Home to some of the world’s most renowned chefs and acclaimed eclectic local concept restaurants, Dubai The culinary capital has clearly carved a niche on the map over the years. The Gulf city is the 36th destination to be covered by the prestigious Michelin Guide and the 2023 edition of the Michelin Guide Dubai features a total of 90 restaurants, including 14 Michelin star restaurants. But if you’re looking for a dinner reservation that gives you a glimpse into the soul of the city, you might want to take a foodie walk through some of the oldest streets in the emirate – which are actually the Arwa Sisters. And Farida Ahmed believes that if people really want to experience Dubai, they must.

Away from all the global foodie attractions of Dubai, it was founded by long time UAE residents frying pan adventures – A tour company that offers travelers and residents a taste of the vintage flavors of the city’s first residents, served up with history, heritage, community, culture, sightseeing, and spice shopping.

“Our small group walking tours celebrate ‘sustainability’ – classic, traditional and cultural foods that have stood the test of time,” said Arwa Ahmed, co-founder of Frying Pan Adventures.

“We focus more on the foods and stories that give people a sense of place in this fast-growing city, and less on what’s new or on trend. The most memorable food tours are the ones where the food gives you an insight into local history and culture.

We’re always thirsty for facts, personal anecdotes, food history, and in-depth knowledge of ingredients. Farida and I grew up in the UAE, which is why we are so excited to showcase an older side of the city and break the myth that ‘Dubai has no culture or history’.”

Extending the story of Dubai from fine dining to include the many humble cultures recreating their classics in the emirate decades ago, Frying Pan Adventures has served more than 16,000 guests across 2,000 tours since 2013 – just eight people per tour.

Tours feature out-of-the-way eateries in neighborhoods past the city’s concrete and glass skyline, offering mouth-watering street staples ranging from traditional Emirati to Lebanese, Syrian, Iraqi, Iranian, Palestinian and Indian cuisine.

Trails include the Spice Souk, the Textile Souk, the Old Fahidi neighborhood and a ride on the Abra, the oldest form of water transport in Dubai’s historic creek.

“We’ve never focused on big bus-style groups,” Ahmed said.

“Our groups are small because we want the one-on-one conversation to be like having a friend take you around town.”

The Indian-origin sisters stay ahead of the game by forging deep ties with the venues, sometimes resulting in rare back-door entry for tourists, including letting them into the kitchen to learn how to cook, a popular buttery Middle Eastern dessert made with chopped pastry layers topped with whipped cream or cheese and pistachios.

The tour also includes games such as SPINGO – an interactive game of ‘Spicy Bingo’ that transforms a frying pan’s research into over 70 different ingredients at the local spice souk – and ‘Crack the Secret Chai Masala’ to decode a secret Chai Masala.

food tourism represents one of the fastest growing sectors of global tourism industry,

According to Research and Markets, Culinary sightseeing The market is poised to grow by $126.28 billion during 2023-2027, which will accelerate at a CAGR of 17.45% during the forecast period.

,[It’s important to] step outside your comfort zone and [not] Just follow what is shown on recommended lists or social media,” said Ahmed.

“Keep your mind open to taste all the parts [a] City alike, old and new.”