Malak Al Tawouk Teams Up With Switch Foods to Debut Plant-Based Menu Items in UAE
Middle Eastern fast-casual chain Malak Al Tawouk has partnered with UAE-based meat alternative producer Switch Foods and introduced a new lineup of plant-based chicken dishes. However, following customer feedback regarding the presence of dairy ingredients in the final menu items, Malak Al Tawouk clarified its stance in a statement on Instagram, announcing plans for a full vegan upgrade by May 9, 2025.
The menu features three plant-based options: the Chicken Shawarma Sandwich, Mexican Chicken Salad, and Teriyaki Chicken Rice Bowl.
Switch Foods’ plant-based chicken is made from pea protein and is free from gluten, soy, and major allergens.
These dishes are now available at all seven Malak Al Tawouk locations across the UAE, as well as on popular online food delivery platforms such as Talabat, Careem, and Deliveroo.
Following concerns raised by customers about non-vegan ingredients in its new menu items, Malak Al Tawouk issued a statement on Instagram to clarify the situation:
"While we never claimed the items were fully vegan, we acknowledge that our communication could have been clearer. The Switch product is 100% plant-based; however, the final ready-to-eat items included ingredients not suitable for a vegan diet. Nonetheless, we’ve taken immediate actions to address these concerns, and we are working to adjust our recipes to use vegan ingredients only, ensuring all products on the Switch menu will be fully vegan starting May 9, 2025. Thank you all for your comments and feedback."
Malak Al Tawouk emphasizes its dedication to health and innovation, noting that healthier food items now account for around 50% of its sales in the UAE. Through this collaboration, the brand aims to deliver the familiar taste and texture of chicken while offering a meat-free alternative. It also highlights its pioneering role in the regional market for plant-based chicken.
Mahmoud Harb, Managing Director and co-founder of Yummy Junction—the UAE franchise owner of Malak Al Tawouk—believes the partnership reflects evolving consumer habits. With an increasing number of people, especially younger generations, opting for a more flexitarian diet, Harb sees this as the perfect moment for a well-established brand to introduce a high-quality plant-based chicken alternative.
In October 2023, Switch Foods collaborated with Dubai-based Lebanese restaurant chain Al Safadi to introduce four dishes featuring plant-based meat.
Edward Hamod, founder and CEO of Switch Foods, stated that his company aims to make plant-based eating exciting, accessible, and rooted in Middle Eastern culinary traditions. The partnership with Malak Al Tawouk demonstrates that plant-based chicken can deliver satisfying flavors across a variety of dishes, from shawarma to salads to rice bowls. The company’s production facility—claimed to be the first of its kind in Abu Dhabi—was launched in May 2023, and by August, its range of meat alternatives had reached retailers and food service outlets across the UAE.