Despite its popularity in the Middle East, veganism faces misconceptions and challenges

While many consumers in the Middle East are adopting a plant-based diet, experts say that false beliefs and perceptions of unaffordability are still an obstacle. Despite a significant increase in awareness and adoption of vegan and plant-based food products, industry insiders say pricing and terminology misunderstandings remain widespread and continue to stifle the sector. While plant-based food shops and restaurants were once uncommon in the region, they are now common, with dozens of vegan options available in Dubai alone and increasing amounts of information - including in Arabic - now available online and through social media.

Despite widespread information availability, several misconceptions and challenges continue to stifle the industry.

According to Nada Elbarshoumi, the creator of the region's first vegan food and lifestyle blog, One Arab Vegan, there is still widespread confusion about what terms like 'vegan' and 'vegetarian' actually mean in much of the region. "For example, the most commonly used word in Arabic for vegans is also used to describe vegetarianism," she explained. "Another oversight is what it means to be vegan from a lifestyle standpoint, rather than just diet... Many understand veganism to be purely based on food choices, rather than an ethical way of life." Elbarshoumi added that the perception that a vegan lifestyle is too difficult for the average consumer is also significant. "Often, veganism is viewed as a Herculean task, with the most common response being 'Oh, I could never become vegan,'" she explained. "It should be simple and painless, not stressful."

According to Saudi Arabia's Prince Khaled bin Alwaleed bin Talal, the founder and CEO of KBW Ventures and a well-known proponent of a vegan lifestyle, knowledge of plant-based lifestyles in the Middle East was lower than in other parts of the world due to a lack of available information, particularly in Arabic. "Only in the past few years has this information been made available in Arabic," he told Arabian Business. "I had tons of people questioning what I was even talking about in the early days when I would put up a social media post about observing a plant-based lifestyle." 

The main barrier to the wider adoption of plant-based products is cost. "Plant-based products cost more," he explained. "There's no sugar coating on that. However, healthy food, in general, is more expensive... A large number of people choose junk food because it is less expensive and often provides a faster solution." However, according to Prince Khaled, the challenge posed by high prices is gradually being overcome. "Every year, costs fall as the science and technology behind production, logistics, and so on improve," he added. "These production cost reductions are eventually passed on to consumers."