The first-ever kosher supermarket in the Persian Gulf opened in Dubai, in the United Arab Emirates on Monday.
The RIMON supermarket is part of an attempt to address the increasing demand for kosher, Jewish and Israeli products amid a surge in Jewish travelers to the UAE.
The store, a seven-minute drive from the Burj Khalifa, the world's tallest skyscraper, was founded with the help of the UAE's Jewish community. The effort was led by Rabbi Levi Duchman – who founded the Emirates Agency for Kosher Certification and has played a key role in founding Jewish institutions in the UAE for eight years – as well as Sonia and Alec Sellem, who are members of the local Jewish community, and local authorities.
Measuring over 130 square meters, the supermarket offers produce imported from the US, Europe and Israel, including meat and chicken certified Kosher Mehudar.
The market will offer a kosher food market every Shabbat featuring freshly cooked meals of various cuisines.
Kosher establishments founded across UAE
“In order to enable residents and visitors [to lead a] full Jewish life here, we have established Jewish institutions and communities, openly celebrate Shabbat, holidays and simchas [joyful events] – and enjoy quality kosher food, any day and everywhere, across the Emirates.”
UAE Rabbi Levi Duchman
The market joins a number of kosher food establishments such as cafes, restaurants and caterers across the UAE.
The first kosher restaurant in the city, Armani/Kaf, is located at the Armani Hotel in the Burj Khalifa, 15 minutes from the Kosher Place, a restaurant run by caterer Treat Kosher.
“Our wonderful community, which keeps growing and prospering here in the UAE, has most gratefully continued to benefit from the extraordinary embrace we have received from the Emirates government and local authorities for over a decade now,” said Duchman.
“In order to enable residents and visitors [to lead a] full Jewish life here, we have established Jewish institutions and communities, openly celebrate Shabbat, holidays and simchas [joyful events] – and enjoy quality kosher food, any day and everywhere, across the Emirates.”
Mark Gordon and David Zev Harris contributed to this report.