Dubai chocolate is expensive due to several key factors:
- Premium ingredients: It uses high-quality cocoa, pistachio butter, crispy kadayif (a fragile pastry), and sometimes rare spices like saffron or cardamom. These ingredients are costly and often imported, raising expenses.
- Handcrafted production: Dubai chocolate is typically made in small batches and involves artisanal craftsmanship such as hand-pouring, hand-filling, and hand-decorating, which increases labor costs.
- Luxury packaging: The chocolate is often presented in elegant, gift-worthy packaging that adds to the perceived value and cost.
- Import and operational costs: Dubai's high standard of living and the need to import many ingredients and tools contribute to higher production and operational expenses.
- Limited availability and high demand: The chocolates are often exclusive and not widely available outside Dubai, driving prices up. Viral social media trends and luxury brand associations have further increased demand.
- Complex production process: The fragile kadayif needs specialized technology to maintain its crispy texture when covered in chocolate, making large-scale production difficult and costlier.
In summary, the combination of rare, imported premium ingredients, artisanal handcrafting, luxurious presentation, limited production, and high demand drives up the price of Dubai chocolate compared to ordinary chocolates.
