How we shortlist the best businesses in Dubai
How My Dubai Best's editors build each ranking: every community, a lasting good name, confirmed locations and timings, service standards and Ramadan hours.
Dubai grows quickly and its population changes constantly, so word of mouth does not always travel far. Our rankings are meant to give residents and visitors a trustworthy shortcut. Every list is built through five steps that reflect how this city works, from the older streets of Deira to the newest towers.
Every community, old and new
We search each category across the whole city: Deira, Bur Dubai and Karama, Jumeirah and Al Barsha, Dubai Marina and JLT, and the newer communities further inland. A family-run restaurant in Al Qusais is considered on the same terms as an address in Downtown.
A good name in a city of movers
In a city where many residents stay only a few years, a business that has kept customers coming back for a long time stands out. We look for places that people return to, recommend to newcomers and describe in the same favourable terms year after year.
Locations and timings confirmed
Nothing is published until we know the business is trading at its listed location, can be reached by phone or online and keeps the regular timings we show. In a city where a shop can move from one mall to another, the location check matters as much as any.
Service as well as product
Customers here expect high service standards, so we consider both what a business delivers and how it treats people. A clinic should be clear about procedures and costs, a restaurant consistent, a maintenance company punctual and transparent about its pricing. Courtesy to every customer, whatever their nationality, counts as well.
Through Ramadan and the summer
We favour businesses that keep their standards, and communicate clearly, when timings change during Ramadan and Eid or when the city slows down in the hottest months. Customers should not be left guessing whether a place is open.
Updates through the year
New communities, malls and restaurants appear in Dubai every year, so our rankings are reviewed throughout the year. Errors, closures and suggestions can be sent to info@mydubaibest.com; please include the name and the area.
Finding your way
Dubai addresses often depend on a building name, a mall or a nearby landmark rather than a street number. Our listings give as much detail as we can; if in doubt, call ahead or check the location before you set off, especially in large malls and free zones.