Food & Drink

Discover the rich flavors of Emirati cuisine in the UAE.

You can learn a lot about a culture from exploring and enjoying their food. This is also true for Arabian culture. Emirati cuisine is diverse and mouth-watering. It is a blend of different flavours influenced by Middle Eastern, Persian, and South Asian dishes. Some of the common dietary include rice, meat, and fish. While in the UAE, dig into their local specialties like Knafeh and Samboosa.

Kanefh is a dish from Palestine but loved by the locals of the UAE. It is a pastry dish made from sour cheese, sugar syrup, and dough and has to be eaten immediately after being made. The best place to have Kanefh is the Qwaider Al Nabulsi in Dubai. For some light snacks, try Samboosa, which is an Indian version of Samosa. These are host pastries filled with either meat or vegetables and topped with a variety of spices. Once you have it, you'll ask for more — it's that delicious.

Apart from local dishes, they have a diverse variety of beverages. Some of the common beverages enjoyed by the locals include Arabic coffee and Jellab. If you are a coffee lover, Arabic coffee doesn't disappoint you. The coffee is made with lightly roasted beans spiced with cardamom, cumin, cloves, and saffron. Having this coffee with organic local dates is a must. On the other hand, if you want to cool your body during summer, Jellab is what you need. This classic Arabian cold drink is made from a blend of grape molasses and rose water, perfect for hot summer nights. The availability and preference of certain drinks depend on specific areas. So, before planning a trip to the UAE, do thorough research on local dishes so that you get the best dishes and drinks in the best place.