If you are a true gourmet and foodie, Dubai is ready to introduce you to its local food scene. This article will discuss the best food in UAE. Emirati cuisine is the traditional food of the United Arab Emirates, rooted in Bedouin heritage and influenced by trade with Persia, India, and East Africa. It is adapted to the region’s hot climate and characterized by simplicity, nourishment, and aromatic spices. Emirati food has much in common with Lebanese and Levantine cuisine, as it contains more leaves and vegetables.
Dubai is home to restaurants representing cuisines from around the world, including Chinese, Japanese, Italian, Korean, and many more. People enjoy trying new flavors and taking advantage of this culinary diversity. In addition, authentic Emirati dishes often require a long preparation time, which makes them less common for daily meals. Even older Emiratis (especially those living in more cosmopolitan areas) don’t eat authentic and traditional food daily.
Don’t miss our article, “The Best Places to Visit in Dubai,“which will take you through some of Dubai’s top restaurants, led by celebrity chefs, and break down the city’s most traditional dishes. We’ll also offer some great suggestions for trying salty and sweet street food.
Dubai Luxury Restaurants With Popular Food of UAE
Before discussing traditional Emirati food, let’s briefly review the most popular restaurants that serve authentic food. These places are perfect for special occasions and gatherings. Restaurants in Dubai are not just places to enjoy delicious food; they are also destinations for a unique culinary adventure. They offer excellent service, cozy ambiance, and beautiful interior design.
Al Mashowa
In this restaurant, most dishes are based on recipes passed down through generations. More than 70 dishes, including fish and shrimp, are on the menu. It is located in the Riverland in Dubai, besides enjoying tasty food, visitors can stroll along the waterfront promenade. This area is an excellent spot for a fun day out with family-friendly entertainment, live shows, and unique shopping. Additionally, it’s conveniently located near popular theme parks, such as Motiongate and Legoland, making it a family-friendly destination for a full day of adventure.
Aseelah
This amazing place is located in Deira, inside the Radisson Blu Hotel. Here you can enjoy a date-stuffed chicken leg or camel stew, just like the old locals used to. In addition to tasty meat dishes, you can find vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free options.
Logma
Logma’s exceptional quality, service, and diverse menu choices make it stand out. Logma takes famous traditional Emirati dishes and adds a modern twist.
Dishes in Logma are made fresh daily, with various sweet and savory options to cater to different tastes. Menu favorites include a local Dubai favorite called “Chips Oman” – a sandwich with a great layer of cream cheese, hot sauce, and Chips Oman.
Arabian Tea House
If you are around the historic Al Fahidi area, visit the Arabian Tea House Restaurant. The menu contains sandwiches, pastries, salads, desserts, and more than 150 different types of tea and drinks. It is popular among tourists because of its authentic Emirati dishes and traditional Arabic coffee. Don’t miss your chance to try the regag bread, a slice that’s hard to resist, drizzled with honey and loaded with egg and cheese. Along with the fantastic food and drinks, you’ll be amazed by the atmosphere and photogenic interior.
Al Fanar
Traditional Emirati cuisine meets 1960s rustic style, located in Dubai Festival City Mall.
Step inside, and you’ll see Arabian decorations with a vintage touch. The menu offers all the traditional options, including beef kafta, rice dishes, meats grilled over charcoal, and fresh fish. Don’t forget to enjoy authentic Arabian coffee with fantastic desserts like pistachio kunafa brownie or traditional Emirati dates pudding – Asidat Al Tamor.
Traditional Emirati Cuisine: Food of The UAE
Let’s start our journey to a fantastic Emirati meal, authentic drinks, and desserts. This list includes nutritious dishes with meat and spices, and options popular during the month of Ramadan.
Al Harees: Taste of National Food
Harees is a porridge made from wheat, sometimes with the addition of meat and spices. It’s especially popular during Ramadan, as it is nutritious and healthy. The dish is delish and is simmered for hours until it reaches a smooth, creamy texture. During the holy month, many Emirati families prepare it at home, and traditional restaurants often serve it as part of special menus.
Al Machboos: Popular in the United Arab Emirates
Al machboos is a national dish served on a large plate with vibrant taste combinations.
The base components of Al machboos are spiced basmati rice, onions, and roasted nuts, while the main ingredients may change. It is easy to find chicken, meat, or seafood versions of this machboos.
Mandi: Traditional Emirati Food
Mandi is another classic rice dish with roots from Yemen. The recipe might sound similar to machboos, as both these dishes’ components are meat (seafood, chicken, or lamb) mixed with rice, but with different spices. Mandi is cooked in the pit, which has a unique taste.
Some restaurants offer it with a range of exotic toppings, giving guests a chance to experience this unique dining option from every angle.
Oozie: Ramadan Special Food
Ouzi, also known as Oozie, is another traditional food popular during the holy month of Ramadan. This is another incredible variation of rice and meat.
This dish stands out because it is almost always served with tender lamb or beef (rarely with chicken) and peas, carrots, and a special mix of spices. The main difference between Machboos, Mandi, and Ouzi is that the last one can be baked in an oven.
Shirin Polow: The Authentic Dubai Cuisine
Shirin Polow, also known as Persian rice, has sweet and salty elements. Basically, it is a plate of rice mixed with sweet toppings. In addition, it can include carrots, peas, sesame seeds, oranges, and sugar.
Kousa Mahshi: Best Food With Classic Spices
Kousa Mahshi is basically a stuffed zucchini made with chopped lamb or beef, onions, tomatoes, mint leaves, and mixed spices. Kousa Mahshi may come in different variations and serving options.
Ghuzi: Roasted Lamb with Mutton Served on Top With Vegetables and Nuts
Ghuzi or khuzi is a traditional Emirati dish where rice is added to roasted lamb or mutton, served with nuts and vegetables. It’s a delicious and nourishing dish that takes time and skill to prepare, so don’t miss your chance to try it.
Madrouba
Madrouba is a dish that is hard to compare with something from European cuisine. Depending on consistency, it can be served as soup or porridge. The main ingredients are rice, chicken, and a special mix of spices.
Thereed: Traditional Red Meat Dish
A slow-cooked stew called Thereed is a famous dish in the UAE. It is made with chicken, lamb, or goat, along with roasted vegetables like potatoes, tomatoes, and zucchini. This heavily spiced stew is served on top of a traditional thin Emirati bread. The chicken can also be skipped from the recipe to make it a completely vegetarian dish.
Healthy Food in Dubai
If you are a vegan, vegetarian, or on a diet, you won’t be hungry in Dubai. There is a wide variety of delicious, healthy, and light food items.
Tabbouleh
This healthy and light salad is made of parsley, tomatoes, onions, lemon juice, and bulgur wheat. It can be finished with lemon and olive oil on top. It can be eaten by scooping it into lettuce leaves.
Baba Ganoush: Appetizing Starter
Baba Ganoush is a popular appetizer. This vegetarian dish features roasted eggplant and is blended with tahini, lemon juice, garlic, and olive oil. It is traditionally served with flatbread and is considered a starter or breakfast food.
Fatteh: All Things Good In One
Another popular Dubai dish is Fatteh, consisting of layers of flatbread, chickpeas, creamy yogurt, and various spices, finished with a drizzle of olive oil and fresh herbs. Since recipes can vary, you might find different ingredients depending on where you buy them.
Falafel: Leading Among Famous Dishes
Falafel is a crunchy, deep-fried ball made of chickpeas, herbs, and spices. It can be served in a pita with sauces, fresh vegetables, and tahini paste or on a plate with salads, hummus, and toppings.
Street Food In Dubai
Street food is affordable and allows you to experience the Dubai lifestyle. Let’s briefly review all the famous dishes. Most of the items in this section are likely already familiar to you, as they’ve won the hearts of food lovers around the world.
Kebabs: A Must-Try Famous Food
Kebabs are famous worldwide. They can be served both in pita or lavash, and on a plate with side dishes. It’s a grilled ground meat, combined with spices, onion, and sometimes vegetables. There are different types of kebab, for example, Shish (cubed meat), Doner (sliced meat), and Kofta (ground meat) kebab. It can be fried in a pan or on an open fire.
Shish Tawook: Have It Like The Locals
Shish Tawook is a meat dish made of chicken and vegetables. Small pieces of soft, juicy chicken meat are being grilled on skewers and served with garlic sauce. Essentially, it’s a chicken BBQ, but it may have an unusual taste for tourists, as it’s prepared with the addition of spices and a special marinade.
Lahem Bl Ajin: The Arab Pizza
Lahem Bl Ajin, also known as Arab pizza, is typically a mixture of meat and spices, served on a piece of flatbread. It has a distinctly different taste from Italian pizza, being more seasoned and possessing a vibrant flavor.
Shawarma: Guilty Pleasure
This dish consists of meat, vegetables, and pita. A yogurt or tahini-based sauce is spread onto the pita, then meat is added. Pickles and fresh vegetables may also be included. The variations are endless, and it all depends on the place. Every restaurant or bistro serves shawarma in its unique way, and no two are ever quite the same.
Dubai Desserts for Real Gourmets
Dubai is a paradise for those who have a sweet tooth. Here, you will find a variety of luxurious desserts that transport you into a magical Arabian Nights fantasy.
Knafeh: Must-Try Cheese Pastry
This is a delicious food made of dough, cheese, almonds, and soaked in a special sweet sauce. As a garnish, options include rose petals, fresh berries, or pistachios.
Balaleet: Breakfast and Dessert
Balaleet is an Emirati dish made with vermicelli, rose water, cinnamon, and saffron. It is served with a thin egg omelette on top. Balaleet is a type of food that can be served as a breakfast dish or as a dessert; for the best taste, it is usually decorated with pistachios before serving. You can find it at Emirati restaurants like Logma and Al Fanar in Dubai Festival City.
Luqaimat: Popular Emirati Dessert
Imagine a crunchy, sweet dumpling, dipped in a date syrup. It is made of butter, milk, sugar, flour, yeast, cardamom, and saffron. All the ingredients of this delicious meal are whipped and then deeply fried. You can try it in many restaurants, but the tastiest one you can find is in the Arabian Tea House Restaurant.
Gahwa (Arabic Coffee)
If you have never tried Gahwa, you’re missing out. This is traditional Middle Eastern coffee made from Arabica beans, spiced with cardamom and saffron. It’s vibrant and easy to make at home. If you like, you can add cloves and cinnamon to double the vibrancy.
Kellaj: Cheesy Delight
If you like unusual desserts, meet Kellaj. It is made of buttery pastry and filled with cheese, usually topped with sweet syrup or honey. Cheesy desserts are extraordinary; some people will like them, while others won’t, but they’re worth trying.
FAQ
What are the cheapest traditional Dubai foods?
Dishes like shawarma, falafel, kebabs, madrouba, and luqaimat are cheap and tasty, with prices starting from 6 AED.
Can I enjoy Emirati food if I’m vegan?
Traditional Emirati cuisine offers vegan options like tabbouleh, falafel, baba ganoush, and fatteh (without yogurt or meat).
Are Arabic desserts delicious?
Arabic desserts are rich in flavors, sweetened with syrups, and ingredients such as cardamom, rose water, saffron, and pistachios. Don’t miss your chance to try Knafeh, Baklava, Arabic-style Halwa, and Qatayef.