Dubai Expat Food Guide

Published on October 2, 2025 and written by Cyril Jarnias

Dubai, the quintessential cosmopolitan city, offers a unique culinary experience that blends ancient traditions with gastronomic innovations. For expatriates newly arrived in this vibrant metropolis of the United Arab Emirates, exploring the local food scene is an exciting adventure that allows immersion into the host country’s culture. This guide will take you through Dubai’s iconic flavors, from traditional markets to trendy restaurants, including essential dining etiquette rules.

The Richness of Emirati Cuisine

Dubai’s gastronomy draws its roots from traditional Bedouin cuisine while incorporating Persian, Indian, and Levantine influences. This unique fusion creates flavorful dishes that reflect the region’s history and geography.

Must-Try Local Dishes

Among the specialties not to miss are:

• Al Machboos: spiced fragrant rice served with meat (lamb, chicken, or fish)
• Shawarma: grilled meat slices wrapped in pita bread with vegetables and sauce
• Hummus: creamy chickpea dip served as an appetizer
• Moutabal: mashed grilled eggplant mixed with tahini
• Luqaimat: small fried dough balls drizzled with date syrup

These dishes form the heart of Emirati cuisine and are ubiquitous in both traditional restaurants and households. Tasting them helps understand the subtleties of local flavors and appreciate the importance of sharing and conviviality in Dubai’s culinary culture.

Traditional Markets: A Sensory Immersion

To truly grasp the essence of local gastronomy, nothing beats a visit to Dubai’s traditional souks and markets. These lively places offer a unique sensory experience and allow discovery of the fresh ingredients that compose Emirati cuisine.

The Spice Souk

Located in Deira, the Spice Souk is a true paradise for flavor enthusiasts. You’ll find a multitude of colorful spices, aromatic herbs, dried fruits, and local products like incense. It’s the ideal place to buy authentic ingredients and soak up Dubai’s traditional atmosphere.

Deira Fish Market

This bustling market offers a wide variety of fish and seafood freshly caught from the Persian Gulf. It’s an opportunity to discover local species like hammour (grouper) or sultan ibrahim (red mullet), and observe typical regional bargaining techniques.

Waterfront Market

This modern market offers a more contemporary experience while maintaining the authenticity of local products. You’ll find stalls of fruits, vegetables, meats, fish, and spices in an air-conditioned and hygienic environment.

Visiting these markets not only allows discovery of local cuisine’s basic ingredients but also immersion into the lively, colorful atmosphere that characterizes daily life in Dubai.

Iconic Restaurants: Between Tradition and Modernity

Dubai offers an exceptional culinary scene that combines traditional restaurants with world-renowned gourmet establishments. For expatriates eager to discover local cuisine in all its splendor, here are some essential addresses:

Al Fanar Restaurant & Cafe

This restaurant offers total immersion into Emirati culture, both through its decor and menu. You can enjoy traditional dishes like machboos or thereed in a setting that evokes 1960s Dubai.

Orfali Bros Bistro

Ranked number one on the MENA’s 50 Best Restaurants list in 2025, this restaurant run by three brothers offers innovative cuisine that reinvents Middle Eastern flavors. It’s the perfect place to discover a modern interpretation of local gastronomy.

Bait Maryam

This family restaurant offers authentic and warm Levantine cuisine. Chef Salam Dakkak presents recipes passed down through generations, like kabab hamoudi, a kebab rolled in homemade bread and served with smoked moutabal.

BOCA

Awarded for its sustainable approach to gastronomy, BOCA offers Mediterranean cuisine that highlights local products. It’s an opportunity to taste innovative dishes like kingfish served with a spicy local tomato gazpacho.

These establishments illustrate the diversity of Dubai’s culinary scene, where tradition and innovation harmoniously coexist. They offer expatriates the opportunity to discover the richness of local gastronomy in varied settings, from the most authentic to the most contemporary.

Dining Etiquette: Essential Codes to Know

To fully integrate into the local culture, it’s essential to know the etiquette rules governing meals in Dubai. These codes vary depending on the context, whether family, professional, or formal.

In a Family Context

• It’s common to eat sitting on the floor on carpets or cushions
• Typically, use the right hand for eating, as the left is considered impure
• It’s polite to taste all dishes offered
• Leaving a little food on your plate is a sign of politeness, indicating the host was generous

In a Professional Context

• Business meals are often long and serve as opportunities to build relationships
• It’s important to wait for the host to start eating before serving yourself
• Avoid discussing business at the beginning of the meal; wait for your counterpart to bring up the subject
• Alcohol is generally not served during business meals, except in international hotels

In a Formal Context

• Arrive on time or slightly late (10-15 minutes maximum)
• Dress elegantly and respectfully of local traditions
• Wait to be shown your place at the table
• Avoid categorically refusing a dish, even if you don’t eat it

It’s important to note that during Ramadan, the rules change significantly. Most restaurants are closed during the day, and eating, drinking, or smoking in public is prohibited from sunrise to sunset.

Contemporary Culinary Trends in Dubai

Dubai, a constantly evolving city, sees its gastronomic scene continuously reinvent itself. Curious expatriates can discover innovative culinary trends that reflect the city’s dynamism.

Fusion Cuisine

Many talented chefs combine traditional Middle Eastern flavors with international techniques and ingredients. This fusion gives birth to unique dishes that embody Dubai’s cosmopolitan spirit.

Sustainable Gastronomy

Following the example of BOCA restaurant, more establishments are emphasizing the use of local and sustainable products. This trend allows rediscovery of traditional ingredients while supporting local agriculture.

Immersive Culinary Experiences

Some restaurants offer experiences beyond simple dining. Sky-high dinners, underwater restaurants, or desert meals provide unforgettable moments combining gastronomy and spectacle.

Reimagined Street Food

Food trucks and night markets are gaining popularity, offering creative versions of local and international street food. It’s an opportunity to taste reinvented shawarmas or falafels with unexpected flavors.

These trends illustrate Dubai’s ability to innovate while respecting its culinary traditions. They offer expatriates new ways to explore local gastronomy in often surprising settings.

Finding International Ingredients in Dubai

Although discovering local cuisine is exciting, expatriates sometimes feel the need to rediscover flavors from their home countries. Fortunately, Dubai offers many options for finding international ingredients.

International Supermarkets

Chains like Carrefour, Spinneys, or Waitrose offer a wide range of products imported from different countries. You can easily find European, American, or Asian ingredients there.

Specialty Grocery Stores

Many grocery stores specialize in products from a specific region. For example, 1004 Gourmet for Korean products, or Dean’s Fujiya for Japanese ingredients.

Producers’ Markets

The Ripe Market, held regularly in different locations around the city, is an excellent place to find fresh and artisanal products, including international specialties.

Online Stores

Sites like Kibsons or FreshToHome allow ordering a wide variety of fresh and grocery products, including hard-to-find ingredients, delivered directly to your home.

Thanks to these different options, expatriates can easily alternate between local and international cuisine, thus enriching their culinary experience in Dubai.

In conclusion, discovering local gastronomy in Dubai is an exciting adventure that allows expatriates to fully immerse themselves in their host country’s culture. From traditional markets to innovative restaurants, including essential etiquette rules, this guide offers a comprehensive overview of Dubai’s culinary scene. By exploring these different facets, expatriates can not only satisfy their gustatory curiosity but also create lasting bonds with the local community through sharing meals and unique gastronomic experiences.