Abu Dhabi's Armed Forces Officers Club and Hotel (AFOCH), offering exclusive hospitality experiences in the UAE capital, has been certified as being Kosher compliant by Emirates Agency for Kosher Certification (EAKC). 

 

This move follows the recent UAE-Israel accord and the directive issued by Abu Dhabi Department of Culture and Tourism advising hotels in the emirate to include kosher food and beverage options for incoming tourists and visitors. 

 

Kosher certification ensures that the food prepared by an establishment is kosher (meaning fit or proper in Hebrew), for consumption by Jews who practice the religious dietary protocol as prescribed in Jewish tradition. 

 

With the recent UAE-Israel agreement leading to a higher demand for kosher food in the emirate, this move by Armed Forces Officers Club and Hotel is sure to add to the already popular Khaleeji culinary experiences available at the hotel and its repertoire of offering the finest catering facilities, said a statement.

 

Armed Forces Officers Club and Hotel has a wealth of experience in providing bespoke catering solutions personalised by its talented chefs to some of the most reputed organizations and most prestigious events in the UAE. 

 

EAKC is the only UAE based kosher certifying agency and was founded by Levi Duchman, Rabbi of UAE, who serves as the only resident rabbi in the country, to attend to the kosher needs of Jewish visitors and residents as well as culinary businesses interested in providing kosher food to their customers and guests. 

 

EAKC representatives guided the AFOCH team through the certification process, providing consultation on implementation of a designated kosher certified kitchen, selection of kosher certified food, procurement of relevant ingredients and a guide on kosher catering.  

 

Following a ceremony to commemorate the occasion, CEO of Armed Forces Officers Club and Hotel,  Shaikha Al Kaabi said: “We want to emphasise that our eagerness to serve Kosher cuisine to guests who prefer it springs from our respect for cultural diversity. The UAE is a land of tolerance and pluralism and we want our cuisine to reflect the national ethos. We anticipate the demand for Kosher cuisine to grow substantially and are excited to meet the requirements of this special segment with the setting up of a dedicated Kosher kitchen to provide an authentic culinary experience. This also enables us to deliver highly personalised Kosher meals at scale anywhere in UAE. We are grateful for the support provided by Emirates Agency for Kosher Certification and Abu Dhabi Department of Culture and Tourism."  

   

Rabbi Levi Duchman said: “It is our honour to assist in this important initiative, which grew out of the vision of His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan for Abu Dhabi to be a shining example of hospitality for all people no matter their religious backgrounds. Creating the kosher kitchen goes beyond tolerance; it demonstrates hospitality and a true concern for the welfare and comfort of all visitors and residents.  On behalf of the Jewish community in UAE, I am especially grateful for the help of the Department of Culture and Tourism of Abu Dhabi, Armed Forces Officers Club and Hotel staff, and to the entire team at Emirates Agency for Kosher Certification who made this dream a reality here in Abu Dhabi.”  - TradeArabia News Service