Food in the Emirates (UAE): hotels, restaurants, shops. Cuisine of the United Arab Emirates. Dishes and recipes from the UAE cuisine National cuisine of the UAE

23.06.202327.05.2017

The United Arab Emirates is a real embodiment of a fairy tale on the planet. Once in this country, it’s hard to believe your eyes: buildings stretching beyond the clouds artificial islands bizarre shapes, snow in indoor ski resorts, as well as much that may seem unreal and fantastic.

Just a few decades ago, this place was a lifeless desert, and now, as if by magic, one of the richest and most progressive countries has appeared. Tourism industry in Lately began to develop at a tremendous pace: modern hotels, entertainment centers, huge beaches, unusual cafes and restaurants appeared.

In our article we will look at such important questions that arise when planning a trip budget: how much does it cost to eat in the UAE, what are the prices for food in the United Arab Emirates and what should you definitely try?

What's worth trying

A country's cuisine is part of its culture. Traditionally, dishes are prepared from rice, vegetables, fish and meat, mainly lamb, veal or camel. Typically, meat and vegetables are grilled, adding a large amount of spices and seasonings.

The most exotic food in the Emirates is stuffed camel, listed in the Guinness Book of Records as the largest dish in the world. It is usually prepared for major holidays or weddings, but for guests of the country it is served in restaurants throughout the year.

Be sure to try the national dishes:

hummus- chickpea puree with lemon and garlic;
al mahbus- a dish of boiled rice, meat, dried lemon;
al haris- a dish of meat and wheat;
shawarma- a dish of pita or lavash with filling;
ballet- noodles with onion and egg;
Farid- meat stewed with vegetables;
variety of kebabs.

Seafood is a source of pride for many local cafes and restaurants. There are display cases with ice and aquariums everywhere, where visitors, if desired, can choose the products from which their dishes will be prepared. Order the exotic seafood pies briki, the unusual and distinctive fish dish al madruba or shark.

Food in UAE hotels

When planning to purchase a tour, you should first think about the purpose of your trip. If you are exclusively interested beach holiday with small children, then you should choose hotels with an all-inclusive food system.

We would like to note right away that this system is not as popular as in the resorts of Egypt or Turkey. It is found only in some hotels in the coastal zone. The main types of meals are breakfast or half board. Thus, even before starting your trip, you need to find out about the cost of food in the UAE.

Holidays in the United Arab Emirates most often involve long excursions or shopping, so tourists usually do not spend much time at the hotel. Thus, experienced travelers advise against overpaying for lunches or dinners that you are likely to skip.

Meals in hotels in the UAE are organized on a buffet basis. The choice of European dishes, fruits and soft drinks is quite wide.

Please note that restaurants, fast food outlets and snack bars located in the city (not at the hotel) do not serve alcohol. Prohibition is observed especially strictly in the emirate of Sharjah. In other emirates, alcohol is treated more democratically, but alcohol should be consumed on site, in hotel restaurants.

Food prices in the UAE

When going to travel, many tourists plan their expenses, and in this regard, one of the frequently asked questions is how much food costs in the UAE. Let's try to figure this out.

Note that the country's resorts are not known for their low prices. Most travelers associate the Emirates with wealth and luxury, but you can organize meals in the UAE with any financial capabilities.

The Emirates are famous for their luxurious restaurants, where the average bill can be several hundred dollars. But if you move away from popular routes, you will find cafes with quite affordable prices. Prices for products in the UAE are discussed below.

The most budget option is to rent an apartment with a kitchen and cook yourself. Many hotels have a small kitchen equipped for this purpose.

UAE supermarkets

As in all civilized countries, there are many supermarkets here. They have different pricing policies and often organize promotions, sales and offer discounts on certain types of products. Let us present to your attention some of them, the most popular among our compatriots.

Union Coop- one of the well-known retail chains with relatively low prices for food in the Emirates. It has been on the Arab market for over 25 years.
Carrefour- European distribution network. Prices are also quite affordable, and promotions are often held.
Organic Foods and Cafe- a chain specializing in organic products. All goods in these stores are of the highest quality, and the cost of products here is the highest in the UAE.
Geant Hypermarket- chain hypermarkets where local residents make large purchases of products. True, the location of these stores is not very convenient for visitors. Recently, the service “home delivery of goods” has appeared.
Lulu Hypermarket- a widely known and popular retail chain. Its shops are more like an indoor market. Tourists note that food prices here are the lowest in the Emirates.

Be sure to visit one of the many markets to experience the special atmosphere and oriental flavor. Just like hundreds of years ago, there is a brisk trade here: silks, incense, gems, jewelry, spices, fruits.

Sellers praise their goods, try to lure buyers, bargain, and cheat. A trip to the eastern market is a guaranteed vivid experience.

You can test your trading abilities: if you are lucky, you will reduce the originally stated price by half or even more.

The cost of food in the UAE in the markets is not much lower than in supermarkets, but here you can bargain and just have fun.

Product prices in 2019

The country's food industry is developing rapidly and has great potential for further improvement, but many products are imported from neighboring countries. Therefore, food prices in the United Arab Emirates are quite comparable to European ones. Here are some of them (in dirhams):

White bread	1 loaf	5
Olive bread	1 loaf	9,5
Pita	5 pieces.	1,7
Chicken (wings)	1.8 kg	22
Chicken (legs)	0.9 kg	10
Chicken (carcass)	1.2 kg	22
Chicken (fillet)	1 kg	25-30
Beef	1 kg	from 70
Sausage	1 kg	from 60
Eggs	30 pcs.	from 12
Shrimps	1 kg	45
Crab	1 PC.	from 25
Squid	1 kg	35
Fish	1 kg	10-30
Chees Feta	0.5 kg	9
Hard cheeses	1 kg	90
Soft cheeses	1 kg	about 20
Milk	1 l	from 5
Butter	0.4 kg	14
Yogurt	1 l	5,5-6
Sour cream	200 g	14
Onion	1 kg	2,25
cucumbers	1 kg	12
Tomatoes	1 kg	5
Chilli	1 kg	8
Bulgarian pepper	1 kg	15
Potato	1 kg	from 2
Bananas	1 kg	7
Mango	1 kg	from 8
Oranges	1 kg	5
Kiwi	1 kg	15
Longan	1 kg	28
Pomegranate	1 kg	17
Lemon	1 kg	9
A pineapple	1 PC.	10
Avocado	1 kg	10
Pistachios	1 kg	130
Cashew	1 kg	80
Dried apricots	1 kg	50
Peanut	1 kg	20
Water	1.5 l	1,5
Juices	1 l	from 5
Coca Cola	2,25	5

Street food and fast food

If you don’t have time to wait for an order in a cafe or restaurant, then street food is an excellent and not very expensive option for you to have a snack.

In large tourist cities Stalls with local fast food dishes are located everywhere. So, the most popular street food in the UAE and its approximate cost:

shawarma - 4-6 dirhams;
manakish (cheese with herbs in pita bread) - 14 dirhams;
grilled chicken - 17-22 dirhams;
barbari (flatbread with sesame seeds) - 1.5-4 dirhams;
falafel (deep-fried chickpea or bean balls with spices) - 25 dirhams.

Fast food cafes familiar to our tourists can be found in shopping and entertainment centers. Approximate prices:

standard set at McDonald's - 22 dirhams;
McChicken hamburger - 15 dirhams;
Big Mac hamburger - 15 dirhams;
Big Tasty hamburger - 18 dirhams;
Chicken McNuggets (9 pcs.) - 14 dirhams;
children's menu at McDonald's - 13-14 dirhams;
desserts - 5-7 dirhams;
Subway sandwich - 17 dirhams;
iced tea - 8-10 dirhams;
cappuccino in a cafe - 12 dirhams;
freshly squeezed juice - 17-22 dirhams;
pizza - 36 dirhams.

Baby food in the Emirates

For children, hotels provide a children's menu: muesli, porridge, cottage cheese and yoghurt. In some hotels, baby food includes pasta, rice, French fries, and sausages.

Supermarkets and shops offer a large selection of cereals, vegetables, fruits, meat and dairy products. The products in the Emirates are of very high quality, so there is no need to be afraid when preparing food that is familiar to your child.

Baby cereals, formulas and other foods can be found in supermarkets or pharmacies. However, it is necessary to have a reserve at least for the first time. The Emirates is an exotic country, so problems may arise during the acclimatization process.

It is for this case that familiar products are needed. If your budget is limited, then you should remember that food prices in the United Arab Emirates are quite high and baby food is no exception.

Hot countries are famous for their exotic fruits. So don’t miss the opportunity to please yourself and your child with something unusual and tasty.

Restaurants in the United Arab Emirates

The restaurants of this country amaze even the most fastidious tourists with their luxury, level of service and variety. It all depends on your budget, desires and capabilities. Based on price category, all establishments can be divided into three groups:

Very expensive, awarded with international awards, with famous chefs, designer interiors, haute cuisine. The cost of visiting such a place starts from 500 dirhams.
Restaurants and cafes with average prices. Lunch at such a place will cost from 75 dirhams.
Budget establishments and fast food. As a rule, these are establishments of Asian or Indian cuisine. You can eat in such a place from 30 dirhams.

In the UAE you can appreciate any cuisine in the world, but it would be a huge omission when visiting the Emirates not to try oriental dishes. For a closer acquaintance with the culture of the country, it is worth planning a trip to a restaurant serving local cuisine.

Prices in cafes and restaurants 2019

Food prices in the UAE are very diverse. Let's look at, for example, how much it costs to eat in the UAE in establishments of different classes. The most expensive and famous restaurant Al Mahara is located in Dubai, in the famous sailing hotel Burj Al Arab. The average dinner bill is about 900 dirhams per person.

Here is the approximate cost of a menu in a mid-price restaurant:

soup - 40-50 dirhams;
salads - from 50 dirhams;
pasta with seafood - 150 dirhams;
desserts - from 40 dirhams.

Restaurants operating on a buffet system are common, where visitors pay only for admission. Many establishments operate according to this system on Fridays, organizing the so-called Friday Brunch - a large family lunch.

At such events, a huge selection of dishes from Eastern and European cuisine is offered. In the center of Dubai, at the Thiptara restaurant, a buffet will cost about 270 dirhams per person.

You can eat relatively inexpensively in food courts, restaurants serving Asian, Arabic and Indian cuisine. You just need to move away from the popular tourist attractions. Approximate prices in an inexpensive cafe:

- from 12 dirhams;
lunch - from 40 dirhams;
dinner - from 90 dirhams.

The only thing you won't be able to save money on is drinks. For example, tea costs about 12 dirhams, and non-alcoholic beer - from 25 dirhams.

If your trip falls during Ramadan, there may be some inconvenience. Traditions and laws in the country are observed very strictly, so cafes and restaurants are closed during the day.

You can have a snack in public establishments only after sunset. During this time, it is prohibited to sell food in the United Arab Emirates, as well as drink or eat anything in any public places. Even visitors face a hefty fine for violating this law.

We will be glad if our article helped you figure out what food prices are in the United Arab Emirates. We hope that we have helped you navigate the budget planning for your vacation. Kidpassage wishes you a pleasant journey!

The national cuisine of the UAE was formed under the influence of religious characteristics and the natural and climatic conditions of the country. Of course, local cuisine is considered part of Arab cuisine, so here you will see: the widespread use of herbs and spices, a ban on drinking alcohol and eating pork, a kind of regulation for eating, depending on religious holidays, an interesting way of eating, some dishes, with your hands and much more other. If you want to fully feel the true spirit of the East, then you simply need to try the dishes of the national cuisine of the UAE.

Let's start with meat dishes. Mutton, lamb, beef, goat and poultry are widely used for cooking. Here are just some of the meat dishes you must try in this sunny country:

« Guzi - lamb with nuts and rice.
“shawarma (shawarma)” is a famous Arabic dish that needs no description.
« Kustileta - lamb cutlets with spices and herbs.
« shish-kebab" - marinated lamb kebab.
« Makbus" is a meat dish with rice and spices.
« kebbe" - fried meat balls.
“Meshui-mushakkal” - roast meat.
« al-mandi" - steamed chicken with honey.
« Haris" - casserole, with veal or chicken.
“Biryani-ajaj” - poultry stew with rice.
"Tikka-dajaj" - chicken kebab.
« samman" - quail meat, with vegetables and rice.
« Rice" is a kind of Arabic pizza.
« Kussa makhshi” - zucchini stuffed with meat.

Not the least place in the UAE cuisine is occupied by fish dishes. The United Arab Emirates is a maritime power and you will immediately feel it by the abundance of fish and seafood dishes. “Bricks” are popular - triangular puff pastry pies filled with fish. They are served with herbs and lemon slices. Another interesting dish is “al madruba” (salted fish, which is boiled with spices and flour). Before serving, pour over a special sauce, which emphasizes the salty taste of the fish. In addition, fish here is fried, boiled, salted, grilled or charcoal-cooked, and even made into fish kebabs. Other local delicacies worth trying include: crabs, lobsters, shrimp, khamur (sea bass), tuna, barracuda, shark meat…

Vegetables, herbs and seasonings are widely used in UAE cuisine. For vegetable dishes, I recommend trying:

« Khomus" is a special paste (sauce) made from chickpeas (lamb peas), with lemon and sesame seeds.
« burgul - corn porridge.
« kurzhety - stuffed zucchini.
« fattoush" - vegetable salad, with Arabic bread.
« Mutabbal" - eggplant caviar.
« tabboulah" - wheat porridge with finely chopped herbs.
« uarak-anab” - cabbage rolls made from grape leaves.
« dahnu" - white soaked peas.

The national cuisine of the UAE, like any oriental cuisine, is famous for its sweets and desserts. The following dishes are popular among tourists:

« umm-ali" - bread and milk pudding with nuts and raisins.
« mehallabiya - pistachio pudding.
« esh-asaya” - a sweet curd pie topped with delicate cream.
« ligemat - fluffy donuts with honey.
« Asida" is an original Arabic dessert.

The most popular drink in UAE cuisine is coffee. Especially worth trying is light Arabian coffee, which is brewed from unroasted beans. Also, black coffee and coffee with cardamom have a special taste. After dinner, it is customary to drink tea - black, green, mint or with sage. In addition, local residents love mineral water and freshly squeezed fruit juices.
United Arab Emirates - Muslim country, so there are big problems with alcohol here. You can buy alcoholic drinks only in hotel restaurants and bars. And in the Emirate of Sharjah, alcohol is completely prohibited. Under no circumstances drink alcohol in public places (streets, beaches, parks, museums). Such an act is punishable by a serious fine and even imprisonment.
Welcome to the hospitable UAE and bon appetit everyone!

As has been said more than once, the city has above-average prices. This rule also applies to food. In order to get a feel for the culture of this city, it is worth getting acquainted with the local cuisine, and if you live in a room without a kitchen and have lunch in cafes or restaurants, you will have to eat several times a day, so to calculate the budget for your trip it will be useful to know what and how much it costs.

Prices are for 2018.

National cuisine in the United Arab Emirates: what to try

The menu in most restaurants is quite familiar to our eyes, that is, you can easily order the usual Caesar or pasta. Nevertheless, you can almost always order something typically Arabic, and today we will tell you what exactly is worth trying.

Let's start with the simplest and continue as your appetite increases:

coffee— Making coffee for Arabs is an art. It is brewed in traditional copper Turks and poured into bowls, although if you order regular coffee and it is poured into a regular cup, it will still be very tasty and aromatic;
falafel(falafel) - cutlets made from tender chickpeas (a local variety of peas);
hummus(hummus) - chickpea puree mixed with olive oil and spices;
shawarma(shawarma) - lamb or chicken is wrapped in thin dough with lettuce, pickles and sauce;
Arabic flatbreads baked in a clay oven;
lamb dishes- usually served with rice or vegetables. In general, lamb is the most popular type of meat in the United Arab Emirates;
camel meat dishes and it would be appropriate to tell here interesting fact about one of the camel meat dishes: the “stuffed camel” dish is listed in the Guinness Book of Records as the largest dish in the world. The dish includes the camel itself, one lamb, 15-10 chickens, several dozen boiled eggs, rice, the rest is optional.

Unusual fruits in Dubai: what to try

Being in you need to take the opportunity to try exotic fruits, which are brought here ripe and tasty, and sold at a price lower than what we are used to. By the way, almost all fruits can be bought all year round and their quality will be excellent.

Guava- this unusual fruit smells like citrus and tastes sweet with a sour aftertaste. Guava is sometimes eaten sprinkled with salt or pepper - try it, you might like it, but this is not at all necessary.
Pitahaya or dragon fruit is a cactus fruit, not very healthy, but very tender and tasty. You can cut it into two halves and eat it straight with a spoon, but throw away the beautiful pink skin.
Mango— we’ve all tried mangoes at one time or another, but here you’re more likely to buy a really ripe fruit.
Sapodilla or chiko - most of all, these fruits resemble persimmons both in taste and consistency, and when ripe they are even a little like chocolate.
Mangosteen- under the thick crust you will find pulp that looks like cotton or garlic, but appearances in this case are deceptive, because the taste is very tender and sweet.
Rambutan— under the funny “hairy” skin there is tender flesh and an inedible bone.
Lychee or the dragon's eye - under the pimply skin you will find edible white flesh and an inedible seed.
Durian— we left this unusual fruit for last. Under the thick, thorn-strewn skin is sweet pulp and inedible seeds. Due to the fact that this fruit smells very unpleasant, it can only be consumed outdoors.

How much does food cost in Dubai: which areas are more expensive and which are cheaper?

Prices In Dubai vary depending on the area, where the establishment is located. There are more than 6 thousand cafes in the city, so you can definitely find something that suits you. If you want to enjoy the atmosphere of luxurious life, go to the area or to, closer to, where you will find the best restaurants, cafes and bars. Jumeirah is considered another expensive area - here you will find outdoor terraces and delicious food and drinks.

Budget tourists should pay attention to cafes in the Deira, Bar Dubai or Al Barsha areas. But if you want to have an inexpensive meal in the center or by the bay, then go to one of the kebab cafes (usually the sign says so), or to a cafe serving Lebanese, Syrian or Indian cuisine.

The theme “you can eat inexpensively where the locals eat” does not apply here, because most locals have their own chefs, and the “locals” who serve the locals here often eat anywhere if they have time. Therefore, we would recommend that you simply choose a non-touristy area and go to a decent cafe where you will be satisfied with the prices, food, and service. But even if you really want to save money, choose a not too hot evening, go to the city center, sit in a cafe, order a cup of coffee and dessert and enjoy this time (and if you come between 18.00 and 23.00, you can also admire the spectacular fountain show). Well, if you want to fully immerse yourself in the world of local culture and learn how people lived here for many centuries, welcome to a desert safari, which includes dinner. There, in the desert, you can ride camels, and those who want more thrills can ride through the dunes on ATVs.

Prices in cafes and restaurants in Dubai

Average cost of a hearty meal breakfast V tourist 40 AED ($10) on site non-tourist place 20-30 AED ($5-8).
Full-fledged dinner V tourist locally will cost 70-100 AED ($20-25), in non-tourist 40-50 AED ($10-15).
Large portion salad V tourist locally will cost 15-30 AED ($5-8), in non-tourist 10-20 AED ($3-6).
Lunch at fast food type McDonalds will cost about 30 AED ($8), sandwich with drink at Subway it will cost 30-35 AED ($8-9).

Food prices in shops and supermarkets in Dubai

If you want to relax in Dubai and save money, you should rent an apartment with a kitchen and cook yourself. There are a lot of such options, so finding accommodation will not cause problems, and sometimes apartments are even cheaper than hotel rooms. In order to select an apartment on the Booking.com website, you need to check the word “apartment” or “self-catering” on the search page in the menu on the left and the system will show you all the suitable options.

You can count on in Week you'll spend approximately $75 per person (for a basic set of groceries).

Cheaper total buy groceries in supermarkets, in small stores prices may be higher, this usually depends on the location of the store (the closer to the center or bay, the more expensive), but exotic lovers should definitely visit local market and bargain with colorful sellers (although there is a risk that you will leave the market not with a bunch of greens and vegetables, but with a carpet or a gold bracelet).

Prices are indicated for 1 l or 1 kg V local currency and in dollars, because the exchange rate may change.

Addresses of bazaars and markets in Dubai for food and more

The Arab bazaar should be added to the list cultural heritage UNESCO, because this is the quintessence of the Arab character. In Arab markets you can buy whatever your heart desires and no one can leave empty-handed, because there you can try everything, try it on and, if you like this business, bargain. We talk about the most interesting markets in Dubai.

Spice market

Address: 26 34 street, Deira

Cereals, rice, spices, vegetables, fruits and dried fruits - you will find all this here at best prices, and the free bonus will, of course, be an incredible atmosphere. The market is in the Deira area, you can get there Metro(nearest Al Fahidi station) or taxi. Nearby there is a huge number of snack bars, cafes and restaurants (including very budget ones), as well as shops and supermarkets.

Souk Madinat Jumeirah

Address: Jumeirah road

This market is perhaps the most easily accessible of all, because it is located in one of the most popular areas of the city - the seaside, the very one after which the well-known market is named. In the Souk Madinat market you will find the same things as in any Arab market: food, spices, jewelry, clothes, carpets, in addition, here you can have a tasty snack, and in the evening take a ride on a traditional Arab abra boat along the Persian Gulf and look at the luxurious , and you can not only watch, but also rent a room in order to thoroughly immerse yourself in Arab bliss. You can get here by taxi or metro(nearest metro station Sharaf DG). Speaking of the boat, you can combine a boat trip around the bay with a pleasant dinner, again in a traditional style - such dinners on ships or boats in the Jumeirah or Dubai Marina areas are very popular in Dubai - you have dinner, the ship rocks rhythmically on the waves, and in the distance The skyscrapers of Dubai shimmer and distant stars twinkle.

Souk Al Bahar Market

This place is the least like a traditional market, because it is located in the very popular place Dubai - in a shopping center - here you can buy spices, fruits and vegetables, jewelry and textiles, incense and oils, here you can also try the most delicious and delicate sweets and wash them down with the most aromatic thick coffee.
You can get here Metro(the nearest metro station is Burj Khalifa or Dubai Mall) or a taxi, and if you live in the center, then on foot.

Popular supermarkets in Dubai: where is the best place to buy groceries?

If you are in Dubai and want to cook yourself, then it is better for you to buy food in supermarkets - it is cheaper there and there is more choice. In Dubai you can buy almost anything, so you can easily prepare your favorite dishes, the only caveat is that familiar products can be more expensive than exotic ones, for example, cucumbers will be more expensive than avocados.

Easiest to find supermarket in one of the many shopping centers, but you can see a familiar sign just on the street. In order for you to find that very sign, we are talking about the largest retail chains in Dubai.

Union Coop- the most budget-friendly of all supermarkets in Dubai. You will find at least one supermarket in every area of Dubai.

Carrefour is a supermarket chain that you have probably visited in Europe. Here you will find a huge selection of all kinds of goods at fairly low prices- promotions, super offers, you know, and is it worth mentioning that all the products here are the freshest.

Lulu Hypermarket— people come here mainly to buy food for the whole week. This is not to say that it is very cheap here, but the selection of goods will please you and the quality, of course, will be at its best.

Almaya Supermarket is a chain of grocery supermarkets where you can buy the freshest products. Most supermarkets are located in tourist areas, particularly along the bay coast. But the prices here are higher than in other chains, which is also due to the location.

Alcohol in Dubai: to drink or not to drink and where to buy it

Muslims alcohol in Dubai don't drink. And guests of their country are not advised to drink it on the streets. However, you can drink wine or something stronger and there should be no difficulties with this if you follow the rules that we will discuss below.

note, that only persons over 21 years of age can buy and drink alcohol in Dubai.

Eat several ways to get alcohol in the United Arab Emirates.

Bring with you

It sounds strange, but many people do this. It's cheap and reliable. You can bring 2 liters of strong alcoholic drinks or 2 liters of low-alcohol drinks with you into the country. But do not carry bottles in a transparent or translucent bag; if the police suspect that it is a bottle of alcohol that is clinking in your bag, you will have to pay a fine. So if you buy it, take a taxi and go to the hotel. Well, of course, you can only drink in your room.

Buy at the airport in duty-free

Everything is simple here, go to the store at the airport, buy as much as you need, drink out of sight of local citizens behind the tightly closed doors of your room. You can buy as much as you like, but prices will be slightly higher than in Europe. On average, prices for alcoholic drinks in the Emirates are 30-40% higher than we are used to.

Buy at the hotel

Some hotels have a license to sell alcohol to non-Muslims, so you can order a glass or buy a bottle of alcohol at a bar or restaurant. You won’t be able to find alcohol in every hotel, but the more stars the hotel has, the higher the likelihood of a successful outcome.

Buy in a nightclub, restaurant or cafe

The same system works here as in hotels. But don’t think that you will easily find an establishment with a license to sell alcohol – this is not an easy quest.

Buy in store

In order to sell alcohol in Dubai, you need a special license, which the chain stores have. MMI or African+Eastern. In the city center you will find several stores of these chains, and there are also stores in shopping centers and most residential areas.

Please pay attention that if you have been drinking and decide to walk around the city while drunk, you may be fined or even deported. Therefore, you should go to the hotel by taxi and avoid appearing in public places. Also remember that you can only drink alcohol in bars and restaurants that sell alcohol, in nightclubs or in your apartments or rooms. Also note that in the United Arab Emirates it is prohibited to transport alcohol in transparent bags or bags.

Food served before main courses

Eastern people don't like to rush. This tradition is reflected in the eating habits. In the Arab Emirates, it is not customary to start a meal with the main course. The meze is always served first. “Meze” is the simultaneous serving of several appetizers on a large platter, each of which is placed in the form of a small portion in its own cell. There are many options:

vegetable salads;
eggplant caviar (mutabbal, babaganoush);
pies with cheese or meat filling;
nut and garlic pastes;
wheat and corn porridge.

In the UAE, there are restaurants that practice serving free vegetables in meze.

Fish dishes in eastern countries

Most Arab restaurants have a large selection of fish. The fish is laid out in specially designated open trays and covered with ice or floats in a large transparent container. When ordering, the client chooses not only the dish, but also what kind of fish it will be prepared from. The fish menu of national cuisine includes:

“Bricks” are fish or shrimp fried in thin puff pastry. Briks are molded into a triangular shape by the chefs and garnished with lemon slices and fresh herbs before serving.
"Al Madruba" - boiled salted fish. During cooking, add spices and a small amount of flour to a pan of boiling water. The exquisite taste of “Al Madrube” is added by the sauce, which is served with the dish on the table. It emphasizes its unusual salty taste.
Fish kebabs, grilled or dried fish, are also popular among locals and tourists. Regardless of the cooking method, the fish is seasoned with sauces, hot spices and fresh vegetables.

In Eastern countries they prefer to cook meat in the form of kebabs. It is practiced to combine several types of meat products in one dish. The following names can be found on the menu:

"Lamb shish kebab." The kebab meat is carefully beaten and marinated for 5-6 hours in freshly squeezed lemon juice. It is subjected to heat treatment, excluding the addition of oil, seasoned with a large amount of seasonings and served.
Biryani is a traditional Arabic food. There are several restaurants in the UAE whose activities are exclusively related to the preparation of this dish in its various variations. The main ingredients in the recipe are rice and chicken or lamb meat. Meat products can be replaced with vegetable or fish products. First, a large amount of seasonings is fried in a frying pan, on which meat, cut into thin pieces, is laid, and the next layer is basmati rice.
“Guzi” is lamb cooked with nuts and rice.
"Custileta" - lamb cutlets fried in seasonings.
"Makbus" - meat products cooked with rice grains and seasonings.
"Kebbe" is carefully fried meat in the form of balls.
“Al-mandi” - steamed chicken meat with honey.
“Haris” is a casserole whose main ingredient is veal meat.

When going on vacation to the Emirates, you should take the maximum amount of money with you, as this is the best country for shopping. Shopping is facilitated by excellent prices on clothing and goods in the UAE.

A special feature of the local Arab cuisine is a large assortment of sweets and desserts. Popular among vacationers:

“Umm-Ali” - milk-based pudding with the addition of dried fruits;
“Esh-asaya” - the main ingredients are cheese and sweet cream filling;
“Ligemat” - donuts with honey filling;
Sherbet;
"Asyda" is a national dessert.

Dubai Buffet, video:

The favorite drink among Arabs is coffee. Preference is given to grains from Arabia. Black coffee and cardamom have different taste qualities. At the end of dinner, Arabs prefer to drink tea: black or green with mint.

There are not so many must-sees, but summer season walking is only comfortable in the late evening, so we suggest going straight to the list of dishes that every self-respecting tourist traveling to Dubai should try.

1 Manakish or manaish

Melted cheese in pita or unleavened flatbread is usually served as an appetizer to the main course.

Manakish

In a proper manakish, the cheese should be of the brine type, like suluguni or feta cheese, with the addition of sesame seeds and a spicy mixture - za'atar. The basis of the mixture is made up of aromatic spices: cumin, oregano, sumac, thyme, marjoram and sea salt.

Cheese flatbreads are served with olive oil, to which za'atar is first added. Manakish is eaten by dipping a small piece of flatbread in spicy oil.

2 Biryani

Arabic cuisine is famous for its incredible meat dishes, and lamb meat is especially popular among tourists. Exactly biryani with lamb opens the world of gastro culture to UAE tourists.

Biryani

Pre-marinated in spices and fried pieces of meat are placed on boiled rice, to which raisins and pistachios are added.

There can be many variations of this dish: chicken, fish, lamb or just vegetables.

3 Mezze (hummus, cheese or meat pies, baba ganoush and olives)

The Italians would call mezze nothing less than antipasti.

This is a mix of different pastas served with traditional unleavened pita bread or pita bread.

Hummus- an integral dish of Eastern cuisine, prepared from boiled chickpeas and tahini paste, the recipe for which you can see.

Mezze: hummus, babaganoush, ...

Babaganush- paste made from grated baked eggplants and large quantity garlic

Olives in this region are amazing in the number of varieties, sizes, shapes and tastes. Must have for a tourist — try all types of olives and better in combination with traditional snacks.

4 Al Harees

A dish that is most often prepared for an important event, for example, a wedding or the main Muslim holiday - Ramadan.

– boiled wheat with meat, which is cooked for a long time until all the moisture has evaporated, and then stewed overnight in the oven. The “porridge” is served by generously pouring melted melted butter over the dishes. This is a very simple dish in composition and has a specific aroma.

5

- These are crispy chickpea balls, served both in an expensive restaurant and as Eastern street fast food.

The tender falafel resembles a meatball prepared by frying in oil, although it is little more than pureed chickpeas prepared in a different way. Today, chickpea dishes (falafel, hummus) are confidently finding fans in different parts of the world and becoming the main dish of the vegetarian diet.

6 Shawarma

Better known to residents of megacities as “ shawarma" In Dubai, shawarma is one of the most affordable, tasty and satisfying dishes. Among the local fast food chains, there is a line whose menu has a dozen shawarma options and serves it, as a rule, unassembled, leaving the right of choice to the client.

And everything seems to be very simple, but juicy meat, sauce, vegetables, olives make shawarma in Dubai truly the most delicious food.

7 Fattoush

Fattoush- This is a traditional bread salad, which includes a standard set of vegetables: tomatoes, cucumbers, lettuce, fresh carrots, radishes, as well as various aromatic herbs, among which mint is considered obligatory. However, what makes this salad special are the dried pita pieces, which play the role of croutons in the famous Caesar salad.

The presence of sourness in the salad is ensured by seasoning sumac, thanks to which a simple vegetable salad acquires a unique oriental aroma.

8 Bricks

Two gulfs at once, the Persian and Oman, wash the shores of the UAE, thanks to which fish and seafood dishes are in abundance here.

It’s hard to surprise a sophisticated gourmet with grilled fish steaks, so we suggest trying triangular pies Bricks, which are prepared from the finest dough and fried in oil.

Briki, UAE

9 Al Madruba

The most famous fish dish in the UAE. Al Madruba– fish prepared in two ways at once: boiling and salting. At the same time, the taste of the fish is quite specific and it is served in combination with sauce.

Al Madruba

They say that the taste combination of fish and sauce has awarded al-Madruba the first dish in popularity among tourists.

From meat and fish dishes we smoothly move on to desserts.

10 Dates

The subtropical climate is ideal for date palms. Once you find yourself in the sweets section of a Dubai store, you will be amazed by the abundance of options for preparing dates: in any kind of chocolate, stuffed with nuts, in the form of jam, dried, dried, giant and small.

All dates in the UAE are of high quality, meaty, juicy and the locals certainly know a lot about their preparation.

Dates are served as an addition to tea, and if you are planning to buy souvenirs, it is better to opt for a box of local dates rather than a Chinese magnet.

11 Umm Ali (umm Ali)

The most common dessert of local cuisine, which is prepared in everyday life on special occasions. But every tourist can try umm ali in establishments in Dubai.

– bread pudding soaked in rose petal syrup. Often dried fruits and nuts are added to the dessert, which are abundant in this area.

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