Food influencers, one of the favourite types of influencers of all Emiratis, demonstrate gourmet enthusiasm for eating and share detailed and informative content about food (local or international), from traditional Emirati dishes like Harees and Machboos to the latest trends in global cuisine.
These influencers’ advice, thoughts, and opinions hold immense weight as they have earned the trust of their followers by providing valuable information about the most famous and must-try foods in the UAE and where people can find the best local cafes in the area, whether it’s the country-famous spot like Al Fanar Restaurant & Cafe or international franchises with a presence in the UAE, like KFC and Domino’s.
We trust their recommendations because they’ve built that trust over time by consistently showing what’s worth trying, whether it’s a must-try dessert like Luqaimat or a new café in town.
Not to mention, there are different types of food influencers in the UAE, some share recipe ideas, some evaluate restaurants and cafes, some review various food items of all the newly opened cafes, some stick to their love for street food and talk about the best in them, some travel around the country and beyond and review different cuisines, and various other niches.
Brands in UAE can reach their target markets by tapping into these UAE’s top food influencers pre-built audience, which they have difficulty reaching with traditional marketing methods.
Below, our top influencer marketing agency in UAE has combined a list of the top food influencers in UAE after thorough research and review, considering many factors like influencer value, audience engagement, brand affinity, bot assessment, and many more for food brands in the Middle East to partner with.
List of the Top Food Influencers in Dubai, UAE
-
USP:
Mr. Taster is a multicultural food connoisseur who hunts new dishes to satisfy his taste buds.
About the creator:
Mr. Hubert Sepidnam, aka Mr. Taster, is a top Emirati food influencer from Manchester, England, currently residing in the United Arab Emirates. He is known for collaborating with famous chefs like Nusrat, aka Saltbae, and Gordon Ramsey.
Mr. Hubert Sepidnam's Instagram profile is a gourmet hub. You will find him in hotels, restaurants, malls, etc., reviewing Arabic, Iranian, Persian, and other international cuisines.
KPIs:
1. Mr. Hubert Sepidnam’s gourmet Instagram content averages 17k likes and 624 comments.
2. The international food blogger has an engagement rate of 3.82%.
3. The video of Mr. Hubert Sepidnam’s visit to Radisson Blu Kuwait has generated 66.7K views, 8.9K likes, and 63 comments in 6 hours.
-
USP:
Samantha Wood is your go-to food Instagram influencer in UAE for unbiased restaurant reviews and suggestions.
About the creator:
Samantha Wood is an award-winning influencer residing in the United Arab Emirates. She is predominantly known for her restaurant reviews and keenly explores UAE’s vibrant food culture.
Samantha Wood documents Michelin-star restaurants and chef's stories. She also presents updated guides on the best eating joints across the country.
KPIs:
1. The popular food critic’s podcast episodes, food reviews and guides, culinary travel experiences, etc generate an engagement rate of 2.87%, averaging 382 likes and 39 comments.
2. Samantha Wood’s video on an alcohol-free cocktail called “Pink Fizz” received 4.2K views, 78 likes and 10 comments.
-
USP:
The renowned food author, chef, and entrepreneur, has a multi-channel presence. She adopts innovative ways to deliver food knowledge, like book recommendations, shopping guides, culinary feedback, etc.
About the creator:
Shahrazad is a baker and founder of Chahrazad’s Cuisine Bakery. Her background in making delicious cookies, cakes, air fry snacks, sugar-free desserts, waffles, birthday cakes, etc, makes Shahrazad’s Instagram profile the perfect place for some sugar treat ideas.
Shahrazad wants to make your baking journey easy and fun with her recipes. You will also find videos on cake decoration, lunchbox ideas, and family bake-off challenges on her profile.
KPIs:
1. Chef Shahrazad shares multiple recipe videos in a week. This has taken her Instagram engagement rate to 3.36%. Her posts average 11.8K likes and 66 comments.
2. Shahrazad’s Sushi preparation video with her daughter Lana, got 32.4K views, 576 likes, and 21 comments in 9 hours.
-
USP:
Chef Shaheen loves experimenting with different spices, temperatures, ingredients, etc to discover new flavors.
About the creator:
Chef Shaheen is one of the top food influencers in Dubai, who has expertise in preparing a variety of cuisines, including ice creams, crispy rice, cheesecakes, hot chocolate, French onion soup, cheeseburgers, pancakes, etc. He can put together delicious full-course meals with affordably priced ingredients.
KPIs:
1. Chef Shaheen produces food content in different formats for his YouTube, Instagram, and TikTok profiles.
2. The population chef has an engagement rate of 3.60%. His Instagram pictures and videos average 65.8K likes and 3.1K comments.
-
USP:
Dalia loves to travel and write about the food she enjoys. She also uses her reputation to raise food crisis awareness.
About the creator:
Dalia is a traveling chef from Dubai. She has authored multiple best-selling cookbooks. Dalia's life is marked by adventure, from Paris and New York to Beirut and Dubai. She takes inspiration from culturally rich recipes, to add to her growing plethora of Eastern and Western cuisines.
She covers soups, salads, breakfast and lunch recipes, desserts, starters, etc in her Instagram content. Daliya also contributes her insights to international food magazines and news.
KPIs:
1. Dalia’s has an Instagram engagement rate of 4.32%, with her content averaging 6.1K likes and 15 comments
2. She is the food editor for Harper's Bazaar Arabia.
-
USP:
Latifa Alshamsi caters to a younger demographic. She Injects her luxurious fashion and elegant lifestyle into travel, tourism, and hospitality brand promotions.
About the creator:
Latifa Alshamsi is the first Emirati fashion, food, and travel content creator. She gained public attention through her blog before becoming one of the most followed food influencers in the UAE.
Latifa Alshamsi captures the culinary culture of different European, Asian, African, and Middle Eastern cities. She has a distinct fashion that separates her from other food influencers in the Middle East. She has worked with diverse brands on regional campaigns.
KPIs:
1. The popular influencer has an engagement rate of 1.3%. Her content averages 2.6K likes and 66 comments.
2. Latifa Alshamsi’s denim style outfit video from her London visit, received 98.2K views, 2.2K likes and 50 comments.
-
USP:
Lavina Israni emphasizes the importance of a well-balanced food lifestyle for healthy living.
About the creator:
Lavina Israni is living the best Dubai life with great moments of gourmet, travel, adventures, and wellness. She takes you to the most unique food places in the UAE, from luxury dining restaurants, breakfast hotspots, and burger joints to tea lovers' paradise, authentic Asian cuisine eateries, and more.
Furthermore, the Dubai-based food content creator emphasizes the importance of healthy food ingredients for natural skin and hair care.
KPIs:
1. Lavina Israni promoted City center Deira in one of her reels, during the Onam festival celebration. The video has 189K views, 5.3K likes, and 176 comments.
2. The Emirati food Instagram Influencer’s content has an engagement rate of 1.47%
3. Lavina Israni is active on Instagram, Facebook, Tiktok, Twitter and LinkedIn.
-
USP:
Shabina Shamsuddin is a homestyle cooking expert. She guides you through successful veg and non-veg recipes with detailed steps.
About the creator:
Shabina Shamsuddin has everything you need for all-around cooking expertise. The Dubai-based food influencer takes you from beginner to advanced-level cooking, with ingredients found in your proximity.
Shabina helps you bake cakes, make rice pasta, and prepare Oriental dishes, festival specials, and seafood. Shabina also has a repertoire of South Indian recipes, prepared within traditional home cooking techniques.
KPIs:
1. Shabina Shamsuddin is active on Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube.
2. Shabina’s recipe tutorial on egg Bhaji and Mutta Bajji got 32.5K views, 498 likes, and 12 comments in one day.
3. The Emirati food influencer has an Instagram engagement rate of 2.33%.
-
USP:
Ralph is a perfect food influencer in Dubai for finding vegan food alternatives near you.
About the creator:
Ralph is a certified nutrition coach who promotes vegan recipes. He is one of the most followed food influencers in the UAE recognized for his restaurant and product reviews. From breakfast and salads to main courses, salads, soups, and desserts, each of Ralph’s creations can satisfy your taste palette. Just like Karen McLean, the Dubai-based vegan vlogger focuses on colorful and symmetrical aesthetics for his food presentations.
KPIs:
1. The vegan food influencer in Dubai uploaded an Instagram reel about a plant-based pastry shop called “Good Mate Coffee” which he found on a Happy Cow app. The video generated 1.7K views, 309 likes, and 45 comments within hours of upload.
2. Ralph posts multiple times a day. He has an engagement rate of 1.92%, averaging 390 likes and 25 comments.
-
USP:
Zow Bowker gives the best restaurant recommendations. She has an exclusive collection of vintage wines.
About the creator:
Zoe Bowker is a Dubai-based food vlogger and restaurant consultant, known for her exclusive taste in wines. Her search for vintage vin du pays takes Zoe to the finest dining places in Dubai. Time spent scrolling her Instagram feed gives you a live perspective of Dubai’s luxurious front comprising the best restaurants, hotels, and clubs. Zoe Bowker also shows the Singaporean, Japanese, English, and other cultural influences in the city.
KPIs:
1. Zoe Bowker’s luxury hotel tours, premium travel experience, sumptuous cuisines, and fine wine features on Instagram generate an engagement rate of 2.04%.
2. Her video on Michelin Guide restaurant, Row on 45 Dubai’s new menu received 3.56K views, 67 likes, and 18 comments.
-
USP:
Alex Augusti helps you find the best restaurants in the UAE for delicious meals. He covers the location, atmosphere, menu, and pricing on his Instagram account.
About the creator:
Alex Augusti ranks amongst the best food influencers in UAE for his food tours. Each great escapade dives deep into the Iranian, Asian, Saudi, Pakistani, Turkish, Italian, and other thousands of cuisines that occupy the Dubai food ecosystem. His Instagram profile features several restaurants and menu items, with detailed captions. Alex also does fun challenges where he goes to dining places suggested by his followers.
KPIs:
1. Alex Augusti is hailed as one of the top 3 food guides in the UAE.
2. The famous food Instagram influencer in Dubai has an engagement rate of 2.71%, with his content averaging 3.1k likes and 54 comments.
-
USP:
Hesa Al Khalifa has spent years perfecting the art of menu development. Her full-course meal selections give people the best dining experience.
About the creator:
Hesa Al Khalifa's Instagram profile treats her visitors to culinary flavors from different parts of the globe. Hesa’s work as a Restaurant menu developer and consultant chef allows her to take her audience to gourmet locations across the Arabian Gulf Peninsula. You will find culturally inspired food and restaurant listings on Hesa Al Khalifa’s social media handles.
KPIs:
1. Hesa Al Khalifa's Instagram profile has an engagement rate of 1.22%. Her posts on Dubai's culinary culture receive an average of 673 likes and 152 comments.
2. Hesa Al Khalifa's feature video of Gatheron. Ae’s new establishments at Al Khawaneej received 43.7K views.
-
USP:
Karen McLean shares helpful tips on toddler food and eating habits. Her recipes are easy to make at home.
About the creator:
Meet Twins mom Karen McLean, who is one of the most aesthetically pleasing food Instagrammers in the United Arab Emirates. For her pictures, she arranges edible fruits and flowers into different shapes.
Karen McLean is among the top Emirati food Instagram influencers new moms can follow her for baby diet and eating tips. She lists complete recipes for healthy snacks that anyone can prepare with minimum ingredients.
KPIs:
1. Karen McLean is the 2018 “MENA Digital Awards” winner in the food and beverage category.
2. The mother of two posts new videos every day. She has an engagement rate of 82.54%, with an average of 3.4K likes and 233 comments.
-
USP:
Kimberly D'Souza and Denver Britto find new places to eat across the UAE. They also create cuisines by taking inspiration from different food practices.
About the creator:
Meet the relatable duo of food Influencers in UAE, Kimberly D’Souza and Denver Britto. They shared a perfect chemistry when they moved to find amazing restaurants for wine and dining.
Kim and Den post everything and fast food to home-cooked meals on their Instagram profile. Kim and Den are also among the top food Instagrammers in UAE to introduce new viral delicacies, with taste reviews.
KPIs:
1. Kim and Den are “The Cosmopolitan Food Influencer Award”, “Style Arabia Social Media Award”, “BBC Good Food Blog Of The Year Award" and “Ahlan People's Choice Award” winners.
2. The YouTuber's Onam Sandhya video in Mangalore received 14.5K views, 382 comments, and 12 likes.
-
USP:
Meghna combines her travel passion with her hunt to discover delicious food in different countries. She has diverse food options for her followers to try on staycations.
About the creator:
Meghna Rao is a content creator, traveler and food influencer in Dubai. She travels to find the best food places within the country and internationally. Meghna usually goes on vacations and shares glimpses with her followers, where she enjoys delicious comfort food and street foods that satisfy the soul.
KPIs:
1. The travel guide presents the best street food, fusion food, seafood drinks, luxury cuisine, etc, on her Instagram profile which has elevated her engagement rate to 1.53%.
2. Meghna Rao has traveled to more than 61 countries and shared the experience with her audience.
3. Meghna Rao’s reel on the Zordaar restaurant opening in Millennium Hotel Al Barsha, received 6.9K views, 365 likes, and 27 comments.
Conclusion
Top food influencers in UAE navigate the nation's melting pot of cultures where every nationality contributes unique flavors that shape the country’s culinary landscape.
The food Instagram influencers in Dubai, introduce endless veg and non-veg options while meeting people’s healthy eating demands. They do it by developing menus, posting meal pictures, discovering new cuisines and places, uploading recipe tutorials and more. This has got them the loyalty of UAE’s gourmands, who trust these Emirati food influencers’ opinions on restaurants, food, chefs etc.
