Champagne Lovers’ Guide to the United Arab Emirates: restaurants, bars and things to do
The United Arab Emirates has built a remarkable luxury hospitality and dining culture, making it one of the Middle East’s most established destinations for Champagne. Dubai and Abu Dhabi offer an enormous range of international restaurants, luxury hotels, rooftop venues and licensed bars where Champagne is part of the experience. The combination of warm weather, dramatic architecture and a strong culture of celebrations makes Champagne particularly at home here.
The UAE’s food scene reflects its international population as much as its own Emirati heritage. Traditional dishes worth trying include machboos, harees, thareed, grilled meats, fresh seafood and luqaimat, while Arabic mezze such as hummus, fattoush and baba ghanoush are widely enjoyed. Champagne works particularly well with seafood, fried appetisers, salty mezze and dishes flavoured with saffron, cardamom, dates and citrus.
Dubai is known for its spectacular skyline, enormous shopping destinations and beach lifestyle. Explore Al Fahidi Historical Neighbourhood, walk along Dubai Creek and visit the souks before heading into the modern city to see Downtown Dubai, the Burj Khalifa and Dubai Marina. Abu Dhabi offers a more measured pace, with the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, Louvre Abu Dhabi, Qasr Al Watan and the waterfront of the Corniche among its highlights.
Beyond the cities, the UAE’s desert is one of its defining landscapes. A trip into the dunes offers a completely different experience from the polished urban environment, while the mountains and coastline of Ras Al Khaimah, Fujairah and the Hajar range provide opportunities for hiking, beaches and outdoor adventures.
For Champagne lovers, the UAE offers a distinctive combination of luxury, food and spectacle. A Champagne brunch, dinner overlooking the skyline or sunset drink by the Arabian Gulf can feel worlds away from a traditional Champagne experience in France – and that contrast is part of the appeal.
