UAE national dishes. What to try: cuisine of the United Arab Emirates. A few features of the Emirates related to food

The UAE uses traditional and practically the same cuisine for Arab countries, formed under the influence of the special natural, climatic and religious features of the region. Since Muslims do not eat pork, meat dishes are mainly used beef, goat, veal, poultry, fish and eggs. The meat is often fried in a hot frying pan without fat, which gives it a special taste.

It is worth trying lamb meat with rice and nuts - "guzi", barbecue "tikka", traditional Arabic "shawarma" (shawarma, shavarma), lamb cutlets with herbs "kustileta", the famous barbecue of marinated lamb or beef - "kebab", lamb "shish kebab", meat with spices and rice "makbous", traditional minced meat kebab "kofta", fried meat balls "kebbe", cold cuts roast "meshui-mushakkal", a kind of pizza "rice" stuffed with young lamb pepper and many other, no less original dishes.

UAE cuisine recipes. Dishes for the holidays. National New Year's recipes.

First meal:

Main dishes:

• Couscous with lamb ragout and tomato sauce with rose petals
• Saffron pilaf with caramelized onions, roasted almonds and cinnamon
• Shish kebab
• Pizza "rice"
• Kebbe
• Tikka
• Sweater
• Custileta
• Meshui-mushakkal
• Macbus

Salads:

Poultry dishes are very popular - stewed chicken with tomato, steamed chicken "al-mandi" with honey, casserole with chicken meat "haris" (often with veal), rice with pieces of chicken stew "biryani-adjaj", barbecue from chicken "tikka-dajaj", spicy chicken "jaj-tannuri", quail meat "samman", which is very revered in the east, etc. Rice and fresh vegetable salad are used as a side dish for such dishes. All sorts of spices and seasonings are used in large quantities. An important place on the table is occupied by thick meat soups with beans and rice, peas, potatoes, capers, etc.

The meal is often accompanied by pies made of coarse wheat flour with "kubbe" meat or small triangular "sambusa" pies with vegetables - "khudar", cheese - "jabna", meat - "lyakhma" or spinach - "sabeneh".

Vegetables and greens are widely used - pasta "khomus" (hummus), "hommos bi-tahin", wheat or corn porridge "burgul", stuffed zucchini "kuzhety", vegetable salad with Arabic bread "fatush", eggplant caviar " mutabbal", "tabbulya" - a dish of wheat and finely chopped greens, cabbage rolls (dolma) from the grape leaf "warak-anab", white soaked peas "dahnu", rice in various combinations, as well as pickled and salted vegetables and seasonings.

Dishes made from sour-milk products, especially cheese, as well as fish and seafood are consumed in large quantities - "biryani-samak", a kind of pilaf with fish "makbus-samak", sea bass "hamur", "sultan Ibrahim" (sultanka or red mullet), "shaari", "zubeidi", various crustaceans and even sharks. Traditionally, fish is cooked exclusively on charcoal.

Local desserts are very good - umm-ali milk pudding with raisins and nuts, sweet cheese pie with cream "ash-asaya" (or "as-saraya"), pistachio pudding "mehallabiya", "baklava", donuts with honey "ligemat", "sherbet", a kind of Arabic dessert "asyda", etc.

A special kind of meal is coffee. This is both a traditional drink for conversation and a special art, which should not be neglected in Arab countries. Coffee is prepared "on the spot", no machines are recognized in principle, and it is poured from traditional "dalla" coffee pots into small bowls. There are a lot of varieties of this drink, but the most popular are traditional black varieties, as well as light Arabian and coffee with cardamom.

Of course, native Arab citizens are happy to eat Middle Eastern, Indian, and European food. But in most cases, they honor their culinary traditions.

Eating Emirati cuisine is an expensive pleasure, much cheaper than local fast food or cheap cafes for migrants (read our review “”). Most tourists visit the national restaurant once per vacation just to try it. And it’s worth trying, the Emirati cuisine is unique, shaped by desert conditions and the centuries-old influence of neighboring cultures.

Ingredients and Features

Emirati cuisine has absorbed elements of Bedouin, Middle Eastern, Persian, Indian and several other Asian culinary traditions.

For centuries, the basis of the diet of the locals was fish and seafood. However, fish dishes in the Emirati cuisine do not differ in variety and color. The main fish dish is fish fried with spices.

The second important component is dates. They are eaten before a meal for an aperitif, after a meal for an aftertaste. Dates are added to many dishes for a slightly sweet taste. And, of course, dates are used in all dessert dishes. Read our article "".

From meat, mutton and lamb are most often used, less often beef and goat meat.

Pork is not used in Emirati cuisine for religious reasons. However, you can buy pork and pork delicacies, some supermarkets have special departments.

Chicken and chicken eggs appeared in the diet of UAE residents relatively recently - after the oil boom in the 70s. Prior to that, they used the meat of birds “Arabian hubara” or “bustard”. This is a rather large bird, male hubars are the size of a turkey, females are the size of a chicken. Now hubars are listed in the Red Book.

Camel milk is not as popular with the native Arabs now as it used to be when there was no alternative to it. Camel milk is almost never used in cooking, it is customary to drink it separately.

Now you can buy fresh camel milk in any large store in the UAE, and even pasteurized camel milk has appeared, which we talked about in the article “”.

Rice occupies an important place in the Emirati cuisine. An interesting fact is that rice does not grow in the UAE, there is no large amount of water needed here. Rice is grown only as an experiment on one indoor farm in.

Emirati Arabs have been eating rice for centuries, after establishing close trade ties with Persia and India. This proves to us that the Arabs of the Persian Gulf have never been poor, they have been eating imported rice for centuries.

The main seasonings are kukrum, saffron, cardamom, cinnamon. All these spices are originally from India and Iran and appeared in the Emirati cuisine several centuries ago. The UAE has its own national seasoning called “bezar” – a mixture of cumin, coriander, dill, pepper and cinnamon. In Emirati cuisine, the leaves of the prosopis plant are used as a seasoning, most often for dishes with poultry.

The main method of cooking is to stew whole dishes in a pot. This method is common in hot countries in order to wash fewer dishes, water is in short supply.

The national cuisine of the UAE was formed under the influence of religious features and the country's natural and climatic conditions. Of course, the local cuisine is considered part of the Arabic cuisine, so here you will see: the widespread use of seasonings and spices, a ban on drinking alcohol and eating pork, a kind of food intake, depending on religious holidays, an interesting way of eating, some dishes, hands and much more. other. If you want to fully feel the real spirit of the East, then you just need to try the national cuisine of the UAE.

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

• « guzi "- lamb with nuts and rice.
• Shawarma (shawarma) is a famous Arabic dish that does not need a description.
• « kustileta "- lamb cutlets, with spices and herbs.
• « shish kebab "- marinated lamb shish kebab.
• « makbus "- a meat dish with rice and spices.
• « kebbe - fried meat balls.
• "meshui-mushakkal" - meat roast.
• « al-mandi" - steamed chicken with honey.
• « haris" - casserole, with veal or chicken.
• "biryani ajaj" - poultry stew, with rice.
• "tikka-dajaj" - chicken skewers.
• « samman "- quail meat, with vegetables and rice.
• « rice "- a kind of Arabic pizza.
• « kussa mahshi - zucchini stuffed with meat.

Not the last 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. Briks are popular - triangular puff pastry pies with fish filling. Served with herbs and lemon slices. Another interesting dish is al madruba (salted fish boiled with spices and flour). Before serving, pour over with a special sauce that emphasizes the salty taste of the fish. In addition, fish is fried, boiled, salted, grilled or charcoal, and even fish kebabs are made here. It is worth trying other local delicacies - crabs, lobsters, shrimp, hamur (sea bass), tuna, barracuda, shark meat…

Widely, in the cuisine of the UAE, vegetables, herbs and seasonings are used. From vegetable dishes I recommend to try:

• « khomus "- a special paste (sauce) made from chickpeas (mutton peas), with lemon and sesame seeds.
• « burgul "- corn porridge.
• « kurzhety "- zucchini stuffed.
• « fattoush "- vegetable salad, with Arabic bread.
• « mutabbal "- eggplant caviar.
• « tabbulya "- wheat porridge, with finely chopped greens.
• « warak-anab "- cabbage rolls from grape leaves.
• « dahnu "- white soaked peas.

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

• « umm-ali "- bread and milk pudding, with nuts and raisins.
• « mehallabiya - pistachio pudding.
• « ash-asaya "- sweet curd cake, poured with delicate cream.
• « Ligemat "- lush donuts with honey.
• « asyda" is an original Arabic dessert.

The most popular drink in UAE cuisine is coffee. Especially, it is worth trying 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, locals love mineral water and freshly squeezed fruit juices.
The United Arab Emirates is a Muslim country, so there are big problems with alcohol. You can buy alcoholic drinks only in restaurants and bars of hotels. And in the Emirate of Sharjah, alcohol is completely banned. Never 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 to all!

The United Arab Emirates is the real embodiment of a fairy tale on the planet. Once in this country, it’s hard to believe your eyes: buildings that go beyond the clouds, artificial islands of bizarre shapes, snow in indoor ski resorts, and much more 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. The tourism industry has recently begun to develop at a tremendous pace: modern hotels, entertainment centers, huge beaches, unusual cafes and restaurants have appeared.

In our article, we will consider 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 to try

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

The most exotic food in the Emirates is stuffed camel, which is listed in the Guinness Book of Records as the largest dish in the world. Usually it is prepared for big holidays or a wedding, but for guests of the country it is served in restaurants throughout the year.

Be sure to try the national dishes:

• hummus- mashed chickpeas 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 stuffed;
• balalet- noodles with onion and egg;
• farid- meat stewed with vegetables;
• variety of kebabs.

Seafood is the pride of many local cafes and restaurants. Everywhere there are showcases with ice and aquariums, where visitors, if desired, choose the products from which the dishes will be prepared. Order the exotic Briki seafood pies, the unusual and unique fish dish al madruba or the shark.

Dining in UAE hotels

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

We want to note right away that such a system is not as popular as in the resorts of Egypt or Turkey. It is found only in some hotels of the coastal zone. The main types of meals are breakfasts or half board. Thus, even before the start of the trip, you need to find out about the cost of eating in the UAE.

Holidays in the United Arab Emirates most often involve long excursions or shopping, so tourists usually do not spend much time in a hotel. Thus, experienced travelers are not advised to overpay for lunches or dinners that you are likely to miss.

Meals in the UAE hotels are organized according to the "buffet" principle. The choice of European cuisine, fruits and soft drinks is quite wide.

Note that in restaurants, fast foods and eateries located in the city (not at the hotel), alcohol is not served. Especially strictly dry law is observed in the emirate of Sharjah. In other emirates, alcohol is treated more democratically, but alcohol should be consumed on the spot, in hotel restaurants.

Food prices in the UAE

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 resorts of the country do not differ in low prices. Most travelers associate the Emirates with wealth and luxury, but you can organize meals in the UAE with any financial means.

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, then there are cafes with quite affordable prices. Food prices in the UAE are discussed below.

The most budget option is to rent an apartment with a kitchen and cook on your own. In many hotels, a small kitchen is equipped for this purpose.

Supermarkets UAE

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

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

Be sure to check out one of the many markets to feel the special atmosphere and oriental flavor. 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, cheat. A trip to the eastern market is guaranteed vivid impressions.

You can test your ability to trade: if you're lucky, then reduce the original declared value 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.

Food prices in 2019

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

Street food and fast food

If you do not have time to wait for an order in a cafe or restaurant, then street food is a great and not very expensive option for you to have a bite to eat.

In major 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 (cake with sesame seeds) - 1.5-4 dirhams;
• falafel (balls of chickpeas or beans with spices, deep-fried) - 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;
• hamburger McChicken - 15 dirhams;
• hamburger Big Mac - 15 dirhams;
• hamburger Big Tasty - 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;
• cold 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 kids, hotels provide a children's menu: muesli, cereals, curds and yogurts. In some hotels, baby food means pasta, rice, french fries, sausages.

Supermarkets and shops offer a large selection of cereals, vegetables, fruits, meat and dairy products. Products in the Emirates are of very high quality, so you should not be afraid when preparing food that is familiar to a 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 do not 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 opportunities. According to the price category, all institutions can be divided into three groups:

• Very expensive, awarded with international awards, with eminent chefs, designer interiors, haute cuisine. The cost of visiting such a place is from 500 dirhams.
• Restaurants and cafes with an average price level. Lunch in such a place will cost from 75 dirhams.
• Budget restaurants 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 to visit the Emirates without tasting oriental dishes. For a closer acquaintance with the culture of the country, it is worth planning a trip to a local restaurant.

Prices in cafes and restaurants 2019

Food prices in the UAE are very diverse. Consider, 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 Burj Al Arab sail hotel. The average bill for dinner is about 900 dirhams per person.

And here is the approximate cost of the menu in a mid-range restaurant:

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

Buffet restaurants are widespread, where visitors pay only the entrance. Many establishments operate according to this system on Fridays, organizing the so-called Friday Brunch - a big family dinner.

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

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

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

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

If your trip falls on 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 eat in public places only after sunset. During this time, it is forbidden to sell products in the United Arab Emirates, as well as drink or eat anything in any public places. For violation of this law, an impressive fine threatens even visitors.

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

Despite the fact that the cuisines of various countries of the Middle East have their own national differences, they have a lot in common. This is the ubiquitous use of spices and spices. Prohibition of eating pork and drinking alcohol. Special rules for eating, especially during religious holidays or other significant events. The manner is with hands and other features. All this is 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 those cardinal changes that have taken place in recent years, it has become quite difficult to find restaurants with only national cuisine. Many fast food restaurants, fusion 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 common around, of which there are countless. They give the original taste and aroma to local dishes. But don't try everything here right away. The stomach of a European should get used to Arabic cuisine gradually.

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 version of the popular huzi dish. The ram is baked after being 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 barbecue or minced meat. The meat is usually juicy and tasty. In Arabic cuisine, it is cooked without fat, in a hot frying pan. If additional processing is required for the preparation of certain dishes, then the use of fat or oil is allowed. The main foodstuffs are lentils and beans. They are used in food in various forms and variants. Meat dishes are often given a sour taste by adding lemon, yogurt, vinegar, tamarind, or pomegranate juice.

In the countries of the Middle East, shawarma is very popular. In Dubai and the United Arab Emirates, shawarma is prepared in the Lebanese way. Chicken or lamb meat is used as the basis. Salad mixed with chopped meat is rolled into an Arabic flatbread and poured with sauce.

In the tradition of Arabic cuisine, the meal also ends with dessert. An excellent dessert is pudding, and pudding has a great variety of types and tastes.

About coffee

worth mentioning separately. It is believed that the art of making this drink came from the East. Coffee is drunk here often and everywhere. Over a cup of coffee, it is convenient to start a conversation, as well as finish 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 designed for this purpose - sharp-nosed copper coffee pots "dalla". In Dubai, they believe that coffee should be served in small cups without handles. If coffee is drunk in a company, then it is served from right to left, starting with the oldest or highest ranking, and a little less than half a cup is poured. They drink in portions until the guests let them know that enough is enough. Pouring a full cup of coffee is considered bad manners.

When treating, you can be offered a choice of both coffee and tea, which is brewed with a lot of sugar. The tea turns out to be very sweet, similar to syrup, but it 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 proposes to serve at the beginning of the meal a set of small dishes - appetizers called "meze". 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 cake. The eggplant itself is baked until tender, along with spicy garlic. It turns out pretty tasty.

Of the features of Dubai cuisine, one can note "makbous" and "haris". "Makbus" is mutton with spices and rice, and "haris" is a dish of wheat and mutton. In addition, Dubai people often cook rice with chopped chicken and fish meat, vegetables and seasonings, they call this dish "biryani".

Huge allows you to cook a wide variety of dishes from fresh or dried fish. Seafood is used in various forms as a main course or side dishes.

Yeast-free tortillas are popular in Dubai. They replace bread here. The process of making such cakes is even shown to tourists in the Historical and Ethnographic Village (Heritage village).

From all over the region, all kinds of vegetables and fruits are brought to the Dubai markets. Traditionally, there are a lot of almonds, walnuts and even pine nuts, which are used in cooking. Dates growing 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 cooking some popular national dishes of the Emirates.