Author: Sam Allcock

The Creators Dubai Desert Classic will return for its second edition from 17 to 18 January 2026. The event brings together 16 leading sports content creators from across social media to compete in a creator-led version of the Hero Dubai Desert Classic. For 2026, the competition expands from one day to a two-day format, allowing more time for storytelling and on-course content that highlights both elite golf and Dubai as a global destination. The two-round strokeplay tournament will take place at Emirates Golf Club. The opening round will be played on the evening of 17 January on the Faldo Course,…

Volkswagen Abu Dhabi has launched a pre-booking campaign for the Volkswagen Passat and Volkswagen Jetta, giving customers early access to two established sedan models at the start of 2026. The campaign also includes a set of ownership benefits aimed at supporting daily driving requirements. The pre-booking offer will begin in the first week of January 2026. Customers can secure the Passat from AED 109,000 or AED 1,549 per month. The Jetta will be available from AED 91,000 or AED 1,299 per month. Both vehicles come with a standard ownership package. This includes a three-year unlimited mileage warranty, three years of…

Sovereign, one of the UAE’s foremost providers of business formation and corporate services, has obtained a licence to operate within the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC). This marks a significant expansion of its presence across the Emirates, bringing its total number of active licences to seven, spanning free zones, offshore jurisdictions, and the mainland. The move reinforces Sovereign’s standing as a leading partner for international investors, entrepreneurs, and family offices. The development comes at a time when Dubai is cementing its role as a global financial powerhouse. DIFC has reported its strongest first half on record, welcoming 1,081 new companies…

The First Group Hospitality has announced several senior leadership appointments. All roles are newly created and reflect the company’s expanding hotel and food and beverage operations across the Middle East and international markets. Brendan McCormack has been appointed Vice President – Business Development, Food & Beverage. He moves into the role after serving as Vice President of Marketing and has been part of the leadership team since 2020. McCormack first joined the business as Vice President of Operations, F&B. In his new position, he will focus on growing the company’s food and beverage portfolio, with an emphasis on brand expansion…

BlueFive Capital has been appointed as General Partner of a new Fund of Funds established by CICC Capital and HBIS Group. The appointment makes BlueFive Capital the first GP of the platform. The fund will invest through a mix of fund commitments and direct investments. Its strategy aligns with HBIS Group’s industrial focus, covering established sectors as well as growth areas such as advanced materials, new energy, and next-generation information technology. The fund targets total commitments of RMB32 billion, equivalent to about $4.58 billion, and will operate over a 15-year term. It will also support cross-border investment activity. The structure…

flyadeal has started the New Year by launching five new routes from Madinah, its newest operational base in the Kingdom. The expansion includes one international service and four domestic routes, strengthening the airline’s presence in the Holy City. The new services connect Madinah with Sabiha Gökçen Airport in Istanbul, alongside domestic flights to Abha, Al Hofuf, Jazan, and Tabuk. This expansion increases the number of flyadeal destinations served from Prince Mohammad bin Abdulaziz International Airport from three to eight. Until now, the airline operated flights from Madinah to Dammam, Riyadh, and Cairo. The added capacity represents a 40 per cent…

GEMS Education has appointed Ann Haydon MBE as Principal of GEMS Wellington Academy – Al Khail (WEK). She will take up the role on 2 January 2026 and brings more than 25 years of senior leadership experience from leading UK and international schools. Ann Haydon joins WEK following her role as Head of Harrow International School Hong Kong, a position she has held since 2017. She was the first female Head in Harrow’s global network. During her tenure, the school achieved strong academic outcomes, with more than 70% of A Level grades consistently at A*–A. Her leadership also focused on…

DoubleTree by Hilton Dubai – Jumeirah Beach has appointed Neelam Bhika as General Manager. She brings close to 20 years of experience in the hospitality sector, with a strong background in hotel operations, commercial strategy, and guest service. Neelam joins the hotel after holding senior leadership roles across Hilton and other international hotel brands in Dubai and Doha. Her most recent position was Director of Operations at Hilton Doha. She also served as Cluster Commercial Director at Aleph Doha Residences, Curio Collection by Hilton. During her career, she has managed both resort and city hotels, supported revenue growth, and played…

Hala has recorded a strong increase in ride-hailing demand across Dubai on New Year’s Eve 2025, reflecting high visitor numbers and widespread celebrations across the city. Data from the night shows demand began to rise from around 8.00pm and stayed high until 4.00am. The busiest periods aligned with fireworks displays and major public events. High-demand locations included Dubai Harbour, Global Village, Dubai Frame, Dubai Mall, Burj Khalifa, Dubai Festival City Mall, and Kite Beach. Longer journeys were most common from Global Village, Jumeirah Village Triangle, Al Wasl, and Deira, showing how people travelled between districts. Most trips during the night…

Cultural Foundation, part of the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi, will present a wide programme of performances, exhibitions, and public activities from January to May 2026. The season continues the Foundation’s role in shaping Abu Dhabi’s cultural offer. The programme includes ballet, theatre, music, film, and Emirati productions. It also features a major new exhibition, a mid-career retrospective of artist Shezad Dawood, and a full calendar of learning programmes. Community activities, art studios, and children’s services remain central to the Foundation’s work. Performances The season opens in January with two productions by the Russian State Ballet Mari…