In the world of great restaurants, the spotlight usually falls on chefs, menus, and dining rooms. Yet behind every unforgettable meal is a quieter force at work: the systems that keep operations smooth, teams aligned, and guest experiences consistent. In 2026, as Abu Dhabi hosts MENA’s 50 Best Restaurants, that invisible layer steps into the spotlight, with Foodics participating as the event’s official technology partner.
A Culinary Landmark Returns to Abu Dhabi
On February 3, 2026, the MENA region’s most celebrated chefs, restaurateurs, and hospitality leaders will gather in Abu Dhabi for the main awards ceremony of MENA’s 50 Best Restaurants. The ceremony sits at the heart of a week‑long culinary celebration, running from January 31 to February 5, filled with collaborative dinners, immersive brunches, and industry conversations.
Events such as 50 Best Signature Sessions, Flavours of 50 Best, and 50 Best Talks transform the awards into a living platform — one where ideas are exchanged, partnerships are formed, and the future of dining in the region is actively shaped.
Abu Dhabi’s return as host further cements its role as a global culinary destination: a city that brings together heritage, ambition, and world‑class hospitality infrastructure.
More Than a Ranking: What MENA’s 50 Best Represents
MENA’s 50 Best Restaurants is not simply a list. It is a reflection of how far the region’s food scene has evolved — and how confidently it now speaks to the world.
Voted on by a panel of anonymous industry experts from across the region, the ranking celebrates restaurants that excel not only in creativity, but also in consistency, leadership, and impact. For restaurants, inclusion on the list often marks a turning point: increased global visibility, heightened expectations, and accelerated growth.
As the industry matures, one reality becomes increasingly clear — excellence at this level is built on extraordinary culinary talent, supported by the right tools and systems.
Why Technology Belongs at the Table
Today’s top restaurants operate in an environment of rising complexity. Multiple revenue channels, high guest expectations, advanced reporting needs, and tighter margins demand systems that are as refined as the cuisine itself.
This is where Foodics’ role as technology partner becomes deeply relevant.
Foodics has spent the last decade building a restaurant management ecosystem designed specifically for the realities of the MENA market: combining operational control, payments, insights, and scalability under one platform. At an event that celebrates the very best in dining, Foodics represents the infrastructure that allows excellence to scale and sustain.
Foodics on the Ground: Experience, Conversation, and Connection
At MENA’s 50 Best Restaurants 2026, Foodics will host an activation booth designed as a point of discovery rather than display.
Attendees will be able to explore Foodics’ solutions up close, see how modern restaurant technology supports premium operations, and engage directly with the team behind the platform.
A key highlight of Foodics’ presence will be the “Scoop Interviews” — short, insightful conversations with chefs, restaurateurs, and industry figures attending the event. These interviews will capture authentic perspectives from the people shaping the region’s dining culture, and will be shared across Foodics’ social channels, extending the event’s impact well beyond the venue itself.
Hosted by Katie Overy, the interviews and on‑site conversations will add a human, dynamic layer to Foodics’ participation: one that reflects the industry’s voice rather than speaking over it.
Thought Leadership Beyond the Kitchen
The return of 50 Best Talks highlights another essential truth — the future of restaurants will be shaped as much by ideas as by ingredients.
Discussions around sustainability, guest experience, operational resilience, and innovation are increasingly central to the industry’s evolution. Foodics’ presence aligns naturally with these conversations, positioning technology not as a replacement for creativity, but as its enabler.
When operations run smoothly, teams focus better. When insights are clear, decisions improve. When systems scale, creativity has room to grow.
What This Partnership Signals to Restaurants Across MENA
Foodics’ participation as a technology partner sends a clear signal to restaurant owners across the region: the tools used by the best are no longer optional — they are foundational.
Whether running a single neighborhood restaurant or a growing hospitality group, operators can draw lessons from the industry’s top performers. Behind every standout concept is a disciplined approach to operations, data, and execution.
Foodics exists to bridge that gap between ambition and achievement.
Beyond February 3rd: A Long‑Term Vision
While the awards ceremony takes place on February 3rd, Foodics’ commitment to the industry extends far beyond a single night.
The conversations captured, the insights shared, and the connections made during MENA’s 50 Best Restaurants 2026 will continue to shape how restaurants think about growth, technology, and guest experience throughout the year.
As Abu Dhabi welcomes the region’s culinary leaders once again, Foodics is proud to be part of the ecosystem that helps great restaurants thrive and become exceptional businesses.
