Food · Dubai · United Arab Emirates
What to eat in Dubai
The dishes, drinks and food experiences that define Dubai, and where locals actually eat them.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: imran shahabuddin, CC BY 2.0
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Quick answer
Start with Shawarma, Machboos and Harees. The Sheikh Mohammed Centre for Cultural Understanding in Al Fahidi hosts breakfasts and lunches of Emirati dishes with an open question-and-answer session on local culture and religion. Alcohol is served only in licensed venues, mostly hotel restaurants and bars.
Key facts
- Signature dish
- Shawarma
- Vegetarian-friendly picks
- 8
- Tipping
- Many restaurants include a service charge.
- Food experiences
- 4
12 foods to try
Street food
1.Shawarma
Spiced chicken or lamb carved from a rotating spit and wrapped in thin flatbread with garlic sauce, pickles and fries — the city's favourite quick meal.
Where: Cafeterias in Deira, Bur Dubai, Satwa and Karama, many open late.
Dish
2.Machboos (Al machboos)
The Emirati national dish: rice slow-cooked with chicken, lamb or fish, dried limes (loomi) and a warm spice blend called bezar.
Where: Emirati restaurants in Al Fahidi and Al Seef, and cultural meals at the Sheikh Mohammed Centre.
Dish
3.Harees
Wheat and meat slow-cooked and beaten into a smooth porridge, seasoned simply with salt and ghee — a dish for Ramadan and celebrations.
Where: Emirati restaurants, especially during Ramadan.
Dessert · Vegetarian
4.Luqaimat
Crisp, golden dumplings flavoured with saffron and cardamom, drizzled with date syrup (dibs) and sprinkled with sesame seeds.
Where: Emirati cafés, festivals and stalls at Global Village.
Breakfast · Vegetarian
5.Balaleet
Sweet vermicelli scented with saffron, cardamom and rose water, topped with a thin omelette — a traditional Emirati breakfast.
Where: Emirati restaurants serving breakfast.
Breakfast · Vegetarian
6.Chebab
Emirati pancakes spiced with cardamom and saffron, served with date syrup and soft cheese.
Where: Emirati cafés and breakfast menus.
Bakery · Vegetarian
7.Manakish
Levantine flatbread baked with za'atar and olive oil, cheese or minced meat, eaten for breakfast or as a snack.
Where: Lebanese bakeries across the city, especially in Jumeirah, Karama and Al Barsha.
Dessert · Vegetarian
8.Kunafa
Shredded pastry or semolina layered with soft cheese, baked and soaked in sugar syrup, and served warm with pistachios.
Where: Arabic sweet shops and Lebanese restaurants.
Drink · Vegetarian
9.Karak chai
Strong black tea boiled with evaporated milk, sugar and cardamom, sold in small paper cups from roadside cafeterias — the city's everyday drink.
Where: Cafeterias and karak stalls everywhere, many with drive-up service.
Drink · Vegetarian
10.Arabic coffee and dates (Gahwa)
Lightly roasted coffee spiced with cardamom and sometimes saffron, poured into small cups from a dallah pot and served with dates as a sign of hospitality.
Where: Hotel lobbies, cultural centres and Emirati restaurants.
Drink · Vegetarian
11.Camel milk
Slightly salty and lower in fat than cow's milk, camel milk is sold fresh, in coffees and as camel-milk chocolate.
Where: Supermarkets, cafés and gift shops; camel-milk chocolate makes a popular souvenir.
Dish
12.Biryani and South Asian food
Large South Asian communities make Dubai excellent for Indian, Pakistani and Sri Lankan food — biryani, karahi and dosa served in simple restaurants.
Where: Karama, Bur Dubai and Al Rigga in Deira.
Food experiences
Cultural meal at the Sheikh Mohammed Centre
The Sheikh Mohammed Centre for Cultural Understanding in Al Fahidi hosts breakfasts and lunches of Emirati dishes with an open question-and-answer session on local culture and religion.
Weekend brunch
Hotel brunches with long buffets and drinks packages are a Dubai institution, mostly held on Saturdays and some Fridays; book ahead in winter.
Street food in Deira and Karama
Cafeterias in Al Rigga, Deira and Karama serve shawarma, Pakistani grills and South Indian dosas at low prices, often late into the night.
Iftar during Ramadan
During Ramadan, hotels and restaurants serve iftar meals at sunset to break the fast, and visitors are welcome to join.
Quick bites and street food
- Shawarma — Cafeterias in Deira, Bur Dubai, Satwa and Karama, many open late.
- Balaleet — Emirati restaurants serving breakfast.
- Chebab — Emirati cafés and breakfast menus.
- Manakish — Lebanese bakeries across the city, especially in Jumeirah, Karama and Al Barsha.
Vegetarian options
Of the 12 foods in this guide, 8 are usually vegetarian: Luqaimat, Balaleet, Chebab, Manakish, Kunafa, Karak chai, Arabic coffee and dates and Camel milk. Check preparation with staff, as stocks and fats vary.
Eating out: tips and etiquette
- Alcohol is served only in licensed venues, mostly hotel restaurants and bars.
- Many restaurants add a service charge; check the bill before adding a tip of about 10%.
- During Ramadan, eat and drink discreetly in public during daylight hours, though many restaurants stay open.
- The weekend is Saturday and Sunday, and restaurants are busiest on Friday and Saturday evenings.
- Tap water is desalinated and treated, but most people drink bottled or filtered water.
Tipping
Many restaurants include a service charge. A tip of about 10% is customary where it is not added, and rounding up taxi fares and tipping hotel porters and valets a small amount is common.
| Phrase | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Marhaba | Hello |
| As-salamu alaykum | Peace be upon you (greeting) |
| Shukran | Thank you |
| Min fadlak | Please (to a man) |
| Yalla | Let's go |
| Inshallah | God willing |
| Kam? | How much? |
Questions travellers ask
+What food is Dubai famous for?
Shawarma, Machboos, Harees and Luqaimat. Spiced chicken or lamb carved from a rotating spit and wrapped in thin flatbread with garlic sauce, pickles and fries — the city's favourite quick meal.
+Is Dubai good for vegetarians?
Several local staples are meat-free, including Luqaimat, Balaleet and Chebab.
+Do you tip in restaurants in Dubai?
Many restaurants include a service charge. A tip of about 10% is customary where it is not added, and rounding up taxi fares and tipping hotel porters and valets a small amount is common.