Arabic coffee
قهوة عربية Gahwa · Abu Dhabi, UAE
Pale coffee with cardamom, served with dates — the Gulf's gesture of hospitality.
Know before you go
- Don't take the cup with your left hand
- don't refuse the first cup (it's part of hospitality)
- during Ramadan, don't eat or drink in public by day
This article is Not yet verified. Please check official announcements for prices, opening hours and dates.
Culture
Culture & customs
Background
Arabic coffee is made from lightly to darkly roasted Arabica beans brewed with cardamom, sometimes with cloves or saffron. On the Arabian Peninsula it is brewed and poured from a long-spouted pot called a dallah into small patterned cups (finjān), and is almost always served with dates as a sign of hospitality. UNESCO has listed Arabic coffee as intangible cultural heritage of the Arab states.
Local customs
- Your host or server will keep refilling your cup
- when you've had enough, gently shake the cup from side to side before handing it back
Etiquette
Etiquette & taboos
Rules that apply here
UAE: no kissing in public
- Show restraint in public
- Kissing in public
You can be arrested for it.
Verified Oct 19, 2026Source: GOV.UK: United Arab Emirates travel advice
UAE: swearing and rude gestures are illegal
- Be polite when dealing with police and officials
- Swearing or making rude gestures (including online)
Treated as an obscene act; can lead to prison or deportation.
Verified Oct 19, 2026Source: GOV.UK: United Arab Emirates travel advice
UAE: cross the road only at pedestrian crossings
- Cross at designated pedestrian crossings and watch for traffic
- Jaywalking
Illegal; you can be fined or even jailed. Even at zebra crossings, cars often don't stop.
Verified Oct 19, 2026Source: GOV.UK: United Arab Emirates travel advice
Don’t DON'T
- Don't take the cup with your left hand
- don't refuse the first cup (it's part of hospitality)
- during Ramadan, don't eat or drink in public by day
Locals appreciate DO
People in the Gulf appreciate guests who take the cup with their right hand, drink a cup or two and then politely signal they've had enough.
Plan your visit
Practical info
Travel tips
- You can try it at cafés near the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque and in traditional souks
- a dallah makes a nice souvenir. Prices and opening hours are set by each café
- popular old places often have queues, so go outside peak mealtimes.
Sources & verification notes
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