🇦🇪 Practical Gulf Arabic

Gulf Prices

Complete Dubai & UAE Food, Drinks & Travel Budget Guide

SEE DISHES & PRICES

ONE PERSON · AED + USD

Daily Food Budget for One Traveler in Dubai & the UAE

Budget / Cafeteria & Street Food 60 - 120 AED $16 - $33

Neighborhood cafeterias and older Dubai food districts such as Satwa, Deira and Karama.

Mid-Range 180 - 380 AED $50 - $100

Heritage restaurants, mall dining and modern neighborhood restaurants.

Luxury / Fine Dining 600 - 1800+ AED $160 - $500+

Five-star hotels, Downtown Dubai, Palm Jumeirah and Michelin-level restaurants.

ICONIC FOOD SHORTLIST · 9 DISHES

9 Iconic Gulf Dishes Every Food Traveler Should Know

A focused shortlist of the nine dishes this destination is best known for. Each card helps travelers recognize the food, understand the ingredients and compare a practical local price range. One dish from each destination also rotates into the DAILY homepage.

9 Iconic Dishes

Machboos

مجبوس

Pronunciation: Maj-boos
What it is: Machboos is a recognized 9 iconic gulf dishes food item in the ArabicFoodGuide Gulf collection. Use the ingredients, taste, serving and price fields below to identify it before ordering.
Ingredients: Fragrant basmati rice, lamb or chicken, dried lime, Emirati bezar spice, cardamom and cinnamon.
Taste: Rich with warm spices, bright dried-lime acidity, tender meat and fragrant rice.
When to eat it: Availability and meal timing vary by city and venue. Ask the restaurant or café when this item is normally served.
Price: 45 - 90 AED · about $12 - $25
Serving: Serves 1 - 2
Traveler tip: Confirm the portion size, current local price and any ingredient changes before ordering.

Harees

هريس

Pronunciation: Ha-rees
What it is: Harees is a recognized 9 iconic gulf dishes food item in the ArabicFoodGuide Gulf collection. Use the ingredients, taste, serving and price fields below to identify it before ordering.
Ingredients: Cracked wheat, beef or lamb, Arabic ghee and ground cinnamon.
Taste: Smooth, creamy and comforting, enriched by warm ghee and cinnamon.
When to eat it: Availability and meal timing vary by city and venue. Ask the restaurant or café when this item is normally served.
Price: 30 - 60 AED · about $8 - $16
Serving: Serves 1 - 2
Traveler tip: Confirm the portion size, current local price and any ingredient changes before ordering.

Thareed

ثريد

Pronunciation: Tha-reed
What it is: Thareed is a recognized 9 iconic gulf dishes food item in the ArabicFoodGuide Gulf collection. Use the ingredients, taste, serving and price fields below to identify it before ordering.
Ingredients: Crisp regag bread pieces soaked with a rich meat or chicken and vegetable stew of potatoes, zucchini, pumpkin and tomato.
Taste: Hearty and broth-soaked, with bread carrying the flavor of the stew and tender meat.
When to eat it: Availability and meal timing vary by city and venue. Ask the restaurant or café when this item is normally served.
Price: 40 - 80 AED · about $11 - $22
Serving: Serves 1 - 2
Traveler tip: Confirm the portion size, current local price and any ingredient changes before ordering.

Kabsa

كبسة

Pronunciation: Kab-sa
What it is: Kabsa is a recognized 9 iconic gulf dishes food item in the ArabicFoodGuide Gulf collection. Use the ingredients, taste, serving and price fields below to identify it before ordering.
Ingredients: Long-grain rice, lamb, tomato sauce, cinnamon, cloves, cardamom and dried lime.
Taste: Rich and warming, layered with cinnamon, cloves, cardamom and dried lime.
When to eat it: Availability and meal timing vary by city and venue. Ask the restaurant or café when this item is normally served.
Price: 45 - 90 AED · about $12 - $25
Serving: Serves 1 - 2
Traveler tip: Confirm the portion size, current local price and any ingredient changes before ordering.

Emirati Threed (Stew with Regag Bread)

ثريد إماراتي

Pronunciation: Th-reed
Ingredients: Crisp regag bread pieces soaked with a rich meat or chicken and vegetable stew of potatoes, zucchini, pumpkin and tomato.
Taste: Hearty and broth-soaked, with bread carrying the flavor of the stew and tender meat.
Price: 40 - 80 AED · about $11 - $22
Serving: Serves 1 - 2

Mandi

مندي

Pronunciation: Man-di
What it is: Mandi is a recognized 9 iconic gulf dishes food item in the ArabicFoodGuide Gulf collection. Use the ingredients, taste, serving and price fields below to identify it before ordering.
Ingredients: Meat or chicken slow-cooked in a pit oven, smoky fragrant rice and spicy tomato daqoos sauce.
Taste: Distinctively smoky, with very tender meat and fragrant rice.
When to eat it: Availability and meal timing vary by city and venue. Ask the restaurant or café when this item is normally served.
Price: 35 - 85 AED · about $10 - $23
Serving: Serves 1 - 2
Traveler tip: Confirm the portion size, current local price and any ingredient changes before ordering.

Emirati Saloona Stew

صالونة إماراتية

Pronunciation: Sa-loo-na
Ingredients: Thick tomato broth, kingfish or meat, bezar spices, dried lime, garlic and mixed vegetables.
Taste: Tangy and spiced, usually eaten with white rice or fresh bread.
Price: 40 - 75 AED · about $11 - $20
Serving: Serves 1 - 2

Ouzi

عوزي

Pronunciation: Oo-zi
What it is: Ouzi is a recognized 9 iconic gulf dishes food item in the ArabicFoodGuide Gulf collection. Use the ingredients, taste, serving and price fields below to identify it before ordering.
Ingredients: Slow-roasted lamb, spiced rice, toasted nuts, raisins and boiled eggs.
Taste: A luxurious celebration dish with tender lamb and rich nutty rice.
When to eat it: Availability and meal timing vary by city and venue. Ask the restaurant or café when this item is normally served.
Price: 70 - 150 AED · about $19 - $40
Serving: Serves 1 - 2
Traveler tip: Confirm the portion size, current local price and any ingredient changes before ordering.

Jasheed (Minced Baby Shark Dish)

جشيد

Pronunciation: Ja-sheed
Ingredients: Minced boiled baby shark seasoned with bezar, dried lime, turmeric and onion.
Taste: Briny, bold and well spiced, with a boneless texture that works well with rice.
Price: 50 - 95 AED · about $14 - $26
Serving: Serves 1 - 2

Balaleet

بلاليط

Pronunciation: Ba-la-leet
What it is: Balaleet is a recognized 9 iconic gulf dishes food item in the ArabicFoodGuide Gulf collection. Use the ingredients, taste, serving and price fields below to identify it before ordering.
Ingredients: Sweet vermicelli flavored with sugar, cardamom, saffron and rose water, topped with a savory omelet.
Taste: A memorable sweet-savory contrast between saffron vermicelli and egg.
When to eat it: Availability and meal timing vary by city and venue. Ask the restaurant or café when this item is normally served.
Price: 20 - 42 AED · about $5 - $11
Serving: Serves 1
Traveler tip: Confirm the portion size, current local price and any ingredient changes before ordering.

Regag Bread

خبز رقاق

Pronunciation: Ra-gag
What it is: Regag Bread is a recognized 9 iconic gulf dishes food item in the ArabicFoodGuide Gulf collection. Use the ingredients, taste, serving and price fields below to identify it before ordering.
Ingredients: Very thin flour batter cooked on a large griddle until crisp, optionally topped with cheese or honey.
Taste: Wafer-crisp and fun, with sweet or savory toppings.
When to eat it: Availability and meal timing vary by city and venue. Ask the restaurant or café when this item is normally served.
Price: 8 - 18 AED · about $2 - $5
Serving: Serves 1
Traveler tip: Confirm the portion size, current local price and any ingredient changes before ordering.

Luqaimat

لقيمات

Pronunciation: Lu-gay-mat
What it is: Luqaimat is a recognized 9 iconic gulf dishes food item in the ArabicFoodGuide Gulf collection. Use the ingredients, taste, serving and price fields below to identify it before ordering.
Ingredients: Fried dough balls finished with date syrup or honey, sesame and cardamom.
Taste: Golden and crisp outside, soft inside and richly sweet with date syrup.
When to eat it: Availability and meal timing vary by city and venue. Ask the restaurant or café when this item is normally served.
Price: 15 - 35 AED · about $4 - $10
Serving: Serves 1 - 2
Traveler tip: Confirm the portion size, current local price and any ingredient changes before ordering.

DAILY FOOD PLAN

Suggested Daily Food Plan for One Traveler in Dubai & the UAE

Emirati Breakfast

What to eat: Khameer or chabab bread with cheese and honey, balaleet with egg, luqaimat with date syrup, and Arabic coffee or hot karak tea.

Cost for one person: 40 - 75 AED (about $11 - $20) per person.

Lunch

What to eat: Lamb majboos or fried kingfish, lentil or oat soup, fattoush with pomegranate molasses, and laban or orange juice.

Cost for one person: 70 - 140 AED (about $19 - $38) per person.

Afternoon Tea

What to eat: Luqaimat or a slice of Qors Ogaili cake with saffron karak from a neighborhood cafeteria or heritage café.

Cost for one person: 15 - 35 AED (about $4 - $10) per person.

Dinner

What to eat: Emirati shawarma or a Hassan Mattar sandwich with dynamite chicken or mishkak meat skewers and a soft drink or fresh juice.

Cost for one person: 30 - 65 AED (about $8 - $18) per person.

LOCAL CAFÉ CULTURE

Dubai Café Culture

Dubai has two major café worlds: fast neighborhood cafeterias and modern specialty cafés.

1. Traditional Cafeteria Drinks

Karak Tea: Black tea simmered with milk and cardamom. Price: 2 - 5 AED (about $0.5 - $1.3).
Saffron Karak: Karak enriched with real saffron. Price: 5 - 10 AED (about $1.3 - $2.7).
Special Mixed Juices: Layered mango, strawberry and avocado juices with fruit pieces and ice cream. Price: 12 - 25 AED (about $3 - $7).

2. Specialty Coffee & Modern Cafés

Spanish Latte: One of Dubai’s most popular hot or iced coffees, made with espresso, sweetened condensed milk and fresh milk. Price: 22 - 35 AED (about $6 - $10).
V60 Specialty Coffee: Filter coffee prepared with beans commonly sourced from Ethiopia or Colombia. Price: 25 - 45 AED (about $7 - $12).
Saffron Latte: Espresso with steamed milk and a saffron-flavored sauce. Price: 24 - 40 AED (about $6.5 - $11).
Traditional Arabic Coffee Dallah: Served in heritage cafés with dates. Price: 35 - 70 AED (about $10 - $19).
Bottled Water: Small: 3 - 8 AED | Large: 8 - 18 AED.

BEYOND THE DISH LIST

What Travelers Should Know Before Eating Out

Use the detailed dish guide above for names, prices and serving size, then check the practical guides below for restaurant etiquette, market habits and common traveler questions.

Restaurant EtiquetteShared dishes, right-hand dining, hospitality, coffee and tea customs.Food & Market GuidesStreet food, cafés, ordering context and destination-specific traveler advice.Diet & Allergy GuidanceRecipes vary and cross-contact may occur. Confirm directly with the restaurant.Travel ResourcesFree planning guidance for food budgets, ordering, dietary needs and local dining habits.

CONTINUE THE SAME TRIP

After the food: speak a little, understand a little more.

Use the companion guide only when it answers the next question in your trip.

01 · LANGUAGE

Order and travel with the right Arabic

Keep useful Gulf Arabic offline for restaurants, coffee, transport, hotels and polite everyday situations.

Continue on EasyArabicNow → 02 · CULTURE

Understand the culture around the table

Understand majlis hospitality, coffee traditions, greetings and social customs around Gulf dining.

Continue on DailyWorldCulture →

KEEP EXPLORING

Go Deeper Into Local Food Culture

Continue with destination-specific articles, dining etiquette, street-food guides and practical travel resources.

READ FOOD GUIDES