Hospitality
Indikaya Opens Doors at Shangri-La Dubai on 1st August: Modern and Culturally Rich!
Situated within Shangri-La Dubai, Indikaya is a new Indian restaurant presenting fusion Indian Tapas, stunning ambiance, and an unforgettable dining experience celebrating India’s rich culinary heritage.
Dubai’s newest dining destination, Indikaya, will surprise diners with the freshest flavors and culinary creativity with its unique tapas menu. Breaking new ground and bringing Indian ingredients to the fore, the restaurant celebrates India’s diverse flavors, textures, and culinary traditions in an exciting new format, promising a feast for the senses.

Helmed by the renowned Chef Ajay Chopra, Indikaya’s ethos revolves around seasonal ingredients treated in imaginative ways while staying true to their roots. Bold yet thoughtful, playful yet meticulous, each dish on the menu is a tribute to a different region, culture, and flavor profile of India.
Chef Chopra, a celebrated figure in the culinary world, is known for his innovative approach to Indian cuisine. With a career spanning over two decades, he has worked with culinary legends like Gordon Ramsay and Angela Hartnett. His expertise has graced prestigious kitchens worldwide, including his role as a judge on Masterchef India for two seasons.
The contemporary bar at Indikaya emphasizes ingredient-forward mixology, offering signature cocktails such as the Malabar Monsoon, featuring curry leaf and black pepper sieved with coconut oil fat-washed rum, and the Dalhousie Scotch, a delightful blend of Scotch, crème de cacao, espresso, almond syrup, and mascarpone cheese. The bar also boasts a curated list of spirits and mocktails, expertly crafted by skilled bartenders and complemented by lively music. Visit for a round of adventurous drinks that will delight and surprise with each sip.
The menu at Indikaya reflects Chef Chopra’s experience, offering an exploration of inventive Indian tapas, expertly grilled dishes, and main courses that reimagine nostalgic flavors while capturing the essence of India’s culinary diversity. Highlights include the Mungbean Tartine, a plant-based delight featuring a mung bean dip flavored with Maharashtrian thecha, and the Indikaya Vada Pao, a sophisticated take on Mumbai’s beloved street food with tempered russet potato and wasabi relish.
Indulge in the Kumbh Indulgence, featuring porcini mushrooms folded with Manchego and smoked mozzarella cheese, served with edamame, fried enoki, and black garlic emulsion. Or savor the Osso Bucco, showcasing Australian lamb osso bucco brined in spiced whey, slow-cooked with nihari sauce, and served over truffled cauliflower puree. The Chilean Seabass, marinated with a spice blend from the North Canara coast, sous-vide, and finished on a plancha, offers another exquisite choice. For dessert, enjoy the modern twist of classics like the Rum Baba Misu with kithul jaggery mousse stuffed in baba au rhum, soaked in a syrup of Kahlua, Old Monk, and Marsala wine, served with glazed cherries and South Indian filter coffee ganache.
“Our main priority is the quality of ingredients, with each dish at the restaurant shining a spotlight on one” says Chef Chopra. “Providing diners with the highest quality meals and exemplary service. Each dish on our menu celebrates a different region, culture, and flavor profile, showcasing lesser-known ingredients from remote towns of India. With every dish, we aim to showcase the authentic diversity of India.”
The meal at Indikaya is a sensory affair, begin with drinks at the lounge followed by mains in the dining room. The expansive space is warm and welcoming, with impressive contemporary design elements, creating an inviting atmosphere that is both modern and culturally rich. The spacious dining area, highlighted by ambient lighting and tasteful furnishings, offers a serene setting for an exceptional dining experience.

Hospitality
Sun Siyam Iru Veli Awarded “Best Resort” Title at the 2025 Bund Design Hotels Awards
Sun Siyam Iru Veli was honored with the coveted ‘Best Resort’ title at the 17th annual ‘Stylish Escape’ Bund Design Hotels Awards, during a prestigious ceremony held on 3rd December at Shanghai’s former Hendricks Institute on the North Bund. The accolade places the resort among a select group of properties shaping the future of design-led hospitality.
Presented by The Bund Media, an influential voice in the industry for over two decades, the award is celebrated as a definitive barometer for hotel design and innovation. The event, which also marked the launch of the new MILESTONE Landmark Awards, gathered over one hundred distinguished guests from the global architecture, design, and art communities.
The award recognises Sun Siyam Iru Veli’s exceptional contribution to redefining modern hospitality. The resort masterfully embodies the spirit of contemporary design, seamlessly blending commercial vitality, artistic ambiance, and a rich humanistic fabric. Its revolutionary approach to aesthetics has set a new standard for what constitutes an asset of lasting beauty.
“We are honoured by this recognition,” said Masdhooq Saeed, General Manager of Sun Siyam Iru Veli. “Here, nature defines the architecture. The island’s beaches, vegetation, and reef form the heart of the design, with every structure shaped to enhance, not overshadow, its surroundings. Our team is deeply committed to preserving this balance, ensuring the integrity and authenticity of the island.”
True to its philosophy, Sun Siyam Iru Veli offers guests an intimate island hideaway in a breathtakingly boutique setting. As a quintessential spot to relax, recharge, and reconnect, the resort stands as a beacon of thoughtful, human-centric design in the heart of the Maldives.
Hospitality
AARK MARKETING STRENGTHENS PRESENCE IN UAE PERFECTING THE TITLE OF DIGITAL & INFLUENCER MARKETING & PR RECIPE FOR SUCCESS
Aark Marketing, a reputed boutique integrated marketing and communications agency, continues to strengthen its position within the UAE’s competitive brand landscape through culturally attuned, insight-led campaigns. Marking a milestone year in its growth journey, the agency’s 2025 performance reflects strategic clarity and creative precision, translating brand narratives into measurable impact across sectors. Beyond F&B and hospitality, Aark serves diverse industries including retail, manufacturing, and construction, offering end-to-end expertise across media planning, social and digital campaigns, and influencer marketing to deliver ROI-driven outcomes.
Founded in 2020, Aark has led several high-impact campaigns for reputed F&B brands, including Kashkan, which generated 2.4 million views and 20,000+ followers in three months. Its hospitality portfolio includes Pincode by Chef Kunal Kapur, Silk Lantern, Lavang, Aminia, and The Permit Room, while work with Emirates Airlines – Dnata and Dubai Islamic Bank demonstrates its capability beyond F&B.
Under visionary leadership, Aark celebrates its fifth anniversary in 2025, marked by key achievements including Pincode winning the Time Out Restaurant Awards 2025 and Lavang being named Filmfare Middle East Favourite Debutant Restaurant 2025; demonstrating the agency’s ability to align strategic brand positioning with meaningful audience engagement.
The agency earned multiple industry honours this year: the Middle East National Business Awards for A Marketing & PR Recipe for Success, and accolades from the Global Business & Finance Magazine Awards: Best Integrated Marketing Agency UAE, Best PR & Media Agency of the Year UAE, and Excellence in Brand Communications UAE. Inclusion in the Caterer Middle East F&B Power PR List further reinforced its regional credibility.
Emphasising on Aark’s client-first approach, Kkusum Rawat, Founder and Marketing Director at Aark Marketing, said, “Today, brands are looking beyond traditional marketing for partners who truly understand their objectives and the regional nuances that shape consumer behaviour. Our focus has always been on delivering customised solutions that build visibility through relevance, not volume. With a clear emphasis on Return on Investment, we leverage innovation and technology to create impactful campaigns that connect meaningfully with audiences and deliver measurable outcomes. The consistency we achieved in 2025, across thinking, execution, and results, reflects the strength of our team and the trust our clients place in us to build lasting brand impact.”
From a performance standpoint, Aark Marketing delivered sustained digital growth across its portfolio, achieving over 5 million in reach and 3 million video views. Multiple F&B brands recorded 20 to 40% month-on-month engagement growth, while festive campaigns drove 2x to 4x visibility spikes, improved cost efficiencies, and increased footfall, online orders, and inquiries.
Across influencer and communications channels, Aark Marketing strengthened brand recall and authority. A flagship Al Nabooda campaign generated over 1 million video views, while strategic PR efforts secured 500+ media articles across top-tier regional publications, driving consistent editorial visibility, stronger brand credibility, and increased inbound discovery across AI-powered search platforms. Revolutionizing the ever-growing digital marketing sector, Aark Marketing stays committed to providing creative campaigns and excel in client delivery. The key achievements collectively signal a year defined by credibility, collaboration, and carefully measured growth, positioning the agency firmly within the region’s evolving marketing and communications landscape
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 till January 4, 2026, 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.
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