Food Guide
Abu Dhabi Corniche Restaurants: Waterfront Dining Guide
Corniche waterfront restaurants from casual Italian to fresh-catch seafood and Emirates Palace fine dining, with specific prices for every budget.
UAE Cuisine
UAE Food Guide: What to Eat and Where
Emirati cuisine is largely absent from tourist menus but well worth seeking out - slow-cooked meat and rice dishes, date-based desserts, and spiced soups that reflect centuries of Bedouin and Gulf trading heritage. Day-to-day eating in the UAE is dominated by Lebanese, Indian, and Filipino food, reflecting the makeup of the resident population.
Dubai in particular is one of the most diverse food cities in the world. Eating cheaply is entirely possible - a proper meal in Deira costs AED 15–25 ($4–7). The expensive end is genuinely world-class: multiple Michelin-starred restaurants operate in Dubai and Abu Dhabi. We have written food guides for all covered cities.
Food by Emirate
Each city guide includes a dedicated food page covering must-eat dishes, local specialities, and where to eat them.
What to Eat in the UAE
Eight dishes and food experiences that reflect what people actually eat here - from Emirati home cooking to the street food everyone eats daily.
Shawarma
Slow-rotisserie chicken or lamb shaved into flatbread with garlic and pickles. Lebanese stalls in Deira outperform chains. AED 5-15.
Mezze
Spread of hummus, mutabbal, tabbouleh, kibbeh. Common in Lebanese and Turkish restaurants. AED 80-150 for two.
Harees
Slow-cooked wheat and meat porridge with cinnamon. Traditional Ramadan dish at Emirati restaurants.
Luqaimat
Deep-fried dumplings with date syrup and sesame. Classic Emirati dessert. Ramadan specialty from souk carts.
Al Machboos
UAE national rice dish with chicken, lamb or shrimp. Seasoned with loomi, turmeric, cinnamon. Gulf staple.
Fresh Seafood
Hamour, shrimp, kingfish local staples. Fish markets in Deira and Abu Dhabi sell catch wholesale - grill on site.
Karak Chai
Strong spiced tea with milk, cardamom, saffron. Ubiquitous at UAE kiosks. AED 1-3 per cup.
International Dining
Dubai has authentic Indian, Pakistani, Filipino, Ethiopian, Japanese, Korean restaurants. Cheap meals in Deira, Karama, International City.
Best Cities for Food
Dubai
Dubai's food scene is genuinely world-class across all price points. Deira concentrates the best cheap eating - Pakistani dhabas, Lebanese shawarma stalls, Indian thali restaurants. JBR, DIFC, and Downtown Dubai have the upscale international restaurants. Gold Souk area for the best authentic lunch.
City guide to Dubai →Abu Dhabi
Abu Dhabi has a stronger Emirati food tradition than Dubai. The Corniche area and Al Mina market are good for fresh seafood and traditional Emirati dishes. Yas Island concentrates tourist-oriented international dining. Mina Port area has excellent mid-range Lebanese and seafood restaurants.
City guide to Abu Dhabi →Sharjah
Sharjah is the UAE's most affordable emirate for eating. The Blue Souk and Al Jubail Fish Market areas have excellent cheap seafood. The city's large South Asian population supports some of the best value Indian and Pakistani food in the UAE, well below Dubai prices for the same quality.
City guide to Sharjah →Food Guides
In-depth guides to the cuisine, restaurants, and street food scene.
Food Guide
Dubai Food Guide: What to Eat, Where to Go, and Prices
Dubai food guide: Spice Souk street eats, Deira shawarma, Emirati machboos in Old Dubai, and the fine dining strip - with named venues and AED prices.
Food Guide
Ajman Food Guide: What to Eat in the UAE's Smallest Emirate
Ajman food guide: fresh-caught hammour at the dhow harbour, Emirati khabees, Malabar biryani, and why Ajman is the UAE's most underrated food stop.
Food Guide
Fujairah Food Guide: What to Eat on the East Coast
Fujairah food guide: Gulf of Oman seafood, slow-cooked Emirati stews, fresh fish markets, and where to find them on the UAE's rugged east coast.
Food Guide
Ras Al Khaimah Food Guide: What to Eat in RAK
Ras Al Khaimah food guide: grilled hammour at the old fish market, slow-cooked harees, sweet luqaimat, and oysters at Suwaidi Pearl Farm.
Food Guide
Sharjah Food Guide: What to Eat in the Cultural Capital
Sharjah food guide: Emirati harees and jareesh, Persian rice dishes, Lebanese mezze, and why the UAE cultural capital has one of its best food scenes.
Food Guide
Umm Al Quwain Food Guide: What to Eat in UAQ
Umm Al Quwain food guide: mangrove crab, slow-cooked Emirati rice dishes, fresh-caught fish, and the most traditional local dining in the UAE.
Food Guide
Dubai Friday Brunch Guide
Guide to Dubai's legendary Friday brunch scene: the best hotels, price ranges, what to expect, and how to book. From AED 250 to AED 800 per person.
Food Guide
Fine Dining in Dubai: Michelin Restaurants and Tasting Menus
Fine dining in Dubai: Michelin-starred restaurants, celebrity chef venues, and serious tasting menus: with prices and booking advice for 2026.
Food Guide
UAE Food Guide: What to Eat and Where
Guide to UAE cuisine: from shawarma and Arabic mezze to Emirati rice dishes and Dubai's world-class restaurant scene. What to eat across the emirates.
Food Guide
Best Shawarma in Dubai
Best shawarma in Dubai: Al Mallah in Satwa, Hatam Al Tai in Deira and Shawarma Al Basha - chicken or lamb, AED 8–18, ranked by locals not tourists.
Food Guide
Where to Eat in Abu Dhabi: Best Restaurants for Every Budget
Dining in Abu Dhabi: AED 40 Hamdan Street biryani to Emirates Palace fine dining - best restaurants for every budget, including must-try Emirati dishes.
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