Loosen up those belts, foodies. Taste of Dubai kicks off this Friday and you’ll need that extra room around the midsection for all the scrumptious food you’ll gorge on. This 2025 edition too is being held at its home ground of Dubai Media City Amphitheatre from February 14-16.
This outdoor food festival is one of Dubai’s most anticipated culinary events and with good reason. The three-day event is known for a delicious programme of workshops and masterclasses by celebrity chefs, live entertainment, stalls by leading restaurants in Dubai and a chance to nosh on free food samples.
Early bird tickets of AED 75 per person are only available today, so get booking! Here’s what you’re in store.
Chefs and masterclasses at Taste of Dubai
The good news? Workshops are included in your entry ticket prices! The even better news? You’ll participate in hands-on sessions learning knife skills, and recipes and stand the heat of the kitchen under the guidance of some of the world’s top-notch chefs
Michelin-starred chef and the only man to make Gordon Ramsay cry, Marco Pierre White (Hell’s Kitchen judge), Akmal Anuar of Dubai’s feted Woodfire 11, Andalusian chef extraordinaire Dani Garcia, Demon Duck owner Alvin Leung, French pastry chef Eric Lanlard (of Cake Boy fame) and famed cookbook author Annabel Karamel are all part of the line-up.
Learn how to grill like a pitmaster at the Fire Pit, pick their brains at the Cook School experience on the nitty-gritty of recipes (how much salt is a pinch, what’s the perfect poaching technique?) and recreate their recipes step-by-step under their watchful eye at the Chefs Hub.
Restaurants at Taste of Dubai
Dubai’s 16 best restaurants (some, where reservations are hard to come by) will be accessible at Taste of Dubai. Each one of them have special curated menus of 4-5 ‘taster-sized dishes that cater to vegetarians and kids too so all age groups and dietary preferences are catered to. The restaurants also cover a variety of cuisines from Malay-Singaporean delicacies to modern European bites, Italian-Japanese fusion and gourmet fast food.
- Duck and Waffle
- Demon Duck Dubai
- City Social
- Blue Door
- Lena Dubai
- Indya by Vineet
- Harummanis
- Goldfish Sushi and Yakitori
- Osteria Funkcoolio
- Rhodes W1
- Moti Mahal
- Monno Dubai
- Miss Lily’s
- Lush Burger
- Maya by Chef Richard Sandoval
- Suma Gourmet
The dishes can be purchased at the event or through vouchers included in some ticket packages.
Unique experiences and activations
Check out and guzzle the world’s first 100% halal beer at the Majlis stand – the brand is officially launching at Taste of Dubai on February 14. Arabian craft ales, stouts and gluten-free hops are part of their offering.
Cleaning product Jif has a gas station-themed activation where they’ll clean your shoes for free AND give them a makeover at the sneaker graffiti zone. There’s a fun dance arcade game there too groove away in those pumped-up kicks and score points.
Local seafood heroes from Fujairah, Dibba Bay Oysters, have a shucking good time planned for Dubai’s gourmands with competitions, masterclasses and chef demos. See professional chefs duke it out to become master shuckers or give it go yourself at the amateur contest. They’re also running oyster pairing masterclasses and cocktail masterclasses.
Sing out loud and snap pictures at the Car Pool Karaoke booth. Full schedule of events here
Live music and entertainment
Banger music by top DJs, bands and international artists will keep you on your feet in between feasting. DJ Big Rossi, DJ Andy Swift, juggler Luis Malabara – Spain’s Got Talent winner and musical trio The Nomads are just some of the many acts to look forward to.
Kids Zones
A kids’ zap corner filled with arts and crafts like balloon making, face painting and a variety of little chefs sessions will keep tots occupied. Entry to Taste of Dubai is free for kids under the age of 12. More info here. More info here