Indian restaurant in Dubai receives three Michelin stars, a world first

Chef Himanshu Saini, 38, expressed his "pride" and spoke of a "great moment for Indian cuisine."

The renowned Michelin guide has awarded three stars to an Indian restaurant in Dubai, a world first for Indian cuisine. Cheers and applause greeted the announcement of this prestigious accolade for the Indian restaurant Trèsind Studio, by chef Himanshu Saini. Another Dubai establishment received three stars: FZN, by chef Björn Frantzen. No restaurant in the Gulf country had previously been awarded the red guide's top distinction.

Chef Himanshu Saini, 38, expressed his "pride" and hoped that "this will motivate young chefs to come forward." "This is a great moment for Indian cuisine," he added. Michelin's international director, Gwendal Poullennec, praised his creativity, calling him a "pioneer" who paved the way "for many other talents to join the industry in India." The wealthy Gulf emirate, 90% of whose population is made up of expatriates, is home to around 3.5 million Indian nationals.

The 20-seat establishment, with an open kitchen overlooking the Palm, a luxurious artificial island, already held two stars. It "made history by becoming the first Indian restaurant in the world to receive the guide's highest distinction," said the press release issued after the ceremony. The Michelin guide is not present in India. More and more Indian chefs are being recognized around the world, but "none have reached such a level" of excellence, its international director emphasized. Gwendal Poullennec also praised the "impressive" performance of the FZN restaurant by Björn Frantzén, which opened just months ago in the city, also on the Palm.

With over 13,000 restaurants and cafes, and more than 18.7 million tourists welcomed last year, the Gulf emirate is seeking to establish itself as a gastronomic destination. Dubai was the first Middle Eastern city to join the French guide's collection in 2022, followed later by the neighboring emirate of Abu Dhabi. Since then, the number of restaurants included in the selection has increased from 69 to 119 establishments. The 2025 list also includes three two-star restaurants and 14 one-star restaurants.