Balqees Honey is a Dubai-based company specializing in sourcing and selling raw honey of different botanical and geographical origins. The brand was founded by Riath Hamed, a British entrepreneur of Yemeni heritage whose interest in honey developed through his family’s tradition of consuming Yemeni honey. According to the company’s official history, the project began in 2009, while its first permanent kiosk opened at Dubai Mall in 2011. The name Balqees refers to the Queen of Sheba, traditionally associated with the territory of present-day Yemen. The original range focused on raw Yemeni honey, particularly Sidr honey from Hadramout and Wadi Do’an. Rather than operating its own apiaries, the company works with independent beekeepers and local cooperatives. It later expanded its sourcing network to New Zealand, Greece, Kyrgyzstan, and other regions. Its range includes monofloral and polyfloral honey alongside blends containing saffron, black seed, cinnamon, sesame, and ginseng. Balqees also offers less common varieties such as Yemeni cave honey, Socotra honey, and New Zealand mānuka honey. The company states that its honey is sourced raw and that individual batches are independently laboratory tested. For its single-origin products, Balqees identifies the geographical source, botanical variety, and beekeeping community whenever this information is available. The brand is also known for a tasting concept that allows customers to compare different honeys before purchasing. In 2022, Balqees opened its first United Kingdom location in Sheffield.