This week I’m excited to write about another win for veganism in Qatar, and around the world.
A few months ago, I launched one of the world’s first 100% vegan café at a major hub airport, right here at Hamad International Airport in Doha. For years, one of my main concerns when travelling abroad was the lack of healthy vegan food, especially when travelling. The very idea of being able to find vegan food at an airport would be something I’d day dream about while waiting for a flight. I’ve spent almost over half-a-decade packing quality vegan foods into various containers or tubs, packages or bottles before flying, only to face the next challenge of trying to get it all through the various security checkpoints of the airport. I’ve had more jars of cashew nut butter confiscated than I can count.
Air travel, and healthy vegan food just did not co-exist — but all of that changed this year.
Fast forward to this week, and your vegan dining experience can continue in the air too. Qatar Airways — one of the world’s largest airlines by international network — will now be introducing its first range of fully vegan dishes to its à la carte menu on all flights. The airline says that its decision to add the new menu is to respond to the huge increase in demand for vegan food among travellers. Real food, real ingredients, 100% plant based, and on an Arab airline here in the Middle East. I am feeling extremely proud for our region, which continues to move towards vegan, ethical, and sustainable eating.
Vegan dishes onboard include smoked moutabel, spiral courgettes and arrabbiata sauce, tofu and spinach tortellini, Asian barbecue tofu, noodles, scallions and shiitake, fried tofu with vegetable tajine, cauliflower couscous and kalamata bruschetta, and chickpea flour omelette.
It’s now estimated there are around 1 billion vegans worldwide, and with the airline committing to veganism in such a significant way, will make Qatar one of the world’s strongest vegan-friendly airport + airline combinations.
I’ve written extensively about how it’s never been a more important time to eat healthy vegan food amidst the Covid-10 pandemic — and now, with air travel hopefully set to increase once the world overcomes the current challenge of the pandemic, travellers can look forward to travelling to/from/via the best airport in the Middle East and enjoying healthy, vegan food both on the ground, and now in the air.
* The author is an expert in vegan wellbeing and health. Instagram handle: @Ghanim92
Ghanim al-Sulaiti
