Cuisine of any nation can be found in Dubai. Let's talk about food prices in Dubai in 2021. What to try from local food and street food in the UAE? Food prices in stores. Features of food in Ramadan and prohibitions on alcohol. Tips on how to save money.
Personal experience of the editorial staff of MAKE-TRIP.RU... We spent 4 full days in Dubai and spent AED 300 ($ 80) on food for two. That is $ 10 per day per person. Very little! We tried new dishes of Middle Eastern cuisine, ate delicious Indian and Bangladeshi food, ate shawarma a couple of times (well, as without it in the East!) And once bought ready-made food in the supermarket. We were satisfied with everything.
Exchange rate: 1 UAE dirham (AED) ≈ 19 RUB.
Take a look: How to go to Dubai now (fresh reviews of tourists and conditions of entry in case of a pandemic).
What to try in Dubai
Today only 10% of Arabs live in the Emirates. The rest of the population is immigrants from India, Malaysia, Pakistan and other countries. Dubai is called the gastronomic capital of the world. The resort has many restaurants and cafes serving dishes from different parts of the world.
Emirati cuisine has absorbed the traditions of Middle Eastern, Bedouin, Persian and Asian culinary. If you want to taste the national food, look for establishments with the inscription emirati cuisine... Tourists love the Emirati restaurants Al Fanar and Seven Sands.
What to try in Dubai? We recommend:
- fried fish with spices;
- al-madruba - boiled thickly salted fish;
- bricks - pies with fish, shrimp and meat fillings;
- ferid - meat stew with potatoes and vegetables;
- goose - lamb meat with nuts and raisins;
- biryani - rice with chicken or lamb;
- balalite - a popular breakfast dish made of sweet and salty noodles with omelet;
- heris - boiled wheat with meat;
- chebab - unleavened pancakes with sweet syrup or cheese.
- desserts with dates;
- baklava from pistachios.
Prices for food in cafes and restaurants in Dubai - 2021
The United Arab Emirates is a self-sufficient and wealthy state, so food prices in the UAE in 2021 are quite high. Let's see how much it costs to eat in Dubai.
There are several types of cafes and restaurants in the resort town. The most affordable prices are in establishments that are designed for poor tourists and emigrants. There are such in the areas of Bur Dubai and Deira. You can have breakfast there for 15-25 AED per person. The menu includes a couple of fried eggs, sausages, some beans, bread, jam, butter and a cup of coffee. Lunch or dinner for two in a non-tourist cafe costs only 40-50 AED for two. For example, a hearty shawarma can be bought for 12-15 AED.
How much is food at regular restaurants in Dubai in 2021? Lunch and dinner are not cheap - the average bill for one person excluding drinks is about 80-150 AED. For this money, they will bring you an appetizer, main course, dessert and coffee. The bill in prestigious restaurants starts from 250 AED and goes off scale for 1000 AED.
Almost everywhere in the daytime they offer budget business lunches... A hearty fixed-menu lunch costs between AED 15-30. A great way to save money!
Here are the average prices for food in cafes and restaurants in Dubai in 2021 (for tourists):
- salad - 50 AED;
- soup - 40-50 AED;
- pasta with seafood - 150 AED;
- pizza - 75-105 AED;
- kebab - 35-55 AED;
- al-madrubah - 17 AED;
- fried shark - 70 AED;
- bricks - 25-32 AED;
- dessert - 40 AED;
- coffee, tea - 20 AED.
Caution: interesting excursions! To get to know Dubai better, book a guided tour on the Tripster website. Read the description and reviews to choose the coolest program. There is a wide range of exciting excursions in the Emirates.
Dubai's best restaurants
Let's talk about expensive restaurants. These are institutions in which the flavor of the fashionable Arab resort is felt in the best possible way.
One of the most prestigious restaurants Al mahara is located on the ground floor of the famous Burj Al Arab skyscraper-sailing ship. The institution specializes in seafood. It is decorated from the walls with a huge aquarium from floor to ceiling. Enjoy deliciously prepared meals, admire the colorful fish and be prepared to pay from AED 900 for dinner.
There is a popular bar in the same building Gold On 27... People come here to eat and enjoy the view of the city from the height of the 27th floor. Designer interiors are decorated with gold leaf. Prices are appropriate - cocktails cost from 100 AED.
On the southeastern outskirts of Dubai, behind Al Maktrum International Airport is a popular Arabic-style restaurant Al Sarab Rooftop Lounge... Its windows offer excellent views of the desert. Everything has been created inside to make guests feel the beauty of the East. Live music is played and the chefs prepare delicious Lebanese, Mediterranean and Asian cuisine.
An iconic restaurant is located on the 124th floor of the Burj Khalifa, the world's tallest skyscraper At.Mosphere... To get here, you need to book a table in advance and pay a deposit. All of Dubai can be seen from the windows at a glance. A pleasant bonus is the Russian-speaking waiters.
Drink prices
The most important drink in Dubai is plain water. It sells for 1 AED per 0.33 liter bottle. Why so expensive? All water in the city is imported. Freshly squeezed juices start at AED 21 per 0.5 liter. The cafe offers excellent cappuccino made from selected Arabica beans for 12 AED.
How about alcohol? Muslim traditions prohibit alcoholic beverages. This rule does not apply to tourists, but drinking alcohol in public places faces a rather big fine of 5,000 AED. Drinking in Dubai is only allowed at home, in a hotel room or bar.
Spirits are expensive and sold in specialty stores. Alcohol prices in Dubai in 2021:
- local beer, 0.5 l - 25-45 AED;
- imported beer, 0.33 l - 30-45 AED;
- wine, 0.75 l - 45-100 AED.
Grocery Prices in Dubai Stores - 2021
Buying food in the UAE is not a problem. The most affordable food prices in Dubai are offered by supermarkets Coop Union, Shaklan, Carrefour, Safest Way, Organic Foods and Cafe, Lulu Hypermarket and Baqer Mohebi. Most of them sell products from local farmers. Shoppers love the shops of the Emirates Cooperative Society, which is simply called Co-op in the city.
Here are food prices in Dubai stores in 2021:
- loaf of bread, 0.5 kg - 4.5 AED;
- milk, 1 l - 5.4 AED;
- rice, 1 kg - 8.9 AED;
- eggs, 12 pcs. - 10 AED;
- butter, 0.4 kg - 15 AED;
- cheese, 1 kg - 30 AED;
- watermelon, 1 kg - 5 AED;
- melon, 1 kg - 5.5 AED;
- bananas, 1 kg - 6.5 AED;
- oranges, 1 kg - 7.8 AED.
- pears, 1 kg - 8 AED;
- apples, 1 kg - 8 AED;
- tomatoes, 1 kg - 6.5 AED;
- cucumbers, 1 kg - 12 AED;
- water, 1.5 l - 2.2 AED;
- juice, 1.5 - 5-6 AED;
- cola, 2.25 l - 5 AED.
Fast food in Dubai
Due to the high prices for food in cafes and restaurants in Dubai, fast food chains are popular among tourists. There are restaurants and kiosks serving food "on the go" in any area of the city. There are many such establishments near bazaars, beaches and metro stations. A McDonald's set of cheeseburger, fries and coffee costs 22 AED, a whole pizza in a pizzeria costs 35-45 AED, and Indian pancakes with toppings are masala dosa - only 5 AED.
If you want to get acquainted with the national cuisine, start with what is cooked on the streets. It is noteworthy that there are almost no Emirati dishes left in Dubai fast food. Everything that is traded in Dubai has Middle Eastern or Levantine roots.
Street food prices in the UAE are not high. According to tourists, the cheapest and most delicious lunch in Dubai is shawarma. An appetizing snack of chicken, beef or lamb is sold in large portions, which you can easily gorge on.
Dish number 2 - manakish... Traditional Arabian flatbread stuffed with pickled cheese, sesame seeds and spices. Freshly baked manakish with tea is a great quick breakfast.
Many people like deep-fried balls of crushed chickpeas - falafel... This tasty and satisfying dish has a unique aroma. Not a single family feast is complete without falafel in the Emirates. On the streets, small balls are sold in pita bread or lettuce with sesame sauce.
Street food prices in Dubai in 2021:
- shawarma - 5-8 AED;
- grilled chicken - 17-22 AED;
- manakish - 14 AED;
- fluffy tortilla with sesame seeds barbary - 1.4 AED;
- falafel - 25 AED;
- ice cream - 10 AED;
- freshly squeezed juice - 10 AED.
What you need to know
Almost all food that is prepared in the city is halal. Only in some districts, pork dishes are made especially for foreigners.
There are special rules for traveling to Dubai for Ramadan... This is a Muslim holiday, during which it is forbidden to eat any food from morning until sunset. All restaurants in the resort are closed during the day during the month. But in the evening, a real feast begins in Dubai.
There is a strict dress code for cafes and restaurants - in Dubai it is not customary to come to dinner in beachwear.
Tipping in the UAE is 10-15% of the bill. If the check does not indicate the accruals, give the waiter the required amount in cash.
How to save money on food in Dubai
- Low prices for food in Dubai in national restaurants of Thai, Chinese and Indian cuisine. They look simpler than ordinary establishments, and the service is not as pompous. But the cost of lunch will not disappoint. In a restaurant that is geared towards expats, hearty food will cost AED 10-20.
- Where to eat inexpensively in the UAE? Choose cafes and restaurants that are outside the tourist area - away from attractions and hotels. The city is home to the Golden Fork budget restaurant chain.
- Expats recommend Dubai restaurants for Lebanese cuisine. According to many, they have the best combination of quality and price. Main courses start at AED 30, sandwiches AED 15 and drinks AED 12.
- All major stores in Dubai regularly hold promotions to reduce prices. Shoppers are offered discounts on groceries of the day and great weekend sales. Pay close attention to the announcements at the entrance.
- Every supermarket has a ready-to-eat section. Prices for such products in Dubai in 2021 are not high: bun - 1.4 AED, mini pizza - 2 AED, samsa - 2.4 AED, lamb kebab - from 2.6 AED, soups - from 4.2 AED, boiled rice - 20 AED per 1 kg. Preheat food in the microwave and your hearty lunch is ready!
- In the UAE markets, food is slightly cheaper than in supermarkets. You won't get a lot of benefits, but it's worth going to the market. You will feel the colorful atmosphere of the oriental bazaar, bargain and get vivid impressions.
