01
⚡ Key Facts
🏛️
Abu Dhabi
Capital
👥
9.9 million
Population
📐
83,600 km²
Area
💰
AED
Currency
🗣️
Arabic
Language
🌡️
Hot desert; mild winters, very hot summers
Climate
02
🏙️ Top Destinations
03
🎭 Culture & People
04
🍜 Cuisine
Al Machboos
Spiced Rice
UAE's national dish—fragrant rice with meat and dried lime.
Ingredients: 480ml basmati rice, 500g lamb or chicken, 2 onions, fried crispy, Loomi (dried lime), Baharat, turmeric, cinnamon, Rose water, Almonds, raisins.
Preparation: Brown meat with spices and onion. Add loomi and water, simmer until tender. Add rice to broth. Then cook until done. Top with fried onions, nuts, raisins. Finally, sprinkle with rose water.
💡 Pierce the loomi to release more flavor into the dish.
Luqaimat
Sweet Dumplings
Crispy fried dough balls drizzled with date syrup—Emirati street sweet.
Ingredients: 240ml flour, 120ml water, 5ml yeast, Pinch saffron, cardamom, Date syrup (dibs), Sesame seeds.
Preparation: Make batter with flour, water, yeast, spices. Then rest until doubled. Drope spoonfuls into hot oil. Fry until golden and crispy. Then drain, drizzle with date syrup. Finally, sprinkle with sesame.
💡 Batter should be thick but still drop from spoon.
Karak Chai
Spiced Tea
Strong spiced milk tea—UAE's daily ritual.
Ingredients: Black tea (strong), Evaporated milk, Sugar, Cardamom pods, Saffron (optional).
Preparation: Boil water with cardamom. Then add tea, steep strong. Add evaporated milk and sugar. Boil until combined and thick. Then strain into small cups. Last, serve very hot.
💡 Karak means 'strong'—use plenty of tea and let it boil well.
05
📋 Practical Information
06
🗺️ Map
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