Abu Dhabi hotels and restaurants to increase healthy options under new mandate

From Thursday, hotels and restaurants in Abu Dhabi's tourist areas must offer a minimum number of healthy menu options, as mandated by the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi and the Abu Dhabi Public Health Centre. Each menu category must include at least one healthy item, defined by the ADPHC's SEHHI criteria, which include low fat, sugar, and salt content and higher nutritional value.

For children's menus, at least half of the items must be healthy. The law came into effect on July 1, providing a three-month grace period for establishments to adjust their menus. Healthy menu items must be clearly marked with the SEHHI logo. This follows a trend of promoting healthier choices in daily life, such as supermarkets removing junk food from high-visibility areas and restricting unhealthy food and beverage advertising in public spaces.

The emirate's Department of Health launched the Healthy Living Abu Dhabi program last year, aiming to prevent diseases and improve residents' health through various initiatives. Accor, which operates several hotels in Abu Dhabi, has introduced a Plant Forward project in its menus, prioritizing vegetables, grains, legumes, and whole foods while allowing moderate meat, fish, or dairy.

Accor's senior vice president of brand loyalty, Victoria Sertic, emphasized the importance of choice and delicious food for guests when it comes to dining out. Accor aims to have at least 25% plant-based menu options across participating hotels, with a target of 35% by 2030, to reduce carbon, water, and land footprints. The Radisson Hotel Group is also expanding its menu options for health-conscious guests, with children's menus being revamped to offer better alternatives to traditional nuggets and fries.