A Taste of the UAE: How Abdullah Al Mazrouei is Bringing Emirati Flavours to the World

Right in the heart of the UAE, a flavorful journey was initiated by one man named Abdullah Al Mazrouei, which gained the attention of kitchens across the world. With a passion for Emirati cuisine and a dream to make the food popular and reachable for anyone, Al Mazrouei launched Danat-a line of spices and ready mixes, celebrating the rich UAE culinary heritage. From his mother’s kitchen to the international display of packed goods, Al Mazrouei’s story is one of tradition, innovation, and deep-rooted love for the flavours of his country.

For Abdullah Al Mazrouei, the founder of Danat, this is a mission-one that urgently needs to share with the world what Emirati food actually tastes like. Less than a month since its launch, the maiden array of spices and ready-to-cook food mixes by Danat has sent ripples within the UAE, and now it’s looking up at its global expansion as visions of Al Mazrouei unfold. With a product line-up of 13 spices and ready mixes in the market, and a declared ambition to unleash 40 more products, Danat is all poised to become a household name not only in the UAE but also worldwide.

Placing the flavors of UAE in every kitchen in the world” was a simple yet profound reason for Al Mazrouei to begin the journey with Danat. Al Mazrouei is very proud of his country’s food and had always been determined to show the Emirati flavours in a way that was modern and reachable. His personal aim is to represent the Emirati cuisine in such a manner as to please both locals, expatriates, and food lovers the world over.

Present products from Danat include a variety of spice mixes, such as Arabic, barbecue, and biryani spices, along with Emirati curry and maternal post spice–an herbal mix for new mothers to add to hot drinks and soups. Three ready mixes are also sold by Danat for preparing traditional Emirati foods, including chebab, or pancakes; Arabic bread, with its additions of saffron and cardamom; and kanfrosh, a spongy, doughnut-like cupcake. This blend will not only make cooking easier but also provide the real taste of Emirati cuisine, even for beginners who have less cooking experience. Add to this mix a few staple ingredients like eggs, oil, and milk, and just follow the simple instructions. One can create delicious, mouth-watering, authentic Emirati cuisine within the comfort of one’s kitchen.

What sets Danat apart from all other local spice companies is the fact that it focuses on ready mixes. “There are plenty of companies selling spices in the UAE, but no one caters for the convenience and authenticity of ready mixes like Danat,” says Al Mazrouei, who is particularly proud of this innovation and considers it something that really sets his brand apart from others in the market.

From ingredients to recipes themselves, Al Mazrouei’s commitment to quality and authenticity can be seen in everything Danat does. The recipes for Danat’s products are all based on traditional Emirati cuisine, much of which is directly sourced from Al Mazrouei’s mother. He sometimes complains about how hard it is to take those recipes, passed down through generations, and turn them into something commercial. Traditional Emirati cooking, he says, is more akin to an art than to a science; ingredients are measured intuitively rather than according to precise measure. It has taken Al Mazrouei countless hours in experimentation to develop all the recipes to perfection, such that each product is certain to deliver the authentic taste of Emirati cuisine.

Al Mazrouei has also given much attention to Danat’s branding and packaging. The name “Danat” means “a group of precious black pearls.” Al Mazrouei likes the name because he sees it as perfectly depicting his products. The logo also contains a traditional Emirati burqa, which had been designed by a friend residing in Italy, referencing the enriched cultural heritage of the country. This is attractive, easy to use, and is targeted to appeal to both local consumers and international markets.