Dubai - the Arabian shining extravaganza! I was amazed by its shine and glam from the first step I made. My entire travel experience was one big wow! From desert jeep safari, belly dancing, camel riding, Al Fahidi Historical District, Burj Khalifa and Dubai fountains to Atlantis water park and dolphin bay experience. And most of all, the coffee moments were a delight!
Sometimes images speak louder than words and therefore, I am excited to share with you some of my amazing Emirati experiences below:
Desert safari & camel riding
Al Fahidi Historical District
The quarter preserves the traditional life-style of Dubai in the period 1900-1970. It was built in the early 1900s by Persian merchants who settled in Dubai to take advantage of tax breaks granted by the sheikh. By 1970s, its habitats preferred to move to newer neighbourhoods and the place had been at risk of demolition.
Nowadays, it hosts numerous museums, craft shops, art galleries, courtyard cafes and boutique hotels.
I highly encourage you to get lost in the quiet labyrinthine lanes of this spectacular heritage site! It makes you feel like you went back in time, having an unique traditional Arabian vibe!
Coffee museum
While wandering around the beautiful maze of Al Fahidi Historical District, stop at Coffee Museum for a walk through the history of coffee. The museum is a former residence of an Emirati family and it offers an aromatic-bean based journey around the world. This coffee lovers paradise gathers an impressive collection of grinders from all around the world and it includes a plethora of rooms dedicated to coffee origins, a majilis and even a corner to enjoy an Ethiopian ritual of coffee tasting.
Majilis is a room full of carpets and pillows to sit around, where the ritual of enjoying Arab coffee requires to be barefoot. It makes you feel like home, trust me!
On the first floor there is a coffee brew bar where you can enjoy a nice cup of cappuccino and gather more information regarding coffee production areas and other cool coffee facts.
Emirati coffee
Coffee plays an important role in the Middle East culture and tradition. Actually, it represents a symbol of their hospitality. It used to be prepared in the presence of guests, as a ritual of meetings. Even now, visitors are welcomed with a small cup of coffee at hotels, private homes or any government institution. The term used in Emirates for coffee is qawha, which is made from ground coffee beans with a mixture of spices such as saffron or cardamom. The reciprocity of qawha and majilis is so intricate that they have been protected on UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage register since 2015.
I tasted a qawha in a traditional restaurant, called Local House Restaurant,in Al Fahidi Historical District. I was impressed by its terrace decorations as it has a splash of vivid colours!
Hope you enjoyed this article. Feel free to leave any comments or feedback. Looking forward to share with you my next adventure! Until then, stay happy! 