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.
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.
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
The UAE's most ubiquitous street food — slow-rotisserie chicken or lamb shaved into flatbread with garlic sauce and pickles. Quality varies widely. Lebanese-run shawarma stalls in Deira and Karama in Dubai consistently outperform the fast-food chains. Expect AED 5–15 as of 2026.
Mezze
A spread of small dishes — hummus, mutabbal (smoky aubergine dip), fattoush, tabbouleh, kibbeh, stuffed vine leaves. Common across Lebanese, Syrian, and Turkish restaurants throughout the UAE. A full mezze spread for two costs approximately AED 80–150 at a mid-range restaurant.
Harees
A traditional Emirati dish made from slow-cooked wheat and meat, usually lamb or chicken, broken down to a porridge consistency. Spiced simply with cinnamon. Served during Ramadan and at Emirati weddings. Rare on regular restaurant menus but found at Emirati-cuisine restaurants in Abu Dhabi.
Luqaimat
Small, deep-fried dumplings drizzled with date syrup (dibs) and sesame seeds. A classic Emirati street dessert, especially during Ramadan. Sold from carts at traditional souks and food markets. Typically AED 5–10 for a portion.
Al Machboos
The UAE's national rice dish — spiced rice slow-cooked with chicken, lamb, or shrimp and seasoned with loomi (dried lime), turmeric, and cinnamon. Often compared to biryani but distinctly Gulf in character. A staple at Emirati family restaurants and traditional lunch venues.
Fresh Seafood
Hamour (grouper), shrimp, and kingfish are local staples. Dubai Fish Market at Deira and Al Mina Fish Market in Abu Dhabi sell the day's catch at wholesale prices — buy fish and have it grilled on site. Upscale seafood restaurants around JBR and Yas Marina charge considerably more.
Karak Chai
Strong Indian-influenced tea brewed with evaporated milk, cardamom, and saffron — ubiquitous at any kiosk or small café across the UAE. A cup costs AED 1–3. Versions with ginger or rose water are common. The preferred quick fuel for the UAE's South Asian workforce and a growing local habit.
International Dining
Dubai is genuinely one of the world's most international food cities. Authentic Indian, Pakistani, Filipino, Ethiopian, Japanese, Korean, and Levantine restaurants serve resident communities at prices far below what tourists expect. The best cheap meals are in Deira, Karama, and 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
Best Restaurants in Dubai: By Budget and Neighbourhood
Dubai restaurant guide covering budget eats to fine dining — with specific names, prices, and neighbourhoods. Honest recommendations for every budget.
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: the top spots for chicken and meat shawarma, where locals eat, what to order, and why Dubai shawarma is some of the best in the world.
Food Guide
Dining in Abu Dhabi: Food Guide
Abu Dhabi dining guide: the best restaurants for every budget, Emirati food, Lebanese mezze, and hotel dining recommendations in the UAE capital.
Explore the food scene emirate by emirate