On the heels of the signing of the US-brokered Abraham Accords between Jerusalem, Abu Dhabi and Manama this week, and ahead of the launch of direct Tel Aviv-Dubai flights, United Arab Emirates national carrier Emirates and Emirates Flight Catering are setting up a kosher food-production facility in the Gulf state.
The venture, called "Kosher Arabia," is slated to begin production by January 2021.
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"Emirates Flight Catering, 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 airline said in a statement.
The venture will be certified by the Kashrut Division of the Orthodox Union, in partnership with the South African Union of Orthodox Synagogues, "to provide the highest level of excellence in kosher certification to Kosher Arabia," the airline stressed.
"We are delighted to enter into an agreement with CCL to provide Kosher food," Emirates Flight Catering CEO Saeed Mohammed said. "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.
"By setting up our own capability at EKFC to produce kosher food, we are confident that we can better serve our customers not only in the aviation sector, but also in the hospitality and events sector including the upcoming Expo 2020. Making freshly prepared meals here in the UAE gives us better control over meal design and quality assurance," he said.
Ross Kriel, founder of CCL Holdings and President of the Jewish Council of the Emirates 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."
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"We are honored to have received so much support from the UAE and broader global community, including from Rabbi Menachem Genack, CEO of the OU's Kosher Division, Rabbi Yissachar Krawowski, Rabbinic Coordinator for OU Kosher in Israel, South Africa's Chief Rabbi Warren Goldstein and Rabbi Dovi Goldstein, Head of Kashrut in South Africa, and Rabbi Yehuda Sarna, Chief Rabbi of the UAE.
"With their guidance and endorsement, Kosher Arabia was launched and today is signing an MOU with Emirates Flight Catering to set up the UAE's first kosher food production facility."
