Nikhil Bhatia
New member
Indian travelers are one of the biggest group of tourists coming to Dubai, and a good number of them are pure vegetarian. So when its about booking any tour with food, the first question families usually ask is whether there will be proper veg food or they will end up eating only salad and rice. Since dhow cruise is one of the most booked evening activities in the city, this question comes very often for the dhow cruise dinner in Dubai also.
Let me tell you that the good news is most of the dhow operators in Dubai are Indian guests friendly. So, vegetarian food is not an issue. In a normal buffet you will find a separate veg section with dishes like”
Some boats also keep veg pakora or samosa in starters. Along with Indian food, the Arabic items like hummus, moutabal, fattoush, falafel and pita bread are also veg, so you get some variety and not the same thing in every bowl.
Now if we talk about the counters, in many dhows the veg and non veg dishes are kept on the same buffet table but with separate labels and serving spoons. For people who are strict about this, my suggestion is to inform the operator at the time of booking only, because some boats can serve your food separately on the table. Jain food without onion and garlic is also possible on some cruises, but it is not available on every boat by default, so it has to be confirmed in advance and not after boarding.
Desserts is an area where you need to be a little careful. Gulab jamun, fruit salad and some Arabic sweets are usually fine, but cakes and pastries may have eggs in them. If you don't eat egg then better to ask the staff before taking it. Soft drinks, water, tea and coffee are included and they are all veg friendly.
Between the two routes, the Creek dhows mostly have more Indian dishes in the buffet because the majority of their guests are from India, while the Marina boats have more international and Arabic mix. Having said that, both the routes have enough veg options for a full meal, so you can choose based on the view and budget.
If you are planning a dhow cruise dinner in Dubai with a vegetarian or Jain family, better to speak book in advance, at least 2 days before hand. They will confirm the veg menu with the operator before booking and arrange separate serving if required, so you can enjoy the evening without worrying about the food.
Let me tell you that the good news is most of the dhow operators in Dubai are Indian guests friendly. So, vegetarian food is not an issue. In a normal buffet you will find a separate veg section with dishes like”
- Dal tadka,
- Paneer butter masala,
- Mix vegetable curry,
- Chana masala,
- Veg biryani or pulao
- Naan or roti
Some boats also keep veg pakora or samosa in starters. Along with Indian food, the Arabic items like hummus, moutabal, fattoush, falafel and pita bread are also veg, so you get some variety and not the same thing in every bowl.
Now if we talk about the counters, in many dhows the veg and non veg dishes are kept on the same buffet table but with separate labels and serving spoons. For people who are strict about this, my suggestion is to inform the operator at the time of booking only, because some boats can serve your food separately on the table. Jain food without onion and garlic is also possible on some cruises, but it is not available on every boat by default, so it has to be confirmed in advance and not after boarding.
Desserts is an area where you need to be a little careful. Gulab jamun, fruit salad and some Arabic sweets are usually fine, but cakes and pastries may have eggs in them. If you don't eat egg then better to ask the staff before taking it. Soft drinks, water, tea and coffee are included and they are all veg friendly.
Between the two routes, the Creek dhows mostly have more Indian dishes in the buffet because the majority of their guests are from India, while the Marina boats have more international and Arabic mix. Having said that, both the routes have enough veg options for a full meal, so you can choose based on the view and budget.
If you are planning a dhow cruise dinner in Dubai with a vegetarian or Jain family, better to speak book in advance, at least 2 days before hand. They will confirm the veg menu with the operator before booking and arrange separate serving if required, so you can enjoy the evening without worrying about the food.