The Best Emirati Restaurants in Dubai

What is Traditional Emirati Cuisine?

Emirati food is made using ancient ingredients that the people of the Emirates have produced and traded for millennia. Before the city of Dubai and other great constructions, the people of the Emirates lived in tribes. Many of those tribes had unique dishes that were eventually brought together along with their people, to create signature traditional Emirati dishes.

Many of the dishes served are seasonally selected. It is typical to eat dishes heavy in rice, veggies, and wheat during the cold months, and then, in the summer months, to switch to dishes heavy in animal protein such as goat, camel, and fresh-caught fish.

Some favourite Emirati dishes to try in Dubai

Khuzi

Khuzi, the national dish of the United Arab Emirates, is a must-try food in Dubai. Also known as Ghuzi, this meal is made with roasted mutton or lamb, which is served alongside white rice, vegetables, and nuts.

Balaleat

Balaleat is a classic breakfast dish in Dubai. Decidedly sweet and salty, it is made using eggs and vermicelli as the main characters and then spiced up with cinnamon, cardamom, orange blossoms, and saffron, and then served alongside pistachios. Although it is a breakfast dish, some Emirati restaurants in Dubai also serve it as a dessert.

Al Machboos

Al Machboos is a protein-based dish that is made using chicken, red meat, or shrimp. The meat of choice is boiled down in a stock made with dried lime powder and traditional spices. When the meat is softened, it is taken out of the pot and replaced with rice which is allowed to cook in the stock.

When the rice is properly cooked, the meat is thrown back in along with a mix of chopped potatoes, onions, tomatoes, peppers, and other veggies. This final mix is cooked for another couple of hours over low heat till everything softens and the flavour spreads evenly.

Al Harees

In the world of Arabian dishes, Al Harees is a one-pot star. It is prepared by cooking wheat and salt in a pot until it attains a consistency similar to porridge.

Once that is reached, the cook throws in chunks of different proteins like chicken, mutton, lamb, or veal, along with salt, pepper, and cinnamon for added flavour. The pot is left to cook over low heat for another couple of hours before it is ready.

Gahwa

Traditional Arabic Coffee, Gahwa is made from Arabic roasted coffee beans mixed with cardamom and is prepared and served in an elaborate ceremony. Far more than just a drink, the preparation and serving of Gahwa has been inscribed in the UNESCO Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.

Luqaimat

Crunchy on the outside and delicately soft on the inside, Luqaimat is a favourite Emirati desert. Rolled dough balls are deep-fried and then soaked in honey or a sweet, sticky date syrup known as dibbs when served. Salty and sweet, they make the perfect ending to your traditional Emirati feast.

Saba’a

The laidback setting is traditional in style, with high ceilings and Bedouin decor, forming the heart of the Al Seef Heritage Hotel. While Saba’a is the hotel’s main buffet restaurant, local dishes feature on the menu daily, and the Arabian night on a Saturday is definitely worth including in your trip.

Alongside traditional Emirati dishes, carefully selected recipes from across the Arab world are included in this meticulously curated culinary collection. You can also enjoy the dulcet tones of a live oud (traditional instrument) player as you savour the flavours of Dubai.

Where to find Saba’a: Al Seef Hotel (Hilton Curio Collection), Al Seef Heritage District, Dubai Creek area. Open daily from 7.00 am until 10.00 pm.

Learn more at hilton.com

Siraj

For a luxury Emirati dining experience, head to Siraj. The upscale restaurant overlooking the Burj Khalifa is popular with locals and has even been visited by members of the Dubai royal family.

Serving Emirati and Levantine cuisine with a contemporary twist, Siraj is the perfect venue for a romantic night out with some of Dubai’s finest Emirati cuisine.

There is a range of hot and cold mezze-style starters and salads, whilst main dishes include traditional ouzi, grilled saffron lobster and camel tenderloin. Conclude your meal with a delicious locally inspired dessert like karak cake, cheese kunafa, sticky date pudding or um Ali.

Shisha is also available at Siraj as you enjoy the nightly fountain views.

Siraj offers set menu packages starting at 360 AED per person as well as an a la carte menu.

Where to find Siraj: Souk Al Bahar, Downtown Dubai. Open 12.00 pm until 1.00 am daily.

Learn more at sirajrestaurant.com

Arabian Tea House Al Fahidi

The Arabian Tea House Al Fahidi is an iconic establishment in Dubai that has served authentic Emirati and Dubai cuisine for over twenty years. The decor is a stark white from the walls to the stones, giving the vibe of Arabian adventurers out in the desert.

Traditional Emirati meals are served at all times. The menu includes options like the Arabian Tea House Breakfast Tray, which includes Arabic bread, falafel, hummus, olives, beans, cheddar cheese wrap, and other delicacies. All meals are freshly made and served in generous portions.

Where to find the Arabian Tea House Al Fahidi: Bastakiya, Al Fahidi Historical District. Open 7:00 am – 11:00 pm daily

(There are also new branches to be found in Sharjah, the Mall Jumeirah, Jumeirah Archaeological Site and Arabian Fish House – even Dubai House, Montenegro)

Learn more at arabianteahouse.net

You may also want to check out our complete guide to the best Emirati food in Abu Dhabi if you’ll be heading to the capital