diff --git a/src/components/DashboardShell.tsx b/src/components/DashboardShell.tsx
index 33f0bef..a4a0bfd 100644
--- a/src/components/DashboardShell.tsx
+++ b/src/components/DashboardShell.tsx
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@
  * Used for pages that need actual backend connectivity
  * (My Profile, My Portfolio, Verification) instead of the preview mock.
  */
-import { For, JSX, Show, createMemo } from 'solid-js';
+import { For, JSX, Show, createMemo, createSignal, onMount } from 'solid-js';
 import {
   User, Briefcase, LayoutDashboard, FolderOpen, MapPin, Star,
   CreditCard, Globe, ShieldCheck, HelpCircle, Settings,
@@ -65,6 +65,33 @@ export default function DashboardShell(props: Props) {
     return k.charAt(0).toUpperCase() + k.slice(1).toLowerCase();
   });
 
+  const [unreadCount, setUnreadCount] = createSignal(0);
+
+  // Fetch unread notification count
+  const fetchUnreadCount = async () => {
+    try {
+      const token = typeof window !== 'undefined' ? window.sessionStorage.getItem('nxtgauge_access_token') || '' : '';
+      if (!token) return;
+      const res = await fetch('/api/me/notifications/unread-count', {
+        headers: { Authorization: `Bearer ${token}` },
+        credentials: 'include',
+      });
+      if (res.ok) {
+        const data = await res.json();
+        setUnreadCount(data.unread_count || 0);
+      }
+    } catch (e) {
+      console.error('Failed to fetch unread count:', e);
+    }
+  };
+
+  // Start polling on mount
+  onMount(() => {
+    fetchUnreadCount();
+    const interval = setInterval(fetchUnreadCount, 30000);
+    return () => clearInterval(interval);
+  });
+
   return (
     <div style={{
       display: 'flex',
@@ -160,17 +187,31 @@ export default function DashboardShell(props: Props) {
           <p style={{ margin: '0', 'font-size': '15px', 'font-weight': '700', color: NAVY }}>
             {props.activeSidebar}
           </p>
-          <div style={{ display: 'flex', 'align-items': 'center', gap: '12px' }}>
-            <Bell size={18} style={{ color: '#9CA3AF' }} />
-            <div style={{
-              width: '32px', height: '32px', 'border-radius': '999px',
-              background: ORANGE, color: '#fff', display: 'flex',
-              'align-items': 'center', 'justify-content': 'center',
-              'font-size': '13px', 'font-weight': '700',
-            }}>
-              {(props.userName || 'U').charAt(0).toUpperCase()}
-            </div>
-          </div>
+           <div style={{ display: 'flex', 'align-items': 'center', gap: '12px' }}>
+             <button type="button" style={{ position: 'relative', border: 'none', background: 'transparent', cursor: 'pointer', display: 'flex', 'align-items': 'center', 'justify-content': 'center', padding: 0 }}>
+               <Bell size={18} style={{ color: '#9CA3AF' }} />
+               <Show when={unreadCount() > 0}>
+                 <span style={{
+                   position: 'absolute',
+                   top: '-2px',
+                   right: '-2px',
+                   width: '8px',
+                   height: '8px',
+                   background: '#FF5E13',
+                   'border-radius': '50%',
+                   border: '1px solid white'
+                 }}></span>
+               </Show>
+             </button>
+             <div style={{
+               width: '32px', height: '32px', 'border-radius': '999px',
+               background: ORANGE, color: '#fff', display: 'flex',
+               'align-items': 'center', 'justify-content': 'center',
+               'font-size': '13px', 'font-weight': '700',
+             }}>
+               {(props.userName || 'U').charAt(0).toUpperCase()}
+             </div>
+           </div>
         </header>
 
         {/* Page content */}