Korean ‘Dubai Chocolate’ Craze Turns Heads in Dubai; Tourism Office Sees Love Call
Creatrip Team
2 months ago
A Korean-made trend for ‘Dubai chocolate’—including a chewy cookie variant called ‘duzzonku’ (두쫀쿠)—has swept Korean convenience stores, cafes and department stores, even though the treats aren’t originally from Dubai. The Dubai Tourism Office’s Korea head, Ryu Young-mi, says a simple chocolate creation (originating from an Egyptian woman in Dubai who mixed pistachio and kadaif) went viral on Korean social media and inspired local reinterpretations. Koreans transformed the confection into new forms like chewy cookies, prompting curiosity and imitation from Dubai itself; some Dubai contacts have asked for ingredient imports or collaborations. Ryu highlights Dubai’s strong dessert culture—young people favor late-night dessert tours over alcohol—and recommends local experiences such as Mirzam Chocolate Factory and traditional treats like luqaimat (Middle Eastern doughnuts), umm ali (warm pudding), and karak tea (strong milk tea). She also disputes the view that Dubai is prohibitively expensive, noting competitive food prices and diverse global cuisine from 200+ nationalities, and praises Dubai’s safety for solo women travelers. (kadaif: thin Middle Eastern noodle pastry)
