Emirates passengers opting for vegan meals will soon be served lentil kibbeh instead of soy ‘beef’. The airline told The Australian on 20 January that it is phasing out processed plant-protein products across all cabins, pivoting to minimally processed grains, legumes and vegetables (theaustralian.com.au).
The carrier’s food and beverage design chief, Doxis Bekris, said surveys show health-conscious flyers prefer recognisable ingredients over imitation meat. The overhaul is part of Emirates’ broader sustainability agenda, which aims to halve onboard food waste by 2030.
For mobility buyers, the change matters because Emirates lifts more international corporate travellers than any other airline. Duty-of-care teams fielding special-meal requests (e.g., for halal-certified vegan dishes) should review updated catering matrices; the airline will publish an allergen guide by Q2 2026.
![Emirates Drops Plant-Based ‘Meat’ in Favour of Whole-Food Vegan Menus]()
For travellers whose Emirates itinerary includes a stopover or entry into the UAE, having the right travel documents is essential. VisaHQ’s digital platform streamlines the process of securing United Arab Emirates visas, offering clear instructions, real-time status updates and expedited service when timelines are tight—learn more at https://www.visahq.com/united-arab-emirates/.
Dietitians welcome the move but caution that whole-food menus require tighter cold-chain control. Emirates says it will expand its hydroponic partnership with Bustanica, whose vertical farm near Dubai World Central currently supplies 1 million heads of lettuce a week.
The announcement came with a reminder of Emirates’ existing ban on carrying power banks in checked luggage—procedures several European carriers have since mirrored—reinforcing the need for travellers to keep personal power packs in carry-on bags.
The carrier’s food and beverage design chief, Doxis Bekris, said surveys show health-conscious flyers prefer recognisable ingredients over imitation meat. The overhaul is part of Emirates’ broader sustainability agenda, which aims to halve onboard food waste by 2030.
For mobility buyers, the change matters because Emirates lifts more international corporate travellers than any other airline. Duty-of-care teams fielding special-meal requests (e.g., for halal-certified vegan dishes) should review updated catering matrices; the airline will publish an allergen guide by Q2 2026.
For travellers whose Emirates itinerary includes a stopover or entry into the UAE, having the right travel documents is essential. VisaHQ’s digital platform streamlines the process of securing United Arab Emirates visas, offering clear instructions, real-time status updates and expedited service when timelines are tight—learn more at https://www.visahq.com/united-arab-emirates/.
Dietitians welcome the move but caution that whole-food menus require tighter cold-chain control. Emirates says it will expand its hydroponic partnership with Bustanica, whose vertical farm near Dubai World Central currently supplies 1 million heads of lettuce a week.
The announcement came with a reminder of Emirates’ existing ban on carrying power banks in checked luggage—procedures several European carriers have since mirrored—reinforcing the need for travellers to keep personal power packs in carry-on bags.
