Dubai Food and Local Cuisine Guide: Dubai is such a vibrant, modern, technologically advanced and multicultural place that it is easy to forget how it was in the past. The area was inhabited by nomadic Bedouin tribes who had a very limited diet by contemporary standards, which mainly included camel meat, camel milk, fish and dates.

Dubai is an excellent place to sample all types of Gulf and Middle Eastern cuisine. The Arabic food available in Dubai tends to be influenced by other parts of the Middle East. The climate in Dubai also provides year-round opportunities for al fresco dining, with restaurants and cafés spilling into the streets throughout the city.

Arabian and local specialties include:

Hoummus: A dip made from chickpeas and sesame seeds.

Shawarma: Grilled shavings of meat, mixed with salad and rolled inside Arabic bread

Wara enab: Vine leaves stuffed with rice.

Koussa mahshi: Stuffed courgettes. 

Tabbouleh: Chopped parsley, mint and crushed wheat. 

Ghuzi: A whole roast lamb on a bed of rice mixed with nuts. 

Matchbous: Spiced lamb with rice. 

Dates: A feature of any Arabian meal.

Hareis: A rich delicacy of slow-cooked tender lamb. 

Seafood: Served with specially seasoned rice. 

Regional desserts include:

Esh Asaraya: A sweet cheesecake with a cream topping.

Mehalabiya: A pudding sprinkled with rosewater and pistachios.

Umm Ali: A bread pudding. 

Dubai is a melting pot of different cultures so whatever your favourite cuisine is, you'll find food to suit you. Standards of international cuisine are high and there is plenty of choice. Indian, Pakistani and Filipino restaurants are relatively cheap and widespread. Fresh fish caught in the Arabian Gulf is always a good option – try tasty lobster, crab, shrimp, grouper, tuna, kingfish or red snapper, grilled, stuffed or fried with spices. You can also find French, Japanese and Thai restaurants, as well as steakhouses or Italian eateries so all tastes are satisfied. Back to Dubai Travel Guide