Arabic and Lebanese food are the heart and soul of Dubai's dining culture. In a city where every cuisine on earth is available, it's the mezze spreads, wood-fired flatbreads, slow-cooked lamb, and sweet Arabic coffee that most evoke the spirit of the place. This isn't just "local cuisine" for tourists to try once — it's what Dubai actually eats, from the humblest shawarma kiosk to the most opulent rooftop dining experience.
We've distinguished in this guide between Lebanese (the most prevalent Arabic cuisine in Dubai's restaurant scene), Emirati (the native cuisine of the UAE, distinct and underrepresented), and pan-Arabic/Middle Eastern dining. All are worth exploring. None should be skipped.
Our Top Lebanese & Arabic Restaurants in Dubai
Em Sherif — DIFC
Em Sherif brings the spirit of Beirut's finest restaurant scene to DIFC with extraordinary success. The dining room is lavish — gold-detailed ceilings, deep banquettes, live oud music — and the food matches the setting. This is Lebanese cooking at its most ambitious: not the simple grills-and-mezze of a neighbourhood restaurant, but a full theatrical expression of what the cuisine can achieve with premium ingredients and a serious kitchen.
The cold mezze spread (order the full selection, AED 185 for eight dishes) is the foundation of any visit. The hummus bil lahmeh (AED 75, ground lamb with pine nuts) is among the best we've eaten in Dubai or Beirut. The mixed grill platter (AED 385 for two) is precise — the kafta is spiced perfectly, the shish taouk is marinated overnight. The signature knafeh (AED 85) is the correct way to end any Lebanese dinner.
Must-Order Dishes
Reservation Tip
Book 2 weeks ahead for Thursday and Friday dinners. Request the banquette seating rather than the centre tables. The live music (oud and violin) begins around 9pm — arrive by 8:30pm for the full experience.
Best Time to Visit
Thursday or Friday evening for the full Beirut-in-DIFC atmosphere. Weekday dinner is more intimate. The long, leisurely lunch on a Tuesday (business Lebanese dining at its best) is a hidden gem.
Al Nafoorah — Jumeirah Al Qasr
Al Nafoorah at Jumeirah Al Qasr has been the benchmark for Lebanese dining in Dubai since it opened over a decade ago. The setting is romantic — a palace-like room with Moorish arches and a terrace overlooking the Arabian Gulf — and the kitchen's consistency is remarkable. This is the restaurant we recommend when someone asks for "the one Lebanese restaurant you'd take a first-time visitor to Dubai." It never disappoints.
The fattoush (AED 65) is the freshest in the city — herbs picked daily, bread crisped to order. The samkeh harra (AED 185, whole sea bass in chilli-coriander sauce) is a signature worth celebrating. The whole roasted lamb on Friday (must pre-order) is extraordinary — a 6-hour slow cook that produces meat that falls from the bone.
Must-Order Dishes
Reservation Tip
Book 1–2 weeks ahead for dinner. Request the terrace table in winter — one of the most beautiful outdoor dining spots in Dubai. The Friday whole lamb requires 48 hours pre-order.
Best Time to Visit
Sunset dinner in winter (Nov–March) on the Gulf-facing terrace is exceptional. Friday lunch for the lamb. Summer: the indoor dining room is beautifully cool and the quality doesn't drop.
Lebanese mezze is an institution in Dubai — 15 dishes shared across the table, from creamy hummus to herb-bright tabbouleh and smoky baba ganoush
Logma — City Walk & Box Park
Logma is the restaurant that introduced a generation of Dubai residents to Emirati cuisine. The name means "bite" in Arabic, and the concept is exactly right: approachable, casual, celebratory of the home cooking traditions that have fed UAE families for generations. This is not "heritage tourism food" — it's genuinely good, thoughtfully prepared, and delivered in a space that feels contemporary without losing its soul.
The Khameer bread (AED 25, a soft saffron-scented flatbread served with date syrup and cream cheese) arrives first and immediately explains the restaurant's popularity. The Machboos dajaj (AED 75, slow-cooked spiced rice with chicken, dried lemon, and rose water) is the dish every first-time visitor must order. The Luqaimat (AED 35, crispy fried balls with date syrup) are the definitive Dubai dessert snack.
Must-Order Dishes
Reservation Tip
Walk-ins accepted most days, but the City Walk location fills during weekend lunches — arrive by 12:30pm. Box Park location is usually easier for walk-ins.
Best Time to Visit
Weekend lunch is the quintessential Logma experience. The restaurant buzzes with families, which is exactly how Emirati food should be eaten. Ramadan evenings (post-Iftar) are particularly atmospheric.
Arabian Tea House — Al Fahidi
Arabian Tea House occupies a traditional wind-tower building in the Al Fahidi Historical Neighbourhood — Dubai's oldest surviving district — and the setting alone justifies a visit. The courtyard with its bougainvillea, the wind towers casting afternoon shadow, the call to prayer from the nearby mosque — this is the Dubai that existed before the skyscrapers. The food is simple, honest Emirati café cooking, and it's genuinely lovely.
Come for breakfast: the Balaleet (AED 45, sweet vermicelli with scrambled egg and cardamom — an only-in-UAE combination that converts sceptics instantly) is the essential order. The Arabic breakfast spread (AED 85, feeds two) with fresh labneh, Khameer, honey, and dates is perfect with a pot of saffron-scented karak. Plan a visit to the Al Fahidi historical quarter around this breakfast.
Must-Order Dishes
Reservation Tip
Walk-in friendly. Arrive for breakfast between 8–10am for the best courtyard atmosphere. Avoid peak tourist lunch times (12–2pm) on weekends — it fills with tour groups.
Best Time to Visit
Early morning in winter (Nov–March) for the courtyard breakfast experience. Pair with a morning walk through Al Fahidi and the Dubai Museum. Early evening in cooler months for Arabic coffee and dates.
More Great Arabic & Lebanese Restaurants
Babel — Business Bay
Modern Lebanese with spectacular views from the 50th floor of one of Business Bay's towers. The Beirut-style raw kibbeh (AED 105) and the mixed grill (AED 245) are standouts. Beautiful date-night destination.
Al Mandaloun — DIFC
Reliable, high-quality Lebanese in a sophisticated DIFC setting. The mezze selection is excellent and the grilled meats are precise. Good for business dinners where you want impressive food without the theatre of Em Sherif.
Al Safadi — Multiple Locations
The people's Lebanese restaurant — a Dubai institution across multiple locations. Always buzzing, consistently good value, reliably solid mezze and grills. The Regga and Deira branches are the originals. No reservations, often a wait, worth it.
Zahr El-Laymoun — JLT
Fresh, vibrant Lebanese cooking that punches well above its price point. The fattoush here is bright with herbs, the grilled halloumi (AED 55) is exceptional, and the whole sea bass in chermoula (AED 145) is a best-kept JLT secret.
Al Fahidi Historical District is home to Arabian Tea House — breakfast in a wind-tower courtyard is among Dubai's most atmospheric dining experiences
Emirati vs. Lebanese: Understanding the Difference
Many visitors arrive in Dubai conflating all Arabic food, but the distinction matters. Lebanese cuisine — dominated by mezze, grilled meats, and an abundance of herbs and olive oil — is the most prevalent "Arabic" food in Dubai's restaurants. Emirati cuisine is the native food of the UAE, with distinct flavours shaped by Gulf fishing culture, Bedouin heritage, and Persian and South Asian influences through centuries of trade.
Key Emirati dishes to seek out: Machboos (fragrant rice with dried lemon, spices, and meat or fish), Al Harees (slow-cooked wheat and meat — served especially during Ramadan), Saloona (a stew varying by household), Luqaimat (fried sweet dough), and Balaleet (sweet vermicelli breakfast dish). For authentic Emirati cooking, Logma, Arabian Tea House, and Emirati Kitchen (Al Seef) are the essential choices.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best Arabic restaurant in Dubai?
Em Sherif in DIFC is Dubai's most celebrated Lebanese fine dining — extraordinary mezze, perfectly grilled meats, and a setting that captures the romance of Beirut. For traditional Emirati food, Logma is essential. Al Nafoorah at Jumeirah Al Qasr is the most consistently excellent Lebanese restaurant for visitor recommendations.
What Emirati food should I try in Dubai?
Must-try Emirati dishes: Machboos (spiced rice with meat), Al Harees (slow-cooked wheat and lamb), Luqaimat (fried dough with date syrup), Khameer bread, and Balaleet (sweet vermicelli breakfast). The best places for authentic Emirati food are Logma (modern) and Arabian Tea House (traditional).
Is Arabic food expensive in Dubai?
Arabic food covers every budget in Dubai. Shawarma costs AED 10–25. Mid-range Lebanese (Al Safadi, Zahr El-Laymoun) runs AED 100–200 per person. Fine dining Lebanese (Em Sherif, Al Nafoorah, Babel) is AED 300–500. Emirati at Logma is excellent value at AED 85–180 per person.
