Arabic cuisine. Nutrition and food in Dubai Secrets of baking in the UAE

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.
The United Arab Emirates is a 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!

The UAE is a multifaceted and very interesting country. The young state, which has created all the conditions for its guests, is becoming increasingly popular. Lovers of luxury go there for oriental chic, active tourists for an extraordinary pastime, and gourmets for exquisite Arabic cuisine.

United Arab Emirates. Photo: http://www.flickr.com/photos/paolo_rosa/

However, in addition to Arab national cuisine, there are also cuisines from other countries. The combination of large and small European cafes and restaurants with local oriental flavor will delight even the most experienced tourist.

Some tourists compared their trip to the UAE to a trip to a fairy tale. To feel the spirit of the East, you need to try the cuisine of this country at least once.

Peculiarities of UAE cuisine

Apparent freedom should not mislead the traveler. The UAE is a Muslim country, so all life here is influenced by Islam.

For example, you should be aware of the month of Ramadan (Ramadan), in which you are allowed to eat only after sunset and before sunrise. During this period, restaurants usually open only after dusk, particularly after 8 pm. In 2013, Ramadan will fall from July 11 to August 9.

There are restrictions on pork consumption in the UAE. You won't find pork in regular restaurants. If you are not Muslim and want a pork chop, you will have to find a specialty restaurant that will prepare it for you.

Street food

It is better to start getting acquainted with the national cuisine of the UAE on the street. Numerous tents and small cafes offer a variety of snacks and small full meals. All dishes purchased on the street are mostly wrapped in Arabic bread - lavash, which has a flat shape. But another type of bread is also common - pita (round buns).

Pete. Photo: http://www.flickr.com/photos/mosaica/

One of the most delicious dishes with bread is called Manakish. This is melted cheese with olives and herbs, which is wrapped in pita bread or pita bread. It is sold hot, and after the manakish has cooled down, it is eaten with your hands.

Manakish. Photo: http://www.flickr.com/photos/chiragnd/

And this is an Arabic dish called “Falafel”. It is popular not only in street cafes, but also on every family table in the Emirates. Tender chickpea puree balls are dipped in flour and fried in olive oil. To decorate and make it even more appetizing, falafel is served on fresh lettuce leaves or wrapped in pita bread.

Falafel. Photo: http://www.flickr.com/photos/65633948@N00/

The world-famous Shawarma (shawarma) came to us from the East. It is sold in literally all countries, and each has its own name and filling. You won’t find shawarma without meat in the UAE, but in other countries they can wrap just vegetables in lettuce leaves.

Shawarma shop. Photo: http://www.flickr.com/photos/edmundito/

In a real Arabian Shawarma, chicken is fried and wrapped in pita bread with vegetables (tomatoes, lettuce, garlic and cucumber), olive oil, pepper, and paprika are used.

For Shawarma lovers who have already tried this dish in other countries, it will be interesting to try the Arabic version.

Spices in the UAE

If you try a dish that is unfamiliar to you, be sure to take into account local culinary traditions: in the UAE they add very large quantities of seasonings to food. Both in fashionable restaurants and in a small tent on the street, the food will be equally spicy, generously seasoned.
The most commonly used seasonings are coriander, cinnamon, sesame, cumin, chili pepper, and curry.

Spices at a bazaar in the UAE. Photo: http://www.flickr.com/photos/elsa11/

The variety of spices presented in the Arab bazaars is amazing, and you can try them all before you buy them. Moreover, you will be treated to something you didn’t even plan to buy.

Meze appetizers

In the East it is not customary to rush. Both conversation and eating begin from afar: therefore, before the main course you will be offered several appetizers: vegetable salads, eggplant caviar (mutabbal, baba ganoush), cheese or meat pies, nut and garlic pastes, corn and wheat porridges.

Arabian Meze. Photo: http://www.flickr.com/photos/riwayat/

All this will be served to you on a large platter, divided into cells. These small portions are meze. By the way, some restaurants serve vegetables in meze for free.

Fish in the UAE

The UAE is washed by the waters of the Persian and Oman Gulfs; when visiting this country, you will feel like you have arrived in a maritime power.

There is a huge variety of fish dishes here. Many restaurants rely not on meat, but on seafood. They have a popular buffet system, where the fish lies on special tables in ice. In other establishments you can find aquariums in which your potential, still live, “dinner” swims.

Seafood restaurant in the UAE. Photo: http://www.flickr.com/photos/asimchoudhri/

One of the most popular lunch dishes is Briki. This is a dish of fish (sometimes minced lamb) or shrimp fried in the finest puff pastry. Bricks are made from dough in the shape of triangles and served with lemon slices and herbs.

Arabian Brick. Photo: promotunisia.com

Another, no less interesting fish dish is the famous Al Madruba, boiled salted fish. During cooking, spices and flour are added. Al Madruba is served with a sauce that emphasizes its unusual salty taste, which is why this fish is especially popular.

Fish is also prepared in a hundred other ways: dried, made into fish kebabs, fried on the grill. And they are certainly seasoned with delicious sauces, hot seasonings and fresh vegetables, which make them even tastier and more refined.

Seafood in the UAE. Photo: http://www.flickr.com/photos/josephchan749/

Other seafood is also popular - lobster, shrimp, crab, barracuda, tuna, khamur - sea bass. You can even find shark on the menu.

Meat dishes

Chicken, lamb, veal, lamb... A wide selection of meat products that will satisfy any gourmet. Meat in this country is mainly consumed in the form of kebabs, and sometimes several types of meat are combined in one serving.

Cooking meat on the grill. Photo: http://www.flickr.com/photos/abhisheksrivastava/

“Lamb kebab” - this is what is written on the menu in Arab restaurants. Often there are no explanations or names, so you can only hope that this is the kebab you were looking for. However, if you are in the United Arab Emirates, then you do not need to worry about the quality of meat and excellent taste.

Kebab. Photo: http://www.flickr.com/photos/redwackyworm/

The meat is always fresh and tender. Especially lamb, which is beaten in advance and marinated for several hours in lemon juice. Then they are fried without using fat, add a lot of spices and serve with a suitable sauce. Once you try this dish, you will forever remember what real kebab is.

Biryani is a national Arab dish. Everyone who has ever been to the UAE has probably tried it. Local chefs not only cook Biryani excellently, there are restaurants specializing in it.
This is a rice dish with meat (chicken, lamb), vegetables or fish. Be sure to have a large amount of spices, which are fried in a frying pan first. Place meat (fish, vegetables) cut into strips on fried spices, and rice on top.

Biryani with mutton. Photo: http://www.flickr.com/photos/29412850@N05/

For this dish, they take a certain type of rice - basmati, because of its long and thin grains. Sometimes pistachios and raisins are added to Biryani, as well as cloves. In general, this dish is similar to pilaf, so it will not seem exotic.

Dessert

The UAE, as one of the eastern countries, is rich in sweets and various spices. Pistachio puddings, raisin bread pies, cheese pies, honey donuts, dates, date honey, custard donuts, halva, Turkish delight... It's too much to list.

Arabic sweets. Photo: http://www.flickr.com/photos/guuleed/

This is the largest sweets store in Dubai, which is famous far beyond the country's borders. Its area is about 1000 square meters. meters.

Shop Candylicious. Photo: http://www.flickr.com/photos/47391741@N04/

But unfortunately, national sweets are not represented there. Mostly sweets from different countries of the world, and from the local area - only fresh Dubai cakes.

If you want to buy real oriental delicacies, you have a direct route to the bazaar. In sweet shops, tourists are no longer surprised when they buy kilograms of local delicacies to take home as souvenirs.

Dates are very beneficial for the digestive system, so they are eaten several times a day. For example, dates with almonds are served for breakfast and offered to guests with tea in the evening. To do this, remove the seeds from the fruit and put almonds in their place. People with a sweet tooth eat dates with honey, chocolate and butter.

Dates with almonds. Photo: http://www.flickr.com/photos/alexander/

Umm Ali (omm ali) is a festive Arabic dish. It is served as a dessert for tea on a weekend or prepared for important guests. This bread pudding is soaked in fruit syrup or rose petal water, and large nuts, raisins and dried fruits are added.

Umm Ali dessert. Photo: http://www.flickr.com/photos/bakingobsessions/

Umm Ali is one of the oriental delicacies that is most popular among tourists.

While Umm Ali pudding is one of the least sweet dishes in the UAE, pistachio baklava is one of the sweetest. To prevent an excessive sweet taste from remaining in your mouth, wash it down with tea.

Beverages

In the hot Emirates, of course, you are constantly thirsty. There you will always find natural juices from all kinds of fruits, as well as their mixtures. In the stalls on the streets where fruit juice is squeezed, there are usually at least 5-8 types.

Coffee shop in the UAE. http://www.flickr.com/photos/nidserz/

Coffee in the UAE is a ritual. There are so many coffee shops in cities that you won’t have any difficulty finding them even with your eyes closed – by smell. Locals visit coffee shops at least once a day.

To ensure that guests relax with a cup of coffee, local coffee shops make every effort. A good establishment will definitely have twilight and an atmosphere conducive to relaxation.

Arabic coffee. Photo: http://www.flickr.com/photos/miemo/

The most popular coffee in the UAE is the light Arabian variety. Its main feature is that it is brewed from unroasted coffee beans.

They also drink tea, but less. Mainly after a heavy meat lunch or dinner. It is served in special tea cups. Green tea, mint and sage, which have calming properties, are common.

You will not see alcohol for free sale in this country. Not even in every hotel you can drink a glass of wine or a glass of beer. Alcohol in the UAE is sold only in hotels that have a license to sell alcohol.

Non-alcoholic beer in the UAE. Photo: http://www.flickr.com/photos/drytimes/

However, for a country like the UAE, the availability of alcohol is not that important. The antiquity of traditions and the richness of Arab culture will inspire you for a long time to make other journeys and further searches for the unknown.
In the Emirates, you will try dishes rich in healthy spices, plunge into the magical, tranquil atmosphere of Arab coffee shops, and see as many sweets in the bazaars as you have never seen in your entire life.

For you, we have revealed only one side of this multifaceted state, now all that’s left is to see and experience it live. Have a nice trip, bon appetit!

In Dubai you can find cuisine of any nationality. We talk about food prices in Dubai in 2019. What to try from local cuisine and street food in the UAE? Prices for products in stores. Dietary features during Ramadan and prohibitions regarding alcohol. Tips on how to save money.

Personal experience of the website editor. We spent 4 full days in Dubai and spent 300 dirhams ($80) on food for two. That is $10 per day per person. Very little! We tried new Middle Eastern dishes, ate delicious Indian and Bangladeshi food, ate shawarma a couple of times (how could we live without it in the East!) and once bought ready-made food in the supermarket. We were satisfied with everything.

Exchange rate: 1 UAE dirham (AED) ≈ 18 RUB.

Today, only 10% of Arabs live in the Emirates. The rest of the population are visitors from India, Malaysia, Pakistan and other countries. Dubai is called the gastronomic capital of the world. The resort has many restaurants and cafes serving dishes from different parts of the world.

Emirati cuisine has absorbed the traditions of Middle Eastern, Bedouin, Persian and Asian cooking. If you want to try national food, look for establishments with the sign emirate cuisine. Tourists like the Emirati restaurants Al Fanar and Seven Sands.

fried fish with spices;
al-madruba - boiled heavily salted fish;
Bricks- pies with fish, shrimp and meat fillings;
ferid- meat stewed with potatoes and vegetables;
geese- lamb meat with nuts and raisins;
biryani- rice with chicken or lamb;
balalit- a popular breakfast dish of salty-sweet noodles with omelette;
heris- boiled wheat with meat;
chebab- unleavened pancakes with sweet syrup or cheese.
desserts with dates;
pistachio baklava.

Chebab and balalit (Photo © wikimedia.ru / Wikiemirati)

Prices for food in cafes and restaurants in Dubai - 2019

The United Arab Emirates is a self-sufficient and wealthy state, so food prices in the UAE in 2019 are quite high. Let's see how much it costs to eat in Dubai.

There are several types of cafes and restaurants in the resort city. The most affordable prices are in establishments that are designed for poor tourists and emigrants. There are such in the areas of Bur Dubai and Deira. You can have breakfast there for 15-25 AED per person. The menu includes a couple of fried eggs, sausages, some beans, bread, jam, butter and a cup of coffee. Lunch or dinner for two in a non-tourist cafe costs only 40-50 AED for two. For example, a hearty shawarma can be bought for 12-15 AED.

How much does food cost in regular restaurants in Dubai in 2019? Lunch and dinner are not cheap - the average check per person excluding drinks is about 80-150 AED. For this money they will bring you an appetizer, main course, dessert and coffee. The bill in prestigious restaurants starts from 250 AED and goes over 1000 AED.

Chebab for breakfast Photo © unsplash.com / @eilivaceron)

Almost everywhere during the daytime they offer budget business lunches. A hearty lunch with a fixed menu costs from 15 to 30 AED. Great way to save money!

Here are the average prices for food in cafes and restaurants in Dubai in 2019 (for tourists):

salad - 50 AED;
soup - 40-50 AED;
pasta with seafood - 150 AED;
pizza - 75-105 AED;
kebab - 35-55 AED;
al-madruba - 17 AED;
fried shark - 70 AED;
briks - 25-32 AED;
dessert - 40 AED;
coffee, tea - 20 AED.

Lobster (Photo © Florence Luong / flickr.com)

Best restaurants in Dubai

Let's talk about expensive restaurants. These are establishments in which the flavor of a fashionable Arab resort is perfectly felt.

One of the most prestigious restaurants Al Mahara is located on the first floor of the famous skyscraper-sailboat Burj Al Arab. The establishment specializes in seafood. Its walls are decorated with a huge aquarium from floor to ceiling. Enjoy the perfectly prepared dishes, admire the colorful fish and be prepared to pay from 900 AED for dinner.

There is a popular bar in the same building Gold On 27. People come here to eat and enjoy the view of the city from the height of the 27th floor. Designer interiors are decorated with gold leaf. Prices are appropriate - cocktails start from 100 AED.

Each cocktail has its own serving (Photo © goldon27.com)

On the south-eastern outskirts of Dubai, behind Al Maktoum International Airport, lies a popular Arabic-style restaurant Al Sarab Rooftop Lounge. Its windows offer superb views of the desert. Everything has been created inside so that guests can feel the beauty of the East. There is live music and chefs preparing delicious Lebanese, Mediterranean and Asian dishes.

An iconic restaurant is located on the 124th floor of the tallest skyscraper in the world. At.Mosphere. To get here, you need to book a table in advance and pay a deposit. From the windows you can see the whole of Dubai at your fingertips. A nice bonus is Russian-speaking waiters.

At.mosphere Burj Khalifa (Photo © www.facebook.com/atmosphereburjkhalifa)

Drink prices

The most important drink in Dubai is plain water. It sells for 1 AED per 0.33 liter bottle. Why so expensive? All water in the city is imported. Freshly squeezed juices cost from 21 AED per 0.5 liter. The cafe offers an excellent cappuccino made from selected Arabica beans for 12 AED.

What about alcohol? Muslim traditions prohibit alcoholic beverages. This rule does not apply to tourists, but drinking alcohol in public places will result in a hefty fine of 5,000 AED. Drinking in Dubai is only allowed at home, in a hotel room or bar.

Strong alcoholic drinks are expensive and are sold in special stores. Alcohol prices in Dubai in 2019:

local beer, 0.5 l - 25-45 AED;
imported beer, 0.33 l - 30-45 AED;
wine, 0.75 l - 45-100 AED.

Coffee in a Dubai cafe (Photo © unsplash.com / @eilivaceron)

Grocery prices in Dubai stores - 2019

Buying groceries in the UAE is not a problem. The most affordable prices for food in Dubai 2019 are offered by supermarkets Coop Union, Shaklan, Carrefour, Safest Way, Organic Foods and Cafe, Lulu Hypermarket and Baqer Mohebi. Most of them sell products from local farmers. Shoppers love the stores of the Emirates Cooperative Society, which is simply called Co-op in the city.

Here are the prices for food in Dubai stores in 2019:

loaf of bread, 0.5 kg - 4.5 AED;
milk, 1 l - 5.4 AED;
rice, 1 kg - 8.9 AED;
eggs, 12 pcs. - 10 AED;
butter, 0.4 kg - 15 AED;
cheese, 1 kg - 30 AED;
watermelon, 1 kg - 5 AED;
melon, 1 kg - 5.5 AED;
bananas, 1 kg - 6.5 AED;
oranges, 1 kg - 7.8 AED.
pears, 1 kg - 8 AED;
apples, 1 kg - 8 AED;
tomatoes, 1 kg - 6.5 AED;
cucumbers, 1 kg - 12 AED;
water, 1.5 l - 2.2 AED;
juice, 1.5 - 5-6 AED;
cola, 2.25 l - 5 AED.

Hummus (Photo © pexels.com / Sohel Patel)

Fast food in Dubai

Due to the high prices for food in cafes and restaurants in Dubai, fast food chains are popular among tourists. There are restaurants and kiosks serving food on the go in every area of the city. There are many such establishments near bazaars, beaches and metro stations. A set at McDonald's of a cheeseburger, fries and coffee costs 22 AED, a whole pizza in a pizzeria - 35-45 AED, and Indian pancakes with toppings - masala dosa - only 5 AED.

Masala dosa (Photo © idntimes.com)

If you want to get acquainted with national cuisine, start with what they cook on the streets. It is noteworthy that there are almost no Emirati dishes left in Dubai fast food. Everything traded in Dubai has Middle Eastern or Levantine roots.

Prices for street food in the UAE are low. According to tourists, the cheapest and most delicious lunch in Dubai is shawarma. An appetizing snack made from chicken, beef or lamb is sold in large portions, with which you can easily fill up.

Dish No. 2 - manakish. Traditional Arabic flatbread stuffed with pickled cheese, sesame seeds and spices. Freshly baked manakish with tea is a great quick breakfast.

Many people like deep-fried chickpea balls - falafel. A tasty and satisfying dish with a unique aroma. Not a single family meal in the Emirates is complete without falafel. On the streets, small balls are sold in pita bread or lettuce with sesame sauce.

Prices for street food in Dubai in 2019:

shawarma - 5-8 AED;
grilled chicken - 17-22 AED;
manakish - 14 AED;
fluffy flatbread with sesame seeds Barbary- 1.4 AED;
falafel - 25 AED;
ice cream - 10 AED;
freshly squeezed juice - 10 AED.

What you need to know

Almost all the food prepared in the city is halal. Only in some areas do they make dishes with pork especially for foreigners.

There are special rules for traveling to Dubai by Ramadan. This is a Muslim holiday during which it is forbidden to eat any food from morning until sunset. During the day, all resort restaurants are closed during the day during the month. But in the evening the real feast begins in Dubai.

There is a strict dress code for cafes and restaurants - in Dubai it is not customary to come to lunch in beachwear.

Tipping in the UAE is 10-15% of the bill. If the receipt does not indicate charges, give the waiter the required amount in cash.

How to save on food in Dubai

Low prices for food in Dubai in national restaurants of Thai, Chinese and Indian cuisine. They look simpler than regular establishments, and the service is not so pompous. But the cost of lunch will not disappoint. In a restaurant aimed at expats, a hearty meal will cost 10-20 AED.
Where to eat inexpensively in the UAE? Choose cafes and restaurants that are located outside the tourist area - away from attractions and hotels. The Golden fork chain of budget restaurants is popular in the city.
Expats recommend Dubai's Lebanese restaurants. According to many, they have the optimal combination of quality and price. Main courses start from 30 AED, sandwiches - 15 AED, and drinks - 12 AED.
All major stores in Dubai regularly hold price reduction promotions. Customers are offered discounts on daily products and have great sales on weekends. Pay close attention to the announcements upon entry.
Every supermarket has a prepared food section. Prices for such products in Dubai in 2019 are low: bun - 1.4 AED, mini-pizza - 2 AED, samsa - 2.4 AED, lamb kebab - from 2.6 AED, soups - from 4.2 AED, boiled rice - 20 AED per 1 kg. Heat up your food in the microwave and a hearty meal is ready!
In UAE markets, food is slightly cheaper than in supermarkets. You won't get much profit, but it's worth going to the market. You will feel the colorful atmosphere of the oriental bazaar, bargain and get vivid impressions.

Despite the fact that the cuisines of various countries in the Middle East have their own national differences, they have a lot in common. This is the widespread use of spices and herbs. Prohibition of eating pork and drinking alcohol. Special rules for eating, especially during religious holidays or other significant events. The manner of eating with your hands and other features. All this is commonly called Arabic cuisine today.

The national cuisine of the United Arab Emirates is not much different from any other cuisine in the Arab country. But today, due to the dramatic changes that have occurred in recent years, it has become quite difficult to find restaurants serving only national cuisine. Many fast food restaurants, mixed cuisine restaurants and restaurants specializing in other cuisines of the world are opening.

Only in small private cafes where they cook right on the street, you can find exclusively national dishes. They can be immediately recognized by the aroma of oriental spices that are widespread around, of which there are countless numbers. They give the original taste and aroma to local dishes. But you shouldn’t try everything here right away. The European stomach must gradually get used to Arab cuisine.

About meat

Arabic cuisine is based on any meat except pork. First of all, lamb boiled or in the form of kebab. All parts of the ram’s body are used, even the entrails, head and hooves. Here is just one option for preparing the popular dish “huzi”. The lamb is baked, first stuffed with chicken, eggs and rice. The finished dish is seasoned with saffron and onions. Veal, poultry and fish dishes are also popular.

Meat is also often used for kebabs or minced meat. The meat is usually juicy and tasty. In Arabic cuisine it is cooked without fat, in a hot frying pan. If the preparation of some dishes requires additional processing, then in this case the use of fat or oil is allowed. The main foods include lentils and beans. They are used for food in various types and variants. Meat dishes are often given a sour taste by adding lemon, yogurt, vinegar, tamarind or pomegranate juice.

Shawarma is very popular in Middle Eastern countries. In Dubai and the United Arab Emirates, shawarma is prepared in Lebanese style. Chicken or lamb meat is used as a base. The salad mixed with chopped meat is rolled into an Arabic flatbread and topped with sauce.

It is also a tradition in Arabic cuisine to end the meal with dessert. An excellent dessert is pudding, and there are a great many types and tastes of pudding.

About coffee

worth mentioning separately. It is believed that the art of preparing this drink came from the East. People drink coffee here often and everywhere. A cup of coffee is a great place to start a conversation or end a meal. In the United Arab Emirates, the light Arabic variety is popular, which is obtained from lightly roasted Arabica coffee beans.

There is a whole ritual of serving coffee in special dishes intended for this - sharp-nosed copper "dalla" coffee pots. In Dubai, they believe that coffee should be served in small cups without handles. If coffee is drunk in company, it is served from right to left, starting with the oldest or highest-ranking person, and a little less than half a cup is poured. They drink in portions until the guests let them know that they have had enough. Pouring a full cup of coffee is considered bad manners.

When treating you, you may be offered a choice of both coffee and tea, which is brewed with a lot of sugar. The tea turns out very sweet, similar to syrup, but quenches thirst very well. It is served in narrow glasses with a small handle.

About dishes

Currently, the Lebanese-Syrian version of Arabic cuisine is widespread in Dubai. He suggests serving a selection of small appetizers called mezes at the beginning of the meal. They include vegetable salads, garlic paste, nut paste, dolma with minced meat and vegetables, small triangular-shaped hot pies with fillings, eggplant caviar and assorted cheeses.

Among the assortment of “meze” there is certainly “mutabbal” or, more simply, eggplant caviar. Sometimes eggplant caviar is also called "babaganoush" (literally translated as old man's food). It is consumed not with a fork, but with a piece of flatbread. The eggplant itself is baked until tender along with hot garlic. It turns out quite tasty.

Among the features of Dubai cuisine, one can note “makbus” and “haris”. "Makbus" is mutton with spices and rice, and "haris" is a dish made from wheat and mutton. In addition, Dubai residents often cook rice with chopped chicken and fish, vegetables and seasonings; they call this dish “biryani”.

The huge size allows you to prepare a wide variety of dishes from fresh or dried fish. Seafood is used in various forms as a main dish or side dishes.

Flatbreads made from dough without yeast are popular in Dubai. They replace bread here. The process of making such flatbreads is even shown to tourists in the Heritage village.

All kinds of vegetables and fruits are brought to Dubai markets from all over the region. Traditionally, there are many almonds, walnuts and even pine nuts that are used in cooking. The dates that grow here are very popular.

In Dubai, mineral water, both from local sources and imported, is very popular, but Muslims are strictly forbidden to drink wine. Even to foreigners it is sold only in hotel bars and restaurants.

Video. UAE cuisine

A little about the country and a master class on preparing some popular national dishes of the Emirates.

An integral part of any trip is getting to know a new cuisine. Each country is rich in its own national characteristics in this area, and the United Arab Emirates is no exception.

As already mentioned, the UAE is a Muslim country, and tourists should not forget about the peculiarities associated with this. For example, before the trip, it is worth checking whether the month of Ramadan falls during this period, since at this time you cannot eat and drink from sunrise to sunset, and, even if you are not a Muslim, it is better not to do this openly on the streets of the city, so as not to cause indignation among the local population. In the Emirates, they do not eat in public transport and public places (fine AED 100 ≈ $28), such an offense is fraught with a large fine, and it is advisable not to even chew gum.

Most Arabic dishes are served with bread - either flat-shaped pita bread or pita - round-shaped buns. A striking example here is the manakish dish - melted cheese wrapped in a flatbread or pita with finely chopped olives and sprinkled with herbs.

Despite the fact that Arabs love meat very much, you will never see pork in national restaurants, since they consider a pig a dirty animal. And if you still really want to eat a pork chop, you will have to look for a restaurant of a different nationality - fortunately, there are no problems with this in the Emirates - cuisines of all nations of the world are represented here. But other types of meat - lamb, beef, veal, goat, poultry - are available in any restaurant in the UAE.

What to try in the UAE

The meat is cooked here without adding oil or other fats, which is why it acquires such a special taste and aroma. The most popular meat dishes in the UAE are kebabs - a shish kebab-like dish, often made from different types of meat, served on skewers or in a sandwich, sometimes made from minced meat or meat shavings.

The dish shawarma (called shawarma here) will seem very familiar to our tourists - young lamb or chicken meat, fried on a spit and wrapped in the thinnest flatbread. This dish is often prepared right on the street in small cafes - the aroma is such that not a single passerby can resist. But the distinctive feature of Arabic shawarma is that you can be 100% sure of its quality and there is absolutely no need to be afraid of buying it on the street.

It is worth trying in the UAE such dishes as biryani - a dish of basmati rice with the addition of a number of spices and a piece of meat or fish, guzi - lamb meat with rice and nuts, makbus - roast chicken or lamb with rice. Rice is generally the most popular side dish here. Most often in restaurants you do not have to order a side dish - when you order meat, you get a side dish in addition.

Cube and Harris - meat pies - are popular.

Arabic cuisine is rich in various spices; in Dubai there is even a whole spice market - “Spice Souk”. Any national dish will be generously strewn with seasonings, the most popular of which are cinnamon, sesame, chili pepper, curry, coriander, garlic, and aromatic herbs.

As a maritime country, the UAE is also rich in seafood dishes - a wide variety - from tiger prawns to shark, and in most restaurants you can even choose from the sea creatures presented in the aquarium or on a huge layout with ice that you want to eat, and you can eat them They'll be happy to cook it right away. Traditionally, fish is cooked over charcoal, but sometimes a grill is also used. The most popular fish dishes are: briki - seafood, namely various types of fish or shrimp fried in a thin dough, and al-Madruba - boiled salted fish with spices and flour. You can't go wrong by simply ordering fried fish, crab, lobster or shrimp - they will definitely be served with the most delicious sauces, rice and flatbreads - you won't try this anywhere else.

Before the main meal, you will, as a rule, be offered a meze snack completely free of charge - a huge dish divided into portions of vegetable salads, pastes from different types of nuts and legumes, porridge, muffins with cheese or meat, or thick soups. This category of dishes includes, for example, khomus (aka hummus) - a paste made from peas, sesame seeds and lemon juice, tabbouleh - a snack made from mint, parsley and wheat, kussamakhshi - stuffed zucchini. Another popular vegetable dish in Arab cuisine is falafel - balls of ground chickpeas or other legumes fried in flour and olive oil. By the way, if oil is used in Arab cuisine, preference is always given to olive oil.

The daily diet of Arabs also includes a lot of fermented milk products, especially cheeses.

So we slowly approached the most interesting part of the section, namely oriental sweets. The range of confectionery products presented in Dubai is one of the widest in the world; sweets are sold for every taste. Their main advantage is their naturalness - nuts, dried fruits, honey, spices. Tourists are very fond of local umm ali and mechalabiya puddings, pistachio baklava and sherbet, eshasaya cheese pie, dates with almonds, Turkish delight - the list goes on and on. It is oriental sweets that are one of the main “souvenirs” that tourists bring home as a reminder of a wonderful trip or as a gift to family and friends, so that they can also experience the whole fairy tale of oriental culture.

The UAE is a hot country, so drinks play a very important role here. Arabs prefer to drink mineral water, sometimes they also drink tap water - sanitary standards allow. A wide selection of freshly squeezed juices is beyond any competition - in any establishment or street cafe, before your eyes they will prepare an amazing fresh juice or fruit cocktail, which is strikingly different from the ones we are used to, because real fresh juice is thick and aromatic, it conveys the true taste of fruit, which you may not have even thought about. Many tourists are amazed, for example, by fresh avocado - it would seem that a fruit does not have the most pronounced taste qualities, but the taste of this juice is amazing; it is most often added to various fruit cocktails. It can also serve as an excellent snack, as avocados are quite high in calories and nutrition.

A separate ritual in the UAE is drinking coffee - here it is a drink for relaxation and leisurely conversation. Coffee is brewed with the addition of various spices and herbs according to traditional Arabic recipes, of which there are many. The most popular type of coffee is light Arabian, the main difference of which is the unroasted beans. In any case, coffee is brewed independently - without the use of coffee makers and machines. Coffee is served in traditional Arabic “dalla” coffee pots and poured into small bowls.

Since the country has a “prohibition” law, alcohol is prohibited in the country. It can only be purchased in duty-free stores - “Duty Free” - and in some hotels and restaurants licensed to sell alcoholic beverages. But, in any case, you should be extremely careful with their use, taking into account the strict legislation of the UAE. Under no circumstances should you drink alcoholic beverages in public places, appear on the street or drive while intoxicated - the punishment will be very severe - from a hefty fine and deportation from the country to imprisonment.

If you have visited Dubai or any other city in the UAE for the first time, you should definitely get to know the gastronomic tastes of the local population, since it is impossible to understand and experience the culture of another people without completely immersing yourself in their usual rhythm of life, without trying for yourself everything that comes from consists of the life of an ordinary representative of this people.

Enjoy your meal! And bright impressions!