Veganuary is a good time to trial a plant-forward way of eating. One Dubai company wants to help – and you can put the cooking skills acquired during the pandemic to good use, too. The Beet Box delivers meal kits across the UAE with pre-portioned ingredients for small and large families. Everything comes in eco-friendly packaging along with a playlist to cook along to.
'Most of our customers are flexitarians'
“For a lot of our friends, cooking plant-based came down to the same challenges: not knowing where to find seemingly expensive ingredients, how to use them, and how to ensure the balance between wholesome and nutritious without compromising on taste,” says co-founder Aditi Daga. An Indian mum of two who was raised in the UAE, Daga advocates plant-based and zero-waste living, and has a degree in sustainability.
“The Beet Box exists to make plant-based meals more accessible, less intimidating and fun. The transition to vegan cooking isn’t easy. The idea is that you can have a filling, fulfilling meal that isn’t a salad, without missing meat. Our customers aren’t necessarily 100 per cent vegans; most of them are flexitarians just trying to eat fewer animal products, and eat healthier and more sustainably,” she tells The National.
“People like me,” chimes in co-founder Katerina Dixon, a Czech national who has gone from eating meat every day at every meal to eating plant-based meals five days a week. Dixon has also lost three and a half kilos since this switch, though she insists that wasn’t the aim.
The pair teamed up with their friend, New Zealander Dean Murphy, to launch The Beet Box in September. “Ours is a Covid-19 story,” says Dixon. “Three friends for over a decade, hoteliers passionate about food who lost their jobs and found themselves around a table debating what the future holds.” Their motivations varied from wanting to see fewer animals go through factory farm production to believing in the health benefits of plant-led diets.
'Vegan curiosity is on the rise'
The Beet Box menus are influenced by the UAE’s multicultural resident mix, and currently cater to 200 customers. Ten new recipes are developed each week, and choices range from cauliflower makhani and Moroccan stew to eggless quiche and kimchi fried rice. Some are plant-focused versions of meatier fare, such as the harvester’s cottage pie that uses mushrooms, celery, lentils and thyme; and burgers, packed with everything from lentils to quinoa. Each recipe comes with a Spotify code that launches a curated playlist, so you can “cook to the Beet”.
Customers can order two meals or more for next-day delivery across the UAE, with a two-serving package priced at Dh160 for two recipes. There is no commitment to a minimum subscription. Kits are portion-sized, so there’s no waste and ingredients stay fresh up to four days, in part because the vegetables aren’t pre-cut.
“You make your own plant-powered cheese, and we create versions of your favourite dishes with whole and healthy foods,” says Daga. “Vegan curiosity is on the rise worldwide, and the UAE is no exception. We see a higher balance on grocery aisles and restaurants, and social community groups dedicated to discovering new options. Plant-based eating is no longer a trend; it’s the only way to eat sustainably.”
Global interest in vegan diets has doubled since 2015, according to Google Trends data, while the number of new vegan products on the market has expanded by 250 per cent since 2010. In parallel, scientists say the only way to reduce the impact of intensive livestock farming and feed an estimated world population of 10 billion by 2050, is to shift towards plant-based diets now. In a key 2018 article for the journal Nature, scientists from 10 countries recommended the flexitarian approach – eating more plant-based meals and cutting meat consumption to a couple of times a week.
Eco-friendly packaging
The biggest challenges for The Beet Box, Daga says, revolve around sourcing because they want everything they use to be sustainable. The trio spent weeks sourcing biodegradable packaging such as cornstarch cups and eco-cling film.
“We vacuum-pack everything in expensive eco-vacuum bags that dissolve in water in 28 days,” she says. “But there’s only one company in the world making them, so a significant proportion of our costs are on packaging.”
A minimum of 60 per cent of any given meal kit is locally sourced, and the firm strives to use organic produce wherever possible. Ethical issues are also baked into the way The Beet Box operates, Daga says. The company refuses to use palm oil, and you won't find meat substitutes on their menus as Daga says most products contain far too many additives.
Coming up next is a loyalty programme, a foray into retail and menus with calorie counts. Daga says customers are already reporting a drop in blood cholesterol levels after one month of eating vegan meals more often, and she now wants to bring a nutritionist on board. The local sourcing will also eventually extend to those popular Spotify playlists. In November, the team were at the open-mic session in Alserkal Avenue scouting for new talent; and they may eventually decide to include beat boxers.
Three vegan meal plans to try
If you don’t fancy cooking – even with all the prep done for you, you could have a ready-to-eat vegan meal plan delivered to you.
1. Daintree
Whether it's vegan, Paleo or just healthy food you're looking for, you can swap between the three with Daintree based in Al Quoz, Dubai. This subscription-based meal plan service has been in business since 2013. Prices begin at Dh150 per day; daintreefood.com
2. Root’d
Home-grown snack brand Freakin' Healthy recently launched this sassy new meal service. Root'd offers three 100 per cent vegan options to pick from, including the Weight Management, Balanced Lifestyle, and Detox-Refuel menus. You can book a two-week or monthly plan for five days a week. There's also a consultation with a nutritionist as an extra. Prices from Dh120 per day; freakinhealthy.com/rootd
3. Pura
Menus are customisable to accommodate gluten-free, dairy-free, sugar-free, seafood-free and nut-free options. Pura delivers three meals a day at a time of your convenience, and is aimed at anyone who wants to lose weight or get healthy with options such as the 1,500-calorie plan. Prices from Dh125 per day for a vegan plan; pura.ae
England World Cup squad
Eoin Morgan (capt), Moeen Ali, Jofra Archer, Jonny Bairstow, Jos Buttler (wkt), Tom Curran, Liam Dawson, Liam Plunkett, Adil Rashid, Joe Root, Jason Roy, Ben Stokes, James Vince, Chris Woakes, Mark Wood
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
The view from The National
Specs
Engine: Dual-motor all-wheel-drive electric
Range: Up to 610km
Power: 905hp
Torque: 985Nm
Price: From Dh439,000
Available: Now
THE SPECS
Engine: AMG-enhanced 3.0L inline-6 turbo with EQ Boost and electric auxiliary compressor
Transmission: nine-speed automatic
Power: 429hp
Torque: 520Nm
Price: Dh360,200 (starting)
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo
Power: 261hp at 5,500rpm
Torque: 405Nm at 1,750-3,500rpm
Transmission: 9-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 6.9L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh117,059
RESULT
Uruguay 3 Russia 0
Uruguay: Suárez (10'), Cheryshev (23' og), Cavani (90')
Russia: Smolnikov (Red card: 36')
Man of the match: Diego Godin (Uruguay)
Western Region Asia Cup Qualifier
Results
UAE beat Saudi Arabia by 12 runs
Kuwait beat Iran by eight wickets
Oman beat Maldives by 10 wickets
Bahrain beat Qatar by six wickets
Semi-finals
UAE v Qatar
Bahrain v Kuwait
Conflict, drought, famine
Estimates of the number of deaths caused by the famine range from 400,000 to 1 million, according to a document prepared for the UK House of Lords in 2024.
It has been claimed that the policies of the Ethiopian government, which took control after deposing Emperor Haile Selassie in a military-led revolution in 1974, contributed to the scale of the famine.
Dr Miriam Bradley, senior lecturer in humanitarian studies at the University of Manchester, has argued that, by the early 1980s, “several government policies combined to cause, rather than prevent, a famine which lasted from 1983 to 1985. Mengistu’s government imposed Stalinist-model agricultural policies involving forced collectivisation and villagisation [relocation of communities into planned villages].
The West became aware of the catastrophe through a series of BBC News reports by journalist Michael Buerk in October 1984 describing a “biblical famine” and containing graphic images of thousands of people, including children, facing starvation.
Band Aid
Bob Geldof, singer with the Irish rock group The Boomtown Rats, formed Band Aid in response to the horrific images shown in the news broadcasts.
With Midge Ure of the band Ultravox, he wrote the hit charity single Do They Know it’s Christmas in December 1984, featuring a string of high-profile musicians.
Following the single’s success, the idea to stage a rock concert evolved.
Live Aid was a series of simultaneous concerts that took place at Wembley Stadium in London, John F Kennedy Stadium in Philadelphia, the US, and at various other venues across the world.
The combined event was broadcast to an estimated worldwide audience of 1.5 billion.
Summer special
The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4-cylturbo
Transmission: seven-speed DSG automatic
Power: 242bhp
Torque: 370Nm
Price: Dh136,814
Lexus LX700h specs
Engine: 3.4-litre twin-turbo V6 plus supplementary electric motor
Power: 464hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 790Nm from 2,000-3,600rpm
Transmission: 10-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 11.7L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh590,000
The specs: Aston Martin DB11 V8 vs Ferrari GTC4Lusso T
Price, base: Dh840,000; Dh120,000
Engine: 4.0L V8 twin-turbo; 3.9L V8 turbo
Transmission: Eight-speed automatic; seven-speed automatic
Power: 509hp @ 6,000rpm; 601hp @ 7,500rpm
Torque: 695Nm @ 2,000rpm; 760Nm @ 3,000rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 9.9L / 100km; 11.6L / 100km
Notable cricketers and political careers
- India: Kirti Azad, Navjot Sidhu and Gautam Gambhir (rumoured)
- Pakistan: Imran Khan and Shahid Afridi (rumoured)
- Sri Lanka: Arjuna Ranatunga, Sanath Jayasuriya, Tillakaratne Dilshan (rumoured)
- Bangladesh (Mashrafe Mortaza)
What sanctions would be reimposed?
Under ‘snapback’, measures imposed on Iran by the UN Security Council in six resolutions would be restored, including:
- An arms embargo
- A ban on uranium enrichment and reprocessing
- A ban on launches and other activities with ballistic missiles capable of delivering nuclear weapons, as well as ballistic missile technology transfer and technical assistance
- A targeted global asset freeze and travel ban on Iranian individuals and entities
- Authorisation for countries to inspect Iran Air Cargo and Islamic Republic of Iran Shipping Lines cargoes for banned goods
Why are asylum seekers being housed in hotels?
The number of asylum applications in the UK has reached a new record high, driven by those illegally entering the country in small boats crossing the English Channel.
A total of 111,084 people applied for asylum in the UK in the year to June 2025, the highest number for any 12-month period since current records began in 2001.
Asylum seekers and their families can be housed in temporary accommodation while their claim is assessed.
The Home Office provides the accommodation, meaning asylum seekers cannot choose where they live.
When there is not enough housing, the Home Office can move people to hotels or large sites like former military bases.
Election pledges on migration
CDU: "Now is the time to control the German borders and enforce strict border rejections"
SPD: "Border closures and blanket rejections at internal borders contradict the spirit of a common area of freedom"
TUESDAY'S ORDER OF PLAY
Centre Court
Starting at 2pm:
Malin Cilic (CRO) v Benoit Paire (FRA) [8]
Not before 4pm:
Dan Evans (GBR) v Fabio Fogini (ITA) [4]
Not before 7pm:
Pablo Carreno Busta (SPA) v Stefanos Tsitsipas (GRE) [2]
Roberto Bautista Agut (SPA) [5] v Jan-Lennard Struff (GER)
Court One
Starting at 2pm
Prajnesh Gunneswaran (IND) v Dennis Novak (AUT)
Joao Sousa (POR) v Filip Krajinovic (SRB)
Not before 5pm:
Rajeev Ram (USA) and Joe Salisbury (GBR) [1] v Marin Cilic v Novak Djokovic (SRB)
Nikoloz Basilashvili v Ricardas Berankis (LTU)
if you go
The flights
Fly to Rome with Etihad (www.etihad.ae) or Emirates (www.emirates.com) from Dh2,480 return including taxes. The flight takes six hours. Fly from Rome to Trapani with Ryanair (www.ryanair.com) from Dh420 return including taxes. The flight takes one hour 10 minutes.
The hotels
The author recommends the following hotels for this itinerary. In Trapani, Ai Lumi (www.ailumi.it); in Marsala, Viacolvento (www.viacolventomarsala.it); and in Marsala Del Vallo, the Meliaresort Dimore Storiche (www.meliaresort.it).
WHAT IS GRAPHENE?
It was discovered in 2004, when Russian-born Manchester scientists Andrei Geim and Kostya Novoselov were experimenting with sticky tape and graphite, the material used as lead in pencils.
Placing the tape on the graphite and peeling it, they managed to rip off thin flakes of carbon. In the beginning they got flakes consisting of many layers of graphene. But when they repeated the process many times, the flakes got thinner.
By separating the graphite fragments repeatedly, they managed to create flakes that were just one atom thick. Their experiment led to graphene being isolated for the very first time.
In 2010, Geim and Novoselov were awarded the Nobel Prize for Physics.
SPEC%20SHEET
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'Gold'
Director:Anthony Hayes
Stars:Zaf Efron, Anthony Hayes
Rating:3/5
