Hospitality
Resorts World Cruises introduces premium cruise vacations in the Arabian Gulf for region’s holidaymakers
Cruise-seeking travellers in the region will have a brand new experience at sea with Resorts World Cruises, as it expands its global footprint to the Arabian Gulf and Gulf of Oman with the premium boutique lifestyle cruise ship, Resorts World One. Starting from October 18, 2024 until April 13, 2025, the Resorts World One will homeport and depart from Dubai, providing travellers from the region the option to embark from the emirate on a roundtrip cruise adventure to popular destinations within the Gulf waters. Discover the convenience and comfort of cruising to multiple destinations, without the hassle of packing and unpacking or searching for accommodations at each destination.
Resorts World One combines premium amenities with diverse culinary options, offering the best of lifestyle and entertainment at sea, halal-certified cuisine options and a luxurious experience at The Palace, a ‘luxury ship-within-a ship’ private all-suite enclave with exclusive restaurant, sundeck, gym and other facilities, including its own 24-hour European style butler service.
Resorts World One will offer roundtrip cruise itineraries from Dubai, including the 2 Night Sir Bani Yas Weekend Cruise with departures on Fridays; a 3 Night Oman Cruise to Khasab and Muscat departing on Sundays; and a 2 Night Doha Cruise departing on Wednesdays. Guests will have the flexible option to combine two or all three of the itineraries to increase the cruise length to a four, five or a seven night cruise.
Shore excursions and onboard activities will allow passengers to immerse themselves in the rich cultural tapestry of Dubai and the surrounding region especially Muscat, Khasab and Sir Bani Yas Island. Visits to iconic landmarks, heritage sites, and shopping destinations will be part of the itinerary for tourists while Bollywood DJ parties and music bands, pyjama & foam parties, movies, will be among other attractions onboard.
“As Resorts World Cruises embarks on this special journey, we envision a fusion of cultures, where discerning luxury travelers from the Middle East connect with the vibrant charm of some of the most prominent landmarks within the Arabian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman. The deployment of the Resorts World One cruise ship symbolises not only a bridge between nations but also boundless opportunities for travelers to explore, discover, and create unforgettable memories in the region. With seamless access and regular flight connectivity to a global hub like Dubai, travelers in the region now have an unparalleled option to explore multiple destinations through a luxurious cruise vacation, ushering in a new and exciting era of fly-cruise exploration,” said Michael Goh, President, Resorts World Cruises.
Resorts World Cruises operates cruises with homeports in Singapore, Malaysia, Hong Kong, Taiwan, and Indonesia. With the upcoming homeport deployment in Dubai, Resorts World One is expected to make 75 calls in the region with 150,000 passengers over the six-month period, significantly contributing to the growth of cruise tourism in the Arabian Gulf and Gulf of Oman. Resorts World One will attract a new segment of fly cruise passengers from the GCC region, increasing diversity to the Arabian Gulf cruise market.
With its deep-rooted Asian heritage, Resorts World Cruises best understands the Asian markets to deliver best-in-class services and offerings that truly resonate with the different and unique markets across Asia. Regional Muslim travellers will have the convenience and access to certified halal-friendly offerings onboard the Resorts World One that will combine premium amenities with diverse culinary options thanks to accreditations like the official OIC/SMIIC* Standard Halal-Friendly Cruise Ship certification. All meats will be sourced from UAE Halal suppliers with no pork served onboard. Guests can make pre-advanced appointments to have the crew of the same gender attend to the guests for selected onboard services such as the Spa.
To cater to a diverse target audience, certified vegetarian and Jain cuisine will also be available to cater to travellers from India and others who prefer specialised vegetarian selections besides their tailored entertainment, and exceptional Asian hospitality.
Hospitality
MÖVENPICK HOTEL BUR DUBAI – DECEMBER FESTIVE LISTINGS
A Very Merry Light-Up – Tree Lighting Ceremony

Welcome the festive season with Mövenpick’s enchanting Tree Lighting Ceremony, where glowing lights, carols, and joyful moments create the perfect start to December. Guests can enjoy a live choir, Santa meet & greet, kids’ giveaways, and a cheerful raffle draw, while adults savour festive canapés and beverages. With magical snow moments and charming décor, it’s an evening designed to bring families together in the spirit of the holidays.
The lobby at Mövenpick Bur Dubai is known for its welcoming warmth and elegant ambiance, making it the perfect gathering place for families to come together and celebrate the start of the festive season. Its open, bright layout brings a sense of harmony and connection to every moment.
Date & Time: 5th December | 7:00 PM – 9:00 PM | Venue: Lobby | For more information, please call +971 04 336 6000 or +971 50 210 6033
Santa’s Sweet Stop at Fountain Café
A holiday favourite returns, Mövenpick’s Christmas Plum Cake, baked with love and steeped in tradition. Made with plump fruits, warm spices, and a rich, buttery crumb, each cake captures the essence of the season in every slice. Whether you’re gifting it to loved ones, bringing it to a festive gathering, or simply enjoying it at home, it brings a sense of warmth and nostalgia to any holiday table.
Families often return year after year for this much-loved treat, a symbol of togetherness, celebration, and the comforting tastes that make the season special.
Fountain Café offers a cozy, elegant setting at the heart of the hotel, making it the perfect spot for guests to gather, savour seasonal treats, and enjoy relaxed moments with family during the festive season.
Date: 1st–31st December | Venue: Fountain Café | For more information, please call +971 04 336 6000 or +971 50 210 6033
Turkey Takeaway – A Festive Feast at Home

Celebrate the holidays in the comfort of home with Mövenpick’s lovingly prepared Turkey Takeaway, a heartwarming feast designed to bring families together around the table. Each turkey is seasoned, roasted, and paired with classic trimmings, creating a centerpiece that invites storytelling, laughter, and meaningful moments shared with the people who matter most.
Perfect for intimate gatherings, extended family dinners, or festive hosting, this takeaway offering allows you to enjoy restaurant-quality flavours without the stress of preparation freeing you to focus on connection, togetherness, and the joy of the season.
Mövenpick Bur Dubai is celebrated for its culinary craftsmanship rooted in Swiss hospitality. Every festive dish reflects a dedication to flavour, harmony, and creating memorable family moments that bring people closer together.
Date: 24th November – 30th December | Extra: Free delivery within Oud Metha | For more information: +971 04 336 6000 | +971 50 210 6033
Art of Brunch: Holly Jolly Feast – Christmas Saturdays

Every Saturday in December, families are invited to step into a joyful world of festive magic at Mövenpick’s Holly Jolly Feast. This heartwarming brunch brings the spirit of the holiday season to life with mouth-watering roasts, colourful live stations, and decadent desserts that delight young and old alike.
Children can enjoy unforgettable moments with Santa, experience gentle snow flurries, bounce through the day on the bouncy castle, and decorate gingerbread houses while parents relax to cheerful entertainment and savour time together.
A celebration crafted for families, filled with laughter, festive flavours, and memories that will be cherished long after the decorations come down.
The Fountain Restaurant is designed with families in mind, offering generous space, warm lighting, and interactive live stations that bring a sense of excitement and connection to every meal. It’s a venue where celebrations feel personal, joyful, and truly memorable.
Dates & Time: Saturdays, 6th, 13th, 20th & 27th December | 1:00 PM – 5:00 PM | Venue: The Fountain Restaurant | Info: +971 04 336 6000 | +971 50 210 6033
Jingle Roast Sunday at Garden Lounge

Make Sundays extra special this December with Mövenpick’s Jingle Roast Sunday, a comforting, family-friendly gathering that celebrates the joy of slowing down together. Enjoy a beautifully prepared roast with all the festive trimmings, golden potatoes, rich gravies, seasonal vegetables, and indulgent desserts, all served in a relaxed open-air setting.
Live music adds warmth to the atmosphere, while children enjoy a heartwarming Santa meet & greet and receive festive giveaways. It’s a laid-back, wholesome afternoon designed to bring families closer and create holiday memories that last a lifetime.
Garden Lounge is a beloved open-air escape where families can relax together under soft lighting and a welcoming atmosphere. Its spacious setting features a massive screen for live matches and sports, making it perfect for fans and families alike, and it also offers a full shisha menu for guests who want to unwind in comfort.
Dates & Time: Sundays, 7th, 14th, 21st & 28th December | 1:00 PM – 5:00 PM | Venue: Garden Lounge | Info: +971 04 336 6000 | +971 50 210 6033
Winter Wonderland Christmas Eve Dinner

Gather with family and friends for a heartwarming Christmas Eve celebration at The Fountain Restaurant, transformed into a festive wonderland for the night. Enjoy a beautifully curated buffet of seasonal favourites, international dishes, and sweet holiday indulgences that bring comfort and joy to every plate.
Children will delight in a magical visit from Santa, while gentle snow moments, festive music, and warm décor set the stage for a memorable evening. It’s an invitation to pause, come together, and embrace the harmony and togetherness that define Christmas Eve.
Known for its inviting décor and harmonious ambiance, The Fountain Restaurant provides an elegant yet comfortable setting for family celebrations. It’s a place where festive traditions come alive and cherished moments are created around every table.
Date & Time: 24th December | 7:00 PM – 10:00 PM | Venue: The Fountain Restaurant | Info: +971 04 336 6000 | +971 50 210 6033
Grand Christmas Day Brunch

Create meaningful Christmas memories with a joyful family brunch at Mövenpick, where delicious food, festive entertainment, and warm hospitality come together in perfect harmony. Enjoy a lavish buffet of roasts, global dishes, vibrant live stations, and festive desserts, all designed to bring families closer through shared flavour and celebration.
Children will enjoy Snow Time moments, Santa giveaways, face painting, a bouncy castle, and holiday activities, while parents relax to live music and the joyful spirit of Christmas. It’s everything the holiday should be, loving, lively, and unforgettable.
With its bright festive décor and family-friendly layout, The Fountain Restaurant offers the perfect environment for joyful Christmas gatherings. Its warm atmosphere encourages connection, shared experiences, and celebratory moments that last long beyond the holiday.
Date & Time: 25th December | 1:00 PM – 5:00 PM | Venue: The Fountain Restaurant | Info: +971 04 336 6000 | +971 50 210 6033
New Year’s Eve Glitter Gala

Welcome the new year surrounded by loved ones at Mövenpick’s dazzling New Year’s Eve Glitter Gala. Enjoy a spectacular night filled with a lavish buffet, vibrant bar offerings, and an impressive lineup of entertainment including a live DJ, band, belly dancer, and Tanoura show.
The evening is designed for families and friends to celebrate side by side, sharing laughter, music, and hopeful anticipation for the year ahead. As the countdown begins, raise a glass together and welcome 2026 with harmony, joy, and unforgettable memories.
The Fountain Restaurant’s elegant design and celebratory ambiance make it the ideal destination for an unforgettable New Year’s Eve. Here, families come together to enjoy exceptional dining, joyful music, and meaningful moments as they welcome a new year in harmony.
Date & Time: 31st December | 7:30 PM onwards | Venue: The Fountain Restaurant | Info: +971 04 336 6000 | +971 50 210 6033
Hospitality
HOUSE OF HYPE DUBAI JUST FLIPPED THE HOLIDAYS, UNVEILS THE WINTER WONDERVERSE
This festive season, House of Hype, Dubai Mall’s most spectacular immersive mega-experience, turns the holidays upside down with The Winter Wonderverse, a surreal festive universe that only Dubai could dream up.
Running from December 13 – 28, 2025, The Winter Wonderverse @ House of Hype delivers a larger-than-life remix of holiday classics across the park’s 25 immersive worlds. Expect glowing snow, dancing lights, spontaneous performances, mischievous elf photobooths, chaotic parades, and snacks almost too cute to eat — all crafted to surprise, delight, and spark unforgettable shared moments.
But this isn’t nostalgia, and it’s definitely not the winter village you’ve visited five times before. This is House of Hype in Dubai! Where everything is bigger, wilder, brighter, and far more fun.
A Holiday Universe, One Wild World at a Time
From the moment you step inside, you’re not entering a venue, you’re crossing into a surreal festive season multiverse. One minute you’re inside a shimmering snow globe where neon snow falls around you, the next, you’re being pulled into an elf transformation photobooth where the “elves” are a little too enthusiastic and definitely up to mischief.
Turn a corner and suddenly a world-hopping parade bursts through the space, sweeping you into a swirl of bold characters, dancers, glitchy holiday creatures, and spontaneous performances that feel like they jumped out of a fever dream.
Blending humor, fantasy, nostalgia, and hypersaturated design, The Winter Wonderverse @ House of Hype is for people who want their holidays to feel anything but ordinary, families, friends, creators, travelers, and anyone chasing a festive escape with a twist.
Festive Highlights:
Inspired by House of Hype’s signature mega-experience DNA, here’s what guests can expect:
- Glowing Snow & Dancing Lights: A surreal holiday landscape perfect for unforgettable photo and video moments.
- Elf Transformation Photobooths: Snap, record, and instantly drop into the Winter Wonderverse storyline with playful, social-ready content.
- World-Hopping Parades & Outrageous Performances: A spontaneous cast brings the universe to life through bold interactions and unexpected spectacle.
- A Surprise Treat Awaits Anyone in Ugly Sweaters: Show up to Dubai’s most chaotic holiday showdown, loud, fun, and delightfully unhinged.
- Cute Holiday Snacks & Limited-Edition Treats: Delicious, highly Instagrammable snacks curated by Michelin-starred culinary talent.
House of Hype invites guests on a 60–90 minute adventure through Dubai Mall’s full-scale City of Dreams, a joyful mega-experience built from the brightest corners of digital pop culture. Across 25 surreal, interactive zones, visitors drift through neon Tokyo nights, K-Pop stages, shimmering Bollywood energy, robotic light shows, projection domes, hidden pathways, exclusive shopping, and limited-edition global snacks. With live performances, AI-powered photo moments, and unexpected worlds opening at every turn, every visit becomes a journey to dream big, live loud, and have fun.
Hospitality
SOFITEL THE OBELISK CELEBRATES CHEF IMPIAZZI’S 2025 BERNACHES AWARD
Sofitel Dubai The Obelisk is proud to announce that Executive Chef Russell Impiazzi has been honored with a 2025 Bernaches Award, Accor’s highest global recognition celebrating innovation, creativity, and the transformative spirit of Heartists®.
Now in their thirty-fifth year, the Bernaches Awards spotlight outstanding initiatives across the Group. This year, an international jury reviewed 48 projects selected from 260 applications representing nearly 50 countries, ultimately naming 23 winners for their impact and forward-thinking approach. Chef Russell was recognised for his exceptional contribution to sustainability within Accor and the wider hospitality industry.
“We are immensely proud of Chef Russell’s recognition at the 2025 Bernaches Awards,” said Haytham Omar, Managing Director of Sofitel Dubai The Obelisk. “His dedication to sustainability, innovation, and culinary excellence represents the very best of our brand and our Heartists®. His actions continue to inspire our guests, and the wider industry.”
A Leader in Responsible Gastronomy
As Executive Chef of Sofitel Dubai The Obelisk since 2020, he brings more than 30 years of international culinary expertise to the hotel’s five dining destinations. His commitment to zero food waste, carbon-neutral menus, and locally sourced ingredients has redefined responsible luxury at the hotel. Under his stewardship, the hotel has achieved Green Key certification and Dubai Sustainable Tourism’s Gold Tier, firming its position as a regional sustainability leader.
An Award-Winning Sustainability Project
Chef Russell’s winning project demonstrates measurable impact across the UAE’s sustainability landscape. Highlights include zero-waste kitchens with “no bin days,” carbon-neutral menus, expanded plant-based options, community collaboration with the UAE Food Bank, and 30% local sourcing, targeted to reach 35% by year-end.
His influence extends beyond the hotel, inspiring more than 1,000 students through his “Veg Pledge,” supporting Farm-to-Table education programs, and contributing to national initiatives such as NE’MA, the UAE’s Food Loss and Waste Initiative. His leadership has also earned him recognition as a Sustainability Champion of the year by Gault & Millau (2023) and The Caterer (2024).
Chef Russell’s work reflects Accor’s vision for bold, purpose-driven hospitality—creating meaningful change for teams, communities, and the planet. Learn more about Sofitel Dubai The Obelisk’s Commitment to Sustainability.
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