Dubai, UAE; 12 February 2018:   Dubai’s annual citywide culinary celebration, Dubai Food Festival (DFF), is set to return this year from 22 February to 10 March – serving up an enticing feast of events, activities and promotions across the city. Back for its fifth edition, the 17-day programme showcases the variety of dining options available across Dubai and provides an opportunity for foodies to try some of the best gastronomic experiences the city has to offer.

 

Residents and visitors alike are invited to grab a plate and tuck in: whether an exquisite gourmet meal at one of Dubai’s finest restaurants, a delicious meal from a new food concept at the beach, or a snack at a small eatery they’ve not heard about yet. The celebration of food will come to life with a whole host of tasty events across the city, including the trendy Street Nights, family-friendly Kite Festival, or the culinary star-studded Taste of Dubai.

 

Ahmed Al Khaja, CEO, Dubai Festivals and Retail Establishment (DFRE), an agency of the Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (Dubai Tourism), and organisers of the festival, said: “Dubai Food Festival has been instrumental in establishing Dubai as a culinary destination both within the region and across the world, and we are delighted to celebrate its fifth edition this year. From luxury dining to food trucks, local Emirati delicacies to a world of flavours, Dubai Food Festival has it all, and we look forward to bringing together people from across different cultures and tastes – all in the name of food.”

 

With celebrations taking place all over the city, Dubai Food Festival also brings back key highlights including Etisalat Beach Canteen, Dubai Restaurant Week, Hidden Gems, and Dine & Win promotion.

 

 

The festival’s flagship event returns this year and will be located Jumeirah Beach behind Sunset Mall, serving up delicious food and exciting activities for the entire family. The free-to-attend beachside hang out will run through the duration of the festival and is set to welcome new home-grown restaurants such as Bait Maryam and Zapiekanka as well as Poke Poke; Hub 1833; and Nablus, known for its artisan Kanafeh.

 

Budding chefs can brush up on their cooking skills at different masterclasses at Etisalat Beach Canteen, while those looking to find their inner zen can take part in morning XYoga sessions followed by a delightful breakfast by the beach. Adding to the bustling atmosphere at the beachside location is a line-up of quirky food trucks like Maiz Tacos, fun activities for little ones, live music and comedy shows.

 

The Etisalat Beach Canteen also serves as a festival hub, selling tickets to all key Dubai Food Festival events, as well as providing visitors with more information on the 17-day programme. 

 

This year’s Beach Canteen is sponsored by Etisalat, along with Citibank as a key sponsor, and Mai Dubai and L’Occitane as support sponsors.

 

 

The crème de la crème of Dubai’s fine dining scene take centre stage at Dubai Restaurant Week, with 15 high-end restaurants across the city offering a limited-edition 3-course menu for only AED 199. Exclusively available from 22 February to 3 March, the meals offer world-class dining experiences with spectacular views of Dubai.

 

Favourites such as Scape Restaurant and Lounge and Gordon Ramsay’s Bread Street Kitchen are back with scrumptious new menus, while new culinary gems like folly by Nick & Scott, LIMA Dubai and Toro + Ko are set to tantalise taste buds with their fresh new takes on Peruvian and Spanish cuisine. Guests can also take in the view of the iconic Burj Khalifa and the Dubai Fountains as they cut into delicious Argentinian steaks at Asado, or the glitzy Dubai Marina while at Asia Asia in Pier 7, or enjoy gazing across the Arabian Gulf when dining at Pai Thai. 

 

The limited-edition menus for all 15 restaurants participating in Dubai Restaurant Week are available to book in advance exclusively on the RoundMenu website and app, with sittings at both 7pm and 9pm for groups of 2 to 10 people. Seats are filling up fast, with Scape already selling out on the first night of Dubai Restaurant Week, so diners are encouraged to book now to avoid disappointment. There is also an opportunity to win a luxury staycation in the city for people who make repeat and group bookings. 

 

 

Inviting residents of Dubai to speak from the heart (and stomach), Hidden Gems highlights hitherto undiscovered eateries across the city. Spanning traditional Emirati food and authentic ethnic delights in both Old and New Dubai, along with small boutiques that offer a taste of home, 35 independent venues were shortlisted and nominated for public voting earlier this year. 

 

The top 10 Hidden Gems as voted by the public were announced last week. Throughout Dubai Food Festival, these top 10 restaurants are set to offer a one-day only special deal, where diners can enjoy a two-course meal for only AED 25 per person.

 

 

The festival truly goes citywide with DFF’s ‘Dine & Win’ promotion, returning this year after a successful inaugural run in 2017. In partnership with Zomato and Dubai Shopping Malls Group, Dine & Win gives residents and visitors the opportunity to win big if they dine at any participating restaurants in select malls across the city. Customers dining during DFF and spending a minimum of AED 50 will receive a raffle coupon that will entitle them to enter a lucky draw to win multiple prizes. 

 

Above and beyond this, there are several other exciting partner events like the Dubai Street Nights, Taste of Dubai, Dubai International Kite Fest, Thai Street Food Festival at The Backyard, Cafe Society: Beat the Chef competition, etc, which would give foodies another opportunity to participate in the festival. The full list is given below. 

 

Event	Date and timing	Location
Bleu Blanc: Chef's Table with David Myers	22-24 February; 7pm	Bleu Blanc by David Myers, Renaissance Downtown Hotel
Streets of India - Bollywood Food Bazaar	22 - 24 February: 3pm - 10pm	Dubai Parks and Resorts
Boutique Le Chocolat Masterclasses	City walk: 23 Feb, 2 Mar, 9 Mar 12pm - 3pm - 6pm Beach Canteen: 24 Feb, 3 Mar, 10 Mar 5:30pm	City Walk and Etisalat Beach Canteen
Dubai Street Nights	1 - 3 March: 6pm	Al Seef
Street Social	2 March;	all-day Marina Social
Arabian Nights at Ewaan	7 March: 7pm - 11:30pm	Ewaan, The Palace Downtown Dubai
Taste of Dubai	8 March: 4pm - 12am 9 and 10 March: 12pm – 12am	Dubai Media City
Dubai International Kite Fest	8 - 10 March: 11am - 9pm	Etisalat Beach Canteen
Dubai Street Food Awards	10 March	Etisalat Beach Canteen
The Urban Farm at Cuisinero Uno	23 Feb, 2 March, 9 March: 12pm-2pm	Steigenberger Hotel, Business Bay
Thai Street Food Festival at The Backyard	24 February, 3 March, 10 March: 5pm - 11pm	Steigenberger Hotel, Business Bay
Ripe Market	Fridays: 9am - 4pm Saturdays: 12pm - 9pm	Fridays:  Zabeel Park, Gate 3 Saturdays: Al Barsha Pond Park
Cafe Society: Beat the Chef competition	Sundays and Wednesdays: 2 - 5pm	Tamani Marina Hotel, Dubai Marina