15 festivals in 2 cities, soonest first.
15 food festivals with a guide across 2 cities in United Arab Emirates, in date order from today. Each opens the festival page with dates, what to eat and what to book around it.
Global Food Week brings food producers, farmers and hospitality suppliers to ADNEC Centre Abu Dhabi each October; the 2026 edition, its third and largest, runs 6 to 8 October.
TipIt is a trade show built for buyers and producers, so register as a visitor on the organiser's site before going; it is not a tasting festival.
Al Dhafra Dates Festival and Auction fills Madinat Zayed, in Abu Dhabi's western region, each October with date auctions, honey and cooking contests; the 2025 edition offered 173 prizes.
TipMadinat Zayed is a long drive west of the city. The 2025 edition was the fourth, run by the Abu Dhabi Heritage Authority; 2026 dates are not yet published.
Tours, tastings and classes from the cities on this page, bookable on GetYourGuide.
Guided tour · 3 hours
Experience Dubai's old town on a guided tour in the Al Fahidi district. Visit an Emirati Heritage House, savor street food, explore vibrant souks,...
Guided tour · 2 hours
Discover the flavors of Abu Dhabi on a guided street food tour. Explore the Khalidiya district, taste freshly baked manakeesh, the original shawarma,...
Taste of Abu Dhabi fills Gateway Park North on Yas Island for three November days with 16 pop-up restaurants, chef-led workshops and live music from AED 60.
TipChildren under 12 enter free, and the Taster package at AED 175 bundles two food and two drink vouchers with entry.
MICHELIN Guide Food Festival Abu Dhabi gathers chefs from about 20 Michelin Guide restaurants on the Emirates Palace grounds for a November weekend of tasting dishes, masterclasses and live music.
TipThe 2025 edition was the third, with general admission at AED 100 and children under 12 free. Dates for 2026 were not published at the time of writing.
The Hatta Honey Festival brings Emirati beekeepers to Hatta Hall in Dubai's mountain exclave each late December, with more than 50 honey booths in 2025. Free entry.
World of Coffee Dubai brings the specialty trade to Za'abeel Halls each January: a roaster village, cupping rooms, brew bars and the UAE barista championships.
The Hatta Farming Festival brings Dubai farmers to Leem Lake each winter with winter produce, date varieties and growing workshops on the valley floor.
Taste of Dubai fills the Dubai Media City Amphitheatre for three February days with restaurant pop-ups, chef workshops and live music, on tickets from AED 90.
The Ramadan Street Food Festival turns Al Karama's Sheikh Hamdan Colony and Karama Park into an open kitchen for the fasting month, 100 restaurants serving from iftar to 02:00, dishes from AED 5.
Hai Ramadan sets a souq and a nightly iftar under the Al Wasl Dome at Expo City Dubai through the fasting month, with the AED 150 entry redeemable against food.
Ramadan Festival on the Abu Dhabi Corniche, run by Experience Abu Dhabi, opened Ramadan neighbourhoods with food trucks, suhoor dishes and a souq nightly from 20:00 to 02:00 in 2026.
TipThe 2026 run was the first in Abu Dhabi city, after editions in Al Ain and Al Dhafra; dates for the next Ramadan had not been announced at the time of writing.
Gulfood bills itself as the world's largest annual food and drink sourcing event, filling Dubai World Trade Centre and Expo City with thousands of exhibitors. Trade visitors only.
e& Beach Canteen turns Nessnass Beach in Jumeirah into a free open air food court for about three weeks each spring, with Dubai kitchens cooking 16:00 to 00:00.
Dubai Restaurant Week hands more than 125 kitchens a fixed menu for 17 days each May, AED 125 for two courses at lunch and AED 250 for three at dinner.
Liwa Dates Festival brings Emirati date farmers to Liwa City, in Abu Dhabi's Al Dhafra Region, each July for ten days of rutab-harvest competitions; 2026 drew about 80,000 visitors.
TipLiwa City is in the Al Dhafra Region, a long drive from the city, so plan a full day; the 2026 edition had over 465 Emirati farmers in 23 categories.
Calendar, month by month · Festivals by city · United Arab Emirates food guide
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