Chinese taste helps forge cooperation with Dubai

Chinese taste is playing a key role in forging deeper cooperation between China and the rest of the world, as online review platform Dianping on Monday released its 2025 Must-Eat List for Hong Kong, Macao, Taiwan and overseas regions in Dubai, the United Arab Emirates. A total of 348 restaurants made the list, including 10 local Dubai eateries — making Dubai the first city in the Middle East to host this ranking, a milestone driven by Chinese diners' growing interest in global cuisine.

The list, which prioritizes Chinese diners' taste preferences, selects high-quality restaurants labeled "delicious, affordable and experience-driven" based on real user reviews, said Mao Fang, vice-president of Meituan.

Since its launch in 2017, the list has expanded to over 3,000 cities worldwide, covering more than 100 million merchants. In 2024 alone, the platform received nearly 400 million user reviews, she said.

Currently, China and Gulf countries represented by the UAE have become important mutual tourist destinations and source markets. More and more Chinese tourists are visiting the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Oman and other nations to experience unique Arab culture and modern urban charm. Data from Dubai's Department of Economy and Tourism showed that Dubai hosted 824,000 Chinese tourists in 2024, a year-on-year increase of 31 percent.

Meituan and Dianping's data further reflects this trend: Comments about Dubai's cuisine from Chinese users soared by over 500 percent in the past year. The 10 selected Dubai restaurants on this year's list feature Arabian and Middle Eastern specialties, Chinese cuisine, African fusion dishes and American food.

Shahab Shayan, regional director for Asia-Pacific at Dubai's Department of Economy and Tourism, said: "China has always been one of Dubai's most important source markets. Through our 'China Ready' strategy, we are committed to providing a seamless experience for Chinese visitors — from visa-free access and Mandarin-speaking services to convenient digital payments. This initiative aligns closely with Dubai's D33 Economic Agenda."

As Dubai is the only city in the Middle East featured on the list, he noted that this honor reflects strong recognition from Chinese consumers. "We will leverage their digital ecosystem to connect Dubai's top catering brands with Chinese consumers and accelerate the digital transformation of local food and tourism services," he said, as his department signed a strategic Memorandum of Understanding with Meituan on dining, hospitality, attractions and other travel touchpoints.

Ou Boqian, Chinese consul-general in Dubai, framed the list as a taste-powered cooperation bridge: "It helps people understand Dubai's soul through cuisine and fosters mutual understanding. We expect more Chinese enterprises like Meituan to bring tech and cultural innovation to the UAE, boosting bilateral relations, with taste as a core link."

Beyond Dubai, the list launched in 14 new cities (including Fukuoka, Sydney and London), with first-time inclusions from the UAE, Australia, Saudi Arabia, Indonesia, the United Kingdom and Vietnam. Total selected restaurants rose by 50 percent year-on-year, with Hong Kong, Macao, Tokyo, Osaka, and Singapore topping the list — all markets where Chinese taste preferences drive culinary cooperation.

An Tianlei, in charge of Dianping's Must-Eat List, said list is created by Chinese diners and tailored to their tastes, while showcasing global flavors. "We've also launched an English version of our app to help foreign diners explore Chinese cuisine, turning taste into a two-way cooperation tool."

"The language of taste knows no borders," said Mao Fang. "The significance of the Must-Eat List goes beyond recommending good restaurants — it stimulates people's passion to explore the world and understand each other through culinary travel. We hope to build a bridge of food to enhance mutual understanding between people from China and the rest of the world.

"This list isn't just about recommending restaurants. We aim to build a food bridge that strengthens cooperation and connections between China and the world, rooted in shared culinary appreciation."