Must-Try Foods in Dubai for Visitors: From flavorful shawarma and savory falafel to creamy hummus and decadent baklava, Dubai’s diverse culinary offerings promise a rich gastronomic journey. Don’t miss out on authentic Arabic sweets and exotic spices while visiting.
Must-Try Foods in Dubai for Visitors
Dubai’s food scene eloquently reflects the dynamic blend of rich tradition and sophisticated luxury. With its wide variety of flavors and distinctive culinary experiences, Dubai’s cuisine is sure to captivate your senses whether you’re an experienced tourist or a first-timer. There is something for every palate in Dubai’s cuisine, from foreign delicacies to traditional Emirati fare. We’ve put up a selection of Dubai’s greatest foods in this guide that you should not miss.
Prepare yourself for a culinary journey as we highlight the top 15 dishes from Dubai you should not miss when visiting.
- Luqaimat
- Harees
- Madrouba
- Majboos
- Thareed
- Margoogat
- Chicken Saloona
- Oozie
- Meat Biryani
- Jasheed
- Chebab
- Tahta Malih
- Hummus
- Knafeh
- Shawarma
Luqaimat
In Dubai, Luqaimat is a dish typically enjoyed during special events and festivals, especially Ramadan. These golden, deep-fried dumplings come topped with sesame seeds and drizzled with sweet date syrup or honey. They are crunchy on the exterior and soft on the inside. When sampling Dubai’s culinary scene, Luqaimat is a must-try due to its delectable texture and rich sweetness.
Best Served With: The ideal way to enjoy luqaimat is with a cup of karak tea or traditional Arabic coffee. The sweetness of Luqaimat balances wonderfully with the mild bitterness of coffee or warm, spiced tea, creating a delicious flavor combination.
Harees
Traditionally prepared during Ramadan and on special occasions, harees is widely regarded as one of Dubai’s tastiest dishes. This dish combines wheat, meat (often lamb or chicken), and spices, slow-cooked to perfection for a smooth, porridge-like consistency. Harees is a well-liked mainstay in Dubai cuisine because of its warm, deep flavors and simple ingredient list.
Best Served With: The ideal way to enjoy harees is to top it with a big amount of ghee or serve it with tangy yogurt on the side to provide a cool contrast to the dish’s thick, creamy texture.
Madrouba
Another well-liked cuisine in Dubai, Madrouba, is frequently praised for its comforting and hearty flavor. This dish, whose name translates to “beaten,” involves gently boiling rice with spices and chicken, lamb, or fish until it reaches a porridge-like consistency. The addition of yogurt, onions, and garlic deepens the flavors, making it taste rich and fulfilling. Madrouba is a beloved mainstay of Dubai cuisine, known for its comforting and filling qualities.
Best Served With: A side of pickled vegetables or a crisp, tart salad complements the creamy texture of Madrouba and is the ideal way to serve it.
Majboos
Machboos, another name for Majboos, is a traditional dish from Dubai that highlights the area’s rich culinary history. Tender chunks of chicken, lamb, or fish cook in this aromatic rice dish, seasoned with saffron, cardamom, and dried lemon (loomi). The slow cooking method blends the flavors, enhancing the dish’s perfume and richness. A popular choice in Dubai, majboos often appears at special events and family gatherings.
Best Served With: Majboos pairs well with chilled yogurt sauce or fresh tomato salsa, which provides a refreshing touch to the dish and balances its spicy, spiced flavors.
Thareed
Traditional Dubai cuisine features thoraed, a hearty and filling dish often compared to a stew. Cooked slowly, tender lamb or chicken chunks blend with vegetables like potatoes, carrots, and zucchini, all seasoned with a flavorful mix of spices. The thin, crispy flatbread layer at the bottom of the dish—which absorbs the flavorful broth to create a pleasantly soft and savory base—is the essential component of Thareed.
Best Served With: The ideal way to enjoy thaleed is with a side of crisp, fresh salad or pickled vegetables, which contrast the dish’s thick, heavy flavors with something cool and refreshing.
Margoogat
Margoogat, a mainstay of Dubai cuisine, features a flavorful stew with tender beef or chicken and a rich, aromatic broth. This dish combines pork or chicken with garlic, onions, tomatoes, and spices such as coriander, cumin, and turmeric. The outcome is a filling, comfortable dish that is hearty and warming. Margoogat is frequently consumed as a family dinner, especially on festive days and at get-togethers.
Best Served With: Pair margoogat with steamed rice or traditional Emirati bread like regag or khameer. These sides enhance the stew’s robust flavors and help soak up the delicious broth.
Chicken Saloona
One of Dubai’s most well-known dishes, chicken saloona, is celebrated for its robust flavors. Tender chicken chunks simmer in a flavorful broth with tomatoes, onions, and a mix of spices like coriander, cumin, and turmeric to create this classic Emirati stew. Families in Dubai frequently love this hearty and filling dinner since the addition of veggies like carrots, potatoes, and zucchini gives the dish structure and depth.
Best Served With: Serving chicken saloona with warm Emirati bread, such as khameer or regag, or steamed white rice enhances the flavorful broth. This combination makes for a satisfying and satisfying lunch.
Oozie
In Dubai’s culinary scene, oozie is a classic dish, particularly loved and often served at weddings, celebrations, and festive occasions. This Dubai specialty features soft, slow-cooked lamb or chicken, seasoned with flavorful spices and combined with aromatic rice, almonds, and dried fruits. Reflecting Emirati culture’s emphasis on hospitality and sharing, the dish is commonly presented on a large communal plate. Oozie offers a feast for the senses, with rice cooked to perfection and absorbing the deep flavors of the meat and spices.
Best Served With: Serving Oozie with a side of fresh yogurt or a simple cucumber salad enhances the whole dining experience by offering a refreshing contrast to the dish’s deep and savory flavors.
Meat Biryani
Loved for its layers of flavor and fragrant spices, meat biryani is undoubtedly one of Dubai’s best dishes. Tender chunks of meat, usually lamb or beef, are marinated in a mixture of spices and then cooked with basmati rice, saffron, and caramelized onions in this well-known meal. As a result, you get a wonderfully aromatic and flavorful biryani, with the rich essence of the meat and spices permeating every grain of rice. In many Dubai homes, biryani not only serves as a mainstay but is also often enjoyed at family gatherings and special occasions.
Best Served With: The ideal accompaniments for meat biryani are a fresh cucumber and tomato salad and raita, a yogurt-based side dish that cools the dish down and balances the spicy, rich flavors of the biryani. This makes for a filling and well-balanced lunch.
Jasheed
Particularly popular in coastal locations where seafood is plentiful, jasheed is a distinct and flavorful dish that embodies Dubai cuisine. This recipe uses finely minced shark or fish, cooked with tomatoes, onions, and a mix of spicy spices. Next, simmer the mixture slowly until it thickens into a flavorful stew, with warm spices perfectly balancing the sea flavors. If you want to taste the classic flavors of Dubai’s maritime heritage, you have to sample Jasheed.
Best Served With: Warm Emirati bread, such khameer or regag, is ideal for mopping up the flavorful stew that goes well with jasheed.
Chebab
Chebab, a classic Emirati pancake, is perfect for breakfast or a snack and often ranks as one of the greatest dishes in Dubai. The batter, infused with cardamom and saffron, provides a distinct flavor and aroma. Typically, chebab comes warm with a drizzle of honey or sweet date syrup and sometimes with cream cheese or a regional cheese spread on top.
The blend of fragrant and sweet flavors in chebab makes it a popular dish for both residents and tourists.
Best Served With: The sweet and spiced flavors of the pancakes pair wonderfully with chebab, making it ideal to enjoy at any time of day alongside fresh fruit or a cup of classic Arabic coffee
Tahta Malih
Tahta Malih, Must-Try Foods in Dubai for Visitors one of Dubai’s signature dishes, especially appeals to seafood lovers. This classic Emirati meal combines salted and dried fish, cooked with rice and a mix of spices, creating a savory and filling dish. The drying and salting process gives the fish a distinct, bold flavor that is perfectly balanced by the fragrant rice. While lesser-known, it holds high regard in Dubai’s culinary scene for its rich history and unique taste.
Best Served With: The fish’s strong, salty flavors pair best with a side of crisp salad or pickled vegetables, creating a filling and well-balanced supper.
Hummus
Both residents and visitors to Dubai enjoy the popular meal hummus, which has established itself as a mainstay of the city’s cuisine. Must-Try Foods in Dubai for Visitors Blended chickpeas, tahini (sesame paste), lemon juice, garlic, and olive oil combine to make this creamy and smooth dip. Hummus is a favorite dish in many Dubai homes and eateries because of its rich, nutty flavor and adaptability. Hummus goes well with a wide range of dishes and is frequently served as an appetizer or side dish. Anyone interested in experiencing Dubai’s diversified culinary scene should definitely try hummus.
Best Served With: The greatest ways to enjoy hummus are on a mezze platter with other delicious Middle Eastern foods like falafel, tabbouleh, and baba ghanoush, or with warm pita bread and fresh vegetable sticks. Hummus is a delicious side dish that enhances its flavor and silky texture when combined in this way.
Knafeh
Knafeh, one of the most popular desserts in Dubai cuisine, ranks among the best in the region. Must-Try Foods in Dubai for Visitors This classic Middle Eastern treat features kataifi, a thin, noodle-like pastry soaked in aromatic sugar syrup. Additionally, it is filled with sweet, stretchy cheese and topped with crushed pistachios. The golden, crunchy pastry contrasts with the soft, gooey cheese, while the pistachios and syrup add a burst of sweetness and nuttiness.
Best Served With: For those with a sweet tooth, knafeh tastes best when served warm, straight out of the oven, and drizzled with extra sugar syrup. Additionally, a glass of mint tea or strong Arabic coffee perfectly balances the rich sweetness of the dessert, making it an ideal way to end any meal.
Shawarma
One of the most well-liked and well-known street dishes in Dubai is shawarma, Must-Try Foods in Dubai for Visitors which has come to represent Dubai cuisine in general. This Middle Eastern treat begins with slow-roasting marinated meat, typically lamb, beef, or chicken, on a vertical spit. Subsequently, warm pita bread wraps around thinly sliced meat and is generously topped with fresh veggies, pickles, tahini, and garlic sauce. Shawarma is a favorite dish of both locals and visitors due to its flavorful, delicate meat and fresh, spicy garnishes.
Best Served With: The ideal accompaniment to shawarma is a crisp salad or a side of fries, complemented by a tangy tahini or garlic sauce for dipping. Additionally, to balance the rich flavors of the shawarma, pair it with a refreshing glass of laban (a type of buttermilk) or mint lemonade. This pairing not only enhances the traditional dining experience but also adds a delightful contrast to the savory dish.
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