Dubai holidays

Local Emirati cuisine has not normally featured on the Dubai food scene, but this is changing, and it is now possible to find delicious examples of traditional dishes in many restaurants. Enjoyed with coffee, Luqaimat are sweet dumplings served with a sticky sauce made from dates that make a perfect mid-morning snack. Knafeh a sweet and savoury combination of freshly cooked pastry and cheese is traditionally enjoyed in the early evening. Many people may be put off by the thought of eating camel, but it is a lean, tender and tasty meat that should be tried and can be found in burgers, curries and stews. Another popular stew is Margoogat, made from lamb or chicken, this tomato based mixture is heavily spiced and is full of flavour.

The most traditional drink in Dubai is rich, theatrically poured Arabic coffee, often served alongside sweet dates. Due to restrictions on public alcohol consumption, many restaurants offer innovative "mocktail" concoctions using fruit juices and extracts to provide alcohol-free beverages with complex flavours and vibrant colours.

While drinking is permitted in licensed bars, restaurants, and hotels, it is strictly prohibited outside these venues. Drunkenness is also frowned upon, with potential punishments including large fines and even up to six months in jail. That said, Dubai's high-end hotels boast mind-blowing selections of alcoholic beverages, with every imaginable brand available. Top hotels also employ world-class mixologists who create amazing cocktails, while competing to offer the finest wines and champagnes on their menus.

Music and dance play a significant role in the lives of people in Dubai and reflect the broader customs and cultures of the UAE region. Common instruments used in Emirati music include drums, tambourines called Tiran or Duffuf, the long flute Nay, the fiddle-like Rababah, and the long-necked lute Tambura.

There are three dances popular in Dubai, the Ayyalah is performed by up to 200 male dancers facing each other in two rows, with arms interlocked and brandishing wooden swords, depicting the conquering of an opponent. Similar in its depiction of a battle, the Liwa actually originates from East Africa from East Africa, and involves increasingly complex moves as the accompanying drumbeat quickens. Finally, the Haban is danced by groups of men and women who interact with each other, while a third group of musicians moves between them.

Sport is ubiquitous in Dubai, found in stadiums, on screens, and taking place on the streets, beaches, and in parks—the entire city seems captivated by competition. Dubai boasts over ten major sports complexes that host local and international events across a diverse range of disciplines, including cricket, golf, hockey, rugby, tennis, swimming, and athletics.

The city is home to a racecourse, five golf courses, and will soon have its own ice hockey stadium, with plans to build several more arenas. Embracing the future, every December Dubai hosts the World Future Sports Games, featuring cutting-edge events like driverless car racing, aerial drone racing and robotic football.

Dubai is renowned as a premier shopping destination, with its impressive malls offering a dazzling mix of shopping and entertainment all under one air-conditioned roof.

The massive Mall of the Emirates features over 560 stores, including high-end brands, boutiques and handcrafted goods, as well as an indoor ski slope. The colossal Dubai Mall takes the phrase “everything you desire” to heart, with hundreds of shops complemented by the impressive Dubai Aquarium and restaurants overlooking the iconic Burj Khalifa. For the ultimate in luxury shopping, the WAFI Mall showcases the very best brands in an Egyptian-themed setting, complete with fine dining restaurants and a nightclub.

However, Dubai also preserves more traditional souk experiences, such as the charming Bur Dubai Souk and the maze-like Souk Madinat Jumeirah, where visitors can lose themselves browsing stalls of local handcrafted goods.