Before I left Utah, a common question was, "what will you eat in Dubai?" When living in the states I did not indulge frequently in fast food but on that rare occasion when I just had to have a burger and fries I would swing through a drive up. Well the choices are pretty much the same in Dubai, UAE.
Western culture has made their mark on the world, especially when it comes to fast food. Every where you go or look their is a western fast food chain - KFC, Burger King, Hardee's (did you even know that they were still around?), Carl's Junior, Subway, McDonald's, Pizza Hut and Starbucks. They are in the malls, attached to grocery stores and co-ops (the McDonald's in the picture is attached to the United Emirates Union Co-op), on the ground floor of the apartment high rise complexes, in gas stations, department stores or as a stand alone. And just in case you do not know what fast food chain it is based on color and /or symbols, their name is on the front of the building in both Arabic and English. Taxi cabs are covered in advertisements of several of the fast food chains. You cannot get away from them.
Two big differences between the states and Dubai is drive up windows are not nearly as common as in the United States which means it could take a little effort to make a visit to your favorite fast food joint and for all you diet coke lovers, Dubai is a Pepsi country - yes!! I would wholeheartedly agree that a ice cold diet Pepsi makes anything taste better, especially a burger and fries. Pepsi is number #1 in Dubai but I have yet to find it on tap. I will keep searching... Now don't fret you diet coke drinkers, it can be found on occasion, in a few places.
In Muslim counties the meat cannot contain any impurities, which means absolutely no hoofs, veins, beaks or other bad stuff. The word from other expats is that the burgers and chicken sandwiches are much better than you can get in the United States. Each of the fast food chains also offer a special twist to the menu. Pizza Hut offers a " shwarma" pizza, turkey sausage instead of pork sausage, along with 3 other recipes or combinations unique to the middle east. The McDonald's in Dubai offer a Mega Big Mac Meal - count them... four all beef patties on a sesame seed bun ! Who can eat a sandwich that big ? McDonald's also has on their menu a McArabian in either chicken or beef, served up in Arabian bread which is delicious. Hmmm - sounds good!
I have not tried any of the fast food chains yet, but did eat at a "Chili's' on Saturday night to find out if the chips and salsa are the same in Dubai as they are in Utah... they were...delicious!
When that occasional need for a burger flares up and I am so happy that an old familiar friend, McDonald's, is close by if needed.
You may be wondering - who is the guy in the picture of McDonald's ? That is the beloved leader, Shaikh Mohammad, the ruler of Dubai. His picture is everywhere. On high rises and when I say high rise - his picture can go the entire length of the building, on the front of stores, on homes, in the malls, restaurants, along highways and freeways. The pictures of Shaikh Mo are never small, always larger than life and imposing. He is always watching. Shaikh Mohammad's picture, along with a few others are also required to be hung in all businesses and schools. Shaikh Mo as he is called, is very popular and well liked among the people of Dubai. And who would not love this man, in December, on UAE National Day, Shaikh Mo gave the national goverment employees a 35% - 100% pay increase. Governor Herbert are you listening?
No Diet Coke? Oh my, I wouldn't survive!!
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