If we were to measure the quality of a hotel not by stars but by 'keys', the UAE has made it to this list 25 times this year.

The Michelin Guide, in selecting the hotels for 2026, has introduced a total of 82 hotels from Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and Ras Al Khaimah, of which 58 are making their debut on this list.

Among the 25 winning Michelin key hotels, 19 received one key, five received two keys, and only one hotel received three keys; Atlantis Royal Dubai remains the only three-key hotel in the UAE.

In Dubai, besides Atlantis Royal, hotels like One&Only The Palm, Bulgari Resort Dubai, and The Lana have received two Michelin keys. In Abu Dhabi, Emirates Palace Mandarin Oriental received two keys, and in Ras Al Khaimah, Ritz-Carlton Al Wadi Desert is at the same level.

This list is not limited to urban hotels, as desert and island resorts like Al Maha and Anantara Qasr Al Sarab in the Liwa Desert are also among the selected.

The 'Michelin Key' was introduced in 2024 as a hotel evaluation system for this guide, similar to Michelin stars for restaurants; however, here the overall quality of the stay experience is assessed, from design and service to the personality and experience the hotel creates for guests.

Globally, the 2026 Michelin list now includes over 9,400 hotels, of which 2,832 have at least one key.
Source: Gulf News