Have you ever dreamed of showcasing your culinary skills on a grand stage, competing against top chefs, and immersing yourself in Dubai’s vibrant gastronomic scene? Dubai offers a plethora of cooking competitions that cater to both amateur enthusiasts and seasoned professionals, providing the perfect platform to turn your culinary aspirations into reality.
Emirates International Salon Culinaire: A Culinary Extravaganza
The Emirates International Salon Culinaire stands as one of the most prestigious culinary competitions in the Middle East. Organized by the Emirates Culinary Guild and endorsed by Worldchefs, this event is scheduled to take place from May 21 to May 23, 2025, at the Expo Centre Sharjah. The competition features a series of practical and display-based culinary challenges, open to professional chefs, pastry chefs, cooks, bakers, and culinary students. Participants can compete individually or as part of a team, striving for excellence in various categories. To register, interested individuals can visit the Emirates Culinary Guild’s official website.
ExpoCulinaire: A Hub for Culinary Competitions
ExpoCulinaire 2025 is a dedicated event for chefs, pastry chefs, bakers, cooks, students, and professionals from the HoReCa sector. This annual three-day B2B event comprises a focused trade exhibition for the foodservice industry, the largest yearly single-entry chef competition in the world, and a unique HoReCa education platform for accredited schools and institutions in the Middle East. ExpoCulinaire is the established home of The Emirates International Salon Culinaire, making it a must-attend event for culinary professionals.
The Chef’s Table at The Hotel Show Dubai
The Chef’s Table is a prominent feature of The Hotel Show Dubai, where culinary teams from leading hotels compete over three days to produce a stunning five-course meal. Organized and managed by The Emirates Culinary Guild, this competition aims to crown the ‘Hotel Culinary Team of the Year.’ The event provides a platform for chefs to showcase their skills and creativity in a high-pressure environment.
ICCA Dubai: Customized Culinary Competitions
The International Centre for Culinary Arts (ICCA) in Dubai offers tailored culinary competitions and events for corporate brands and organizations. ICCA has successfully created and hosted some of the most engaging food-themed events in the Middle East, working with leading local and international brands. These competitions are designed to increase customer engagement, boost brand awareness, and enhance recognition in the culinary industry.
Top Chef Dubai: Amateur and Junior Competitions
Top Chef Dubai organizes amateur and junior cooking competitions, providing aspiring chefs with the opportunity to showcase their culinary talents. These competitions are designed to be fun and educational, with participants receiving guidance from experienced chefs. The events are held at Top Chef’s cooking studio, offering a professional environment for contestants to hone their skills.

Culinary Arts & Hot Kitchen Competition Seminar
For those interested in understanding the intricacies of culinary competitions, the Culinary Arts & Hot Kitchen Competition Seminar in Dubai is an invaluable resource. Scheduled for May 18, 2025, this seminar is organized by the Emirates Culinary Guild and is open to renewing judges from the UAE and new participants from outside the country. The seminar provides insights into judging criteria, best practices in competition kitchens, and tactics for achieving success in culinary contests.
Taste of Dubai: Festival with Culinary Challenges
Taste of Dubai is a renowned food festival that brings together the city’s best restaurants, chefs, and food enthusiasts. Scheduled from February 14 to 16, 2025, at the Media City Amphitheatre, the festival features numerous bands, DJs, exclusive workshops with celebrity chefs, and pop-ups from 16 of the city’s best restaurants. Attendees can participate in foodie workshops, learn new cooking techniques, and enjoy a variety of culinary delights.
Waterfront Market: Community Cooking Events
The Waterfront Market in Deira, Dubai, is known for hosting community-centric cooking events and competitions. These events often coincide with cultural celebrations, such as Diwali, and feature live cooking stations and children’s workshops. The market provides a platform for local chefs and food enthusiasts to engage with the community and showcase their culinary skills.
Young Chef Young Waiter Competition
The Young Chef Young Waiter competition is a global hospitality contest for chefs and waiters aged 28 and under. The competition aims to promote hospitality as a career, profession, and vocation. In 2021, the semi-finals and finals took place at the Marriott Aloft Creek Hotel in Dubai, with the winners announced at the UK Pavilion at Expo 2020 Dubai.
Studio One’s Amateur Chef Challenge
Studio One, an Emirati TV program, features a daily cooking segment with award-winning chefs preparing dishes for the presenters. In 2011, Studio One began a competition to find Dubai’s Best Amateur Cook, providing a platform for home cooks to showcase their culinary talents on television.
This guide was crafted by the www.few.ae team, bringing you the best of Dubai’s culinary competitions.