Inside the United Arab Emirates business world

The range and scope of Emirati food was traditionally very limited since produce was scarce in this extremely arid environment. Fish was plentiful on the coast and any excess was salted and dried, finding its way inland to the desert and oases. Here, date palms flourished, some fruits, vegetables and cereals were grown, and sheep and goats were raised.

Despite the fact that ingredients were few, Emirati cooks were inventive, concocting a variety of dishes from very little. Foreign influences also shaped the local cuisine: the dhows that carried pearls to India and elsewhere came back laden with spices and later rice. And so today, Emirati food is characterised by a unique spice mix bezr and usually features rice. Cumin seeds, cinnamon sticks, coriander seeds, black peppercorns and chilies are the basic ingredients, but each family has its own 'secret' recipe. Traditionally the bezr that was mixed inland was milder than that used on the coast.

Every type of food is available in the UAE, which has some of the finest restaurants in the world. This is not entirely surprising since over 200 nationalities live and work there. Moreover,millions of visitors holiday the country, influencing its sophisticated and innovative food culture.

In recent years, celebrity chefs have launched a variety of fashionable restaurants in the Emirates' five-star hotels. The most notable include Gary Rhodes, Vineet Bhatia, Marco Pierre White, Nobu Matsuhisa, Yannick Alleno and Pierre Gagnaire.

Gourmet food can also be experienced at two unique festivals in the UAE: The Taste of Dubai Festival, which usually takes place in March at Dubai Media City and Gourmet Abu Dhabi, a culinary extravaganza held in the capital in February each year.

In between these extremes are numerous restaurants serving authentic ethnic cuisine from every corner of the globe.

One of the most exciting aspects of travelling to a new destination is the opportunity to sample local food and an increasing number of restaurants and cafés are now serving traditional Emirati food. Try Mezlai at Emirates Palace Hotel in Abu Dhabi, Milas in Dubai Mall and Al Fanr in Dubai Festival City.

Alcohol is generally only served in hotel restaurants and bars (but not in Sharjah). Exceptions are some clubs and associations. Restaurants that are not associated with hotels are not permitted to serve alcohol.