It’s hard to find anyone who doesn’t love shawarma. It’s one of the great institutions of our country: from the hole in the wall to hypermarkets, you will find this cheap and delicious Arabian snack everywhere.
So the news that nearly half of all shawarma outlets in Dubai have been told to stop selling the popular street food is naturally frustrating. But this is happening for a good reason. In May, Dubai’s shawarma stands and shops were given six months to implement new hygiene rules around serving sandwiches – and they were required to show that they had the right space, equipment and storage to prepare the food safely. But these shops failed to comply.
After several high-profile food poisoning cases in the past, it’s clear that food sellers need more than a reminder to clean up their act. However, shawarma is an integral part of our food culture, and we hope that these shops will be saved. After all, we don’t want shawarma to disappear.
