Mango Jam Studios, an established audio post-production house in the Middle East, has entered into a strategic partnership with The SMC Group to expand access to international music, artists, celebrity talent and entertainment rights for brands, agencies and creative teams across the region.

Established in 2012, Mango Jam Studios has built a strong presence within the region’s advertising and creative landscape, delivering award-winning work for brands including Coca-Cola, Colgate, Mobily, P&G, IKEA and e&. Its core expertise spans bespoke music composition, voice recording, brand sonic development and sound design, alongside music licensing and artist collaborations for brand communication projects.

The partnership builds on an existing relationship between Mango Jam and The SMC Group, bringing together Mango Jam’s understanding of the Middle Eastern advertising and creative landscape with The SMC Group’s international network across music licensing, entertainment rights, artists and celebrity talent.

For brands and agencies, the collaboration provides a more direct and efficient route to global entertainment opportunities, from internationally recognised music and artists to celebrity talent, image and likeness rights and bespoke entertainment partnerships.

“The Middle East has a fast-moving advertising industry, and our clients increasingly want access to talent and music that can help them create stronger connections with their audiences,” said Wilbur D’Costa, Executive Producer, Mango Jam Studios. “The SMC Group’s reach and understanding of the international entertainment industry makes them an ideal collaborator for us. By bringing their global network together with our regional relationships and creative expertise, we can offer our clients a much wider range of solutions while continuing to understand the cultural and creative nuances of the market.”

The SMC Group, which has operated internationally since 1999, brings experience across celebrity procurement, artist partnerships, music licensing, image and likeness rights and entertainment-led brand campaigns. Through the partnership, its global infrastructure becomes more accessible to agencies, production companies and brands operating across the Middle East.

“For us, this partnership is about making our existing global access significantly more available to the Middle East,” said Maurice Hamilton, Global CEO, The SMC Group. “Mango Jam understands the region, its creative landscape and the way agencies and brands operate. We bring the international layer, including access to global music, artists, celebrities and entertainment rights. Together, we can create a much more straightforward route for clients looking to access the global entertainment industry.”

The partnership will enable clients to approach a broader range of entertainment briefs through a streamlined process, with support across music licensing, artist and celebrity procurement, usage rights, territories, platforms, duration and commercial terms.

Mango Jam’s regional client relationships and creative capabilities, combined with The SMC Group’s international talent and rights network, will also enable campaigns to extend beyond geographical boundaries while remaining grounded in the needs of the Middle Eastern market.

“Our ambition is to build a collaboration that is known for being thoughtful about both client and artist needs, while working efficiently within time and budget considerations,” added D’Costa. “Over time, we want to become a go-to partner for brands and agencies when it comes to artist and celebrity management for brand communication.”

Hamilton added: “When an agency or brand in the Middle East thinks about music licensing, celebrity talent, artists or entertainment rights, we want The SMC Group and Mango Jam to be among the first calls they make. Together, we are building a single access point connecting brands and agencies in the region with global music, talent and entertainment opportunities.”

The partnership marks a step towards making global music, talent and entertainment rights more accessible to the Middle Eastern advertising and creative industry, combining regional market knowledge with international access and rights expertise.

Al Habtoor Grand Resort, Autograph Collection has announced the appointment of Christophe Delabarre as Hotel Manager, strengthening the resort’s senior leadership team as it enters its next phase of growth.

With more than 20 years of international hospitality experience, Christophe has held key leadership positions with globally recognised brands including IHG, Marriott, Hilton, Mandarin Oriental and Disneyland Paris. His career spans Europe, Asia and the Middle East, bringing a broad international perspective shaped by diverse hospitality markets and operating environments.

Throughout his career, Christophe has built a strong track record in driving operational performance, developing successful restaurant and guest experience concepts, and building high-performing teams. His combination of international expertise and hands-on operational leadership will support the continued evolution of Al Habtoor Grand Resort.

In his new role, Christophe will oversee the resort’s day-to-day operations and strategic enhancements, with a focus on strengthening Rooms and Food & Beverage performance, identifying new revenue opportunities and further enhancing the guest journey. He will also play an important role in developing the resort’s talent and fostering a collaborative, performance-driven team culture.

Christophe brings a wealth of international experience and a strong understanding of what it takes to operate successfully across diverse hospitality markets,” said Khalid Saeed, General Manager, Al Habtoor Grand Resort, Autograph Collection. “His operational expertise, commercial mindset and ability to inspire teams make him a valuable addition to our leadership. We are delighted to welcome Christophe and look forward to working together as we continue to strengthen the resort’s positioning and future growth.”

Commenting on his appointment, Christophe Delabarre, Hotel Manager, Al Habtoor Grand Resort, Autograph Collection, said: “I am delighted to join Al Habtoor Grand Resort and become part of such an experienced team. I look forward to building on the resort’s strong foundations, bringing fresh perspectives and inspiration gathered throughout my career. I am excited to contribute new ideas that enhance our operations, elevate the guest journey, and create memorable Autograph Moments that are unique to this destination. I look forward to working closely with the team, contributing to the resort’s ongoing development success.”

Majid Al Futtaim today announced a strategic partnership with Sunset Hospitality Group (SHG), one of the world’s leading lifestyle hospitality companies, to operate Maravelle, a flagship wellness and lifestyle destination at Ghaf Woods, Dubai’s first forest-living community. The collaboration brings together Majid Al Futtaim’s expertise in developing distinctive destinations with Sunset Hospitality Group’s specialist expertise across hospitality, wellness, fitness and lifestyle concepts.

Located at the heart of Ghaf Woods, Maravelle will bring together wellness, fitness, recovery, spa, nutrition and curated food and beverage. Designed to connect seamlessly with the community’s forest trails and its landscape of more than 35,000 trees, Maravelle will offer residents, members and visitors a dedicated setting for wellbeing, social connection and discovery.

Maravelle forms part of Majid Al Futtaim’s wider vision for Ghaf Woods, alongside its residential offering, retail and hospitality destinations, including Ghaf Woods Mall. Conceived around its distinctive natural setting, Ghaf Woods brings together a considered mix of living, leisure, retail and wellness within one connected environment.

Majid Al Futtaim leads the development of Ghaf Woods and its overall destination vision, drawing on its track record of creating places that bring together distinctive environments, communities and amenities. Sunset Hospitality Group will operate Maravelle, bringing its specialist expertise across hospitality, wellness, fitness and lifestyle, supported by a global portfolio of more than 100 destinations.

“This partnership reflects our ambition to elevate wellness from an amenity to a way of life,” said Ahmed Elshamy, Chief Executive Officer – Development at Majid Al Futtaim. “Maravelle is an important part of our vision for Ghaf Woods, adding a dedicated wellness and lifestyle offering to the wider destination. Ghaf Woods reflects our approach to creating communities where nature, wellbeing and thoughtfully considered amenities come together to shape how people live and spend their time. By partnering with Sunset Hospitality Group, we are bringing the specialist operational expertise required to deliver Maravelle to a high standard and raise the bar for what wellness can mean within the communities of tomorrow.”

Maravelle will welcome both Ghaf Woods residents and a carefully curated membership community, extending its offering beyond the residential population. Its programme will encompass fitness, recovery, nutrition, spa and hospitality, alongside opportunities to connect and engage within the setting of Ghaf Woods.

“Wellness has always meant more to us than a business line. It is an integral part of the future of lifestyle, and it is about designing a world that changes how people feel the moment they step into it,” said Antonio Gonzalez, Chairman and Group CEO of Sunset Hospitality Group. “Ghaf Woods gave us something rare: a community built around nature from the ground up, and the chance to create in Maravelle a wellness experience that belongs entirely to its setting. Working with Majid Al Futtaim on a destination this thoughtfully conceived is exactly the kind of partnership that pushes Sunset’s wellness ambitions forward.”

Maravelle adds a dedicated wellness proposition to Ghaf Woods, complementing its extensive forest landscape and broader mix of amenities. Its introduction marks another step in the evolution of Ghaf Woods, adding a new dimension to the destination and reinforcing its position as a place where nature, wellbeing and lifestyle come together.

As Ghaf Woods continues to take shape, Maravelle reflects Majid Al Futtaim’s commitment to developing innovative, future-focused communities that offer more than a place to live. By bringing together residential living with wellness, hospitality, retail and leisure, Ghaf Woods is shaping a distinctive proposition designed to create long-term value for residents, members and the wider community.