Emirates preps Kosher-Meal venture with Israelis set to arrive

Emirates’ catering unit plans to start producing kosher food in the United Arab Emirates to meet growing demand in the Gulf nation after the recent diplomatic breakthrough with Israel. The production facility, called Kosher Arabia, will be a partnership between Emirates Flight Catering and CCL Holdings, a company founded by the head of the Jewish Council in the UAE. Operations are expected to start in January, according to a statement released by the airline on Thursday. The move follows the signing of landmark agreements by the UAE and Bahrain this week to start normalizing relations with Israel, setting in motion a potentially historic shift in Middle East politics. DP World, one of the world’s largest port operators, plans to make a joint bid for Israel’s Haifa Port, and the biggest banks in Dubai and Abu Dhabi have already signed cooperation pacts with their Israeli counterparts. Take up of kosher food in the UAE and the wider region is expected to grow quickly, according to Emirates Flight Catering CEO Saeed Mohammed. “Our partnership will cover all food channels and we will also explore opening restaurants across Dubai and the Gulf Cooperation Council.”<br/>