If you are the sort of person who enjoys traditional, exotic flavors, Dubai is one of the best destinations to indulge yourself in traditional Arabian desserts. Dubai, after all, is cosmopolitan, hosting hundreds of bakery cafes that proudly feature desserts from the whole Arab world – Palestinian, Lebanese, Syrian, Egyptian, Turkish, to name but a few, so many more. Here you’ll find innovative, up-and-coming desserts with experimental flavors; but also sweet ones that are laden with culture, tradition, and decades of culinary excellence.
Arabic desserts are not only sweet treats – but a treasured tradition, lovingly crafted with art. In this mouthwatering article by Dxboffplan, we take you through the best Arabian desserts in Dubai – flavors each with a story of tradition and celebration to share.
With the vast culinary world full of wonders, few sweets can delight the taste bud and narrate the story of origins like the Arabian desserts in Dubai can. Within the UAE boundaries, the desserts are not ordinary delicacies – they are the symbol of hospitality, tradition, and culinary devotion. We are talking of the magical taste of dates, nuts, and honey, along with saffron and cardamom. If you listen carefully, You can almost hear the UAE’s culinary past in every bite.
Arabic desserts gained popularity in the UAE due to their incredible versatility. They can fit into any family celebration, be it grand celebrations or official functions, with equal ease. Their appealing looks, playfully tempting toppings, and irresistible aroma make Arabian desserts in Dubai an absolute addition to any dessert platter.
But beyond taste and looks, the desserts here are an experience that remains with you. A taste of baklava or kunafa can evoke the memories of Ramadan evenings in the old days.
In Dubai, like other UAE cities, local dessert makers not only kept these sweets’ old recipes intact but innovatively recreate them to fit today’s tastes as well. Result? Traditional offerings that remain tasteful as ever before, yet irresistible to those who prefer something contemporary from their dessert.
In Dubai, the city that takes pride in its incredible diversity, you can find some of the world’s most iconic Arabian desserts, each deeply rooted well into the city’s cultural traditions. They not only taste heavenly, but the desserts are deeply ingrained into the city’s culinary identity as well. Below are some of the best Arabian desserts in Dubai you can indulge yourself with:
Maamoul belongs to a category of its own among the Arabian desserts in Dubai. This scented, traditional dessert has deep cultural and historical significance, particularly in the UAE. These delicate yet small cookies are an orchestra of flour, dates, perfumed spices, and sometimes honey. In the majority of Emirati households, Maamoul plays a regular part to welcome guests and make them feel at home. It is served whenever there is an occasion that is traditional, alongside Arab coffee or scented tea.
It is typically stuffed with date paste or ground nuts like pistachios or walnuts, then molded into traditional shapes so the cookies can maintain their elaborate design even after baking.
In Emirati households, grandmothers tightly guard their own unique recipes – handed down through generations – each one distinctly individual in taste.
Among the sweet traditions that the Arabs love, one that is most dear to the heart is the beloved Umm Ali. The dessert, which is aptly named to translate to mean “Mother of Ali,” is not only a dessert, but a symbol for gatherings and celebrations as well. Umm Ali is made by layering shredded pastry topped with chopped pistachios, dried coconut flakes, dried dates, or raisins to impart depth to the dish. The milk, cream, and sugar are then poured on top to cover the ingredients well, then baked to a warm, creamy, fragrant dessert.
You can find Umm Ali generously served at festivities such as Eid al-Fitr or Eid al-Adha as a gesture of hospitality.
Basbousa is the Levant’s traditional dessert, typically served after family dinners. The simple yet delicious dessert is made with semolina flour, sometimes with coconut flakes for flavoring. The cake is then oven-baked, then dipped in syrup, then usually topped with blanched almonds.
Basbousa is textured and fragrant, one of the lighter sweets of the area to enjoy. It is usually glazed with honey, or scented with rose, or with orange blossom water that gives it a distinctive smell.
Even the name of this scrumptious breakfast dish is enough to make people smile and look around expecting it. A traditional pancake, the Chabab is one of the favorite Emirati dishes, appreciated by all generations and tastes. Every restaurant serving the dish of Chabab has its own recipe, prepared with the best of care.
Preparation is typically carried with a spiced pancake batter made through the mixture of the flour, sugar, and eggs with plenty of spices like turmeric, cardamom, and saffron. These yellow, soft pancakes are served warm after numerous folds in the pan using sweet date syrup, you can have them for breakfast or brunch.
Luqaimat is one of the absolute favorites of the Arabian desserts in Dubai. They are bite-sized fried pieces with an outside that is crispy, while the inside is soft, fluffy. Luqaimat is an Arab name signifying “little bites” and is served as a sweet appetiser or snack.
The two main ingredients of Luqaimat are flour and yeast and let’s never forget the magic of saffron. Luqaimat is deep-fried into crispy balls and generously covered with date syrup (“dibs”) and sesame seeds. Try Luqaimat in Dubai at HumYum café near Umm Suqeim – you won’t regret it.
The best-known dessert of the region is the Kunafa, which can be easily found in Emirati restaurants. It is a dessert made of a thick white cream cheese crust topped with vermicelli that is shredded, or crushed whole wheat. It is served warm and freshly prepared, topped with plain sweet syrup or pistachio. Some restaurants, such as trendy restaurants like the CÉ LA VI in Dubai, offer their own signature version of this traditional dessert.
You might be surprised, but Kunafa dessert is eaten at breakfast time in some Arab restaurants, specifically the older part of Dubai, it is sold straight out of the shop windows.
This Arab dessert is soft and fragrant, an elegant, yet flavorful light delicacy This traditional dessert, with the gentle flavor and creamy consistency has a unique position in all the Middle Eastern cultures and holds the status of an in-demand dessert to this day. Muhalabiya’s ingredients are humble but elegant: the combination of milk, sugar, rice, and syrup, which is typically prepared with rose water that gives the dessert an authentic and soothing fragrance. Very sweet yet refreshing, topped with ground pistachios, it qualifies to be served at one’s table on a hot day or after an elaborate meal. Dried rose petals, cinnamon, or almonds are added to the dessert as well. Muhalabiya can be readily found in Dubai not only at Arab restaurants, but at large supermarkets – sometimes even found sitting alongside yogurts, puddings, and other dairy items. This availability has contributed to Muhalabiya becoming one of the city’s favorite dessert picks.
Among the list of famous Middle Eastern desserts, the name Baklava is perhaps the most beloved. This Turkish dessert has gained popularity all around the world now, becoming one of the best-loved desserts of Arab countries, including the UAE. Baklava is composed of crunchy, thin phyllo dough layers filled with almonds, walnuts, or pistachios. It is topped with sticky sweet honey syrup and baked, which not only gives the dessert flavor but helps the layers achieve that shiny finish too. It is the item that is golden, crunchy, yet soft, where each bite comforts your senses and leaves you wanting more.
Throughout Dubai you’ll find famous bakeries that maintain the tradition of making the original Baklava so carefully. But you can experiment with the flavor, shape, and nut filling of the dessert to find your favorite one. A delightful surprise here is that most pastry shops in Dubai present their Baklavas in beautifully decorated gift boxes, so you can take it with you as a sweet gift to family members or your friends.
Among the traditional Arabian desserts in Dubai, Qatayef is one of the most popular sweets that find their way to each table at Ramadan. It not only has an amazing visual appeal, but along with that comes the softness, plus an irresistible flavor.
Preparation of Qatayef involves soft pancakelike dough that is cooked and stuffed with sweet stuffing ingredients. Sweet Akkawi cheese, Ashta (rose-water cream), mixture of ground pistachios, or walnuts mixed with sugar are the most common stuffers of Qatayef.
Perhaps the most fun part of preparing Qatayef is the final step of adding the sweet syrup made with sugar and heavenly scented rose water.
Among the array of new and novel desserts that are gaining popularity in Dubai, the camel milk ice cream is one of the most surprising yet impressive among the lot. As the name suggests, the ice cream is made of camel milk—a commodity that not only is more healthy compared to cow milk nutritionally but is further complemented with an unusual yet appealing flavor. Camel milk is an Emirati local product and the ice cream is served traditionally with chocolate and varied flavors such as caramel biscuit, honey saffron, pistachio, mint tea, and Turkish coffee. These pairings are often most appealing to everyone.
Camel milk tastes strong naturally, so the ice cream tastes strong when made. This dessert not only appeals to those looking for exotic tastes, it is perfect for anyone who wants to live healthy too. If you are looking for an unexpected, novel dessert in Dubai that is healthy and local, camel milk ice cream is one you can’t go without.
Arabian desserts in Dubai are not to be merely tasted as they are a visible bridge between taste and culture. Whether it is the traditional desserts, like the Baklava and Luqaimat, or the more modern ones like camel milk ice cream or Kunafa—each delicacy will remind you of the authenticity, culinary art, and Arabian hospitality.
Now that you have given our guide a thorough read, you can go ahead and pick your favourite dessert place in this glamorous city. In Dubai, it is almost impossible to run out of options when it comes to pastries, dessert places, fine dining restaurants and clubs. Although, where you reside is highly important when it comes to having access to all those deliciously tempting venues. Our highly experienced consultants at Dxboffplan, are more than happy to aid you in your search for the perfect community in terms of connectivity to urban amenities and current property prices in Dubai. It is time to take the bold step towards one of the world’s most vibrant cities, contact our experienced consultants today.
Two of the most popular Arabian desserts in Dubai are Kunafa and Luqaimat. They are usually served in gatherings or in Arab restaurants and cafes.
Most Arabian desserts in Dubai, such as Muhalabiya, Luqaimat, and Baklava, don't include any meat and are perfectly okay for vegetarians to take.
For the best, you can go to local restaurants, traditional cafes such as Bateel, HumYum, or larger stores such as Carrefour.
