Author: Sam Allcock

Pratyush Goel pulled ahead decisively in the final rounds on Tuesday, retaining his crown against 251 rival teams. The pressure was visible. For the second consecutive year, Goel—this time partnered with Kalai from Al-Shaya—claimed the title of Dubai’s Smartest at the 3rd IBPC Dubai Corporate Quiz held on 18th February. His previous victory came solo, representing Abu Dhabi Investment. This time, the stakes felt higher. The numbers tell part of the story. 252 teams. Eight finalists. Four brutal rounds testing everything from QR code origins to Jane Goodall’s research, from IKEA’s founding principles to Hans Zimmer’s compositions. By the time…

On February 18th, executives gathered in Microsoft’s Dubai Internet City offices to discuss something most customer service teams would rather avoid: their own obsolescence. The roundtable, hosted by IT Max Global and Microsoft UAE, confronted a question reshaping contact centres across the Gulf: what happens when AI agents don’t just assist human representatives, but replace them entirely for routine interactions? Naji Salameh has a phrase for it. “The goal of agentic AI is not to replace people,” the IT Max Global chief executive told the room of CX and IT leaders. “It’s to engineer empathy at scale by letting technology…

Protectt.ai unveiled the latest version of its mobile security platform on Tuesday in Dubai, aiming to capture a slice of the Gulf’s fast-growing digital banking market. The upgraded AppProtectt tool combines real-time threat monitoring with behavioural analysis, promising to catch fraudsters before they drain customer accounts. The timing matters. Mobile banking apps have become the primary touchpoint for financial services across the Gulf Cooperation Council, where regulators are tightening requirements around app-level security and customer data protection. Protectt.ai works with banks, insurers and financial services firms to shield high-risk mobile applications from tampering and fraud. At the heart of the…

Op. Dr. Ali Çetinkaya says that the AI Aesthetic Assistant project offers transparent, structured guidance for patients throughout their transformation journey. By presenting realistic previews, it enables individuals to evaluate treatment options before committing to a procedure. Istanbul, Türkiye – Digital transformation is reshaping the medical aesthetics sector worldwide. Simulation technologies help patients address pre-treatment concerns by providing clear visual projections. Digital consultation during preparation has become the most rapidly developing segment of the industry. By relying on technological data, these innovations enhance communication and build trust between clinician and patient. The result is a more personalised and informed consultation…

Century Tower handed over its final keys in February, eight weeks ahead of schedule. The 23-storey residential building in Business Bay stands as an outlier in a market where delays have become the norm and construction costs continue their relentless climb. Most developers are bleeding money from the other direction. AMBS Real Estate Development, which built the 210-unit tower with fäm Properties as master agent, demonstrated what happens when construction starts immediately rather than waiting for sales to close. By the time Century Tower launched in June 2024, building work was already well advanced—an unusual approach that proved prescient as…

Verve Barbershop opened at Fountain Views in Dubai Mall with a custom-engineered barber chair designed exclusively for the space. Not ordered from a catalogue. Engineered. That detail telegraphs the approach. The ground-floor location sits within one of Dubai’s most expensive retail precincts, where every square metre commands premium rent and brands compete for attention. Against that backdrop, Verve’s founders made a calculated bet: that enough men would pay for an experience obsessive in its detail, where Italian mosaics meet Czech lighting design and barbers retrain from scratch in near-forgotten techniques. The space unfolds across several layers. Italian mosaic floors—the kind…

Maison Dalí and HAIYATEA are hosting a one-off afternoon tea collaboration. For one afternoon, guests can enjoy a pairing of artisanal teas and pastries by Chef Tristin Farmer, offering a first look at future experiences to come. Maison Dalí’s interiors draw on the imagination of Salvador Dalí and provide the setting for this afternoon tea. The venue follows a Surrealist Relaxed Fine Dining approach, bringing together Mediterranean warmth and Japanese precision under Chef Tristin Farmer, whose Michelin-starred background shapes every element of the menu. The afternoon tea follows a considered progression that puts texture, flavour, and technique at the centre.…

Todo Takanao, a Japanese ceramicist and architectural designer, will give an artist talk at CHI-KA Dubai on Saturday, 21 February, from 4:00 PM to 5:00 PM. Guests will have the chance to hear directly from Takanao about the ideas and craft behind his work. Takanao’s practice draws on both contemporary design and traditional ceramic techniques. He works across functional objects, sculptural form, and spatial design, with a focus on material, proportion, and how art sits within everyday environments. Japanese aesthetics and architectural thinking both inform his approach. At CHI-KA, Takanao will walk guests through his portfolio, talk about how his…

Fahid Island isn’t the kind of place that typically hosts 14,000 people over a single weekend. Yet between 6 and 8 February 2026, the Abu Dhabi island became home to the region’s largest wellness gathering—a three-day convergence of ice baths, biohacking exhibits, and headline speakers ranging from Bear Grylls to bestselling author Marianne Williamson. The Kayan Wellness Festival closed its second edition with numbers that exceeded most regional wellness events by a considerable margin. Organised by Linkviva and Experience Abu Dhabi in collaboration with the Department of Culture and Tourism, the festival carved the island into five distinct zones: The…

Slow-roasted lamb legs turn on spits beside bubbling cauldrons of mutton haleem. The air thickens with ghee and coriander. By sunset, hundreds will queue for what Mumbai does best—and what’s somehow landed, for a second year, in the heart of Dubai’s most polished financial district. Carnival by Trèsind confirmed this week it’s reviving its Mohammed Ali Road pop-up for Ramadan 2026, following what the restaurant described as an “exceptional response” last year. The concept recreates Mumbai’s most famous Ramadan street food destination inside DIFC, where Michelin-starred restaurants typically dominate. The contrast isn’t subtle. Mohammed Ali Road transforms each Ramadan into…