Dubai features in this week's MasterChef Australia

Dubai's culinary experiences will be featured in this week's MasterChef Australia 'world food week' episodes, which air from Sunday, August 11.

Qantas flew the MasterChef Australia production to Dubai to participate in cooking challenges that included a traditional Arabian feast served to special guests at the Al Waha Desert Camp and a three course meal at Atlantis The Palm.

MasterChef Australia judge Matt Preston said the Middle Eastern metropolis was "a new and exciting destination for this year’s international challenge".

"Dubai provided a spectacular backdrop for the tough challenges of this year's international trip. What a journey for our contestants; from the tradition of the souk and cooking a desert feast to running a fine dining restaurant complete with an audience of 65,000 sea creatures. A most memorable time," said Preston.

The director general of Dubai’s department of tourism & commerce marketing (DTCM) HE Helal Saeed Almarri said: "MasterChef provides us with an exciting platform to showcase Dubai’s diverse range of culinary offerings to one of our main source markets: from celebrity chef dining to local street food favourites; the tastes of the traditional souk markets to extraordinary gourmet experiences."

He revealed that in the first half of 2013, more than 110,000 Australians visited Dubai, and added: "I’ve no doubt that once the Dubai-based episodes of MasterChef air, many more will be booking their flights and holidays to experience our Emirate for themselves."

Qantas Group executive brand, marketing and corporate affairs manager Olivia Wirth said: "We are proud to connect Australians to Dubai and highlight new experiences through our sponsorship of the popular MasterChef program.

"We have worked with our partners Emirates and Dubai’s Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DTCM) to support coverage of Dubai’s wonderful food experiences and we look forward to doing more in future to promote Dubai as a hotspot for Australian travellers."

Travel to Dubai and Paris as part of World Food Week was also supported by Emirates who carried contestants and crew to Paris for a Parisian master class.

Emirates’ corporate communications, marketing and brand divisional senior vice president Boutros Boutros said award-winning cuisine is an integral part of the Emirates travel experience both on board its aircraft and in the Emirates lounges across the network.

Qantas is a major sponsor of MasterChef Australia. Arabian Adventures and Atlantis The Palm also provided support for the production in Dubai.