The Holy Month of Ramadan is only weeks away, with the ninth month in the Islamic lunar calendar set to begin on or around Saturday March 1. And once Ramadan begins in Dubai, iftar is a lovely opportunity to get together with loved ones for an evening meal, whether you’re fasting or not.
Enjoy a curated iftar at this gorgeous restaurant from the French Riviera, now found in Dubai at J1 Beach. The meal begins with dates and dried apricots, then sweet potato hummus and Nicoise salad, before opting for an a la carte choice of main, with options including lasagne, African curry, or lemon veal scaloppini. Private cabana dining options are also available from Dhs3,500.
Offering food and hospitality true to its folklore, Al Nafoorah takes guests on a gastronomic journey through the culturally rich Lebanon with a traditional iftar set menu at Jumeirah Al Qasr. The intricate Middle Eastern design accents add to the allure.
Alizée, Banyan Tree Dubai, Bluewaters, sunset to 8pm, AED225 for five-course menu at the restaurant, AED295 for the six-course menu at the pool and beach. Tel: (0)4 556 6466. @alizeedubai
Found at Address Sky View, Amelia’s set menu leans into Nikkei cuisine in a unique way during Ramadan. On the culinary front, guests enjoy a menu of sharing starters, a choice of main, and then a choice of two desserts. Meanwhile, Amelia’s signature sounds, a mix of melodic and afro house, play throughout the evening.
The quintessential iftar event returns to Atlantis, The Palm’s renowned Asateer Tent, this year welcoming a whopping 1,730 guests each night. In addition to the elegant yet modern look and feel of the ambience and décor, diners can enjoy a fusion buffet featuring various theme nights, including international, Arabesque, Khaleeji, Persian, and Turkish cuisine. There are a variety of seating arrangements, including a Royal Majlis, four VIP Majlis areas, as well as booth seating and 120 dining tables.
Arguably one of the most captivating ways to spend Ramadan is with iftar at Al Hadheerah at Bab Al Shams. Guests experience an authentic Arabian feast alongside mesmerising live performances inspired by the region’s rich heritage. As the night unfolds, visitors can meander through a colourful souk, before a very special show commences, which features dancers, musicians, falconers, camel and horse riders to bring the soul of Arabian heritage alive.
With its rooftop terrace overlooking Dubai Marina and the stretching JBR skyline, Barfly by Buddha Bar is a scenic spot for iftar. The menu promises dishes that lace Middle Eastern influences into the pan-Asian menu, featuring options like prawn tempura, lamb tsukune skewers, josper seabass and slow-cooked lamb leg. For dessert, choose either date pudding or Um Ali.
Designed exclusively for groups of 30 and above, CÉ LA VI puts its pan-Asian cuisine into a menu of sharing-style plates perfect for sharing with colleagues and friends. Begin with date and roasted mushroom soup, a choice of burrata or shrimp tempura, then main course options of baby chicken or the restaurant’s signature black truffle risotto with sushi rice. The set menu concludes with Persian delight or mango basil tart.
Peruvian hotspot COYA Dubai hosts a delectable four-course meal for iftar 2025, which includes dates and guacamole, soups, a selection of appetisers, one main course (it has to be the Chilean sea bass for us), and a pistachio baklava for dessert.
Formerly Couqley, this cosy French brasserie in JLT serves up a two-course menu for a great value AED169. The menu features a selection of starters, from onion soup gratinée to Harisa cauliflower, alongside mains like steak frites, wild mushroom risotto, and more, paired with dates and a bottle of water for two. Guests can complete their meal with a dessert for an additional Dhs30, choosing from crème brûlée, pain perdu, and more.
This chic ode to the French Riviera unveils its first Ramadan Majlis at the beautiful Sea Lounge. Set against the calm waters of the Arabian Gulf, this Majlis by the sea is ornate lanterns and plush seating, creating a warm and inviting space for a sharing-style iftar. Expect Arabic twists on traditional French dishes.
Numâ at FIVE Palm Jumeirah invites you to a luxurious iftar experience, where classic Arabic flavours meet bold international twists. Under a beautifully adorned pergola, savour a lavish buffet of mezze, live cooking stations and indulgent desserts. Guests can also enjoy shisha in a relaxed lounge setting, with a modern Arabic soundtrack enhancing the ambience.
Recreating the grandeur of historic gatherings that defined Islamic culture through time, The Majlis at Four Seasons Resort Dubai at Jumeirah Beach is a beautiful Ramadan pop-up that will serve iftar and suhoor daily in the resort’s event garden. Laced with a contemporary touch, dine under the warm lights of this grand open-air majlis, on a buffet featuring dishes like lentil soup, crispy kibbeh and smoky baba ghanoush to start, followed by options like lamb ouzi and the barbecue mixed grill. For dessert, an indulgent spread concludes the evening on a sweet note.
In the grand dining room of this elegant DIFC brasserie, the elevated European menu you know and love The Guild for gets a Middle Eastern twist for iftar. Beginning with Medjool dates, it follows up with a choice of slow-cooked lamb shoulder, braised beef chuck or chicken rotisserie, and ends with a saffron milk cake or sticky toffee date pudding.
Expo City’s Ramadan experience is one of the city’s most memorable, complete with vibrant markets and cultural activities that really immerse visitors in the meaning of this special month. For iftar, dine under the dome’s beautiful projections on communal tables that encourage social moments, or book an exclusive iftar cabin for up to 10 for an additional AED250 booking fee.
Returning this year is the stunning Ramadan Garden at Jumeirah Beach Hotel overlooking scenic views of the Arabian Gulf and iconic Burj Al Arab. Discover an array of live stations serving up mouth-watering dishes inspired by the traditions of the Middle East, further elevated with traditional tunes from the live qanun and oud player. There’s a dedicated kids’ area too.
For a most luxurious iftar experience, make your way to the home of French Mediterranean cuisine, La Petite Maison Dubai. The menu begins with dates and a weekly changing soup, then continues with plates designed to share, like signature dishes of crispy squid, kale salad and quinoa salad. For mains, opt for your own or share options like the ricotta ravioli or stone sea bass with grilled fennel and tomatoes. To conclude, try LPM’s new desserts for the season, including the coffee éclair or pistachio cake. Alongside iftar, LPM has curated a menu of non-alcoholic cocktails with Lyre’s, for a refreshing Ramadan sip.
The Lighthouse
Break your fast with a three-course iftar menu. It features starters such as lentil salad with pickled vegetables and baked feta with Cretan honey, mains including harissa crusted seabass or pistachio pesto linguini, and desserts like logaimat with brown butter ice cream.
Dubai Hills Business Park, sunset to 12am, AED190. Tel: (0)4 557 6731. thelighthouse.ae
A grand Ramadan Majlis popular with corporate bookings, The Majlist at DWTC provides a traditional setting with lots of seating options for one of the city’s most opulent and extensive iftar buffets. While much of the spread pays homage to Middle Eastern classics, you’ll also find an Oriental corner and an Indian corner. Soft oriental melodies from live oud players add to the authentic ambience.
The Majlis by Mandarin Oriental promises a refined and elevated ambience with warm interiors and a terrace overlooking the Arabian Gulf. As dusk falls, guests can enjoy an exceptional Iftar featuring Middle Eastern favourites and signature dishes from Netsu and Tasca, accompanied by live oud and qanun melodies. Whether indoors or by the sea, it’s a perfect setting to embrace the spirit of Ramadan with loved ones.
Mimi Kakushi
The iftar set menu at Mimi Kakushi is an invitation to discover a curated set menu of Japanese flavours with a modern twist. Think edamame hummus with grilled kiri mocha, a chef’s selection of nigiri, chicken wings with citrus salt, and beef short ribs with baby gem. For dessert, a date Mont Blanc is a seasonally-influenced sweet note.
Chic and feminine interiors, upscale Chinese cuisine, and a lovely alfresco terrace on the boulevard. That’s what you can expect from the first iftar at MiMi Mei Fair. The menu promises options like dim sum platters of vegetarian and seafood options, bao buns, wontons, and a choice of main, then a banana toffee dessert.
The sand-hued and oh-so-aesthetic Nara Desert Camp takes on a special ‘Ramadan Nights’ theme for the Holy Month. The camp transforms into an ode to a traditional Arabian spice market, with guests treated to live food stations serving Middle Eastern classics as well as some international dishes. Plus, all the best bits of the desert camp remain, including camel rides, a falcon show, and live music. After iftar, relax in the lounge with Arabic coffee, and order shisha a la carte. Shuttles to and from Dubai Desert Conservation Reserve are also included.
LA Hotspot The Nice Guy’s Emirates Towers location serves up a daily iftar through Ramadan. It starts with sharing starters, mains of beef sujuk pizza and roasted salmon, and a pistachio cheesecake for dessert. Ramadan beverages include jallab, Arabic coffee, and vimto.
Putting a fashionable spin on the traditional Ramadan tent is One&Only One Za’abeel, partnering with Moroccan-French designer Selma Benomar for Dubai’s first haute couture-inspired Ramadan experience. Promising an immersion of craftsmanship, culture and connection, this is one Ramadan tent fans of the finer things won’t want to miss.
Head to the luxurious Le Jardin in Raffles The Palm for an authentic iftar feast, with indoor seating in the opulent restaurant and tables dotting the terrace by the picturesque gardens. Expect live entertainment from a qanun player elevating the authentic Arabian atmosphere.
One of the most beautiful Italian restaurants in the city, this first floor culinary hotspot at The Club is a stunning spot where you can dine after sunset while admiring the twinkling skyline views. For iftar, the restaurant presents two four-course set menus, one designed for a single person, and one designed as a sharing menu for two.
Enjoy a Japanese iftar at this buzzy Japanese restaurant at ME Dubai. A sophisticated dining room and leafy alfresco terrace provide the backdrop for a set menu of starters like king crab miso soup, rolls and salad. For mains, choose from sea bream, braised Wagyu cheek or roasted baby chicken, then end with the ever-popular ROKA dessert platterPrefer to enjoy iftar at home? Order on Deliveroo.
Taking guests on an Anatolian journey this Ramadan, Rüya Dubai serves a sharing style menu by head chef Gökhan Çökelez. Starters include tomato salad with spiced walnuts and cacik, (a refreshing combination of yoghurt, cucumber and mint), while mains offer the opportunity to try Rüya Dubai’s signatures, like grilled seabass and lamb cutlets.
Enjoy an Italian set menu served family sharing-style at this elevated Italian. It begins with starters of burrata, aubergine parmigiana and Margherita pizzettas, followed by a choice of beef meatballs in tomato sauce or salmon fillet with vegetables caponata, and then a selection of desserts, including the quintessential tiramisu.
