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Etihad Airways is marking Ramadan 2025 with an expanded programme of iftar feasts, Emirati-inspired dining and tailored services, positioning Abu Dhabi’s flag carrier as a leading choice for travellers seeking both luxury and spiritual comfort during the holy month.
Curated Ramadan Menus From Lounge to Landing
Throughout Ramadan, Etihad is rolling out a dedicated seasonal menu across its network, with chefs highlighting regional ingredients and classic Arabian flavours for guests travelling to and through Abu Dhabi. The carrier’s latest Ramadan programme focuses on dishes that feel both celebratory and comforting, designed around traditional iftar favourites and lighter suhoor-style options for those continuing their fast.
On the ground, premium passengers departing from Abu Dhabi’s Zayed International Airport can break their fast in Etihad’s Business and First lounges, where buffet counters are being reimagined with iftar platters and hot dishes such as Arabic spiced grilled seafood, slow-cooked meats and warm harira-style soups. Desserts lean heavily on regional staples, with date-based pastries, kunafa and pistachio-forward cakes presented alongside fresh fruit and lighter mousses.
In the air, the carrier is mirroring much of the same culinary direction. Across First and Business cabins, menus are featuring Arabic mixed grills, braised lamb, chicken dishes with vermicelli rice and a rotation of Ramadan-centric sweets such as cardamom and date puddings, saffron cakes and rose and pomegranate desserts. Economy travellers are not left behind, with main courses built around tender Arabic braised lamb or chicken over spiced rice, finished with classic Emirati-inspired sweets.
For flights that coincide precisely with the time to break the fast, cabin crew are briefed to prioritise iftar service, bringing out dates, water and juices swiftly before moving on to more elaborate courses. Where flight schedules make a sit-down iftar less convenient, the airline is preparing takeaway-style iftar bags, allowing travellers to break their fast just before boarding or immediately after landing.
Emirati Flavours Take Centre Stage
Etihad’s Ramadan dining this year is framed as a culinary introduction to the United Arab Emirates, with chefs showcasing local traditions in ways that resonate with both observant Muslim guests and curious international travellers. Menus are built around ingredients closely associated with Emirati hospitality, from dates and cardamom to saffron, rose, pistachios and regional seafood.
In premium cabins, passengers can expect chef-driven takes on Gulf favourites, such as rich lentil soups, slow-braised lamb shanks, Arabic mixed grills and warming rice dishes layered with spices and toasted nuts. Desserts lean indulgent yet familiar, with pistachio-studded cakes, kunafa interpretations and modern takes on traditional puddings designed to pair with Arabic coffee or mint tea.
Economy cabins see a similar emphasis on place, with Emirati-inflected braised meats and rice served alongside simple salads and traditional sweets that travel well at altitude. While recipes are rooted in regional tradition, Etihad’s catering teams are also responding to contemporary tastes, introducing a “Healthy Iftar Salad” and lighter mains that appeal to wellness-focused guests seeking nourishment rather than excess after sunset.
The overall effect is to turn both lounges and cabins into a kind of travelling majlis, where passengers experience the flavours and rituals of Ramadan in an environment that still reflects the airline’s broader focus on refined, modern Gulf hospitality.
Faith-Friendly Services in the Skies
Beyond the menus, Etihad is layering in a series of service enhancements aimed at making it easier for fasting passengers to observe Ramadan while travelling. Onboard announcements are calibrated so that the captain can inform guests when it is time to break their fast, reflecting the specific sunset timing along the aircraft’s route rather than a fixed timetable on the ground.
Prayer facilities and quiet corners in premium lounges at Abu Dhabi and select outstation airports are being highlighted for guests keen to combine iftar with worship before a late-night departure. On board, crews are trained to help passengers identify suitable spaces and to accommodate requests for adjusted meal timings where operationally possible.
Etihad’s E-BOX inflight entertainment system is adding a curated Ramadan section through March and into the holy month, including religious programming, cultural documentaries and cooking shows that explore how different communities around the world observe Ramadan. For guests spending longer periods in Abu Dhabi, the airline’s inflight magazine is spotlighting citywide events and recommended venues where visitors can experience iftar tents, night markets and traditional gatherings.
Guests who prefer to continue fasting despite crossing multiple time zones are being offered extra flexibility, with crews able to provide sealed snacks and beverages to be consumed later, along with the option of those pre-prepared iftar bags at the gate or on arrival.
Exclusive Perks for Premium and Etihad Guest Travellers
Ramadan is also being used as a moment to highlight Etihad’s premium cabins and loyalty programme, with the airline leaning into the idea of “elevated generosity” for frequent flyers. Lounge access takes on added significance during the holy month, giving Business and First passengers a serene space to break their fast away from busy departure halls, while enjoying dedicated buffet stations and made-to-order dishes.
Within the Etihad Guest loyalty programme, members are being nudged toward seasonal redemptions and offers, from bonus miles on selected routes during Ramadan to limited-time discounts in the carrier’s reward shop. Travellers booking with miles can tap into a range of flight and upgrade options that align with popular Ramadan and Umrah travel periods, particularly those taking advantage of the recently relaunched Abu Dhabi to Medina services.
Corporate accounts and high-tier members are also seeing more personalised touches, such as tailored iftar invitations in Abu Dhabi, priority access to popular overnight departures and proactive communication around schedule changes that could impact fasting plans. For many frequent flyers, the combination of practical support and small gestures of hospitality is emerging as a key differentiator at a time when Ramadan travel demand is surging across the Gulf.
Etihad is additionally positioning its Abu Dhabi stopover options as a way for long-haul travellers to extend their Ramadan experience beyond the aircraft, allowing them to spend a night or two in the capital, attend local iftar gatherings and explore mosques and waterfront promenades in the cooler evening hours.
Positioning Abu Dhabi as a Ramadan Transit Hub
With Ramadan 2025 overlapping peak spring travel from Asia, Europe and North America, Etihad is using its seasonal offering to draw more connecting traffic through Abu Dhabi. The airline’s schedule is being marketed as particularly convenient for those heading to and from the Gulf and the wider Middle East, as well as for Umrah-bound passengers connecting onward to Medina.
Airport wayfinding and staff briefings are being adjusted to reflect the rhythms of Ramadan, from earlier lounge food service to additional hydration points around key gates. This dovetails with broader initiatives in the emirate, where hotels, malls and cultural venues are curating their own iftar and suhoor experiences aimed at visiting families and transit passengers breaking journeys for a few days.
For Etihad, the combination of authentic Emirati cuisine, faith-sensitive service design and layered travel perks is becoming a signature part of its brand during the holy month. As more carriers in the region expand their own Ramadan offerings, Abu Dhabi’s national airline is betting that carefully curated details, from the contents of an iftar bag to the programming on a seatback screen, will help it stand out with travellers seeking both spiritual ease and modern luxury at 35,000 feet.