Fifty Years Of Delicious Tradition

Try to find something in Abu Dhabi that never changes. Naeem Mohammad Youssef Shneik has the perfect answer. He will hand you a piece of warm kunafa. He tells every customer to taste his creation.

Naeem is a 74-year-old Jordanian expatriate. He makes kunafa the exact same way he did at sixteen. Everything in the city changed around him. Yet, he stayed in his fixed spot behind the counter. His recipe remains perfectly unchanged.

Sneaking Out Of School For Sweets

Naeem was born in Jordan in 1952. His family ran several popular sweet shops. He learned to make kunafa from his uncles. He often left school early to work in the shop.

His family desperately wanted him to get an education. Naeem completely refused their advice. He loved making sweets too much. He dropped out of school after the ninth grade to bake.

Building A Life In The UAE

In 1974, a young Naeem moved to Abu Dhabi. The city was mostly desert back then. He opened a sweet shop on Hamdan Street with his brothers. His brothers eventually moved back to Jordan.

Naeem decided to stay in the Emirates permanently. He fell in love with the culture and the people. He raised his five children entirely on Emirati soil. He even baked an 18-layer cake for the UAE's 18th National Day.

Reopening A Beloved Shop

He closed his original shop after 24 successful years. However, he never stopped making kunafa at home. Four years ago, at age 70, he finally reopened Naeem Sweets. He set up his new shop at Marsa Mina.

Customers lined up down the street on opening day. Nobody forgot the amazing taste of his kunafa. At 74, Naeem still works every day from 3 PM to 9 PM. He refuses to retire from the job he loves.

Do you enjoy heartwarming stories from across the Middle East? Find more inspiring cultural tales today at The WAU.

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