While the UAE may not be where Black History Month originated, it is a nation, like many others, that has been built on heavy contributions of the Black community. From the very roads we drive on to the playlists that follow us around as we carry on with our days. Local Arab culture has a lot to owe to its Black people.
Black History Month isn’t a fleeting calendar event; it’s a mindset. Honouring a community isn’t about hashtags or one-off shout-outs, but about how we show up daily in what we read, listen to, buy, and amplify.
Think of this as your guide to celebrating Black-owned businesses in the UAE, one coffee, book, or meal at a time.
Sip with intention
Let’s be honest: we’ve all let some tragic coffee slide lately. No one deserves to wake up to bitter burnt water.
Thankfully places like Boon Coffee, founded by Ethiopian entrepreneur Orit Mohammed are here to save us. After all, Ethiopia is the birthplace of coffee, and you can taste that authenticity in every sip. Whether you choose to brew their beans at home or swing by one of their Dubai cafés, you’re already choosing to start your day with intention.
Visit them at one of their locations, around Dubai and Abu Dhabi or buy their beans here.
Look beyond the shea butter
African beauty traditions are built on simplicity and strength. No complicated 15-step routines, just real, no fuss ingredients that get the job done.
54 Thrones, founded by Nigerian-American Christina Funke Tegbe, brings the continent’s richness to your shelf with whipped body butters that hydrate like nothing else. You can shop them at Sephora Middle East or online. Check out their Black Soap Detox Bar thats equal parts clarifying and nourishing.
Find it here at 54thrones.com.
Closer to home, check out Black Flamingo Beauty, created by Somali-Emirati sisters Mona and Mariam. Their products spotlight qasil, a natural cleansing powder from Somaliland, along with other African botanicals. Light yourself some oudh, and you’ve got a self care ritual fit for the Queen.
Shop here.
Skip the scroll
Reading is officially the It-girl hobby. And nothing says cool like expanding your perspective beyond your own. Start easy, toss a slim paperback into your tote for coffee shop hangs or metro rides. (Read also, Black authors that need to be on your reading list)
Start with Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’s We Should All Be Feminists or Warsan Shire’s Bless the Daughter Raised by a Voice in Her Head. Bonus points if you pick up your copy from an indie bookstore instead of one-clicking your way through Amazon. Extra bonus points if you strike up a convo with the store owner for more niche recs.
Find it at The Old Library at Al Quoz or online, at magrudy.com.
Break for a soulful lunch
As the icon, Anthony Bourdain once said, “When somebody’s offering you food, they’re telling you a story.” And African hospitality is a story you definitely want to hear. For a Pan African dining experience, head to KIZA Restaurant & Lounge in Dubai. From jollof rice to suya skewers, the menu reads like a culinary passport.
If you’re in the mood for more cosy, home-style plates, Biggy African Restaurant is your spot. A crowd favourite, their Nigerian classics, egusi soup, peppered meat platters, deliver comfort and culture in every bite. If it’s good enough for African dignitaries who visit the UAE, it’s good enough for us.
And for those days you’re caught up with work, get a home style Caribbean meal delivered to you from @IslandWaterz.
Unwind with art and community
Evenings are for slowing down, but also for showing up. The UAE is home to galleries and spaces celebrating African and diaspora artists. A must-visit is Efie Gallery in Alserkal Avenue, founded by a Ghanaian family and dedicated to contemporary African art. Do not skip a visit their record library stacked with classic vinyl tracks from around the world.
Keep your eyes peeled for pop-up markets, fashion showcases, and live music nights hosted by Black creatives across Dubai and Abu Dhabi. Directories like Black Links Global make it easier than ever to discover and support local Black-owned businesses year-round.
Honouring Black History Month in the UAE doesn’t need to feel performative. It’s in the choices you make daily, where you spend your dirhams, whose voices you uplift, and how you build your rituals.