Best Moroccan Restaurants in Abu Dhabi: Locations and Prices

Searching for the best Moroccan restaurant Abu Dhabi has to offer? The city has a well-established North African dining scene, with restaurants spread across neighbourhoods from the Tourist Club Area and Al Khalidiya to Al Reem Island, Khalifa City, and Mussafah.

Whether you are after a quick Moroccan breakfast, a slow Friday couscous, or a special-occasion dinner with Grand Mosque views, this guide covers twelve restaurants worth knowing. If it is your first time ordering Moroccan food, there is also a rundown of the dishes you are most likely to encounter and what makes each one worth trying.

• Best Moroccan restaurants in Abu Dhabi
• Moroccan restaurants in Abu Dhabi: A quick comparison 
• What to order: A first-timer’s guide to Moroccan dishes
• Key takeaways
• FAQs

Best Moroccan restaurants in Abu Dhabi

1. Riad Meknes

One of Abu Dhabi’s most established Moroccan dining rooms, Riad Meknes serves heritage-rooted Moroccan and international cuisine in a setting that channels the warmth of a traditional North African riad. The Tourist Club Area branch near Al Meena Street is the original and most popular location.

• Location: Tourist Club Area (Al Zahiyah), Al Meena Street (behind Al Dana Hotel); also at Marina Mall
• Phone: +971 2 677 8813

2. Al Afiya Al Maghribi Restaurant

A long-standing neighbourhood favourite in Al Khalidiya, Al Afiya Al Maghribi draws a loyal local crowd with its broad Moroccan menu and family-friendly atmosphere. It is conveniently located near Khalidiyah Mall and covers everything from all-day breakfast dishes to full evening meals.

• Location: Zayed the First Street, Al Khalidiya (near Khalidiyah Mall)
• Phone: +971 2 665 6699

3. Argana Moroccan Restaurant

A budget-friendly option in the Tourist Club Area, Argana is known for generous portion sizes and an accessible menu that covers Moroccan classics alongside Middle Eastern favourites. It is popular with diners looking for a filling meal at everyday prices without compromising on taste.

• Location: Tourist Club Area (Al Zahiyah), near Al Maya Supermarket
• Phone: +971 2 621 0800

4. Itran Restaurant

Abu Dhabi’s most scenic Moroccan restaurant, Itran is set on the upper level of the Souk at Qaryat Al Beri with sweeping views of Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque and the Khor Maqta waterway. The menu takes an upscale approach to classic Moroccan flavours, making it the standout choice in the city for a special-occasion dinner.

• Location: Level 2, The Souk at Qaryat Al Beri, Al Maqtaa
• Phone: +971 2 642 0077

The restaurant is temporarily closed. It’s best to contact the place before visiting.

5. Kenzi Palace

Set on Al Reem Island, Kenzi Palace combines a full Moroccan menu with a café and both indoor and outdoor seating, making it a popular casual dining destination for island residents. The kitchen covers all-day dining, from morning msemen to evening tagines and couscous.

• Location: Mangrove Place, Rabat Street, Al Reem Island
• Phone: +971 55 406 0727

6. Chhiwat Maghribia Restaurant

Named for the Moroccan Arabic word for flavours (chhiwat), this compact Tourist Club Area eatery serves a reliable home-style Moroccan menu at casual prices. It has a loyal following among the neighbourhood’s Moroccan community and is a solid choice for a good Moroccan meal.

• Location: Bu Sawla’ Street, Tourist Club Area (Al Zahiyah)

7. Panini Di Casa

Panini Di Casa pairs Moroccan breakfast staples with Italian-inspired sandwiches and baked goods, creating an all-day café menu that works as well for a Moroccan harira breakfast as it does for a casual lunch. Multiple branches across the city make it a convenient option wherever you happen to be.

• Location: Al Sareeh Street, Tourist Club Area (Al Zahiyah); also in Mussafah Shabiya
• Phone: +971 50 373 7036

8. Mima Moroccan Cuisine

With branches in Khalifa City, Al Shahama, and Mohammed Bin Zayed City, Mima is one of the most accessible Moroccan options for residents living outside the city centre. The menu focuses on Moroccan breakfast classics, msemen, harira, and mint tea, at affordable prices.

• Location: Multiple branches: Khalifa City (ADNOC Station, Mahawi); Al Shahama (near Deerfields Mall); Mohammed Bin Zayed City
• Phone: +971 56 818 8978 (Khalifa City branch)

9. Mehlabat Chaouen

Inspired by Chefchaouen, the blue-painted mountain city in northern Morocco celebrated for its laid-back café culture and sweet shops, Mehlabat Chaouen specialises in Moroccan sweets, msemen, and freshly brewed tea. It is a popular spot for a leisurely morning or afternoon break in the Mussafah and MBZ City area.

• Location: Al Daraj Street, Mohammed Bin Zayed City; also in Mussafah Shabiya
• Phone: +971 50 853 2822

10. Dukala Cafeteria

Named after the Doukkala region on Morocco’s Atlantic coast, Dukala Cafeteria is one of the most straightforward and affordable Moroccan options in Abu Dhabi. It is a casual spot for grilled kefta, fresh juice, and Moroccan bites at some of the city’s lowest price points. Residents living in Al Wahda can enjoy their favourite Moroccan dishes at Dukala.

• Location: 19 Al Turath Street, Al Wahda
• Phone: +971 56 812 5151

11. Sky Garden Moroccan Cuisine

Occupying the fourteenth floor of the Oriental Apartments, Sky Garden offers a full Moroccan menu alongside panoramic city views that most ground-floor restaurants in Abu Dhabi cannot match. The kitchen serves breakfast, couscous, tagine, and Moroccan coffee and sweets throughout the day.

• Location: 14th Floor, Oriental Apartments, Sheikh Zayed the Second Street
• Phone: +971 2 447 8236

12. Rozalina Restaurant and Sweets

Rozalina brings a design-forward sensibility to Moroccan dining, with interiors inspired by Moroccan architecture and craftsmanship and a menu that spans tagines, couscous, and salads alongside an impressive selection of Moroccan pastries and sweets. 

• Location: Harmalah bin Zayed Street, Al Khalidiya; also at Masdar City
• Phone: +971 2 666 2201

Moroccan restaurants in Abu Dhabi: A quick comparison

Here is a quick overview to help you find the best Moroccan restaurant Abu Dhabi has to offer based on your preferences and budget.

What to order: A first-timer’s guide to Moroccan dishes

Moroccan menus can look unfamiliar if you have never ordered North African food before. Most restaurants in this guide serve the dishes mentioned below. Here’s what to expect on your next Moroccan restaurant Abu Dhabi experience.

Tagine

Morocco’s best-known dish, tagine is a slow-cooked stew of meat, most commonly chicken, lamb, or beef, combined with vegetables, preserved lemon, olives, and warming spices such as ginger, cumin, and saffron. It takes its name from the conical clay pot it is cooked and served in, which traps steam and keeps everything tender.

Couscous

Considered Morocco’s national dish, couscous is made from steamed semolina granules and served with a rich slow-cooked broth, tender meat, and root vegetables such as carrots, turnip, and courgette. 

Harira

A thick warming soup made from tomatoes, chickpeas, lentils, and vermicelli, seasoned with coriander and a squeeze of lemon. Harira is served throughout the day and is a staple of the Moroccan breakfast table as well as the traditional soup used to break the fast during Ramadan.

Pastilla (Bastilla)

One of Morocco’s most distinctive dishes, pastilla is a flaky pastry pie that balances sweet and savoury flavours in a single bite. The classic filling is spiced chicken or pigeon with toasted almonds and cinnamon, finished with a dusting of icing sugar. Some restaurants offer a seafood version. It is often served as a starter for groups.

Msemen (M’smen)

A pan-fried layered flatbread with a flaky, crispy texture. Msemen is the centrepiece of a Moroccan breakfast table, served with honey, butter, or amlou (a spread made from almonds and argan oil). It also doubles as a bread to scoop up dips and stews throughout a meal.

Kefta

Minced lamb or beef seasoned with cumin, coriander, paprika, and fresh herbs, shaped into sausages or flat patties. Kefta is either grilled on skewers (kefta meshwi) or simmered in a spiced tomato sauce with eggs (kefta mkaouara). 

Zaalouk

A cooked salad made from roasted aubergine and tomatoes, spiced with cumin and paprika and finished with olive oil and fresh coriander. Served cold as a starter, it is often part of a spread of small Moroccan salads — collectively known as kemia and is a good way to explore the variety of flavours on offer before the main course arrives.

Key takeaways

• The Moroccan restaurant Abu Dhabi scene spans a wide range of settings and price points, from budget cafeterias in Al Wahda and Mussafah to scenic fine dining at Souk Qaryat Al Beri.
• For first-time visitors, tagine, couscous, and harira are the best starting points — they appear on virtually every Moroccan menu and showcase the cuisine’s signature spice combinations.
• Itran at Souk Qaryat Al Beri is the top choice for a special occasion, combining an upscale Moroccan menu with direct views of Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque.
• Mima, Mehlabat Chaouen, and Dukala Cafeteria offer some of the most affordable Moroccan meals in the city, with average bills of AED 30–50 per person.

FAQs

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