The brand aims to platform their Palestinian culture and heritage.
A taste of Gaza arrives in Ajman with the opening of Kazem. The adored Gazan ice cream parlour has opened in the UAE after its original shop was forced to close in 2023 due to the war and is on a heartfelt mission to preserve culture, memory, and community.
Founded in 1950 in northern Gaza, the family business now brings its signature recipes and warm hospitality to the UAE, aiming to create a sense of home for the Palestinian diaspora and all who appreciate time-honoured desserts.
The new outpost sits in Ajman, the small emirate north of Dubai, and serves the nostalgic treats that made Kazem a household name. At the heart of the menu is barrad, a traditional Palestinian slushy drink infused with citrus. Light, zesty, and refreshing, it is the kind of simple pleasure that evokes long summers by the sea and the rhythm of everyday life in Gaza.
Owner Mohammad Kazem Abu Shaban, whose father founded Kazem, explains the emotional pull. “Every time they come here, [visitors] say it brings back memories of 30, 40 years ago. It brings back memories of the days when they used to go to Gaza and drink the barrad that I’m famous for.” Choosing Ajman for the UAE debut was a deliberate decision, guided by the emirate’s close-knit Palestinian community and the promise of a welcoming, familiar crowd.
Earlier this year, the original Gaza shop briefly reopened in February, but ongoing supply shortages, political instability, and limited access to raw materials made sustained operations impossible. The Ajman branch keeps the flame alive, continuing the brand’s seven-decade story while offering a gathering place for families and friends to reconnect over flavours that feel like home.
Kazem’s mission extends beyond sweet treats. It is a platform for Palestinian culture and heritage, told through recipes, rituals, and service. The team hopes that every cup of barrad and every scoop of ice cream will carry an echo of Gaza’s spirit. As Abu Shaban shares, “It is an indescribable feeling. Family, relatives, and friends come, and they bring back the memories we lost in Gaza.”
Food is central to Palestinian identity, and the revival of family-run institutions like Kazem in Ajman is vital to safeguarding tradition. In Ajman, the brand’s story continues with pride and purpose, inviting guests to experience the comfort of classic desserts and the warmth of a community that endures.
GO: Follow @mkazem.icecream on Instagram for more information.