Local Emirati cuisine has been undersold on Dubai's food map for many years. However, this has recently shifted, with an increasing number of exciting new Emirati restaurants initiated across the city.
From delicious breads and tartlets to Arabic coffee and camel burgers, we've uncovered some of the best local dishes besides drinks to try during your visit to this Middle Eastern foodie oasis.
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These hot dumplings have a taste and texture similar to doughnuts. Cafés make fresh lots daily, served with a sticky date sauce and topped with sesame seeds. Local Bites Café in Jumeirah is a moral place to try them mid-morning with some hot coffee.
Originally from Palestine, this pastry dish has become a firm favorite among locals in the UAE. Made of sour cheese, brittle sugar syrup, and dough, it's best served immediately after being made.
One of the most popular seats is Qwaider Al Nabulsi in Deira. During Ramadan, guidelines for this dessert can reach thousands per day, as people demand it for iftar, the meal Muslims eat at nightfall to break their fast.
Conventionally, camel meat was not eaten by Emiratis. Still, current chefs in the city are increasingly trying their hand at cooking everything from camel sliders to camel biryani, burgers then stews.
Camel milk – slightly saltier than cow's milk – has extra protein, is lower in cholesterol, and is higher in vitamin C besides iron. Don't fancy a whole glass? Try camel milk ice cream instead. Arab cafés across the city have various flavors, with pistachio, chocolate, and dates.
Dubai isn't teetotal; besides, its cocktail scene is increasingly sparkling. Try the Anatolian Fizz at Ruya, made with sparkling wine, pomegranate molasses, citrus, rose, and raspberry. Ruya's cocktails are based on classic Turkish flavors, using ingredients such as hibiscus, rose, pomegranate, honey, spices, citrus, and mint. For inspiration, why not try out our hibiscus & prosecco cocktail, pomegranate amaretto tart, or frozen lychee & mint cocktails?
Like many dishes in the Emirates, these hot tartlet appetizers were influenced by flavors and systems that hail from across the Arabian Sea in India. Some are full of meat, vegetables, and spices, but the most prevalent local version is stuffed with three kinds of cheese. Discover our lovely vegetable samosas, or try our samosa pie for a twist on the definitive.
Complimentary Arabic coffee is accessible everywhere in the UAE, from government constructions to hotel foyers. For the good stuff, head to Café Bateel and try the Bateel signature qahwa, a traditional Arabic coffee made with frivolously roasted beans and cardamom, served through organic local dates.
This meaty, tomato-based flap is full of heat and cooked with turmeric, cumin, and bezar (a local garam masala-like spice mixture). Diverse variations can be found across the city, made with chicken or lamb, and some through baby marrow and potato.
The chicken margoogat dish at Aseelah in the Radisson Blu Hotel is a must-try, sideways from the restaurant's exciting menu of other traditional dishes besides experimental dishes.
These delicious Emirati-style pancakes are generally served at breakfast time. They're crammed with tart cheese and sweet date syrup, then heated. The cooking course causes the sweet and sour elements to combine with a flavor that's petite, like a decadent, boozy Swiss fondue.
Tasty ones are aided at Logma. Try our sour cream crêpes with Seville orange jam & amaretto sauce in a similar way that incorporates sweet and sour basics. Also, check out our packed pancake recipes.
As one of the famed nourishments of Dubai, Madrouba is mainly annoyed by chicken, though it is also served with fish, lamb, and creased grains per taste. Madrouba, meaning 'beaten' in Arabic, is set using rice, garlic, onion, tomatoes, yogurt, some seasoning, and then moderate use of butter, which gets beaten together in the last period of the recipe. The smoothly mashed dish is easily digestible and ideal for all ages.
Whether looking for a sweet or savory snack or a whole meal, Dubai's famous food allows you to explore the city's culinary delights. Visit us or call GT Holidays to learn how to book your trip to Dubai.
Avoid shop-bought versions of this definitive Arabic bread; try it at a bakery or cafeteria where they're making it fresh. It's perfect with fresh hummus and mutable (aubergine dip). For a theatrical display, see the Arabian Tea House, which has a crystal window to its bread kitchen. Try it alongside our lovely homemade hummus or our smoky aubergine & Chinese parsley dip.
Emiratis are excellently private people, but as part of creativity for outsiders to understand extra about the local way of life, Sheikh Mohammed, the ruler of Dubai, set up a socially sympathetic program that offers travelers the occasion to dine through an Emirati family.
Generally, only restaurant-privileged hotels can legally aid alcohol in Dubai. Alcohol is on sale at the city's hidden-away liquor provisions, but only expat residents with a liquor license (affirming that they are not Muslim) can shop here.
Up to four liters of beer, wine, or spirits can be believed by tourists landing at Dubai International Airport at the duty-free shop in the gear collection hall.
Check the Islamic calendar to see if your trip overlaps with any religious dates. Some spiritual holidays are unfriendly, and the city will be dry, meaning no alcohol will be served. During the holy month of Ramadan, many of the city's cafés and restaurants shut down wholly during daylight hours when Muslims are fasting.
Go on an ambulatory tour to get a human feel for the city's food division. Frying Pan Adventures suggests a Middle Eastern food tour, covering Palestinian, Lebanese, and Emirati hole-in-the-wall outlets and routes to the city's Indian food legacy.
There is a rich, diverse Asian food scene in Dubai, primarily thanks to the sizeable Indian and Pakistani societies. Ravi Restaurant – serving up delicious Pakistani chicken kadai in addition to mutton peshawar – is an institute and a low at around £10 per individual.
Which are the Best Places to Eat in Dubai?
Ninive
Restaurant portions of modern, elevated Middle Eastern cuisine are less shared in the city than you might think, but Ninive easily chiefs this category. Set in the landmark Emirates Towers on Sheikh Zayed Road, the cafeteria is modeled after a modern majlis and bounded by lush greenery inspired by the Hanging Gardens of Babylon.
Dishes from Iran, Iraq, Turkey, Morocco, and the wider MENA region type up the menu designed to be shared. Signatures include the pumpkin spinach kibbeh, chicken tagine, and three, an Iraqi dish entailing of slow-cooked mutton shoulder joint beside crispy bread.
Trèsind Studio
Trèsind Studio is broadly regarded as the best Indian cafeteria in Dubai. This modern tasting menu concept, skippered by Himanshu Saini, is making waves on a global level, having been crowned the World's 11th best restaurant at 2023's World's 50 Best Restaurants honors. Starting with its famous pani puri, the menu's 16 courses take companies to the four corners of India while celebrating the diversity of the country's ingredients and cultural heritage.
The blossom chaat with pumpkin mash and chutney are among the standout dishes. Bursting with vibrant colors and flavors, each element is meticulously plated, with the result akin to an exertion of art. With just 20 seats, the dining room is intimate, attention to detail is spotless, and the team housed in the open theatre-style kitchen achieves the seemingly incredible task of producing the food taste as decent as it looks.
The Maine Oyster Bar & Grill
The Maine Oyster Bar & Grill is a prime sample of style meeting substance and consistency meeting quality. One of the first cafeterias to stock the UAE's Dibba Bay oysters, diners come to Maine for the straightforward, ingredient-driven menu of craveable dishes and vacation for the signature calm, carefree ambiance. With three garrisons across the city, the terrace at the innovative seaside place on JBR remains the best residence to while away the vacation through a seafood platter and a glass of something shiny.
Orfali Bros Bistro
To eat at Orfali Bros Bistro is to tell the story of Mohamad, Wassim, and Omar Orfali, three talented and charismatic brothers from Syria who made their home in Dubai and left an indelible mark on its food division. Though the cups at this laid-back neighborhood eatery are rooted in Middle Eastern flavors, they are unfair by Mohamad's travels and the ingredients and techniques he's picked up along the way.
The restaurant's ethos is in person by the so-called Come With Me to Aleppo, a standout dish of boldly spiced and skillfully presented Wagyu tenderloin skewers topped with a sour cherry reduction. While Wassim and Omar run the restaurant's on a higher floor pastry section, Mohamad is a constant figure on the floor, explaining each dish as it appears and sharing a little bit of his philosophy with all guests.
Flamingo Room by Tashas
Founded by South African restaurateur Natasha Sideris, Flamingo Room by Tashas is a jewel in Jumeirah Al Naseem's fine-dining crown. Located at the picturesque Turtle Lagoon, the restaurant's interiors are as pretty as its surroundings. Taking inspiration from its namesake, pastel pinks are complemented by crystal and zebra-print accents. At the same time, dramatic baobab-inspired color-changing chandeliers drop from the ceiling, putting this spot in the running for Dubai's prettiest dining room.
The menu, meanwhile, pays homage to Sideris's African roots in an elevated fashion. Mains are designed to be shared, with the signature calamari Mozambique serving as the show's star. Order the malva pudding with vanilla ice cream and spiced crème anglaise for dessert.
11 Woodfire
A celebration of natural flavors and ingredient-led cooking, 11 Woodfire is the poster child for simple food done well. Nestled in the heart of Jumeirah, this homegrown concept led by renowned Singaporean chef Akmal Anuar has built a loyal following of locals who stop by for leisurely lunches, social dinners, or weekend breakfasts with friends. Small plates are followed by signature hearty grills from the impressive open-fire kitchen that dominates the space. Take advantage of the smash-style wagyu burger topped with melted gouda and encased in a potato bun—a crave-able, instant star dish.
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Harees. Harees is one of the most famous Dubai foods, comprising crushed wheat and minced meat with onions and ground cumin. It's a more traditional dish served at weddings, festivals, and often during special occasions like Ramadan.
From traditional Emirati dishes to international cuisine, the local restaurants of Dubai have something to offer for every palate. Try Machboos, a fragrant rice dish made with spices, meat, and vegetables for a taste of local flavor. Or sample Luqaimat, sweet dumplings that are deep-fried and served with date syrup.
Madrouba is one of Dubai's most popular foods, and it also has fans in Bahrain and Oman. Madrouba with chicken is the best-known variety, though it's also served with fish, lamb, and crushed grains. It's prepared using rice, garlic, onion, tomatoes, yogurt and seasoning.
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