Being the UAE’s most cosmopolitan hub, it is obvious that you will find the best Arabic restaurants in Dubai. The variety is wide, as eclectic as the city itself. Whether you are looking for a family place or restaurant for a perfect date night, rest assured – we’ve got you covered.
Let’s explore the top ten Arabic restaurants in Dubai to elevate your weekend and date plans.
Top Ten Arabic Restaurants in Dubai
There are many restaurants in Dubai offering authentic Arabic cuisine. You will find everything here, from Michelin fine-dining places to no-frills, hole-in-the-wall. Whether you crave a hearty plate of hot machboos or a freshly baked gooey cheese fatayer, check out the following best Arabic restaurants in Dubai:
1. Olea
For a dining experience like never before, you must book a table at Olea at least once. The menu features authentic Arabic cuisines from Syria, Lebanon, Jordan, Southern Turkey and Cyprus. Inspired by these regions, the open kitchen serves a menu churning out great, mouthwatering dishes.
Do not forget to try Syrian yeh (raw meat), Cypriot Sultan Ibrahim, and Lebanese el hummus Beiruti to explore the original Arabic flavors.
Address
2nd Floor, Kempinski Hotel, Mall of The Emirates, Sheikh Zayed Road, Dubai, UAE
Contact
+971 4 409 5111
Opening Hours
Mon-Thurs: 6:30-11:00 am and 12:30-11:00 pm, Fri-Sun: 6:30-11:30 am and 1:00-11:00 pm
Rating
2. Bait Maryam
If you take your Arabic friends to Bait Maryam, chances are they will feel nostalgic immediately due to the homely dishes served here. The restaurant boasts stunning decor, which looks like an extension of the chef-owner Salam Daqqaq’s home.
Although Daqqaq calls her cuisine proudly Palestinian, the restaurant serves dishes from the shared culinary traditions across Syria, Jordan and Lebanon. This is the kind of food that not only fills your stomach but also warms your heart.
The menu includes dishes like fateh with eggplant, cheese manakeesh, batata harra, shakshouka, maryan salad and fresh tabbouleh.
Address
Cluster D, Jumeirah Lake Towers, Dubai, UAE.
Contact
+971 54 704 4774
Opening Hours
Mon-Thurs: 10:00 am – 11:00 pm, Fri-Sun: 10:00 am – 11:30 pm
3. Moonrise
Moonrise is a proud Micheli-star-awarded restaurant in Dubai and it is chef Solemann Haddad’s solo project. The menu here offers high-quality Middle Eastern flavours and ingredients taken to another level by the fusion of Japanese culinary techniques.
The menu offers a wide variety of dishes, from Syrian-style sashimi and looming tikka to an upgraded version of the classic grilled cheese.
Address
Eden House, Al Satwa, Dubai, UAE
Contact
+971 50 697 2946
Opening Hours
Tues-Sun: 6:00 am – 11:59 pm, Mondays closed.
4. Ibn AlBahar
This restaurant is a fishermen-owned place serving seafood. Located at Club Vista Mare, the restaurant draws a huge nightly crowd. It is popular among the local Dubai Arabs, who enjoy a glass of Arak, a distilled Levantine and anise-flavoured spirit.
The menu features fresh day catches from butterfly-grilled sea bream, marinated in a special spice mix and jumbo garlic prawns with Arabic mezze. Oh, so perfect for a hearty family feast!
Address
Club Vista Mare, Palm Jumeirah, Dubai, UAE
Contact
+971 800 426 252 247
Opening Hours
Mon-Sun: 8:00 am – 2:00 am
5. Orfali Bros Bistronomy
Orfali Bros was the first on the 2023 list of MENA’s 50 Best Restaurants, becoming an all-star spot for modern Middle Eastern cuisine. This eatery is run by Syrian chef Mohammad Orfali and his brothers Wassim and Omar. It has gained a great reputation for its innovative approach to traditional Arabic flavours.
The interiors of this neighbourhood bistro are airy and bright, featuring a two-storey kitchen that overlooks the cosy dining room below.
The menu includes umami-rich wagyu-beef kebabs served with sour cherry ketchup, pine nuts and cinnamon. Another highlight is the stracciatella pide, topped with heirloom tomatoes and Aleppo pepper, blending rich textures and flavours.
Address
D92 Jumeirah, Jumeirah 1, Dubai, UAE
Contact
+971 4 259 2477
Opening Hours
Mon-Sun: 12:00 pm – 12:00 am
6. Sirali
Craving hot kebabs or a juicy meat slice drizzled with molten cheese? Sirali is your place to be! The jewel-toned interiors of the place are perfect to set the mood of your date night with the most flavourful Arabic food in Dubai.
Fill up your palate with the Arabian meatball for the starters, then move on to the main course: succulent lamb chops. These chops are first seared on a cast grill, then cooked in small batches over oak charcoal for a consistent, rich flavour.
The best part? The glass cube allows the guests to see the butchers at work, live from their dinner table. How cool!
Address
Habtoor City, Dubai, UAE
Contact
+971 58 582 7092
Opening Hours
Mon-Fri: 12:00 pm – 1:00 am, Sat-Sun: 10:00 am – 1:00 am
7. Cleo
The search for the best Arabic cuisine in Dubai can lead you to the doors of Cleo. Built against the backdrop of Dubai’s stunning coastal hues, the menu at Cleo claims to be the best Arabic grill restaurant in the city.
Imagine lamb shawarma freshly made from a live spit roast, rib-eye served with confit potatoes and grilled skewers that hit your plate with a satisfying sizzling sound. Mouthwatering!
Address
Marasi Drive, Business Bay, Dubai, UAE
Contact
+971 4 871 1111
Opening Hours
Mon-Sun: 12:00 pm – 1:00 am
8. Mama’esh
This restaurant is a steadfast fixture on Dubai’s Arabic cuisine dining scene. Operating for a decade, Mama’esh is a proud Palestinian cuisine. Though the restaurant has multiple branches, the Al Manara branch is worth mentioning. It is a charming villa converted into a restaurant with pared-backed interiors.
Expect dishes to be carb-heavy and served on rustic metal trays. Begin with Palestinian musakhan chicken rolls packed with sumac and pine nuts. Move on to a long, boat-shaped cheese and za’atar fatayer, along with hummus, grilled halloumi, and a fattoush salad drizzled with pomegranate molasses.
If you have a sweet tooth, do not miss the kunafa rolls – flavoured with rose water, filled with cheese and topped with sugar syrup.
Address
Union Coop, Villa 1081, Al Wasl Road, Opposite Umm Suqeim, Al Safa, Dubai, UAE
Contact
+971 600 548287
Opening Hours
Mon-Sun: 7:00 am – 1:00 am
9. Zaroob
A casual neighbourhood restaurant everyone wishes they had on every corner of the city. The menu offers morning breakfast trays featuring scrambled eggs, za’atar, olive oil, labneh and freshly baked akkawi cheese manakeesh.
Moreover, try the delightfully crispy halloumi skewers, the fresh Lebanese foul and a nostalgic cheese and honey feteer.
Address
Shop 1, Sheikh Zayed Road, Trade Centre, DIFC, Dubai, UAE
Contact
+971 4 385 3592
Opening Hours
Mon-Sun: 24 hours
10. Soul Kitchen
Soul Kitchen combines Levantine and Latin American flavours, making it one of the best Lebanese restaurants in Dubai. When you enter the trendy pink interiors, you will feel like you have arrived at a vintage speakeasy.
The experience is made even better with live jazz sessions from talented bands and creative performers worldwide.
You can enjoy popular Arabic dishes, such as the beef short rib birria slow-cooked for 36 hours, and unique desserts like corn brûlée with honey yogurt ice cream.
Address
Marasi Drive, Business Bay, Dubai, UAE
Contact
+971 4 836 0900
Opening Hours
Sun-Wed: 6:00 pm – 1:00 am, Thursday: 6:00 pm – 2:00 am, Friday and Saturday: 6:00 pm – 3:00 am
FAQs
The food scene in the UAE is in full swing. Dubai alone boasts over 13,000 restaurants and cafes.
The Arabic food or general food items are costly in Dubai because most ingredients are imported from other high-yield locales.
So, these were some of the top Arabic restaurants in Dubai. With so many dishes on the menu, each place has its own unique spin on traditional Arabic cuisine. How many of these restaurants have you visited?
Let us know in the comment section below. Also, do not forget to check out these seafood restaurants in Abu Dhabi for a truly memorable food experience.
