Dubai is one of those cities that pride themselves on luxury, innovation, and culinary diversity. It is also home to a few of the most unique and scrumptious ice creams in the world. Be one a Dubai resident or a tourist taking in the vibrant food scene of the city; the variety of ice creams available in Dubai is sure to delight your taste buds. From the traditionally spicy and frenzied flavors of the Middle East to innovative, really out-of-the-box, visually striking creations, this unique ultimate list of Dubai’s ice cream will take you through a frozen journey you would not want to miss.
1. Camel Milk Ice Cream
Camel milk flows everywhere in the UAE and has been consumed by people here since time immemorial because of its high nutritional value. This is being reinvented in Dubai as a modern ingredient for ice cream. The very unique, slightly salty taste and creaminess of camel milk ice cream are surprisingly refreshing. You get it at Nouq Ice Cream along with other stores in town. It comes in different flavors like saffron, pistachio, and date. This is ice cream, also a cultural treasure in this region.
2. Black Sesame Ice Cream
The majestic Black Sesame Ice Cream brings together the most exotic Asian flavors into a truly unique and incomparable taste. Nutty and slightly bitter, this fudge mixes consummately with the sweetness of the base to create the perfect contrast. The deep, dark color of the ice cream makes it look alluring and an eyesight candy for desserts. Such novelty flavors are only found at places like ‘The Lighthouse’, Dubai Design District, and are a real sophisticated twist to the regular dessert course.
3. Gold-Plated Ice Cream
Dubai spells luxury, and what could be classier than gold-plated ice cream? Yes, you read that right. Those having a sweet tooth looking for a seriously over-the-top dessert should look no further than Dubai. Yes, you can eat your gold—even on an ice cream cone. The well-known Scoopi Café in Jumeirah is offering its “Black Diamond” ice cream—yes, you guessed it—made from the Madagascar vanilla bean, Iranian saffron, and Italian black truffle, all topped with edible gold. Sure, this will set you back a pretty penny, but again, this is a once-in-a-lifetime experience truly Dubaian.
4. Activated Charcoal Ice Cream
Activated charcoal is highly talked about in the health and wellness community, and it indeed has some unique features that now amaze the world of ice cream. As striking as it sounds, activated charcoal-flavored ice cream comes black in color and is detox apart from its beauty. This posh treat can be found at Veganity, a fully plant-based food restaurant located in Dubai. This smoky flavor of charcoal is then brought to balance by the cream base, making it delicious yet healthier for lovers of ice cream.
5. Bakhoor Ice Cream
Bakhoor is the traditional form of incense made by soaking wood chips in perfumed oils; it is one such smell that is synonymous with the rich Middle Eastern culture. Dubai’s Desert Chill Ice Cream has creatively converted this aromatic experience into one that is edible with its bakhoor-flavored ice cream. Warm, smoky notes of bakhoor are infused in this dessert, giving really unique flavor—one both nostalgic and quite exotic. This is definitely a flavor one should have if eager to experience the region’s cultural essence through dessert.
6. Date Ice Cream
Dates are a popular ingredient in the Middle Eastern diet, usually consumed on their own or with desserts. The richness, the fudgy caramel-like flavor of the dates, has found its way into a concoction of ice cream in Dubai. Date ice cream is a rich dessert indulging you with the fruits’ natural sweetness as the focus. Then, of course, there is Al Majlis, within Burj Khalifa itself, which offers this date churning at a classier level—that goes perfectly with a traditional Arabic coffee. It’s a good way to steep yourself in the local flavors.
7. Turmeric Ice Cream
The bright yellow color and its medicinal properties have long placed turmeric in the center of Asian cuisine. In Dubai, it has found its way into a very peculiar dessert: ice cream. It’s a one-of-a-kind flavor, with the saffron infusing an almost spicy taste in the sweet coldness of the ice cream. The golden color from the turmeric offers an interesting warmth that teases and pleases. You can find this unusual flavor at Dubai Marina’s Bistro Des Arts for those who like to try new desserts and eat healthy at the same time.
8. Saffron Ice Cream
Saffron is the world’s most expensive spice, a reason for its striking flavor and fragrance. Saffron ice cream is a rich dessert enjoyed in Dubai that perfectly unites the strong taste of the spice with the creaminess of ice cream. The delicacy is usually garnished with pistachios or rose petals, which amplify its flavor and presentation. Bastakiya Nights in the historic Al Fahidi district serves the most authentic saffron ice cream, and with each lick, it truly takes one back to how life in the Middle East was about being surrounded by opulence.
9. Pistachio Ice Cream
Of nuts, pistachios hold a special place in Middle Eastern cuisine, integrated into either savory dishes or sweets. Pistachio is easily a classic flavor in Dubai, loved for its richness that enhances its nutty taste with a smooth texture. M’OISHÎ is a very popular Japanese brand in Dubai for its ice cream, but what makes the pistachio at M’OISHÎ so special is that it serves it in a chewy rice cake form called mochi. This fusion of Middle Eastern and Japanese flavors creates an extremely delightful and refreshing dessert experience.
10. Avocado Ice Cream
For those who like their desserts on the healthier side, avocado ice cream is a pretty great option. Avocado’s creamy texture and mild flavor make it a perfect base for ice cream, and it pairs well with a variety of ingredients. Brambles is a health-conscious café in Barsha Heights that does avocado ice cream that is both delicious and healthy. It is a treat that refreshes, with the subtle sweetness of the avocado and the hint of lime within it, all guilt-free for Dubai’s warm climate.
