A guide to traditional street food in Dubai: A handy Middle East feast

By Ben Groundwater
Updated May 28 2015 - 10:18am, first published May 24 2015 - 12:15am
Hummus and falafel delight at Qwaider al Nabulsi. Photo: Ben Groundwater
Hummus and falafel delight at Qwaider al Nabulsi. Photo: Ben Groundwater
Even watching the chef prepare Syrian ice-cream, or booza, at Damascus Sweets is an experience. Photo: Ben Groundwater
Even watching the chef prepare Syrian ice-cream, or booza, at Damascus Sweets is an experience. Photo: Ben Groundwater
Even watching the chef prepare Syrian ice-cream, or booza, at Damascus Sweets is an experience. Photo: Ben Groundwater
Even watching the chef prepare Syrian ice-cream, or booza, at Damascus Sweets is an experience. Photo: Ben Groundwater
Even watching the chef prepare Syrian ice-cream, or booza, at Damascus Sweets is an experience. Photo: Ben Groundwater
Even watching the chef prepare Syrian ice-cream, or booza, at Damascus Sweets is an experience. Photo: Ben Groundwater
Even watching the chef prepare Syrian ice-cream, or booza, at Damascus Sweets is an experience. Photo: Ben Groundwater
Even watching the chef prepare Syrian ice-cream, or booza, at Damascus Sweets is an experience. Photo: Ben Groundwater
Enjoying a traditional Iranian meal. Photo: Airspectiv Media
Enjoying a traditional Iranian meal. Photo: Airspectiv Media
Musakhan, a Palestinian dish, is served at Qwaider al Nabulsi.
 Photo: Ben Groundwater
Musakhan, a Palestinian dish, is served at Qwaider al Nabulsi. Photo: Ben Groundwater

"The prophet Muhammad taught us that a person should eat using just three fingers," says Arva Ahmed, passing a plate of char-grilled meat and yoghurt to a group of diners sitting cross-legged on the carpeted floor. Then she breaks into a smile. "But that was before we knew about rice. If a person eats with three fingers now, I think they would be on a diet."