United Arab Emirates
Muhalla
المحلة
Fish with rice, traditional Emirati fish and rice dish with local spices, fresh fish with perfectly cooked rice and balanced seasoning, a coastal heritage dish representing Emirati seafood tradition.
western-asia
United Arab Emirates
Explore 57 foods connected to United Arab Emirates, from everyday staples to rare local specialties.
57 foods12 leading categories1 Essentials guides
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United Arab Emirates Essentials
10 editor-selected foods for understanding the place through what people eat.
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Traditional foods from United Arab Emirates.
57 foods in this view. Filter by category, type, rarity, or search every recorded name.
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Lebanon
Muhallebi
Sakizli muhallebi
Muhallebi is the base Turkish milk pudding and the anchor of the muhallebici shop; it belongs in the catalog as the parent of the pudding family.
Lebanon
Mutabbal
متبل
Aubergine charred whole over a flame, peeled and mashed with tahini, lemon and garlic into a pale smoky purée.
United Arab Emirates
Nagash
نقاش
Sweet bread, traditional Emirati sweet bread preparation, freshly baked with proper sweetness and good texture, often served with honey or date syrup, a rare and regional Emirati sweet, heritage.
Oman
Omani Halwa
حلوى عمانية
Omani halwa is a translucent, gelatinous confection cooked from sugar, starch, rose water, saffron, cardamom, and nuts until it pulls cleanly from the copper pot.
United Arab Emirates
Quzi
قوزي
Lamb with rice and nuts, similar to Khuzi but with different spice profile and preparation method, tender roasted lamb with aromatic rice and crunchy nut topping, a celebratory dish.
Eastern Province, United Arab Emirates
Regag Bread
خبز الرقاق
Wafer-thin crispy flatbread made from just flour, water, and salt, cooked on special hot plate, often topped with cheese, eggs, honey, or mahyawa, paper-thin and crispy with golden color, a breakfast staple.
Kashan, United Arab Emirates
Rose Water
گلاب
Rose water distilled in Kashan each May from Damask roses, used in sweets, tea, stews and rice.
Saudi Arabia
Sago Halawa
Sago
Gulf sago halawa (saqoo) is a glossy pudding of soaked sago pearls cooked with sugar, cardamom, saffron, and sometimes milk or evaporated milk; it is distinct from South African milk sago pudding.
United Arab Emirates
Saliq
صليق
Saliq is a creamy rice dish cooked with meat broth until soft and porridge-like, a Saudi preparation also popular in the UAE.
United Arab Emirates
Saloona
سلونة
Traditional tomato-based stew with meat (chicken, lamb, or fish) and vegetables like potatoes, carrots, zucchini, and cauliflower, rich tomato base with tender meat and balanced spices, a daily staple.
Lebanon
Sambousek
سمبوسك
Half-moon pastries filled with minced lamb, onion and pine nuts, crimped shut and fried or baked.
Lebanon
Shanklish
شنكليش
Balls of aged, fermented cheese rolled in za'atar and chilli and left to develop a rind, sharply pungent and crumbly.
United Arab Emirates
Stuffed Dates
تمر محشي
Stuffed dates are Emirati sweets filled with nuts or cream cheese; the dates hold a generous filling and can remain moderately sweet.
Lebanon
Tabbouleh
تبولة
Parsley and bulgur salad with tomatoes, mint, lemon, dominant fresh parsley with fine bulgur and balanced lemon, a popular and refreshing Arabic salad in UAE, traditional and beloved, daily and healthy.
United Arab Emirates
Tahta Maleh
تحت مالح
Tahta maleh layers preserved fish beneath spiced rice; the fish is soaked to moderate its salt and the rice carries Emirati seasoning.
United Arab Emirates
Tamarhindi
تمر هندي
Tamarind pulp, water and sugar strained into a sweet-tart drink served cold across the Gulf and Egypt, especially at festive tables.
United Arab Emirates
Thareed
ثريد
Meat and vegetable stew served over pieces of thin bread (rgaag or rakhal) that soak up the flavorful broth, a Ramadan favorite, bread properly soaked but not mushy with rich spiced tomato broth and tender meat.
Lebanon
Thyme Flatbread
منقوشة زعتر
Flat dough spread with a paste of dried thyme, sumac, sesame and olive oil and baked on the floor of a hot oven.
Egypt
Umm Ali
أم علي
Egyptian-origin bread pudding made with puff pastry, milk, cream, and nuts, popular during Ramadan in UAE, warm comforting pudding with crispy pastry pieces and balanced nuts and raisins, a beloved dessert.
Lebanon
Za’atar
زعتر
A Levantine blend of dried thyme or oregano, sumac, toasted sesame and salt, used on flatbreads, with labneh and as a table seasoning.