Abu Dhabi Culinary Season Puts the Capital on the Global Food Map

Abu Dhabi, UAE, 31 October, 2019: The Department of Culture and Tourism - Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi) is highlighting the capital’s culinary diversity and world-class cuisine with the Abu Dhabi Culinary Season, a vibrant new food festival coming to the city from 31 October to 14 December 2019.   

The season will celebrate Abu Dhabi’s global food influences, world-class restaurants and talented chefs with tempting offers and delicious foodie-centric events. Over six weeks, diners will benefit from discounts and offers at their favourite restaurants, while three major events - Mega Mela, Taste of Abu Dhabi and World of Food Abu Dhabi - will showcase the capital’s culinary offerings, attracting both residents and visitors alike.

“Abu Dhabi Culinary Season is not only about great deals, it’s also a platform to highlight the truly spectacular food and restaurant scene that has positioned the emirate as one of the most sought-after culinary destinations in the world”, said Ali Al Shaiba, Acting Executive Director of Tourism and Marketing at DCT Abu Dhabi. “The capital is a melting pot of so many different nationalities and traditions that brings endless variety, with food as the universal language that brings cultures together. We hope that the local community and visitors to the emirate will take advantage of the fantastic events and deals on offer.”

The events coming under the umbrella of Abu Dhabi Culinary Season include Mega Mela, a flagship festival celebrating the culture and lifestyle of sub-continental Asia. The three-day event, taking place from 31 October - 2 November, will host a range of signature activities in what promises to be the largest cultural gathering of its kind in the UAE. As part of the festival, Taste of India will feature two of the sub-continent’s favourite chefs, Vicky Ratnani and Sandeep Sreedharan.

The following week, Taste of Abu Dhabi is set to transform the capital into a food and entertainment destination over three days at the du Arena on Yas Island. Taking place from 7 - 9 November, the event will feature many of the capital’s most exciting restaurants with live cooking shows, an international food sampling pavilion, and delicious Emirati flavours. Top chefs will take centre stage, including Jean Christophe Novelli, an award-winning, multi-Michelin-starred chef, TV personality and published author; Jean Torode, a hugely popular and influential figure on the UK culinary circuit; and Ayesha Al Obeidli, an 11- year-old Emirati girl who was crowned KidZania® Dubai’s 2018 Minichef when she was just nine years old.

Taste of Abu Dhabi is not just about food - international musical superstars UB 40 and Boyzlife will entertain guests with headline concerts, in addition to shows by other amazing acts such as Yeah Yeah Nah, 4THEMUSIC, and DJ Sheps.

From 5 - 9 December, World of Food Abu Dhabi will provide a fun day out for families and friends in one of the capital’s favourite parks, Umm Al Emarat. The event promises a culinary journey of funky street food, from more than a dozen countries, featuring both savoury and sweet food dishes. There will also be an exciting challenge at the Guinness World Record for creating the world’s largest variety of desserts at one time in one location.

In addition to the three main events, Abu Dhabi Culinary Season will reflect the diversity of dining options throughout the capital, from street food to haute cuisine, with some of the world’s most renowned chefs. The Tastemasters Series will celebrate Abu Dhabi’s gastronomy offerings by hosting Michelin-starred chefs across some of the city’s best restaurants. Diners will be able to enjoy bespoke signature menus and interact with the culinary geniuses behind their meal. Some of the renowned chefs who will be showcasing their skills include Andrea Monesi (at the Grand Hyatt, 19 – 23 November), Giuseppe Iannotti (at the St. Regis Nation Towers, 2 – 6 December), and Nicholas Isnard and Chef Liu Wai-Yeung (at Shangri-La Qaryat Al Beri, 30 October – 1 November and 21 – 23 November, respectively).

Meanwhile, the PitStop Promotion will let foodies explore the capital’s best premium and fine dining restaurants with special set menus and offers created by each participating outlet. For those who like to complement their meals with a bit of retail therapy, city-wide promotion Delicious Deals will see multiple restaurants across Abu Dhabi’s malls offering special meal deals to diners with exciting offers and special deals. To top off the season, a month-long raffle draw will see lucky winners enjoy yearlong residencies in some the city’s best restaurants.

For further information on Abu Dhabi Culinary Season, please visit: https://www.adculinaryseason.ae.

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Abu Dhabi Culinary Season calendar

About the Department of Culture and Tourism - Abu Dhabi:

The Department of Culture and Tourism conserves and promotes the heritage and culture of Abu Dhabi emirate and leverages them in the development of a world-class, sustainable destination of distinction, which enriches the lives of visitors and residents alike. The organization manages the emirate’s tourism sector and markets the destination internationally through a wide range of activities aimed at attracting visitors and investment. Its policies, plans and programs relate to the preservation of heritage and culture, including protecting archaeological and historical sites and to developing museums, including Zayed National Museum, Guggenheim Abu Dhabi, and the Louvre Abu Dhabi. DCT - Abu Dhabi supports intellectual and artistic activities and cultural events to nurture a rich cultural environment and honour the emirate’s heritage. A key role is to create synergy in the destination’s development through close co-ordination with its wide-ranging stakeholder base.