Vegan in Dubai: Where to Eat, Shop & More
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As a longtime vegetarian who loves eating vegan food, I thought I would have a tough time finding veg-friendly options when I moved to Dubai. But I was so wrong! When it comes to finding vegan food in Dubai, I’ve been pleasantly surprised to come across pure vegan restaurants, see clearly marked plant-based options on menus, find vegan “meats” and “cheeses” in grocery stores, and encounter a multitude of vegan-friendly international cuisines.
This post is a breakdown of everything you want to know about being vegan in Dubai. Think popular vegan-friendly cuisines, as well as where to find vegan foods and products in grocery stores, a guide to the best restaurants for vegan food in Dubai, and a few handy tips.
Vegan-friendly cuisines in Dubai
One of the coolest things about Dubai is that it’s super multicultural. In fact, expats make up over 85% of the population here, with people hailing from places like Lebanon, Russia, India, the UK, Ethiopia, Vietnam, and beyond!
This means that you’re going to find cuisines from all around the world in Dubai, many of which have many vegan dishes to choose from. So you don’t necessarily need to seek out 100% vegan restaurants to find really good vegan food in Dubai, although those do exist!
Because Dubai is in the Middle East, you’re going to be spoiled for choice when it comes to Levantine restaurants, which offer lots of vegan dishes, like hummus (just be sure to ask if it’s prepared with dairy!), baba ganoush, falafel, tabouli, and lentil soup, to name a few of the many vegan options.
For example, if you dine at a Lebanese, Syrian, Palestinian, or Jordanian restaurant (all of which you’ll find in spades across the city), you’ll be able to get your fill with these Levantine dishes. And, of course, these dishes are popular in other cuisines, including Emirati, Turkish, and Egyptian cuisines.
But if you’ve had your fill of vegan shawarma, hummus, and falafel, you’re going to find other excellent international options in Dubai. Trust me: This is a city for foodies!
I personally love dining on vegan beyaynetu and injera (pictured above) at the city’s many Ethiopian restaurants, digging into curries at Thai eateries, slurping pho chay (vegan noodle soup) at Vietnamese places, and having cheat days with cheezy Beyond burgers at American-style fast-food joints.
Whatever your tastes or cravings, you won’t have to look too hard to find vegan options on the menu. Plus, menus in Dubai are almost always in English, and vegan options are often clearly labeled, which makes things even easier.
The best vegan restaurants in Dubai
SEVA Cafe
Located in Jumeirah, SEVA Cafe is a lush reprieve in the middle of the city. When the weather is nice, take a seat in the plant-filled garden – although the boho-chic interior is equally inviting.
Peruse the cafe menu and you’ll find a tempting selection of plant-based dishes that are 100% gluten-free, GMO-free, and cane sugar-free. Think all-day breakfast items like the Breakfast Tofu Wrap and Açai Bowl, starters like the Conscious Nachos and Tofu Dynamite, and mains like the Zucchini Pappardelle and Plant-Based Tacos.
Don’t skip over the drinks menu, which has some excellent tonics, elixirs, smoothies, juices, coffee beverages, and more.
Address: 36 10B St, Jumeirah 1
Plantoholic Kitchen and Coffee Bar
If you’re looking for the best vegan restaurants in Dubai and you find yourself in Palm Jumeirah, you’re going to want to give Plantoholic Kitchen and Coffee Bar a try. This is especially true for coffee lovers because all of their beans are ethically sourced, and their coffee drinks are 100% plant-based (try the Oatccino!).
But you’re probably here for the food.
Luckily, the menu here is huge and boasts loads of hearty breakfast dishes, veggie-packed salads, creamy soups, and creative sushi rolls – not to mention all of the vegan sandwiches, wraps, pizzas, pastas, burgers, and more. There really is something for everyone on this menu, even the biggest of vegan skeptics!
Address: Golden Mile 2, Building Number 8, The Palm Jumeirah
Vegan Burger
As the name implies, Vegan Burger is all about serving up some of the best plant-based burgers in town. You’ll find this place in the Dubai Mall, but if you don’t feel like making the trek to the mall, you can also order delivery from apps like Deliveroo.
This place prides itself on being the “UAE’s first 100% plant-powered brand” and you’ll find vegan versions of all sorts of American comfort food classics on the menu. The burger menu features creative options from the Truffle Cheeseburger to the Smokey Bacon Burger and Aloo Tikki Burger.
But if you’re not in the mood for a burger, you’ll also find hot dogs, wraps, salads, and sides like chicken nuggets and cheesy fries on the menu. Try to leave room for dessert because their milkshakes are pretty killer too!
Address: Lower Ground Food Court, The Dubai Mall
Planet Terra Vegan Cafe
Planet Terra is widely regarded as one of the best vegan restaurants in Dubai to the point that it now has two locations: one in The Greens and one in Ibis World Trade Centre Dubai.
No matter which branch you visit, the mission is the same: to be “your earth-friendly neighborhood cafe.” Everything on the Planet Terra menu is 100% organic and vegan, as well as locally and seasonally sourced whenever possible. So expect dishes like the Matcha Pancakes and Chickpea Omelette for (all-day) breakfast, Mushroom Shawarma and Car-neat-as Tacos for lunch, and Tofish and Chips and Tempeh Souvlaki for dinner.
The dessert menu even offers a vegan kunafa with a creamy cashew and tapioca filling, which isn’t something you find in Dubai every day!
Ibis World Trade Centre Dubai: Sheikh Zayed Rd., Trade Centre, Trade Centre 2
The Greens: Panorama Building, 6th St., The Greens
Wild & The Moon
When it comes to Dubai vegan restaurants, Wild & The Moon is another super popular option. Speaking of its popularity, it now has three locations across the city: Downtown Dubai, DIFC, and Alserkal Avenue.
Everything on the menu here is fully vegan, organic, gluten-free, and made with love and care. Choose from one of the nutrient-packed Superbowls, Seasonal Starters, or Seasonal Salads. There’s also a selection of Hot Meals, including the Wild Tacos with vegan nut cheese and guac or the Dish of the Day with grains and seasonal veggies.
They also have an impressive drinks menu with incredible cold-pressed juices, coffee beverages, smoothies, and “Nutmylks.”
Alserkal Avenue: Alserkal Avenue, Street 8, H-77
Downtown Dubai: Palace Hotel Cafe n5, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Blvd
DIFC: Gate Avenue, U-149, Trade Centre
Dobro Top Vegan
A true gem, Dobro Top Vegan is a super highly rated vegan restaurant in town. The menu here is huge and you can choose from a variety of plant-based pita sandwiches, bowls, burgers, burritos, and mains.
But what I love about the Dobro Top Vegan menu is that they have vegan dishes you won’t find anywhere else. Think “caviar”-topped toasts and some of the best and most convincing vegan sushi rolls in Dubai!
JLT: Dubai Star – Cluster L – Jumeirah Lake Towers
Replika
When it comes to indulgent vegan eats in Dubai, Replika is tough to beat. The menu here is as creative as it comes, and you’ll be hard-pressed to choose just one dish. This isn’t your average vegan restaurant, so expect all sorts of incredible options you’ve never seen at a vegan restaurant before.
For example, there’s a Stuffed Croissant with Wagyu pea protein bacon, a Lobster Roll made with konjac lobster, a Vegan Salmon Tartare with konjac tuna, a crispy Escalope Milanese with plant-based chicken, a Philly Cheesesteak made with pea protein steak strips – you get the idea!
Business Bay: Windsor Manor
SOUL Vegan Cheese
OK, so this isn’t exactly a vegan restaurant, but this cool Dubai-based company sells some seriously good vegan cheeses that you can pick up in a couple of places in the city.
You can find SOUL Vegan Cheese‘s gourmet, nut-based cheeses at Depachika Food Hall in Nakheel Mall and at Galeries Lafayette Le Gourmet in Dubai Mall. It’s a wonderful option if you’re looking to put together a vegan cheese platter for your next get-together or if you just need a cheese fix!
A few vegan-friendly restaurants in Dubai
These places are not vegan, but they have excellent, clearly marked vegan dishes on the menu.
- Dip Dash: For healthy and delicious vegan pan-Asian dishes.
- Cassette: For ridiculously good vegan breakfast and brunch options.
- XVA Café: For vegan Middle Eastern dishes.
My go-to restaurants for vegan food in Dubai
Here’s a small list of where I’ve found some of my favorite vegan dishes in Dubai. (Note: These are not necessarily vegan restaurants; it’s a list of places where I’ve found really good vegan meals.)
- Vietnamese Snack Food Café or Vietnamese Foodies: For clearly marked vegan Vietnamese options like pho and curry.
- Vegan Burger and Pickl: For plant-based burgers.
- Rosa’s Thai: For vegan Thai dishes (all of the Tofu & Veg options are vegan, but if you want to make sure, just ask the server). I personally love all of their vegan curries!
- Zaroob: For a small selection of Impossible shawarmas with vegan tahini.
- Operation Falafel or Falafel Freyha: For when I’m in a pinch for falafel, pita, hummus, and popular Middle Eastern foods.
- Pizza Express: For their vegan pizzas with plant-based meats and cheeses.
Where to shop for vegan groceries in Dubai
There are a lot of grocery store chains in Dubai. It’s actually overwhelming. So this is a general list of supermarkets and online stores where I’ve found vegan products in Dubai. I’m sure there’s a lot more out there!
big supermarket chains with vegan products
Generally, the larger branches of Spinneys, Waitrose, Carrefour, Grandiose, and Choithrams should all have a good selection of plant-based meats, cheeses, and other vegan goodies. So keep these five in mind. That being said, you’re not going to be limited to these.
Plant-Based Meats
All of the larger branches of these grocery stores should have a good selection of vegan mock meats in the frozen food section. Plant-based meats seem to be taking off in the UAE, so you’ll find tons of more expensive brands from Beyond, Impossible, Quorn, Switch, and Linda McCartney’s to less-pricey brands like Switch and Thryve.
In the refrigerator section of these larger stores, you will often find sliced vegan deli meats, while in the deli sections of Spinneys and Waitrose, there are plant-based kebabs (and other really good prepared vegan foods).
Vegan Cheese
I was actually shocked at how common it is to find vegan cheese in Dubai’s grocery stores. You’ll find a variety in all of the grocery stores listed above, with Violife being the most common brand I’ve come across. It’s mainly sliced cheese and cream cheese, but honestly, you never know what vegan goodies you’ll come across! And it’s not uncommon to see other brands pop up, including Esti, Tofutti, and Daiya.
Plant-Based Milks
You’re pretty much going to find almond, oat, and soy milk in most stores.
Tofu and Tempeh
You’ll find tofu in many stores, including the main supermarkets listed above. But like many products in Dubai, sometimes tofu can be really expensive, and sometimes it’s super cheap. It all depends on where it’s sourced from. I personally get my fresh local tofu from VIVA, which is a great budget grocery chain in Dubai!
I haven’t come across tempeh in stores but I don’t bother to look because I bulk order it from Dubai-based Vicky Tempeh. It gets delivered to my door, and I just store it in the freezer. Her product is great!
Vegan Ice Cream
Again, I’m surprised at how common vegan ice cream is in Dubai. You can find it in most of the major chain stores listed above as well as in a lot of ice cream and dessert shops. It’s not the cheapest, but it’s definitely everywhere! The Brooklyn Creamery has been my go-to, but you’ll find loads of vegan ice cream brands in Dubai.
Raw Cashews
If you want to make your own cashew cheese products at home, you’ll want to know where to find raw cashews. These are actually quite common, but depending on which grocery store you go to, these can be pricey. So far, the lowest price I’ve found is at VIVA. You can also order them on Amazon.ae.
Where to shop for vegan products online
Order from any of these places and your groceries will be delivered to your door!
Be Vegan
Be Vegan is based out of the UAE and has all things plant-based, gluten-free, and organic. If you’re looking for a common or even super obscure vegan or gluten-free product, search their website. They have tons of products.
Kibsons
Kibsons is a Dubai-based company that has loads of vegan products, too, although it’s not exclusively vegan like Be Vegan. It’s well worth perusing the site for things like plant-based butter, cooking cream, milk, yogurt, egg replacers, cheese, and other products you might not be able to find at the grocery store.
Organic Foods & Cafe
Organic Foods & Café is another great option in the UAE if you’re searching for vegan food and products in Dubai. You never know what you’ll find.
A few more tips for vegans in Dubai
Join facebook groups
There are a lot of Facebook groups in Dubai and the UAE catering to all manner of topics. You may find groups like Vegans Take Dubai and even Dubai Foodies helpful. Group members can be super helpful if you’re looking for a certain product, food, or restaurant. Just ask a question or do a quick search to see if your question has been asked before.
Download the Happy Cow app
If you’re on a quest to try all of the best vegan restaurants in Dubai, downloading the Happy Cow app is my number one tip. The app is totally free and I personally use it whenever I’m traveling in a new city. I even use it when I’m looking for places to eat in a part of Dubai that I’m not familiar with.
Chances are you’ve already heard of it, but it basically shows you all of the vegan and vegan-friendly restaurants near you with reviews and pictures from real people. It’s super handy and it’ll lead you to some real gems.
