If you live in Dubai and haven’t heard the B.Laban yet, you haven’t been here long enough. This dessert hotspot has been winning hearts since its first branch opened in January 2024. From creamy caramel Qashtootas and lotus-filled Koshary to crunchy ‘fried’ ice cream and everything chocolate pistachio Kunafa – B.Laban has become the dessert king of the Arab world, and all for good reason. But lately, it looks like this king is slowly losing his crown. After recent shutdowns in Saudi and Egypt, many residents are left wondering is Dubai next? I’ve got the 411 on what’s going on and what the future of B.Laban looks like for the UAE, so keep reading to find out more.
What Started This Whole Mess?
It all started back in March when Saudi Arabia’s health authorities closed all B.Laban branches across the country. Why? Because of a wave of food poisoning cases. More than 26 people reported severe symptoms, from vomiting to stomach pain, within just a day of eating B.Laban desserts. Health officials in Saudi didn’t take it lightly. Every branch in Riyadh got a surprise inspection, leading to all of them getting shut down. Food samples were sent off for testing, delivery apps like Jahez and HungerStation were blocked from offering B.Laban, and the chain’s headquarters in the country has been ‘temporarily’ closed ever since.
Things Take A Turn For The Worse In Egypt
Just when we thought things couldn’t get worse, Egypt (AKA the birthplace of B.Laban) pulled the plug too. The brand, which started in Alexandria in 2021 making Egyptian classics like rice pudding, Om Ali, and couscous, is now facing one of its biggest challenges yet. Earlier this week, Egypt’s National Food Safety Authority (NFSA) ordered the closure of several major food chains, including B.Laban, after discovering serious health code violations. Dangerous bacteria were found in some products, and that was enough for authorities to take action. All 110 B.Laban branches in Egypt, plus their factories and related facilities, were shut down. That’s no small number.
So, What About Dubai?
And now, we’re all left with the big question – is The UAE up next on the chopping block? As of now, B.Laban is still open in the UAE, with 3 outlets running in Al Barsha, Bur Dubai, and Al Majaz in Sharjah. No cases of food poisoning or health violations have been reported here. So far, so good, right? But here’s where it gets a little tricky – a representative from B.Laban mentioned that operations across all Arab countries are managed from Egypt. So if the situations don’t improve, post the investigations in Egypt, that could affect all other remaining branches across nations. I can’t speak for y’all but my fingers are crossed it doesn’t come to that point.
Enjoy It While You Still Can
With so much uncertainty going on, my best piece of (unsolicited) advertising would be to enjoy it while it lasts, and until we know more, there’s no reason to panic. Dubai’s food safety standards are incredibly strict, and no issues have been found with our local B.Laban outlets. That means all of you dessert lovers can still head down to B.laban and order up some Dubai Crepes worry-free. Stay tuned to Gulf Buzz, and we’ll let you know when more updates come out from B.laban in Egypt.
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