IQOS Unveils the Outdoor Dining Index 2026: Dahab Leads the Best Open-Air Dining Destinations in the Middle East
What if the end of summer could be an opportunity to discover a new destination and explore new ways to enjoy the outdoors? Outdoor dining can offer an opportunity to continue enjoying open-air experiences beyond the summer season, bringing together new destinations, social moments, and shared experiences.
Against this backdrop, IQOS, the number 1 tobacco heating system , launched the 2026 IQOS Outdoor Dining Index, highlighting some of the best destinations for outdoor dining across the Middle East, with Egypt’s Dahab ranking as the region’s top destination.
In this context, Jonathan Kwak, Smoke-Free Products Director for Egypt and Levant at Philip Morris International, said: “Egypt’s unique mix of destinations, climates and experiences makes outdoor dining an integral part of the country’s leisure and tourism culture. With IQOS, we’re excited to bring these possibilities closer to our community, encouraging them to look at familiar moments in new ways and discover experiences they might not have considered before. Seeing Dahab rank as the Middle East’s top destination for outdoor dining, with five Egyptian destinations featured among the region’s top 10, reflects the diversity and appeal of destinations across Egypt.”
With its focus on experiences that bring people together, IQOS seeks to inspire its community of more than 35 million adult users to discover new destinations and enjoy meaningful moments with their loved ones, while creating an atmosphere that complements a variety of social experiences.
After evaluating several criteria and compiling their results, destinations were ranked according to their performance, as the results of the IQOS Index showed the Egyptian city of Dahab topping the list of the best Middle East destinations for outdoor dining. The tranquil city is located on the Red Sea coast and is renowned for its distinctive atmosphere.
Egypt’s distinction in the index was not limited to Dahab, as Hurghada, Egypt’s other Red Sea coastal resort, came in second place, with more than a third of its restaurants (37%) offering outdoor seating. Although its average annual temperature is 26.0°C, slightly higher than Dahab, the rate of 992 people per restaurant, compared to 474 people per restaurant in Dahab, prevented it from claiming the top spot.
The cities of Luxor and Aswan also recorded advanced positions thanks to their natural atmospheres and unique experiences, while the city of Sharm El-Sheikh ranked among the best destinations in the Middle East, reflecting the strong presence of Egyptian tourist destinations in the index.
The IQOS Index confirmed the dominance of Egyptian Red Sea destinations in the top rankings, thanks to moderate year-round temperatures and the availability of a large number of outdoor seating areas, making them ideal for outdoor dining. The list also included a number of distinguished destinations in other countries in the region, which ranked among the top ten destinations according to the index’s criteria.
