The UAE is often described as a cultural melting pot, and while we don’t love the use of clichés, it’s pretty accurate when it comes to the cuisine you can find here. However, authentic Emirati tastes can still be somewhat neglected.
But there’s no excuse not to enjoy dining with a local flavour as there are plenty of spots to check it out for those in the know. Al Fanar (pictured bottom right), has branches in both Abu Dhabi and Dubai and offers diners a chance to explore the country’s roots and serves up memories of the past, as it is themed around 1960s Dubai. Other venues to enjoy traditional Emirati dishes in Dubai include Seven Sands at The Beach, JBR (top), and the excellent Aseelah in Radisson Blu Hotel Dubai Deira Creek.
Meanwhile, if you’re dining out close to home in the capital, another top spot to discover Emirati delicacies is Mezlai (left), based in the luxurious Emirates Palace in Abu Dhabi. The venue is designed to resemble an airy Bedouin tent.
Chicken and lamb are favoured meats on any Emirati menu, along with camel, and many meals are enriched by spices from across Asia and the rest of the Middle East, reflecting the nation’s trading heritage.
If you ask us, you can’t really say you’ve sampled all the UAE has to offer until you’ve tried the food, too.
Dubai: Al Fanar, Dubai Festival City Mall, Festival City, (04 232 9966). Aseelah: Radisson Blu Hotel Dubai Deira Creek (04 550 8327). Seven Sands: The Beach, JBR (04 551 6652). Abu Dhabi: Al Fanar: Venetian Village, Ritz-Carlton Abu Dhabi, Grand Canal, Al Maqta (02 448 1144) and Yas Mall (02 877 2272). Mezlai: Emirates Palace, West Corniche (02 690 7999).
