Customers flying out of Dubai will get a taste of the special occasion on board and in airport lounges.
A spread of festive Eid desserts made by Emirates Catering. (All photos: Emirates)
Emirates is pulling out all the stops to mark the end of the holy month of Ramadan in a big way. Aside from populating its Ice inflight entertainment system with all manner of festive specials, the leading Gulf carrier plans to celebrate Eid al-Fitr with a mouth-watering array of regional flavors and traditional dishes.
From April 21–24, economy-class passengers departing Dubai will be treated to Eid favorites including spiced chicken mandi with rice and crunchy fried onions; fish harra of baked dory and spiced tomato sauce, accompanied by ghee rice and roasted pistachios; braised lamb with jameed, served with rice, roasted cashews and almonds; or a seafood machbouse. The festive menu in premium economy, business, and first class will encompass dishes like fish matfy in tomato sauce served with basmati rice, or a marinated chicken tahta and dill rice, roasted potatoes, aubergine and carrots; roasted beef madfoon with vegetables; or a tender Gulf-style braised lamb with vegetables and basmati rice.
A special selection of inflight meals will be offered in all cabin classes.
Travelers with a sweet tooth are in for a treat. A warm date pudding will be served in first class, while a fluffy vanilla sponge cake with white chocolate and hibiscus cream is being offered in business and premium economy. Economy-class flyers will tuck into a saffron date crumble known as batheetha or a sweet pumpkin asseda topped with roasted cashews. At the onboard A380 lounge, passengers can help themselves to a slice of Arabic coffee cake with fresh berries, dates, and pistachios, plus a selection of Emirati pastries. All passengers will also receive a mini treat of ashta sfouf — a sweet turmeric and sesame cake with cream — alongside their meal.
In Dubai’s airport lounges on April 21, first-class customers will find Arabic coffee, jallab and kamarruddin juice, hot and cold mezze, and ouzi on the menu, as well as indulgent kunafa with pistachio and baklava ice-cream. Also noteworthy are Eid mocktail creations like the Sumacgroni, which combines red grapes, orange juice, bitter syrup, sumac powder, and Zaatar leaves.
In the business-class lounges of Dubai there will be shish taouk with harissa red pepper dip, alongside festive mocktails such as the Rumman Cooler — a refreshing blend of rose- and vanilla-flavored Ceylon tea, grenadine, and date syrup. Both lounges will have a variety of tempting desserts available throughout the day, and an old-fashioned ice cream cart will offer homemade baklava and Arabic coffee ice cream, specially made for Eid.
Passengers in Emirates’ Dubai airport lounges can also sip on Eid-themed mocktails come April 21.
