Since times immemorial, traditional food of UAE has always been a delicacy to die for. So steeped in tradition, some dishes are sweet even to decay your sweet tooth, while others are spicy enough to make smoke come out of your ears.
The cuisine of UAE contains delicious dishes that are full of various flavors that all come together to create something special. In addition, it shares similarities with the cuisine of its neighboring countries like Saudi Arabia, Oman, and even Mughal Indian cuisine.
The United Arab Emirates is typically associated with glitzy skyscrapers, high-living lifestyles, and a polyglot population.
Yet, behind the image, the UAE still has a rich culinary history, deeply rooted in Bedouin traditions and spiced with Persian, Indian, and Mediterranean influences.
Emirati food is proof of the nation’s desert roots, nomadic existence, and tradition of hospitality in which food was never meant to be served in solitude or to strangers.
Best Traditional Food Of UAE
Most of the dishes are rich and full, designed to sustain people during the harsh desert climate. On the other hand, celebratory foods mark occasions such as Ramadan, Eid, and weddings. In my opinion, some of the best traditional food of UAE with pictures and names are:
1. Manakish
Where To Eat: Easily available in many street food vendors
Price: 15 AED – 30 AED
Manakish is a traditional Lebanese delicacy that has been imbibed in the culture of the UAE as well. This should be renamed “Middle Eastern Pizza” – because that’s what it actually is.
The Manakish gets made with bread filled to the brim with cheese, loads of vegetables, and meat, with a dash of oil on top. In addition to being one of the best snacks amongst middle eastern nations, this is by far the best traditional food of UAE.
2. Shawarma
Although its origins lie in the Levant, shawarma has become one of the most popular street foods in the UAE. Thin slices of marinated chicken, beef, or lamb are cooked on a rotating vertical spit and then wrapped in warm Arabic bread.
- UAE signature flavor: Usually spiced hotter than anywhere else, with spicy local sauces.
- Most enjoyed with: Garlic sauce, tahini, pickles, and a glass of cold laban (yogurt drink).
- Where to find: From fancy restaurants to late-night street stalls, every neighborhood has its version.
3. Al Harees
Where To Eat: Harees Al Wadha, Abu Dhabi
Price: 21 AED (Small plate – serves one), 32 AED (Medium plate – serves two), 42 AED (Large plate – serves three)
One of the oldest traditional food of UAE, you will get to see this dish in almost every marriage ceremony and festival in the country. Popular during the religious month of Ramadan, this dish is easy to make, despite taking a few hours to prepare.
Al Harees is made by boiling wheat and salted water in a clay pot for an hour or two. After that, meat is added to the mixture before being boiled for three more hours. While it may take quite some time to get the dish on your table, it is worth the wait.
4. Shish Tawouk Sandwich
This Middle Eastern favorite has earned an exclusive place in UAE cuisine. The sandwich features tender chicken cubes seasoned with yogurt, lemon juice, paprika, and garlic, grilled on sticks, and served in Arabic bread.
- Available at: Lebanese restaurants, food courts, and roadside cafeterias.
- Cultural fact: Generally eaten as a quick lunch or casual evening snack after visits with friends.
5. Al Machboos
Where To Eat: Al Fanar Restaurant and Cafe, Dubai Festival City Mall
Price: 50 – 70 AED
If you have ever tasted the famous Indian delicacy Biryani, consider this its middle eastern cousin. One of the few rice-based traditional food of UAE, the Al Machboos is the traditional food of UAE, with a stress on the word “the.”
Like the Indian biryani, it is made by steaming rice in an oven with lots of spices and meat. Sometimes, shrimp and fish are used instead.
However, what makes this different from the traditional Indian biryani is the inclusion of Loomy – dried lemons that give it its tangy flavor.
6. Thereed
One of the most traditional Emirati dishes, Thereed is a meat stew (goat, lamb, or chicken) with vegetables such as zucchini, carrots, and potatoes, all placed on thin Emirati bread called Regag.
- Historical significance: The dish has also been favored by Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), which makes it even more culturally important.
- When served: Typically prepared during Ramadan iftar, as it’s satisfying but doesn’t weigh heavily on the stomach.
7. Fattoush
Where To Eat: Al Halabi in the Mall of the Emirates, Aroos Damascus, Al Muraqqabad
Price: 20 AED – 30 AED
If you are on a diet or a vegan, then the Fattoush is what you need to taste. One of the healthier traditional food of UAE on this list, this salad with bread is a fantastic choice for green food lovers.
Levantine bread is mixed with diced tomatoes, cucumber, onion, and garlic. It then gets topped off with lettuce and mint leaves. Finally, it gets served with a dash of lime to make it lip-smackingly tasty.
8. Shirin Polo
Alternatively referred to as Persian Jeweled Rice, Shirin Polo is a richly colored rice dish that reflects the Persian legacy of Emirati fare. It’s garnished with candied orange peel, carrots, pistachios, almonds, and raisins.
- Flavor profile: Sweet, nutty, and fragrant.
- Role in culture: Often served on wedding and celebratory occasions.
- Why “jeweled rice”?: The flavorful garnishes resemble sparkling gems.
9. Kousa Mahshi
Where To Eat: Leila Restaurant, Sheik Mohammed Bin Rashid Boulevard, Dubai
Price: 30 AED – 50 AED
If you are up for some tasty fun with vegetables, then try out the Kousa Mahshi. There are two variants available of this traditional food of UAE – one is made with zucchini, while the other gets made with courgettes.
Here, the zucchini or the courgettes get stuffed with rice, meat, and yogurt. Diners typically serve it with mint leaves and garlic paste on top. Best served with a glass of Lebanese wine to soak in the flavors.
10. Chello Kebab
The Iranian original has become a UAE favorite. Chello Kebab pairs light saffron rice with lamb or chicken kebabs cooked to perfection.
- Accompaniments: Blackened tomatoes, Sumac spice, and butter rice.
- Cultural note: Once favored by Persian Emiratis, now enjoyed by everyone.
- Perfect with: Doogh, a cool yogurt beverage.
11. Balaleet
Where To Eat: Logma in Boxpark- 28 AED per plate, and Al Fanar in Dubai Festival
Price: 40 AED
One of the best traditional food of UAE to have for breakfast in the morning, the Balaleet is deliciously sweet and salty at the same time. This vermicelli-based dish is made with a dash of rose water, saffron, and cinnamon as sweeteners.
When you are served this food, it will look similar to an American chop suey because of the whole egg omelet on top and some added pistachio for garnishing.
12. Mahalabiya
A rich, aromatic milk pudding, Mahalabiya is a dessert that is as light as it is rich.
- Flavor: Infused with rose water or orange blossom, topped with pistachios.
- Where you’ll see it: Weddings, Ramadan iftars, and family gatherings.
- Why it’s loved: Its cooling, silky texture makes it an ideal dessert after heavy meals.
13. Khuzi
Where To Eat: Bu Qtair Fish Restaurant, old 32B street, Fishing Harbor 2
Price: 60 AED -90 AED
By far the most famous traditional food of UAE, the Khuzi (also known as the Ghuzi) is rightfully termed the national food of UAE. Another rice-based dish similar to the Al Machboos is served with roasted lamb or mutton on top of spicy rice that contains a great fill of vegetables and nuts.
14. Knafeh
Called the queen of Arabic desserts, Knafeh is a filled cheese pastry topped with ground pistachios and syrup-soaked.
- Variations: Made with semolina dough, some others as vermicelli strands.
- Popularity in the UAE: Ramadan special, often consumed late at night.
- How to enjoy it: Fresh hot from the oven, when cheese becomes stretched and meFattoushlted.
15. Fatteh
Where To Eat: Ayam Elezz, Umm Suqeim
Price: 30 AED
Fatteh is an excellent evening traditional food of UAE. This three-layered meal is packed with lots of ingredients.
The bottom layer has bread stuffed with stock. The middle layer is a thick layer of chickpeas, aubergines, and stuffed vegetables, while the top layer is a thin layer of yogurt and tahini sauce. Have it alongside pine nuts, paprika, and parsley to get an overdose of varieties of lip-smacking flavors.
16. Arabic Coffee (Gahwa)
No Emirati meal would be complete without Gahwa, traditional Arabic coffee. Made with lightly roasted coffee beans, cardamom, saffron, and cloves, it’s served unsweetened in small cups.
- Symbolism: A part of Emirati respect and hospitality.
- Served with: Fresh dates are always served along with it.
- Tradition: Served out of a dallah (Arabic coffee pot) into minute handle-less cups called finjaan.
17. Luqaimat
Where To Eat: The Arabian Tea House Restaurant and Cafe in Bastakiya
Price: 25 AED
To end your meal with what is the traditional food of UAE that counts as a dessert, this sweet dumpling is made with milk, sugar, butter, yeast, saffron, flour, and cardamom. Whip these ingredients together to create a fried sweet batter until it’s golden in color. You will find this easily during the month of Ramadan.
18. Jellab Drink
Jellab is a sweet, Middle Eastern beverage made with grape molasses, rose water, and dates and topped with raisins and pine nuts.
- Taste: Sweet and fruity.
- Best time to drink: Best to quench the heat-swollen throat on a summer day or finish off a vibrant Ramadan fast.
19. Karak
Where To Eat: Any roadside tea stall
Price: 1 AED
If you want traditional food of UAE that can count as a beverage, then the Karak is the national tea of this middle eastern country. Served in small paper cups, have a cake or sweet to gulp them down together.
20. Madrooba
A traditional Emirati comfort food, Madrooba is a porridge accompanied by flour, salted fish, and spices, often supplemented with chicken or meat.
- Cooking procedure: Slowly cooked until thick and creamy.
- Social significance: Usually served during Ramadan and special family occasions.
- Taste: Savory, pungent, and very satisfying.
Best Of Emirati Food
The traditional Emirati food of UAE is delicious enough to visit the country once in your lifetime, or maybe more if you like the food and the place. So eat those above ten unique dishes from UAE that will leave a mark on your taste buds for years to come.
