PROJECT CHAIWALA AND OATLY INTRODUCE THE KARAK CLUB AT DXB AIRPORT

Project Chaiwala (PCW), Dubai’s homegrown chai brand founded in 2017 by Justin Joseph and Ahmed Kazim, has partnered with Swedish oat-based dairy alternative brand Oatly to launch The Karak Club, exclusively at Dubai International Airport (DXB). For a limited time, the world’s busiest international airport will welcome travellers from every corner of the globe to experience the UAE’s beloved karak chai with a plant-based twist.

With the support of travel and retail partner Lagardère Travel Retail, The Karak Club will be live across DXB Terminal 3 and select Terminal 1 outlets from December 15, 2025, to February 15, 2026. The concept reimagines Dubai’s unofficial national drink using Oatly’s non-dairy alternatives in innovative formats such as iced chai, smoothies, shakes, and soft serve. Travellers can also purchase limited-edition merchandise, including postcards, custom playing cards, luggage tags, stickers, and tote bags, celebrating the collaboration.

“This is Project Chaiwala showcasing Dubai’s unique flavour to the world through Oatly’s plant-based magic, turning karak from a fresh milk tradition into a global lifestyle experience,” said Ahmed Kazim, Co-founder of Project Chaiwala.

“Born from our first Karak Club community event at Project Chaiwala’s Cinema Akil flagship in Alserkal Avenue, this DXB edition targets young, global urban travellers seeking authentic flavours of Dubai’s third-culture identity in a modern, accessible way. As a homegrown brand with global aspirations, we’re proud to champion Dubai’s multicultural spirit at DXB, following our representations at SXSW 2025 with Museum of the Future, EXPO 2020, and COP28,” added Justin Joseph, Co-founder of Project Chaiwala.

“We’re honoured to bring the Karak Club to DXB, one of the world’s cultural melting pots, through our collaboration with Project Chaiwala and Lagardère Travel Retail UAE. Together, we’re celebrating the heritage of karak chai, reimagined with Oatly as a delicious alternative to the traditional dairy-based drink. In a moment of taste bonanza and rising non-coffee based beverages, Project Chaiwala’s creativity and Lagardère’s commitment to delivering lifestyle experiences at DXB enable us to bridge cultures through flavour for travellers and the wider airport community”, says Dimitri de Martignac, Regional Director Oatly MEA.

Founded after countless chai breaks between Justin Joseph and Ahmed Kazim during their time as colleagues in Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC), Project Chaiwala was inspired by the founders’ brainstorming sessions and travels to Darjeeling and West Bengal’s tea estates, inspired by their love for getting the perfect cup of chai. Their first pop-up at Etisalat Beach Canteen led to the opening of the flagship Cinema Akil café in Alserkal Avenue in 2018, a cultural hub that captures the brand’s ethos of “Blending Tradition, Brewing Innovation.” The café’s offerings include the signature Clove-Chocolate Karak, vada pav, cheese toast, spicy chana, and Karak Groove Sessions with local DJs.

Evolving from a lifestyle café into an omnichannel brand, Project Chaiwala successfully pivoted during the 2020 pandemic, expanding into packaged retail with handcrafted tea blends now available at Spinneys, ENOC, Careem, Noon, and Amazon. The brand currently employs over 20 team members across café, retail, and B2B operations — including corporate outlets at ENBD and Standard Chartered, and more than 100 HORECA accounts. Through proceeds from its clay kulhar cups, Project Chaiwala supports ethical initiatives promoting education, clean water access, and women’s empowerment.

Activation Locations at DXB:

●      Project Chaiwala, Concourse C, S34, Terminal 3

●      Project Chaiwala, Daily DXB, Concourse B, Terminal 3

●      Project Chaiwala, Concourse A, Terminal 3

●      FIX Coffee, Daily DXB, Terminal 1