Top Food Influencers in Dubai, UAE 2024

As per the Economic Times, over 75% of people in the UAE follow key opinion leaders, for recommendations, of which a significant number are hinged on top food influencers in Dubai, UAE.

But why do you think people look up to these food instagram influencers in GCC for suggestions or advice?

Their relatability and easy accessibility (thanks to social media) attract many food enthusiasts from around the world - individuals who wish to learn about different cuisines and discover the best food chains and brands from the region.

I remember how recently I got so tempted to try this cheese cake recipe I saw on my feed that I ordered all the ingredients right away, exactly from the same brands as hers, so that there was no room for error.

And guess what?

It tasted amazinggg!

These top food influencers in the Middle East are causing a revolutionary change in its culinary market by educating and engaging with their followers like us, who take a keen interest in their flavourful content, building a culturally diverse community globally. So, let’s exactly figure out who these people are?

Who Are Food Instagram Influencers OR Food Instagrammers?

Food influencers are individuals who share food-related content on their social media handles with the world. People who love watching local or international food cuisines, traditional food recipes, or the best places to eat/dine are the viewers of their content.

The best food influencers are the faces of GCC/Middle eastern countries, sharing their culinary knowledge and locally known cuisines with the world.

GCC has earned its place on the international food map because of the efforts of these food enthusiasts, who leave no chance to create mouth-watering recipes and share the best eateries for you to try.

Therefore, we being the best influencer marketing company in Dubai have compiled a list of the top food influencers in the MENA region with exceptional cooking skills and culinary experience who know their game. Let’s dive in!

Top Food Influencers in Dubai, UAE

• 1. Amaury Guichon

  Besides his cooking skills, he is an exceptional artist renowned for his creative eatery delights.

  About the Creator

  Amaury Guichon, aka The Chocolate Guy, is one of the most famous food Instagrammers in the UAE, known for his delicious and beautiful pastry work and huge chocolate sculptures that look as realistic as the real thing.

  So far, he has made a gigantic hammer with screws, a balloon house from the Up movie, a chocolate sea lion, a 250-kilos velociraptor, and many more, which are all displayed in his academy.

  KPIs:

  ● Exceptional audience visibility with an estimated reach of 1.2-3.5 million.

  ● Average engagement rate of 4.22%

  ● Average view count of 18.3 million.

  Brand Collaboration :

  ● Minecraft

  ● Qatar Airways

  ● Baileys

• 2. Burak Özdemir

  He is a philanthropist, dedicated to making the world taste the authenticity of his hometown cuisines.

  About the Creator

  Burak Özdemir is one of the popular food Instagrammers in Dubai, whose name, CZNBurak, is famous among his followers. This male food influencer is known for his giant-sized food from the Middle East, like 40-inch Kebab or unusually large cakes, burgers, and pizzas.

  People also recognise him as the smiling chef who is always kind to people and never leaves a chance to help someone in need.

  KPIs:

  ● He has a visibility rate of 10.17% with an estimated average of 2.7-8.2 million.

  ● An average of 4.7 million views.

  ● Average engagement rate of 1.06%

• 3. Gürkan Topçu

  Besides his exceptional cooking and butchering skills, he is a food vlogger in Dubai with a good media presence, increasing his visibility and credibility among people.

  About the Creator

  Gürkan Topçu, aka Gurkan Sef, is a professionally trained chef specialising in culinary art and butchery. He has a global business chain of brands like Steak Food by Gurkan Sef, Gurkan Sef Steak Burger, and Gurkan Burger.

  On top of that, he has been a part of several TV shows, such as Barbecue Time with Gürkan Şef and Fire Games with Gürkan Şef, and has also written a couple of books, Gürkan Chef's Famous Recipes and Gurkan Şef's Famous Burgers.

  KPIs:

  ● Average engagement rate of 1.56%

  ● Average like count is 238K

  ● Follower count of 15.3 million

  Brand Collaboration :

  ● Tim Hortons

  ● Avenue Day to Day

  ● Emirates

  ● FlyDubai

• 4. Hubert Sepidnam

  He is a famous food blogger in Dubai with over a decade-long experience reviewing restaurants, which is why he is known as Mr Taster.

  About the Creator

  Mr Taster is one of the top food influencers in the Middle East who loves travelling around the world, exploring the culinary scene of nations, trying local food, and enjoying the traditional delights of the region. Not only that, he also dines at high-rating and luxurious multi-cuisine restaurants and food brands to spread awareness among his followers who trust him for his reviews. Mr Taster, one of the most famous food Instagrammers in the UAE, believes “brand honesty is a crucial factor in driving traffic to your restaurants and cafes.”

  KPIs:

  ● An estimated follower reach of 114-342K making it 11.39%.

  ● Average views of 218.4K

  ● Average engagement rate of 0.96%

• 5. Navab Ebrahimi

  His simplicity in food preparation and presentation makes him unique yet relatable among other food enthusiasts.

  About the Creator

  Navab Ebrahimi is known for his easy-to-make, detailed recipes, which he usually shares on his Instagram and website. From traditional Middle Eastern and Asian cuisines to baked goods and cheesy pasta, you will find diverse recipes on his Instagram.

  Ebrahimi’s love for food led him to share delicious recipes and cooking tutorials with the world, adding him to the list of top food influencers in Dubai.

  KPIs:

  ● Estimated audience reach of 247–742K, making it 14.75%

  ● Average views of 4.3 million

  ● Average engagement rate of 3.59%

• 6. Mohamed Azharudeen Peediyekkal

  His followers love his promotional tactics and find them interesting, which makes him stand out as the best food vlogger in Dubai.

  About the Creator

  Azharudeen Peediyekkal owns an Instagram account named travel_n_cuisine_by_Azhar, where he shares a blend of his passion for local food, travel destinations, and international cuisines. Moreover, he promotes local businesses and eateries, like Day to Day and Meet the Cheese, where you will find everything from ingredients and utensils to regional and international dishes.

  KPIs:

  ● Follower count of 438K

• 7. Haya Kaabar

  She is one of the biggest female food influencers on Instagram, who finds out the best eateries and tempts people to try them all.

  About the Creator

  Haya Kaabar, aka the Dubai List, is a famous food vlogger in Dubai. She finds and visits the hotspots or hidden gems in Dubai and worldwide to provide her followers with a list of the best places to eat when they are around.

  You will find everything in the Dubai List account, from delicious drinks and cuisines to farmers' markets and adventurous places to explore in the region.

  KPIs:

  ● Follower count of 217K

  ● Average engagement rate of 2.28%

  ● Average likes of 5K

• 8. Arezoo Muslemi

  She knows the best places to eat wherever she goes and will win your heart with her cuteness and recommendations.

  About the Creator

  Besides her followers, Filmfare UAE also knows she is one of the biggest female food influencers on Instagram because she recently won the Filmfare Food Influencer of the Year 2024 for all her hard work.

  Arezoo showcases the best places to eat around Dubai that serve local cuisines and exclusive international flavours.

  KPIs:

  ● Average engagement rate of 11.56%

  ● Average likes of 18K

• 9. Reza Kiani

  Reza has cracked the 3-second engagement rule with his tempting cover photos and perfect caption hooks.

  About the Creator

  Reza Kiani is a male food influencer who tries out the best places where you can enjoy authentic food from countries like India, Mexico, Egypt, Iran, etc., all in Dubai.

  He is one of the most popular food Emirates influencers because he puts a lot of effort into locating amazing restaurants and places for his followers, making him a full-time foodie.

  KPIs:

  ● Follower count of 142K

• 10. Cook Mag

  The Cook Mag feed is filled with unique and creative recipes, which makes you want to try your hands on them.

  About the Creator

  Cook Mag comes on the list of the top food influencers in GCC because of the diversity of food content. You can find healthy recipes, baking videos, refreshing drinks, useful kitchen hacks, restaurant recommendations, and more.

  KPIs:

  ● Average engagement rate of 3.2%

  ● Average likes of 246K

  ● Follower count of 7.7 million