In pictures: The UAE classic Chips Oman sandwich

New York has cheesecake; Philadelphia has cheesesteaks. Chicago has deep-dish pizza, and the UAE – it has the Chips Oman sandwich. Mona Al Marzooqi / The National

Like all great sandwiches, the whole is much greater than the sum of its parts. Mona Al Marzooqi/ The National

The childhood favourite is the UAE’s culinary equivalent to a hug, comforting and good if not exactly wholesome in all its simplicity. Jaime Puebla / The National

Some would even go so far as to call it the unofficial national dish, outstripping spiced biryani, harees porridge or luqaimat dumplings in terms of popularity. Jaime Puebla / The National

Canteens once loved exclusively by lorry and cab drivers have become popular with Emirati youth since the humble sandwich hit the big time five years ago. It’s ordered as takeout (never dine-in), and best enjoyed with a side of sugary cardamom tea from the comfort of a car. Jaime Puebla / The National

Its precise origins are a mystery, but most believe the sandwich is a schoolboy creation from the 1980s or 1990s derived from the much-loved Chips Oman milkshake, laban stirred with crushed chips and a few drops of hot sauce. Jaime Puebla / The National

New York has cheesecake; Philadelphia has cheesesteaks. Chicago has deep-dish pizza, and the UAE – it has the Chips Oman sandwich.

The classic version starts with a hot, flaky, fried paratha smothered in processed cheese and a generous splash of hot sauce that soaks into the star ingredient – crushed Chips Oman spicy crisps. And like all great sandwiches, the whole is much greater than the sum of its parts.