Flaky, buttery, golden phyllo pastry dipped in a rich, zingy muhammara topped with aromatic herbs. A fresh mushroom omelette stuffed with gooey, oozing Akkawi cheese. Juicy Wagyu beef kebab topped with sour cherry and crispy pine nuts, inspired by the flavours of Aleppo. It can be hard for restaurants in a city like Dubai to stand out from the crowd, but the ones behind these creative dishes are managing to do just that.

With more restaurants per capita than any other city in the world – except Paris – Dubai’s food and drink scene can be cut-throat. Beloved, celebrity-backed names flood the market, from New York’s SushiSamba to London’s Zuma, but a collection of local restaurateurs are also holding their own with their home-grown venues and menus influenced by the region’s rich tapestry of flavours.

Here are five new restaurants that pay homage to the Middle East.

Gerbou

The menu honours sustainability, seasonality and locality - with every dish being crafted with respect to tradition and an eye on the future. Photo: Gerbou

Art meets gastronomy in this villa in Dubai’s residential Nad Al Sheba 1 neighbourhood, where traditional Emirati cuisine has been given an inventive modern upgrade. Gerbou is a collaboration between contemporary arts and design hub Tashkeel, established by Sheikha Lateefa bint Maktoum, and Atelier House Hospitality, a local company that creates bespoke dining experiences.

The design pays tribute to the Emirates with every flourish. From the custom-made stonewear to the plates that were designed by Sheikha Lateefa herself, each piece of crockery is a respectful nod to Emirati life and nature, whether that’s migrating flamingos, falcons or the resilient dromedary.