Everything desi and more in the UAE: from biryani to fine dining, groceries, fashion, makeup artists, beauty salons and trusted services, with deals from Dubai to Fujairah.
A little bit of home, in every emirate.
Popular right now: Biryani & karahi · Fine dining · Makeup artists · Barbers · Bridal tailoring · Catering · Ayurveda
This week on desi.ae
Cooked to order in iron woks, with naan straight from the tandoor.
Baraat, walima and mehndi-night looks by artists who know desi weddings.
Lahori Cuts Barber Lounge, Al Karama — AED 60 instead of AED 85.
What are you looking for today?
Pick a category to find trusted restaurants, beauty experts, shops and services across the UAE.
Desi restaurants in Dubai, Sharjah and Abu Dhabi
The biryani your mother would approve of. The karahi worth crossing an emirate for. From Hyderabadi dum to South Indian dosa and live charcoal BBQ, these are the desi kitchens to know this month.
Pakistani and North Indian catering for weddings, mehndis and corporate events, with seekh kebab and chicken tikka grilled live in front of your guests.
- Cuisine: Pakistani & North Indian
- Known for: seekh kebab, dum biryani, tandoori naan
- Area: Mussafah, Abu Dhabi
- From AED 45 per guest
Al Karama, Dubai
A biryani house built around slow dum cooking: long-grain basmati, tender chicken or mutton, and house-made raita.
Known for: chicken dum biryani, mirchi ka salan, double ka meetha
Al Nahda, Sharjah
Karahi cooked to order in iron woks, served with naan straight from the tandoor. Built for sharing with family.
Known for: chicken karahi, mutton namkeen, garlic naan
Bur Dubai, Dubai
Paper-thin dosas, soft idlis and strong filter coffee, served from breakfast until late evening.
Known for: masala dosa, idli sambar, filter coffee
Fine dining restaurants in Dubai and Abu Dhabi
Celebrating an anniversary, closing a deal or treating the family? From modern Indian tasting menus to Mediterranean seafood and international dining rooms, these are the restaurants for a special night out in the UAE.
DIFC, Dubai
A chef-led tasting menu that reimagines regional Indian classics with seasonal produce, served in an intimate dining room.
Known for: chef’s tasting menu, tandoori lamb chops, saffron kulfi
Dubai Marina, Dubai
Fresh seafood grilled over olive wood and served on a terrace overlooking the marina. A favourite for anniversaries and business dinners.
Known for: grilled hammour, seared salmon, mezze platters
Corniche, Abu Dhabi
An elegant dining room with an international menu, live music on weekends and private rooms for family celebrations and corporate dinners.
Known for: wagyu steak, truffle risotto, private dining rooms
Today’s deals and offers in the UAE
Good things cost less here. Fresh offers on desi food, beauty, tailoring and events, added as businesses post them.
Express stitching on bridal orders
Rang Mahal · Meena Bazaar, Bur Dubai
Save AED 100 on every bridal order
Chaat counter for 100+ guests
Zafran Catering · Mussafah, Abu Dhabi
Worth AED 450 with any event booking
Beauty salons, bridal artists and Ayurveda in the UAE
Artists and therapists who understand desi hair, desi skin and desi weddings: bridal makeup and mehndi, Kerala Ayurveda and barber lounges you will go back to.
Traditional Kerala therapies by trained therapists using herbal oils, with separate sections for men and women.
- Treatments: Abhyanga, Shirodhara, Kizhi
- 90-minute sessions, booked online
- Area: Al Nahda, Sharjah
- From AED 180 per session
Al Karama, Dubai
A classic desi barbershop: sharp fades, beard styling and straight-razor shaves. Urdu, Hindi, Punjabi and English spoken.
Known for: hot towel shave, champi head massage, beard colour
Al Barsha, Dubai
Bridal and party makeup for baraat, walima and mehndi nights, with hair styling and dupatta setting.
Known for: bridal makeup, hair styling, dupatta draping
Rolla, Sharjah
Arabic, Indian and Pakistani henna styles for brides, Eid and Chaand Raat, at the studio or at your home.
Known for: bridal mehndi, Arabic henna, Eid packages
Popular services you can book online
Pick a date and a time slot, add extras and confirm in under a minute.
You moved countries. Your taste didn’t.
The biryani that tastes like Sunday at home. The tailor who knows how a kameez should fall. The barber who speaks your language. desi.ae brings them together in one place, across every emirate.
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Built around the food, fashion and services of the desi community.
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Pick a time slot and pay by card or cash.
More desi, fewer dirhams
Deals from Dubai to Fujairah in one place.
Promo videos for UAE businesses, shot and premiered by desi.ae
Desi Studio shoots, edits and premieres promo videos for restaurants, salons, boutiques and brands, then launches them to the desi community across the UAE.
- Professional shoot at your location
- Editing, colour grading and sound design included
- Premiere on desi.ae and our social channels
Replace this box with a Video widget to feature the latest premiere.
UAE travel guides and weekend road trips
Friday plans, sorted. Day trips, mountain drives and beach escapes, written for desi families living in the Emirates.
What to do, where to eat and what to pack for a family day out in the Hajar Mountains.
How to plan the drive, what to do at the top and what to bring for a sunset picnic.
A simple one-day plan covering the beach, the waterfall and Al Rafisah Dam.
Frequently asked questions about desi.ae
What is desi.ae?
desi.ae is an online marketplace and business directory for the South Asian (desi) community in the United Arab Emirates. It brings together desi restaurants, grocery and fashion stores, beauty salons, professional services, deals and travel guides in one place.
How do I book a service on desi.ae?
Open a listing, choose a date and a time slot, add any extras and confirm your booking. Depending on the business, you pay online by card or in cash at your appointment.
Which emirates does desi.ae cover?
desi.ae covers all seven emirates: Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah, Ajman, Umm Al Quwain, Ras Al Khaimah and Fujairah.
How can I list my business on desi.ae?
Select Add Listing, choose a listing package and add your details, photos, opening hours and services. Every listing is reviewed by the desi.ae team before it goes live.
Where can I find deals and offers on desi.ae?
The Today’s deals and offers section on the homepage shows current offers. Each deal links to the business page, where you can book or redeem it.
Does desi.ae make promo videos for businesses?
Yes. Desi Studio shoots and edits promo videos for restaurants, salons, boutiques and brands, and premieres them on desi.ae and its social channels.
Own a business? Reach the desi community across the UAE.
List your business, take bookings online and put your offers in front of desi shoppers in every emirate.
