If you’ve seen videos of people biting into a thick, crunchy chocolate bar and gasping with delight, you’ve met “Dubai chocolate.” Behind that viral crunch is Filipino pastry chef Nouel Catis, and now he’s turning the idea into new, capital-flavoured treats (think salted caramel + halwa). This is the story foodies want: invention, nostalgia, social-media fame, and a chef turning a trend into a brand you can actually taste.
Meet the creator – Chef Nouel Catis
Chef Nouel Catis is a Filipino-born pastry specialist who quietly became the brains behind the original Dubai chocolate, an inventive bar that layers Middle Eastern flavours (pistachio, tahini/kunafa elements) inside a crisp, hollow chocolate shell. His approach mixes childhood memories, heritage ingredients and modern pastry technique to produce a product that looks simple but performs like a theatrical dessert on your palate. His name has since become linked with Sna’ap, his own chocolate brand and pop-up experiences.
The new Abu Dhabi Chocolate
After conquering the global desert scene with Dubai’s crunchy bar, Chef Nouel Catis is paying homage to the UAE capital with the new Abu Dhabi Chocolate. This bar ditches the pistachio crunch for a flavor profile that is richer, spicier, and truly rooted in Emirati heritage.The Abu Dhabi bar is an ode to local sweets and spices, captured in a thick, luxurious form:
- The Main Flavor: A harmonious blend of rich salted caramel and traditional halwa (a dense, sweet delicacy).
- Emirati Spices: The filling is layered with complex flavors like cardamom and fragrant saffron, giving it instant warmth and depth.
- Local Touches: It features authentic ingredients like creamy tahini and sweet date syrup. The chef even notes hints of Balaleet, the sweet and savory Emirati breakfast dish.
- Final Touch: To ensure its capital-city status, the bar is lavishly topped with shimmering 24-karat gold flakes.
Priced around Dh100 for a 200g bar, this is positioned as a truly luxurious, indulgent piece of edible art—initially sold exclusively at local hotspots like Rain Cafe.
Where to get the Golden Bar
Because the Abu Dhabi Chocolate is a brand-new, special-edition launch, its availability is currently quite exclusive. The bar is a collaborative effort with a popular local cafe brand.
- Exclusive Initial Location: The Abu Dhabi Chocolate bar is initially sold exclusively at Rain Cafe outlets across the UAE.
- Wider Delivery: For the brand’s other popular flavors (like the Dubai Chocolate), you can often find them available for order on local food delivery platforms like Careem and Talabat in both Dubai and Abu Dhabi.
Price check
The unique artisanal quality, the luxurious ingredients (like 24K gold), and its status as a viral, limited-edition treat put this bar in the premium category.
- Price Range: The Abu Dhabi Chocolate bar is priced at approximately Dh100 (roughly $27 USD) for a 200g bar.
- Other Sna’ap Bars: For comparison, the original 90g Dubai Chocolate bars typically sell for around Dh38.
For fans who want a genuine taste of luxury blended with authentic Emirati flavors, many consider the unique experience a worthwhile indulgence.
Getting the viral treat outside the UAE
If you’re a traveling foodie or a UAE resident currently abroad, getting these viral bars requires a bit of planning, as direct international shipping from the cafe is usually not available.
- Rely on Travelers: The most common way to get the bars abroad is through friends, family, or colleagues who are traveling from the UAE and can carry them back as a unique souvenir.
- Third-Party Shipping Services: Some international fans resort to using re-shipping or concierge services based in the UAE. These services purchase the bar locally and then ship it internationally, though this adds significant cost and is not handled by the chocolate maker itself.
- Check Pop-ups: Keep an eye on the official Sna’ap/Chef Nouel Catis social media channels. As the brand grows, they may announce international pop-up events or partnerships that temporarily make the bars available in other countries.
Dubai’s famous Pistachio Crunch
If you’re active on social media, you’ve definitely seen the satisfying
snap
of the viral Dubai Chocolate. Created by Chef Nouel Catis of the Sna’ap brand, this chocolate bar became a global hit because it’s much more than just a sweet treat, it’s a textural masterpiece.The secret to the original bar’s obsession-worthy status lies in its core ingredients:
- Pistachio-Tahini Cream: A smooth, creamy paste with a deep, nutty Middle Eastern flavor.
- Crispy Kataifi: Finely shredded, toasted filo dough, which gives the bar an irresistible, signature crunch (inspired by the famous dessert Knafeh).
This perfect contrast between the rich, creamy filling and the crispy pastry is why foodies worldwide have been trying to recreate this famous UAE-born chocolate.So, whether you’re clicking “add to cart” via a delivery app in Dubai or hoping a traveling friend brings you a gold-flaked souvenir, one thing is clear: Chef Nouel Catis has successfully merged Middle Eastern heritage with modern indulgence. The Abu Dhabi Chocolate isn’t just a treat; it’s a taste of luxury and a must-have checkmark on every serious foodie’s global dessert list.
