A Sweet Milestone in Umm al Quwain – Al Nassma Opens New Chocolate Factory
Promoting cultural connection through a unique flavor that blends authenticity and innovation
Al Nassma has been the first chocolate company to use camel milk in its products for 17 years
Martin Van Alsemik reveals the company's ambition to establish a "Chocolate University" in Dubai.
Umm Al Quwain – The European Sun Channel :
On September 18, 2025, a new chapter began in the history of Al Nassma. Just one day after ISM Middle East, the camel milk chocolate producer opened the doors of its brand-new chocolate factory in Umm Deraa, located on Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Road in Umm al Quwain. Around 250 guests from the international confectionery industry attended to witness this special moment.
Visitors were able to tour the state-of-the-art production and packaging halls and sample the company’s latest delicacies. As the scent of chocolate filled the air, it was clear: a new era had begun for Al Nassma.
CEO Martin van Almsick, together with his wife and colleague Hanan Ahmed Saad, welcomed the guests, among them German Consul General Sybille Pfaff. In his speech, van Almsick struck a moving note: “As long as people are still opening chocolate factories, there is hope for humankind.” The line brought smiles to many faces in the audience.
He traced the journey from Al Nassma’s beginnings in Dubai in 2008 to his vision for the future: establishing a global chocolate quality benchmark called the “Dubai Standard,” securing recognition of camel milk chocolate as a protected geographical indication, and – looking further ahead – creating a Chocolate University in Dubai offering an MBA in “Choconomics.”
The evening was not only about vision, but also about gratitude: to shareholders, loyal customers such as the Jumeirah Group, Dubai Duty Free, Al Jaber Group, and Retail is Detail, and to German machine manufacturers whose names echo the great chocolate hubs of Europe – Netzsch, Winkler & Dünnebier, Brunner, Rasch, Lothar Wolf, and BSA Schneider, to name just a few.
German Consul General Sybille Pfaff praised this unique achievement: “Al Nassma chocolate has become, over the past 17 years, a sweet ambassador of the UAE to the world – and that is truly remarkable.”
Following the ceremonial ribbon cutting, guests toured the new factory before enjoying a celebratory lunch.
It was an evening that showed chocolate can be more than just sweet – it connects people, cultures, and even nations. With its new factory in Umm al Quwain, Al Nassma has created a home that lives up to this role.