose from, which one is the region’s most wanted? We are looking for the most successful sushi chain in the region from revenue to rankings.

Veganism is one of the most popular trends in F&B right now, this award recognises the vegan restaurant that has brought a unique concept to the market giving consumers a delicious plant-based experience.

Always a tricky task, the Catering Company of the Year will have built an outstanding reputation as the region’s leading caterer. From organisation to communication, its success, backed by the expertise of its staff, is the basis for some of the region’s finest experiences, guaranteed to impress any palate. Attention to detail, coupled with unrivalled customer service, is what makes this company the winner of this award.

This award goes to the best supplier of plant-based meat in the region in terms of quality, range, and availability.

Cinema food is no longer just popcorn and candy. Cinemas have elevated their F&B offerings and expanded their reach beyond just the movies. This award recognises the best cinema menu.

This award category recognises the top foodtech company across all business operations and segments, including creativity in the solution created, the positive impact it has had on society and food security in the region, and the best use of technology coupled with a stellar customer experience offering.

This company will have continued to go from strength to strength, confounding the headwinds it faces with an innovative and dynamic approach to business, which has driven consistent sales growth.

This award recognises innovative, new, or updated products and services which exemplify a company’s adaptability and resilience in three categories: sustainability, technology, and safety and health.

It has been a massive year for delivery, as all aggregators competed to win the hearts (and tummies) of hungry diners. A smooth, hassle-free experience is at the heart of successful delivery platform operations. Not only will the winner offer a user-friendly interface, but it will also ensure unmatched service from the moment customers sign in all the way to post-delivery assistance and complaint management.

The supply chain is an important element in the hotel and catering industry. They keep every shelf stocked and provide vital services to all businesses. This award will be given to the company that displays excellence in supplying goods or services to the foodservice sector while delivering value to its clients and performing services that exceed expectations.

Capitalising on the delivery-only customer, the winning cloud kitchen concept saw an opportunity for growth, supported the restaurant industry, and allowed new chefs to enter the food industry without any difficulty.

This award honours the best use of traditional and digital media in a marketing campaign by a food and beverage brand. Campaign objectives may include the launch of a new product, the opening of a restaurant, the promotion of a sustainable food brand and more.

We are looking for a service operator that has a set of award-winning food and beverage manufacturing/packing/delivering practices that aim to minimise food hazards through safe and clean operations that protect public health.

This award goes to the F&B brand be it a service or product provider, that has created and implemented creative sustainability strategies and practices that have a strong impact on the environment.

The maestro of it all, bringing all elements of the dining experience together, the Leading Hotel F&B Director award highlights the achievements of an individual who has demonstrated an exceptional ability to exceed KPIs, streamlining operational processes, developing and enhancing restaurant concepts and maintaining excellence in team leadership and management.

There is no restaurant without the chef, and we send our compliments to those who have made our table as appealing and unique as can be. Open to head chefs and executive chefs, the Chef of the Year Award recognises an individual who has shown passion for the art of cooking, in addition to culinary flair and a strong skillset pertaining to overseeing kitchen operations efficiently while managing costs.

The Middle Eastern scene boasts some of the most beautiful, artistic creations in the world of pastry. The Pastry Chef of the Year is a master of his craft, with a strong grasp of the fundamentals, as well as a flair for new techniques and sourcing quality ingredients. Their creations are the talk of the town, consistently exceeding expectations with a “wow” factor.

With remarkable achievements at a young age, this recipient is a force to be reckoned with. Under 30 years old, the winner of this award is a young pioneer has made headlines in the Middle East’s competitive F&B scene with an exciting new restaurant or catering concept, an innovative F&B tech platform or a supply chain or food service solution.

The heavyweight means business and business here is that of the dynamic F&B industry. A CEO of a restaurant group with a well-known brand, or a number of ventures, under their leadership, the F&B Heavyweight will be handling a portfolio of more than ten outlets in the GCC with a pipeline of openings in the near future reflecting strength and popularity.

There is nothing like a good coffee! The Barista of the Year will know the formula that works – and work it into the menu. From cappuccinos, to flat whites, ask any coffee lover and they will tell you, they are a force to be reckoned with.

Armed with the best ingredients and a flair for good beverages, the Barista of the Year has a deep understanding of flavour combinations that work. They are familiar with the classics and are not afraid to experiment, all while successfully managing their time and maintaining outstanding customer service as well as teamwork skills.

The UAE and region are home to some of the most dynamic teams in the industry, most of which have endured extra pressure during the pandemic. An F&B team who consistently demonstrates operational excellence and exceptional productivity along with attention to detail, the winning service team will have full control over internal communication and customer service.

Putting the brand out there and measuring success while gauging demand for newer offerings, a marketeer understands the market and can predict any obstacles or challenges – and formulate strategies and solutions to overcome them. The F&B Marketeer will have a clear vision when it comes to conceptualising, planning and implementing effective F&B campaigns.

With one of the most hands-on roles in the industry, the Restaurant General Manager of the Year is responsible for a very successful restaurant brand born in the Middle East or abroad; they will be wellversed in the ins and outs of running a restaurant and boast a strong business acumen.

The star of the stars, a visionary, the F&B Entrepreneur thinks across the board. From manpower to taking over the market, they bring new ideas to the table with their concepts, ensuring their model achieves the desired success rates and targets in no time. Who has made it to the top in the industry’s most challenging years?

From creating and maintaining the best public image for their brands to constantly and effectively communicating key information and finding opportunities for their brands to shine, this award honours the F&B PR manager of the year.

Managing and maintaining food and beverage operations, standards, budgets, and more - this award acknowledges the one who oversees the big picture of their organisation and keeps all things running smooth.

The Bar Manager of the Year Award recognising and rewards the hugely significant role that Bar Managers play in every successful licensed outlet.