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Authentic Emirati Experiences in Abu Dhabi
Citizens of the UAE are known as 'Emiratis' and their heritage and traditions go back centuries, to when the Bedouins roamed the vast deserts and open waters that make up present-day Abu Dhabi. Crafts, recipes and traditions have been passed down from generation to generation and are a significant part of daily life in the emirate to this day.
Experiencing and learning about Emirati culture is a highlight of any traveller's trip to Abu Dhabi. No matter how you’d like to get an authentic Emirati experience, you'll find something perfect for you. You can experience everything from enjoying a traditional meal prepared lovingly by Emiratis themselves or visiting a local ranch in the desert. Your trusted Emirati tour guides will accompany you every step of the way – and true to the spirit of Emirati hospitality, everyone is welcome, whether you're flying solo or bringing the whole family along.
Below, explore fourteen amazing experiences that will elevate your trip to Abu Dhabi and bring you closer to the people and traditions of the UAE.
Feed your curiosity
Emirati Homemade Breakfast Experience
Make your morning typically Emirati and taste a traditional breakfast inside Abdulrahman AlZaabi's household. This intimate experience is your opportunity to try Emirati food and interact with Emiratis on a more personal level. Enjoy three courses of delicious breakfast staples including fluffy chebab pancakes, crunchy ragag bread and a sweet serving of karak tea. Abdulrahman will also teach you about Emirati customs, clothing and perfumery.
Enjoy a Traditional Meal with an Emirati
Emirati food is infused with spices and ingredients from throughout the Middle East and Asia, a reflection of the UAE’s trading heritage. Join Naser Sabaan at his residence to sit, eat and learn more about the everyday life of Emiratis.
Embark on a culinary journey as you try a variety of traditional dishes. Whilst your food is prepared, learn from Naser about how Emirati food is made and the etiquette of an Emirati majlis. This is also a unique opportunity to ask any questions you might have about Emirati culture and daily life in the UAE. Be sure to finish off your experience by tasting the indulgent Emirati sweets that are a staple in every Emirati home.
Ladies Afternoon Tea Experience
Calling all culturally curious ladies! This Ladies Afternoon Tea Experience allows you to engage with Emirati women, learning about life in the UAE and debunking stereotypes along the way.
Savour an Emirati-style afternoon tea, or Fuala, by relishing local dishes like Aseed (porridge), Balalit (pancakes), Luqaimat (dumplings with date syrup), and step into the shoes of an Emirati woman by trying on traditional clothing. Hosted at a local home, where you'll feel the warmth of genuine hospitality, immerse yourself in Emirati culture and norms and forge meaningful connections with your welcoming hosts.
Please note: This experience is exclusively for females, unless booked as a private group.
“For the Foodies”: An Introduction to Emirati Cuisine
One of the best ways to acquaint yourself with a country's culture is through its cuisine, and Emirati food is a hidden gem waiting to be explored. Indulge your taste buds and join us at a traditional restaurant for a full meal of authentic Emirati cuisine.
Your Emirati host will walk you through the different dishes, helping you choose options that match your preferences and suggesting personal favourites. As you dine, learn about Emirati hospitality customs and the cultural significance behind them, and linger for a free-ranging discussion about the UAE's culture, history, and landmarks over a cup of tea or coffee.
Emirati Breakfast
Start your day with a delicious homemade Emirati breakfast. Enjoy savoury egg shakshuka, sweet balaleet, and fluffy chebab, accompanied by a refreshing glass of lemon with mint. As guests finish their breakfast with luqaimat and chai karak, they will be presented with an informative exhibition about Emirati culture and traditions. You can dress in local attire and take pictures. If you are interested in history, spices, perfumes, oils, jewellery, weddings, or henna gatherings, this experience is for you!
Experience duration: 2 hrs (10AM-12PM)
Cost per person: 250 AED per adult, 100 AED for children 7 to 12 years old, and free for children under 6.
Experience language: English, Spanish and Catalan
Experience Capacity: Up to 14 people
Emirati Tea Time
Welcomed with dates and gahwa, this experience offers a highly informative session and exhibition about Emirati culture and traditions. Learn more about Emirati customs while sipping on authentic Arabic coffee and discover local scents, jewellery as well as other celebratory traditions including weddings, henna gatherings and more.
Experience duration: 2 hrs (5PM-7PM)
Cost per person: 250 AED per adult, 100 AED for children 7 to 12 years old, and free for children under 6.
Experience language: English, Spanish and Catalan
Experience Capacity: Up to 14 people
Emirati Lunch or Dinner
As part of this exclusive experience, guests will explore an engaging exhibition on Emirati culture and traditions, learning about the Arabic coffee ceremony, perfumes and oils, jewellery, weddings, henna gatherings, Ramadan, and more. The experience includes an Emirati lunch or dinner featuring popular local dishes like machboos and saloona, cooked with flavourful spices and basmati rice, alongside traditional sweets and drinks. This 3-hour meal provides ample time for conversation and enjoyment.
Experience duration: 3 hrs (Lunch 12PM-3PM) (Dinner 7PM-10PM)
Cost per person: 385 AED per adult, 150 AED for children 7 to 12 years old, free for children under 6
Experience language: English, Spanish and Catalan
Experience Capacity: Up to 14 people
VIP exclusive traditional dinner and majlis hospitality experience
Enjoy a VIP exclusive traditional dinner and majlis hospitality experience with an Emirati family. Guests will be welcomed with dates and gahwa, then savour a variety of uniquely seasoned Emirati dishes, including a whole lamb cooked with different kinds of rice. The evening includes a curated exhibition of traditional artifacts, high-end jewellery, exclusive regional perfumes and oils, and traditional clothes.
Guests can try on these items with the help of the Emirati family, capturing the essence of the majlis experience with photographs. Learn about Bedouin life, local weddings and henna gatherings, Ramadan, music, and dances. The evening concludes with Emirati sweets, tea, and the fragrant smoke of burning incense and oud.
Experience duration: 3 hrs
Cost: 3,000 AED up to 6 people, 485 AED for 7 people and above
Experience language: English, Spanish and Catalan
Experience Capacity: Up to 12 people
Henna art, tea and sweets
Ladies, experience the art of body henna design while enjoying traditional tea and Emirati sweets. You'll be seated in an Emirati family kheima (tent), decorated for the occasion, as a professional artist applies henna to your hands or feet. Learn about the traditional festivities, such as weddings and Eid, where Emirati women wear henna. Chai and luqaimat will be served, and the evening will conclude with burning bokhoor and perfumes.
Experience duration: 2 - 3 hours
Cost per person: 300 AED
Experience language: English, Spanish and Catalan Experience Capacity: minimum of 2 and maximum of 6 ladies
Explore Abu Dhabi
Urban Treasures Tour
Across Abu Dhabi there are recognised Urban Treasures, longstanding businesses and establishments that have contributed to the city's culture and economy for decades. On this specially designed tour, join Abdulrahman AlZaabi on an exploration of these renowned locations that form the soul of Abu Dhabi, where you can admire breathtaking architecture and refuel at quaint restaurants and souqs. Enjoy the views as Abdulrahman drives you from point to point through Abu Dhabi's vibrant neighbourhoods and bustling markets, including Madinat Zayed, Al Maryah Island and the iconic Al Hosn.
Abu Dhabi Night Tour
Get a whole new perspective of Abu Dhabi on this exclusive night tour. Set off from Corniche Beach at the most beautiful time of day, sunset. Stroll with your Emirati guide, Abdulrahman AlZaabi, past domed palaces which glow during the peaceful golden hour. Don't forget to look up, where you'll see soaring towers glistening amid the city lights. Enjoy the stunning views while learning about the city’s iconic skyline and rich history.
Make a stop at the Founders Memorial, where you’ll discover the enduring legacy of the founder father of the United Arab Emirates, Sheikh Zayed, and finish the tour in style with a spectacular light show at Qasr Al Watan, the UAE’s presidential palace.
Visit a local ranch with an Emirati
On a traditional Emirati ranch, you'll find camels, horses, sheep, falcons and so much more. Join Naser Sabaan on this unique outdoor experience to get up close and personal with a range of domesticated animals commonly found in the UAE and learn how an Emirati farm operates.
As well as experiencing all things farming, you can watch performances of traditional Emirati songs and dances and try on traditional Emirati dress, which will result in truly memorable photos.
Discover a Local Date and Fish Market with an Emirati
Dates are a popular snack in Emirati culture, and they are also significant to the Islamic faith. Tour a date market with your guide, Ebrahim AlHarbi, to witness the hustle and bustle of market life and learn about the wide variety of dates grown across the region.
Next, join Ebrahim on an excursion to the Abu Dhabi Fish Market, one of the largest in the UAE. This buzzing market is a hive of activity, with shoppers searching for the perfect catch. Ebrahim will tell you all about the UAE and Abu Dhabi's connection with the ocean, which runs deep in its heritage. Of course, no trip to the market would be complete without sampling some treats yourself!
Get creative
Unwind in Traditional Play at Studio Clay
Unleash your inner artist and immerse yourself in a tradition that dates back thousands of years, with clay art workshops at Studio Clay. Learn how this art form was once an integral part of the day-to-day lives of Emiratis. In creating functional pottery objects like bowls, jars and cups, clay work helped foster the nomadic lifestyle of the Bedouins. Choose from a range of classes and workshops, and experience local culture first-hand in a unique form.
Sunset Painting with an Emirati
This sunset painting experience at Al Kasir, close to Abu Dhabi’s Marina Mall and Corniche, offers visitors a unique and unforgettable activity – plus a souvenir to take home! Against the backdrop of the area’s iconic, 122-metre majestic flagpole, and with sweeping sea views on all sides, this creative experience promises to be truly special.
After channelling their inner artist, guests will have the opportunity to explore the Emirates Heritage Club, a mini village showcasing traditional Emirati heritage and providing a glimpse of Abu Dhabi's past, featuring shops and a small museum.
Be immersed in tradition
Emirati Majlis Experience
Integral to Emirati culture, Majlis are communal spaces where family members, friends, and community members gather to sit and discuss local events and issues, exchange news, receive guests, socialise and be entertained.
In this experience, you will be welcomed into an authentic and meticulously designed majlis to try on local attire and enjoy traditional Emirati food. Female guests can also choose to have beautiful Henna art designs applied to their hands and arms. Take part in the of making of Gahwa (Arabic coffee) and truly immerse yourself in UAE culture and traditions.
Al Bateen Heritage Tour with an Emirati
Follow your Emirati tour guide on a fascinating and informative journey through Al Bateen Heritage area, unveiling the rich history of Abu Dhabi. Explore the traditional-style village, wander through the museum, and peruse a photo gallery dedicated to the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, founding father of the UAE.
During the tour, you'll have the opportunity to try karak, a traditional drink cherished by locals, and try on traditional clothing. Suitable for all ages, this tour provides a wonderful introduction to Emirati culture.
Traditional Clothing Photoshoot Experience (Indoor or Outdoor)
Are you fascinated by different cultures and traditions? Have you noticed the many variations in "Arab clothes" and wondered about their significance? Do you want to take home unique stunning pictures of yourself during your trip? Look no further than this tailor-made experience!
Embrace the beauty of traditional Emirati clothes and capture the moment in style. Learn about the intricacies of local dress and discover how to distinguish between Emirati and other Arab garments based on simple elements. Feel free to ask questions and gain deeper insight into the UAE's culture and customs.
Learn the Emirati Dialect in the Old Souq
This experience offers visitors a fun and interactive way to immerse themselves in the local culture and language, in the heart of a traditional souq brimming with shops and cafes.
Delve into the unique features of the Emirati accent and learn common phrases and expressions used in everyday life. Interacting with locals along the way, practice your newfound language skills in a friendly and supportive environment. Suitable for all ages and backgrounds, this experience provides a wonderful opportunity to connect with the local community and delve into the rich history and culture of Abu Dhabi.
Feel like a Local while Savouring Delicious Foods
Begin your day with a traditional Emirati breakfast featuring dishes like egg shakshuka, sweet balaleet, and fluffy chebab. For a lighter option, join the Emirati tea time session. Or, if you have a bigger appetite, indulge in a traditional Emirati dinner that will leave you craving more. Choose from a regular dinner experience or upgrade to a VIP one.
The highlight of these dining experiences is enjoying them during a curated exhibition that explores what it means to be Emirati. The exhibition features traditional artifacts, high-end jewellery, exclusive regional perfumes and oils, and henna art. Discover the essence of Emirati culture and immerse yourself in every detail.
Discover the ezba
Experience a cultural journey and discover the essence of Emirati tradition with a visit to the Ezba. This beloved sanctuary is where Abdulazeez and his family escape the city's hustle to embrace the peace of nature and reconnect with their roots. Set within picturesque landscapes, generations gather at the ezba to share their history, passing down ancient stories and customs to the next generation.
