Mohamed Bin Zayed meets UAE chef Nawal Al Nuaimi, who presented Emirati hot chocolate at Davos

Gulf Today, Staff Reporter

His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE, met with Emirati businesswoman Nawal Al Nuaimi, owner of the "PaperFig" project, and creator of the "Emirati hot chocolate" recipe, which she presented to visitors to the country's pavilion at the World Economic Forum Davos 2023 in Switzerland.

Nawal Al-Nuaimi said: “The meeting in itself is a pride, it came to multiply the joy that overwhelmed me by representing my country, the Emirates, in the most important international economic forum, by presenting part of my passion with an Emirati flavour and introducing the world to it, and what made me distraught with the intensity of joy and my tears almost flowed.”

Nawal said my imagination did not prolong the honour of the meeting, I was ecstatic to shook his hands, his generous hands, and he singled me out to sit next to him in his full council, and he exchanged with me a conversation in which he advised and supported me.

Nawal thanked Sheikh Mohamed Bin Zayed and said, "Thank you, kind father. Thank you, enlightened leader. Thank you. In you, I felt that I was in Zayed's hands."

In January, during the World Economic Forum in Davos, the Sharjah-based Emirati chef Nawal presented her authentic Emirati Hot Chocolate and other recipes.

The unique hot beverage was an instant hit.

Nawal said that the drink reflects our culture and her Emirati Hot Chocolate is the bridge between the UAE and Switzerland.  

Nawal shared videos and photos of her relentlessly working in the kitchen to make the best Emirati dishes.

Mohammad Abdullah Al Gergawi, Minister of Cabinet Affairs, and Chairman of the Committee leading Great Arab Minds, also visited Nawal at the small stall outside the UAE pavilion and praised the hot drink and her efforts.

Nawal took to her Instagram to thank him. She wrote, “Thank you, His Excellency Mohammad Al Gergawi, for your support ? #Emiratihotchocolate.”

The best part of Nawal’s coffee is that it is being handed out for free, as many as you want.

Nawal is the Founder and CEO of Paper Fig, a restaurant in Sharjah, that serves breakfast, lunch and dinner along with her special desserts.

Nawal is also the Board Member of Sharjah Business Women Council.
She started her baking career from her kitchen at home serving only to the demands of families and friends.

The culinary career eventually bloomed in no time, which let her open her own restaurant in Muwaileh area of Sharjah with the help of Khalifa Fund.