wellness
Jumeirah Residents Switch to Plant and Seafood Proteins as Markets Expand
Residents along Jumeirah Beach Road are shifting toward plant and seafood proteins as local markets expand their selections.
How we reported this
Shoppers at the Jumeirah Fish Market on Jumeirah Beach Road now fill baskets with fresh tuna and sardines instead of red meat cuts on most weekday mornings.
Wellness programs in the neighbourhood have grown since the start of 2025, when the Dubai Health Authority reported a 28 percent rise in plant-protein purchases at outlets serving Jumeirah residents. The change tracks with higher summer temperatures that make heavy meat dishes less appealing and with new import rules that lowered prices on chickpeas and lentils arriving through Jebel Ali port.
Where to source alternatives locally
Al Safa Cooperative on Al Wasl Road stocks vacuum-packed tofu and tempeh from regional suppliers at 22 AED per 300-gram pack. Two blocks east, the weekly farmers' stall beside Jumeirah Mosque offers sprouted mung beans and roasted fava beans in 500-gram bags for 18 AED. Both sites accept the same wellness app used by members of the Jumeirah Ladies Club nutrition circle, which meets every Tuesday evening.
Nutrition data released in March 2026 by the Emirates Nutrition Society shows that a 100-gram serving of local sardines delivers 25 grams of protein at roughly one-third the cost of an equivalent portion of imported beef. The same report lists dried lentils at 12 AED per kilogram, a price that has held steady for 14 months despite global grain volatility.
Putting the options into weekly meals
Start the day with a chickpea-flour pancake topped with spinach at any of the three cafes inside Mercato Mall that list the dish for 32 AED. Mid-week, replace one meat dinner with a lentil and sardine salad assembled from the Al Safa Cooperative produce aisle. Track intake through the same app used by the Ladies Club group to maintain 1.6 grams of protein per kilogram of body weight without increasing total food spend.
Next month the Jumeirah Community Centre will add a four-week plant-protein cooking series open to residents who register through the neighbourhood portal before 20 July.