DUBAI- Emirates (EK) has formally shifted its vegan meal strategy, moving away from engineered meat and egg substitutes toward whole, minimally processed plant foods. The decision marks a clear reversal from its earlier experimentation with imitation proteins.
The Dubai-based carrier now emphasizes natural ingredients such as legumes, grains, nuts, seeds, and seasonal vegetables to deliver flavor and nutrition without replication of animal products. The airline views this transition as a return to authenticity in inflight dining.
Emirates Plant-Based Vegan Menu
Doxis Bekris, Vice President of Food and Beverage Design at Emirates, confirmed that the airline no longer intends to mimic meat in its vegan offerings.
He stated that ultra processed protein alternatives do not align with the airline’s long-term food philosophy.
Bekris explained that Emirates now treats whole plant foods as the central elements of each dish. Legumes, grains, nuts, seeds, and vegetables are selected for their natural texture, flavor depth, and nutritional value, without reliance on engineered substitutes.
He also noted that this approach allows chefs to design meals that feel culturally genuine rather than technically manufactured.
Emirates is drawing from cuisines with a long history of plant-forward cooking. These include Mediterranean mezze, Levantine grain salads, Asian noodle bowls, and African vegetable-based stews.
According to the airline, these culinary traditions naturally balance taste, nutrition, and presentation.
Emirates considers them better suited for inflight service than dishes built around replicated meat textures.
Contrast With Early 2025 Vegan Strategy
At the start of 2025, Emirates promoted a very different approach. Its chefs were actively experimenting with innovative vegan ingredients at the Emirates Flight Catering Concept Development Kitchen.
During that period, menus featured plant-based proteins from California-based Beyond Meat. These products included burgers, mince, sausages, and meatballs designed to look, taste, and feel like conventional meat.
The airline also tested a lookalike solid egg substitute as part of its vegan development program.
Emirates has since decided that replacing animal protein with engineered alternatives does not align with its current culinary goals.
Menu Change and Implementation
The airline currently operates 488 vegan recipes across 140 global destinations. This represents a 60 percent increase in vegan dishes over the past 2 years.
Due to the size and complexity of this rotation, Emirates estimates that the transition to its new whole-food-focused vegan concept will begin rolling out in early 2027.
The announcement coincides with Emirates marking Veganuary, though demand for vegan meals extends far beyond January.
In 2025, Emirates served more than 500,000 vegan meals, which is 100,000 more than in 2024. The airline expects continued growth in the coming years.
London remains the number one destination for vegan meal pre-orders, supported by Emirates’ extensive daily flight schedule to the United Kingdom.
Sydney, Bangkok, Melbourne, and Frankfurt follow closely. Other high-demand destinations include Manchester, Mumbai, Bali, and Singapore.
Emirates does not attribute rising vegan meal demand solely to passengers who follow a plant-based lifestyle.
The airline states that many non-vegan travelers choose vegan meals for lighter digestion and a more wholesome dining experience, particularly on ultra-long-haul flights.
Pre-Order Requirements and Route Exceptions
Despite the growth in demand, vegan meals are not routinely included in Emirates’ standard onboard menu.
Passengers are required to pre-order vegan meals at least 24 hours before departure.
The only exception applies to select high-demand routes, where vegan dishes may be offered as part of the regular meal service.
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