Western Asia
Food of United Arab Emirates
The 6 most iconic national dishes of United Arab Emirates — real photos, key ingredients and tasty facts behind every plate.
Asia
Al machboos
A fragrant Gulf rice dish cooked with spiced meat or fish, dried lime and aromatic rice. It is deeply savory, warmly spiced and widely regarded as a cornerstone of Emirati home cooking.
Did you know?
Machboos is eaten across the Gulf, but in the UAE it is one of the clearest markers of traditional Emirati hospitality and family meals.
Harees
A slow-cooked mixture of wheat and meat beaten into a smooth, porridge-like dish. Its texture is soft and comforting, with a rich, buttery finish often associated with Ramadan and festive occasions.
Did you know?
Harees has such deep cultural importance in the region that related Gulf preparations have been recognised by UNESCO as part of intangible cultural heritage.
Thareed
A hearty stew of meat and vegetables ladled over pieces of thin bread so the broth soaks in. The result is deeply flavorful, rustic and especially beloved during Ramadan.
Did you know?
Thareed is often described as one of the most traditional dishes of the Arabian Peninsula and is strongly associated with prophetic-era food culture in Islamic history.
Luqaimat
These small golden dumplings are crisp outside, airy inside and typically drizzled with date syrup or honey and sprinkled with sesame. They are a classic Emirati sweet, especially during Ramadan.
Did you know?
Luqaimat are found across the Gulf, but in the UAE they are one of the most instantly recognisable traditional sweets at family gatherings and Ramadan tents.
Balaleet
A sweet-and-savory breakfast of vermicelli noodles scented with cardamom, saffron and sugar, usually topped with a thin omelette. It combines perfume-like sweetness with gentle savory notes in a very Gulf way.
Did you know?
Balaleet is one of the best-known traditional Emirati breakfast dishes and reflects historic trade links that brought saffron, sugar and spices into Gulf kitchens.
Khabeesa
A dense, spoonable sweet made from flour roasted with ghee and cooked with sugar, often perfumed with cardamom and saffron. It is rich, warming and much less known internationally than other Gulf sweets.
Did you know?
Khabeesa is a traditional Gulf dessert with many local variations, and in the UAE it survives mainly through home cooking and heritage-focused menus rather than global restaurant fame.