Middle Eastern ContemporaryOrfali Bros BistroFeatured restaurantPlate Snob PickHot right now
Orfali Bros Bistro
Jumeirah, Dubai
Borderless, deeply personal cooking from three brothers, rooted in Syria and fluent in Dubai.
Follow the craving
Best Middle Eastern Restaurants in Dubai.
Orfali Bros Bistro, Bait Maryam and Moonrise lead this Dubai shortlist, with 26 restaurants selected for a clear fit with the question rather than a loose keyword match.
Best Middle Eastern Restaurants in DubaiOrfali Bros BistroTHE QUICK ANSWER
Orfali Bros Bistro, Bait Maryam and Moonrise lead this Dubai shortlist, with 26 restaurants selected for a clear fit with the question rather than a loose keyword match.
Best Middle Eastern Restaurants in Dubai is less about finding the longest list and more about matching the room to the plan. This Plate Snob edit brings together 26 restaurants in Dubai, using cooking, spend, setting and practical detail to separate a useful booking from a merely famous address. The selection stretches from iranian, creative, levantine and persian, with particularly useful options around Bur Dubai, Al Satwa, Jumeirah Lakes Towers and Deira. We favour restaurants with a clear reason to go, reliable location information and enough context to choose confidently. Start with the highlighted picks for the strongest all-round answers, then use the full list and map to compare atmosphere, price and convenience. Availability, menus and opening times can move quickly in the UAE, so confirm the final details with the venue before travelling.
Reviewed 29 August 202626 restaurants3 Plate Snob picks3 making noise now
Drag, zoom and tap a coral pin for the useful bits. Scroll-wheel zoom is politely off.
Where we'd start
Start with these.
Middle Eastern ContemporaryOrfali Bros BistroFeatured restaurant
LevantineBait MaryamPlate Snob Pick
Bait Maryam
Jumeirah Lakes Towers, Dubai
Warm, deeply personal Levantine home cooking in JLT.
CreativeMoonrisePlate Snob PickHot right now
Moonrise
Al Satwa, Dubai
A rooftop chef's counter telling a highly personal Dubai story course by course.
Middle EasternNiniveHot right now
Ninive
DIFC, Dubai
A rooftop garden lounge drawing across the Middle East and North Africa.
New & hot
The tables making noise.
Middle Eastern ContemporaryOrfali Bros BistroPlate Snob PickHot right now
Orfali Bros Bistro
Jumeirah, Dubai
Borderless, deeply personal cooking from three brothers, rooted in Syria and fluent in Dubai.
CreativeMoonrisePlate Snob PickHot right now
Moonrise
Al Satwa, Dubai
A rooftop chef's counter telling a highly personal Dubai story course by course.
Middle EasternNiniveHot right now
Ninive
DIFC, Dubai
A rooftop garden lounge drawing across the Middle East and North Africa.
The full edit
Every table worth considering.
Middle Eastern ContemporaryOrfali Bros BistroFeatured restaurantPlate Snob PickHot right now
Orfali Bros Bistro
Jumeirah, Dubai
Borderless, deeply personal cooking from three brothers, rooted in Syria and fluent in Dubai.
LevantineBait MaryamFeatured restaurantPlate Snob Pick
Bait Maryam
Jumeirah Lakes Towers, Dubai
Warm, deeply personal Levantine home cooking in JLT.
CreativeMoonrisePlate Snob PickHot right now
Moonrise
Al Satwa, Dubai
A rooftop chef's counter telling a highly personal Dubai story course by course.
Middle EasternNiniveHot right now
Ninive
DIFC, Dubai
A rooftop garden lounge drawing across the Middle East and North Africa.
AnatolianRüyaRüya
Palm Jumeirah, Dubai
Contemporary Anatolian cooking with a polished Palm dining room.
Abd el Wahab Pier 7
Dubai Marina, Dubai
Lebanese dining in Dubai Marina, Dubai, listed for its useful fit in the local dining mix.
Almayass by the Sea
J1 Beach, Dubai
Lebanese Armenian dining in J1 Beach, Dubai, listed for its useful fit in the local dining mix.
Amaseena
JBR, Dubai
Middle Eastern dining in JBR, Dubai, listed for its useful fit in the local dining mix.
EmiratiArabian Tea HouseArabian Tea House
Al Fahidi, Dubai
A leafy courtyard for Emirati breakfasts, tea and old-Dubai atmosphere.
Ariana’s Persian Kitchen
Palm Jumeirah, Dubai
Persian dining in Palm Jumeirah, Dubai, listed for its useful fit in the local dining mix.
Bahar
JBR, Dubai
Middle Eastern dining in JBR, Dubai, listed for its useful fit in the local dining mix.
Berenjak Dubai
Jumeirah, Dubai
Persian dining in Jumeirah, Dubai, listed for its useful fit in the local dining mix.
Bosporus JBR
JBR, Dubai
Turkish dining in JBR, Dubai, listed for its useful fit in the local dining mix.
Ninive Beach
J1 Beach, Dubai
Middle Eastern dining in J1 Beach, Dubai, listed for its useful fit in the local dining mix.
Shababeek
Jumeirah, Dubai
Lebanese dining in Jumeirah, Dubai, listed for its useful fit in the local dining mix.
Sufret Maryam
Jumeirah, Dubai
Levantine dining in Jumeirah, Dubai, listed for its useful fit in the local dining mix.
VAGA
Bluewaters, Dubai
Armenian dining in Bluewaters, Dubai, listed for its useful fit in the local dining mix.
Al Fanar Al Seef
Al Seef, Dubai
Emirati dining in Al Seef, Dubai, listed for its useful fit in the local dining mix.
Alaya
DIFC, Dubai
Middle Eastern dining in DIFC, Dubai, listed for its useful fit in the local dining mix.
Asil Dubai
Downtown Dubai, Dubai
Middle Eastern dining in Downtown Dubai, Dubai, listed for its useful fit in the local dining mix.
Ewaan
Downtown Dubai, Dubai
Middle Eastern dining in Downtown Dubai, Dubai, listed for its useful fit in the local dining mix.
Logma Dubai Mall
Downtown Dubai, Dubai
Emirati dining in Downtown Dubai, Dubai, listed for its useful fit in the local dining mix.
PersianShabestanShabestan
Deira, Dubai
A long-running Persian dining room overlooking Dubai Creek.
The Courtyard Al Seef
Al Seef, Dubai
Middle Eastern dining in Al Seef, Dubai, listed for its useful fit in the local dining mix.
SyrianAroos DamascusAroos Damascus
Al Muraqqabat, Dubai
A bustling Syrian institution for grills, mezze and very generous tables.
IranianAl Ustad Special KababAl Ustad Special Kabab
Bur Dubai, Dubai
A compact old-Dubai favourite known for Iranian kebabs.
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Useful answers
Before you book.
What are the best middle eastern restaurants in Dubai?
Orfali Bros Bistro is a strong place to start, backed by the broader Plate Snob selection on this page. The best choice still depends on your budget, preferred atmosphere and the kind of meal you are planning.
Is there a good-value option in this Dubai edit?
Bait Maryam is among the more approachable options in this selection. Check the current menu before booking because set menus and per-person spend can change.
Which restaurant works when the setting matters?
Ninive is worth considering when atmosphere and location matter alongside the food. Use the practical details and map on this page to check whether it fits the occasion.
The wider UAE edit