Must Tries for Foodies: 8 Traditional Dubai Dishes You Need to Savour

Known as the country’s national dish, khuzi consists of roast lamb or mutton placed on top of fragrant rice and garnished with an assortment of vegetables, nuts and sultanas. Since it is a local favourite, this classic dish can be found in almost any eatery in the country. Khuzi is also spelled as ghuzi on some menus. 

Machboos is a traditional rice dish that is another food item that is loved by Dubai natives. It resembles an Indian biryani dish and is made using shrimp, chicken, or lamb. A range of spices are incorporated to make up the flavours in this delicacy including cinnamon and cardamom. Dried lemon is another key ingredient in this recipe. 

A popular dish in Emirati cuisine, harees is generally included in important ceremonies like weddings, religious events and national functions. It resembles a porridge which is made using ghee, wheat grain and meat.  It is especially popular as a breakfast or dinner speciality. 

A sweet delicacy often linked with events like Ramadan, luqaimat resembles a hybrid of a dumpling and doughnut topped with date sauce, honey or sugar. It is considered a dessert but can also be enjoyed with a cup of gahwa (Emirati coffee). 

Prepared using semolina, cheese and sugar syrup and garnished with pistachio, kunafa is a noodle-like pastry. The best way to sample this dish is when it is still slightly warm so that the cheese is still drippy. Besides Dubai, kunafa is also well loved in countries like Lebanon, Jordan, Egypt, Syria and Palestine. 

One of the most well-loved dishes in the UAE, falafel is a staple food which is made of either chickpeas or fava beans blended with cumin and coriander.  Deep-fried to golden perfection and encompassing an appetising centre, falafel is available in almost all restaurants which serve Arabic food. If you are a vegetarian, these crispy patties are the ideal treat for you.    
 

Another vegetarian treat to add to your list is hummus, a creamy and smooth paste made of cooked chickpeas, and tahini added with a few drops of lemon juice. Modern dish versions also include ingredients like garlic and olive oil to enhance its flavourful taste. It is usually paired with either tandoor bread or pitta. 

Shawarma is a globally famous delicacy. This much sought-after dish consists of a flatbread that is rolled to resemble an ice cream cone, filled with shredded chicken or lamb, and paired with tahini or garlic sauce. Popular as a delicious snack which can be enjoyed anytime, anywhere, shawarmas also make a filling meal. You also get the vegetarian version of this popular dish, filled with ingredients like grilled vegetables, falafel and a variety of sauces. 
Dining in Dubai offers a diverse experience to foodies as much as the city provides a range of activities to adventure lovers. Properties like Avani Palm View Dubai comprise a wide range of restaurants which cater to the palate of any food lover. Visit ‘Seven Seeds’, one of their restaurants, and be treated to an extensive menu and sumptuous buffet which often includes delicacies like shawarmas and falafel.