Dubai is a popular tourist destination known for its modern architecture, luxury shopping, and exciting nightlife. But when it comes to dining options, many visitors wonder if they can get classic breakfast items like bacon in this cosmopolitan city. Dubai has a diverse population, with immigrants from around the world as well as native Emiratis. This multiculturalism is reflected in its culinary landscape, which features international cuisines alongside local Arabic food. So can you find bacon in Dubai? Let’s take a closer look at what dining in Dubai is like.
Dining Out in Dubai
There are over 12,000 restaurants in Dubai, ranging from street food stalls to upscale dining. International fast food chains like McDonald’s and Starbucks are ubiquitous, catering to busy professionals and hungry tourists. Malls are filled with food courts offering everything from Chinese to Lebanese dishes. Of course, local Emirati cuisine is also prevalent, with traditional dishes like machboos (chicken or meat mixed with rice). With its coastal location, seafood is incredibly popular in Dubai. Trendy restaurants compete to serve the freshest catch.
Dubai’s dining scene is truly global. You can find just about every type of cuisine there, from Thai to Italian to Ethiopian. There are even a number of British-style pubs and gastropubs that serve classic British comfort foods. So despite being located in the Middle East, finding a proper English breakfast with eggs, sausages, baked beans, and bacon is certainly possible in Dubai.
Bacon in Dubai
The majority of citizens in the United Arab Emirates are Muslim, a religion which prohibits the consumption of pork. As such, bacon is not commonly found on menus across Dubai. Bacon is not illegal, however, and many non-Muslim residents enjoy eating it regularly.
There are a number of hotels and restaurants that do serve pork and bacon to cater to tourists and expatriates living in Dubai. These include:
Hotels
- Armani Hotel Dubai
- Palazzo Versace Dubai
- Sofitel Dubai Downtown
- Shangri-La Hotel
- Jumeirah Creekside Hotel
- Raffles Dubai
These upscale hotels often have multiple restaurants and bars that offer bacon, sausages, and other pork products on their breakfast, brunch, and dinner menus.
Restaurants
- Brunch and Cake
- Forest Grille
- anchor Cafe
- Indus Valley Cafe
- Caf?? Arabesque
- GBK
- The Blacksmith Smokehouse
- Cabbies Gourmet Kitchen
These are just a few of the many international restaurants scattered across Dubai that serve dishes featuring bacon and other pork products. There are certain areas like Downtown Dubai, Dubai Marina, and JBR where pork is more readily available at restaurants due to the high population of expats and tourists.
Grocery Stores
Bacon and other pork items can also be found at certain grocery stores in Dubai including:
- Spinneys
- Waitrose
- Choithrams
- Park ‘n’ Shop
- Carrefour
These supermarkets will have a designated pork section, usually in a separate room, where shoppers can find bacon, sausages, ham and more. This allows Muslim shoppers who do not consume pork to avoid that section of the store easily.
Can Tourists Order Bacon in Dubai?
Yes, visitors to Dubai can definitely order bacon at their hotel or when dining out. As a popular tourist destination, Dubai caters to all dietary preferences. Most hotels that serve bacon will list pork items clearly on their restaurant menus. At hotel breakfast buffets, there may be a separate section for pork sausages and bacon.
If you are staying at a smaller hotel that does not serve pork, simply look up nearby restaurants that do offer it. There are even apps like Deliveroo and Talabat that let you order pork dishes for delivery from restaurants to your hotel. Keep in mind when ordering room service that you may need to specifically request bacon or pork products.
Arabic Alternatives to Bacon
While bacon can certainly be found in Dubai, traditional Arabic breakfasts have tasty meat-free alternatives that are worth trying:
Labneh
A thick strained yogurt that has the creamy richness of sour cream. It is often seasoned with olive oil and spices then spread onto Arabic bread.
Haloumi
This salty, semi-firm cheese has a unique texture when fried or grilled that makes it an excellent substitute for bacon.
Foul Mudammas
A protein-rich dip or spread made from fava beans seasoned with olive oil, lemon juice, garlic and spices. It provides a nutty, savory flavor.
Za’atar Manakish
Manakish is a traditional Arabic flatbread topped with za’atar, a spice mixture with thyme, oregano, sesame seeds and tangy sumac. It has a wonderful herbal aroma.
Hummus
Creamy blended chickpeas served as a dip, spread or light breakfast. Hummus has healthy fats and protein.
Falafel
Fried patties or balls made from spiced ground chickpeas or fava beans. Falafel packs a punch of fiber, protein and flavor.
Rules and Customs
While ordering and eating bacon is legal in Dubai, there are some important rules and customs tourists should keep in mind:
- Only order pork and alcohol at licensed venues or places that clearly offer it on menus.
- Be discreet – avoid cooking bacon openly at hotels or handling pork in public as that can be offensive.
- During daylight hours of Ramadan, eat and drink in private, away from public view.
- In the UAE, offensive public behavior regarding pork consumption can incur fines.
- Refrain from carrying bacon in hand luggage when entering the country.
By being respectful of local laws and customs in Dubai, tourists can happily enjoy bacon and alcohol without causing offense.
Is the Bacon in Dubai Halal or Haram?
No, the bacon and pork found in Dubai is neither halal nor haram. Halal refers to foods that adhere to Islamic dietary guidelines, which prohibit pork consumption. Haram is the opposite – foods that are not permitted.
Dubai does have halal food standards and labeling for approved meat, seafood, dairy and other products. Any bacon or pork sold in the UAE is simply regular supermarket-style pork, not certified halal or haram. These non-halal pork products are available to non-Muslims, though not widely advertised. Hotels and restaurants that serve pork are licensed to do so, despite pork being against halal standards.
Can Muslims Eat Bacon in Dubai?
While pork can be found in certain venues, observant Muslims still abstain from consuming bacon or any pork products in Dubai. Eating pork is considered haram (forbidden) in Islam.
Dubai offers plenty of delicious halal cuisine, with breakfast favorites like labneh, hummus, ful mudammas and falafel. At hotels and brunch venues, signage clearly labels halal and non-halal dishes, so Muslim diners can easily avoid pork.
Some moderate Muslims may eat bacon in Dubai, but more devout Muslims strictly avoid it for religious reasons. Hotels and airlines in Dubai do cater to Muslim guests by not offering pork and having dedicated halal kitchens.
Pricing of Bacon in Dubai
Bacon is more expensive in Dubai than many other meats because it is imported and sold in specialty shops. Here are average prices for bacon in Dubai:
| Bacon Type | Price |
|---|---|
| Smoked bacon (250g pack) | 25 AED |
| Middle bacon (250g) | 30 AED |
| Streaky bacon (250g) | 35 AED |
| Turkey bacon (250g) | 30 AED |
| Pork sausages (450g) | 35 AED |
*1 AED = 0.27 USD
So on average, a pack of middle bacon costs around $8 USD in Dubai. At hotels and restaurants, dishes containing bacon are marked up higher than typical local menu prices. For budget travelers, eating halal local foods is the most affordable option.
Quality of Dubai Bacon
Overall the quality of bacon available in Dubai is quite good, though much is imported frozen rather than fresh. Hotels and upscale restaurants serve high-quality pork and bacon, sourcing brands like Foster Clark’s, Farmer John’s and Kellogg’s to meet tourism demand.
Dubai also produces some of its own artisanal charcuterie and smoked meats for pork-eaters. Grocery store bacon brands are a mix of British, American and Australian products. Since all pork must be imported and properly labeled, consumers can be confident the bacon sold in Dubai is regulated for quality.
Can You Bring Bacon into Dubai?
Tourists are advised not to carry any pork products like bacon in their luggage when entering Dubai. While Dubai does allow tourist consumption of pork, attempting to bring it into the country can potentially lead to confiscation of the items and fines.
To avoid problems when entering Dubai, purchase bacon and other pork products from authorized stores and restaurants within the country during your visit. There are plenty of reputable outlets to buy quality imported bacon once you are in Dubai if needed for your stay.
The UAE takes biosecurity at points of entry very seriously. Declare any food items you have with you on arrival. Be cooperative if questioned and do not attempt to conceal or lie about bacon or pork in your luggage.
Purchasing Bacon for Home Delivery in Dubai
It’s easy for residents of Dubai to purchase quality bacon and have it delivered right to their home. Some options include:
- Supermarket apps – Carrefour, Kibsons, Choithrams and others allow online grocery orders with home delivery. Browse their dedicated pork sections online.
- Food delivery apps – Use apps like Talabat, Deliveroo or Zomato to order dishes and meals containing bacon from restaurants. Useful if your hotel doesn’t serve pork.
- Organic farms – Oasis Farms and Emirates Bio Farm deliver fresh organic meats, including pork and bacon products.
- Butcher shops – Gourmet Gulf Delicatessen, Knights Butchery and Prime Gourmet butcher shops prepare quality cuts of pork to order.
By having bacon delivered to your accommodation, you can enjoy it easily without having to venture out to specialty shops. Apps make finding and purchasing bacon convenient.
Bacon Dishes to Try in Dubai
If you want to experience bacon in Dubai, try some of these tasty dishes:
Classic breakfast
Enjoy a traditional Emirati breakfast with eggs, sausage, baked beans and crispy bacon strips. Hotels often offer lavish Friday brunch breakfast spreads with pork sections.
Bacon cheeseburger
Upscale burger joints like Clinton St. Baking Company, Mythos Kouzina, and Tom & Serg serve gourmet burgers topped with bacon and cheese.
Carbonara pasta
Creamy, rich spaghetti carbonara made authentically with crisped pancetta (Italian bacon). Try it at Cipriani Dubai.
Poutine
French fries topped with cheese curds, gravy and of course, bacon. Get Canadian-style poutine at gastropubs like The Maple Leaf.
Chicken club sandwich
A lunch staple, the triple-decker club sandwich always tastes better with the addition of smoky bacon.
Maple bacon doughnut
Gourmet doughnuts are huge in Dubai – try the popular maple bacon flavor from Doughlicious or other trendy shops.
Bacon mac & cheese
Creamy macaroni smothered in a cheesy bacon sauce, baked to crispy perfection. Comfort food at its finest!
Bacon avocado toast
Artisanal cafes all over Dubai serve creative toast dishes like the millennial favorite bacon and avocado toast.
Bacon martini
For a cocktail with a twist, try a bacon-infused martini with a strip of crispy bacon as garnish. Available at bars like The Penthouse.
Conclusion
Tourists hailing from countries where bacon is a breakfast staple can rest assured they can enjoy it during travels to Dubai. By frequenting licensed hotels, restaurants and grocery stores, finding quality bacon in Dubai for consumption is easy. With its diversity of eateries, Dubai can satisfy cravings for pork while respecting cultural dietary restrictions – the best of both worlds for tourists and residents.