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2026 Best Restaurants Awards in UAE Sparks Chef Concerns

2/23/2026

Summary

Story summary

The World’s 50 Best Restaurants will hold the 2026 awards in November in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.
The location sparked concerns among some chefs over the UAE's human rights record.
Dominique Crenn, a prominent chef, expressed disappointment, saying the decision departs from the integrity the awards once represented.
UAE laws restrict women's rights and criminalize same-sex relationships, fueling unease.
The announcement did not trigger protests but unsettled culinary figures.

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Story summary

The World’s 50 Best Restaurants will hold the 2026 awards in November in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.
The location sparked concerns among some chefs over the UAE's human rights record.
Dominique Crenn, a prominent chef, expressed disappointment, saying the decision departs from the integrity the awards once represented.
UAE laws restrict women's rights and criminalize same-sex relationships, fueling unease.
The announcement did not trigger protests but unsettled culinary figures.