For its first ever edition in the United Arab Emirates, Mastercard, a multinational payments and technology company, has partnered with Michelin Guide Dubai 2022 as an official sponsor.

Michelin guides are a series of guide books that have been published by the French tire company Michelin since 1900.

Beatrice Cornaccia, Senior Vice President, Marketing and Communication, EEMEA, Mastercard, says that in a culturally rich and diverse market where the love of food has become a universal language, culinary is a natural passion point for consumers in the UAE. By partnering with Michelin, which is renowned for its industry-leading standards and the constant pursuit of innovation and excellence, it is building on its legacy of providing one-of-a-kind culinary experiences to showcase the UAE’s extraordinary range of gastronomic experiences to the world.

The facial payment technology partner of Expo 2020 Dubai, Mastercard had disclosed its Cube installation at the site, which delves into the future of digital payments.

Nicolas Achard, MD of the MICHELIN Guide Asia & Middle East, said they are excited to partner with Mastercard, whose fascination for connecting people to culinary experiences matches their own. This partnership is another step in their ambition to give the best suggestion and access to the nicest dining experiences in Dubai by joining forces with the industry leaders.

Dubai is the latest addition to the MICHELIN Guide, which presently covers 37 destinations across North America, South America, Asia Pacific, and Europe. With flavours tradition that dates back over 120 years, the Michelin rating criteria for restaurants take into account five considerations: quality of ingredients, mastery of flavour and cooking techniques, the personality of the chef represented in the dining experience, harmony of flavours, and consistency between inspectors’ visits.

The list of restaurants in the first-ever Michelin Guide Dubai 2022 was finally out on June 21, 2022. With 11 MICHELIN-Starred and 14 Bib Gourmand restaurants, the first MICHELIN Guide to Dubai 2022 was released. The inaugural edition’s selection included 69 restaurants, serving 21 types of cuisine. Two restaurants received two Michelin Stars, nine restaurants received one Michelin Star, and 14 eateries were named Bib Gourmand restaurants.