What to actually eat
Shawarma from a street counter, which is the national late-night food and costs less than a coffee.
Machboos and other Emirati dishes, which are harder to find than you would think. Al Fanar and a handful of others do the real version.
Pakistani and Indian food in Satwa and Karama, which is where a lot of the city eats and is consistently excellent.
Lebanese mezze, Iranian grills, Filipino canteens and Ethiopian coffee houses, all within a short taxi of each other.
Where to go
Deira and Bur Dubai for the oldest and cheapest food in the city, and for the souks around it.
Al Satwa and Karama for South Asian, and for the cafes that stay open late.
Jumeirah and the marina for the restaurant scene the brochures show you, which is good and priced accordingly.
The Madinat Jumeirah grounds themselves have a stack of restaurants, which is convenient during the conference and expensive.
Rules worth knowing
Alcohol is served in licensed venues, which in practice means hotels and a few standalone bars. Drinking in public or being drunk in public is an offence.
Ramadan does not fall over this conference in 2027, so daytime eating and drinking in public is unrestricted.
Friday brunch is a Dubai institution and books out weeks ahead. If you want one during conference week, reserve now.
The best conversations during conference week happen in a cheap restaurant in Karama, not at the fourth after-party.
