The region’s first-ever vegan food festival is coming to Expo 2020 Dubai

Expo 2020 Dubai has already brought loads of exciting gastronomic delights to Dubai, and it’s about to get a whole lot more exciting for those passionate about plant-based foods.

That’s because Expo’s going vegan this January with a food festival running every day of the week, starting Friday January 14 until Friday January 30.

It’s all part of a collaboration with Vegan Days, that not only includes fabulous cuisine but a festival vibe with music and DJs playing through until 2am each night, in what the organisers say is the first-ever vegan food festival of its kind in the region.

There’s going to be everything from fancy dishes to street food favourites.

Savoury highlights to look out for include Papa Burty’s Jamaican patties – like a Cornish pasty but with a whole heap of authentic Caribbean flavours – and UK-based Holy Carrot, whipping up Asian choices based on ethically sourced ingredients of the season.

Burgers don’t have to be unhealthy either, with Chuck Chick adding green versions of classic cheeseburgers and hot dogs, while Erpingham House offers up brilliant baos, tasty tacos and sustainable salads. Pizza lovers can also get in on the party with Vegan Dough Co. landing a lush plant-based twist on the all-time classic dish.

Not to be missed is Chef Matthew Kenney – of Michelin-star fame – who hosts his Expo signature restaurant Veg’d inside a three-storey vegan concept in Terra – the Sustainability Pavilion.

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For those craving something a bit sweeter, why not give Mylk a go – a store specialising in handmade vegan chocolate and ice cream, which only includes all-natural ingredients. Or, if you love more of a biscuity-treat, Floozie Cookies has a host of funky flavours and seasonal selections.

That’s not all – throughout January you can enjoy an indulgent beauty experience with a twist. Head to the Festival Garden where you can choose a vegan treatment courtesy of Botany Lab.

Later in the month (January 29 to January 30), there’s a fashionable pop-up vegan market, selling sustainable and ethical goods including a special selection of clothes and jewellery. More than 60 homegrown brands will be taking part.

Even if the closest you’ve got to being vegan is ordering an oat milk latte, there’s still loads of reasons to give a vegan diet a try at Expo. Celebrity advocates include Oscar-winner Joaquin Phoenix, former US President Bill Clinton, and Grammy-winning singer Ariana Grande.

Fans of the diet suggest it helps them maintain healthier weight and it can help lower cholesterol levels to protect against heart disease.

Whatever your reasons, Expo 2020 Dubai has all a vegan could wish for this January.