From chemotherapy to cake orders: How a Dubai baker launched her dream business
Dubai: At 31, Maryam Al Sadiq was preparing to launch Unknown Treats, a mini Bundt cake business she had spent years working towards. But when the bakery officially began accepting orders through food delivery apps in July 2026, she was not in her new kitchen overseeing operations. She was managing the launch from hospital while undergoing treatment for bladder cancer that had spread to her…
Dubai's Maryam Al Sadiq was preparing to launch her dream business, Unknown Treats, a mini Bundt cake startup, in July 2026. However, she was not in her new kitchen when the bakery began accepting orders through food delivery apps due to her health struggles. The aspiring baker was battling bladder cancer that had spread to her brain, undergoing treatment including radiation therapy and chemotherapy.
Despite six weeks in the hospital and dealing with two brain tumours, Maryam remained determined to fulfill her dream. She built her hospital routine around her business, managing the launch remotely from her laptop and training her team members. Born and raised in the UAE, Maryam had a passion for baking that began when she received a KitchenAid mixer from friends in 2017.
Her health challenges started early when she was diagnosed with Crohn's disease at 12, and baking became her therapy. Cancer was a reality she never expected, diagnosed herself in 2021 with urachal adenocarcinoma, a rare bladder cancer. The news shook her family, but she underwent surgery and chemotherapy, continuing her professional and social life.
After her cancer diagnosis returned in 2024, Maryam decided to fully commit to Unknown Treats. With her parents' help, she registered the business, choosing the unique name 'Unknown Treats'.
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