Dubai Food: What to Eat and What It Costs
Dubai's food scene spans the widest price range of any city on this list: a full shawarma meal in Old Dubai costs $2-5, a casual sit-down restaurant $8-20, and a nice dinner $30-70 per person — with a small top tier of celebrity-chef and Michelin-starred rooms running $100-250+. Halal is the default nearly everywhere, and the population's diversity (roughly 85% expatriate) means genuinely excellent Lebanese, Indian, Iranian, Filipino, and Pakistani food alongside the fine-dining scene.
Dubai's food scene is a direct reflection of who actually lives there — a city where Emiratis are a minority in their own capital, and the food is better for it. You can eat astonishingly well for $5 in Deira, or spend $300 on a tasting menu with a Burj Khalifa view, and both meals will be genuinely good. Here's what to actually order.
Must-try dishes
| Dish | What it is | Approx. price |
|---|---|---|
| Shawarma | Spit-roasted meat wrapped in flatbread with garlic sauce and pickles | $2-5 |
| Mixed grill | A platter of grilled kebabs, shish tawook, and kofta with rice | $10-20 |
| Machboos | Emirati spiced rice with meat or fish, similar to biryani | $8-15 |
| Karak chai | Strong, sweet, spiced milk tea — an everyday Gulf staple | $0.50-2 |
| Luqaimat | Small, deep-fried dough balls drizzled with date syrup — the classic dessert | $3-6 |
The Friday brunch
A genuine Gulf institution: a long, multi-hour, all-you-can-eat (often all-you-can-drink) buffet, typically held Friday afternoons at hotels and upscale restaurants. Prices range from roughly $50 at more casual venues to $150+ at five-star hotel brunches with premium beverage packages. It's worth doing at least once, ideally at a mid-tier venue rather than the very cheapest or most expensive option.
Where to eat by budget
- Old Dubai (Deira, Bur Dubai) — the cheapest, most authentic end of the spectrum: Pakistani, Indian, and Filipino canteens and cafeterias serving full meals for $3-6.
- Mid-range chains and casual restaurants (Marina, JBR, Downtown malls) — $10-25 per person for a solid variety of cuisines.
- Hotel and skyline dining (Downtown, Palm Jumeirah) — $50-250+ per person, where the view and the experience are often as much the point as the food.
Dietary needs
Halal is the default at the overwhelming majority of restaurants in Dubai — it barely needs asking about, which makes this one of the easier major cities in the world for halal travelers. Vegetarian and vegan travelers do very well too, thanks to the large South Asian expatriate population and its cuisine — look for 'pure vegetarian' Indian restaurants for the strongest vegan-friendly menus. Alcohol is served only at licensed venues (hotels, bars, some standalone restaurants) — it's not the default at casual local eateries.
Ramadan and food timing
During Ramadan (the Islamic holy month, which shifts roughly 10-11 days earlier each year on the Gregorian calendar), eating, drinking, or smoking in public during daylight hours is against local custom and, in some public spaces, against the law — though hotels and designated areas typically screen off dining areas for non-fasting guests. If your trip overlaps with Ramadan, expect shifted restaurant hours (many open later and stay open much later at night for iftar) and a genuinely festive evening atmosphere once the fast breaks.
What it costs, all in
| Meal type | Price per person |
|---|---|
| Street food / cafeteria | $2-6 |
| Casual sit-down restaurant | $8-20 |
| Mid-range restaurant | $20-45 |
| Nice dinner with a view | $50-100 |
| Top-tier / celebrity-chef dining | $100-250+ |