Author: Stuart

Dubai’s pioneering handroll destination has rolled out an ambitious menu expansion this January, pivoting towards heartier, more comfort-driven offerings whilst maintaining the precision and quality that has defined the venue since its inception. YUBI Handroll Bar, situated in One Central, has introduced two significant additions to its culinary repertoire: a dedicated bowl category and an extended range of warming Japanese classics designed to complement the cooler months. The update marks a notable evolution for the establishment, broadening its scope beyond the handrolls that made its name. According to founder Chef Reif Othman, the refresh reflects both seasonal sensibilities and the…

Urban Ledger has unveiled a new suite of digital payment technologies following a strong year of growth, consolidating its leadership in QR code innovation across the UAE. The launch represents a major advance in digital collections, bringing speed, security, and simplicity to small and medium-sized businesses through a first-of-its-kind regional solution. At the heart of the new system is the drive to make collections simpler for business owners while equipping staff with the ability to collect payments directly. This dual benefit not only boosts efficiency but also enhances revenue generation. Businesses will now be able to track sales and payment…

The brand unveils fresh dining concepts, modernised facilities, and guest-focused innovations to cater to soaring demand With Dubai’s tourism industry preparing for a surge of international visitors in the last quarter of the year, Central Hotels & Resorts, among the UAE’s fastest-growing hospitality groups, has announced a wave of enhancements across its portfolio. These include upgraded amenities, refreshed dining experiences, and technology-led services, aimed at meeting heightened demand while raising service benchmarks. As global events such as GITEX Global and Cityscape attract tens of thousands of attendees, the group is reporting that its reservations are already running 20% higher than…

Technology start-ups across the Middle East are being encouraged to seize the benefits of the region’s expected economic expansion over the coming decade by adapting their models to serve multiple converging industries. According to a recent PwC analysis, the regional economy could reach $4.57 trillion by 2035—an increase of around $1 trillion from today’s levels. The study also suggests that AI adoption and the transition to low-cost renewable energy could generate an additional $232 billion in value. For UAE-based entrepreneur and investor Abdumalik Mirakhmedov, these forecasts represent a significant opportunity for founders to scale their ventures and deliver innovative solutions…

Real estate investors in Dubai have been advised not to base their decisions solely on forecasts suggesting imminent price corrections, particularly those built around new housing supply data. Instead, they should consider a broader set of signals shaping the market. In recent months, agencies such as Fitch and Moody’s, alongside property experts, have projected potential price drops of around 15% by late 2025 or early 2026. Responding to this, Firas Al Msaddi, CEO of fäm Properties, one of Dubai’s leading agencies, emphasised that predictions based purely on the volume of units due for completion often overlook other critical market forces.…

Reform Social & Grill has added an ambitious new dish to its weekend repertoire, rolling out what it’s calling Mega Schnitzels every Friday through Sunday at its Lakes location. The gastropub, which bills itself as Dubai’s first authentic British pub-restaurant hybrid, is now serving four varieties of the enlarged schnitzel, each designed to push the boundaries of traditional comfort food portions. Diners can opt for chicken, Dingley Dell pork loin, Black Angus beef, or veal, with each cut crumbed and fried before being plated alongside parsley butter and chips. Pricing begins at AED 99 for the base offering, positioning the…

Opening scheduled for June 2027, IntercityHotel Riyadh Al Rayaan will comprise 216 modern guestrooms, a full-day dining venue, a ballroom, eight meeting spaces, a state-of-the-art fitness centre, and a swimming pool Guests will also enjoy the brand’s signature lobby café, The Breakery This development marks the seventh IntercityHotel in the Middle East, reinforcing H World International’s regional pipeline H World International, a global leader in hospitality management, has confirmed the signing of IntercityHotel Riyadh Al Rayaan in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA). Representing the seventh IntercityHotel under the brand in the Middle East, the announcement marks a key step…

Abu Dhabi-based STORY Hospitality, the operator of an expanding collection of luxury hotels and resorts, has unveiled a set of achievements that reinforce its reputation as one of the most innovative players in the MENA and Indian Ocean hospitality landscape. With sustainability, digital innovation, and employee development guiding its strategy, the group demonstrates how prioritising guest experiences can also drive meaningful progress across the industry. At STORY Seychelles, sustainable operations and staff growth have been defining themes this year. The resort marked its 10th anniversary while securing the International Sustainability Award 2025 and its third successive Green Key certification. It…

In a metropolis where schedules collide and time moves at breakneck speed, forgetting a birthday or anniversary has become an almost inevitable consequence of modern life. Yet what many dismiss as poor planning may actually carry unexpected emotional authenticity, particularly when it comes to floral gifting in Dubai. The rise of express flower delivery services across the emirate has fundamentally altered how residents approach spontaneous gestures. Rather than representing oversight or negligence, same-day floral arrangements now offer a unique advantage: they capture genuine, in-the-moment emotion that planned gifts sometimes lack. Behavioural psychology research supports this notion, indicating that receiving flowers…

A man who arrived in Dubai as a domestic helper in 1977 has built a fragrance empire spanning more than 150 countries, marking the achievement with a lavish celebration at Expo City Dubai that brought together thousands of guests from across the globe. Poland Moosa, the chairman and founder of Fragrance World, hosted over 2,000 attendees at the grand event, which featured a spectacular drone show unveiling a commemorative logo that traced the brand’s remarkable journey. The aerial display incorporated Moosa’s digital signature, symbolising his personal stamp on an enterprise that has become one of the region’s most successful entrepreneurial…