The Taste of Sharjah - Guide to Local Food & Flavours

Food is a central aspect of tourism as visitors often seek out unique culinary experiences and flavours on their travels. Cuisine is a way to educate visitors on culture and heritage, but also an opportunity to deliver environmentally friendly products, support local farmers and food producers.

Sharjah is known as the Cultural Capital of the Arab world and the celebration of culture also includes cuisine and food traditions. As Sharjah embraces sustainable tourism, highlighting local organic produce and sustainably caught fish in restaurants and offering a wide range of vegetarian and vegan options will entice sustainable tourists.

The culture of food

Eating local food and national dishes is one way to be immersed in a new place and culture. The ingredients, spices and traditions around food are different around the world and give insight into the history and culture of a place. In the United Arab Emirates, many dishes are centred around rice and meat and filled with spices like cinnamon, saffron and turmeric. Dates are symbolically important since date palms thrive in desert oasis, and are often served to guests alongside coffee. Tourists can join a cultural tour that includes cooking demonstrations and traditional food and drink tasting. Restaurants are not limited to Emirati food, as Sharjah has been a trading hub and magnet for immigration, there are plenty of Indian, Pakistani and other ethnic restaurants. Sharjah has secured a strong relationship with culinary arts through the Al Qasba Food Festival which occurs every year with workshops, competitions and of course plenty of delicious flavours to sample..

Organic innovations

Local, organic produce is one of the most sustainable food choices and there are a number of pioneer farms located in Sharjah. Greenheart Organic Farms and Green Heaven Farm and Camping are two farms located in Sharjah that are leading the way with innovative farming and a social mission to deliver fresh food to the emirates. Sharjah is also tackling food security through an innovative project to grow wheat in the desert, without pesticides or chemicals while utilising sustainable agricultural methods. Saba’ Sanabel is the name of the wheat, which is sought after as a local, high quality product. The Manbat initiative started by creating farmers’ markets with Emirati grown produce to support the agricultural sector and connect farmers and consumers. The initiative also increased awareness about agriculture in the UAE and was wildly successful, leading to expanded operations and the opening of a permanent Manbat Store in Sharjah alongside the farmers markets and pop-ups. Tourists can support these local initiatives by visiting pop-up farmers markets, and seeking restaurants that source their ingredients from the farms.

Choosing locally caught seafood

Fish is an integral part of the Emirati cuisine due to the extensive coastline, and is a key source of protein historically and today. The UAE has banned bottom trawling, and most fisheries in the country are small-scale and delivered to local markets. Souq Al Jubail, an authentic produce and fish market visited by tourists and residents alike offers a glimpse into the fresh marinelife of the local oceans. Numerous events and festivals throughout the year celebrate Sharjah’s relationship with the sea and with seafood, such as the Al Maleh and Fishing Festival and the Sir Bu Nair Marine Festival. Tourists can also arrange fishing trips by hiring a boat and a guide to try their hand at deep sea fishing. When searching for restaurants, it is worth asking if the seafood sold is locally caught, which is the best way to guarantee a sustainable seafood choice.

Plant-based options

Opting for a vegetarian or vegan diet is a sustainable consumer choice since meat and animal products have a high carbon footprint. Although Emirati dishes often feature meat or fish, there are many vegetarian options like hummus, falafel and fattoush. Additionally, there are award winning vegetarian restaurants like Kamat Restaurant and Madeenat Haridwar Restaurant. As sustainable tourism grows, the restaurant industry in Sharjah should take note and expand offerings for plant-based meals to attract these types of visitors.

Tackling food waste

The UAE has taken an active role in addressing food waste, which is a major contributor to carbon emissions, through national programs and pledges and investing in food technology. As a tourist in Sharjah, you can do your part by ordering only as much as you plan on eating and taking leftovers when possible. As a business, you can educate your staff on food waste, search for options for composting, take and advertise your pledge to reduce food waste by 50% before 2050. An ambitious goal that can only be achieved through collaboration and involvement of all stakeholders.

Want to learn more about the connection between food, sustainability and tourism? Start your sustainability journey today!

Comments

Search our Results

Start Here