Project Chaiwala has partnered with Oatly to launch The Karak Club at Dubai International Airport.
The activation is supported by Lagardère Travel Retail and runs for a limited period across selected outlets at the airport.
The Karak Club is operating at DXB Terminal 3 and selected Terminal 1 locations from December 15, 2025, to February 15, 2026. Travellers can experience karak chai prepared using oat-based alternatives.
Karak Club opens at DXB with Project Chaiwala and Oatly partnership
The concept includes formats such as iced chai, smoothies, shakes and soft serve. Limited-edition merchandise is available, including postcards, custom playing cards, luggage tags, stickers and tote bags.
“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,” Ahmed Kazim, Co-founder of Project Chaiwala said in a statement.
“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,” Justin Joseph, Co-founder of Project Chaiwala added.
Project Chaiwala was founded in 2017 by Joseph and Kazim following their time working together at Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC). The brand was shaped by travel to tea estates in Darjeeling and West Bengal.
Its first pop-up took place at Etisalat Beach Canteen, followed by the opening of its Cinema Akil café in Alserkal Avenue in 2018. The café serves chai blends, vada pav, cheese toast, spicy chana and hosts Karak Groove Sessions with DJs.
Karak chai served with oat alternatives at DXB pop-up
During the 2020 pandemic, the brand expanded into packaged retail. Its tea blends are available at Spinneys, ENOC, Careem, Noon and Amazon. Project Chaiwala employs more than 20 team members and operates café, retail and business-to-business channels, including corporate outlets at ENBD and Standard Chartered and more than 100 HORECA accounts.
The brand also supports education, clean water access and women’s empowerment through proceeds from clay kulhar cups.
“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”, Dimitri de Martignac, Regional Director Oatly MEA further added.
The Karak Club is available at the following DXB locations:
- 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
