Emirates’ Bustanica expands beyond airline meals into retail and catering markets
The Dubai-based vertical farm is shifting focus as Emirates Flight Catering grows its food business beyond aviation.
UAE – Emirates is expanding its food business beyond airline meals, with its vertical farm Bustanica now playing a key role in that move.
Bustanica, owned by Emirates Flight Catering (EKFC), produces leafy greens and food products for both aviation and non-aviation markets. The company said it will present a wider range of food solutions for retail, hospitality, and large-scale catering clients at this year’s Gulfood event in Dubai.
EKFC said the new product range targets consumers and businesses outside the airline sector. “This includes ready-to-eat salads with separated ingredients for freshness, right to the moment of consumption, sandwiches featuring its signature variety of crunchy lettuces and greens, three soups designed for people on the go, and six retail juice varieties,” the company said.
Bustanica will also introduce its Top Line strawberries in a limited edition. The company said the strawberries stand out for their sweetness, colour, and texture.
From airline supply to broader markets
Since its launch in 2022, Bustanica has supplied fresh leafy greens to Emirates flights. The farm has helped the airline reduce reliance on imports while cutting water use and food miles.
The facility uses vertical farming with stacked indoor growing systems that produce crops throughout the year without pesticides and with far less water than traditional agriculture.
Bustanica also uses a root-to-stem approach that turns stems and leaves into cold-pressed juices and other products to reduce waste and increase output.
The shift reflects Emirates’ wider plan to grow its food services beyond aviation. EKFC now aims to serve large-scale events, exhibitions, and hospitality operations, building on its experience from major global gatherings in Dubai.
Emirates Flight Catering took full ownership of Bustanica in 2024, a move that strengthened its control over the vertical farm and its consumer brand.
The facility, located near Al Maktoum International Airport, can produce more than 1 million kilograms of leafy greens each year and uses about 95 percent less water than conventional farming.
Bustanica’s products now reach major retailers in the UAE and airline customers, which supports Emirates’ growing push into retail and large-scale catering.
At Gulfood, EKFC will showcase products such as cold cuts, sausages, omelettes, soups, sauces, and prepared meals. The company produces these products locally across its facilities and approves them for export.
A broader business strategy
Aviation remains the core business for Emirates, but EKFC now uses its logistics systems, scale, and food safety standards to serve non-airline clients. The company’s move also reflects growing interest in local food production and stable supply chains.
The Gulfood appearance marks more than a product display. It shows how Emirates is reshaping its food operations to reach a wider market that extends beyond aircraft kitchens and airline passengers.
Gulfood will run from January 26 to January 30 at the Dubai World Trade Centre and Expo City Dubai.
The expansion comes as Emirates strengthens other parts of its operations. The airline recently confirmed plans to add new freighters to its SkyCargo fleet in 2026, a move that supports its wider logistics and supply chain ambitions.
Together with Bustanica’s growth, the developments show how Emirates continues to build a larger food and logistics business that reaches beyond aviation.
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