Abu Dhabi: On 1 February 2026, NIRI Restaurant & Bar will host an exclusive 50 Best Signature Session, bringing together two esteemed culinary voices for a one-night-only dinner ahead of the Middle East & North Africa’s 50 Best Restaurants awards ceremony on Tuesday, 3 February 2026.
A new entrant to the Middle East & North Africa’s 50 Best Restaurants list in 2025, NIRI’s Executive Chef Yasuyuki Takemoto will collaborate with Chef Ali Ghzawi, the chef behind ALEE in Amman (No.13 on the Middle East & North Africa’s 50 Best Restaurants 2025 list). The evening will explore the intersection of Japanese precision and modern Levantine storytelling through an omakase-style menu created exclusively for the occasion.
Guests can expect a series of new dishes developed by the chefs, blending NIRI’s signature yakitori, tempura, and sashimi with ALEE’s refined interpretations of Levantine mezze. The dinner will be presented in partnership with 50 Best, with French caviar house Kaviari as the official event sponsor.
The NIRI Signature Session will form part of the 50 Best Signature Sessions, a series of exclusive culinary events featuring collaborations with world-renowned chefs at the city’s finest dining destinations from 31 January to 5 February. In total, 13 Signature Sessions will take place across Abu Dhabi, offering diners a rare opportunity to experience these once-off collaborations ahead of the ceremony.
