Eating & experiencing United Arab Emirates
Food is one of the best ways into United Arab Emirates: markets, street stalls and family-run restaurants tell you more about a place than any guidebook. Eating where locals eat is also the easiest way to keep costs down and have the most memorable meals of your trip.
This guide covers what to try, where to find it, dining etiquette and tipping, plus the cultural customs and a few phrases that’ll make you a more welcome guest. For destination context, see the United Arab Emirates travel guide.
What to eat in United Arab Emirates
Seek out the regional specialities rather than international menus — United Arab Emirates’s cooking reflects its produce, history and the wider flavours of Middle East. Ask your hosts or a local what they’d order; the dish everyone recommends is usually a winner.
Make time for at least one market and one street-food session — they’re where the best-value, most authentic food lives. A cooking class is a fun way to take the flavours home.
Where & how to eat
You’ll find everything from street carts and markets to mid-range restaurants and fine dining, with the biggest range in larger hubs like Dubai and Abu Dhabi. For street food, follow the crowds: busy stalls mean fresh turnover and food cooked in front of you, which is also the safest bet.
Eat your bigger meals where it’s busy, carry hand sanitiser, and when unsure about tap water choose bottled or filtered — more in our United Arab Emirates safety guide.
Dining etiquette & tipping
Table manners vary, so take your lead from those around you. As a rule: wait to be seated where that’s the norm, keep your voice down, and treat staff politely. Tipping norms vary — when in doubt, rounding up or leaving small change is always appreciated.
If you’re unsure, it’s never wrong to ask “is service included?” before adding a tip.
Culture & customs
A little cultural awareness goes a long way. Dress respectfully at religious and historic sites (cover shoulders and knees), ask before photographing people, remove shoes where locals do, and learn the local greeting. Being a calm, polite guest opens doors everywhere in United Arab Emirates.
Pack with these customs in mind using our United Arab Emirates packing list.
A few useful phrases
The main language is Arabic. You don’t need to be fluent — learning “hello”, “please”, “thank you” and “how much?” in Arabic is genuinely appreciated and often gets you a warmer welcome and a better price. A translation app with Arabic downloaded offline covers the rest.
