Emirati Etiquette · Lesson 4 of 8 · 12 min
Dining the Emirati way
Shared meals are an expression of generosity. Knowing the customs lets you honour your host fully.
Before eating
- Wash your hands well before the meal.
- Begin with 'Bismillah' (in the name of God), as is customary for Muslims.
- At an Emirati home, the host waits for the guest to start. As the guest, begin when invited.
Eating from a shared tray
- Eat with your right hand only.
- Gather rice into a small ball with your fingers so it does not spill.
- Eat from the part of the tray directly in front of you; do not reach across.
- If you are about to eat, offer food to those around you.
During and after the meal
- Try a little of everything you are offered.
- You don't have to finish everything: leaving a little shows you are satisfied, while an empty plate may be refilled.
- Never criticise the food. In Islamic tradition, if you do not like something, you simply leave it.
- The host does not leave the table before the guest.
- Shake hands where appropriate and thank the host as you leave.
Mixed and separate dining
- Men and women often eat separately, especially at traditional or larger gatherings, and mixed dining in private homes is less common.
- Follow your host's arrangement without comment.
Gifts
- A gift is often not expected; your presence honours the host.
- If you bring something, sweets, dates or something for the home are suitable.
Practise in real life
Tick each one off when you have done it.
- At your next family meal, eat one dish with your right hand the traditional way.
- Ask a grandparent how meals were served when they were young.
Remember
- Wash, Bismillah, right hand.
- Eat from the space in front of you.
- Leave a little; never criticise.
- Follow the host's seating.
Check yourself
1. When eating from a shared tray, where do you take food from?
2. You've finished and are full. What does an empty plate signal at an Emirati meal?
3. You don't like one dish. What should you do?
4. Who starts eating first at an Emirati home?