Dubai Chocolate, a popular chocolate bar filled with knafeh, pistachio cream, and tahini spread, has been the cause of a global pistachio shortage. In recent years, the chocolate bar went viral after TikToker Maria Vehera uploaded a video of herself tasting it. The video garnered millions of views and caused a surge in demand for Dubai Chocolate, prompting many chocolatiers to start making similar products. This has led to a surge in demand for pistachios, a chocolate ingredient that is typically sourced from the U.S. and Iran.
According to Giles Hacking, a nut trader, pistachio prices have risen from $7.65 (PHP 433) to $10.30 (PHP 583) per pound due to supply shortages. Despite the high demand for Dubai Chocolate, the low supply of pistachios from the U.S. in 2024 also had an impact. Iranian pistachio producers exported 40% more than their regular exports to the UAE from October 2024 to March 2025, compared to the previous year.
The Dubai Chocolate bar features crispy kataifi, pistachio and tahini paste, wrapped in milk chocolate. It is currently only available in Dubai and can be ordered on Deliveroo from 2pm to 5pm. Due to high demand, Fix Dessert Chocolatier, which produces Dubai Chocolate, has issued a warning against fake resellers.
