Abu Dhabi is the capital emirate of the United Arab Emirates, blending ultramodern architecture with rich Bedouin heritage. Home to iconic landmarks like the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque and the Louvre Abu Dhabi, it offers world-class culture, luxury hospitality, and thrilling desert adventures.
Top food tours
Guided experiences that show you Abu Dhabi through its food.
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Cooking classes
Take a piece of Abu Dhabi home with you.
Emirati Cooking Masterclass — Saadiyat Cultural District
A hands-on Emirati cooking class taught by a local Emirati chef or home cook, typically held in a traditional-style kitchen at a cultural centre or hotel kitchen on Saadiyat Island. Classes cover the essential Emirati techniques and recipes: preparing machboos rice, making regag bread on the tawa, blending baharat spice mix, and preparing luqaimat sweet dumplings. The cultural context and history of each dish is explained.
Gulf Spice Cooking Class — Persian and Emirati Fusion
A popular cooking class exploring the Persian influence on Gulf cuisine — the centuries-long trading relationship between the Iranian coast and Abu Dhabi created a distinctive culinary fusion. The class covers rice dishes perfected with saffron and barberries, slow-braised fish with Persian spices, and the use of dried limes (loomi) — characteristic of Gulf cooking but of Persian origin.
Al Ain Date Farm and Cooking Experience
A day excursion combining a visit to an Al Ain date palm plantation, a demonstration of traditional date harvesting and processing, a date product tasting (fresh dates, date syrup, date vinegar, date jam), and a cooking class showing how dates are incorporated into Emirati cuisine — from date-stuffed lamb to date-sweetened porridge and date-honey desserts.
Foodie tips
Get more out of every meal.
Book tours and cooking classes at least a few days in advance — small-group experiences sell out quickly.
Come hungry — most food tours include 5-8 tastings.
Bring cash for unscheduled stops the guide may recommend.