Emirates Embraces Whole Foods in New Vegan Menu, Ditching Processed Options
Emirates has unveiled a transformative approach to vegan dining, moving away from processed meat substitutes and focusing on natural, plant-based dishes that highlight whole ingredients.
Based in Dubai, the airline is crafting new menu concepts that prioritize legumes, grains, nuts, seeds, and seasonal vegetables over engineered meat alternatives. These innovative dishes are expected to launch onboard in 2027.
With half a million vegan meals ordered onboard last year, this Veganuary – we are evolving our vegan cuisine philosophy and move towards a celebration of minimally processed, whole plant foods – highlighting real ingredients, authentic flavours and global culinary traditions.… pic.twitter.com/hpUAwtx5V5
— Emirates (@emirates) January 20, 2026
From Substitutes to Celebration
Doxis Bekris, Vice President of Food & Beverage Design at Emirates, shared insights into this significant shift in culinary philosophy.
“Our new focus centers on legumes, grains, nuts, seeds, and seasonal vegetables as the stars of the meal,” Bekris explained. “These ingredients deliver natural flavors, textures, and nutritional benefits without relying on ultra-processed substitutes. Rather than mimicking meat, we aim to explore cuisines that have traditionally been plant-forward, such as Mediterranean mezze, Levantine grain salads, Asian noodle bowls, and African stews.”
This strategic approach aligns with growing consumer demand for minimally processed foods and a desire for ingredient transparency.
“It’s important for our customers to understand what they are consuming and to feel assured that their choices benefit both their health and the planet,” Bekris added. “We want to transform the narrative from substitutes to a celebration of plants, emphasizing what is gained in terms of authenticity, flavor, and creativity.”
Current Vegan Offerings
Emirates currently serves around half a million vegan meals each year across its network of 140 destinations. The airline boasts 488 vegan recipes in rotation, marking a 60% increase since 2024.
London is the leading destination for vegan meal orders, followed closely by cities such as Sydney, Bangkok, Melbourne, Frankfurt, Manchester, Mumbai, Bali, and Singapore. Interestingly, some requests come from non-vegan travelers who choose plant-based options for a lighter meal during flights.
Passengers can pre-order vegan meals up to 24 hours before their flight across all classes. On popular routes, plant-based options are also included in the standard menu selections.
Farm-to-Cabin Sourcing
Emirates sources fresh produce directly from Bustanica, recognized as the world’s largest hydroponic vertical farm. This facility, a collaboration with Emirates Flight Catering, provides pesticide-free leafy greens such as lettuce, arugula, mixed salad greens, and spinach.
Vegan menu items vary by cabin class. Economy passengers can indulge in dishes like pumpkin frittata with sautéed mushrooms or spinach cannelloni with tomato basil sauce. In Premium Economy, options include kimchi fried rice with roasted pumpkin and oyster mushrooms.
Business Class features offerings like braised mushrooms with vegetables in five-spice soy sauce served alongside jasmine rice, while First Class provides selections such as pumpkin and barley risotto with caramelized walnuts or quinoa salad with grilled vegetables.
Lounge Options
The Emirates lounges at Dubai International Airport’s Terminal 3 also showcase vegan choices. The standout vegan dish in the lounges is the Emirates Green Burger, crafted from soy and flax seeds, paired with a signature sauce and pickled cucumbers.
This transition towards whole-food, plant-based cuisine mirrors broader industry trends as airlines strive to meet sustainability goals while catering to passengers’ expectations for healthier, transparent food choices during air travel.
Are you excited to explore these new plant-forward offerings from Emirates?
