When the Dubai Airshow opens its doors on November 17, behind the aircraft displays and billion-dollar deals will be an equally impressive operation: Emirates Flight Catering’s (EKFC) culinary mission to blend extraordinary scale with precision.
EKFC, the official
caterer for Dubai Airshow 2025, is preparing to serve over 300,000 meals to a
diverse audience of aviation and aerospace executives, government ministers,
military delegations, industry professionals, guests and visitors from over 98
countries.
This feat requires
building two complete central kitchens from scratch, deploying nearly 2,600
staff members, and catering to over 150 chalets, country pavilions and
exhibition stands with cuisine as diverse as the global aviation and aerospace
community itself.
The scale is
significant. Over 35,000 meals have already been pre-booked for chalets and
country pavilions, 74 interns have been recruited from prestigious hospitality
institutions, and the required on-site infrastructure has been built in less
than two weeks.
But scale is only part
of the story. By bringing all catering in-house, EKFC can ensure consistent
quality and flexibility to adapt quickly to any request.
Shahreyar Nawabi,
Chief Executive Officer of Emirates Flight Catering said: "At the upcoming Dubai Airshow 2025,
EKFC’s focus will be showcasing what's possible when you combine airline
catering expertise with event-scale execution. Our diversity of culinary talent
means we can authentically deliver any cuisine, from French, Middle Eastern and
Indian to Russian, Chinese and Japanese dishes, among a multitude of others.
Our skilled and experienced team of chefs don’t just understand recipes, but
also the cultural nuances and preferences of guests from nearly 100 countries.
We've assembled a
robust workforce of professionals and well-trained interns from top hospitality
institutions and constructed two full-scale central kitchens on-site, supported
by our Dubai World Central facility's 150,000-meal daily capacity. This combination
of culinary talent, purpose-built infrastructure, and strategic investment is
operational excellence ready to be tested and proven at an unprecedented
scale.”
Building from the
ground up
EKFC has completed the
construction of two major central kitchens strategically positioned between the
exhibition building and the chalets to ensure optimal service delivery across
the massive event site. EKFC facilities at the Dubai Airshow feature cold
rooms, dishwasher areas, dedicated storage, independent power supply, and
specialised refrigerated zones for pastry, cold kitchen operations, and central
kitchen production.
EKFC has also set up
staff infrastructure including canteens, check-in facilities, welfare tents,
uniform distribution centres, and rest areas. Everything has been built from
the ground up, with construction commencing in late October and completed in approximately
two weeks thanks to meticulous planning. One week before the airshow begins,
the entire operation will be stress-tested with a dry run to ensure flawless
execution.
The logistics between
EKFC’s DWC facility, located just behind the airshow site, and its Airshow site
operations have been streamlined, with security scanners and airside access
capabilities already in place to ensure secure and efficient operations throughout
the event.
Global flavours,
made to order
At the Dubai Airshow,
EKFC will deliver authentic cuisine at scale with complete menu flexibility.
EKFC chefs and culinary specialists will be matched to each pavilion's
requirements. And the culinary roster reads like a world tour: braised beef
cheeks in black truffle sauce, elaborate Middle Eastern mezze spreads
complementing lamb kofta kebab, Emirati tandoori lobster with saffron rice,
Indian chicken pistachio kormas, Chinese dishes featuring wok cooking, and the
list goes on.
Exhibition halls will
get on-demand service with basket orders, fresh pastries, and bespoke catering
that responds to real-time needs rather than predetermined menus. This
flexibility draws directly from EKFC's airline catering heritage, where
understanding diverse tastes, cultural preferences, and dietary requirements
forms the foundation of the airline’s daily operations and unique regional
menus.
EKFC has partnered
with leading brands, including several UAE-based concepts, to bring seven
distinctive food experiences to Dubai Airshow attendees: Origami (Japanese
cuisine), Onda (premium coffee), Yann Couvreur Pastry & Barista Experience,
Dibba Oyster Bar (showcasing local Fujairah producers), an in-house salmon and
caviar lounge, Bustanica Salad Bar (with poke bowl-style options), and a Middle
Eastern and Persian BBQ station. Emirates Leisure Retail (ELR), a subsidiary of
Emirates Group, will be operating Costa Coffee and a food truck village in the
airshow's SkyView area.
Building workforce
capacity
EKFC has recruited 74
interns, including UAE Nationals, from renowned hospitality and tourism
institutions, including GLION Switzerland, EHL Lausanne, Swiss Education Group,
Bukhara State University Uzbekistan, Dubai College of Tourism, Ajman
University, Les Roches Abu Dhabi, Zayed University, and NEST College UAE.
Interns have undergone
a six-month programme with cultural training, and they will put their training
to work, not only in hospitality, but also in finance, HR, and sales and events
operations.
EKFC’s workforce
deployment has been a coordinated effort that leverages the full strength of
the organisation. This includes 1,800 staff which form the core team,
supplemented by 500 personnel from DWTC, 280 team members from Emirates’
kitchens and lounges, and support from across all EKFC departments.
EKFC staff will wear a
custom cobalt blue uniform designed exclusively for the Dubai Airshow, breaking
from the company’s red and black colour palette.
Waste reduction
initiatives
With a focus on waste
reduction and using resources more consciously, EKFC has eliminated plastic
bottles across its operations at the Dubai Airshow, using glass instead with
recycling systems in place.
Each day, leftover food will either be composted or donated to a food bank through Dubai Municipality, with EKFC committed to ensuring minimal waste throughout the event. EKFC also sources locally where possible, partnering with suppliers like Dibba oysters and Mai Dubai to support local businesses. -TradeArabia News Service