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The H Dubai: Infusing Middle Eastern Charm with the Blend of Tradition and Modernity

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EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW

JNS Media International had an exclusive interview with Sophie Blondel, General Manager at The H Dubai.

How does The H Dubai ensure an authentic Middle Eastern experience while catering to international guests with its unique blend of contemporary comfort and Arabesque charm?

From the moment guests step into our grand lobby, they are greeted by traditional motifs, intricate patterns, and rich textures that pay homage to the region’s cultural heritage. We aim to create an ambiance that transports our guests to an Arabian oasis while incorporating modern design elements. Our culinary offerings also embrace heritage by rich flavours and diverse traditions. Our dedicated team members are also trained to provide personalized service that is attentive, respectful, and welcoming, reflecting the renowned Arabian hospitality. Moreover, Dubai itself is a fascinating blend of tradition and modernity, and our hotel’s strategic location allows guests to explore both aspects of old and new Dubai.

Could you tell us about the amenities and services you offer to corporate clients and event organizers?

Our hotel boasts a diverse selection of meeting and event spaces that can accommodate small boardroom meetings, large conferences, gala dinners, and everything in between. To ensure the success of every event, we provide a dedicated team of experienced marketing professionals who work closely with clients from initial planning to execution and post-event evaluations. We also offer an extensive range of catering options. Whether it’s a buffet, a sit-down dinner, or a cocktail reception, our team can fit into the needs to create a memorable dining experience. If they desire entertainment, they need not venture far, as they can enjoy dinner at any of the 13 outlets, nightclubs, bars, or show-dinner restaurants that cater to a variety of culinary preferences. We also provide IT support for our corporate clients such as printing, copying, scanning, and secretarial assistance along with high-speed internet connectivity for teleconferencing.

With the rise of online booking platforms and increased competition in the hospitality industry, how does The H Dubai differentiate itself to attract both corporate clients and leisure travelers?

Our attention to detail and commitment to providing the utmost comfort sets us apart, ensuring that both corporate and leisure guests feel pampered and relaxed throughout their stay. Whether it’s a seamless check-in process, assistance with event planning, or arranging personalized experiences, we go above and beyond to ensure that every guest feels valued and well taken care of.

Our prime location in the heart of Dubai provides easy access to major business districts, shopping destinations, cultural attractions, and transportation hubs. This makes it convenient for both corporate and leisure travelers.

The Middle East is known for its rich culinary traditions. Could you highlight some of the unique dining experiences offered at The H Dubai, particularly those that showcase Middle Eastern, Indian, and Pan-Asian African cuisine?

We celebrate diverse culinary traditions through a variety of unique dining experiences. Our restaurants offer a tantalizing array of flavours, aromas, and culinary techniques that showcase the richness and authenticity of these regions. Eat & Meat restaurant offers an extensive buffet and a la carte options with live cooking stations showcasing traditional Arabic specialties, such as mezze, grilled meats, and freshly baked bread. The H Bar offers a refined and inviting space. They have an extensive beverage menu featuring handcrafted cocktails along with talented mixologists who are ready to impress with their creativity and flair.

Our guests could also experience the essence of elevated Indian cuisine at The Crossing in Dubai, where a celebration of the subcontinent’s diversity comes to life through a menu that combines traditional classics with forgotten recipes, showcasing influences from across India. Oscar’s restaurant serves the finest Lebanese cuisine in an elegant setting with live entertainment every night, featuring Lebanese and Arabic singers and a belly dance show. The award-winning PLAY Restaurant & Lounge brings to Dubai a truly unique and carefully cultivated culinary concept that transports guests on a gastronomic journey like no other. Spoiled with a concoction of exquisite flavours that fuse East and West, guests are introduced to Mediterrasian Cuisine with a spectacular live show. Electric Pawn Shop is a hedonist, exotic, dystopian counterculture Asian Mediterranean bar restaurant inspired by the 70s Chinatown of New York

Could you share some successful partnerships The H Dubai has forged with other businesses?

Accessed by the hotel lobby, our 60 offices and retails ranging from 1,500 to 12,000 square feet and feature floor-to-ceiling windows boasting breath-taking views of Dubai are our partners daily. We always thrive to connect with them and work on mutual strategies.

It could be from a common romantic escape package where some couples could be the lucky winner of an exquisite piece on jewellery from Caelos or a Women’s Day celebration having hairdressers from Hadi Beauty Salon coming into the lobby and curling hair and therapists from Mandara Spa doing express massages. Recently H Dubai created some combined offers with InfraslimX Studio, the next-generation body-shaping machine.

In recent years, sustainability and responsible tourism have gained significant importance. How does The H Dubai incorporate sustainable practices and contribute to the local community in its operations?

By meeting the high standards of environmental requirements of Green Key, we have been awarded The Green Key Certification by the Emirates Green Building Council. We have also invested in a biodigester, an intelligent machine that has thus far ingested 1,830 kgs of food waste in two months and as a result, reduced 3.9 tonnes of carbon emissions.

We have also introduced Super Green Vouchers through which guests can choose not to have their room cleaned for the day. In return, they receive a voucher which can be redeemed at the hotel dining outlets.

The H Dubai offers a variety of event spaces for weddings, meetings, and other special occasions. What sets these spaces apart and makes them ideal for hosting successful and memorable events?

We have meticulously designed our event spaces to provide the ideal setting for successful and memorable occasions – Versatile & stylish venues, State-of-the-art facilities & technologies that ensure seamless and professional events, Culinary excellence that is designed to delight guests and leave a lasting impression, Personalized service that provides a stress-free experience, Strategic location and accessibility and lastly, Attention to ambiance and atmosphere that evoke a sense of elegance, sophistication, and comfort while being visually appealing since we pay attention to lighting, décor, and furnishing.

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MENA Hospitality Market Value Set to Top US$487 Billion by 2032 Amid Unprecedented Tourism Expansion

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The value of MENA’s hospitality market is set to grow from US$310 billion in 2025 to more than US$487 billion by 2032, according to data released ahead of the Future Hospitality Summit – FHS World, Madinat Jumeirah Dubai, 27-29 October.

The travel and tourism sector is projected to contribute US$367 billion to the Middle East economy and support 7.7 million jobs this year, says the World Travel and Tourism Council. International visitor spending is expected to reach nearly US$194 billion, up nearly a quarter from 2019, pre-pandemic levels, with domestic spending forecast to hit US$113 billion.

As of Q2 2025, the Middle East’s hotel construction pipeline reached an all-time high of 650 projects with 161,574 rooms. At the end of June, 337 projects, with almost 86,500 rooms, were under construction, with 147 projects due to start by Q2 2026.  

Saudi Arabia tops the Middle Eastern hotel construction chart, with more than 92,000 rooms across 342 projects. Next is Egypt with 127 projects and a record-high room count of over 28,000, followed by the UAE with 100 projects (25,470 rooms); Oman with 27 projects (4,709 keys) and Qatar with 16 projects (nearly 3,500 rooms).

The unprecedented hospitality, tourism and infrastructure expansion reinforces the region’s position as a global magnet for investment, say experts.

Amr El Nady, Head of Hotels & Hospitality MEA and Managing Director, Global Hotel Desk at Jones Lang Lasalle, said:Saudi Arabia is targeting 150 million tourist arrivals annually by 2030, while Egypt aims for 30 million international visitors by 2028. Both nations are seeking to significantly increase tourism’s contribution to their GDP, with KSA targeting 10% and Egypt 15%. This strategic focus is driving substantial hospitality investment, with mega-projects like NEOM, The Red Sea Project, and AlUla in KSA, alongside Egypt’s New Administrative Capital, Ras Al Hekma, South Med and Red Sea developments.

“The surge in development creates opportunities for both major international hotel operators and boutique brands to diversify their portfolios by introducing new concepts ranging from ultra-luxury desert resorts to culturally immersive heritage properties. The diversification strategy allows operators to cater to evolving traveller preferences while supporting the countries’ objectives of transforming their economies through sustainable tourism growth and positioning themselves as premier global destinations.”

JLL added that liquidity in the hotel investment landscape remains remarkably robust, underpinned by resilient hotel trading performance and increasing tourist arrivals. Performance data shows year on year growth in terms occupancy and ADR metrics, reflecting the sector’s operational strength and market confidence.

Amr El Nady added: “This strong performance has significantly enhanced appetite from regional and international investors – from high-net-worth individuals to institutional players – all seeking high-yielding, income-generating hotel assets and mixed-use developments, particularly across the UAE market. The region’s investment appeal continues to attract diverse capital sources drawn to its strategic positioning and growth potential.

“Last year, JLL forecasted US$1.2 billion in Dubai hotel transactions, and current market activity indicates we are on track to exceed this milestone, further demonstrating sustained investor confidence.”

In the UAE, Dubai’s hospitality sector – which has around 10,000 new rooms on the way between now and 2027 – continues to deliver an outstanding performance, according to the hospitality division at leading real estate advisory group and property consultant, Cavendish Maxwell.

“Occupancy levels rose to 81% in H1 2025, an increase of 2.5% year-on-year,” said Vidhi Shah, Director, Head of Commercial Valuation at Cavendish Maxwell. “Meanwhile ADR across Dubai’s hotels and resorts reached US$159, up 4.7%. With its hospitality sector continuing to lead the way in setting new benchmarks in safety, inclusivity and connectivity, Dubai remains a premium, global destination for leisure and business travellers, in turn opening up a plethora of new investment opportunities.”

Oman is also increasingly becoming a hot spot for hospitality investment, with tourism expected to contribute 5% to GDP by 2030 and 10% by 2040 – and overtake transport and logistics to become the country’s second most important industry after hydrocarbons.

Oman is set to boost hotel room inventory by 25% by 2030, with 9,600 new keys on the way in the next five years, and 2,600 by the end of 2025, recent insight from Cavendish Maxwell shows. In H1 this year, more than 1.1 million guests checked in to 3-5 hotels, where revenues rose more than 18% to US$367 million. The strong performance led to almost 5% growth in hospitality employment, with 10,800 people now working in the industry.  

The Middle East’s continued growth in tourism and hospitality is being further boosted by various government campaigns and initiatives across the region to encourage investment, international visits and business set up.

In KSA, upcoming global events like Expo 2030 and the FIFA World Cup 2034 are boosting already strong demand for real estate, including project in the hospitality sector.  In addition, from January 2026, foreigners will be able to purchase real estate assets in designated zones – a landmark development set to further deepen investor appetite.

Investment and real estate is a key track at FHS World, with more than 30 presentations, panel debates, workshops and one-to-one conversations covering everything from smart capital to sustainability and investment, cross border strategies to building global partnerships, investing in mixed-use projects and much more.  Visit futurehospitality.com/world/agenda for subjects and speakers across the three-day programme.

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Viva Italia! Future Hospitality Summit World showcases Italy’s new golden age of tourism with exclusive Country Pavilion

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Future Hospitality Summit

The Future Hospitality Summit – FHS World is unveiling a wealth of investment opportunities in Italy’s hospitality sector, with an exclusive pavilion showcasing the country’s new golden age of tourism.

The Italy Pavilion, on show at FHS World, Madinat Jumeirah Dubai, 27-29 October, will highlight the growth, evolution and future goals of the country’s hospitality and tourism sector, which is gearing up for a surge in lifestyle and boutique developments, heritage renovations, wellness retreats and sustainability-focussed offerings over the next 3-5 years.

Investor confidence in Italy has been boosted by a robust rebound of international tourism, with record arrivals over the last two years. Overnight stays reached 458.4 million in 2024, with overseas visitors accounting for more than half of them, making Italy the second most popular tourism destination in Europe, after Spain. Italy is seeing the fastest growth among major European destinations.

Marco G. Malacrida, Italia Hospitality founder, said: “Italy’s incredible – and historic – hospitality sector performance last year has created a virtuous circle, with increased demand fueling more investment, which in turn enables Italy to offer increasingly sophisticated hospitality products. The country is seen as a safe haven for capital and a dynamic, growing market that delivers long-term returns, particularly in projects that focus on sustainability, innovation, and premium, experience-led tourism. At FHS World, we will showcase how strong tourism demand, high-spending visitors and year-round appeal – backed by a government and tourist board commitment to facilitate investment, promote sustainability and enhance infrastructure – make Italy a solid choice for investors looking to create financial returns and a cultural impact.”

Future Hospitality Summit

While luxury remains a cornerstone of Italy’s hospitality and tourism sector, lifestyle hotels, resorts and unique offerings in emerging Italian destinations and lesser-known regions are seeing the most dynamic growth. Investors are discovering the potential of places beyond traditional destinations such Rome, Florence and Milan, and shifting their focus to regions from Abruzzo to Sicily, Puglia to Piedmont, and Umbria to the Dolomites. There is also huge potential in turning Italy’s historical villas, monasteries and palaces into hospitality icons, while adventure, sports, arts, music and gastronomy tourism are also expanding rapidly.

With investors and travellers increasingly favouring destinations that respect the environment, support local communities and create long term value, Italy is also spotlighting sustainability as a key pillar of its future tourism strategy.

Jonathan Worsley, Chairman of the Bench, organiser of FHS World, said: “Italy is open and ready for investment, and we are delighted to help facilitate that investment with our exclusive Italy Pavilion at FHS World.  Demand, diversification and discovery in Italy’s hospitality and tourism sector are creating exciting opportunities to become part of the country’s future – and to play a role in realising the country’s economic, tourism and sustainability goals.  Viva Italia!”

The FHS World Italy Pavilion is one of four country-focused stands at the event, with the Maldives, Albania and the Philippines also featured.

Visit futurehospitality.com/world/country-pavilions for more details, and Future Hospitality Summit (FHS) | Homepage for all things FHS World.

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NANDO’S UAE JUST GOT SAUCIER WITH NEW WINGS AND BOTTOMLESS TUESDAYS!

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Hand holding glazed chicken wing dripping with sauce over plate of barbecue wings on geometric patterned plate

There’s something new on the grill at Nando’s UAE, and it’s set to turn up the flavour. The brand has unveiled its all-new Saucy Wings, available in two bold flavours, Honey & Soy and Spicy Brown Sugar, bringing a fresh twist and a little extra fun to Nando’s flame-grilled classics. Launching alongside is Bottomless Wing Tuesdays, a new midweek ritual that invites guests to add unlimited wings, and unlimited flavour, to their week.

The new Saucy Wings take a familiar favourite and turn it up a notch. Honey & Soy glazes each wing in smooth, savoury sweetness, while Spicy Brown Sugar delivers deeper caramelised heat with a gentle kick. Both are flame-grilled to perfection, coated generously, and made for sharing, comfort food that’s simple, bold, and unmistakably Nando’s.

Every Tuesday from 11 AM to 6 PM, diners can dig into Bottomless Wing Tuesdays and enjoy unlimited wings for one hour at AED 80. Running for a limited time from October 21st to November 18th, it’s perfect for flavourful catch-ups and easy midweek gatherings – turning an ordinary lunch or early dinner into something worth talking about.

We wanted to bring something new, but in a way that still feels unmistakably Nando’s,” says George Kunnapally, Managing Director at Nando’s UAE. “Saucy Wings take something everyone already loves and give it a fresh twist – familiar, but more expressive. And with Bottomless Tuesdays, we’re creating an experience that’s all about sharing good food, good flavour, and a bit of fun.

With its flame-grilled roots and unmistakable PERi-PERi spirit, Nando’s continues to evolve its menu while staying true to what it does best, food that’s honest, flavourful, and made to share.

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