This Diwali, premium UAE-based chocolate brand SNA’AP Chocolates is launching a limited-edition festive chocolate treat named “Mumbai Chocolate”, a fusion of cashew, saffron and crispy kataifi, crafted under the direction of the original chef behind the “Dubai chocolate” phenomenon. The Mumbai Chocolate bar is positioned as a luxurious gift option to mark Diwali, combining traditional Indian festival sentiment (saffron, cashew) with Middle Eastern textures (kataifi) and luxury chocolate craftsmanship.
This launch adds to a broader flurry of premium and festive-themed chocolate innovations in the UAE over the year: brands such as Patchi, Forrey & Galland, The Truffleers, FIX Dessert Chocolatier, Mirzam, Coco Jalila, Läderach, Venchi, and others have introduced launches that lean into regional flavours (kunafa, dates, saffron, cardamom), seasonal gifting (Ramadan, Mid-Autumn, Chinese New Year), and premium formats. These moves evidence the dynamic shift in UAE’s chocolate market towards high-end, occasion-driven offerings.
Industry Trends And Themes
Premiumisation Of Chocolate: Luxury chocolate has become a battleground in the UAE’s chocolate confectionery space. Brands are investing in craftsmanship, high-quality ingredients, and elegant presentation. Forrey & Galland’s Speculoos Cheesecake Kunafa combines French patisserie precision with regional flavour; Läderach’s Matcha Fusion White-Dark brings Swiss finesse into Japanese-inspired chocolate; Armani/Dolci’s limited-edition chocolate eggs — combining rich milk chocolate with crushed hazelnuts and wild fennel — bring couture-level detail and exclusivity to seasonal gifting.
Regional Flavour Fusion And Localisation: Cross-cultural flavour design is in vogue. SNA’AP’s Mumbai Chocolate fuses Indian (saffron, cashew) and Middle Eastern (kataifi) influences. FIX’s You Karak Me Up translates the local Karak tea tradition into a milk chocolate bar layered with cream, biscuits, and cardamom. Mirzam’s Dates & Pomegranate in 65% Dark Chocolate and Zadina’s Date Halawa & Caramel reimagine classic regional sweets in modern form, proving that local identity now underpins premium innovation.
Texture Innovation: Crunch, chew, and contrast are now prominent additions. FIX Dessert Chocolatier’s Time To Mango adds popping candy to white chocolate for a multi-sensory effect. Mirzam’s Honeycomb, Cashew & Sea Salt Brittle plays with brittle crunch in dark chocolate. Läderach’s FrischSchoggi Dubai Dark layers pistachio, kataifi, and gianduja for a distinctly regional texture. The “Dubai chocolate” style — indulgent, nutty, and textural — has reshaped what consumers expect from a premium bar.
Ingredient Storytelling: In the UAE’s competitive chocolate scene, ingredients have become storytelling tools — a way for brands to set themselves apart through taste and meaning. SNA’AP Chocolates’ Mumbai Chocolate uses cashew and saffron to echo Indian festivity, and kataifi to nod to regional craft, turning flavour pairing into a story of cross-cultural connection. Mirzam’s Spice Collection carries an exploration theme, with flavours drawn from the historic Spice Route — voatsiperiferi pepper, star anise, and tamarind — evoking trade, travel, and discovery. Läderach highlights precision in ingredient pairing; its Summerdream FrischSchoggi combine blood orange, passionfruit, and mango as seasonal storytelling devices, linking Swiss technique with tropical expression.