Air Arabia passengers can now sip Sharjah's sell-out Meliha milk at 30,000 feet. The budget carrier has teamed up with the Sharjah Agricultural and Livestock Production Establishment (EKTIFA) to introduce the wildly popular organic dairy brand onboard, starting April 1 with Meliha's kid's flavoured milk option.
Air Arabia Becomes First Airline to Offer Meliha Milk
The partnership marks Air Arabia's first step into organic inflight catering, opening the door to healthier dining options for its passengers. Beyond the kid's flavoured milk already onboard, the airline is preparing to add organic milk, chicken, and honey to its menu — rollout timing depends on the farm's production capacity.
Mark Whelan of Alpha Flight Services (dnata Catering & Retail UAE) called the collaboration "a significant step forward in providing passengers with healthy meal options," and signalled plans to expand organic food availability into Sharjah International Airport terminal lounges as well.
Why Meliha Milk Became a UAE Sensation
Meliha milk went viral in August 2024 — and the queues haven't stopped since. Shoppers line up from 6am to buy the daily production batch, which regularly sells out before 10am. The secret is the farm's rare A2A2 protein composition, the same protein found in human breast milk, making it exceptionally easy to digest.
Each litre contains more than 4% fat and 3.5% protein, with no additives. That nutritional profile has made Meliha a go-to choice for children, people with gluten intolerance, and those managing ADHD — many of whom had previously cut dairy from their diets entirely.
The milk is produced at Meliha Dairy Farm in Sharjah's Mleiha desert, home to 6,400 Holstein Friesian cows selectively bred for the A2A2 trait — the world's largest A2A2 cattle farm, certified by Guinness World Records.
58,000 Litres a Day and Still Expanding
The farm currently produces 58,000 litres of fresh organic milk per day, across children's flavoured milk, fresh yoghurt, and long-life varieties. Dr Eng Khalifa Musabeh Ahmed Alteneiji, Chairman of EKTIFA, said the brand is built on "clean and nutritious food" principles, noting that dairy-averse patients and children have reintroduced milk into their diets after switching to Meliha.
Looking ahead, EKTIFA plans to launch organic vegetables, fruits, honey, and free-range poultry products in June 2025, further extending Sharjah's push for food sovereignty under Sheikh Dr Sultan Al Qasimi's vision for the emirate.
