Authentic Emirati Cultural Meal and Talk in Old Dubai
Description
Enjoy an Authentic Emirati Meal and Cultural Talk in the one of the oldest areas of Dubai, Al Fahidi Al Bastakiya Historical District in our traditional wind tower courtyard. The Meal starts with Arabic Coffee and Dates and is followed by a selection of Emirati local dishes and desert featuring Ligamat and date syrup. After the meal your host or hostess will serve up tea and talk in our Landmark "Open doors. Open minds." cultural exchange. Guests are encouraged to ask questions about local culture and as our motto suggests, no question is off limits. The session concludes with an explanation of the local dress, and guests are welcome to volunteer to try on the attire.
Tour Options
Itinerary
Our cultural meals are hosted at the SMCCU in a traditional wind-tower house in the Al Fahidi neighbourhood, are an excellent opportunity to learn within an informal environment. The topics of discussion are generated by questions from the guests and lead by one of our cultural presenters. The programme is designed to be entertaining, educational and informative. Topics include Arabic culture, Islam and its impact on local culture, cultural values and sensitivities, important Arabic greetings and expressions as well as insightful anecdotes.
Highlights
What's included
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Wheelchair accessible
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Service animals allowed
- Transportation options are wheelchair accessible
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- Children must be accompanied by an adult
Reviews(175)
It was our second tour with SMCCU and it was again a fantastic experience! Our guide Khamil was very friendly and knowledgable, answering a million of our questions. We've learned and seen so much during the tour, it makes us really excited to truly appreciate a new culture. Also Iftar with Noura and Abdalla was another fantastic experience! Can't recommend it enough!
Amazing place to visit ww love it
We had a really enriching and fun experience, learned a lot and we recommend it a 100% for everyone that wants to know the heart and soul of Dubai apart from the flashy city and buildings. Presenter Hamad was super friendly, knowledgeable and open to answer any questions! Had light trouble with the scheduling though, got rebooked a couple times , I recommend you really plan ahead your visit. If you really want to understand and explore the true culture of the UAE this is the place!!
Informative experience about culture, food and way of life. A must see experience if you visit Dubai.
Thank you for your thoughtful review. We’re delighted to hear that you enjoyed discovering the history, culture, family traditions, and Emirati cuisine with us. At SMCCU, we believe that understanding culture begins with conversation, and we are proud to offer visitors a space to connect, ask questions, and experience the traditions of the UAE in an authentic setting. Your recommendation means a great deal to us, and we’re pleased we could contribute to your experience in Dubai.
It was an amazing experience to learn about the culture and history of dubai, our tour guides made the tour even more special and welcoming. One thing that stood out was the dubai perfume stories
Thank you so much for your beautiful words 🤍 We’re truly delighted that you enjoyed learning about the culture and history of Dubai with us. It means a lot to know that our guides made the experience feel special and welcoming — creating that sense of warmth and connection is at the heart of what we do. We’re especially happy that the Dubai perfume stories stood out to you. Fragrance is such an important part of Emirati heritage, from oud and bukhoor to the personal memories attached to every scent — and we love sharing those stories with our guests. We hope to welcome you back again soon for more cultural discoveries ✨
Here you go – English version ready to copy and paste: --- It was a truly wonderful and educational experience. Everything was very well organized and led in a relaxed yet professional way. The host (I don’t remember his name exactly, I think it was Hamad) was amazing – you can clearly see that he does this with passion and heart. I had a lot of questions, but I didn’t want to interrupt his “show.” Still, I’m very grateful that he took the time to answer the most important ones I asked. Thanks to that, I left with much more knowledge and a much better understanding of the culture and traditions. As for the refreshments and lunch – I can say only one thing: it was absolutely delicious. Finger-licking good, as we say in our culture! We will definitely come back, this time with our kids, because it’s a perfect place also for younger visitors. Amazing place, amazing people, and a wonderful atmosphere. Greetings from Iceland! 🇮🇸
Thank you so much for this heartfelt review 🤍 We’re truly delighted that you had such a wonderful and educational experience with us. Knowing that you found everything well organized, yet relaxed and welcoming, means a great deal to our team. We’re especially happy to hear your kind words about our host, Hamad — we’ll be sure to pass your message along to him. His passion for sharing the culture and traditions of the UAE is genuine, and it’s beautiful to know that it came through so clearly during your visit. Please never hesitate to ask questions — dialogue and curiosity are at the heart of what we do. We believe that meaningful conversations create deeper understanding, and we’re so glad you left with new knowledge and insights. And your description of the food made us smile! Emirati hospitality is incomplete without generous and delicious refreshments, so hearing that it was “finger-licking good” truly made our day. We would be absolutely honored to welcome you back — especially with your children. Sharing culture across generations is something very special to us. Warm greetings to you in Iceland, and we hope to see you again soon ✨
We took part in the Culture on Wheels and Emirati Hospitality Experience, a program of roughly 4 hours where we had a presentation by an Emirati local with Arabic coffee and dates, followed by lunch comprising traditional food, and then a Q&A session over Arabic tea. Lunch was excellent, tasty and generous with a variety of dishes suitable for meat eaters and vegetarians. Each was explained. After lunch we had a guided tour on a “heritage” bus through the old Dubai area and onwards to the Jumeirah Mosque which is a beautiful building with a majlis in which coffee was provided. There’s an interesting “Once Upon a time” museum with various artifacts from 1960’s to 1980’s. The Centre is close to the Al Seef Souk which is well worth strolling through for eateries and items on sale. All in all a day well spent
Thank you for taking the time to share such a detailed and thoughtful review 🤍 We’re delighted that you enjoyed the Culture on Wheels & Emirati Hospitality Experience and that the four-hour journey gave you a meaningful glimpse into local traditions. From Arabic coffee and dates to the open Q&A over tea, creating space for dialogue and connection is at the heart of what we do. It’s wonderful to hear that you appreciated the variety and generosity of the lunch. Emirati hospitality is about sharing abundantly, and we’re glad the dishes — for both meat eaters and vegetarians — added to your experience. We’re also happy you enjoyed the heritage bus tour through old Dubai and the visit to the beautiful Jumeirah Mosque. Its architecture and welcoming majlis reflect an important part of the country’s cultural openness. Thank you as well for mentioning the “Once Upon a Time” museum and the nearby Al Seef area — they truly complement the cultural journey and offer a lovely way to continue exploring. We’re so pleased that it was, in your words, a day well spent. We hope to welcome you again soon for another enriching experience 🌿
What a wonderful experience in the culture of Dubai. The food was absolutely delicious. We had to-go boxes when we left. The bazaar around the corner was equally amazing. I would highly recommend this tour. You can also catch the Metro and walk approximately 10 minutes.
Hamad was amazing! He gave great insights on Islam and old and new Dubai, he answered questions in a well structured way. So satisfied and would recommend to everyone!
Thank you so much for your kind words 🤍 We’re thrilled to hear that Hamad made such a positive impression! His passion for sharing insights about Islam and both old and new Dubai truly shines through, and we’re glad you found his answers thoughtful and well-structured. It means a lot to us that you felt satisfied with your experience and that you’d recommend it to others. We hope to welcome you back soon for more cultural discoveries and memorable moments ✨
A wonderful cultural experience, highly informative and highly recommended whether you are a resident or visitor...
Thank you for your lovely review 🤍 We’re so glad you enjoyed your experience with us and felt the warmth and friendliness of our team. Moments like seeing traditional attire and learning about Emirati culture make every visit special. We look forward to welcoming you back for more cultural discoveries and memorable experiences 🌿