Dubai is an eclectic blend of attractions, it's the kind of place that leaves you in awe of everything—modern and traditional. This seamless amalgamation of cultural values and modern progress seems to extend towards the cuisine in Dubai, so you are faced with a staggering choice of dishes. Emirati food is a wonderful blend of Iranian, Lebanese, and Indian cooking traditions, with both vegetarian and meat dishes meeting the mark. Explore this article on the best dishes to try in Dubai.

This is a dish that dates back in time and has many versions since the recipe has been handed down from generation to generation, so most families have their very own recipe fine-tuned to perfection. A staple dish to grace the tables on special occasions, Majboos is a rice and meat dish that is mostly cooked with chicken, or lamb. Basmati rice is cooked with meat in a mix of Arabian spices and herbs so it soaks up the delicious flavours rendered by the meat and other additions. The wonderfully aromatic rice is then served with a generous portion of meat, that has been grilled, fried, or baked to perfection. This is a wholesome and filling meal you will find readily available at traditional Emirati restaurants.

This dish is an authentic Emirati meal that requires well-honed cooking skills and a very long preparation time. It is a favourite meal in most households and is often a popular menu option at top restaurants in Dubai since it's a dish that requires meticulous attention to detail and seasoned cooking talents. Many of Dubai's finest restaurants are located on the Palm Jumeirah at resorts such as Anantara The Palm Dubai Resort. At the Palm, dining and entertainment are world-class and home to the best things to see and do in Dubai. Harees is prepared with wheat, meat, a blend of spices, and a good dash of salt. Quite often minced meat or chicken is the choice, where the dish is boiled for many hours until the meat and wheat are broken down to form a porridge-like consistency that has soaked up all the good flavours.

This is a firm favourite in the UAE with versions of the dish available in Bahrain. Chicken is the popular choice although crushed grains, lamb, and fish too are often used. The dish is made with a combination of rice, yoghurt, butter, tomatoes, garlic, onion, and a generous dose of seasoning. Once cooked, the ingredients are beaten or mashed together to form a smooth consistency. Madourba is a highly nutritious, filling, and flavour-packed meal that will keep you energised for longer as you explore the desert and other top Dubai attractions.

A traditional pastry prepared mostly for special occasions, luqaimat is a sweet treat that you will keep hankering for more and more. A cultural dish, the pastry is a staple at all traditional festivals and special family functions. The small round pastries are made with flour, yeast, salt, egg, sesame seeds, sugar, milk and turmeric. The small bite-size portions are then deep fried and soaked in a sugar syrup so it will melt in your mouth treating your taste buds to a burst of flavours.

Biriyani, which is a traditional Indian dish, is also well-rooted in Emirati culture. It is well known across the world in Indian and Arabic restaurants and is loved for its wholesome flavours. Biriyani is made with rice and meat. The rice is cooked in a broth seasoned to perfection with strong spices and herbs. Chunks of juicy tender chicken or lamb are added to the rice so it cooks absorbing all the delicious flavours. In Dubai, the most popular version is the Iranian biriyani cooked with soft fluffy basmati rice.