One of the most adored events in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) is the United Arab Emirates (UAE) National Day which is held on the 2nd of December every year and is a symbol of unity, cultural heritage and even pride. It features the establishment of the country in 1971 and is celebrated mightily in all the seven emirates. The flag of the UAE is flying on the streets, fireworks illuminate the skies, people gather to celebrate their identity. Although the day is brightened with parades, concerts and decorations, one of the most important things about this celebration is the food, which is a real manifestation of Emirati hospitality and tradition.
It is in this season of celebration that both the locals and the visiting people have the ideal chance to sample the UAE National Day traditional foods that define the spirit of the Emirati culture. Such meals are not only about food, these meals narrate about history, family life and society. These delicacies can make your National Day everlasting whether you are a visitor who comes in to enjoy the festivities or a local person who wants to get a taste of the local cuisine. In case you are thinking of going during this festive time, companies such as Go Kite Travel would offer National Day Travel Packages that allow you to be close to the festivities such as culinary tours where one gets to eat authentic Emirati food.
Here are some foods to try during UAE National Day festivities
Best UAE Traditional Foods to try during the UAE National Day
Machboos
Machboos is one of the most popular dishes of the UAE National Day that is a delicious rice dish prepared with meat (usually chicken, lamb, or goat) and mixed with a variety of spices such as saffron, cardamom, and dried lime. Seafood versions of Machboos are also made by many families during the celebrations of the National Day, with fish or shrimps giving a coastal flavor. The meal is characterized by fragrant rice and soft meat that has a reference to the rich history of culinary in the region. Be it in a conventional restaurant, or a food stall, Machboos is a food that any visitor of Emirati food has to savor.
Harees
Harees is also another dish that has strong Emirati culture. This dish is made of wheat and cooked meat that has been cooked slowly, a fact that provides a comforting taste. It is also particularly popular at the time of festive celebrations and family gatherings because of its smooth porridge-like consistency. Harees is a dish commonly consumed during Ramadan and occasions such as the UAE National Day and it is associated with warmth, simplicity, and unity. To the tourists, it would be an authentic experience to sample Harees at the celebrations and get to know more about the Emirati lifestyle, modest, kind and inviting.
Luqaimat
Luqaimat is a sweet dish that is worth trying. These are bite-sized and deeply fried dumplings that are golden and crispy on the outside, and soft on the inside. Luqaimat is a favorite dessert in the season of the National Day traditionally drizzled with date syrup or honey and sprinkled with sesame seeds. You can have them freshly prepared at food stands and restaurants of the UAE, and you can smell of them at the time of celebrations. The happiness of the UAE National Day is perfectly depicted in the sweetness of Luqaimat.
Balaleet
Balaleet is a traditional breakfast meal, a mix of sweet and savoury, made using vermicelli cooked in saffron, rose water, and cardamom and topped with a layer of fried egg. Its juxtaposition of Flavors (sweet noodles and salty egg) shows that Emirati value balance and diversity in the food. Balaleet is served by several hotels and homes during celebratory breakfasts or brunches during the UAE National Day celebrations. It is not just tasty, but it is also a cultural representation of hospitality and tradition.
Lamb Khuzi
Lamb Khuzi is a meal that cannot be done without in a celebration in the UAE. This is a large meal whereby an entire roast lamb is cooked over rice mixed with spices, nuts and raisins. It is usually regarded as the main item of celebratory events, a symbol of prosperity and generosity. Khuzi is one of the most traditional foods to eat in the UAE National Day because of the complex nature of the rice and the tenderness of the lamb. When you visit the country at this season, you will find most of the hotels and Emirati restaurants in the country have Khuzi in their National Day buffet offering you a real experience of a royal meal.
Food Stalls and Festivals
Pop-up Food Stalls and Festivals
Throughout the celebrations of the National Day, streets and other places around the UAE become cultural hotspots. Food stalls offer food ranging between Luqaimat to Machboos, and the visitors can taste various Emirati cuisine under a single roof. These booths are frequently included in major festivals with live music, cultural shows, and folk craft contributing to the party atmosphere. When you are visiting the UAE through Go Kite Travel, most of their National Day Travel Packages offer guided tours to such cultural food festivals and as such you do not miss the best of the celebrations.
Restaurants
There are numerous restaurants in the UAE, traditional, modern, in which special menus are offered on the occasion of the National Day. These menus point to the traditional foods of the UAE National Day in a modern aspect, mixing old recipes with the new culinary style. The options are limitless, whether it is a fine dining restaurant in Dubai or Abu Dhabi or one of the local restaurants in Sharjah and Fujairah. Go Kite Travel can help guide you in the direction of the most favored places to eat and your food adventure will go without a hitch.
Hotels and Lounges
Grand National Day feasts in luxury hotels and lounges around the UAE usually include buffets and live cooking points. The visitors will be able to taste a variety of Emirati dishes, desserts, and beverages and enjoy cultural shows and fireworks. These locations are ideal to those who are traveling and require a combination of comfort, sophistication, and authenticity. When you book your accommodation at Go Kite Travel, you will experience some of the most exclusive National Day festivities and food.
Homes and Family Gatherings
The UAE National Day is also an occasion when locals get to spend time with their loved ones. The families unite and prepare traditional meals and share recipes that have been inherited over the years. The mood is set with the happiness and laughter and the scents of the home-cooked Emirati food. Although tourists might not feel like being part of the family dinner, numerous cultural events and open-house activities make visits and allow the visitors to take part in these celebrations and foster tolerance and solidarity.
Read More: Budget-Friendly National Day Travel Packages Under AED 5000
Conclusion
The food is one of the key themes of the UAE National Day, and it represents the unity, tradition, and generosity. Every dish, such as a savory Machboos and Harees, or sweet Luqaimat and Balaleet, is a bit of Emirati identity and history. The UAE National Day traditional foods are not only the gastronomic adventure but the traveling through the nation culture, as it links you with the warmness and the hospitality of the Emirati nation.
Provided that you are going to be present when these celebrations occur, Go Kite Travel will be happy to design the ideal itinerary. National Day Travel Packages will allow you to experience such a local festival, taste the local cuisine, enjoy the beauty of the Emirati culture, and experience the beauty of the Emirati traditions at close. Be it during the colorful city parades and meals under the stars, all the moments result in the memory worth remembering. Commemorate this National Day in the spirit of unity and embrace the tastes the UAE is known to have. Your UAE National Day event with Go Kite Travel will be an adventure of exploration, culture, and taste of Emirati pride, a celebration of Emirati culture.
