Dubai’s food-event calendar includes restaurant set menus, pop-ups and separate ticketed festivals. For the 2026 Dubai Restaurant Week, the practical offer was AED 125 for a two-course lunch and AED 250 for a three-course dinner. It began on 1 May and was extended to 31 May. Those dates are now past. This guide separates that…
Dubai’s food-event calendar includes restaurant set menus, pop-ups and separate ticketed festivals. For the 2026 Dubai Restaurant Week, the practical offer was AED 125 for a two-course lunch and AED 250 for a three-course dinner. It began on 1 May and was extended to 31 May. Those dates are now past. This guide separates that dining promotion from other food events so an old menu or festival name does not become a mistaken current booking.
Quick Reference
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| When | Dubai Restaurant Week 2026: 1–31 May, after extension; now finished |
| Flagship event | Dubai Restaurant Week — 125+ restaurants, set menus at AED 125 (2-course lunch) / AED 250 (3-course dinner) |
| Also on | Other programmes have included Beach Canteen, Hidden Gems and AED 10 Dishes; each edition needs its own programme |
| Separate festival | Taste of Dubai — a ticketed 3-day festival at Dubai Media City Amphitheatre (Feb) |
| Info & bookings | Official Visit Dubai channels |
What Is the Dubai Food Festival?
Run by Dubai’s Department of Economy and Tourism, the Dubai Food Festival (DFF) is a city-wide celebration of the emirate’s dining scene, held each spring. It is less a single venue and more a season of activations spread across the city — the headline being fixed-price menus at restaurants that would normally cost a great deal more.
Dubai Restaurant Week — the Main Event
Dubai Restaurant Week’s 2026 promotion offered two-course lunches at AED 125 and three-course dinners at AED 250. Its original programme ran 1–17 May, then was extended to 31 May, as The National reported. For two people, the food-only listed totals were AED 250 for lunch and AED 500 for dinner. The next edition’s restaurants, prices and booking route need a fresh announcement; the 2026 offer is not a permanent menu.
Beyond Restaurant Week
Dubai’s wider food-festival coverage has included Beach Canteen, Hidden Gems and the AED 10 Dishes programme. These are separate activations with their own dates and participation, rather than automatic inclusions every time Restaurant Week returns. Our advice is to choose the specific event first. A free-entry food village, a discounted dish and a fixed-price restaurant menu have different costs and booking arrangements. Use the published programme for the edition you intend to attend.
Taste of Dubai — Not the Same Thing
Taste of Dubai is a separate ticketed festival. Its official site records the 2026 edition as 6–8 February, with food, drink and music. A ticket to that event was not a Restaurant Week reservation. For the next edition, compare the ticket’s entry and food inclusions with what you want to do on the day. We would choose Restaurant Week for a particular restaurant menu, and Taste of Dubai for a festival outing with several activities.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is the Dubai Food Festival?
Dubai Restaurant Week 2026 ran 1–31 May after an extension. The event is over; use Visit Dubai for the next announced edition.
How much are Dubai Restaurant Week menus?
Typically AED 125 for a two-course lunch and AED 250 for a three-course dinner, across 125+ participating restaurants.
Is the e& Beach Canteen free?
Beach Canteen has had free-entry editions, with food purchases separate. Check the particular edition’s official programme rather than assume a current event or ticket policy.
What is the AED 10 Dishes initiative (see also our round-up of new restaurants and bars in Dubai)?
A festival programme where participating outlets offer signature dishes for AED 10 during DFF.
Is Taste of Dubai part of the Dubai Food Festival?
No. Taste of Dubai is a separate ticketed event; its 2026 edition was held 6–8 February.
How do I book Restaurant Week?
Use the booking route published for the edition. The 2026 extension coverage directed reservations through Careem DineOut; that does not establish the next edition’s process.
Facts checked on 9 October 2026. The 2026 events described above have finished.
