UAE. Habibé Chocolate, a new premium brand created in Dubai, launched exclusively with Dubai Duty Free from 1 December.
The collection spans dark, milk and white chocolate across six bold flavour profiles, with each 180g bar priced at AED90 (US$24.50).
The design and concept were developed by The Zayana Collective, a Dubai-based creative studio dedicated to building original, culture-driven brands. Distribution is led by Truebell Marketing, a leading name in FMCG and premium food.
The brand developers noted that many travellers depart Dubai with familiar “mass-produced, compound confections wrapped in predictable desert motifs” – and Habibé Chocolate was created to “redefine that experience”.
The team said the brand “represents a new vision of what chocolate can be: crafted with real Swiss couverture (by Villars), refined recipes and flavour profiles rooted in the richness of Middle Eastern taste and culture”.
The signature design for each bar reflects “rolling desert dunes and the geometric rhythm of Arabic design”.
“It is chocolate elevated to an edible art piece, designed to enrich and reimagine the travel-gifting experience,” added the brand owner.
Key points of difference for the brand, noted the company, include:
- Locally inspired ingredients: Where possible, flavours draw from ingredients and traditions rooted in the UAE, reflecting authentic regional taste profiles.
- Crafted in Dubai: Every bar is developed and produced in Dubai.
- Middle Eastern culinary influence: Recipes are inspired by regional flavours – Arabic coffee, saffron, cardamom, dates, pistachio kunafa and zaatar.
Target consumer segments include travellers “seeking thoughtful gifts” for family, friends or special occasions; social-media-driven and trend-focused travellers (Millennials & Gen Z); frequent and business travellers passing through DXB alongside international tourists and GCC visitors looking for “a premium, culturally grounded Dubai product”.
Signature flavours include:
- Arabic Coffee & Cardamom (Dark Chocolate): Rich dark chocolate infused with roasted Arabic coffee and warm aromatic cardamom.
- Date Caramel (Milk Chocolate): A silky milk chocolate bar filled with smooth, luxurious date caramel.
- Orange Blossom (Dark Chocolate): Dark chocolate paired with delicate floral notes of orange blossom.
- Pistachio Kunafa (Milk Chocolate): Milk chocolate enriched with roasted pistachios, inspired by the Middle Eastern dessert kunafa.
- Saffron & Almond (White Chocolate): White chocolate elevated with saffron and roasted almonds.
- Zaatar & Olive Oil (Milk Chocolate): A savoury-sweet interpretation featuring zaatar and premium olive oil in milk chocolate. ✈
