- The Tap House’s new menu uses locally sourced seafood, poultry, and artisanal produce.
- 67 percent of UAE residents now say they plan to increase consumption of fresh local food.
- Arabian Gulf prawns, local seabream, and UAE-farmed chicken anchor the new menu.
- Desserts feature locally crafted artisanal gelato in collaboration with homegrown producers.
A 2025 study revealed that 67 percent of UAE residents plan to increase their consumption of fresh food, while 60 percent are willing to pay premium prices for produce grown right here in the Emirates. That shift in consumer values, away from imported and toward local, is not just a wellness trend or a sustainability talking point. It is a genuine cultural movement reshaping how Dubai eats, what it values, and which restaurants earn its loyalty. The Tap House Dubai Creek Harbour has been watching that shift closely and has responded with something that feels both timely and deeply considered. Its new initiative, Rooted at The Tap House: Made in the UAE, puts UAE farmers, fishermen, and artisanal producers at the centre of its menu, and the result is one of the most purposeful dining moves any gastropub in the city has made this year.
The farm-to-table movement has been gathering genuine momentum in Dubai for several years, with hydroponic farms, vertical growing facilities, and local aquaculture operations quietly building the kind of infrastructure that allows restaurants to source significant portions of their menus from within the country’s borders. The Tap House has tapped directly into that ecosystem, building a menu around produce, seafood, poultry, and artisanal products that are grown, farmed, and produced within the UAE. The seafood highlights are immediate and impressive: Wok Tossed Arabian Gulf Prawns and Crispy Whole Seabream Penang Style, both sourced from regional waters and prepared with the kind of confident global technique that makes The Tap House’s cooking so compelling. Chefs across Dubai have realised that local produce is simply fresher and lasts longer than something imported from Europe and passed through three days of transit before reaching the kitchen, and these dishes reflect exactly that difference on the plate.
The poultry dishes tell a similar story. Chicken Tikka Masala, Kung Pao Chicken, and Buttermilk Chicken Pretzel are all prepared using locally farmed chicken, giving globally inspired comfort classics a genuinely UAE-rooted foundation. The vegetarian section continues that commitment with equal care. Burrata and Heirloom Tomatoes with super-seed pesto, Tomato Basil Soup with roasted Roma tomatoes, and Truffle Mushroom Fettuccine all showcase locally sourced ingredients and artisanal cheeses that represent the growing sophistication of the UAE’s domestic food production landscape. A major AED 130 million manufacturing facility unveiled at Gulfood 2026 is strengthening the UAE’s food ecosystem through large-scale local production, supporting food security, localisation, and long-term supply resilience, and restaurants like The Tap House that choose to source locally are both benefiting from and actively contributing to that infrastructure.
The desserts bring the initiative full circle. S’mores Belgian Waffles with salted caramel ice cream and Smashed Pavlova with strawberry cheesecake ice cream and passion fruit are both prepared using locally crafted artisanal gelato, a detail that turns what could have been a simple ingredient story into a genuine celebration of the UAE’s homegrown food talent. Restaurants that emphasise locally sourced ingredients, sustainable seafood, and ethically raised meat are gaining significant favour among UAE consumers, and The Tap House’s Rooted initiative positions the brand exactly where its community wants it to be: purposeful, local, and deeply connected to the city it has always called home.
Rooted at The Tap House: Made in the UAE is available now across The Tap House Dubai Creek Harbour. This is dining with a reason, and every bite supports someone growing something remarkable right here in the UAE!
Visit the Website for more details and updates.
