Emirati Foodways: Food, Culture, Sustainability

Catalog description

A cup of fragrant coffee, a platter of luqaimat and dates, and servings of aromatic biryani and savory machboos are common examples of Emirati hospitality through cuisine. Beyond these traditional staples, the UAE has become a haven for everything from foodie culture, to high-tech agriculture, and even the global phenomenon of Dubai Chocolate. What are the features of Emirati foodways today? How does Emirati food relate to cultural memory and national heritage, on one hand, and visions for the future, on the other? How is the UAE meeting the challenges of climate change to promote food security and sustainability as well as culinary variety and excellence? In this course students will explore the interrelationships of food and culture in the UAE with a focus on current efforts at producing sustainable food systems in the context of climate change. Excursions to food markets, farms, research institutes, and culinary academies in and around Abu Dhabi will enable students to appreciate the multiple and contradictory ways culinary traditions are created and recreated in a globalized UAE. Students should come with a healthy appetite for learning - and experiencing - Emirati foodways! This course will be offered in January-Term 2026.