What to eat United Arab Emirates? culinary specialties and gastronomy

You can practically have a meal at any time. Cafeterias are open from very early in the morning until very late at night. For lunch, you have to wait until noon, which is usually around 1 p.m. Dinner is rarely served before 7 p.m., and the busiest time is around 9 p.m. The restaurants rarely close during the week. Restaurants rarely close during the week. Reservations are recommended for restaurants in larger cities.

To eat out on a budget, head for the historic districts of Dubai and Abu Dhabi and all the local restaurants in the other emirates, taking care to avoid hotels. Note that many food trucks have recently sprung up. It's a good idea to take a meal without alcohol, otherwise the average price can double. Virtually all restaurants in the major cities of Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Sharjah offer door-to-door sales.

Normally all menus indicate at the bottom of the page any taxes if they are not included. Tipping is at the discretion of the customer. There is no water carafe in the Emirates, so water is paid for, but not bread.

You're always asked when you sit down if you'd like sparkling or still water, cold or room temperature. Portions are very generous, so feel free to share between two, and specify if you don't like it too spicy.

If you drink Arabic coffee, take it with your right hand, not your left. The left hand is considered impure. If you're not happy with the service or quality, avoid raising your voice at all costs. Insults are unacceptable in this country, but don't hesitate to say so either. They'll do everything to compensate you.

Children are king. But some restaurants serving shisha, bars and very high-end restaurants refuse children even up to the age of 21.

Smoking and non-smoking areas are generally available in the vast majority of restaurants, and smoking is permitted on the terrace and outside.

There are few tourist traps in the emirates, and if sometimes the touts are in the middle of the street, they never insist much. On the other hand, cruise ships generally offer buffets of more than average quality for Dubai.

The hours are very flexible, but let's just say that the day doesn't really start until 10 a.m., and the cafés are packed all day long. Here, the watchword is to take your time, and no one really seems stressed. You won't see anyone running, least of all the Emirati population. They often talk for hours on end, as if their time was limitless, whether on weekdays or weekends. If there are no "apéro" traditions, it's mainly in the late evening, after dinner and quite late that groups of friends get together once again over tea and sometimes a shisha. As for the expatriate population, they go out in the many hotel bars, quite late at night, and generally from Wednesday to Saturday inclusive.

During Ramadan, the schedule changes. During the day, establishments are less busy, and most open after sunset and throughout the night.

Hotel bars are particularly expensive, as taxes on alcohol are very high. Everywhere, you can pay with a credit card and leave a tip of around 5-10%, although this is by no means obligatory.

Alcohol can only be consumed from the age of 21, and legislation is very strict. It is difficult to enter bars under this age. Please note, however, that it is forbidden to consume alcohol on public roads or in public spaces, which are not regulated for this purpose.

In mid-afternoon, Emirati friends and families gather in local cafés, hotel lobbies and shopping malls for tea, coffee and, above all, pastries. It's also popular to smoke a shisha as soon as the sun goes down. It's not uncommon to drink coffee until very late at night, as people don't go to bed early, and it's worth remembering that a large part of the population doesn't drink alcohol. You must try the mentholated lemonades, the best of which can be found in historic Dubai.

Children are not allowed in the bars, and there will be no exceptions.