The UAE has long been celebrated for its rich culinary traditions, desert-grown ingredients, and warm hospitality—but in 2025, travelers are discovering a new side of Emirati cuisine: vibrant, flavorful, and deeply rooted vegetarian food trails.
Across Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah, and the historic town of Al Ain, chefs and cultural curators are bringing plant-based Emirati flavors into the spotlight, transforming heritage recipes into nutritious, sustainable, and modern culinary experiences.
UAE Trip Guide, the most trusted vegetarian & cultural food platform for Pakistani families with offices in Karachi, Lahore, Islamabad, Dubai, and Abu Dhabi, has curated verified vegetarian Emirati trails and home-cooking experiences for over 400,000 visitors since 2019.
Explore Vegetarian Food Trails Across the UAE: Plant-Based Emirati Flavors and taste balaleet without egg, harees with lentils, and luqaimat made the traditional way.
Whether you’re a dedicated vegan, a vegetarian explorer, or simply curious about authentic Gulf food, the UAE’s plant-based gastronomy offers an unexpected blend of tradition, creativity, and farm-fresh innovation.
Must-Try Traditional Emirati Vegetarian Dishes (2025)
| Dish | Description & Plant-Based Version | Where to Try (2025) | Price (AED) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Balaleet | Sweet vermicelli with cardamom & saffron – traditionally topped with omelette (now egg-free versions common) | Al Fanar Restaurant (all branches) | 28–38 |
| Harees (Vegetarian) | Creamy wheat & lentil porridge – meat replaced with red lentils & bezar spice | SMCCU Cultural Meals, Al Hadheerah | 35–55 |
| Thareed | Regag bread soaked in rich vegetable & tomato stew | Local Majlis Café (Sharjah), Logma | 30–45 |
| Saloona Khudar | Mixed vegetable stew with bezar & loomi | Al Machboos Restaurant (Al Ain) | 32–48 |
| Madrouba (Veg) | Mashed rice with vegetables & mild spices | Emirati home-cooking experiences | 40–60 |
| Luqaimat | Crispy dough balls in date syrup – naturally vegan | Ramadan tents, Global Village | 20–35 |
| Khameer Stuffed | Soft bread stuffed with date paste or cheese (vegan cheese available) | Al Ain Date Market stalls | 15–25 |
| Regag with Cheese | Paper-thin bread with local cream cheese (plant-based options) | Sharjah heritage cafés | 18–30 |
| Asida | Date-sweetened semolina pudding – fully plant-based | Bedouin camps, Al Ain farms | 25–40 |
Best Vegetarian Food Trails Across the Emirates (2025)
Dubai Vegetarian Trail
- Al Fanar Restaurant – Multiple branches, dedicated vegetarian Emirati menu
- Logma – Emirati café with vegan balaleet & luqaimat
- SMCCU Cultural Breakfast – Vegetarian Emirati breakfast with explanation
- Al Hadheerah Desert Restaurant – Full vegetarian majlis table
- Local House – Old Dubai, famous for camel-milk-free vegetarian dishes
Abu Dhabi Vegetarian Trail
- Mezlai Restaurant (Emirates Palace) – Luxury vegetarian Emirati tasting menu
- Al Arish Restaurant (Yas Island) – Plant-based saloona & thareed
- Louvre Abu Dhabi Café – Vegetarian high tea with Emirati sweets
Sharjah & Al Ain Vegetarian Trail
- Al Machboos Restaurant (Al Ain) – Authentic vegetarian harees & madrouba
- Sharjah heritage cafés – Regag with local plant-based cheese
- Al Ain Date Market – Fresh khameer, asida, and date-based desserts
Top 10 Vegetarian-Friendly Emirati Restaurants (2025)
- Al Fanar Restaurant & Café – All branches
- Logma – Boxpark & Dubai Mall
- Mezlai – Emirates Palace, Abu Dhabi
- SMCCU Cultural Meals – Jumeirah Mosque, Dubai
- Al Hadheerah – Bab Al Shams Desert Resort
- Local House – Al Fahidi Historic District
- Al Machboos – Al Ain
- Al Fai Restaurant – Sharjah
- Arabian Tea House – Multiple locations
- Seven Sands – The Beach, JBR (new 2025 opening)
Hidden Vegetarian Gems Loved by Pakistani Travelers
- Al Ain farm breakfast – Fresh regag, cheese, dates, and laban (plant-based laban available)
- Sharjah Corniche night stalls – Vegan luqaimat & khameer during winter
- Ramadan vegetarian iftar – Many mosques serve full vegetarian tables
- Global Village Pakistan Pavilion – Now offers vegetarian balaleet & harees
Practical Tips for Vegetarian Pakistani Travelers
- Ask for “nabati” (vegetarian) or “bedoon lahm” (without meat)
- Most Emirati restaurants now label vegetarian items clearly
- Ramadan 2025 is perfect — 70 % of iftar buffets are naturally vegetarian
- Download “HappyCow” + UAE Trip Guide vegetarian map
- Exchange PKR in Deira — best rates before food tours
5-Day Vegetarian Emirati Food Itinerary
| Day | City | Breakfast | Lunch | Dinner |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Dubai | Vegetarian balaleet at Logma | Thareed at Local House | Al Hadheerah desert vegetarian majlis |
| 2 | Abu Dhabi | Regag + cheese at Mezlai | Vegetarian saloona at Al Arish | Emirates Palace vegetarian high tea |
| 3 | Sharjah | Khameer at heritage café | Vegetarian harees (home-cooked) | Luqaimat night market |
| 4 | Al Ain | Farm-fresh dates & asida | Madrouba at Al Machboos | Date-sweetened desserts |
| 5 | Dubai | SMCCU cultural veg breakfast | Shopping for date syrup & bezar | Final luqaimat at Global Village |
The UAE’s vegetarian food scene in 2025 is no longer an afterthought — it is a celebration of the country’s original plant-based roots.
From lentil harees to date-sweetened luqaimat, every bite tells a story of desert ingenuity.
Let Vegetarian Food Trails Across the UAE: Plant-Based Emirati Flavors be your complete vegetarian companion — updated daily with new openings, Ramadan menus, and Pakistani group bookings.
Traveling vegetarian from Pakistan?
Download the free 2025 Vegetarian Emirati Food Map in Urdu & English (with 100+ verified restaurants and home-cooking contacts) at UAE Trip Guide today.