Cuisine in Dubai: what local dishes to try?

Whatever your culinary preferences, here is a list of the most popular dishes from Emirati cuisine in Dubai.

Follow me on an adventure that will awaken your taste buds.

Cuisine in Dubai: article summary

Cuisine in Dubai: khobz Al Khamir

A traditional Emirati flatbread, it is served for breakfast. It is a golden bread baked with egg wash and topped with sesame seeds. It is made with ingredients similar to bread served in other parts of the world.

In addition to the usual bread ingredients, khobz al khameer can be prepared as follows with a pinch or two of spices. Cardamom and turmeric are the main ingredients, while saffron is used as a coloring agent. Khboz al khameer is made from powdered milk instead of liquid milk.

This airy, hollow bread is baked in a breadmaker or special khameer oven.

Once baked, the hollow center of the loaf is filled with date paste or other filling. It can also be served with date syrup and cheese.

dubai cuisine

The Chebab

You can think of chebab as a type of Emirati yeast pancake. It resembles the Moroccan baghrir, but is tastier and more aromatic. thanks to the use of spices like cardamom and saffron.

Served for breakfast, these deliciously spiced pancakes with cheese and date syrup.

Dubai cuisine: shakshuka

Shakshuka is thought to be of Tunisian origin, although it is a staple breakfast dish in many parts of North Africa and the Middle East, including the United Arab Emirates. It is one of the most popular dishes to come out of this part of the world.

Shakshuka refers to a simple but delicious tomato-based poached egg dish. To make this dish, shallots, garlic, tomatoes, peppers and chillies are sautéed in olive oil. Tomato purée and honey are then added to the pan.

Once the tomato base is cooked, the eggs are cracked into the mixture. The dish is then sprinkled with za'atar and garnished with basil leaves.

The ghuzi

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ghuzi ou khuzi est un délicieux plat de viande et de riz. Il est considéré par beaucoup comme un plat national des Émirats.

Recipes for ghuzi vary, but most restaurants in Dubai make it by marinating meat, usually lamb or goat, in spices such as garlic, ginger, cardamom, cinnamon, bay leaves and saffron for at least 8 hours. The meat is then cooked in the oven over a low heat for 4 hours. until it takes on a reddish-brown color.

Once fully cooked and ready to serve, the chef places it on a bed of rice and potatoes.

The ghuzi is accompanied by currants, raisins and pistachios.

Cuisine in Dubai: Samak Machwi

Thanks to its location in the Persian Gulf region, fish and seafood have long held a prominent place in traditional Emirati cuisine. There are many delicious seafood dishes to choose from you can try in Dubai and Abu Dhabione of my favorites being the samak mashwi.

Samak mashwi refers to fish, usually sea bream, grilled in the traditional Emirates style. Then add a blend of herbs and spices such as :

  • Coriander
  • cumin
  • pepper
  • turmeric
  • paprika
  • dried lime powder
  • date paste.

The fish is then cooked without being scaled to help it stay moist even at high temperatures. It's a delicious and a must in the United Arab Emirates.

The luqaimat

If you're curious to try Arabic desserts, you can start with luqaimat. Sweet, sticky and crunchy, this is a popular dish in Dubai and Abu Dhabi and a traditional Emirati dessert.

Luqaimat are essentially fried balls of dough flavored with spices like cardamom and saffron. They taste like fried doughnuts, crispy on the outside and soft on the inside.

Luqaimat are usually glazed or drizzled with date molasses before being topped with sesame seeds for added texture. Because they're sticky, eaten with a toothpicks.

Cuisine in Dubai: gahwa

There's no better epilogue to a meal in Dubai a dessert and a cup of Arabic coffee. Known in the Emirati dialect as gahwa, coffee has been central to Arab culture for centuries. In fact, the coffee tradition is so important to Arab culture that it was awarded intangible cultural heritage status by UNESCO in 2015.

Rooted in the country's customs, it is a national tradition in the United Arab Emirates and is considered to be one of the country's most important traditions. a symbol of unity and generosity.

The stuffed camel

If you want a memorable and truly out-of-the-ordinary experience in Dubai, you must try a stuffed camel. It's a delicious, extravagant dish that takes many hours to prepare.

The camel is cleaned, trimmed and then stuffed with cooked whole lamb. The lamb itself is stuffed with cooked whole chickens, which are in turn stuffed with cooked rice and boiled eggs. It is then spit-roasted until cooked through.

As delicious as it sounds, you may struggle to find this stuffed camel dish in the usual Emirati restaurants. Stuffed camel is a traditional Emirati wedding dish. 

Many restaurants serve these delicacies. However, I recommend that you take a look at my favorite restaurants in Dubai. As well as finding these different dishes, you can sample other recipes from the United Arab Emirates.

Tickets for the Burj Khalifa: everything you need to know

Now that it has become a very popular attraction, it is important to plan your visit, and in particular your tickets for Burj Khalifa.

Here I explain the different ways you can get tickets for the Burj Khalifa in Dubai.

Burj Khalifa ticket: article summary

Burj Khalifa tickets: book online

Instead of waiting in line when you arrive at the tower, I strongly recommend that you book Burj Khalifa tickets online well in advance of your visit for a simpler experience. Online tickets can be booked up to three months in advance. They allow you to select the date and time you wish to visit.

So you can discover the Burj Khalifa as you wish. You then plan your Dubai sightseeing itinerary to make the most of your time.

One thing to note is that not all tickets purchased online are always "queue-cutting" tickets. Entry tickets for levels 124 and 125 do not allow you to avoid the queue or use the express elevators. For this privilege, turn to tickets that include level 148, the SKY lounge.

I recommend that you book your tickets online and in advance. You can reserve tickets for levels 124 and 125 via this link.

You can also combine your visit with one of the tower's restaurant options. Remember to book your restaurant at least 24 hours in advance. Then you can dine on the roof of the world!

burj khalifa ticket

Queue up in person

No matter which world-class tourist attraction you wish to visit, queuing for tickets on arrival is a real hassle. rarely the best way to get them. The same applies to tickets for the Burj Khalifa. Queues for tickets to Dubai's famous attraction can often take 30 minutes.

This is not a good use of your vacation time. The other disadvantage of buying tickets at the box office is that they are more expensive than those available online.

What are the opening hours of the Burj Khalifa?

The Burj Khalifa is open every day of the year for visits. However, the different levels of the tower are open at different times of the day. When looking at the opening hours, it's important to remember that in the United Arab Emirates, the weekend is Friday and Saturday rather than Saturday and Sunday.

Levels 124 and 125 open :

  • From 10 a.m. to 0 a.m. weekdays and 8 a.m. to 0 a.m. weekends

Opening hours for level 148 are :

  • From noon to 10 p.m. every day of the week.

The last entrance to the various levels is always one hour before closing time. The lounge on levels 152, 153 and 154 is open from 2 p.m. to 10 p.m.with different services provided at different times of the day.

When is the best time to visit the tower?

Just as some Burj Khalifa tickets will offer a better experience than others, there are better times to visit the Burj Khalifa. Knowing the best time to visit can not only lead to better views, but also allow you to enjoy the experience without being surrounded by crowds of other people.

Sunset at the Burj Khalifa is always the most popular moment, and that's no secret. If you don't mind sharing the view, it's a great time to visit. However, if you're looking for a quieter visit, consider coming in the morning, or later in the evening for a completely different experience.

When it comes to the best time of year to visit, the tower welcomes the most tourists. in December, January and Februaryand is the quieter from May to Septemberlike the whole of Dubai.

Burj Khalifa ticket: how to get to the Burj Khalifa?

Getting to the Burj Khalifa during your stay in Dubai won't be a problem. It's ideally located in downtown Dubai.

To visit the Burj Khalifa, go to the main entrance via the Dubai Mall. The best way to get there by public transport is to take the metro to Burj Khalifa station.

From here, you can walk 10 minutes along the viaduct or take the F13 bus to the Dubai Mall. However, there are also a number of buses serving the Dubai Mall, including the 27 bus from Gold Souk and bus 81 from Mall of the Emirates.

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