Emirates is redeveloping its vegan cuisine as passengers increasingly seek healthier, minimally processed meals, reflecting a broader global shift towards nutrition, wellbeing and “back-to-basics” eating.
The airline says new vegan menu concepts are currently in development, with dishes focused on whole, farm-to-fork plant foods rather than engineered meat substitutes. The updated offerings are expected to be introduced onboard from 2027.
“Our focus now is on legumes, grains, nuts, seeds and seasonal vegetables as the heroes of the plate. These ingredients offer natural depth of flavour, texture and nutrition without relying on ultra-processed alternatives,”said Doxis Bekris, Emirates’ Vice President of Food and Beverage Design.
Bekris said Emirates is drawing inspiration from cuisines that have traditionally been plant-forward, including Mediterranean, Asian and African food cultures. Dishes under development include Kenyan sukuma wiki, Egyptian koshari, Senegalese thieboudienne and Tunisian lablabi.
“Our focus now is on legumes, grains, nuts, seeds, and seasonal vegetables as the heroes of the plate. These ingredients offer natural depth of flavour, texture, and nutrition without relying on ultra-processed alternatives,” he says
Emirates currently serves around half a million vegan meals each year and has 488 vegan recipes in rotation across 140 destinations, a 60% increase compared with 2024.
The airline says demand is being driven not only by vegan passengers, but also by non-vegans opting for plant-based meals as a lighter option when flying.
Last year, the most popular routes for vegan meal orders included London, Sydney, Bangkok and Melbourne, with growing demand also reported across African destinations such as South Africa, Kenya, Uganda and Senegal.
Vegan meals are available across all classes, from Economy to First, and are supported by produce from Bustanica, the world’s largest hydroponic vertical farm in Dubai.
“Although there are many commendable lab-based alternatives available, real food aligns with our sustainability goals and guest expectations for health-conscious choices,” said Bekris.
That’s fantastic news! It’s great to see Emirates listening to what travelers want – healthy and delicious food is definitely a priority these days.