Paris - France

Michelin revealed its hotel choices for the year 2026, in a new global classification that establishes the presence of the “Michelin Keys” as one of the most prominent standards for evaluating accommodation experiences around the world, with a remarkable Arab presence recorded at 107 hotels distributed between the Gulf, Morocco, Egypt and Jordan.

2,832 hotels around the world

The global list included 2,832 hotels with Michelin keys, including 155 hotels with three keys, 657 with two keys, and 2,020 with one key, after adding about 470 new hotels across 79 destinations. The classification is based on confidential and independent visits carried out by Michelin inspectors, according to criteria that include the quality of design and service, the character of the hotel, value for price, and its connection to the place in which it is located.

Morocco and the Emirates are at the forefront in the Arab world

Morocco leads the Arab world with 31 hotels, followed by the UAE with 25, then Saudi Arabia with 17, Egypt with 13, and Qatar with 11, in addition to Jordan with five hotels, three in each of Bahrain and Oman, and two hotels in Kuwait. At the highest category level, four Arab hotels received three keys: Desert Rock Resort in Saudi Arabia, Atlantis The Royal in Dubai, and Kasbah Tamadot and La Mamounia in Morocco.
Commenting on the results, Gwendal Poulenic, International Director of the Michelin Guide, said: 

The 2026 edition reflects the great momentum witnessed by the hospitality sector, as hotels are reinventing the stay experience through more personalized concepts linked to place and experience.

What does this mean for the Arab traveler?

For the Arab tourist, the “Michelin Keys” provide an additional criterion for choosing a hotel, apart from the traditional star rating, as it focuses on the quality of the complete experience. As for investors, the rise of Saudi Arabia, the Emirates, and Morocco reflects the intense competition to develop hotels based on design, local identity, and specialized experiences, not luxury alone.