Today's Edition
BATOOL GHAITH (ABU DHABI)
As Eid morning begins in homes across the UAE, one tradition comes to the fore: Arabic coffee.
Made from roasted coffee beans and infused with aromatic ingredients such as cardamom and saffron, gahwa is more than a drink in Emirati households. It remains a symbol of hospitality, generosity and connection, and sits at the centre of how families welcome visitors during Eid.
Its cultural value was recognised internationally in 2015, when the UAE and other Gulf states secured its inscription on UNESCO's Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, recognising it as a living tradition passed from one generation to the next.
According to UAE national Noof Al Mehairbi, coffee is part of the code of honour that defines local hospitality - the first thing offered to a guest and the last thing to leave their hands - and that meaning becomes even more pronounced during Eid.
"Arabic and Emirati coffee is a must in every household; it is always there, it is part of our traditions, and part of all our celebrations, including Eid," Al Mehairbi told Aletihad.
"It is shared among neighbours and prepared in abundance as families gather. It is present in every majlis, every visit, every conversation."
She said that during the festive occasion, coffee is traditionally prepared early in the day in anticipation of visitors, often brewed after the dawn prayer and again later in the afternoon so it can be served fresh throughout the day.
Ground coffee is added in measured amounts to boiling water, before being poured into the traditional dallah, where cardamom and saffron are added to give it its distinctive flavour, Al Mehairbi explained.
"It is not just how the coffee is made, it is how it is served that defines its cultural significance," she added.
The small handle-less cup (finjan) also carries social significance, and the way coffee is poured is guided by custom and long-standing hospitality traditions.
Al Mehairbi explained that women are usually served just under half a finjan and men about a quarter, as a sign of welcome, while filling the cup would suggest that the visit has come to an end.
"It is a tradition we carried from our great ancestors, Arabic coffee remains at the heart of Emirati hospitality, and every other Arab country too."
