8 Best Dubai Food Tours (2025 Reviews)

Dubai food tour experiences are the perfect way to unveil the city’s rich culinary tapestry beyond its glittering skyscrapers and luxurious malls.

I have wandered for hours through the aromatic spice souks and savored authentic Emirati cuisine in hidden corners of the old town. So I can tell you, these guided tastings offer the most authentic glimpse into Dubai’s soul.

Forget the hotel buffet. This is how you taste the city.

The blend of Middle Eastern, Indian, and Persian influences creates a sensory adventure that you simply can’t replicate by dining at rooftop lounges or international chains. And honestly, after a day of dune bashing on one of the Dubai desert safari tours, it’s grounding to slow down with something warm, spiced, and lovingly made.

Some of my favorite moments came after walking tours through Al Fahidi or Deira — sipping saffron-infused tea and chatting with chefs about dishes passed down through generations. It’s a different side of the city — more intimate, more human. Just like the views from the Burj Khalifa observation deck show you the skyline from above, food tours let you see the city from within.

Wondering which food tour will give you the most memorable experience? I’ve sampled my way through Dubai’s culinary landscape to bring you the most mouthwatering options.

Below are my 3 personal favorites and full reviews of all 8.

Dubai Food Tour

Compare Top Tours: Dubai Aladdin Tour: Souks, Creek, Old Dubai and Tastings, Dubai: Old Town, Souks, Street Food, Guided Tour & Abra Ride, and Old Dubai tour: Local Market, Tasting, Dubai creek with Abra ride

Dubai Aladdin Tour: Souks, Creek, Old Dubai and Tastings	Dubai: Old Town, Souks, Street Food, Guided Tour & Abra Ride	Old Dubai tour: Local Market, Tasting, Dubai creek with Abra ride
Duration: 4 hours	Duration: 3-4 hours	Duration: 3.5 hours
Pickup: Meeting point in Al Fahidi	Pickup: Central meeting point	Pickup: Al Seef heritage area
Cancellation: Free up to 24 hours	Cancellation: Free up to 24 hours	Cancellation: Free up to 24 hours
Includes: Food samples, Abra ride, Local guide	Includes: Street food, Abra ride, Souk visit	Includes: Market tastings, Abra ride, Tea & coffee
Intimate small group, Best local food spots, Storytelling guide	Authentic street food, Cultural insights, Traditional markets	Local hidden gems, Family recipes, Off-the-beaten-path
👉 Reserve Your Spot!	👉 Reserve Your Spot!	👉 Reserve Your Spot!

Food Tour Dubai

• Tour 1: Dubai Aladdin Tour: Souks, Creek, Old Dubai and Tastings
• Tour 2: Dubai: Old Town, Souks, Street Food, Guided Tour & Abra Ride
• Tour 3: Old Dubai tour: Local Market, Tasting, Dubai creek with Abra ride
• Tour 4: Dubai: Old Town, Souks, Street Food, Guided Tour & Abra Ride
• Tour 5: Dubai: Old Town, Creek, Museums, Souks, & Street Food Tour
• Tour 6: Dubai: Dubai.Discover Old town,Markets,street food,Abra &Museums
• Tour 7: Dubai: Old Town, Street Food, Creek, Souks, & Emirati House
• Tour 8: Dubai: Al Khayma Camp Experience with BBQ Dinner

Street Food in Dubai (2025 Reviews)

Tour 1: Dubai Aladdin Tour: Souks, Creek, Old Dubai and Tastings

✅ Meeting Point: Al Fahidi Historical Neighborhood, Dubai
✅ Departure Time: Morning and afternoon departures available
✅ Duration: 4 hours
✅ Guide: English-speaking local guide
✅ Free Cancellation: Yes, up to 24 hours before experience
✅ Includes: Food tastings, traditional tea, abra boat ride, souk visits

I’ll admit, I was skeptical about food tours after a somewhat mediocre experience in Bangkok last year. But this Dubai excursion? An absolute revelation that changed my mind entirely.

Our guide, Mahmouda, born and raised in Dubai, greeted us with warm smiles and Arabian hospitality that instantly set the tone for the day. Instead of rushing us through tourist traps, he led our intimate group of six through narrow alleyways I would’ve completely missed on my own.

The sensory journey began at a traditional bakery where we watched flatbread being slapped against the sides of a tandoor oven. The warm, slightly charred aroma transported me instantly to childhood memories of my grandmother’s kitchen, that universal language of comfort food transcending all cultural boundaries.

We booked the Dubai Aladdin Tour: Souks, Creek, Old Dubai, and Tastings specifically for its promise of authentic experiences, and it delivered tenfold. The abra ride across Dubai Creek offered a momentary respite from the heat, with views that compared old wooden boats against a backdrop of gleaming skyscrapers.

What truly elevated this tour was the balance of history with culinary discovery. Between bites of perfumed biryani and cardamom-infused coffee, Mahmoud shared stories of Dubai’s pearl-diving past and rapid transformation, a context that made each morsel more meaningful.

For those wondering about dietary restrictions, fear not. They accommodated my friend’s gluten sensitivity without making her feel like an inconvenience, a thoughtful touch I deeply appreciated.

Tour 2: Dubai: Old Town, Souks, Street Food, Guided Tour & Abra Ride

✅ Meeting Point: Al Fahidi Metro Station, Exit 2
✅ Departure Time: Multiple daily departures, morning and afternoon
✅ Duration: 3-4 hours
✅ Guide: Multilingual local expert
✅ Free Cancellation: Yes, up to 24 hours in advance
✅ Includes: Street food tastings, abra crossing, souk visits, and bottled water

There’s something wonderfully disorienting about stepping into Old Dubai, the scents, sounds, and textures create this beautiful sensory overload that reminds you you’re deliciously far from home. After a previous trip to Dubai where I’d only experienced its glossier side, I was determined to peel back the layers.

Our guide Fatima, whose knowledge was matched only by her infectious laugh, led us through alleyways where the air was thick with cardamom, saffron, and stories. Unlike those sterile, perfunctory guides who recite facts like they’re reading from a teleprompter (or in some cases their phone), Fatima shared her personal connection to each spot, including where her grandmother once bought spices decades ago.

The Dubai: Old Town, Souks, Street Food, Guided Tour & Abra Ride struck that perfect balance between structure and spontaneity. When we expressed interest in a particular spice stall, Fatima immediately pivoted the itinerary to allow us extra time there, the hallmark of genuinely thoughtful guiding.

The abra ride across Dubai Creek provided that cinematic moment where past and present converge, traditional wooden boats gliding across waters with the ultramodern skyline as backdrop. I found myself unconsciously reaching for my camera before deciding to just be present in the moment instead.

What surprised me most? The street food. The melt-in-your-mouth date cookies from a tiny bakery hidden down a nondescript alley would have been impossible to discover independently. My friend Mark, typically suspicious of street food, found himself going back for seconds and thirds of the crispy falafel we sampled.

Come hungry, wear comfortable shoes, and bring your curiosity. This glimpse into authentic Dubai was worth every dirham.

Tour 3: Old Dubai tour: Local Market, Tasting, Dubai creek with Abra ride

✅ Meeting Point: Al Seef Heritage Area
✅ Departure Time: Morning tours at 9:30 AM and afternoon at 4:00 PM
✅ Duration: 3.5 hours
✅ Guide: English-speaking local Emirati guide
✅ Free Cancellation: Yes, up to 24 hours prior
✅ Includes: Food tastings, traditional tea/coffee, abra ride, local market visit

A special thing happens in certain travel moments when the guidebook version of a place dissolves, and something authentic emerges in its place. This is precisely what occurred as I wandered through this tour’s fragrant labyrinth of Old Dubai’s markets.

Our guide Hassan, whose eyes crinkled when he laughed, didn’t just introduce us to the city; he invited us into his living room. “My grandfather traded here,” he mentioned casually, gesturing toward a spice stall erupting with pyramids of saffron and sumac. That single sentence transformed the market from a picturesque backdrop to a living heritage.

The morning light filtered through latticed windows, dancing across the shoulders of merchants who’ve inherited their trade through generations. I found myself lingering at a stall where an elderly man was grinding cardamom pods, the gentle rhythm of his movements almost meditative. “May I?” I asked, gesturing to his mortar and pestle. His smile and nod transcended our language barrier.

We booked the Old Dubai tour: Local Market, Tasting, Dubai Creek with Abra ride on a friend’s recommendation, and I’m forever indebted to her for it. The abra ride, those weathered wooden boats that have traversed the creek for generations, offered a moment of stillness amidst Dubai’s perpetual motion. I trailed my fingers through the water, creating ripples that disappeared into the wake, much like the old Dubai vanishing beneath the weight of progress.

What separates this experience from others is its thoughtful planning. Hassan introduced us to foods I wouldn’t have been brave enough to try on my own. The camel milk ice cream (don’t wrinkle your nose; it’s delicately sweet with hints of vanilla) became an unexpected highlight, as did the cardamom-infused coffee served in tiny handleless cups.

For those concerned about heat, the tour thoughtfully includes indoor stops and provides water, though morning departures are ideal during summer months.

A small notebook for jotting down food names proved invaluable; I’ve since recreated several dishes in my kitchen, each bite a sensory postcard from this beautiful day.

Tour 4: Dubai: Old Town, Souks, Street Food, Guided Tour & Abra Ride

✅ Meeting Point: Al Ghubaiba Metro Station, Exit 1
✅ Departure Time: 10:00 AM and 4:00 PM options
✅ Duration: 4 hours
✅ Guide: English and Arabic-speaking local expert
✅ Free Cancellation: Yes, up to 24 hours in advance
✅ Includes: Multiple food tastings, traditional tea, abra ride, and bottled water

Have you ever had one of those travel experiences that fundamentally shifts your understanding of a place? The kind that makes you realize how little you knew before, despite having read all the guidebooks?

After three days of Dubai’s air-conditioned malls and infinity pools, I found myself craving something authentic. The contrast couldn’t have been more pronounced when I stepped into the sun-drenched alleys of Old Dubai with our guide Leila, a woman whose family history was as interwoven with these streets as the pattern on her intricately embroidered shawl.

“My grandmother taught me to choose saffron by its scent, not its color,” she confided as we navigated the Spice Souk, passing merchants who called out greetings while flicking cardamom pods into the air with practiced nonchalance. I ran my fingers through bowls of dried rose petals, leaving traces of their perfume on my skin for hours afterward.

The Dubai: Old Town, Souks, Street Food, Guided Tour & Abra Ride executes a delicate balancing act, delivering intimate encounters with local culture while never feeling intrusive or voyeuristic. The group size (just six of us) allowed for conversations rather than lectures, questions rather than passive observation.

The abra crossing provided that quintessential Dubai juxtaposition traditional wooden boats against ultramodern architecture but it was the unexpected moments that lingered: the elderly gentleman who insisted I try his homemade date syrup; the way Leila negotiated in rapid-fire Arabic for us to taste freshly made camel milk ice cream; the call to prayer echoing across the creek as sunset painted everything in honey-gold light.

I’ve taken food tours across five continents, and this ranks among my most treasured, not just for what I tasted (though the cardamom-infused coffee ritual alone was worth the price), but for glimpsing Dubai’s soul beneath its glossy exterior.

Tour 5: Dubai: Old Town, Creek, Museums, Souks, & Street Food Tour

✅ Meeting Point: Al Fahidi Historical District
✅ Departure Time: 9:00 AM and 3:30 PM daily
✅ Duration: 4.5 hours
✅ Guide: English, French, and Arabic speaking options
✅ Free Cancellation: Yes, up to 24 hours before start
✅ Includes: Museum entrance fees, food tastings, traditional coffee, abra ride

A particular type of magic unfolds when you wander through a city’s oldest quarters at dusk—that liminal space where shadows lengthen and stories seem to rise from the very stones beneath your feet. I was caught in such a spell during this immersive journey through Dubai’s historic heart.

Our guide Noor, whose name appropriately means “light” in Arabic, illuminated the corners of Dubai that I would have walked past without glancing. “Notice how the wind towers are positioned,” she suggested, pointing toward the clever architectural features of Al Fahidi’s restored buildings. “Our ancestors engineered comfort centuries before air conditioning.” I ran my fingers along sun-warmed walls, imagining the generations who had done the same.

What distinguishes this tour is its thoughtful museum inclusion, often an afterthought on food-focused excursions. The small pearl diving museum, barely the size of my bedroom back home, contained treasures that contextualised everything we would taste later. “Before oil, there were pearls,” Noor explained, her voice softening with reverence for the divers who risked everything on a single breath.

We sampled cardamom-scented coffee poured from a brass dallah with theatrical flair, the server expertly created a high arc that never spilled a drop. I’ve taken the Dubai: Old Town, Creek, Museums, Souks, & Street Food Tour twice now, once alone and once with my reluctant brother (who, I’m pleased to report, has not stopped talking about that coffee ritual since).

The abra crossing offered that quintessential moment where time seems to fold in on itself, wooden boats that could belong to any century gliding past glass towers that could only exist in ours. A breeze carried the scent of salt water and diesel, that peculiar perfume of harbors worldwide.

Among the many tastes that linger in memory, it was the simple date cookies from a family-run bakery—the recipe guarded through generations—that I find myself craving months later. “My mother would disown me if I shared her secret,” laughed the baker, pressing an extra cookie into my palm.

These small, human connections transform a tour from transactional to transformative.

Did I mention you should wear comfortable shoes? Trust me on this one.

Tour 6: Dubai: Dubai.Discover Old town,Markets,street food,Abra &Museums

✅ Meeting Points: Wokyo Noodle Bar or Al Seef next to Al Fahidi Marine Transportation Station.
✅ Departure Time: 9:30 AM and 5:00 PM options
✅ Duration: 2.5 hours
✅ Guide: English-speaking local food expert
✅ Free Cancellation: Yes, up to 24 hours in advance
✅ Includes: 5-6 food tastings, traditional drinks, abra ride, local market experience

I’ve always believed that the quickest way to understand a city is through its food markets, those gloriously chaotic spaces where the pulse of local life beats strongest. After a few days of travel and team meetings in Dubai’s gleaming financial district, I craved something real that would ground me in the place beneath the skyscrapers.

The morning air still held a whisper of coolness when I met Amira, our guide, whose henna-adorned hands gestured expressively as she welcomed our small group. “Today,” she promised with a conspiratorial smile, “you’ll taste the Dubai that tourists rarely find.” Having heard similar promises on food tours across four continents, I raised a skeptical eyebrow—but kept an open mind and an empty stomach.

First stop: a tiny bakery tucked behind an unremarkable storefront. The baker, a man whose lined face suggested decades of predawn rises, pulled a tray of manakish from a stone oven. The za’atar-topped flatbread, still crackling with heat, released a cloud of thyme and sumac as I tore into it. “This,” I thought, licking olive oil from my fingers with absolutely zero regard for propriety, “is why I travel.”

The Dubai: Dubai: Dubai.Discover Old town,Markets,street food,Abra &Museums weaves through narrow alleyways where sunlight filters down in geometric patterns. Unlike those awkward tours where you hover uncertainly at each stop, this one creates natural moments of connection, like when we gathered around a copper pot of simmering cardamom coffee, passing tiny cups between new friends.

The abra ride offered a moment of contemplation, the wooden boat gently rocking as we crossed Dubai Creek. I trailed my fingers through the water, watching the ripples disappear behind us. Isn’t it strange how such ancient modes of transport can feel so deeply satisfying in our hyperconnected world?

What lingers most vividly aren’t just the flavors, though the saffron-infused dessert we sampled near the Gold Souk still haunts my dreams, but the intimacy of the experience.

When an elderly spice merchant insisted on teaching me how to properly taste cardamom (“Crush it slightly between your teeth, then breathe in slowly through your nose”), I felt that rare thing: a genuine human connection that transcends the transactional nature of tourism.

If you, like me, have ever felt that peculiar loneliness of being surrounded by people yet experiencing nothing authentic, this tour is your antidote.

Tour 7: Dubai: Old Town, Street Food, Creek, Souks, & Emirati House

✅ Meeting Point: Al Fahidi Historical Neighborhood entrance
✅ Departure Time: 9:30 AM and 4:00 PM departures
✅ Duration: 4 hours
✅ Guide: English-speaking Emirati local
✅ Free Cancellation: Yes, up to 24 hours before the tour
✅ Includes: Emirati house visit, street food tastings, traditional coffee ceremony, abra ride

After a previous visit to Dubai, where I’d dutifully checked off the requisite tourist boxes, obligatory selfie at Burj Khalifa, check; mall shopping spree, check; desert safari, check, I found myself craving something that would help me understand the soul beneath the city’s glittering veneer.

There’s a particular alchemy that happens when you step away from the air-conditioned bubble of luxury hotels and into a neighborhood where real life unfolds. The morning call to prayer was still echoing through the narrow sikkas (alleyways) when I met Mariam, our guide, whose smile conveyed more warmth than the sun already climbing in the sky.

“My grandmother lived in a house just like this,” she confided as we entered a restored traditional Emirati home, its central courtyard creating a natural cooling effect that predated modern air conditioning by centuries. I ran my fingertips along the coral stone walls, marveling at how the same material that once housed sea creatures now sheltered humans from the desert heat.

What sets the Dubai: Old Town, Street Food, Creek, Souks, & Emirati House apart is this rare glimpse into domestic life, something absent from most food tours that focus exclusively on public spaces. The coffee ceremony, performed with graceful precision in the majlis (sitting room), offered a window into the rituals that have bound communities together for generations.

The abra crossing felt cinematic wooden boats slicing through waters that reflect both minarets and skyscrapers but it was the more intimate moments that remain etched in my memory: the shopkeeper who insisted I try a date stuffed with candied orange peel “because you have kind eyes”; the spontaneous invitation to join an elderly woman hand-rolling tiny meat dumplings; the cardamom-infused chai served in glasses so hot I had to dance them between my fingertips.

Have you ever had that disorienting moment while traveling when you suddenly realize you’ve been unconsciously holding your breath, as if afraid to fully inhabit a foreign place? This tour was the exhale I needed permission to slow down, to absorb, to connect with a Dubai that exists beyond the superlatives that typically define it.

I’ve kept the spice blend Mariam helped me select at the souk. Sometimes I open the jar just to close my eyes and be momentarily transported back.

Tour 8: Dubai: Al Khayma Camp Experience with BBQ Dinner

✅ Meeting Point: Hotel pickup available across Dubai
✅ Departure Time: Late afternoon (varies seasonally)
✅ Duration: 5-6 hours
✅ Guide: English-speaking desert guides
✅ Free Cancellation: Yes, up to 24 hours in advance
✅ Includes: BBQ dinner, camel ride, traditional entertainment, hotel transfers

I’ve always had a complicated relationship with touristy desert experiences, equal parts drawn to their cultural promise and wary of their potential for kitsch. Having endured my share of overcrowded, buffet-quality “authentic” evenings from Morocco to Jordan, I approached this desert camp with measured expectations.

The transition from Dubai’s air-conditioned modernity to the amber embrace of the desert happens almost imperceptibly. One moment you’re passing the last outposts of civilization, the next you’re surrounded by undulating dunes that shift and breathe like a living entity.

My cynicism began to dissolve as our 4×4 crested a particularly magnificent ridge, revealing a sunset that painted the sand in hues I didn’t know existed in nature, somewhere between persimmon and rose gold.

“The desert has a way of recalibrating your sense of time,” murmured our guide, Ali, noticing my expression. I nodded, suddenly aware that I’d been holding my breath. Isn’t it curious how certain landscapes can extract us from our digital rhythms and return us to something more primordial?

The Dubai: Al Khayma Camp Experience with BBQ Dinner distinguishes itself through thoughtful separation from other camps—no competing music from neighboring sites, no queues of tourists waiting for the same camel photo op. Instead, there’s space to wander, to feel the sand between your toes, to watch stars emerge with astonishing clarity.

Oh, the food transcended my admittedly low expectations for mass-catered experiences. Tender lamb infused with cardamom and cloves, smoky eggplant that melted against freshly baked bread, dates that tasted of honey and sunshine. I found myself going back for second helpings while making mental notes for my own kitchen experiments back home.

Full disclosure: I’m usually the person who skips the cultural performances, finding them uncomfortably contrived. But the Tanoura dancer spinning in concentric circles of colored fabric under the desert stars created a moment of unexpected beauty that caught in my throat. Some travel memories imprint themselves upon you when you least expect it.

For those wondering about comfort, yes, there are proper facilities; no, you won’t be roughing it. Though perhaps the greatest luxury is the temporary disconnection from Dubai’s perpetual digitally-connected hum.

FAQs (8 Famous Street Food in Dubai (2025 Reviews))

Is it better to book a morning or evening Dubai food tour?

Morning tours offer cooler temperatures (essential between May and September) and less crowded markets where you’ll see locals purchasing their daily ingredients.

Evening tours capture beautiful sunset lighting over Dubai Creek and a livelier atmosphere in the souks. I’ve done both and personally prefer morning tours in summer for comfort, evening tours in winter for ambiance.

Will I get enough food on the tour to replace a meal?

Absolutely! Come hungry and consider skipping breakfast or lunch depending on your tour time. Most Dubai food tours include 5-8 substantial tastings that, combined, definitely constitute a full meal.

I was pleasantly surprised by both the quantity and variety, from savory flatbreads to sweet desserts, with plenty in between. No need for a backup restaurant reservation.

How much walking is involved in Dubai food tours?

Expect to walk 2-3 miles (3-5km) at a leisurely pace with plenty of stops. The terrain is generally flat, but streets in Old Dubai can be uneven with occasional steps.

Comfortable shoes are non-negotiable! Most tours include a seated break during the abra boat ride, offering a welcome rest mid-tour. If mobility is a concern, mention this when booking—many operators can adjust routes slightly.

Are Dubai food tours suitable for vegetarians?

Most tours can accommodate vegetarians with advance notice. The guides typically suggest alternative tastings rich in Middle Eastern vegetarian traditions, think hummus, falafel, tabbouleh, and date-based desserts.

I traveled with a vegetarian friend who was delighted by her options, though she did miss out on a few specialties. Vegans may find options more limited but still possible with advanced coordination.

What should I wear on a Dubai food tour?

Respect local customs with modest clothing—shoulders and knees covered for both men and women. I opt for loose linen pants or below-knee skirts paired with light, breathable tops.

A light scarf is incredibly versatile for sun protection, additional modesty when entering religious areas, or as an impromptu seat cushion. Sunglasses, a hat, and comfortable walking shoes are essential, especially during warmer months.

Can I bring my children on a Dubai food tour?

Most tours welcome children, though those aged 7+ tend to get more value from the cultural context. Consider your child’s walking stamina and heat tolerance when booking.

I’ve seen guides brilliantly engage younger guests with interactive spice-guessing games and cultural stories. Some tours offer family-specific departures with child-friendly food options and shorter routes—worth asking when booking.

How much should I tip my Dubai food tour guide?

While tipping isn’t obligatory in UAE culture, it’s appreciated for exceptional service. For a half-day food tour, 10-15% of the tour cost is standard for a guide who’s gone above and beyond.

I typically carry smaller denomination dirhams (50-100 AED) for this purpose. Remember that many guides rely partially on tips, especially those sharing authentic personal insights that enrich your experience beyond the standard itinerary.

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501Places and Tours Editor’s Ranking: Dubai Aladdin Tour: Souks, Creek, Old Dubai and Tastings

501Places and Tours Editor’s Top Choice

Dubai Aladdin Tour: Souks, Creek, Old Dubai and Tastings is the #1 Ranked Tour in 8 Best Dubai Food Tours based on a dynamic blend of category-specific criteria.

Ranked Criteria:

• Food Quality
• Guide Storytelling
• Local Secrets
• Cultural Immersion
• Value for Money