Is Food Expensive in Dubai? Real Prices, Smart Tips

• Written by May, 24 2025
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If you’ve ever checked your bank app after a restaurant meal in Dubai and winced at the total, you’re not alone. Prices can swing wildly—one day you’re grabbing $5 shawarma, the next you’re staring down a $50 salad in a fancy hotel.

Here's the honest truth: food in Dubai isn’t always cheap, but you don’t have to go broke to eat well. It’s all about where you go, what you order, and how you play the game. Whether you’re here for short stays, working, or entertaining clients, knowing a few tricks can save you a chunk of dirhams.

Dubai has options for every budget, but you need to know where to find the best value. Want real prices? A decent lunch at a casual spot is about 40–60 AED ($11–$16), while a grocery basket for a week’s basics usually runs between 150–250 AED ($40–$68) per person. You’ll pay extra at hotel restaurants, touristy malls, or if you love imported brands (seriously, why does almond milk cost as much as Luna’s annual vet check?).

• Why Food Prices Matter in Dubai
• Eating Out: Restaurants, Street Food, and Cafés
• Groceries and Supermarkets: What Locals Pay
• Budget-Friendly Eats: Where to Save in Dubai
• What Makes Food Expensive Here
• Tips for Enjoying Dubai’s Food Scene Without Overspending

Why Food Prices Matter in Dubai

Food costs aren’t just about what’s on your plate—they shape your entire Dubai experience. If you’re spending more than you planned every time you eat, it chips away at your fun money, savings, or whatever you had set aside for the good stuff in Dubai.

Dubai is famous for its luxury, but it’s also home to a massive expat population and thousands of visitors every day. Everyone’s chasing a good meal at a fair price. That means knowing food prices is just smart planning, whether you’re living here, working as an escort, or traveling for pleasure.

Did you know: UAE’s consumer price index showed food and non-alcoholic beverage prices went up around 3.7% in 2024? That’s higher than the global average for food inflation. Eating out especially can max out your budget faster than you’d expect, especially when service charges (usually 10-15%) and taxes get tacked on to your bill.

Some jobs—like escorts, hospitality staff, and freelancers—often have to entertain or eat out with clients. All those brunches, coffees, and quick bites add up, so if you’re not tracking costs, it’s easy to feel shortchanged fast.

• food prices Dubai are affected by factors like import costs, global inflation, and competition among restaurants.
• Grocery prices shift depending on where you shop and whether you stick to local items or go for imported brands.
• Promo apps and meal deals can seriously cut costs, but you have to know where to look.

Bottom line: Knowing average prices and how to spot value is a must if you want to make the most of your time (and money) in this city.

Eating Out: Restaurants, Street Food, and Cafés

Dubai’s food scene is wild. You’ve got glitzy restaurants, cozy little cafés, and street food that’ll make you want seconds (or thirds). If you’re staying a while or just popping in for a few nights, knowing where your dirhams go can change the whole vibe of your visit.

Let's talk numbers. A meal at a mid-range restaurant will usually set you back about 120 AED ($33) per person—think restaurant chains in Dubai Mall or Marina. If you’re going for a quick bite, like a shawarma or falafel wrap from a street stall, expect to pay 7–15 AED ($2–$4). Coffee is all over the place: grab a basic brew for around 10 AED at a local café, or a fancy iced latte for up to 30 AED at an Instagram hotspot.

Brunch is practically a sport in Dubai. Weekend brunches can be an event, but be ready to shell out anywhere from 150 to over 500 AED per person ($40–$135), not including extras or drinks. If you’re dining at a hotel—think Burj Al Arab or Atlantis—you’ll pay a premium, not just for food but the view and the brand, too.

"Dubai has an insanely varied restaurant market, so you really can eat for every budget. Don’t be afraid of the small cafeterias—they’re favorites for a reason." – Timeout Dubai, February 2025

Street eats are where you’ll find the best bang for your buck. Places in Deira, Karama, or Satwa serve local favorites like chicken shawarma, manakish, or Pakistani curries. Most dishes are under 20 AED. Portions are hearty, so you won’t leave hungry. Cafés cater to every taste, but if you go somewhere with a sea view or in the tourist hotspots, prices jump fast.

If you’re watching your spending, hit up local chains like Al Mallah or Karachi Darbar. There’s no shame in skipping fancy restaurants unless you’re going for the photos or meeting clients. And don’t forget—plenty of affordable spots stay open late, perfect if you wrap up work or a booking past midnight. It’s not hard to eat well without blowing your budget in Dubai, but knowing where to look makes all the difference.

Groceries and Supermarkets: What Locals Pay

Shopping for groceries in Dubai isn’t as scary as some people think, but it’s definitely different from back home. The main thing is, you’ve got big choices—Carrefour, Lulu, and Spinneys are everywhere, and each one has its own vibe. Carrefour is good for deals, Lulu is loaded with budget options and Asian goods, while Spinneys is where you end up if you like imported cheese and don’t stress over prices.

If you stick with local or regional brands and shop in supermarkets (not tiny corner stores), you’ll find that basic stuff isn’t bad. Here’s a quick look at the average prices in AED (that’s dirhams) from 2025:

If you fill up your basket with mostly local dairy, fruits, rice, and chicken, you can keep your costs down—think around 200 AED ($54) for weekly basics for one person. Go wild with foreign snacks, fancy "healthy" stuff, or lots of pre-cut veggies, and your bill will jump fast.

Want to save more? Shop at open-air markets like Deira Fish Market or buy bulk in hypermarkets. Also, some supermarkets have late night discount bins for bread, fruit, or ready meals about to expire. If you see “imported” next to the product name, it always costs more.

• Stick to house brands—they're good quality in Dubai, and way cheaper than imports.
• Try shopping on weekdays, when stores are less crowded and there are more markdowns.
• Apps like InstaShop and Carrefour Online sometimes have flash deals or coupon codes.

When it comes to food prices Dubai offers, you’ve got choices at every range—it just pays to look past the eye-level brands and read those price tags.

Budget-Friendly Eats: Where to Save in Dubai

Dubai’s got a serious reputation for luxury, but cheap eats are everywhere if you know where to look. You don’t have to chase fancy restaurants to enjoy good food. Some of the best bites are hiding in plain sight, and even locals skip hotel dining for these spots.

First stop: Old Dubai in areas like Al Karama, Bur Dubai, and Deira. These neighborhoods are packed with tiny cafés, Indian and Pakistani restaurants, Filipino diners, and Middle Eastern grill houses where you can get a hearty meal for under 30 AED ($8). Don’t be afraid to grab shawarma from a street corner; it’s filling, fast, and typically less than 10 AED ($2.70).

Here are a few tried-and-true cheap eats that won’t disappoint:

• Al Mallah (Al Satwa): Famous for affordable Lebanese food, especially their shawarmas and fresh juices.
• Ravi Restaurant (Al Satwa): This one’s legendary. Pakistani curries start at 18 AED, with big portions.
• Man’oushe Street (Various locations): Lebanese bakery treats, with manakeesh and wraps around 15–20 AED each.
• Chicking (citywide): UAE’s homegrown fried chicken chain, combo meals from 18 AED.
• Jollibee (Dubai Mall and others): Beloved by the Filipino community, popular chicken and rice plates from 22 AED.

Don’t skip supermarket takeaways either. Spinneys, Carrefour, and Lulu Hypermarket have ready-to-eat hot foods, salads, and sandwiches. A filling mixed grill or biryani here wraps up at around 20–25 AED. It’s a hack used by students and workers alike.

Here’s a quick snapshot of real costs for budget food in Dubai:

It’s smart to avoid hotel restaurants if you want to watch your budget—taxes and service charges add up fast. The real winners, whether you’re here for a night or a month, are the little places packed with locals. You won’t just save, you’ll eat like you actually live here. So, for the best food prices Dubai can offer, stick to these picks and enjoy more for less.

What Makes Food Expensive Here

So, why are food prices in Dubai all over the place? The main reason: nearly everything is imported. The country doesn’t have much local farming because, let’s face it, Dubai is built on sand and sun, not rolling fields. Over 80% of food in the UAE comes from abroad. That means shipping, taxes, storage, and handling fees get packed into the price tag you see at the checkout.

Fancy restaurants and hotel dining? Add another layer. By law, places in or near hotels charge a tourism tax, and they often import high-end ingredients (think Wagyu beef or specialty cheeses from Europe). Plus, rent for a restaurant in a prime Dubai spot is sky-high, and someone’s got to pay for that AC running 24/7.

You might’ve noticed different prices for the same thing in two locations. That’s the Dubai mall effect. Eating in popular malls or tourist hotspots usually means a big markup compared to a quiet local eatery in Deira or Karama.

"Food costs are higher in Dubai mostly due to import logistics and real estate overheads. Shopping smart and eating where the locals go makes a big difference."
— Gulf News Food Report, 2024

Let’s look at how this all adds up, compared to a couple of other cities.

Here’s what drives prices up in Dubai:

• High import rates for most food products
• Luxury lifestyle markets push up demand for premium items
• Tourism and entertainment taxes in many venues
• Costly real estate, especially downtown or near the beach
• Limited local food production

The trick? If you want to save, look for smaller, non-touristy supermarkets, hit up the old souks, and check out restaurants in neighborhoods where local families actually live.

Tips for Enjoying Dubai’s Food Scene Without Overspending

Dubai is packed with food choices, but you don’t have to drain your wallet to eat well. Here are proven hacks to keep your dining out costs under control while still tasting the best bites the city offers.

• food prices Dubai: Always check if the menu has prices before you sit down. Some high-end places in Dubai don’t display them clearly, so you could get hit with a surprise bill.
• Skip alcohol in restaurants. Dubai taxes booze heavily, so a glass of wine or cocktail can double your dinner cost. Stick to juice or water and save alcohol for a bar with happy hour deals.
• Eat where locals go. Karama, Deira, and Satwa are known for affordable street food—think huge plates of biryani for under 20 AED ($5) or fresh parathas for breakfast that cost less than your morning coffee at Starbucks.
• Try lunch deals. Tons of sit-down restaurants offer set menus or business lunches, especially during weekdays. You get quality food at a price that’s way lower than dinner. Expect to pay around 50–70 AED ($14–$19) for three courses.
• Don’t ignore food courts in malls. They’re not just for tourists—Dubai Mall, Mall of the Emirates, and others have food courts with everything from Lebanese shawarma to Korean bibimbap. A filling meal here typically costs 30–40 AED ($8–$11).
• Order from local delivery apps like Zomato or Talabat. They often have promo codes and bundle deals that you won’t get by walking into the same restaurant. Just remember, delivery fees can add up if you’re not careful.

Here’s what you can expect for some common meals, so you know what’s a bargain and what’s borderline robbery:

One more tip: Grabbing groceries at stores like Carrefour or Lulu lets you put together your own meals for way less. Even pre-packed deli options for picnics or late-night snacks beat most restaurant prices. Dubai is set up for convenience, so don’t be shy about mixing eating in and out—it’s how a lot of locals keep their budgets sane.