In pictures: Cake Boss Buddy Valastro Jr judges competition at Emirates Palace

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  This Despicable Me cake by House of Cakes, Dubai took first place in the professional category. Delores Johnson / The National

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  All the flowers on this cake are edible. Delores Johnson / The National

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  This mosque replica cake by Sweet Lane won second place in the professional category. Delores Johnson / The National

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  This tree house cake was baked by Shianne Fernandes and won second place in the home baker category. Delores Johnson / The National

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  This UAE themed cake by Lana’s Partiperfect won third place in professional category. Delores Johnson / The National

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  There was no lack of UAE national pride during the cake contest and many participants designed UAE themed cakes to represent UAE heritage. Delores Johnson / The National

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  Both Valastro and Haebe were impressed at the participants’ level of expertise, especially among the home bakers. Haebe says: “It was something we didn’t expect. The individuals who entered were the same level as the professionals.” Delores Johnson / The National

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  The bake shop category had several showstoppers like this colourful camel cake. Delores Johnson / The National

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  The five finalists in both categories won a meet-and-greet with Valastro after the show. Delores Johnson / The National

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  This wedding cake was entered into the home baker category. Delores Johnson / The National

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  There were 47 cakes in the home-baker category and 18 cakes in the professional-bakeshop category. Delores Johnson / The National

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  One of the cakes that stood out was baked in the shape of an upright violin. Sally El Shafei, who runs her business Cake Away out of her home in Dubai, says: “It’s standing up so this was a challenge for me. It’s my first cake ever that’s ‘standing’. I’m happy with the result.”

Entries for a cake competition judged by Cake Boss, Buddy Valastro Jr and the Emirates Palace executive pastry chef Alexander Haebe.