Emirati cuisine features traditional dishes that reflect the UAE’s cultural diversity and desert environment. Popular dishes include “machboos,” a flavorful rice dish with meat (usually chicken or lamb), saffron, and spices, and “al harees,” a slow-cooked dish of wheat and meat. “Shawarma,” a popular street food, and “luqaimat,” sweet dumplings drizzled with date syrup, are enjoyed as well. Dates and Arabic coffee are often served as a traditional hospitality gesture in Emirati culture.