Arabic Restaurants in Dubai

The Best Arabic Restaurants in Dubai

High End:

Levantine $$$
Cuisine: Lebanese

Atlantis, The Palm Dubai, +971 4 426 2626

Levantine may not be the best restaurant in terms of great food AND price but it's an opportunity to visit the Atlantis Hotel for a restaurant that is not too extortionately high compared to its neighbours.  The menu is simple and plays on the classic mezze dishes (hot and cold) along with grilled meats and fish and fresh bread.  Its the perfect place to unwind with a light dinner plus drinks and shisha overlooking the stunning views of the Atlantis so opt to sit outside if weather permits.  Take note, weekends will get busy so be prepared to wave to your waiter lots for shisha and drinks.  

Al Nafoorah $$$-$$$$
Cuisine: Lebanese

Emirates Towers, Sheikh Zayed Road Dubai, +971 4 319 8088

Most lebanese restaurants can be a lively affair with music, live dancing and a jolly crowd.  Al Nafoorah is perfect if you like lebanese cuisine and quiet, intimate surroundings.  Located in the Emirates Towers, it can be regarded as a formal place usually frequented by lunch time and after work office workers.  But it's central location means its easily accessible and the terraced alfresco seating gives it a casual but romantic vibe.  The food is great with a good selection of tasty mezzes and grilled mains. For a lighter starter, try some spinach fattayers (savory pastries).

Ottomans $$$
Cuisine: Turkish

The Grosvenor House, Dubai, +971 4 399 8888

An ornately dressed venue, this is plush without trying too hard.  Ottomans is one of a handful of Middle Eastern restaurants in Dubai offering Turkish food alone.  If you live in the UAE or as a tourist, have been having a bit too much lebanese cuisine and now want something different but local, try Ottomans.  The venue overlooking the Marina is beautiful and serene, so in the cooler months opt to sit outside.  Food is quality and presented well consisting of lamb shanks, braised chicken and couscous.  If you are dining late, you will be welcomed by the in house musicians playing local music which ends a relaxing night with ofcourse, some shisha.  

Mid Range:

Shabestan $$-$$$
Cuisine: Persian/Iranian

Radisson Blu Hotel, Dubai Deira Creek, +971 4 222 7171

Perfect food, perfect ambience, perfect price.  Shabestan is an Iranian restaurant serving Persian cuisine which traditionally consist of juicy kebabs, hot pots such as lamb shanks and grilled meats and fish.  Shabestan is renowned as being the best Iranian restaurant in Dubai so we headed ourselves to see if the hype was true....it certainly satisfied the belly.  Firstly, as with all Middle Eastern restaurants, try to discipline yourself with the complementary pre-starters such as fresh warm bread, hummous and salad - they will fill you up quickly.  Our personal recommendations are the hearty soups such as the barley with eggplant, for mains, the kebabs are an iranian staple and the minced lamb and also fish are simply melt in the mouth.  The Lamb Shank which has been cooked for 4 hours is super with saffron rice.  Also an option to go for set menu.  Beware of portions sizes here - huge!  Wonderful service and ambience, when booking request for a window seat and admire the beautiful creekside views.  

Sarai $$
Dubai Marina, Jumeirah Beach Residence, +971 4 438 0640

Cuisine: Middle Eastern

You can’t come to Dubai and not eat middle eastern food atleast once.  Finding a lebanese, Iranian, Syrian food outlet will not be hard in Dubai, the city oozes them.  Infact, separating the standard from the best will be the tough job.  There are many good middle eastern restaurants situated in Dubai’s finer hotels, but we found that with the majority of these, the atmosphere, interior and views normally scored higher then the food itself.  The food wasn’t bad, but you don’t really want to be ripped off when you can get gorgeous middle eastern food, reasonably priced within great surroundings other then the giant five star ones.  We found this with Sarai.

The service here is so homely, the waiters honestly advise you based on your tastes.  The interior is authentic and clean but not tacky and young families genuinely feel welcomed which is now hard to find in many five star hotel restaurants.  Food is not short of delicious. Kebabs appear to be there signature trade and there are so many variations on offer – ours arrived tender and juicy, infact we can still taste the flavour!  Many mezze dishes on offer and complementary fresh bread to keep you full for hours.  Easy going, simple choices are available for kids, just beware, if you have a nut allergy to mention this as many dishes are topped with nuts. 

Budget:

Al Hallab $-$$
Dubai Mall, +971 4 330 8828

Cuisine: Lebanese

If you're visiting Dubai Mall and fancy some reasonably priced Middle Eastern food head to Al Hallab.  Hearty lebanese fare which really hits the spot.  If you are not overly hungry but want to sit outside and admire the glamorous views of the Musical Fountain and Burj Khalifa, then just order a mix of mezzes.  Highly recommended are their fattayers and baba ganoush and for mains their minced lamb kebabs.  

Grapeshisha Choice:

Khan Murjan $$-$$$
Khan Murjan Souk, Wafi Mall, +971 4 327 9795

Cuisine: Middle Eastern

For buzzing atmosphere, this place will really make you feel like you’re in a Middle Eastern city.  Primarily, the theme of Khan Murjan is Moroccan but this ground level souk style eatery serves up a range of Middle Eastern dishes as well as different specialities during the week.  The grilled meats are tender and vine leaves are the best we’ve tried.  This place may be a bit pricier then your average Lebanese eatery, but portions are good and atmosphere lovely.  Sit back and be charmed by the musicians and after your meal, work off the belly, by taking a stroll through the souk and their many hidden stalls of secret delights.