Dubai’s dining scene is increasingly becoming known not only for the international restaurant names it attracts, but also for the concepts being created within the city and earning recognition beyond it.
Among them is Atrangi by Ritu Dalmia, the Indian restaurant launched in Dubai in 2023, which has been named Middle East’s Best Indian Cuisine Restaurant 2026 at the World Culinary Awards.
The 2026-win marks an important milestone for Atrangi, with the World Culinary Awards recognising winners through votes from the culinary community, industry professionals and consumers. The result reflects the growing support Atrangi has built across the region and further strengthens its position within Dubai’s evolving dining scene.
The accolade follows Atrangi’s inclusion in the MICHELIN Guide Dubai for a third consecutive year, adding to the growing recognition of Dubai-born concepts within the region’s dining landscape.
For Aziz Merchant, Founder of Atrangi by Ritu Dalmia, that evolution is closely linked to the environment in which Dubai’s hospitality businesses operate.
“Atrangi was created in Dubai, and that has always been an important part of its identity. The city gives restaurateurs access to an incredibly diverse audience and an environment where ideas can be tested and developed. Recognition such as this is meaningful for us, but it also reflects the strength of Dubai’s growing homegrown dining scene.”
Atrangi was conceived with chef Ritu Dalmia around the diversity of Indian regional cuisine and a belief that some of the most meaningful food traditions begin at home. The menu draws inspiration from recipes passed down through families and grandmothers across India, bringing together familiar flavours with lesser-known regional dishes and preparations.
Located at Jumeirah Al Qasr, the restaurant translates these traditions for a contemporary, multicultural audience while keeping the sense of memory, comfort and authenticity at the heart of the concept.
Aziz also points to Dubai’s wider hospitality ecosystem as an important part of that evolution.
“Dubai has made a conscious effort to build an environment where hospitality businesses can thrive, while bringing international attention to the city’s dining scene. As locally developed brands earn wider recognition, they also become ambassadors for the city they were created in.”
As Dubai strengthens its position as a global culinary destination, its next chapter may increasingly be shaped by the concepts created within the city itself. For Atrangi, the World Culinary Awards recognition represents another milestone in that journey – and another indication that Dubai-born restaurant brands are earning a place on the wider regional dining map.
