9 favourite regional cheeses in the UAE



A look at some of the most popular regional cheeses available in the UAE, all of which are available from most supermarkets.

Nabulsi

From: Nablus, Palestine

Made from goat’s milk, this is a semi-hard, brined white cheese, and can come with habat Al baraka (black sesame seed) or without. It is used as a table cheese and is also the main ingredient in Arab pastries such as kunafa.

Price: Dh20-Dh30 for half a kilo.

Baladi

From: Lebanon, but also made across the Middle East — each country has its own version

A soft, smooth, creamy, white cheese with a mild flavour. Made from an unpasteurised mixture of goat’s, cow’s and sheep’s milk. It is also known as the “cheese of the mountains” because it is made high on the peaks by shepherds. Used as a spread on fresh Arabic bread or crackers, it is usually eaten for breakfast or as a snack.

Price: Dh13-Dh15 for half a kilo.

Domiati

From: Egypt — named after port city of Damietta

Also known as the jabna bayda (the white cheese), this is a soft, salty, pickled cheese typically made from buffalo milk, cow milk or a mixture of the two. Unlike other white cheeses, salt is added directly to the milk, before rennet enzyme is added. It is eaten in sandwiches and with other light dishes.

Price: Dh12-Dh13 for half a kilo.

Roumy

From: Egypt

The name is believed to relate to the fact that roumy is a “foreign” cheese, or from Rome. It is a yellow, hard cheese with a distinctive smell and degrees of saltiness depending on how much it has been aged. It is derived from the Greek kefalotyri yellow cheese and made from cow milk, or a mixture of cow and buffalo milk. It is popular in Egypt, and used like Parmesan: grated or otherwise in various cooked and raw dishes.

Price: Dh18-Dh20 for half a kilo.

Shellal

From: Syria

A twisted, braided white cheese made of strands, shellal is known for being extremely salty. Made from cow milk, it contains a Middle-Eastern spice known as mahlab (or mahlebi, mahleb). One untangles it as one eats it, some soak it for a few hours before eating to reduce the saltiness. Eaten with bread and fruits, it is believed to give you the kick you need to feel revived.

Price: Dh20-Dh25 for half a kilo.

Areesh or Arish

From: Egypt

Similar in taste to ricotta, this is like cottage cheese and made from cow, goat or sheep milk. It is often used to make shanklish — “the blue cheese of Arabia” — which is a fermented cheese dish with a strong taste, covered in zaatar (thyme) and Aleppo pepper. It is shaped into balls, then aged and dried. It can also be used to make Arabic desserts and pastries.

Price: Dh18-Dh20 for half a kilo.

Kashkawan (Kashkaval)

From: Syria, Lebanon

Believed to be originally Turkish, and similar to Italian caciocavallo, this is a yellow, stretched-curd cheese, semi-soft and made with sheep or cow milk. It is used as a topping in hot-bread dishes, including saj and manakish, as well as in sandwiches.

Price: From Dh30 for half a kilo.

Halloumi

Origin: Lebanon

Said to have Cypriot origins as well, it is a semi-hard, unripened white brined cheese made from a mixture of goat and sheep milk, and sometimes also cow’s milk. Served grilled or fried, it is eaten on its own or paired with salads and fruits like watermelon.

Price: Dh20-Dh 25 for half a kilo.

Saudi Feta

Origin: Saudi Arabia

A newcomer and an Arabized version of the Greek Feta, which is brined curd white cheese, but the Saudi version is creamier and softer in texture. It doesn’t crumble like the traditional Greek Feta. It is made of cow’s milk, and sometimes from powdered milk, and it is as a spread and in salads. It has become a popular choice particularly in the GCC.

Price: Dh8-Dh10 for half a kilo.

THE SPECS

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Power: 420kW

Torque: 780Nm

Transmission: 8-speed automatic

Price: From Dh1,350,000

On sale: Available for preorder now

COMPANY PROFILE
Name: ARDH Collective
Based: Dubai
Founders: Alhaan Ahmed, Alyina Ahmed and Maximo Tettamanzi
Sector: Sustainability
Total funding: Self funded
Number of employees: 4
MATCH INFO

Watford 2 (Sarr 50', Deeney 54' pen)

Manchester United 0

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•   Spend less than you earn and save the rest. You can do this by earning more, or being frugal. Better still, do both.

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CHATGPT%20ENTERPRISE%20FEATURES
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The Sand Castle

Director: Matty Brown

Stars: Nadine Labaki, Ziad Bakri, Zain Al Rafeea, Riman Al Rafeea

Rating: 2.5/5

Formula Middle East Calendar (Formula Regional and Formula 4)
Round 1: January 17-19, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
 
Round 2: January 22-23, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
 
Round 3: February 7-9, Dubai Autodrome – Dubai
 
Round 4: February 14-16, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
 
Round 5: February 25-27, Jeddah Corniche Circuit – Saudi Arabia
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Install an air filter in your home.

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MATCH INFO

Uefa Champions League semi-final, second leg result:

Ajax 2-3 Tottenham

Tottenham advance on away goals rule after tie ends 3-3 on aggregate

Final: June 1, Madrid

Emergency

Director: Kangana Ranaut

Stars: Kangana Ranaut, Anupam Kher, Shreyas Talpade, Milind Soman, Mahima Chaudhry 

Rating: 2/5

Cryopreservation: A timeline
  1. Keyhole surgery under general anaesthetic
  2. Ovarian tissue surgically removed
  3. Tissue processed in a high-tech facility
  4. Tissue re-implanted at a time of the patient’s choosing
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The biog

Hometown: Cairo

Age: 37

Favourite TV series: The Handmaid’s Tale, Black Mirror

Favourite anime series: Death Note, One Piece and Hellsing

Favourite book: Designing Brand Identity, Fifth Edition

If you go
Where to stay: Courtyard by Marriott Titusville Kennedy Space Centre has unparalleled views of the Indian River. Alligators can be spotted from hotel room balconies, as can several rocket launch sites. The hotel also boasts cool space-themed decor.

When to go: Florida is best experienced during the winter months, from November to May, before the humidity kicks in.

How to get there: Emirates currently flies from Dubai to Orlando five times a week.
The Lowdown

Kesari

Rating: 2.5/5 stars
Produced by: Dharma Productions, Azure Entertainment
Directed by: Anubhav Singh
Cast: Akshay Kumar, Parineeti Chopra

 

Essentials

The flights
Etihad and Emirates fly direct from the UAE to Delhi from about Dh950 return including taxes.
The hotels
Double rooms at Tijara Fort-Palace cost from 6,670 rupees (Dh377), including breakfast.
Doubles at Fort Bishangarh cost from 29,030 rupees (Dh1,641), including breakfast. Doubles at Narendra Bhawan cost from 15,360 rupees (Dh869). Doubles at Chanoud Garh cost from 19,840 rupees (Dh1,122), full board. Doubles at Fort Begu cost from 10,000 rupees (Dh565), including breakfast.
The tours 
Amar Grover travelled with Wild Frontiers. A tailor-made, nine-day itinerary via New Delhi, with one night in Tijara and two nights in each of the remaining properties, including car/driver, costs from £1,445 (Dh6,968) per person.

10 tips for entry-level job seekers
  • Have an up-to-date, professional LinkedIn profile. If you don’t have a LinkedIn account, set one up today. Avoid poor-quality profile pictures with distracting backgrounds. Include a professional summary and begin to grow your network.
  • Keep track of the job trends in your sector through the news. Apply for job alerts at your dream organisations and the types of jobs you want – LinkedIn uses AI to share similar relevant jobs based on your selections.
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  • Don’t be afraid to reach outside your immediate friends and family to other acquaintances and let them know you are looking for new opportunities.
  • Make sure you’ve set your LinkedIn profile to signal that you are “open to opportunities”. Also be sure to use LinkedIn to search for people who are still actively hiring by searching for those that have the headline “I’m hiring” or “We’re hiring” in their profile.
  • Prepare for online interviews using mock interview tools. Even before landing interviews, it can be useful to start practising.
  • Be professional and patient. Always be professional with whoever you are interacting with throughout your search process, this will be remembered. You need to be patient, dedicated and not give up on your search. Candidates need to make sure they are following up appropriately for roles they have applied.

Arda Atalay, head of Mena private sector at LinkedIn Talent Solutions, Rudy Bier, managing partner of Kinetic Business Solutions and Ben Kinerman Daltrey, co-founder of KinFitz

German intelligence warnings
  • 2002: "Hezbollah supporters feared becoming a target of security services because of the effects of [9/11] ... discussions on Hezbollah policy moved from mosques into smaller circles in private homes." Supporters in Germany: 800
  • 2013: "Financial and logistical support from Germany for Hezbollah in Lebanon supports the armed struggle against Israel ... Hezbollah supporters in Germany hold back from actions that would gain publicity." Supporters in Germany: 950
  • 2023: "It must be reckoned with that Hezbollah will continue to plan terrorist actions outside the Middle East against Israel or Israeli interests." Supporters in Germany: 1,250 

Source: Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution