The Traditional Food of UAE – A Complete Guide to Emirati Cuisine

What comes to your mind when you think of Arabs? Things like sand dunes, deserts, camels and Bedouin tribes dominate the idea of ancient Arabia. But, today, the culturally diverse United Arab Emirates welcomes people from all over the world. 

However, amidst this assimilation, the UAE has retained the essence of antiquity. Alongside modern food franchises like McDonald and KFC, they have kept their century-old cuisine intact and unaltered. 

Since Arabia was never a place with plenty of fertile land, Emirati cuisine owes its authenticity to a lot of herbs and spices that were central to the Bedouin trade. Also, the non-sedentary way of life contributed to Emirati cuisine to a large extent. 

This is why you will find significant culinary influence in Emirati food items from regions like Asia, the Middle East and Africa. 

Food has always been an integral part of UAE cultural and social setup. Centuries ago when Bedouins led a nomadic life, they considered sharing meals at the end of the day to be a way to keep the tribe interconnected. 

Even today, sharing meals with friends and families during festivities is a significant practice the Emiratis follow religiously. Every traditional Emirati dish contains the essence of the past and the history and culture of the nomadic tribes.  

Besides Khuzi, which is the national dish of the UAE; the list of traditional Emirati cuisine contains various other dishes. Each of these food items exudes a unique mix of taste and flavour Indigenous to this arid land.  Influence of regional ingredients and international cuisines. 

Many Emirati dishes contain regional ingredients while some popular dishes like falafel and Shawarma exude foreign flavours. 

Key Ingredients in Emirati Cooking

Since Arab was never an agricultural belt, people here lived on a meat-based diet. Grains were mostly available through trading and the Emirati cuisine reflects in protein bias clearly. However, like many other desert areas, Arabia too has its share of Oasis where dates were available in plenty. 

Also, the Bedouins traded with people from Asia, Africa, and the Middle East from whom they gathered spices that dominated their culinary practices as well. Here are the primary ingredients that are hallmarks of Emirati cuisine.

• Dates, fish, and rice
• Spices like saffron, turmeric, and cardamom
• Meat varieties like lamb, camel, and chicken
• Local vegetables and fruits

From lamb, rice, dates, vegetables, fruits, cardamom, saffron, and cinnamon, the UAE national dish, Khuzi, contains various ingredients.  

Popular Traditional Dishes

When you visit the UAE, you will find a baffling variety of Emirati food to try. But, if you know the names of a few special Emirati dishes that are a must-try, you can try them without getting confused. You will find them everywhere in the UAE. 

From Dubai to Abu Dhabi, every city of the UAE serves these dishes which symbolise their rich tradition. 

Plus, you do not always have to go to renowned, expensive restaurants to try the traditional cuisine. The roadside stands often offer these dishes as well. So when you roam around the streets of Dubai take a halt and explore the local cuisine at some street-side stand. 

• Al Harees: Visit any reputed restaurant in Dubai and you will find this dish there. The local wedding ceremony often keeps this dish on their buffet table. It is a slow-cooked recipe that uses multiple ingredients of which some are onions, wheat, meat, etc. 
• Balaleet:  Balaleet is a very popular dish the Emiratis consume for Eid breakfast. The beauty of this preparation is that you can alter it in many ways keeping the central preparation the same. The primary preparation involves cooking boiled Vermicelli using fragrant ingredients like rose water, saffron, and cardamom. 

Adding sugar is a necessary step as this dish is partly sweet and partly savoury. An omelette or scrambled eggs generally top this dish. For variety, you can add lightly roasted vegetables, beans, or fruits to it. 

• Machboos: Rice is the most common source of carbohydrates in Emirati cuisine. Machboos is a rice dish that also contains fish or meat. Boiling the rice grain in leftover meat water lends this dish its authentic flavour. 

Spices like cinnamon and cardamom make this dish more flavourful. Machboos is a popular dish that people in Dubai eat during Iftar. 

• Al Madrooba: Popular in Oman, Bahrain, and Dubai, Madrooba is a fish-based meal that Emiratis enjoy wholeheartedly during Ramadan. The texture of this dish is smooth and creamy as it undergoes a fervent beating once the ingredients are cooked. 

The commonly used ingredients of this dish are fish/chicken/lamb, onion, garlic, tomatoes, rice, seasonings, and yoghurt. 

Emirati Breakfast Staples

Ask anyone in Dubai “What is the most popular food in Dubai” for breakfast and many will reply Balaleet. However, quicker and equally tasty breakfast items are Khamir and Chebab which are Emirati versions of pancakes. Do you like exploring local food when you visit a place? If yes, never miss out on trying the following traditional Emirati breakfast dishes. 

• Balaleet: As already mentioned, Balaleet is a tasty treat for everyone who has a taste for sweet and savoury dishes. The central ingredients are Vermicelli and eggs, this dish offers a lot of energy and protein at the same time. Plus if you add vegetables or fruits to it, this dish becomes a completely balanced meal. 
• Khamir and Chebab: “Chebab” refers to bread or pancakes in Dubai. Khmer is nothing but Yeast used to ferment wheat flour. 

Aromatic spices like cinnamon, cardamom, etc., infuse the richness and flavour into Chebab which is loved by all Emiratis. 

• Chabab: The UAE has its traditional version of pancakes which are called Chebab. You can find them in popular restaurants and roadside food stands as well. To get the best taste of these pancakes, you can eat them with date syrup or honey. 

Traditional Emirati Desserts

Desserts make any cuisine ensemble complete. The Bedouins also satiated their sweet-tooth craving with multiple unique dishes. The date is abundantly found in the UAE. So, you might notice a generous use of date syrups and dried dates in these recipes. 

Wherever you go to the UAE, you will find these popular dessert dishes. Some are extremely easy to make and you can even get the recipe and try making it at home. 

If you consider your meal incomplete without a sweet bite after your lunch or dinner, try any of the following dishes which exude the authentic essence of the Gulf region. 

• Luqaimat: It is one of the most popular desserts of the Gulf region.  However, as you take a deep bite, you reach the core of the dumpling carrying cheese and nuts.  

Traditionally the Emiratis dipped these dumplings in date syrup. Some chefs also follow an international recipe that involves dipping the dumplings into rose water. 

In the UAE, you will find Luqaimat everywhere – on the streets and in restaurants. 

• Khanfaroosh: These are simply rice cakes that are either fried or baked. During multiple festivities like Iftar, Ramadan, etc., people of the UAE serve their guests this dish. Take a bite of this crunchy, fried dessert to appreciate the culinary excellence of Emirati people.  A chocolate-dipped version of this dish is also available across this region which is a popular pick for children. 
• Asida: Traditionally the people of the Gulf region mixed wheat flour, warm water, honey or butter to make the dough for Asida. 

Across the countries of the UAE, Asida is still a popular dessert. People prefer having it during religious festivities and several people eat it from one bowl.

Unique Emirati Beverages

The list of traditional Emirati culture food also includes several beverages. From uniquely prepared tea, and coffee, to fruit juices, the Arabic beverages will leave you lost with choice. Here are the most popular beverages in the UAE that you should not miss out on. 

• Gahwa: Traditionally, this is brewed roasted coffee with cardamom. However, in many places, this beverage is served with sugar instead of cardamom.  To show their warmth and hospitality, the Arabic people generally served with dried dates. Both the uniqueness of the preparation and the authenticity of Arabica coffee beans make this beverage a delectable one.   
• Karak Chai: Karak chai is a variety of strongly flavoured tea made with tea leaves, milk and spices. The popularity of this energising beverage has crossed the boundaries of the Gulf region. Do not forget to try this item when in the UAE.   This tea preparation is unique to the Arabic region and some South Asian countries have also adopted this technique. 
• Jallab: Jallab is another traditional beverage of the UAE that contains grape juice. This drink is a perfect blend of grape juice, rose water, dates, etc. It is a sweet beverage that is popular across a vast region of the UAE and is an integral part of the Emirati culture food. 

Dining Etiquette in the UAE

During important religious festivals, when community feasts are organised, the Emiratis use large communal plates for serving food. This is one of the most prominent and unique traditions and dining etiquette the Emiratis have learned from their forefathers. For centuries, this has been a tradition, which, even the modern-day Emirati culture has kept unaltered. 

Traditionally, Emiratis have always assigned more importance to hospitality. In Emirati culture, the hosts show warmth and respect to those whom they invite for a meal. During religious ceremonies, friends and relatives often visit one another’s house and share a warm embrace.   Every household in this region takes the matter of guest welcoming seriously. 

One of the most critical parts of offering hospitality is serving traditional Emirati food. The hosts always let the guests first take their seats and serve food cordially. 

In return, the guest also compliments the food and shows gratitude, and everyone uses their right hand to eat, pass plates or food. The right hand is always used for eating food in the Gulf region which the people of this area consider to be a sign of respect. 

Contemporary Influences on Emirati Cuisine

Since the people living in the Gulf region used to be primarily nomads and traders, the Emirati cuisine travelled far and wide with the Bedouins. Similarly, Emirati cuisine also adopted influences from other parts of the world.  Even today, when the UAE has become a melting pot of cultures where people from all across the world come for different purposes, the fusion continues to take place. 

Dishes like curry, biriyani, etc., which are indigenous to India and Pakistan have now become an integral part of Emirati cuisine. This culinary form also attests that Levantine and Persian cuisine have impacted the core culinary form of Emirati cuisine. 

In many restaurants, to make the cuisine more diverse and acceptable to people of different tastes, you can find shawarma prepared with Mexican spices or a Thai preparation of machboos. No matter the alternations due to foreign influence, Emirati chefs have ensured the preservation of authentic and traditional UAE cultural food as well. 

They have made these dishes a part of the restaurant menu and encourage people to try something local to get a taste of the land they are visiting. 

Where to Experience Traditional Emirati Food

Now the question is where you can go to eat this entire range of delectable Emirati food items. The answer is simple – any restaurant or local market. If you wish to enjoy a cosy ambiance while eating Emirati food with your friends and family, choose a restaurant.  If you wish to take a sip of a cup of local ‘Karak Chai’, enjoy it at a street shop in a bustling market. 

To find authentic Emirati food joints and to get discount coupons for meals, check out the portal of Dealsandcouponsmena.com. 

Every region has its unique culture, traditions, festivals, food, and heritage that form its identity. Emirate’s traditional food plays a critical role in defining its cultural identity as well. When you visit any place or city in the UAE, make sure to explore the rich and varied cuisine of the land. 

Conclusion

Ask the locals “What is the national food of UAE” and try it without fail.  When you eat something like Dango which is nothing but spiced and boiled chickpea, you get a feel of how Bedouins carried this dish with them on the road as it does not spoil easily. 

Every traditional Emirati dish has a tale to tell. Be a part of a wholesome experience when in The UAE by exploring its local cuisine as well.