DUBAI: Selling for nearly $1,000 a cup, a cafe in Dubai is offering the world’s most expensive coffee, brewed from Panamanian beans sold at a premium price.

The wealthy emirate is known for its extravagant ventures, including an enormous mall with an indoor ski area, the world’s tallest building, and an artificial island dotted with five-star hotels.

“We felt Dubai was the perfect place for our investment,” said Serkan Sagsoz, co-founder of the Julith cafe with the pricey offering.

Located in an industrial neighbourhood that has become a hotspot for coffee lovers, Julith plans to serve “around 400 cups” of the precious beverage starting on Saturday, Sagsoz said.

For a price tag of 3,600 dirhams (around $980), the brew offers an experience of floral and fruity flavours reminiscent of tea.

“There are white floral notes like jasmine, citrus flavours like orange and bergamot, and a hint of apricot and peach,” said Sagsoz, who previously ran a cafe in his native Turkey.

“It’s like honey, delicate and sweet,” he said.

Dubai notched a Guinness World Record for the world’s most expensive cup of coffee last month, when Roasters offered one for 2,500 dirhams.

The new record staggered some people, though residents also said it was par for the course for the desert city with a luxury lifestyle.

“It’s very shocking, but at the same time, it’s Dubai,” said Ines, who did not give her last name.

“For wealthy people, it’s just another experience they can boast about,” added another resident, Maeva.

Published in Dawn, November 1st, 2025