What’s On Abu Dhabi Awards 2027 Opens Registration with Six New Categories

The What’s On Abu Dhabi Awards have returned for 2027, with registration now open for venues across the capital. The annual programme recognises the city’s most popular dining, hospitality and entertainment spots, from unique restaurant concepts and brunches to high teas and nightlife destinations.

Venues in Abu Dhabi—including restaurants, hotels and event spaces—can submit their entries through the awards’ official registration page. The winners are determined solely by public vote, with no expert panels or secret formulas influencing the outcome.

Six New Categories Added

The 2027 edition introduces six new categories: Favourite Beach Bar, Favourite Restaurant Bar, Favourite Happy Hour, Favourite Business Lunch: Hotel, Favourite Pizzeria, and Favourite Specialty Coffee. These additions bring the total number of publicly voted awards to 41. An additional four Editor’s Choice Awards will be presented on the night, selected by a judging panel. The Editor’s Choice categories are What’s On Homegrown Restaurant of the Year, What’s On Chef of the Year, What’s On Newcomer of the Year, and What’s On Restaurant of the Year.

Full Category List

The awards are divided into four main sections. Under Entertainment & Leisure, categories include Favourite Spa, Favourite Luxury Staycation, Favourite Beach Hotel, Favourite Pool and Beach, Favourite Bar, Favourite Sundowner Spot, Favourite Ladies’ Night, Favourite Beach Bar (new), Favourite Restaurant Bar (new), Favourite Happy Hour (new), Favourite Sports Bar, Favourite Concert, Festival or Show, Favourite Sporting Event, and Favourite Attraction.

The Food Concepts section covers Favourite Afternoon Tea, Favourite Café, Favourite Business Lunch: Independent, Favourite Business Lunch: Hotel (new), Favourite Pub Grub, Favourite Burger, Favourite Pizzeria (new), Favourite Breakfast, and Favourite Specialty Coffee (new).

Casual Restaurants include Favourite Brunch: Independent, Favourite Brunch: Hotel, Favourite Casual All-Day Dining Restaurant, Favourite Casual Asian Restaurant, Favourite Casual Indian Restaurant, Favourite Casual Italian Restaurant, Favourite Casual Mediterranean Restaurant, Favourite Casual Middle Eastern Restaurant, Favourite Casual Seafood Restaurant, and Favourite Casual Steakhouse Restaurant.

Fine Dining Restaurants feature Favourite Fine Dining All-Day Dining Restaurant, Favourite Fine Dining Asian Restaurant, Favourite Fine Dining Indian Restaurant, Favourite Fine Dining Italian Restaurant, Favourite Fine Dining Mediterranean Restaurant, Favourite Fine Dining Middle Eastern Restaurant, Favourite Fine Dining Seafood Restaurant, and Favourite Fine Dining Steakhouse Restaurant.

How to Participate

Each year, hundreds of venues—from new openings to longstanding favourites—submit their names for consideration. The awards ceremony draws chefs, restaurateurs, mixologists and nightlife figures for a celebration of the city’s hospitality scene. The event also serves as an opportunity for the industry to come together and set benchmarks for the year ahead. A full list of the 2026 winners is available online. Venues can register via the awards portal.