Emirates Flight Catering (EKFC), one of the world's largest catering operations serving more than 100 airlines, has signed an MOU with CCL Holdings, founded by Ross Kriel, entering a partnership to set up a dedicated production facility for kosher food at EKFC's premises in the UAE. The new partnership will be called Kosher Arabia, and production is expected to begin by January 2021.
 
Kosher Arabia is certified by the Kashrut Division of the Orthodox Union (OU) which will work in partnership with the South African Union of Orthodox Synagogues (UOS) to provide the highest level of excellence in kosher certification to Kosher Arabia.

Saeed Mohammed, CEO of Emirates Flight Catering, said: "We are delighted to enter into an agreement with CCL to provide kosher food. For many years, EKFC has been offering kosher meals primarily to our airline customers, via an outsourced supplier overseas. We've been watching the global trends for kosher food, and with recent developments we expect that demand for kosher food in the UAE and region will grow quickly. Our partnership will cover all food channels and we will also explore opening restaurants across Dubai and the GCC."
 
Ross Kriel, founder of CCL Holdings, and President of the Jewish Council of the Emirates (JCE) said: "Kosher Arabia was set up to supply kosher food to meet the growing demand in the UAE, not only from the Jewish community here but also from other consumers looking for healthy and halal-compliant options.

For a number of years the Jewish community in the UAE has discreetly flourished.  Scheduled flights from Tel Aviv are expected to be introduced shortly.

In September 2019, the UAE announced the construction of an interfaith complex in Abu Dhabi, which will house a Jewish synagogue, Christian church and Islamic mosque.

www.emiratesflightcatering.com