The FACT Dining Awards Abu Dhabi ceremony took place on Thursday, 30 October, live from InterContinental Abu Dhabi.
The FACT Dining Awards Abu Dhabi ceremony took place on Thursday, 30 October, live from InterContinental Abu Dhabi.
31 October 2025, Abu Dhabi, UAE – The eleventh annual FACT Dining Awards Abu Dhabi took place on Thursday, 30 October at the picturesque waterfront setting of InterContinental Abu Dhabi. A total of 49 awards were handed out across 25 categories, celebrating over 200 nominees, with more than 55,000 unique online votes cast by the public.
This year’s event saw Abu Dhabi’s food and beverage industry come together to honour the best in the capital. Around 300 guests gathered for a lively evening of delicious canapés and free-flowing drinks. Marking its eleventh anniversary, the FACT Dining Awards once again highlighted the growing success of FACT Magazine in the capital.
The event drew a prominent crowd from the capital’s hospitality scene, including top general managers, F&B directors, chefs, marketing and PR professionals, industry insiders, and social media influencers. Known for its relaxed and enjoyable atmosphere, the awards ceremony was hosted by DJ Saif, who announced all 49 winners to enthusiastic cheers.
Edward Smith, Publishing Director of FACT Magazine FZ LLC, reflected on the milestone: “It’s hard to believe we’re now in our eleventh year with the FACT Dining Awards. Abu Dhabi’s food scene has expanded rapidly, and we are thrilled to recognise both new venues and established classics at this event, which has become a key date on the city’s hospitality calendar.”
He added, “We are deeply honoured to host another successful event that has become the definitive platform for recognising excellence across Abu Dhabi’s food and beverage sector.”
Smith also noted that the turnout this year was one of the best in the region. He expressed gratitude to all nominees, winners, and sponsors—
African & Eastern, Bash Events, Classic Fine Foods, Dibba Bay Oysters, InterContinental Abu Dhabi, Italtouch, La Tartine, Lyre’s, Moak, OmnyCom, Roc4Life, Sama Kuxury Catering, The Acai Spot and Transmed—whose contributions made the event possible. “We’re excited to return next year with even more surprises and new venues to celebrate.”
The FACT Dining Awards recognise excellence across the food and beverage industry, with winners determined by both public votes and critics’ opinions. Each category features two accolades: the BEST (the critics’ choice, decided by the FACT editorial team and an independent panel of industry experts) and the FAVOURITE (decided via online public vote).
Notable honours included Best Newcomer, awarded to Barbassi in Mina Zayed, and Favourite Newcomer, which went to Blu Pizzeriá at Saadiyat Island. NIRI Restaurant & Bar at Mamsha Al Saadiyat received the prestigious Restaurant of the Year award for the third year in a row. Other big winners were restaurants located in five-star hotels such as Emirates Palace Mandarin Oriental, Four Seasons Hotel Abu Dhabi, Rosewood Abu Dhabi, and The St. Regis Saadiyat Island Resort, alongside homegrown success stories such as Antonia and Marmellata.
Social media buzzed with excitement as Abu Dhabi’s dining elite shared their experiences on Instagram and TikTok, with the FACT team offering behind-the-scenes glimpses via InstaStories on @factmagazines.
Next month will see the ninth annual FACT Dining Awards in Dubai, followed by the third FACT Dining Awards Riyadh in Saudi Arabia.
The FACT Dining Awards are part of a broader initiative by FACT Magazine FZ LLC, with popular dining awards also held in Bahrain, Dubai, London Qatar, and Riyadh.
