A Home for Fans in Dubai

Belgian Beer Café at Grand Millennium Hotel Dubai has renewed its partnership with the Official UAE Chelsea Supporters Club for the 2025–26 season. This marks the third consecutive year of a collaboration that gives Chelsea fans in Dubai a place to connect, celebrate, and enjoy matchdays together.

From the Premier League to the Champions League, this venue has become a trusted hub for loyal supporters. The renewal reflects a shared commitment to keeping the atmosphere alive for another exciting football year.

More Than a Matchday Spot

Over time, Belgian Beer Café has evolved from a viewing venue into what fans now call the Chelsea Home of the Champions in Dubai. This title gained even more meaning when Chelsea lifted the FIFA Club World Cup earlier this year.

The café has hosted unforgettable moments, including last season’s meet-and-greet with Chelsea legend Mikel John Obi. Fans gathered for a live recording of The Obi One Podcast, a rare chance to hear first-hand stories from a club hero.

Atmosphere That Brings Fans Together

On matchdays, the venue comes alive. The buzz of anticipation builds before kickoff, the roar follows every goal, and chants fill the air. It’s more than football — it’s a sense of belonging.

The charm of Belgian hospitality blends with football passion. Extended happy hours run daily from 12:00 PM to 8:00 PM, offering discounts on Belgian draught hops, house spirits, and grapes. The Sports Menu adds to the experience with shareable plates like Dutch veal croquettes with Dijon mustard, chicken wings in peri-peri or sticky barbecue sauce, and crispy breaded shrimps with sweet chili lime.

An Experience Close to Stamford Bridge

“The massive screen makes me feel like I’m right back at Stamford Bridge,” said Mario Volpi, Assistant Secretary of the UAE Chelsea Supporters Club. “You don’t miss a single moment. Surrounded by fellow Chelsea supporters, the atmosphere is electric. It’s more than just watching football — it’s the closest thing to home for us fans in Dubai.”

With thirteen screens, two indoor floors, and a spacious open-roof terrace, Belgian Beer Café offers comfort and great sightlines. Whether it’s pre-match nerves, halftime debates, or post-goal celebrations, the space feels designed for fans.

Building on a Winning Formula

The partnership with the UAE Chelsea Supporters Club ensures each season feels special. Familiar faces return, new fans join, and traditions grow stronger. The venue’s dedicated staff understand what matchday means, making every detail count.

A Season to Remember

As Chelsea prepares for the challenges ahead, Belgian Beer Café remains the go-to destination for UAE supporters. Here, every match is more than ninety minutes of football — it’s an occasion.

Fans know they’ll find the perfect mix of Belgian charm, competitive spirit, and community pride. The 2025–26 season promises new highs, and the café is ready to celebrate every moment.

Check out our previous feature: Brix Café Dubai Transforms into a Winter Wonderland to Beat the Summer Heat

Turkish Airlines and South Africa-based Airlink will launch a new codeshare agreement that enhances seamless travel across Türkiye and southern Africa. This collaboration goes beyond a standard commercial deal. It’s a strategic effort to bridge continents, connect cultures, and offer smoother, smarter air travel experiences.

A Unified Network That Puts Passengers First

The agreement, signed at Airlink’s Johannesburg headquarters, marks a key milestone in both airlines’ global expansion plans. Senior executives from each carrier attended the event, which further emphasized the importance of this partnership. In a region where better connectivity is increasingly vital, this collaboration aims to close long-standing network gaps.

As part of the codeshare, Turkish Airlines will place its “TK” flight code on a wide selection of Airlink-operated routes. As a result, travelers arriving on Turkish Airlines’ long-haul flights can connect—on a single ticket—to multiple regional and domestic destinations across South Africa and its neighboring countries.

What This Means for Travelers

The new codeshare significantly improves the overall travel experience. It introduces several benefits that make journeys more convenient and flexible:

• More destinations available on a single ticket
• Simplified connections via Johannesburg and Cape Town
• Flexible schedules with better-coordinated flight times
• Consistent, high-quality service across both airlines

By combining Turkish Airlines’ global reach with Airlink’s regional strength, the partnership gives travelers more choices and smoother travel flows. As a result, passengers will enjoy better timing, fewer hassles, and greater comfort when flying across continents.

Strategic Growth with Regional Impact

Levent Konukcu, Turkish Airlines’ Chief Investment & Strategy Officer, emphasized the broader benefits of this collaboration:

“We give importance to this cooperation with Airlink to enhance our connectivity in South Africa and the region. We aim to improve our partnership to maximize the travel opportunities offered to our guests. We believe this partnership will bring benefits to both carriers commercially and strengthen cultural and tourism ties between our countries.”

De Villiers Engelbrecht, CEO of Airlink, shared a similar outlook:

“This collaboration represents a significant opportunity to deepen ties between our airlines. For customers, it means more convenient travel options, world-class service, and better access to destinations across our combined networks.”

It’s clear that the partnership is about more than connecting flights—it’s about connecting economies, travelers, and experiences.

A Boost for Regional Travel and Tourism

This move is expected to stimulate travel in both directions. South African travelers can now explore Türkiye and beyond with greater ease, while visitors from Europe, Asia, and the Middle East gain simpler access to southern Africa’s top destinations.

For the tourism sector, the timing couldn’t be better. With increasing demand for long-haul leisure travel and multi-destination itineraries, seamless routing through Johannesburg and Cape Town could drive more inbound travel and longer stays.

Looking Ahead: More to Come?

While the codeshare begins with Turkish Airlines placing its flight code on Airlink services, this may be just the beginning. With mutual interest in expansion, the partnership could eventually evolve to include reciprocal benefits, frequent flyer integrations, or joint marketing initiatives.

As airlines continue rebuilding stronger post-pandemic networks, collaborations like this one represent a smarter path forward—one that values efficiency, customer experience, and regional integration.

If you’re interested in how other industries are enhancing the travel experience, check out how hospitality brands are designing for the modern traveler.

While the rest of Dubai basks in record temperatures, BRIX Café Dubai has flipped the forecast. Welcome to “Davos in Dubai”—a snow-dusted escape inspired by the Swiss Alps and created by World’s 50 Best Pastry Chef 2025, Carmen Rueda Hernández.

Located by the harbour, this celebrated dessert destination has undergone a cool seasonal takeover. The result? A chilled, dreamy Alpine atmosphere—complete with icy textures, frosted flavors, and an air of indulgent calm that defies the desert sun.

From Davos to Dubai: BRIX Café’s Cool Culinary Concept

Earlier this year, Chef Carmen presented her culinary creations at the World Economic Forum in Davos—a career-defining moment that now echoes back home. This summer, BRIX Café pays homage to that milestone by recreating the ambiance and creativity of Davos, right here in the UAE.

With snowfall-inspired plating and glacial tones throughout the space, the café invites guests to cool down and indulge at the same time. It’s not just a theme—it’s a sensory story.

Step Inside the Snow-Dusted Fantasy

Walk into BRIX this summer and you won’t find heatwaves—you’ll find foggy truffle mousse, coconut nitro snow, and desserts that mimic winter’s mood. It’s a cool, curated retreat, reimagined for those looking to escape the heat with indulgence.

Dessert, But Make It Chill

From strawberry-lychee cores to chocolate-on-the-rocks mocktails, the new seasonal menu blends icy textures with bold flavors. Each creation delivers contrast—warm emotions, cold finishes, light textures, and rich bites.

Sip & Cool Down

Refreshing doesn’t stop at the plate. Signature drinks include:

-A tropical iced hot chocolate that nods to après-ski culture.

–Rimal: a cold brew infused with Liwa dates & desert spices.

–The Ghaf: a hibiscus-grapefruit spritz inspired by the UAE’s national tree.

Try the BRIX Experience Menu

Craving more than one dish? The Experience Menu offers curated sets that pair a savoury bite, a drink, and a plated dessert for a laid-back, all-in-one escape—ideal for summer afternoons or creative catch-ups.

BRIX Café Dubai: Redefining Summer with Storytelling & Dessert

Chef Carmen Rueda doesn’t just plate desserts—she performs them. At BRIX Café, every detail tells a story. “Davos in Dubai” is more than a concept—it’s a cool, sensory journey through flavor, texture, and creativity.

Read More on the Digital Magazine Hospitality July