The E11 between Dubai and Abu Dhabi isn’t just a stretch of tarmac to power through with one hand on the wheel and the other on a stale packet of chips. Somewhere between the two cities, this highway has quietly built up its own food scene: food truck parks, roadside pit stops, and even a polo club clubhouse. Here are 7 stops worth actually pulling off for.
Driving From Dubai To Abu Dhabi? 7 Best Highway Food Stops Worth A Detour
1. Last Exit E11
If you’re going to make one detour on this list, make it this one. Sitting on Sheikh Zayed Road near the Ghantoot turn-off, Last Exit’s flagship food truck park. It spans roughly 1,500 square metres of retro Americana, all 1950s-style trailers and neon. Two sides, depending on which direction you’re driving! DXB Bound and AUH Bound, each with around a dozen trucks covering everything from Big Smoke Burger to D.O.N. Pizza to Urban Seafood. It’s open 24/7, so there’s genuinely no bad time to stop.
2. Seafarers Bar & Kitchen
View this post on Instagram
Tucked inside the Jebel Ali International Seafarers Centre, this one’s less about the view and more about the vibe. Expect a fully licensed bar and restaurant built as a home away from home for the global seafaring community docking in and around Jebel Ali Port. Expect indoor and outdoor terrace seating, bar games, and live sport on the screen. The menu leans casual pub-grub. It’s a proper detour rather than a highway-adjacent stop, but if you’re after something with a bit of maritime character, it delivers.
3. Mian Jee Village
A no-frills Pakistani spot in the Jebel Ali Industrial Area that’s built its name on the basics done properly. Think roti, aloo naan, dal makhni and anda chana, alongside a broader spread of curries, biryani and grills. It’s the kind of place regulars swear by rather than one that trends on Instagram. And here’s your sign to visit on your next road trip.
4. Ghantoot Royal Restaurant
Right on Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Road in Ghantoot. This is as close as the highway gets to a food spot. The menu moves between Arabic, Pakistani, Indian and Kerala dishes. But it’s the freshly made roti and rich chicken gravy that keep people coming back. With family seating, ample parking, and a genuinely mixed crowd, this is a stop where everyone from long-haul truckers to families on a weekend drive ends up at the same tables.
5. Polo Club Restaurant Ghantoot
Want a bit more fine-dining? The clubhouse restaurant at Ghantoot Racing & Polo Club is the pick. Set across 300 hectares of grassland just off Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Maktoum Highway. It’s the UAE’s only dedicated polo club, with a colonial-style clubhouse overlooking the polo fields. It’s not a quick pit stop but a proper sit-down lunch with a view. Although it’s worth timing your drive around, especially during polo season (October to March), when live matches run alongside the meal.
6. Bon Food Samha 1
Based at the ADNOC petrol station in Al Samha, this one’s built for exactly what a highway stop should be. It’s quick, reliable, and open practically around the clock (5 am to 3 am). Burgers, fast food, coffee and juices cover the essentials, and its petrol-station setting means you can fuel the car and yourself in one stop without losing much time.
7. Texas Chicken Al Samha
View this post on Instagram
Also at the Al Samha ADNOC station on Sheikh Maktoum Bin Rashid Road, this is the one for when you need fried chicken and nothing else will do. Texas Chicken’s San Antonio-inspired recipe has built a loyal UAE following on its “gold, bold and crunchy” pieces and sandwiches. Everything here is cooked fresh to order, so it’s dependable, fast, and exactly what you want after a few hours on the road.
Also Read: This Food Truck Paradise Called Last Exit In Dubai Is A Hidden Gem With Around 60 Trailers
The Bottom Line
Whether you’ve got twenty minutes or two hours to spare, the Dubai-Abu Dhabi highway has more going for it than a fuel stop and a bag of crisps. From food truck parks to polo club lunches, these 7 pit stops turn a routine road trip across Dubai and Abu Dhabi into an actual reason to plan earlier.
Cover Image Courtesy: Last Exit 11/Website
FAQs
How long does the drive from Dubai to Abu Dhabi take?
Around 1 hour to 1 hour 30 minutes without stops, depending on traffic and your exact start and end points.
Which of these stops is open 24/7?
Last Exit E11 and BONFOOD Samha 1 are both open round the clock, making them the most reliable options for late-night or early-morning drives.
