Dubai Culture Releases ‘Emirati Recipes Cookbook’ Showcasing Emirati Culinary Talent
- Publication features 30 curated recipes celebrating Emirati culinary heritage
Dubai, United Arab Emirates, 4 February 2025: Dubai Culture & Arts Authority (Dubai Culture) has launched ‘Emirati Recipes’, a curated cookbook celebrating the richness of local food culture and spotlighting Emirati talent in the culinary arts. The initiative aligns with the Authority’s mandate to elevate Emirati cuisine and strengthen its presence on the global cultural map. The publication forms part of Dubai Culture’s support for the’ Season of Wulfa’, an initiative dedicated to strengthening family bonds and celebrating Emirati social and cultural occasions. Through this effort, Dubai Culture continues to revive local heritage and reinforce enduring values rooted in spiritual reflection and connection.
Produced in collaboration with the International Centre for Culinary Arts (ICCA Dubai), the cookbook features 30 curated recipes inspired by Emirati cuisine, known for its rich ingredients and diverse traditional dishes prepared during Emirati social occasions as well as everyday meals.
The collection spans meat, poultry, and seafood dishes, alongside traditional breads, desserts, and beverages. Each recipe carries a story, born in family kitchens and shared around communal tables reflecting the depth of Emirati culinary heritage and the values of generosity and hospitality that define the UAE community.
The publication showcases the creativity of a distinguished group of Emirati chefs:
Aisha Adil Alkhoori, Alya Al-Ali, Asayel Mohamed Almarzooqi, Auhood Alzarooni, Fatima Hassan Al Zaabi, Hamda Adil Alkhoori, Huda Omar Alghfeli, Khawla Omar Alghfeli, Maitha Omar Alghfeli, Meera Jasem Alzaabi, Mohammad AlBanna, Naima AlMulla, Noora Alawadi, Salwa Salim Aljallaf, and Shadha Sultan Alhosani.
Through their contributions, these chefs present distinctive Emirati dishes inspired by memories of family kitchens where they first learned recipes passed down through generations. Prepared using authentic traditional methods, each dish forms part of a living continuum that connects past and present.
Shaima Rashed Al Suwaidi, CEO of the Arts, Design & Literature Sector at Dubai Culture, described the ‘Emirati Recipes’ cookbook as an important step in documenting the UAE’s culinary heritage and celebrating the traditions embedded within Emirati cuisine, saying: “Food forms an essential part of our collective memory. Through it, Emirati chefs express the richness and diversity of our flavors and techniques that serve as a bridge between generations, while reflecting the values of generosity and hospitality that characterize our society.”
Al Suwaidi affirmed that the publication embodies Dubai Culture’s commitment to supporting local talent, documenting and safeguarding stories connected to food culture for future generations as an integral component of national identity, adding: “Through this project, we seek to empower Emirati chefs and open broader horizons for them to strengthen their global presence. We aim to encourage their professional development while positioning Emirati culinary arts as a civilizational language that reflects the spirit and history of our homeland.”
