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.

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

Ghuzi or khuzi is a delicious meat and rice dish. It is considered by many to be the national dish of the Emirates.

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.

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