A total of 51 restaurants feature in the MICHELIN Guide Saudi Arabia 2026.
11 establishments have earned the Bib Gourmand distinction, while 40 others are included in this year’s Guide.
During the celebration, 3 Special Awards were announced.

RIYADH, Saudi Arabia, Feb. 13, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The MICHELIN Guide Saudi Arabia 2026 proudly hosts the inaugural MICHELIN Guide Restaurant Celebration, celebrating the country’s wonderfully dynamic culinary landscape. This year’s selection showcases the growing sophistication and diversity of the Saudi dining scene, with 51 restaurants joining the Guide. Impressively, 11 of which have been awarded the Bib Gourmand distinction for delivering exceptional cuisine at great value, alongside 40 establishments recognized in the Selected category.

This evening marked a truly exceptional moment, as for the first time in MICHELIN Guide history the reveal unfolded in stages through a dedicated website, presented across three storytelling phases. Each theme beautifully captured the essence of the 2026 selection, spotlighting hospitality, women, and breads in Saudi Arabia, and illuminating the country’s cuisine and culture in a fresh, compelling way.

With the final wave of announcements released on December 15, the restaurant plaque distribution followed as a key moment in the celebration, delivered in partnership with the Culinary Arts Commission. Each restaurant was personally presented with its official MICHELIN plaque, a symbol of excellence allowing them to proudly display their earned distinction at their establishment’s entrance. This ceremonial handover not only honored the teams behind the restaurants but also marked the finale of months of anticipation, giving chefs and owners a tangible emblem of their achievement to share with their guests and communities.

MICHELIN distinctions are given to restaurants taking into account five universal criteria: the quality of the ingredients; the harmony of flavors; the mastery of techniques; the personality of the chef as expressed through their cuisine; and, just as importantly, consistency both across the entire menu and over time.

Special Awards

In addition to the restaurant distinctions, The MICHELIN Guide shines a spotlight on the wide-ranging contributions found across hospitality, honoring the industry’s most gifted and motivated individuals, through its Special Awards.

The Young Chef Award is presented to Riyadh’s Maiz, Chef Elia Kaady whose culinary journey began in Beirut, where he refined his skills across several restaurants before moving to Riyadh to further develop his craft. He credits his brother, also a chef, for inspiring him to pursue this path, a motivation that has helped shape his rise as one of the region’s promising young talents.

Il Baretto in Riyadh is recognized with the Exceptional Mocktail Award, a testament to the creativity and refinement led by Bar Manager Santiago Latorre. MICHELIN Guide Inspectors said the cocktail list offers a thoughtful mix of elevated classics and original signature mocktails, each crafted with an unmistakable Italian heart. Using non-alcoholic spirits, house-made cordials, and carefully prepared decoctions, the bar creates drinks that are both characterful and elegant, enhancing and elevating the restaurant’s cuisine with every sip.

Jeddah’s Yaza receives the Service Award for delivering an exceptional experience from start to finish. . Guests are warmly welcomed with Arabic coffee and dates, guided to their tables, and cared for by a knowledgeable and passionate team. The staff go out of their way to recommend and explain dishes and drinks, creating a memorable and genuinely thoughtful dining experience. This outstanding level of hospitality reflects the vision and leadership of Chef/Owner Hakim Bagabas.

Premium Mocktail Reception

The celebration debuted in Riyadh and was followed by an exclusive mocktail reception honoring the establishments’ achievements.

This dynamic culinary showcase brought together six guest chefs, including three international talents and three from the MICHELIN Guide Saudi Arabia 2026 selection. They showcased their innovative gastronomic creations during the premium mocktail reception.

Le Gabriel - La Réserve Paris, Three MICHELIN Stars, MICHELIN Guide France 2025
Muse by Tom Aikens, One MICHELIN Star, MICHELIN Guide Great Britain & Ireland 2025
Nusara, One MICHELIN Star, MICHELIN Guide Thailand 2026
The Lucky Llama, MICHELIN Bib Gourmand, MICHELIN Guide Saudi Arabia 2026
KAYZŌ, MICHELIN Bib Gourmand, MICHELIN Guide Saudi Arabia 2026
Fi Glbak, MICHELIN Bib Gourmand, MICHELIN Guide Saudi Arabia 2026

Selection at a Glance

City	Restaurant	Distinction
Riyadh	Em Sherif Café	Bib Gourmand
Riyadh	Fi Glbak	Bib Gourmand
Riyadh	KAYZŌ	Bib Gourmand
Riyadh	Mirzam	Bib Gourmand
Riyadh	Najd Village	Bib Gourmand
Riyadh	Sasani	Bib Gourmand
Riyadh	Tameesa	Bib Gourmand
Jeddah	Samia's Dish	Bib Gourmand
Jeddah	The Lucky Llama	Bib Gourmand
AlUla	Joontos	Bib Gourmand
AlUla	Tofareya	Bib Gourmand
Riyadh	Aseeb	Selected
Riyadh	Benoit	Selected
Riyadh	Café Boulud	Selected
Riyadh	Hōchō	Selected
Riyadh	Hong	Selected
Riyadh	Il Barretto	Selected
Riyadh	Julien by Daniel Boulud	Selected
Riyadh	Long Chim	Selected
Riyadh	Lusin	Selected
Riyadh	Maiz	Selected
Riyadh	MLLE	Selected
Riyadh	Namu	Selected
Riyadh	OVUN Bistro	Selected
Riyadh	Robata	Selected
Riyadh	Ruhi	Selected
Riyadh	Rüya	Selected
Riyadh	Takya	Selected
Riyadh	Taleed by Michael Mina	Selected
Riyadh	Tanjiah	Selected
Riyadh	Thara	Selected
Riyadh	The Globe	Selected
Riyadh	The Rubi Room at Hōchō	Selected
Riyadh	Tofareya	Selected
Riyadh	Villa Mamas	Selected
Riyadh	Yawmiyat By Dalal	Selected
Riyadh	Yokari	Selected
Jeddah	Fish Market	Selected
Jeddah	Karamna	Selected
Jeddah	Kuuru	Selected
Jeddah	Maritime	Selected
Jeddah	Meez	Selected
Jeddah	Myazū	Selected
Jeddah	Niyyali	Selected
Jeddah	Rasoi By Vineet	Selected
Jeddah	Tamees House	Selected
Jeddah	Toki	Selected
Jeddah	Yaza	Selected
AlUla	Harrat	Selected
AlUla	Somewhere	Selected
AlUla	Tama	Selected

Our Partners for 2026

Press Contact :

BPG Group

michelinguide@bpggroup.com

About Michelin:

Michelin is building a world-leading manufacturer of life-changing composites and experiences. Pioneering engineered materials for more than 130 years, Michelin is uniquely positioned to make decisive contributions to human progress and to a more sustainable world. Drawing on its deep know-how in polymer composites, Michelin is constantly innovating to manufacture high-quality tires and components for critical applications in demanding fields as varied as mobility, construction, aeronautics, low-carbon energies, and healthcare. The care placed in its products and deep customer knowledge inspire Michelin to offer the finest experiences. This spans from providing data- and AI-based connected solutions for professional fleets to recommending outstanding restaurants and hotels curated by the MICHELIN Guide. Headquartered in Clermont-Ferrand, France, Michelin is present in 175 countries and employs 129,800 people. (www.michelin.com).

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