The Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism, in partnership with technology conglomerate Google, announced the launch of "Map Your Dubai: Insider Edition," a joint initiative designed to drive consumer traffic and economic growth to the city's food and beverage sector.

The campaign relies on Google Maps' Local Guides - a global volunteer community that contributes reviews, photography, and location updates - to compile specialized, curated lists of independent restaurants and neighborhood cafes. The initiative was formalized during a meeting at the Etihad Museum, attended by senior government officials, including Ahmad Al Room Almheiri, CEO of the Mohammed bin Rashid Establishment for Small and Medium Enterprises Development (Dubai SME), alongside local culinary business owners.

Operating under the department’s broader "From Dubai, For Dubai" community support framework, the project aims to consolidate grass-roots business recommendations into a centralized economic narrative. Eleven distinct, thematic lists featuring more than 100 homegrown dining establishments have been published on an official campaign portal.

Following the public rollout, users can sync these selections directly to their personal Google Maps accounts. Public voting to select the top-rated culinary lists is scheduled to open on June 22, 2026, and will conclude on July 6, 2026.

Anthony Nakache, Managing Director for Google in the Middle East and North Africa, stated that the partnership focuses on providing small and homegrown hospitality businesses with the digital tools required to maintain market competitiveness and expand consumer outreach.

Almheiri framed the collaboration as a continuation of municipal, public-private digital discovery strategies. He noted that enhancing the online visibility of local brands directly supports long-term sustainable growth objectives outlined in the Dubai Economic Agenda, D33, which aims to solidify the city's position as a global commercial and gastronomic hub.

Promotional content and profiles of the contributing Contributor community will be distributed via official channels throughout the two-week voting window.

Photo credits: Government of Dubai Media Office

Andrew Shelepnytsky

Andrew Shelepnytsky is an Editor of Dubai Voice.