Sharjah travel guide

Machboos (Kabsa)

The Gulf's definitive rice dish — long-grain basmati cooked in a spiced broth with whole roasted chicken, lamb or meat; the spice mix includes dried lime (loomi), cinnamon, cloves and black pepper; a sharing dish served on a large communal platter, eaten by hand or spoon; found at every Emirati-owned restaurant in Sharjah

Luqaimat

UAE's favourite street dessert — small crispy fried dough balls drizzled with date syrup (dibs) and dusted with sesame seeds; served hot from street stalls particularly during Ramadan and National Day celebrations; the Emirati answer to doughnuts and a staple of the traditional coffee ceremony

Balaleet

Sharjah's traditional breakfast — sweet saffron-spiced vermicelli noodles topped with a plain omelette; the contrast of sweet noodles and savoury egg is distinctly Emirati; typically eaten with karak chai (strong sweet spiced tea) on a Friday morning at a traditional café

Fresh-squeezed juices and karak chai

Sharjah's street culture revolves around juice bars (fresh mango, orange, pomegranate, sugar cane) and karak tea stalls serving the milky spiced tea blend that defines Gulf café culture; since there is no bar culture, these street beverages are the social lubricant of the emirate