Top Arabic food to try in Dubai
Every country has its own national dishes that all tourists want to try. The colorful cuisine of the UAE is no exception. Unfortunately, it is becoming increasingly difficult to try local culinary masterpieces in the Emirates. Not every restaurant offers authentic Emirati dishes, so most tourists confuse local cuisine with Middle Eastern cuisine.
Dubai rightfully bears the title of the gastronomic capital of the world. In one establishment here, they can serve Italian pasta and Indian curry. The real cuisine of the Arab Emirates is called "Emirati cuisine". Tourists who dream of trying local dishes need to look for Arabic restaurants with this mark.
In order to taste Arabic food in Dubai and make your gastronomic tour with comfort and style, you will need a means of transportation. And what could be better than a luxury car that will take you to the doors of a chic restaurant? Therefore, we suggest you check out the VIP rent a car in Dubai — Trinity Rental Boutique, which is known for its diverse car fleet. More than 80 cars, including 2024 models, minimal mileage, excellent condition, no deposit required.
The price includes:
- full tank of gasoline;
- VAT;
- full insurance;
- toll roads.
You can pay for the rental in cash, crypto, or credit card (Visa or Mastercard), and you can rent a car with a driver and order delivery to the airport, to the hotel, directly to the restaurant — anywhere. Tell your manager all the details, and he will help you with everything. Imagine you rent Ferrari or rent Lamborghini or any other luxury car to enjoy your drive around Dubai so you can easily blend in.
Understanding Emirati Traditional Food and Emirati Culture
Traditional UAE cuisine is similar to other oriental cuisines. Here, food is generously seasoned with spices, meat, and vegetables are also wrapped in thin flatbreads, and chickpea dishes are also prepared. And the cooking methods are the same: the Bedouins preferred those that were cooked in one pot to all other dishes — there is no water for washing dishes in the desert. But what decorates even the most ordinary food is the set of spices.
There is not a single Arabic dish with meat that would not be generously supplemented with cloves, turmeric, coriander, hot pepper, cumin, cardamom, and cinnamon. All these spices are borrowed from India. But a special local additive is dried lime, or loomi, which is used to flavor meat and rice dishes. It adds sourness and a light aroma of smoke from a fire. Meat dishes have an unusual taste not only because of the spices but also because of sour sauces with lemon, tamarind, and pomegranate juice.
Until the Emirates became a rich country, the locals' meals were modest and not very varied: on weekdays — rice, flatbread, camel milk, and dates, on holidays — stewed lamb or goat. The diet of those who lived near the coast was supplemented by fish.
But what about shawarma, you ask? Shawarma is not on the list of national dishes of the UAE, nor is it hummus or falafel. It turns out that the Arab Emirates love these dishes, but do not consider them their own. The Arabic food in Dubai and the traditional cuisine of the country have their own recipes. We offer you the top national dishes of the UAE, which every tourist should definitely try. So, what is the best thing to try in the UAE?
Fareed or Tharyd
The National dish of the UAE — fareed or tharyd — even though spelled differently, they are equally delicious. This Arabic dish can be prepared in different ways. Its basis is meat, which is stewed with vegetables, and any that are at hand at the moment. This can be, for example, pumpkin, potatoes, zucchini, or tomatoes. When serving, thin raka bread (resembling a flatbread) is placed on the bottom of the plate, which absorbs the juice formed during stewing. Sometimes rice is offered as a side dish with fareed. It is also possible to add rice to the dish instead of bread.
Restaurant: Aseelah Middle Eastern & Emirati Restaurant
Address: Radisson Blu Hotel, Dubai Deira Creek
Price: 35 AED
Al Madrooba
One of the most famous dishes from the national cuisine of the UAE. It is salted fish, which is additionally boiled with the addition of flour and aromatic spices. Al Madrooba is served with a sauce that emphasizes its unusual piquant taste. This Arabic dish is popular with tourists.
Restaurant: Neem Restaurant And Cafeteria LLC
Address: 2 Algeria St — Muhaisanah 2
Price: 13 AED
Al Harris
This national dish of the UAE consists of only a few ingredients: wheat and meat, which are stewed together in a pot. It would seem that there is nothing unusual, if not for one “but”: the cooking time is at least 5 hours. As a result, the original components are boiled so much that they are very difficult to recognize. They turn into almost a homogeneous paste. When serving, this Arabic dish is poured with melted butter.
Such a simple, tasty, and aromatic dish is prepared for big holidays, for example, Ramadan, or rather, at its end. It is also served at weddings, festivals, and other events.
Restaurant: Harees Al Fareej Restaurant
Address: Al Khawaneej — Dubai
Price: 16 AED
Umm Ali
This dessert with a delicate aroma is an unleavened bread pudding soaked in syrup, most often made from rose petals. Chopped nuts, raisins, and dried fruits are added to the syrup. The pudding is made from dough that contains butter and milk, which gives the dish a light creamy flavor. The dessert goes especially well with Arabic coffee.
Legend has it that a long time ago, by order of the queen, a military leader was executed who had a “special” son (the boy was feebleminded). His mother was able to take revenge on the queen, and at a feast held in honor of this event, she treated guests to this pudding with syrup. Translated, “umm ali” means “mother Ali”, which was the name of this boy. That is why this dessert is considered a symbol of justice.
Restaurant: Um Ali Restaurant
Address: Al Warqa 1 — Dubai
Price: 46 AED
Biryani
This Arabic dish is somewhat reminiscent of the usual pilaf. It has similar ingredients: rice and meat (lamb, chicken), and vegetables. Sometimes there are variations of this dish with fish.
Like other dishes of Eastern cuisine, biryani is generously supplemented with spices that are fried in a frying pan. The meat, cut into strips, is placed on top of the spices, and rice (pre-boiled until almost done) is placed on top, and all these components are simmered. An additional piquant note to the dish is given by crushed pistachios, which are added at the end of cooking, and raisins.
Restaurant: Al Fanar Restaurant & Cafe
Address: Dubai Festival City Mall, Near P.F.Chang's, Canal Walk
Price: 76-78 AED
Briks
The UAE is located on the shores of two bays at once, and therefore seafood and fish dishes are not uncommon in the local cuisine. Briks are very tasty pies with a filling of fish or shrimp (although sometimes they are even prepared with lamb, vegetables, and sweet fillings — an excellent option for those who do not like seafood).
The pies have a triangular shape and are made from thin puff pastry. They are fried in oil, due to which they turn out crispy. Before eating, they can be poured with lemon juice and supplemented with fresh herbs.
Restaurant: Iran Zamin Marina
Address: Dubai Marina Iris Blue Building, Beside Grosvenor House
Price: 35 AED
Fattoush
This Arabic dish is light and, at the same time, hearty salad. Its ingredients are: vegetables (cucumbers, carrots, lettuce, tomatoes), aromatic herbs (any, the main thing is that there is mint among them), and dried pieces of lavash or pita. Lemon juice is used as a dressing. The dish turns out refreshing and original, a little reminiscent of the famous Caesar salad with croutons.
Restaurant: Operation Falafel
Address: Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Blvd — Downtown Dubai
Price: 25 AED
Balalit
This dish is often eaten by the Emirates for breakfast. It consists of two parts: sweet and salty noodles and an omelet, which is placed on top. Sometimes they do the opposite: the omelet serves as the bottom part in which the vermicelli is wrapped. An important feature: the omelet is prepared exclusively from eggs, without adding milk.
Additional notes to this dish are added by rose water, cardamom, saffron, and sugar, due to which it acquires an interesting and rich taste.
Restaurant: Al Fanar Restaurant
Address: Dubai Festival City, Canal Walk
Price: 48 AED
Muttabal
This appetizer, which is a pate (caviar) of eggplant, is very popular in the Emirates. When preparing it, nuts, sesame seeds, and garlic are added to the vegetables.
Muttabal has a rich, delicate taste and a pleasant aroma. It can be spread on pita or lavash, or you can use their pieces instead of a fork. Also, the appetizer is good as an independent dish or, for example, a side dish for meat or fish.
Restaurant: Al Maeda Restaurant & Lounge
Address: DoubleTree by Hilton Dubai — Jumeirah Beach
Price: 15 AED
Manakish
These simple round flatbreads are so delicious that the locals love them. Like pizza, manakish can be cut into pieces or rolled up, and is served for breakfast or lunch.
Restaurant: Al Hallab
Address: Boulevard Building 29, Mohammed Bin Rashid Boulevard
Price: 10 AED
Summing up
In the Arab Emirates, tourists are primarily attracted by the luxurious complexes, ultra-modern architecture, and pristine clean beaches. However, the unknown part of the journey to this country is getting to know its cuisine.
Some Emirati national dishes are sold in street food trucks, mainly those that are wrapped in lavash or flatbread. In the major cities of the Emirates, and in Dubai in particular the quality of food is at a high level, so you can safely get acquainted with the local cuisine. In general, most traditional dishes are served in restaurants, of which there are many in this country, for every taste.
FAQ
What is the most popular food in Dubai?
One of the most well-liked dishes in Dubai is madrouba, which also has admirers in Bahrain and Oman. The most popular type of madrouba is served with chicken, but it can also be served with lamb, fish, or crushed grains.
What is the most popular street food in Dubai?
The best-selling dishes are shawarma sandwiches, spicy shawarma, chicken shawarma, salad, and seafood rice. Indian, Afghan-Pakistani, Ethiopian, and Sudanese street food is popular in Dubai, such as Palestinian falafel, the best chicken tikka since 1977 at Sind Punjab, freshly baked bread with cream cheese and za'atar, or egg rolls with spicy chips.
What do locals eat in Dubai?
If you're referring to Emiratis when you say "locals," you'll see a lot of them at McDonald's and other fast-food restaurants in shopping centers. People who live in Dubai, 90% of whom are not Emirati, eat at the restaurants you see in hotels, shopping centers, and other establishments eating international cuisine. But that doesn't mean locals don't eat local food. Above you can read what they like and what food is popular.
Is Arab food healthy?
Arabic cuisine is known for its healthiness as it relies on traditional cooking methods such as ovens, grills, clay pots, etc. Additionally, the frequent use of vegetables, grains, legumes, and lean proteins in recipes makes them so delicious without adding to the overall calorie count of the food. Oriental cuisine not only includes healthier food components but also contains light and hearty spices.
Do you tip in Dubai?
Unlike some Western countries, tipping is not obligatory in Dubai. Wages in the service industry are usually set by law, and restaurants often include a service charge in the bill. In Arabic restaurants, when paying the bill without a service charge, it is customary to leave a tip of up to 15% if the service is satisfactory. For small orders, it is recommended to round up to the nearest 10-20 AED.
What do Arabs eat at night?
During the fast, you can eat any food at night, except for food that is forbidden for all Muslims, such as pork. The evening meal after sunset is called iftar, and the morning meal before dawn is called suhoor.