If you’ve survived an Arab Eid gathering, then you already know: refusing sweets is not an option, it’s just quietly ignored. Somewhere between your second round of knafeh and your aunt insisting you’re “looking too thin,”…you realize the only way out is through… another bite.
So in prep for Eid Al Fitr this weekend, I did what any sweet-seeker would do: I wandered, I taste-tested (you’re welcome), and noted 10 spots in Dubai that’ll make your glucose levels spike and your soul do a little dabke. So if you’re stocking up to impress the family and knock everyone’s Eid socks off, this guide’s got your back.
Bring stretchy pants. Maybe backup stretchy pants. Let’s go.
1. Nabeel Nafisah
📍Al Barsha
Straight outta Damascus, Nabeel Nafisah is a Syrian institution that’s been perfecting the art of sweet persuasion since before you could spell “pistachio.” This spot is a shrine to Shamiah sweets, a category of Levantine treats that juggle filo, kishta cream, semolina, cheese, and pistachios in every glorious combination you can imagine. Their warbat with cream and stuffed ghraybeh are celebrating Eid on their own. And if you're into the crunchy stuff, head to the nawashef section. Their barazek, a Damascene classic made with sesame, rose water, and pistachio, are divine and impossible to eat quietly.
2. Al Samadi Sweets
📍Deira
A staple in Dubai since the 1970s, Al Samadi is where textures, syrup ratios, and tradition all come together like they actually read the manual. The baklava is textbook, layers of crisp filo, finely chopped nuts, and just enough sugar syrup to glue your fingers together (in the best way). And the sfoof? Earthy, bright yellow, a turmeric semolina cake that’s humble in looks but bold in flavor.
3. Teta’s Table
📍Order online here
Teta’s Table started with one real teta in the kitchen and grew into a brand that honors every grandmother’s greatest legacy: her table. The name is a tribute to those warm, welcoming homes where dessert was always plentiful, the tea was always hot, and no was never an acceptable answer to “you want something sweet?” Their maamoul and ka’ak are made the old-school way, fragrant, delicate, and impossible to stop at just one. And for something a little unexpected, there’s the macamoul, a brilliant mashup of macaron and maamoul that somehow works way too well. Everything they make is gift-worthy, celebration-ready, and dangerously easy to finish in one sitting.
4. Ree7an
📍Business Bay
You might know Ree7an for its knockout Palestinian mains but let’s talk about a sweet little secret hiding in plain sight: their ka’ak asawer, traditional bracelet-shaped cookies stuffed with dates, brushed with olive oil, and coated in sesame and nigella seeds. They’re chewy, earthy, lightly sweet, and basically impossible to eat without closing your eyes in joy. And since you’re there, you might as well have the msakhan too because no one ever regretted ordering the best chicken-onion situation in the city.
5. Omar Odali
📍Al Jaddaf Cactus Park (other branches: Nad Al Sheba Gardens | SLS Hotel)
The menu? One item. Because that one item is all you need in your life. Omar Odali does knafeh, and that’s it. No fluff, no twenty-tab options, just perfectly gooey, crispy-edged knafeh made fresh. Pair it with a Turkish coffee or tea with miramiya (sage) and let the world slow down for a moment. No online orders, no delivery. Just show up, sit down, and surrender to the sweet simplicity.
6. Three by Eva
📍Jumeirah
Three by Eva is where heritage gets plated with style. Founded by Eva Halasa, a proud Jordanian with a modern take on hospitality. Her maamoul collection is a thing of beauty: multiple styles, fillings, textures, all handmade and impossibly elegant. You’ll also find Eid bread, baked fresh with love and that “just like Teta made it” energy. Whether you’re gifting, hosting, or just treating yourself, this is the place for sweets that honor tradition while still feeling fresh off the Pinterest board.
7. Qwaider Al Nabulsi
📍Al Muraqqabat
If you've lived in Dubai long enough to remember anything pre-Burj Khalifa, you've probably been to Qwaider Al Nabulsi. This OG Muraqqabat gem is as old-school as it gets: no frills, no fusion, just solid sweets done right. The must-order? Knafeh naameh with that signature fine golden crust, gooey cheese, and just the right drizzle of syrup. If they’re still serving their Ramadan atayef, make sure to snag those too.
8. Al Mukhtar Bakery
📍Hessa Street
Since 1981, Al Mukhtar has been feeding the Levantine carb-loving masses and doing it really well. What started as a humble Lebanese bakery in Sharjah now has a Dubai outpost on Hessa Street, and trust me, you’ll want to try everything. From handcrafted breads to stuffed pastries and Arabic sweets, there’s nothing on the menu that disappoints. Go early, because once they sell out and they will, it’s survival of the fittest. Just kidding. You’ll just have to wait longer.
9. Halwa
📍Bur Dubai
This isn’t just a shop; it’s a sweet comeback story. After the beloved Mubarak Bin Abdullah Sweets quietly shut its doors in 2023, it felt like the end of a golden-era dessert chapter in Old Dubai. But now, it’s back, reborn as Halwa, and once again serving the UAE’s favorite festive indulgence: Omani Halwa. Made with sugar, saffron, ghee, rosewater, this rich, sticky treat is slow-cooked and celebratory, a labor of love traditionally served during Eid. Look for Mr. Mohamed behind the counter, still stirring up nostalgia by the ladleful.
10. Feras Sweets
📍Al Barsha
This branch of Feras Sweets delivers on all fronts. The knafeh naameh is warm, gooey, and syrupy in all the right ways, crispy edges, stretchy cheese, and zero regrets. And if you're in the mood for something cold, their Arabic ice cream hits the spot: pistachio-packed, satisfyingly stretchy, and absolutely worth clearing freezer space for. Come for one, leave with both.
Images sourced from vendors’ IG pages.