Protein Sources Beyond Meat: A Local Guide

Legumes are outselling beef mince at two of Lulu Hypermarket's Abu Dhabi branches this summer. That single retail signal tells a broader story about how protein habits are shifting across a city where the wellness conversation has moved well past gym memberships and step counts.

The shift matters for a concrete reason: the UAE's per-capita meat consumption sits among the highest in the Middle East, according to data published by the Food and Agriculture Organisation in 2024, yet nutritionists at Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi have been flagging for at least two years that protein diversity—not quantity—is what most residents actually need to improve. Heat, Ramadan fasting cycles, and a population that skews younger and more fitness-conscious than a decade ago have all pushed alternative proteins onto the agenda faster than expected.

What the City Already Has on Offer

Start with fish. The Central Market on Hamdan Street, better known to residents as the Abu Dhabi Fish Market, sells hammour, kingfish, and sheri caught the same morning. A whole hammour typically runs between AED 35 and AED 50 per kilogram depending on season, and a 200-gram fillet delivers roughly 40 grams of complete protein. That is comparable to chicken breast and comes with omega-3s that plant sources cannot replicate on their own. For anyone uncomfortable navigating the market stalls, the cleaned and portioned counters at Waitrose in Al Raha Beach take the guesswork out entirely.

Eggs deserve a rehabilitation. A carton of 30 free-range eggs from local brand Dibba Bay's retail partners costs around AED 28 at most co-ops in Khalidiyah. At six grams of protein per egg, that is economics a sports nutritionist would struggle to argue with. Boulangerie Bateel on Al Maryah Island has been incorporating soft-boiled eggs into its breakfast plates for the past year, quietly signalling that the ingredient is being taken seriously at the premium end of the café market too.

Then there are legumes. Chickpeas, lentils, and black-eyed peas are foundational to Emirati cooking—ful medames has anchored breakfast tables here for generations—but they fell out of fashion among younger urban professionals who associated them with home cooking rather than performance nutrition. That is reversing. The protein-per-dirham calculation for a 400-gram tin of chickpeas, priced at AED 4.50 at Carrefour in Yas Mall, is hard to beat: roughly 19 grams of protein, plus fibre that supports the kind of gut health that expensive supplements claim to deliver.

Where to Get Practical Guidance

Nutrition counselling used to mean a single annual check-up. That model is changing. NMC Royal Hospital on Airport Road runs a dedicated nutrition outpatient clinic where registered dietitians work with patients on protein adequacy specifically—not just weight management. Appointments are available within 48 hours most weeks. Separately, the Abu Dhabi Public Health Centre launched its Eat Well Abu Dhabi initiative in January 2025, a community programme operating out of health centres in Musaffah and Mohammed Bin Zayed City that offers free dietary assessments to UAE residents and citizens.

For those who prefer a less clinical setting, Be'ah Wellness Studio in Al Zeina, Al Raha Beach, holds monthly nutrition workshops that have covered plant protein rotation and dairy-free calcium sourcing. The July session, scheduled for 19 July, focuses specifically on building a high-protein meal plan without red meat. Cost is AED 120 per person.

Dairy is worth a mention too. Al Ain Farms labneh, sold widely across the emirate, contains around 9 grams of protein per 100 grams—higher than most yoghurts—and its sodium content is lower than many imported equivalents. Pair it with a handful of pumpkin seeds, available in bulk at Organic Foods and Café in Al Raha, and you have a genuinely balanced protein snack.

The practical takeaway is straightforward. Residents do not need to overhaul their diets or order specialist products from abroad. The fish market, the neighbourhood co-op, and the lentils that have always been in the pantry are a better starting point than any imported protein powder. A registered dietitian—reachable through Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi on 800-8-2223 or through the ADPHC network—can personalise the approach based on individual activity levels and health goals.