Emirates expand plant-based in-flight meals to include almost 500 dishes
As demand for meat-free cuisine is on the rise, the airline now offers extensive plant-based meals across its flights.
One of Emirates' many vegan recipes is a zucchini tart. Credit: Emirates
New developments are in the works at Dubai-based airline Emirates, where a team of chefs is evolving its plant-derived offering to include nearly 500 vegan meals across all their flights. The aim is to offer culturally relevant and nutritious choices that aren't reliant on extremely processed options.
The airline now offers 488 vegan meals across its 140 destinations. This represents an increase of 60% since 2023, when the airline offered around 300 plant-based choices.
“Our focus now is on legumes, grains, nuts, seeds, and seasonal vegetables as the heroes of the plate,” says Emirates Vice President of Food & Beverage Design Doxis Bekris. “These ingredients offer natural depth of flavour, texture, and nutrition without relying on ultra-processed alternatives. Instead of replicating meat, we want to draw from cuisines that have always been plant-forward like Mediterranean mezze, Levantine grain salads, Asian noodle bowls, and African stews. In our view this approach feels genuine and culturally rich.”
At the moment, Emirates serves half a million vegan meals every year. Demand for plant-based meals is growing: in 2025, the top destination where clients requested vegan meals was London, with Sydney, Bangkok, Melbourne, Manchester, Bali, Mumbai and Frankfurt following.
The dishes offered vary by class. In Economy class, customers can be served pumpkin frittata with sautéed mushrooms and tomato concassé, spinach cannelloni with tomato basil sauce, with carrot cake with coconut cream or chocolate mousse cake for dessert.
In Premium Economy, meals can include kimchi fried rice with roasted pumpkin and oyster mushrooms and coconut cake with pineapple compote and pistachios.
One of the 488 vegan options on Emirates flights is the heirloom tomato, pear, and mango salad. Credit: Emirates
Business class consumers can enjoy braised mushrooms with vegetables in five-spice soy sauce, steamed jasmine rice and pak choi, followed by coconut pannacotta with raspberry mousse or chocolate tofu cheesecake.
In First class, meals can include pumpkin and barley risotto with caramelised walnuts, vinaigrette and vegan cheese, quinoa salad with grilled aubergine, courgette, swiss chard and green pepper coulis as well as strawberry tart with vanilla custard and pistachio or a sticky date pudding with salted caramel sauce.
The vegan meals can be ordered in advance or requested on board, and they are also available to all customers as part of the airline's regular menu.
“It’s about transparency for our customers who want to know what they’re eating, as well as have confidence that it’s good for them and the planet,“ adds Bekris. “We want to shift from substitutes to a celebration of plants, where it’s not about what’s missing - but instead what is gained in authenticity, flavour, and creativity.”
Choosing a plant-based lifestyle is one of the most impactful choices you can make for animals, the environment, and your own well-being. Take Species Unite’s 30-Day Plant-Powered Challenge and become part of a movement that's changing the world for the better.
We Have A Favor To Ask…
Species Unite amplifies well-researched solutions to some of the most abusive animal industries operating today.
At this crucial moment, with worldwide momentum for change building, it’s vital we share these animal-free solutions with the world - and we need your help.
We’re a nonprofit, and so to keep sharing these solutions, we’re relying on you - with your support, we can continue our essential work in growing a powerful community of animal advocates this year.
