Saudia in-flight food: halal catering and special meal requests explained

The short answer for Saudia travellers

Saudia, the flag carrier of Saudi Arabia, describes its in-flight food as halal throughout: halal slaughter, certified sourcing, and no pork or alcohol on board. For a traveller who simply wants halal food, that means the standard meal is the answer and nothing needs to be booked.

The things that do need booking are the special diets. Saudia's guidance is that diabetic, vegetarian and similar meals should be requested through the airline's booking system at least 24 hours before departure. The rest of this guide covers how to do that, what the menus tend to include, and how to verify the details that Saudia's website did not allow to be read automatically when this page was prepared.

Why halal is not an add-on at Saudia

Saudi Arabia applies national food regulations, and the airline presents halal compliance as a core operating requirement, not an option. Meals are described as prepared in certified catering facilities in the Kingdom and by approved partners abroad, packed under halal supervision and served within normal airline hygiene rules.

What this covers

The description applies to flights the airline operates and caters through its own approved suppliers. It does not speak for a flight operated by a partner airline, nor for how an outstation caterer is audited. If that detail matters to you, ask the airline for it rather than assuming.

Questions on whether a method of slaughter or a supplier meets your own standard belong with a qualified scholar. Schools of thought differ on some details, and the airline can only describe its sourcing.

What is served

Saudia's published description lists chicken, lamb, beef and seafood dishes and Middle Eastern specialties, together with vegetarian, vegan and medical meals prepared within the same halal processes. Menus change by route, flight length, cabin and season, so a dish listed in an article is an example, not a commitment.

• Economy: standardised meals with a main dish, side and dessert on longer flights.
• Business and first class: described as multi-course dining with higher-quality ingredients and more personalised service.
• Short flights: a lighter service, which can mean a limited menu on routes such as those to Dubai.

The airline also publishes menus for its entertainment and dining offer on its site, which is worth a look before a long flight.

Halal certification versus a Muslim meal option

On many airlines a Muslim meal (MOML) has to be booked because the default tray may not be halal. Saudia's position is that every meal is halal-certified, so passengers do not need to make a special request for that purpose. In practice you are unlikely to find a Muslim meal drop-down on Saudia's booking pages.

The wording matters for one reason: a passenger who is told that everything is halal may still want to know who certifies it. If you need that detail, ask in writing and ask which certifying body is named for your departure airport.

How to request a special meal

Saudia's guidance is to request specific dietary meals, such as diabetic or vegetarian, at least 24 hours before departure through the booking system. The airline's special meals page and its meal selection page, linked in the resources below, are the places to start.

1. Open the Manage section of the website or app with your booking reference.
2. Look for meal selection or special meal on each segment.
3. Choose the meal for each passenger and save it.
4. Keep the confirmation. If the option is missing, contact the airline by phone or through the contact form.

The company's website uses bot checks, so some pages may need a normal browser session to load. If a page will not open, try another browser, or call. For medical diets, check the correct meal type with your doctor first.

Cost and what is included

The airline's published guidance describes meals as included in the fare in all classes and special dietary options as provided at no extra cost when requested in advance. Fare conditions vary by ticket type, so check your own booking. A discounted fare may have different service rules.

If a charge for a meal ever appears on a booking, treat it as a reason to contact the airline before paying, since the stated policy is that meals are part of the fare.

It is sensible to order early for a family. Each traveller on the booking needs a separate meal entry, and a request saved for one passenger does not apply to the others. After saving, reopen the booking and check that every name shows the meal you chose, because a failed save is easier to fix a week before the flight than at the airport.

Routes, hubs and partner flights

Saudia describes the same halal standard as applying across domestic and international flights, including routes from Riyadh, Jeddah and Medina and to cities such as Dubai, London, Paris and New York. Those are the airline's stated positions, and they apply to its own flights.

• If part of your trip is on a partner, check that airline's meal page.
• If you connect in Jeddah or Riyadh, remember that airport food is a separate topic from in-flight catering.
• For pilgrims, the meal arrangements on a Hajj or Umrah package may be set by the tour operator and the airline together; ask the operator.

Other airlines' policies are covered on their own pages on this site.

Checklist, and what to do if something goes wrong

Before you fly

• Decide whether you need any special meal beyond the standard halal tray.
• Request it at least 24 hours ahead, ideally at booking.
• Confirm the operating airline on each flight.
• Screenshot the confirmation.

On board

• Tell the crew about your requirement early.
• Ask for the meal sheet or packaging if you have a medical reason to check ingredients.
• Carry a dry snack.

If the meal is not as requested

Record the flight, date and seat. Write to Saudia customer relations with the booking reference and your confirmation, and keep the message short and factual.

Frequently asked questions