As the UAE gears up to celebrate its 49th National Day on Wednesday, December 2, a number of restaurants have curated limited-time menus and meal deals.
Whether you want to try authentic Emirati fare, experience a majlis or tuck into scrumptious dishes in the colours of the UAE flag, these offerings will put you in a celebratory spirit.
National Day deals in Dubai
Get 49 per cent off at Cafe Society
In recognition of the fact that it is UAE's 49th National Day, the chic restaurant in Dubai Marina is offering a 49 per cent discount on every item on its menu, exclusively on Wednesday, December 2. The restaurant, which is inspired by bistro culture from the 1920s, has breakfast options, including Emirati-style eggs with noodles; bruschetta with feta cheese and avocado, served on Emirati regag bread; and all manner of manakeesh. Burgers, pizzas and pastas aside, mains include hearty chicken, seafood and meat dishes. If you want to indulge, get the 250-gram Wagyu rib-eye, which costs Dh128, down from Dh250.
The offer is valid on dine-in and delivery.
Wednesday, December 2; 9am-11pm; 49 per cent off all menu items; Tamani Marina Hotel & Hotel Apartments, Dubai Marina; 04 318 3755, cafesociety.ae
Try a UAE-inspired waffle at Eggspectation
The Canadian brand is commemorating National Day with a limited-time rose and pistachio waffle. The dessert "brings together flavours of the UAE" with ingredients such as rose petals, saffron, orange blossom, rose blossom cream and crushed pistachio, all topped with authentic maple syrup.
Tuesday to Thursday, December 1 to 3; Dh39; times vary; The Beach, JBR; City Walk, Al Safa Street; eggspectation.ae
Mains for Dh49 at OUIBar + Terrace
The venue will serve all its mains for a fixed price of Dh49 for the first five days of December. Guests can tuck into dishes such as the beef burger, smoked salmon, tandoori chicken or Thai curry, all for less than Dh50.
Tuesday to Saturday, December 1 to 5; 6.30am-2am; Radisson Red Hotel Dubai Silicon Oasis, Dubai; 04 571 4343
Meal for two with a view at Weslodge Saloon
The restaurant, inspired by a classic American saloon, has launched a "two can dine" offer, which has been extended for National Day. From Monday, November 30 to Wednesday, December 2, the restaurant will serve a four-course sharing menu and four drinks, for Dh300. Expect dishes such as a scorched Wagyu with yuzu, truffle and radish and a whole sea bass. Dessert will be given a patriotic twist in the form of a pistachio baklava cheese tart, made with honey pistachio, walnut and rose-flavoured cream cheese. And the 68th-floor restaurant boasts stunning views of the Burj Khalifa to boot.
Monday to Wednesday, November 30 to December 2; 5.30pm-2am; Dh300 for two; 68th Floor, JW Marriott Marquis Hotel Dubai, Business Bay; 04 560 1700; weslodge.ae
Dig into a complimentary gold-topped dessert at Marea Dubai
Italian restaurant Marea Dubai in the Dubai International Financial Centre is treating diners to a touch of luxury with a dessert available for a limited time only. All those dining on Wednesday, December 2, can end their meal with a free flag-themed treat, with layers of velvet cake with cheese frosting, topped with 24K gold, a nod to the opulence and heritage of the UAE.
Wednesday, December 2; noon-5pm and 7pm-midnight; Marea Dubai, Gate Village 7, the DIFC; 04 583 6366, marearestaurant.com
Visit a Turkish market at City Walk
City Walk hot spots Babaji and Butcha have teamed up to host a Turkish street market pop-up featuring traditional delicacies and family-friendly entertainment. Guests can buy Turkish ice-cream or coffee while they browse through artisan items up for sale.
Thursday to Saturday, December 3 to 5; 10am-midnight; free; City Walk, Al Safa Street, Dubai; 04 385 4605
Dine in a majlis in Al Mashowa
Popular Emirati restaurant Al Mashowa in City Walk will host a majlis to celebrate National Day, complete with complimentary Arabic gahwa and dates, with a sand artist and local weaver showing off their skills. Guests can start the day with a traditional Emirati breakfast for Dh125 for two, or indulge in an authentic Arabian afternoon tea with live cooking stations from 3pm to 7pm, for Dh60 per person.
Tuesday to Saturday, December 1 to 5; 10am-midnight; City Walk, Dubai; 04 590 5455
Flag-themed poke at Flow
The healthy eating hub at Jumeirah Emirates Towers will be celebrating National Day with themed acai and poke bowls that are designed to mirror the colours of the UAE flag. There will also be themed drinks on offer, including charcoal lemonade, beetroot latte and matcha latte.
Wednesday to Friday, December 2 to 4; 7am-8pm; The Boulevard, Jumeirah Emirates Towers, Dubai; flowdubai.com
Tuck into a traditional Emirati brunch at Bab Al Shams Desert Resort & Spa
Brunch is a much-loved meal in the UAE, so why not indulge in a traditional one this National Day? Bab Al Shams Desert Resort & Spa is having a brunch with traditional Emirati cuisine, courtesy of its local chefs for one day only. On the menu is lentil soup, classic mezze dishes, and mains such as veal harees, lamb thareed, chicken machboos, prawns nashef, fish salouna and whole baby lamb, stuffed Emirati style. Meanwhile, a live cooking counter will dish out sweets such as luqaimat, khanfaroush and khoobs rokak.
Friday, December 2; 1pm-4pm; Dh385 per person with soft drinks; half price for children aged 6 to 12, free for children under 5;Al Qudra Road; Dubai; 04 809 6194, restaurants@babalshams.com
Enjoy complimentary dessert at Berkan Steakhouse
The home-grown Emirati steakhouse is known for a range of traditional meat dishes alongside its international steaks and burgers. For National Day, it will be offering diners a free dessert, from a list that includes baklava, katmer, cheesecake and brownies.
Wednesday and Thursday; December 2 and 3; noon to midnight; Al Safa, Dubai; 04 343 4143; berkan.ae
Have a healthy and patriotic snack at Tropicool
Vegan superfruit brand Tropicool has launched a limited-time UAE flag-themed National Day bowl available exclusively at the outlet in The Dubai Mall's Zabeel extension. The superfruit bowl comes with an acai or mango base, and is decorated with strawberries, blueberries, kiwis and coconut flakes to represent the UAE flag.
Monday to Saturday, November 23 to December 5; Dh39; The Dubai Mall, Zabeel extension, Downtown Dubai; tropicool.co
National Day deals in Abu Dhabi
Flag-themed menu at Market Kitchen
The restaurant has launched a chromatic four-course menu, with each course paying tribute to a colour of the UAE flag. The meal starts with a red pomegranate tuna ceviche, followed by a green tabbouleh salad designed in the shape of The Palm Jumeirah. For mains, guests can tuck into steamed white hammour with cauliflower and avocado oil paired with labneh khajur, and end the meal with an exotic black choco coffee mousse.
Sunday, November 22 to Sunday, December 6; 7pm-11pm; Dh250; Le Royal Meridien Abu Dhabi, Khalifa Bin Zayed The First Street; 800 101 101; restaurants.lrmad@lemeridien.com
UAE-inspired dishes at Punjab Grill
The fine-dining Indian restaurant will offer UAE-inspired dishes whipped up by its uber-creative executive chef Sandeep Ail. On offer will be dishes such as chicken trio with beetroot hummus; green pea hummus with black olives; and sumac chicken; plus, there will be a rasmalai-rabdi combination for dessert.
Wednesday, December 2; 12.30pm to midnight; Venetian Village, The Ritz-Carlton Abu Dhabi, Grand Canal, Khor Al Maqta; 050 668 3054
Savour a luxe afternoon tea at Le Cafe
Le Cafe at Emirates Palace will be hosting a decadent National Day-themed afternoon tea, with an exotic sweet and savoury menu. The spread includes beetroot with grilled halloumi, smoked salmon on saffron labneh and chicken with muhammara and mixed olive salad, while speciality brews will be served alongside scones and desserts such as camel chocolate mousse with gold; pistachio baklava; Umm Ali and mouhalabia. The cafe's signature 23K gold-flaked Palace Cappuccino also features on this limited-edition menu.
Wednesday and Thursday, December 2 and 3; 2pm to 6pm; from Dh295 for two; Le Cafe, Emirates Palace, Corniche Street, Abu Dhabi; 02 690 9000
Tuck into a traditional dinner at The Cafe
The restaurant will be offering a traditional Middle Eastern dinner to celebrate National Day. Guests will be served a welcome drink, followed by a selection of cold and hot mezze served on each table. There will be stations where chefs cook food up live, including a barbecue, tandoors, traditional lamb ouzi section and dessert station, complete with an ice cream trolley.
Wednesday and Thursday, December 2 and 3; 6.30pm to 10pm; Dh250 with soft drinks, Dh120 for childrenaged 6 to 12; Park Hyatt Abu Dhabi Hotel & Villas, Saadiyat Island; 02 407 1234
Savour an Emirati-style sharing menu at Le Vendome
The all-day dining restaurant at Emirates Palace will serve a limited-time traditional Emirati sharing menu amid a setting featuring National Day decor. The set menu includes starters such as rocca salad with Gulf prawns and mughrabia with scallops; mains such as veal harees cooked in ghee, lamb medfoun and fish salouna. This is also a good spot to sample Arabic beverages, from hot drinks such as karak chai and sahlab to juices including karkadi and jallab.
Sunday to Wednesday, November 29 to December 2; 7am to 11pm; Dh275 per person; Emirates Palace, Corniche Street, Abu Dhabi; 02 690 9000
Cookie-decorating at Droplets by Caboodle
The newly opened play area at The Galleria Al Maryah Island is hosting cookie-decorating activities to mark National Day. Little ones can spend time decorating their cookies in the colours of the flag, and take their creations home or enjoy as a treat.
Tuesday to Thursday, December 1 to 3; Dh29 per child; The Galleria Al Maryah Island, Abu Dhabi; 02 584 9548; thegalleria.ae/play/droplets-caboodle
Slurp on a National Day milkshake at Black Tap
Get your sugar fix at Black Tap outlets, which will bring back the limited-time National Day CrazyShake. The decadent vanilla shake comes with strawberry syrup, a chocolate-frosted rim studded with M&Ms, a slice of Magnolia Bakery's UAE National Day cake, whipped cream, and pistachio crumbles.
Friday to Wednesday, November 27 to December 1; Dh62 at Yas Mall, Abu Dhabi; Mall of the Emirates, Dubai; and The Dubai Mall; and Dh69 at Rixos Premium Dubai, JBR; and Jumeirah Al Naseem, Umm Suqeim; blacktapme.com
Baked treats at Mister Baker
The bakery has created a range of treats that are all about celebrating the UAE. Opt for a cupcake in the colour of the flag or go all out with a tiered cake complete with stars and roses. The National Day collection will be available in-store throughout the holiday, and customised creations can also be ordered.
Tuesday to Saturday, December 1 to 5; cupcakes from Dh18, cakes from Dh150; various branches across the UAE; misterbaker.com/uae
