The Kosher Supervisor Transforming the Gulf Hospitality Industry

International tourism from Israel is booming, with travelers frequenting popular and tropical destinations, staying in luxurious hotels. Few realize the complex challenges behind the kosher certification displayed at these venues.

Rabbi Yohai Vaheb, a seasoned kosher supervisor living in Israel and Switzerland, was among the pioneers in certifying international hotels for Jewish tourists. His expertise primarily lies in luxury hospitality, where he provides comprehensive kosher supervision. 'It's an especially challenging and complex role, particularly in hotels located in Muslim countries,' he notes.

(Next to a photo of the King of Morocco during one of his travels)

Can you share some challenges you encounter in your role?

'The initial challenge is that hotel owners, who are not Jewish, have no idea what kosher is, and that's the starting point. I have to repeatedly explain the many kosher guidelines. I provide them with educational materials in Arabic, including detailed explanations accompanied by illustrative pictures. The materials clearly outline what's forbidden and permitted, what's kosher and what's not, how to thoroughly clean food products, and how to properly prepare meat products. I spend long days with them, explaining everything in detail.'

Have you encountered rule violations?

'Almost never,' he says. 'I don't offer certification unless I'm certain all rules are implemented to the letter. Making a hotel kosher requires significant resource and financial investment from the owners, so removing the certification would be a huge loss for them. Certainly, the relationship with them is one of trust but verification, yet they themselves often supervise their workers to ensure everything is done correctly.'

(Rabbi Vaheb during hotel certification supervision)

A Kosher Revolution in Dubai

As part of his role, Rabbi Vaheb has certified many hotels in Muslim countries. During the era when Dubai became a popular destination for many Israeli travelers, Rabbi Vaheb takes us back to the early days following the normalization agreement between Israel and the United Arab Emirates in 2020. 'Back then, Dubai had very few Jews, especially Israelis,' he remarks. 'I was among the first to arrive in the Emirates to build a comprehensive kosher infrastructure in local hotels.'

One of the kosher revolutions led by Rabbi Vaheb in Dubai was the importation of kosher meat. 'Until then, there was no kosher meat available. The local Jewish community only imported kosher poultry, so observant Jewish visitors had to bring kosher meat with them in their luggage. I decided to take on the project and began working on it.'

Did the Emirati authorities cooperate?

'It was a significant challenge. Local laws prohibited the importation of kosher meat, so I had to meet with senior government officials to explain the need. I arranged a meeting with the Dubai Health Minister, and after I provided a detailed explanation, he was convinced and approved the import.'

Rabbi Vaheb was one of the first kosher supervisors to certify hotels in Dubai. 'I set a seemingly high standard for them, but the hotel owners agreed. Most hotel employees are foreign workers from around the world, making communication challenging, but communication with the owners themselves is easier. I won't forget how one took me to a local factory to produce utensils and allowed me to purchase new sets for tourists who observe kosher.'

Alone in Bahrain

Following the agreement between Israel and Bahrain on the White House lawns in 2020, a direct flight line was established between the two countries. Rabbi Vaheb was among the first Jews to arrive in Bahrain, invited by local businessmen. 'The first businessperson to invite me was the owner of the 'Ritz Carlton' hotel chain, with numerous branches in Gulf states. After certifying their main branch in Dubai, he invited me to certify their branch in Bahrain.'

(Rabbi Vaheb explaining his work to the Dubai Health Minister)

With Israeli tourism low in Bahrain, why does a hotel need kosher certification?

'True, but with American bases set up across the Persian Gulf, Bahrain hosts a segment of the Fifth Fleet with Jewish soldiers among them. The "Ritz Carlton" hotel supplies them with food, and these soldiers insist on dining only in establishments under strict supervision.

'My demands from the hotel owner were significant,' describes Rabbi Vaheb. 'It was the first time a Bahraini hotel became kosher, so my first condition was to build a separate kitchen focusing solely on kosher cuisine, to prevent any possible mix-up. This kitchen is supposed to supply meals to many Jewish soldiers and must be under constant supervision around the clock. Together with the military base's chief rabbi, I oversaw the entire initial construction process, ensuring it adhered to all necessary religious guidelines.'

(Rabbi Vaheb with a kosher meal in a Swiss hotel)

The Hidden Parts

Rabbi Vaheb has traveled extensively around the world, building connections with local leaders and senior government officials in his role. However, he frequently crossed the Israel-Switzerland line for supervising and overseeing numerous hotels there. During one of his recent flights from Switzerland to Israel amid the ongoing conflict, an unusual incident occurred. 'Near the end of the flight, I received a personal message from Yemen saying that a missile launched from a Houthi base in northern Yemen was en route to Eilat, where our plane was scheduled to land. I can't share further details about the information's source or how it reached me, but it was a particularly frightening moment.'

What did you do with the information?

'I quickly got up, entered the cockpit, and explained the situation to the pilot. He was convinced it was a genuine warning, and at the last moment, decided to divert the flight path and land at Lod airport instead of Eilat. The missile indeed landed near Eilat, and after landing, the story was reported in Israeli media, going viral.'

Can you disclose who in Yemen gave you the information?

'That's as far as I can go.'