ACADEMIA Letters
Emirati Gahwa Arabiya; a Review of Signature Arabic
Cofee in the United Arab Emirates
Kurniawan Arif Maspul, International Open University
Cofee is a crucial need for humans, which helps in meeting daily cafeine needs. Cofee has
a unique history in its presentation and has become a societal identity that has been a legacy
for a long time, likewise in the United Arab Emirates, where cofee is consumed in a modern
way called specialty cofee. As for looking back at cofee, which is an old culture maintained
by the Arabs today, it is the type of Arabic cofee whose unique presentation has become a
legacy for the ancestors of the Arabs and the symbol of Arabian hospitality (Smith, 1985;
Ukers, 1935).
The serving of signature Arabic cofee itself is one of the most important traditions of
warm companionship in Arab society in general and Emirati society in particular and is also
referred to as a symbol of generosity. Gahwa Arabiya has been an essential part of Arab cul-
ture for several centuries, and the way it is presented is characterized by Arab traditions and
rituals that have been passed down from generation to generation as local wisdom of the Arabs.
Gahwa Arabiya is also referred to as a symbol signifying the generosity and friendliness of
the Emirati people; This makes it deeply rooted in Emirati tradition. Given the cultural im-
portance and heritage of good Arabic cofee in the Gulf countries; The United Arab Emirates,
Saudi Arabia, Oman and Qatar included Arabic cofee in 2015 on the UNESCO Representa-
tive List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity (Baycar, 2020; Meskell & Isakhan,
2020; Tai, 2019).
In its journey, cofee has various ways of serving depending on which region it is experi-
enced. So, in this paper, the author only focuses on how local wisdom has become a culture
through the Emirati Arabic cofee in the United Arab Emirates and the development of cul-
ture and market in the last decade. It describes a review of the Emirati version of Gahwa
Arabiya (Signature Arabic Cofee) savored by Arabs (bedouins) in the United Arab Emirates
Academia Letters, October 2021
Corresponding Author: Kurniawan Arif Maspul, kurniawan.arif@iou-students.com
Citation: Maspul, K.A. (2021). Emirati Gahwa Arabiya; a Review of Signature Arabic Cofee in the United
Arab Emirates. Academia Letters, Article 3655. https://doi.org/10.20935/AL3655.
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©2021 by the author — Open Access — Distributed under CC BY 4.0