The Protein Paradox: Tradition vs. Transformation in the Middle East — A Region Caught Between Ritual and Reform
The Middle East is experiencing a profound shift in its food identity. For generations, meat has been more than nourishment—it’s been a symbol of hospitality, religious devotion, and cultural pride. From lamb feasts during Eid to grilled kofta at family gatherings, animal protein is deeply embedded in the region’s traditions. Yet today, a new narrative is emerging—one shaped by growing concerns over climate change, public health, animal welfare, and food security. Sustainability is no longer a fringe concept; it’s a regional priority. Conscious and ethical consumption is gaining traction, especially among younger generations who are questioning long-held assumptions about food and its impact.
NS Leathers: Saudi Arabia’s 100% Vegan Fashion Label Leading the Ethical Style Revolution
In a region where tradition meets innovation, NS Leathers has emerged as a bold voice for cruelty-free luxury. Founded in 2019, the brand proudly identifies as a “VEGAN LABEL SINCE 2019”, making it one of the first in Saudi Arabia to fully commit to vegan materials across its entire product line.
Rooted in Sustainable Responsibility: How Rove Hotels Is Redefining Hospitality in the Middle East
In a region rich with tradition yet ripe for transformation, Rove Hotels is crafting a new hospitality narrative — one that blends environmental stewardship with cultural consciousness. Through its purposeful partnership with Greener Food, a non-profit spearheading plant-based and sustainable reform across the Middle East and North Africa, Rove is not simply adjusting practices — it’s challenging conventions. From composting and energy-saving systems to culturally attuned food waste initiatives, Rove is becoming a sanctuary for eco-living wrapped in warm hospitality.
Exposing the Trade: What Middle Eastern Consumers Should Know About Live Animal Exports
As global awareness of animal welfare grows, a troubling issue has resurfaced—one that directly implicates trade routes to the Middle East. The National Council of SPCAs (NSPCA) in South Africa has issued a strong condemnation of proposed government regulations that would allow live animal exports by sea, including shipments to the Middle East during the hottest months of the year.
From Nature to Performance: Squatwolf’s Plant-Based Neotech Collection Is Changing the Game in Middle Eastern Sportswear
In a region where athletic ambition meets extreme climate, a Dubai-born brand is rewriting the rules of workout gear. Squatwolf’s new Neotech collection is the first in the Middle East to fuse plant-based fibers with cutting-edge performance technology, offering a sustainable alternative to petroleum-based synthetics.
Interview with Maryam Ego-Aguirre: Seeing the Sacred in All Sentient Life
Maryam Ego-Aguirre is a surrealist photographer and longtime animal rights advocate whose work doesn’t just speak—it confronts. Her art and writing challenge the way we see animals, nature, and ourselves, asking us to look beyond comfort and into conscience. What she creates is more than visual—it’s emotional, philosophical, and deeply ethical. In this interview for the Middle East Vegan Society, Maryam shares her personal journey, her reflections on compassion, and how her cultural background and creative practice have shaped her activism. Her words are poetic, honest, and rooted in a fierce commitment to truth. It was a privilege to step into her worldview.
Hummus Rising: A Middle Eastern Staple Goes Global — With Tahina Unlocking a Complete Amino Acid Profile
Once a humble mezze dish passed from hand to hand across Levantine tables, hummus is now a global culinary icon — and a quiet nutritional powerhouse. According to recent market analysis, the global hummus industry is projected to reach USD 4.5 billion by 2035, driven by rising health awareness, plant-based diets, and culinary innovation. But for the Middle East Vegan Society, this isn’t just a market trend. It’s a moment of cultural affirmation — and biochemical surprise.
Baklava, Blossom, and Boldness: Beirut Chocolate Breaks the Mold with Plant-Based Flair and Global Curiosity
Handcrafted in London and inspired by Beirut, this chocolate bar blends Lebanese nostalgia with plant-based innovation. Created by Phil Khoury—former Harrod’s pastry chef and author of A New Way to Bake—Beirut Chocolate sold out within hours of its first release, with early batches shipped internationally to test packaging and logistics.
Help End the Abuse: Tourists Must Say No to Camel Rides in Morocco
Morocco’s deserts promise enchantment—golden dunes, ancient cities, and the allure of tradition. But one experience, marketed as “authentic” and “cultural,” comes at a devastating cost: camel rides. Behind the filtered photos and travel brochures lies a brutal reality. These majestic animals are suffering in silence.
The Gulf’s Plant-Based Rise: Wellness, Innovation, and Culinary Transformation
In 2025, the Gulf’s dining landscape is undergoing a vibrant transformation. From Abu Dhabi to Muscat, consumers are embracing health-driven choices, plant-based innovation, and cutting-edge culinary technology. Plant-based offerings are no longer niche—they’re central to how the region eats, innovates, and redefines luxury.
Plant-Powered Protein: Top Vegan Sources in Middle Eastern Cuisine
Protein is essential for building muscle, repairing tissues, and keeping your immune system strong. And contrary to outdated myths, you don’t need meat, dairy, or eggs to meet your protein needs. A well-planned vegan diet offers a rich variety of plant-based proteins—many of which are already staples in Middle Eastern kitchens. Here are the best vegan sources of protein—plus one widely available Middle Eastern dish that packs complete protein into one familiar, flavorful meal.
New Archaeological Research Reveals Bronze Age Plant-Based Diets in the Middle East
New archaeological research from the UAE and Oman is reshaping our understanding of Bronze Age diets—revealing that plant-based eating was far more prevalent than previously believed. For decades, scholars assumed that Bronze Age communities in the Arabian Peninsula relied primarily on meat and dairy. But a recent study led by Dr. Akshyeta Suryanarayan of the University of Cambridge challenges that narrative. Through advanced lipid residue analysis of 179 pottery fragments from sites like Hili 8 and Hili North Tomb A, researchers uncovered chemical traces of plant-derived compounds, including markers from cereals and date palms.
Morocco’s New Animal Welfare Law vs. FIFA-Driven Practices: A Call for Humane Alignment
As Morocco prepares to co-host the 2030 FIFA World Cup, a disturbing contradiction has emerged. A newly proposed law promises fines and jail time for harming stray animals, yet videos and eyewitness accounts from August 2025 show sterilized, tagged dogs being poisoned and shot in the streets. This raises a difficult question: how can Morocco’s commitment to animal welfare be reconciled with the continued reports of cruelty on the ground?
Moon Shell: A Gentle Revolution in Saudi Arabia’s Vegan Scene
In the heart of Saudi Arabia’s fast-paced food culture, Moon Shell offers a radical alternative: a plant-based sanctuary rooted in calm, intention, and soulful nourishment. With locations in Riyadh and Jeddah, it’s not just reshaping how people eat — it’s redefining how they feel about food.
Saudi Arabia’s Protein Bar Boom: A Gateway for Plant-Based Innovation
Saudi Arabia’s wellness revolution is reshaping snack culture — and it’s packed with plant-powered potential. According to IMARC Group’s latest market report, the country’s protein bar market is projected to grow from USD 30 million in 2024 to USD 50 million by 2033, with a steady 4.2% CAGR. But beyond the numbers lies a deeper story: one of cultural evolution, ethical choices, and the rise of vegan nutrition.
A Call from Abu Dhabi: Global Alignment for Alternative Proteins
In her op-ed for The National, Fatima Al Dhaheri, head of the AgriFood Growth and Abundance cluster at the Abu Dhabi Investment Office, confronts a critical impasse in the evolution of food systems. Alternative proteins—plant-based, cultivated, and precision-fermented—offer sustainable solutions to a world choked by climate breakdown and agricultural instability. Yet, instead of accelerating their integration, global regulators have created an obstacle course of inconsistent approvals, high compliance costs, and fragmented market access.
Illuminating Hearts: An Interview with Noor Al-Nabatiya
There are moments when purpose doesn’t shout — it pulses quietly beneath the surface, waiting for someone to feel it. Noor Al-Nabatiya doesn’t push her message outward with force; she releases it gently, guided by a belief that truth, when rooted in love, will find its way. A visual artist by training and a seeker by heart, Noor’s journey toward veganism began not in theory but in visceral recognition — a moment of witnessing, of connection. Since then, she has devoted her voice to those denied one, using her Arabic-language YouTube channel as a sanctuary of awakening. Her videos speak not only of animal suffering, but of our own capacity to unlearn and remember: to live not from habit, but from reverence.
Spread Kindness, One Middle Eastern Table at a Time
In a world where cruelty is often served without question, Middle Eastern vegan spreads offer a delicious act of nourishment — rich in flavor, rooted in tradition, and infused with compassion. From the creamy comfort of hummus to the bold punch of toum, these plant-based staples aren’t just appetizers — they’re acts of resistance. They are spreads that nourish without exploitation, carrying centuries of culinary wisdom and a philosophy that values life, flavor, and kindness.
Dubai’s Viral Chocolate Bar, Reimagined Vegan—Where Plant-Based Crunch Meets Pistachio Cream
Inspired by the iconic Dubai Fix chocolate bar, this vegan interpretation keeps the drama while changing the story. Every element—moulded chocolate shell, creamy pistachio filling, and kunafa crunch—is intentionally crafted using vegan alternatives. Kunafa, long cherished for its aromatic crispness, is toasted in plant-based butter until golden and laced with pistachio-white chocolate silk. The shell, made with dairy-free dark chocolate, shatters with elegance and reveals what indulgence can look like when it's rooted in respect.
