Dried loomi is an essential ingredient in traditional Emirati cuisine. It consists of limes naturally dried under the sun until their colour changes from yellow or green to brown or black and their peel becomes hard and dry. Loomi is used whole, crushed or ground and imparts a distinctive aromatic sour flavour to traditional dishes such as machboos, salona and aysh mamawwash, making it an indispensable ingredient in Emirati cooking. Loomi is also used in folk medicine and in making beauty preparations such as henna. This ingredient reflects the community’s connection with natural resources and traditional preservation methods and remains a symbol of culinary heritage passed down through generations.