Let me state unequivocally that no matter how good your local Middle Eastern eatery makes your shawarma, it will never compare to the authentic shawarmas found on the streets of the UAE. It's a non-vegetarian delicacy made with sliced chicken, lamb, or beef (depending on what you order) wrapped in a soft flatbread. It's stuffed with fresh vegetables, onions, and a variety of sauces that elevate the shawarmas above the mundane.

Shawarma is one of the world's most popular street foods in general and in Egypt, the countries of the Levant, the Arabian Peninsula, and the rest of the Middle East in particular.

In the past, the shawarma technique first appeared in the 19th-century Ottoman Empire(grilling a vertical stack of meat slices and cutting it off as it cooked), and now, in Turkey, it is called "doner kebab", from which it got the names "Greek gyros" and "shawarma". Then, Shawarma experienced a development during the early 20th century of the contemporary Mexican dish tacos al pastor as it was brought together with Lebanese immigrants.

• Where to find it: Al Mallah, Dubai

• Price per plate: AED 6 - AED 10

One of the UAE's undiscovered gems that few tourists have discovered. Shish Tawouk Sandwich is extremely popular among the locals and can be found in almost any Middle Eastern eatery. It's another non-vegetarian dish, this time with thinly sliced chicken stuffed into flatbread. The sandwich is a perfect combination of spicy and savory, with a variety of spices, herbs, vegetables, and pickles.

Shish Tawouk Sandwich is an Ottoman-style marinated chicken shish kebab that has since become popular in Middle Eastern cuisine. It's popular in the Middle East and the Caucasus. The traditional jujeh kabab is a Persian dish that is similar. In many cities around the world, it is also served in kebab houses.

To prepare this dish, cubes of chicken are marinated, then skewered and grilled. Although there are many variations, common marinades are depended on yogurt and lemon juice or tomato purée.

• Where to find it: Mezza House, Dubai
• Price per plate: AED 10 - AED 115

Manakish, or man'ousheh in its singular form, or other spellings, is a popular Levantine dish made of dough topped with thyme, cheese, or ground meat. It can be sliced or folded like a pizza, and it can be served for breakfast or lunch.

As a local favourite, this is a very popular Lebanese snack. It is a flatbread packed with loads of cheese and is cooked in a huge oven. You can further add any vegetables, meats or oils and spices on the top as you want.

Women would traditionally bake dough in a communal oven in the morning to provide their family with daily bread, and then prepare smaller portions of dough with various toppings for breakfast.

Manakish are popular throughout the Levant, as well as in neighboring regions and Levantine emigration hotspots.

• Price per plate: AED 15 - AED 30

Al Harees, one of the UAE's most traditional dishes, is typically served at weddings and other religious festivals, particularly during Ramadan. This porridge-like dish takes a couple of hours to prepare and is made with simple ingredients.

The traditional method for making Al Harees is to combine meat and wheat in a pot with water and salt, then cook for an extended period of time. Another way to make it is to cook the wheat in lightly salted water for several hours before adding the meat and cooking for another four hours. Despite the slightly longer preparation time, the end result is well worth it.

• Where to find it: AL Fanar Restaurant & cafe, Dubai Festival City Mall
• Price per plate: AED 55 - 69

Machboos is another non-vegetarian dish from the UAE. Red meat, fish, or shrimp, and rice are the main ingredients in Al Machboos. This dish, which is seasoned with spices and one unique ingredient, Loomy (dried lemon), is a big hit in the UAE. The cooking procedure is simple and consists of only a few steps.

The meat is cooked until tender before being removed from the pot. After the rice has cooked thoroughly, the meat, onions, spices, and other ingredients are added to finish the dish. Many people recommend serving it with raita and salad to make a complete meal.

• Where to find it: AL Fanar Restaurant & cafe, Dubai Festival City Mall
• Price per plate: AED 55 - 69

Are you looking for some healthier choice to taste, Fattoush is a perfect answer for this question.This Levantine salad - Fattoush is made from toasted or fried pieces of khubz mixed with greens and other vegetables, including radishes and tomatoes. Fattoush is common salad among all citizens in the Levant.

Fattoush, in fact, could be a mix combined of various things, such as fresh lettuce, diced tomatoes, cucumbers, mint leaves, onion, garlic, lemon and olive oil, it is served with Levantine bread. Food aficionados could be surprised to find this simple salad dish packed with flavors at the first try.

• Where to find it: Al Halabi in the Mall of the Emirates, Aroos Damascus, Al Muraqqabad
• Price per plate: AED 18 - 30

Thareed is the typical recipe among Emirati people. A famous food of the UAE combined of chicken, lamb or goat, and roasted vegetables-potatoes, tomatoes, marrow, and pumpkin, Thereed is a slow-cooked stew and served on top of traditional Riga- a thin Emirati bread. Moreover, with the elimination of the use of chicken, Thereed can be made as a completely vegetarian dish.

On all special occasions, this dish is served. This exclusive recipe is a perfect mix of flavors and consists of a rich source of protein and vitamins. As a flavorsome stew served with Rigag, this dish is a haven for any foodies.

• Where to find it: Seven Sands, Jumeirah Beach Residence-
• Price per plate: Lamb thereed: AED 84; vegetarian thereed: AED 74; chicken thereed: AED 74

Kousa Mahshi is a classic dish in UAE consisting of zucchini or courgettes stuffed with rice. This amazing dish actually comprises many different kinds of squash or zucchini which is stuffed with rice and sometimes meat and cooked on the stove top or in the oven. While the meatless version is often eaten at room temperature or warm and regarded as an "olive-oil dish", the meat version is served hot, as a main cours.

Yogurt is often put on top of this dish to give it that edge and makes it a lip-smacking treat for all food-lovers. Kousa Mahshi can also be served with rice, garlic and mint. It is suggested that diners should have this with some Lebanese wine to feel all the things that the dish has to offer truly.

Shirin polo, known as Persian wedding rice or Rosh Hashanah rice, a traditional Persian rice pilaf, is commonly served to mark special occasions such as weddings. It is, in fact, a simplified version of morassa' polō. On holidays such as Purim, Pesach, Rosh Hashanah and the high holidays, Shirin Polo is often served as a main course in the Persian Jewish community worldwide.

Shirin Polo is truly a mouth-watering Persian sweet rice and a speciality food of UAE. The sweetness of the rice depends on regions and communities. Shirin Polo is cooked with rice, candied citrus zest, thin strips of carrots, and slivered almonds.

• Where to find it: Farsi Restaurant, Business Bay, Dubai

• Price per plate: AED 73

As a traditional sweet and savory dish popular in the Arab states of the Persian Gulf, Balaleet is among the tastiest food to try in the UAE. Balaleet is a exquisite blend of both sweet and salty elements. This local cuisine is prepared with vermicelli, and sweetened with rose water, cinnamon and saffron, it is served with a thin egg omelette on top, and sometimes, it is served with sautéed onions or potatoes.

It is a popular Emirati breakfast food and can be topped with some pistachios before serving. Balaleet is especially associated with the Islamic holidays of Eid al-Fitr as the first meal of the day.

• Where to find it: Logma in Boxpark- 28 AED per plate, and Al Fanar in Dubai Festival City- 39 AED per plate.