In a city renowned for its world-class restaurants, it’s ironic that Middle Eastern cuisine can be the hardest to find when you’re visiting Dubai. This guided walking tour, which might include a small number of other visitors, offers an insider’s view of the local cuisine and gives you a chance to sample the nuances of different countries’ foods.
Guided by a local expert, you’ll also get an introduction to Middle Eastern culinary traditions, including a primer on the etiquette around drinking coffee and how to choose among different gradients of saffron, the most expensive spice in the world.
From creamy, garlicky hummus to baklava dripping with golden honey and studded with sweet nuts, spend an evening sampling the best dishes at a handful of the city’s most-overlooked restaurants. Your guide will have hand-picked the nibbles as well as the eateries, which are all clustered around Al Rigga, an important street in the Deira district. Along the way, you’ll also hear personal anecdotes from your guide as you learn more about the city’s culture.
You’ll make your own way to the meeting point to join this small-group walking tour, which is limited to just six participants. The tour takes place in the evening and includes enough food to be considered a full meal by most people. You’ll cover about 2.8 km (1.7 miles), with plenty of stops along the way to rest and cool off.
The route will differ to make sure you visit the best eateries available at that moment, but will include at least five different stops. You’ll get the chance to sample a wide range of different foods, most likely including dishes influenced by Palestinian, Jordanian, Lebanese, Iraqi and Iranian cuisine. Tours often begin with stuffed herb falafels served with hummus, fried eggplant and cauliflower.
From there, you might try a Palestinian and Jordanian pastry stuffed with creamy sweet cheese, which contrasts with the crunchy noodles and pistachios sprinkled on top. Your tour will certainly include a coffee shop where you can sip cardamom-scented coffee, known locally as gahwa, accompanied by a pressed-date cookie and baklava. Your guide will share the subtle nuances of traditional coffee-drinking rituals in the region, and how they differ around the Middle East.
The main course of the evening is often a Lebanese smoked fish served with lentil soup, followed by a samovar tea. You might end the evening with a tour of an Iranian shop that offers gourmet ingredients and confections. Here, you’ll be introduced to the different grades of saffron while sampling ice cream that’s been infused with the subtle scent of the wildly expensive spice. Along the way, you’ll be able to buy items like rosewater, pistachios, baklava and saffron.
Start planning your tailor-made trip by contacting one of our UAE specialists
These activities are designed to give you the most authentic experiences around where you're staying. We work with local guides, who use their knowledge and often a resident's eye to show you the main sights and more out-of-the-way attractions. Our specialists can suggest tours and activities that will introduce you to the local ways of life.
A day in the Arabian Desert
Experience the vast Arabian Desert with a trip curated to your interests. You could choose a wildlife safari in a vintage 4x4, high-speed dune bashing, sandboarding, or heritage adventures such as camel trekking and archery, all culminating in a starlit feast.
Historical walking tour of Dubai
After exploring Dubai’s pivotal role in historic trading routes, you’ll discover the cultural influences of perfume, gold, spices, and spirituality in this vibrant city. You’ll also taste a medley of local delicacies as you wander atmospheric souqs and classical quarters.
Old Dubai evening walking tour
Look beyond Dubai’s gleaming glass-and-steel skyscrapers to discover the historic side of the city on this walking tour of the Dubai Creek area. Browse spice-scented souqs, explore Al Fahidi District and ride in an abra (water taxi).
Traditional dhow cruise around Oman’s Musandam Peninsula
After a scenic drive north to Oman, you’ll board a traditional wooden dhow and cruise the fjords and islands of the Musandam Peninsula, where the mountainous coastline meets the crystalline waters of the Arabian Sea.
Traditional wooden dhow dinner cruise in Dubai
Aboard a traditional dhow, you’ll be enveloped in the maritime heritage of Dubai, sailing past the intricately carved minarets or sky-skimming masterpieces of the city. Just as the sunset tints the Gulf, your crew will serve a gourmet buffet dinner.
VIP access to the top of Burj Khalifa
Take advantage of VIP admission to the crown of Dubai’s record-breaking Burj Khalifa — the world’s tallest building — with this exclusive access experience. You’ll share refreshments in a luxurious lounge before scouring the horizonal views from a dedicated viewing deck.
You can enjoy this activity as part of the suggested tours below, or we can weave it into a trip shaped entirely around you.
