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Five Tips to Make Your Winter Dining Experiences Truly Unforgettable

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By Cory McLeod, Director of Events at Dish Catering

As the UAE embraces its much-anticipated winter season, there’s no better time to celebrate the festive spirit than by dining under the stars. With cooler evenings and stunning open-air venues, outdoor gatherings have become a quintessential way to mark the holiday season. From elegant al fresco dinners to casual garden parties, the magic of dining outdoors adds a unique charm to every celebration.

This year, outdoor dining is about more than just food—it’s about creating an unforgettable atmosphere. Whether it’s the warmth of string lights in a cosy courtyard, a rooftop terrace overlooking the city, or a desert escape surrounded by sand dunes, the UAE’s diverse landscapes offer endless inspiration for the perfect outdoor location. For many, the joy of hosting lies in the little details, from beautifully set tables adorned with seasonal décor to menus that combine traditional festive flavours with a modern twist.

As the food scene in the UAE has evolved to embrace these outdoor experiences, local caterers are rising to the occasion, crafting menus that balance tradition and innovation. Take a classic Christmas dinner, for example. It’s no longer just about turkey and stuffing; festive menus now embrace a wide range of culinary influences, reflecting the diverse tastes and dietary preferences of the UAE’s multicultural community. At the heart of these experiences is the ability to personalise the feast, whether hosting an intimate family dinner or a corporate holiday event.

For those planning large-scale gatherings, the convenience of seamless organisation has become a game-changer. Digital-first approaches are transforming the way events are planned, particularly in corporate settings. Platforms like blastcatering.com enable businesses to customise menus with ease, ensuring that every detail—down to the last dessert—is perfectly tailored to their needs. This level of innovation makes it easier than ever to plan outdoor office parties or client appreciation events that leave a lasting impression.

On the other hand, for private celebrations, attention to the dining experience is paramount. With the likes of Dish Catering, its expertise in curating high-end seasonal menus has become synonymous with luxury outdoor dining in the UAE. By bringing festive flavours to life in spectacular open-air settings, the focus of these caterers is always on delivering dishes that not only taste exquisite but also elevate the overall experience of dining outdoors.

This festive season, outdoor dining is more than just a trend—it’s a celebration of togetherness, creativity, and the beauty of winter in the UAE. With this in mind, here are five tips to make your winter dining experience truly unforgettable—whether you’re hosting at home or planning an office event:

1. Set the Scene with Thoughtful Décor

Transform the outdoor space into a festive haven with a mix of seasonal and natural décor. Fairy lights, lanterns, and candles can create a warm, inviting glow, while table settings featuring greenery, pinecones, and rustic accents will add a touch of winter charm. Personal touches like handwritten place cards or custom menus can elevate the atmosphere and make guests feel special.

2. Serve Seasonal Delights with a Twist

While classics like roasts and mince pies are always a hit, consider offering dishes with a creative twist to surprise guests. Expertly crafted menus can balance festive traditions with innovative flavours, ensuring every bite is a conversation starter. For corporate events, tailored dishes catering to diverse preferences will leave a lasting impression.

3. Keep Guests Warm and Comfortable

Even in the UAE’s mild winter, evenings can get chilly. Provide soft blankets, portable heaters, or fire pits to keep everyone cosy. Offer warm drinks like spiced apple cider, hot chocolate, or mulled beverages as guests arrive to set a welcoming tone and keep spirits high.

4. Add Interactive Elements

Make the gathering even more memorable with interactive live stations, where guests can watch their meals being freshly prepared and personalise dishes to their taste. For an immersive dining experience, live stations bring culinary theatre to life, offering a vibrant range of cuisines to suit every palate. From Latin American and Adriatic flavours to Iberian, American, Asian, and sizzling grill options, these stations add a touch of excitement and sophistication to any event. This dynamic dining experience not only enhances the atmosphere but also creates a unique connection between the food and your guests.

5. Plan for Seamless Dining

For stress-free hosting, opt for dining options that combine convenience with elegance. Whether it’s a buffet-style setup encouraging a relaxed communal vibe, a Carvery Menu that brings hearty favourites to life, a Family-Style Feast designed for sharing and connection, or an elegant Sit-Down Dinner for a more refined experience, the right choice can elevate your event. Effortless coordination is key to making your event shine, and innovation plays a vital role in streamlining the process. For corporate or larger-scale gatherings, platforms that offer digital menu customisation and easy ordering can simplify planning, ensuring every detail is perfectly tailored. With solutions like tech-forward ordering platforms, even the most complex events can run smoothly, allowing you to focus on creating lasting memories. Combining these dining options with seamless organisation ensures an enjoyable experience for both hosts and guests, making your festive celebration truly unforgettable.

Whether you’re gathering with loved ones around a rustic dining table in your garden or hosting a sophisticated soirée on a city rooftop, the possibilities for creating magical moments are boundless. So, embrace the season, savour the flavours, and let the great outdoors set the stage for your most memorable festive celebrations yet.

Hospitality

Rohini Refreshes Its Summer Menu with Two New Lassi Blends

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Rohini, the award winning Indian restaurant at Mövenpick Hotel Jumeirah Lakes Towers, is welcoming the summer season with a new lassi line, bringing two refreshing blends to the menu: the vibrant Very Berry Lassi and the rich Khoya and Coconut Lassi. A refreshing classic, blended to perfection with authentic flavours and a touch of indulgence, the new additions offer guests a cooling counterpoint to Rohini’s daring, spice forward menu.

Known for reimagining Indian classics with a bold, contemporary edge, Rohini has built its identity around unexpected pairings and vibrant presentation, and the new lassi line follows that same spirit. The Very Berry Lassi blends the traditional yoghurt base with fresh, tart berries for a bright, summery profile, while the Khoya and Coconut Lassi leans into rich, creamy notes for a smoother, more indulgent finish. Both are designed to sit comfortably alongside Rohini’s signature dishes, whether as a palate cooling accompaniment or a stand alone treat.

The launch reflects Rohini’s ongoing commitment to keeping its menu responsive to the season, giving regulars and first time diners alike a reason to return as temperatures rise. Guests are invited to explore the delightful selection of refreshing blends crafted to complement the Rohini experience, and discover their favourite sip. The lassi line is now available at Rohini, located within Mövenpick Hotel Jumeirah Lakes Towers, Cluster A, Jumeirah Lake Towers, Dubai.

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Hospitality

MAKE A WEEKEND OF UFC 333 WITH A STAY AT YAS PLAZA HOTELS

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The excitement of UFC 333 is making its way to Etihad Arena ahead of the main fight on Saturday, 24th of October. For fans planning to visit Yas Island, Yas Plaza Hotels brings together six distinct stays, with plenty to enjoy before and after the action.

Yas Island offers an array of stays to complement the energy of fight weekend, giving visitors the perfect opportunity to recharge before the action and unwind after the final bell. Yas Plaza Marina brings a relaxed, contemporary atmosphere, while Yas Plaza Circuit provides a welcoming base for families. Those seeking a more peaceful escape can enjoy the nature-inspired surroundings of Yas Plaza Mangroves, while Yas Plaza Bay offers spacious family suites. Crowne Plaza Yas Island adds a touch of Mediterranean charm, and Staybridge Suites Yas Island caters to guests seeking additional space and comfort with its apartment-style suites. With something to suit every travel style, the excitement extends well beyond the Octagon.

Across the collection, guests can enjoy shared access to pools, wellness and sports facilities, as well as 21 dining venues. It’s an easy way to turn fight night into a longer island escape, with time to gather over a meal, unwind by the pool or make the most of Yas Island between bouts.

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Sun Siyam Expands Its Maldives Guest Offering with Five Distinctive Halloween Experiences

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White sands. Crystal-clear lagoons. Palm trees swaying in the breeze. Not exactly where you would expect to come face-to-face with a horror icon, wander through the strange world of Beetlejuice or find little witches and superheroes trick-or-treating beneath coconut palms. Yet every October, Sun Siyam proves that Halloween and paradise make an unexpectedly perfect match. Across the collection, guests can choose their own Halloween adventure. Lose yourself inside a cinematic horror of Cult Classics production at Siyam World, step into the delightfully strange universe of Beetlejuice at Sun Siyam Olhuveli, celebrate Maldivian traditions beneath the stars at Sun Siyam Iru Fushi, embrace relaxed beachfront festivities at Sun Siyam Iru Veli, or watch little monsters set off on tropical trick-or-treat adventures at Sun Siyam Vilu Reef. Whatever your Halloween personality, there is an island waiting.

Where horror becomes a holiday

At the centre of it all is Siyam World, where Halloween has become something of a legend in its own right. Never one for a handful of pumpkins and a themed buffet, the resort returns with CULT CLASSICS, its boldest Halloween production yet. Inspired by the cult horror films that defined generations, guests are invited to step inside an interactive walkthrough where every corner reveals another surprise. Live performers, cinematic sets, immersive storytelling and unexpected encounters blur the line between audience and performance, creating an experience that is as theatrical as it is thrilling.  Survive the walkthrough and the night is only just beginning. The experience unfolds into a spectacular live production, where cinematic storytelling, immersive sets, theatrical performances and unexpected encounters blur the line between audience and show. It is horror, but with a distinctly Siyam World twist: bigger, bolder, brilliantly over the top and impossible to experience from the sidelines. And when the scares give way to the after-party, DJ and music producer SARRA takes over the decks. Blending Afro House, Afro Tech House, Indie Dance and Latin House, her sound moves through deep grooves, layered percussion and global rhythms, bringing a high-energy electronic soundtrack to the night. Known for building sets that evolve with the dancefloor, SARRA will take CULT CLASSICS from immersive horror spectacle into a Halloween party that keeps going long after the final scare.

The Wonderfully Weird Side of Paradise

At Sun Siyam Olhuveli, guests are invited to leave reality behind and enter the wonderfully weird world of Beetlejuice. Inspired by the cult classic, the resort undergoes a dramatic transformation, where black-and-white stripes, glowing green lighting, theatrical installations and playful surprises turn familiar island spaces into an immersive fantasy. From themed cocktails and imaginative dining to roaming characters and live performances, the island embraces the strange from day into night. Taking over the decks is international DJ Giada Brincè, bringing her signature blend of hypnotic Afro House rhythms and sophisticated electronic sounds to the celebration. Having performed across destinations including Monte Carlo, Mykonos and Italy, and built a global following through her live sets and social channels, Brincè will bring a refined but high-energy soundtrack to Olhuveli’s Halloween night. Expect the wonderfully weird, the theatrical and the unexpected, with a seriously good beat behind it.

At Sun Siyam Iru Fushi, Halloween meets authentic Maldivian hospitality. Guests gather beneath the stars at Islander’s Grill for a beachfront barbecue showcasing freshly caught seafood, premium cuts and Mediterranean and Asian-inspired flavours before the rhythmic energy of a traditional Bodu Beru performance fills the night. The celebrations continue at Water’s Edge with a lively Halloween DJ party where tropical rhythms keep families and friends dancing late into the evening.

At Sun Siyam Iru Veli, Halloween unfolds at an easy island pace. Young guests begin the day with festive crafts at Turtle Kidz Club before the celebrations move to Chemistry Bar for a lively pool party complete with DJ beats, themed drinks and poolside dining. As evening arrives, the island swaps spooky surprises for barefoot elegance with a beachfront Lobster BBQ accompanied by live music beneath the stars.

Meanwhile, at Sun Siyam Vilu Reef, Halloween comes to life with Ocean Haunt, an island-wide celebration where tropical charm meets playful imagination. Families can expect a day filled with music, dancing, face painting, creative crafts and the colourful Little Monsters Parade, while younger guests unleash their creativity decorating ghostly cookies and spooky treats at Turtle Kidz Club. As darkness falls, the festivities continue with a themed beachfront BBQ, where DJ beats, ocean breezes and a touch of island magic transform Halloween into a relaxed celebration beneath the stars. Equal parts family fun and barefoot luxury, Ocean Haunt captures the lighter, more whimsical side of Halloween in paradise.

Whether guests are seeking blockbuster entertainment, immersive fantasy, authentic island celebrations, elegant beachfront evenings or unforgettable family adventures, Sun Siyam offers a Halloween unlike anywhere else in the Maldives. Because Halloween does not have to be wrapped in fog, falling leaves or cobwebs. Sometimes the best scares happen with warm sand beneath your feet, a cocktail in hand and the Indian Ocean quietly watching in the background.

Fear has never looked so good.

For those inspired to swap autumn for the tropics, there has never been a better time to plan an island escape. Sun Siyam Resorts is currently offering a range of exclusive seasonal offers across its Maldivian collection, with added value including savings on accommodation, complimentary transfers, resort credits and signature experiences. Many offers are available for bookings made until 31 October 2026, making Halloween the perfect excuse to discover paradise with a darker twist.

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