Unicorn Vibes offers colourful desserts in an equally colourful setting. Antonie Robertson / The National
Unicorn Vibes offers colourful desserts in an equally colourful setting. Antonie Robertson / The National
Unicorn Vibes offers colourful desserts in an equally colourful setting. Antonie Robertson / The National
Unicorn Vibes offers colourful desserts in an equally colourful setting. Antonie Robertson / The National

Unicorn craze has hit in a burst of colour at a new Dubai cafe


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"Instagram is pushing restaurants to be kitschy, colourful and irresistible to photographers," read a recent story headline on The Verge
The piece also references unicorn-themed foods, a trend currently sweeping social media that is most definitely "kitschy, colourful and irresistible". Cases in point: unicorn frappucino at Starbucks, DIY unicorn toast recipes on Pinterest and Unicorn Vibes Sweets, a newly launched food spot in Dubai.
The mythical creature is what inspired 26-year-old Dubai resident Nadia Sameer Khalid to launch the UAE's first unicorn-themed food and beverage concept. Located in Business Bay, Unicorn Vibes Sweets is essentially an ice-cream parlour that serves a selection of sugar-coated eats. In recent weeks, these have been the subject of a social-media storm, as Dubai residents have shared images of the shop's quirky interiors and picturesque desserts.
"Tired of being a human? Step in to be a unicorn" are the words displayed on the front door of the shop. A pastel-painted bench, stools and tables are set up in front of the counter, where customers can order ice creams, cookies, cookie-ice-cream-sandwiches, milk shakes and beverages. The menu items are pretty self-explanatory, save for unicorn bark, which is white chocolate topped with food colouring, marshmallows and sprinkles; and unicorn kisses, which are small droplets formed from meringue cookies. 
Khalid, who studied civil engineering, took a DIY approach to decorating the sweets shop. "My husband and I did it all – he's also a civil engineer," she says. "We did the ceiling and the walls, the glitter, everything."  The ceiling is covered in a grid of three-dimensional candy-coloured squares, and even the ceiling vents have been painted in sorbet shades. The couple also built two wooden swings that hang by a rope from the ceiling. The countertop is decorated with unicorn-shaped plush toys and figurines, a jar that says "100% unicorn water" and glitter-filled Nutella bottles. 
Khalid explains that while the unicorn was always a personal childhood favourite, its adult appeal has increased massively over the past year. "We've been seeing the unicorn face all over Instagram and Snapchat," she says, adding that fashion retailers have also begun imbuing unicorn icons onto clothing. Naturally, the white T-shirt that Khalid is wearing when we meet is emblazoned with a pair of sequinned unicorns.
She started putting the concept together in January, and within six months, was open for business.

The ice creams have names such as "He is not worth it" (nutella-flavoured), "Cookie monster" (Oreo-flavoured), and "Unicorn" (cotton candy- and bubblegum- flavoured), and are all produced in-house; the result of months of researching recipes online. 
Khalid is thrilled that her concept is making waves on social media, and says that customers are asking her to open a second location – one that's larger and located in central Jumeirah. "Some people, especially kids, are even asking about our mugs and toys," she says, referring to the products that she uses as decor. Once the weather cools down, the entrepreneur plans to take her confections outdoors. "We're considering Global Village, Ripe Market and food trucks," she says.  
She's also toying with the idea of launching take-away ice creams. "We're thinking of selling ice-cream pints, and distributing them to markets or other cafes, so you can get our unique flavours, but won't have to come here," she says. Khalid encourages customers to sport unicorn-themed attire when they visit – she's even offering a 50 per cent discount for those who go the full mile and show up in unicorn onesies.

So far, she has not employed a PR agency, nor has she spent any money on advertising. And by the looks of it, she won't need to – at least not yet, while the hype is fresh. "We've been just depending on Instagram," Khalid says.
We're not sure how sustainable the trend is, and what it says about our society that grown adults are getting excited about a mythical creature, but Khalid is capitalising on it in a way that's cool, organic and fun. And we'll certainly be indulging in the odd unicorn kiss.

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Labour dispute

The insured employee may still file an ILOE claim even if a labour dispute is ongoing post termination, but the insurer may suspend or reject payment, until the courts resolve the dispute, especially if the reason for termination is contested. The outcome of the labour court proceedings can directly affect eligibility.


- Abdullah Ishnaneh, Partner, BSA Law 

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Company%20profile
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Volvo ES90 Specs

Engine: Electric single motor (96kW), twin motor (106kW) and twin motor performance (106kW)

Power: 333hp, 449hp, 680hp

Torque: 480Nm, 670Nm, 870Nm

On sale: Later in 2025 or early 2026, depending on region

Price: Exact regional pricing TBA

The BIO:

He became the first Emirati to climb Mount Everest in 2011, from the south section in Nepal

He ascended Mount Everest the next year from the more treacherous north Tibetan side

By 2015, he had completed the Explorers Grand Slam

Last year, he conquered K2, the world’s second-highest mountain located on the Pakistan-Chinese border

He carries dried camel meat, dried dates and a wheat mixture for the final summit push

His new goal is to climb 14 peaks that are more than 8,000 metres above sea level

How to invest in gold

Investors can tap into the gold price by purchasing physical jewellery, coins and even gold bars, but these need to be stored safely and possibly insured.

A cheaper and more straightforward way to benefit from gold price growth is to buy an exchange-traded fund (ETF).

Most advisers suggest sticking to “physical” ETFs. These hold actual gold bullion, bars and coins in a vault on investors’ behalf. Others do not hold gold but use derivatives to track the price instead, adding an extra layer of risk. The two biggest physical gold ETFs are SPDR Gold Trust and iShares Gold Trust.

Another way to invest in gold’s success is to buy gold mining stocks, but Mr Gravier says this brings added risks and can be more volatile. “They have a serious downside potential should the price consolidate.”

Mr Kyprianou says gold and gold miners are two different asset classes. “One is a commodity and the other is a company stock, which means they behave differently.”

Mining companies are a business, susceptible to other market forces, such as worker availability, health and safety, strikes, debt levels, and so on. “These have nothing to do with gold at all. It means that some companies will survive, others won’t.”

By contrast, when gold is mined, it just sits in a vault. “It doesn’t even rust, which means it retains its value,” Mr Kyprianou says.

You may already have exposure to gold miners in your portfolio, say, through an international ETF or actively managed mutual fund.

You could spread this risk with an actively managed fund that invests in a spread of gold miners, with the best known being BlackRock Gold & General. It is up an incredible 55 per cent over the past year, and 240 per cent over five years. As always, past performance is no guide to the future.

Company Profile:

Name: The Protein Bakeshop

Date of start: 2013

Founders: Rashi Chowdhary and Saad Umerani

Based: Dubai

Size, number of employees: 12

Funding/investors:  $400,000 (2018) 

MATCH INFO

Rugby World Cup (all times UAE)

Third-place play-off: New Zealand v Wales, Friday, 1pm

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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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