Quick answer: Emirati dining is built on hospitality. Guests are welcomed with Arabic coffee and dates, food is traditionally served on large shared platters, people eat and pass food with the right hand, the host keeps offering more, and the gathering often ends with coffee, tea and the scent of bukhoor (incense). A modern Emirati-inspired table keeps that spirit with generous serving pieces, plates that carry local stories and linens that invite people to stay. Explore tableware in the Homeware collection.
Generosity is the main course
In Emirati culture, the measure of a meal is how welcome the guest feels. Hosts prepare more than enough, and it is common for guests to be urged to take more than once. Refusing politely at first and then accepting is part of the ritual. The table is less a place to eat than a place to be together.
Traditional dining customs
Sitting together
Traditionally, families and guests sat on the floor around a sufra, a cloth or mat spread out for the meal, sometimes woven from palm fronds (khoos). Many homes still eat this way for family gatherings, while everyday meals are also served at dining tables.
The shared platter
Large platters placed in the centre are shared by everyone. Each person eats from the section closest to them, and the host often places the best pieces in front of the guest of honour.
The right hand
Eating, passing food and offering cups are done with the right hand. This is one of the most important courtesies to remember as a guest.
Coffee and dates
Arabic coffee (gahwa) and dates are offered on arrival and often again after the meal. Read our finyal guide for how coffee is served.
Bukhoor at the end
Many gatherings close with incense passed around the room, a fragrant way to close a visit. See our guide to hosting with scent, linen and light.
Etiquette for guests
- Accept coffee; to decline more, gently shake the cup before handing it back.
- Wait for the host or elders to begin.
- Use your right hand.
- Compliment the host, the food and the home.
- Do not rush to leave straight after eating; conversation over tea is part of the meal.
Etiquette for hosts
- Greet guests at the door and serve coffee early.
- Seat the eldest or most honoured guest first.
- Keep offering, and keep cups filled.
- Provide water and a place to wash hands before and after the meal.
Bringing the tradition to a modern table
Plates that tell stories
The UAE Collection plates by Tasmeem Tashkeel carry drawn scenes of fishermen, falconers, camels and poets. Each guest can get a different scene, which naturally sparks conversation. Choose large plates for mains and deep small plates for salads, sauces or sweets.
Generous serving pieces
Shared food needs a centrepiece: the Gerbou Serving Plate, the Gold Garden Bowl set and the Ghaf Plates, inspired by the UAE's national tree.
Linen and texture
Curate Home, a homeware brand stocked at Tashkeel, makes table linen with a heritage feel: the Firoze Linen Table Mats and Napkins set and the Majlis Linen Coasters with heritage stitching.
A table that remembers the sufra
For a statement, the Khoos Dining Set by Tasmeem Tashkeel reinterprets the woven palm mat as a circular dining table. A round table also recalls sitting around a shared sufra. Learn more in Sadu, Khoos and Mandoos.
Frequently asked questions
Why do Emiratis eat with the right hand?
It is a long-standing custom in Arab and Islamic culture to eat, drink and pass food with the right hand.
What is a sufra?
A cloth or mat spread on the floor on which a meal is served and shared.
What should I bring when invited to an Emirati home?
Something for the home or for hosting, such as dates, sweets, a coffee set or a candle, is always appreciated.
Is it rude to refuse food?
It is polite to accept at least a little. A gentle "I'm full, thank you, it was delicious" is understood.
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