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Several bakeries and dessert parlors in Dubai have experienced a surge in business ahead of the UAE National Day. From cakes and cupcakes to sandwiches and Macaron towers, residents and citizens are placing a wide array of snack orders to celebrate the occasion. Last week, Bake Al Arab in Al Warqaa recorded daily sales exceeding Dh30,000 in National Day-themed cakes and desserts. "We have seen a significant demand for cakes, cupcakes, and desserts," said Rashad TP, senior sales staff at the bakery. "We receive custom orders worth around Dh20,000 and walk-in customers who spend over Dh10,000 each day." Rashad noted that corporate orders have been the primary revenue driver for the bakery. The largest cake Bake Al Arab has produced this year was a Dh5,000 order for a company, measuring over 1.5 meters in length and breadth. "It was filled with fresh fruits and cream and was quite heavy," he said. "We have received numerous corporate orders this year and they continue to come in. Our schedule is nearly full for the next week."

Mister Baker introduced a 53-kg cake to commemorate the 53rd National Day on December 2. Priced at Dh23,000, the cake is available by pre-order. "National Day is always a busy period for us due to the high number of orders," said Tushar Fotedar, Director of Mister Baker. "As one of the oldest bakeries in the country, we have many families who have been ordering from us for years. This year was no exception, and we have fulfilled several orders of varying weights and prices."

Popular designs and flavors

According to Khadija Hussain, owner and head baker at KK Cakes, one flavor is currently very popular—Pistachio Kunafa. "At our bakery, the viral trend is the Pistachio Kunafa brownie and our popular fat cookies," she said. "We have introduced many new flavors for cupcakes and have received large orders for Macarons, saffron milk cakes, and bento cakes for intimate celebrations." Rashad confirmed that they too have seen an increase in demand for cakes and desserts in the Pistachio Kunafa flavor, following the viral trend.

Tushar mentioned that certain design trends were also highly popular. "Mostly, people want cakes with flags and their company logo or with visionary leaders of the country to show the strong association of the cake with National Day colors and popular locations," he said.

Iconic cakes

For many, National Day is also the time for some showstopping, iconic cakes. Last year, Mister Baker designed two 100kg cakes as part of a corporate order. "We created it in four pieces, each weighing 50 kg," he said. "It costed a total of Dh7875. Every year, designs, sizes, and the number of orders seem to be increasing as more and more people celebrate."

Meanwhile, Khadija fondly recalls a cake she created for the 50th National Day. "I had the honor of designing a stunning 3-tier cake adorned with edible flowers in the colors of the national flag," she said.

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