Tresind Studio Dubai's three Michelin stars are a 'wake-up call for Indian chefs'


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Dubai restaurant Tresind Studio's three-star Michelin rating should serve as a “wake-up call for Indian chefs” around the world, according to Gwendal Poullennec, the international director of the Michelin Guide.

“It will be a matter of national pride. And a lot more people will now be willing to explore Indian food cultures. I say cultures because it is a subcontinent with a lot of diversity,” he said.

Calling Tresind Studio chef Himanshu Saini a “pioneer”, Poullennec praised him for pushing culinary boundaries.

Chef Himanshu Saini, in white, with the Tresind Studio team at the 2025 Michelin Guide Dubai ceremony. Photo: Michelin
Chef Himanshu Saini, in white, with the Tresind Studio team at the 2025 Michelin Guide Dubai ceremony. Photo: Michelin

“Himanshu Saini and all the team members have been putting Indian food on the world culinary map. I think he has opened the floor for many more talents to join the industry in India,” he said.

Poullennec was in the UAE on Thursday night at the launch of the 2025 Michelin Guide Dubai where, for the first time since Michelin came to the UAE in 2022, two restaurants earned the coveted three stars – Tresind Studio, which earned its first star in 2022, and European eatery FZN by Bjorn Frantzen.

Swedish chef Bjorn Frantzen's FZN by Bjorn Frantzen also won three Michelin stars. Photo: Atlantis the Palm
Swedish chef Bjorn Frantzen's FZN by Bjorn Frantzen also won three Michelin stars. Photo: Atlantis the Palm

The lauded Michelin Guide has been turned to for more than 100 years, directing diners and gastro-tourists to the finest restaurants in destinations around the world.

Poullenec called the three-star honour “an extraordinary achievement”.

“There are just about 140 restaurants with three stars worldwide – so it’s the creme de la creme of world gastronomy,” he said.

Another Indian restaurant also made it to the Dubai list, London import Jamavar, which earned one Michelin star. Thai restaurant Manao, whose head chef Abhiraj Khatwani is Indian, also got one star.

They are among the 14 restaurants with a star each in Dubai, and join three restaurants that retained their two stars from last year – Jason Atherton's Row on 45, Il Ristorante – Niko Romito and Stay by Yannick Alleno.

Five new venues were also added to the Bib Gourmand category – which recognises “just-as-esteemed and friendly” establishments that serve good food at reasonable rates – bringing the total number of restaurants in that category to 22.

Abhiraj Khatwani of Manao won the Young Chef Award during Michelin Guide 2025's ceremony. Photo: Michelin Guide
Abhiraj Khatwani of Manao won the Young Chef Award during Michelin Guide 2025's ceremony. Photo: Michelin Guide

To make it to the guide, anonymous food inspectors visit restaurants, and apply the same five criteria around the world – quality of ingredients; mastery of cooking techniques; harmony of flavours; expression of the chef’s personality in the cuisine; and consistency, both over time and across the menu.

Speaking at the event, Poullennec said Dubai has emerged as “a real gastronomic hub in just a few years”.

“It is definitely one of the frontrunners on the global culinary stage. If you go around Dubai, you will be able to get a taste of the world. You will be able to travel just by visiting the restaurants.”

The specs
  • Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
  • Power: 640hp
  • Torque: 760nm
  • On sale: 2026
  • Price: Not announced yet
It’ll be summer in the city as car show tries to move with the times

If 2008 was the year that rocked Detroit, 2019 will be when Motor City gives its annual car extravaganza a revamp that aims to move with the times.

A major change is that this week's North American International Auto Show will be the last to be held in January, after which the event will switch to June.

The new date, organisers said, will allow exhibitors to move vehicles and activities outside the Cobo Center's halls and into other city venues, unencumbered by cold January weather, exemplified this week by snow and ice.

In a market in which trends can easily be outpaced beyond one event, the need to do so was probably exacerbated by the decision of Germany's big three carmakers – BMW, Mercedes-Benz and Audi – to skip the auto show this year.

The show has long allowed car enthusiasts to sit behind the wheel of the latest models at the start of the calendar year but a more fluid car market in an online world has made sales less seasonal.

Similarly, everyday technology seems to be catching up on those whose job it is to get behind microphones and try and tempt the visiting public into making a purchase.

Although sparkly announcers clasp iPads and outline the technical gadgetry hidden beneath bonnets, people's obsession with their own smartphones often appeared to offer a more tempting distraction.

“It's maddening,” said one such worker at Nissan's stand.

The absence of some pizzazz, as well as top marques, was also noted by patrons.

“It looks like there are a few less cars this year,” one annual attendee said of this year's exhibitors.

“I can't help but think it's easier to stay at home than to brave the snow and come here.”

Signs%20of%20%20%20%20%20%20%20heat%20stroke
%3Cul%3E%0A%3Cli%3EThe%20loss%20of%20sodium%20chloride%20in%20our%20sweat%20can%20lead%20to%20confusion%20and%20an%20altered%20mental%20status%20and%20slurred%20speech%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3Cli%3EBody%20temperature%20above%2039%C2%B0C%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3Cli%3EHot%2C%20dry%20and%20red%20or%20damp%20skin%20can%20indicate%20heatstroke%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3Cli%3EA%20faster%20pulse%20than%20usual%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3Cli%3EDizziness%2C%20nausea%20and%20headaches%20are%20also%20signs%20of%20overheating%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3Cli%3EIn%20extreme%20cases%2C%20victims%20can%20lose%20consciousness%20and%20require%20immediate%20medical%20attention%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3C%2Ful%3E%0A

Nancy 9 (Hassa Beek)

Nancy Ajram

(In2Musica)

Our Time Has Come
Alyssa Ayres, Oxford University Press

The specs

Engine: 4.0-litre V8 twin-turbocharged and three electric motors

Power: Combined output 920hp

Torque: 730Nm at 4,000-7,000rpm

Transmission: 8-speed dual-clutch automatic

Fuel consumption: 11.2L/100km

On sale: Now, deliveries expected later in 2025

Price: expected to start at Dh1,432,000

The Freedom Artist

By Ben Okri (Head of Zeus)

The biog

Fatima Al Darmaki is an Emirati widow with three children

She has received 46 certificates of appreciation and excellence throughout her career

She won the 'ideal mother' category at the Minister of Interior Awards for Excellence

Her favourite food is Harees, a slow-cooked porridge-like dish made from boiled wheat berries mixed with chicken

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BUNDESLIGA FIXTURES

Friday (UAE kick-off times)

Cologne v Hoffenheim (11.30pm)

Saturday

Hertha Berlin v RB Leipzig (6.30pm)

Schalke v Fortuna Dusseldof (6.30pm)

Mainz v Union Berlin (6.30pm)

Paderborn v Augsburg (6.30pm)

Bayern Munich v Borussia Dortmund (9.30pm)

Sunday

Borussia Monchengladbach v Werder Bremen (4.30pm)

Wolfsburg v Bayer Leverkusen (6.30pm)

SC Freiburg v Eintracht Frankfurt (9on)

SPEC%20SHEET%3A%20APPLE%20IPAD%20(2022)
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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Profile of Whizkey

Date founded: 04 November 2017

Founders: Abdulaziz AlBlooshi and Harsh Hirani

Based: Dubai, UAE

Number of employees: 10

Sector: AI, software

Cashflow: Dh2.5 Million  

Funding stage: Series A

Results

Ashraf Ghani 50.64 per cent

Abdullah Abdullah 39.52 per cent

Gulbuddin Hekmatyar 3.85 per cent

Rahmatullah Nabil 1.8 per cent

Wonka
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Section 375

Cast: Akshaye Khanna, Richa Chadha, Meera Chopra & Rahul Bhat

Director: Ajay Bahl

Producers: Kumar Mangat Pathak, Abhishek Pathak & SCIPL

Rating: 3.5/5

Updated: May 23, 2025, 9:24 AM