For foodie expats living in the UAE, the annual holy month of Ramadan also means a celebration of the very best of Arabian cuisine and generous hospitality!

In fact, every evening, right after sunset, families and friends congregate to end the day’s fasting together – and it is a time of connection and sharing food.

One of the best places to experience this is at Mowsem, the main restaurant at the Hilton Dubai Palm Jumeirah, where an encyclopedic selection of authentic Arabian dishes are elevated to haute cuisine level.

The Lamb Ouzi is one of the traditional dishes on offer, and it is truly exquisite – indeed, it is a special treat that historically was reserved for the most auspicious of events, such as religious celebrations or wedding feasts.

It is usually cooked in large quantity, as the preparations are quite laborious, often starting early in the morning and lasting all day. The result is a super-tender, melt-in-your-mouth slow-cooked lamb, which has both absorbed from and contributed to the flavorsome aromatic rice.

At Mowsem, you will find several of these special dishes each evening throughout Ramadan, and the main piece de resistance is rotated so there’s always something new and different for honored guest to try.

Actually, Mowsem’s is huge!

And both the indoor and outdoor sections are excellent choices.

Outdoors there is the live grilling station, with a proper clay oven as well as open charcoal grills,

while indoors you will find the main buffet, spacious and seemingly proposing an infinite combination on your plate – there is no way you could sample every thing!

To attempt to somehow capture the enormity of the occasion, let us explore just the sweets section a bit more:

Elegantly displayed, the desserts are arranged by type – and of course I had to start with the Arabian sweets!

Nevertheless, also the international creations from the Hilton patissiers surprised with clever touches of the Middle East – such as this cheesecake with delicate saffron!

Overall, whether you are visiting Dubai or residing here, experiencing the culinary feast for Iftar at Mowsem, the Hilton Dubai Palm Jumeirah, is a must – the selection is truly awesome, and the elegant ambience augments the culinary traditions of Ramadan in the UAE.