Mina Creamery: Dorm Room Diaries to the Capital

Flavours you can’t miss

What started as a dorm-room experiment โ€” a date ice cream recipe that failed more times than it worked โ€” has grown into one of Abu Dhabiโ€™s most talked-about food projects. Mina Creamery, founded by Emirati ice cream writer Rihab Al Gurg and Anant Singh, is opening its first-ever physical shop at Mina Portโ€™s creative MiZa district, marking a major moment for the homegrown brand.

Previously known for pop-ups and same-day deliveries, Mina Creamery has quietly built a loyal following by doing things differently. This isnโ€™t ice cream made for mass appeal โ€” itโ€™s ice cream as storytelling.

At Mina Creamery, every flavour begins with a feeling. Inspired by a motherโ€™s kitchen, regional traditions and shared nostalgia, the duo treats ice cream as a medium for comfort, curiosity and cultural expression.

Everything is made from scratch using a proprietary recipe that results in a buttercream-smooth texture, bright flavours and a clean finish. Locally farmed produce and ingredients from neighbouring regions are central to the process, with each recipe designed to tell a story rather than follow trends.

The ever-changing menu is what truly sets Mina Creamery apart. Expect regionally inspired combinations like olive oil with zaโ€™atar, salted saffron with halwa, and orange blossom with fig jam swirl, alongside playful creations such as berry hibiscus sorbet and cherry pie.

nom:me | Mina Creamery: Dorm Room Diaries to the Capital

Opening at Mina Port places Mina Creamery at the heart of Abu Dhabiโ€™s emerging creative district. The new shop transforms the brand from a delivery-only favourite into a physical space for gathering, tasting and lingering โ€” a natural next step for a project built on community and shared memories.

Still a little bit cult, still deeply personal, and now finally permanent, Mina Creameryโ€™s first shop feels less like a business expansion and more like an invitation.

@minacreamery

Image credit: @minacreamery on Instagram

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