Gulf sweets calories: ghraiba, rahash, halwa, zalabiya and more
Per 100 g, ghraiba has about 522 kcal, rahash 534, zalabiya 497, nashab 493 and Bahraini halwa 351, in lab analyses for Bahrain's Ministry of Health [1]. A 20 g ghraiba comes to about 104 kcal, and 50 g of halwa to about 176 (calculated).
Halwa has the fewest calories per 100 g of these, but the most sugar: 54.3 g [1].
Per 100 g
| Sweet | kcal | Protein | Fat | Carbs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ghraiba [1] | 522 | 7.3 g | 27.8 g | 61.7 g |
| Rahash [1] | 534.1 | 14.3 g | 29.3 g | 53.3 g |
| Chocolate rahash [1] | 550 | 9.7 g | 33.5 g | 53.0 g |
| Nashab [1] | 493 | 7.7 g | 22.0 g | 64.0 g |
| Zalabiya [1] | 497 | 3.4 g | 27.2 g | 60.0 g |
| Sweet sambousa [1] | 443 | 12.7 g | 24.6 g | 48.0 g |
| Bahraini halwa [1] | 351 | 2.2 g | 10.1 g | 62.0 g |
| Royal Bahraini halwa (halwa malakiya) [1] | 362 | 4.1 g | 12.4 g | 60.0 g |
| Shaar al-banat (spun sugar) [1] | 431 | 0.4 g | 6.1 g | 92.0 g |
Per 100 g. The carbohydrate figure includes fibre. Every row here was analysed for Bahrain's Ministry of Health. [1]
Per piece or spoon
A ghraiba or a piece of rahash often weighs 15 to 30 g, and a serving of halwa about 30 to 50 g. Weigh yours if you can:
| Sweet | 15 g | 30 g | 50 g |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ghraiba | ≈ 78 | ≈ 157 | ≈ 261 |
| Rahash | ≈ 80 | ≈ 160 | ≈ 267 |
| Chocolate rahash | ≈ 82 | ≈ 165 | ≈ 275 |
| Nashab | ≈ 74 | ≈ 148 | ≈ 246 |
| Zalabiya | ≈ 75 | ≈ 149 | ≈ 248 |
| Sweet sambousa | ≈ 66 | ≈ 133 | ≈ 222 |
| Bahraini halwa | ≈ 53 | ≈ 105 | ≈ 176 |
| Royal Bahraini halwa (halwa malakiya) | ≈ 54 | ≈ 109 | ≈ 181 |
| Shaar al-banat (spun sugar) | ≈ 65 | ≈ 129 | ≈ 216 |
Calories, calculated from the per-100 g figures [1].
Sugar
Bahraini halwa has 54.3 g of sugar per 100 g and zalabiya 42.1 g [1], so 50 g of halwa carries about 27 g of sugar (calculated). For a day's limit, see how much sugar a day.
What changes the number
- Ghee, butter and frying. Ghraiba is made with plenty of ghee or butter, and zalabiya is fried, which is why both pass 490 kcal per 100 g.
- Nuts and sesame. Rahash is made from tahini, which is why it has the most protein here, 14.3 g per 100 g, and also the most fat [1].
How to log it in Voltra
- On the Eat tab, tap Scan a meal and photograph it, or tap Describe and type it, for example "two pieces of ghraiba, about 40 g".
- Add a note about anything on top or cooked in, such as oil, ghee or sauce.
- Check the grams, then tap Log. If you weighed it, use that weight.
Frequently asked
How many calories are in a ghraiba?
About 522 kcal per 100 g in a lab analysis for Bahrain's Ministry of Health, so about 104 kcal for a 20 g piece.
How many calories are in Bahraini halwa?
About 351 kcal per 100 g, with 54.3 g of sugar; royal halwa has about 362.
How many calories are in rahash?
About 534 kcal per 100 g, with 14.3 g of protein; chocolate rahash has about 550.
Which Gulf sweet has the fewest calories?
Of these, Bahraini halwa, at about 351 kcal per 100 g. Luqaimat and balaleet have their own pages.
Sources
- Ministry of Health, Kingdom of Bahrain (2025). Bahrain Food Composition Tables, 1st edition. Items 8.1 to 8.8 and 8.12, all analysed for the Ministry of Health. We left out 8.11, simsimiya, whose 2.2 g of fat per 100 g doesn't fit a sesame sweet.
Sources checked on 11 October 2026.
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