Since the announcement of a peace treaty between Israel the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain in September 2020 there has been a marked increase in interest from Kosher travelers to visit Dubai and the UAE.
It is now expected that many major hotel chains and worldwide kosher travel operators will offer kosher meals, kosher catering, specialized Kosher programs and Sukkot and Passover Programs for the Jewish traveler.
Kosher Restaurants and food in Dubai
Currently there are 11 kosher Restaurants and food venues in Dubai:
The latest addition to the kosher food scene in Dubai is a kosher supermarket called Rimon Market. The kosher supermarket, opened in December 2022, sells packaged products, meat, chicken and prepared foods.
Elli's Kosher Kitchen - a local kosher caterer supervised by the Orthodox Union (OU) and The EAKC, Elli's Kosher Kitchen opened a new Dairy location - Elli’s Cafe and Bakery (Chalav Yisrael) at the Golden Mile, Palm Jumeirah area. The Armani/Kaf inside The Armani Hotel Dubai is Dubai's first Kosher Restaurant - an exclusive kosher venue located in Burj Khalifa (also known as the tallest building in the world), Treat Kosher - a kosher catering service, Mul Hayam - a kosher Israeli style eatery, The Kosher Place - an upscale kosher restaurant operated by the team of Treat Kosher (the restaurant is located at the Jumeirah Creekside Hotel), and TLV / Tel Aviv - a Glatt Kosher Israeli style Restaurant located at the 37th floor of The H Hotel. The newest edition to the kosher food scene is Cafe Bibi, a dairy restaurant located in the Mazaya Shopping Center. The Chabad center of the UAE supports kosher tourists and visitors to Dubai and the UAE by providing kosher supervision to the operators, but also by offering kosher products and establishing Shabbat hospitality programs. Chabad is conducting the weekly Shabbat hospitality at the Address Marina Hotel, read along to find more about how to book and what to expect. All Kosher Restaurants and food establishments are supervised by Rabbi Levi Duchman, Chabad Rabbi of the UAE, running The EAKC - Emirates Agency for Kosher Certification - Kashrut is Glatt LeMehadrin, Pat Yisroel. Ellie’s Kosher Kitchen is also certified Kosher by the OU (Orthodox Union).The King David Kitchen operated by ASI Global Tours is located at the Intercontinental Hotel Dubai - Festival City. The King David Kitchen offers Glatt Kosher meat kitchen for Dinner, Shabbat and packed meals as well as Cholov Yisrael dairy kitchen for breakfast. Supervision is By Rabbi Pinchas Cohen, Cheif Rabbi of Netivot. there is a synagogue and sefer Torah in the Intercontinental Hotel Dubai - Festival City for Shabbat servicesFor guests looking for Shabbat meals - Elli's Kosher Kitchen, Treat Kosher and The Armani/Kaf are offering Sabbath take away, Elii's and Treat will also deliver the meals for Shabbat to your hotel. If you're looking for the whole package - Sabbath services in a minyan together with Kidushim and Seudot Shabbat - the best way is to stay at the Address Marina Hotel Dubai and book the Shabbat Hospitality Program on Chabad's website or to stay at the the Jumeirah Creekside Hotel which has recently opened The Kosher Place kosher restaurant (moved from The Adress Dubai Marina hotel), more details about kosher hotels - below
Kosher Hotels and Shabbat Hospitality in Dubai and The UAE
Currently there are seven Hotels in Dubai offering kosher meals. The Armani Hotel Dubai was the first hotel in the UAE to operate as a kosher hotel, offering kosher meals and kosher take out for Shabbat. The Jumeirah Creekside Hotel has recently started to operate as a year round kosher hotel in Dubai, the operation is by the Kosher Place Restaurant located at the hotel (moved from the Address Dubai Marina hotel) it is also offering Kosher Shabbat meals. Chabad of Dubai and the UAE is running a Kosher Shabbat Hospitality program at the Address Dubai Marina Hotel – RSVP is required and can be done though Chabad UAE website .
The Hilton Al Habtoor Dubai City hotel is offering a daily kosher breakfast(Parve) and a Kosher room service menu – the kosher food is being prepared by the hotels chefs. The Kosher breakfast is available to all the hotel’s guests (no need to register/pre-order) and it is also available for outside guests, which can pay at the reception, the kosher meal is served in a separate dining room. The St. Regis Dubai The Palm is offering a full Shabbat hospitality package including services with Minyan and Kosher Shabbat meals, operated by Elli's Kosher Kitchen. ASI Global Tours is oferring kosher packages in 3 hotels at the area of Festival City, the kosher kitchen is located at the Intercontinental Hotel Dubai - Festival City and it will also serve guests staying at the Holiday Inn Dubai - Festival City Mall and Crowne Plaza Dubai Festival City bookings for full or half board kosher stays should be made directly with ASI Global Tours
The Hilton Garden Inn Dubai Mall Of The Emirates offers Kosher breakfast as well but guests are asked to reserve the service in advance. The kosher breakfast will be served between 7 to 10:30am – more information re booking here.
In Abu Dhabi the first hotel to offer a kosher kitchen was The Armed Forces Officers Club. In November 2021 Elii’s kosher kitchen has announced to open a new Kosher restaurant in the Aloft hotel Abu Dhabi and will offer kosher hospitality options – more details soon.
Kosher Programs and Vacations in Dubai
Dubai has become a popular kosher vacation destination over the past few years. There are Passover programs organized for Pesach 2023. There were successful Shavuot programs and Sukkot programs in Dubai last year. There are several operators offering vacations and programs with kosher food in Dubai.
However, for the independent kosher travelers we strongly recommend to plan and make arrangements in advance; the demand for kosher food in Dubai is very high and the current services are not able the serve all travelers seeking kosher food, definitely not for spontaneous orders or bookings. Also changing restrictions due to Covid-19 measures are forcing Kosher establishments to plan in advance and make them unavailable for spontaneous kosher bite. So please make sure to reserve your kosher meals or seats in advance!
Kosher Supermarkets and groceries in Dubai:
In Dubai you can find modern and developed shopping experience and shops, including Waitrose, Carrefour, Lulu, Choithrams, Aswaaq etc. in these shops you can find kosher certified cereals, canned products (Tuna fish) rice cakes, Ben & Jerrys ice cream and other kosher certified groceries and products. most of the shops are also available online and offer deliveries to your apartment.