44 GCC hotels awarded Michelin Keys 

A total of 44 hotels across the Gulf countries have been awarded Michelin Keys in the brand’s first-ever global hotel ranking, unveiled on 8 October at the Musée des Arts Décoratifs in Paris. 

Each of the six GCC states was represented, with Dubai’s Atlantis The Royal securing the region’s only Three Key distinction, one of just four across the Middle East.

Described as the hotel world’s equivalent of the Michelin Star for restaurants, the Michelin Key awards recognise the world’s most outstanding hotels in either One, Two or Three Keys, following a rigorous independent evaluation by Michelin’s inspectors on five criteria, including service excellence, architectural distinction and guest experience. 

The debut global list spans more than 2,457 properties – 143 Three-Key, 572 Two-Key and 1,742 One-Key hotels – selected from more than 7,000 establishments across North America, Europe, Asia, Oceania, Africa, and the Middle East.