Hospitality
Cluster 2 Signs an Agreement to Advance Smart Airport Operations in Saudi Arabia
Airbus Defence and Space has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Cluster 2 at the Paris Air Show to deliver next generation digital solutions that enhance airport efficiency, security, and collaboration across Saudi Arabia. The ceremony was attended by H.E. Abdulaziz Al-Duailej, President of the General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA), Wouter Van Wersch, Executive Vice President of Airbus International, Gabriel Semelas, President of Airbus in Middle East and Africa, and Mr. Saad A. Alajlan, General Manager of Commercial Operations and Business Development at Cluster 2.
The partnership will introduce advanced technologies including Agnet Turnaround by Airbus , a smart platform that enables real-time coordination of airport operations. This will empower Cluster 2 to streamline workflows, enhance on-time performance and elevate the passenger experience across its network of 22 international and domestic airports.
Through this MoU, Airbus and Cluster 2 aim to raise operational standards, improve situational awareness and drive seamless collaboration between ground staff, security teams and control rooms.
“This partnership underscores our commitment to driving digital innovation in aviation. With Agnet Turnaround, we are enabling smarter, safer and more connected airports that align with the Kingdom’s vision for the future of transportation.”, said Antoun Farra, Managing Director of Airbus Defence and Space in Saudi Arabia.
“Airports are vital gateways to the Kingdom, and digital transformation is at the heart of our strategy. Partnering with Airbus allows us to enhance safety, reduce response times and create a unified operations ecosystem across our airports.”, commented Eng. Badr Al-Dalami, Chief Executive Officer of Cluster 2.
With multiple communication and automation capabilities, Agnet Turnaround is a smart and secure solution which aims at solving daily operational challenges for aviation stakeholders and enhancing On Time Performance (OTP).
Hospitality
COFFEE PLANET CELEBRATES SAUDI NATIONAL DAY WITH A TRIBUTE TO THE STORIES, MEMORIES AND PRIDE OF THE KINGDOM
This Saudi National Day, Coffee Planet is inviting customers to celebrate the Kingdom through the memories, messages and everyday moments that make it feel like home.
As part of the celebrations on 23 September, Coffee Planet cafés in Hail and King Abdullah Financial District (KAFD), Riyadh, will be dressed for the occasion with Saudi flags and National Day decorations, creating a festive setting for customers to enjoy with friends and family.
At the centre of the celebration will be a Memory Board, where customers can leave a short message sharing their feelings, memories or pride for Saudi Arabia. The initiative will bring together personal reflections from visitors throughout the celebrations, creating a collective expression of what the Kingdom means to the people who live, work and spend time here.


Customers will also be invited to enjoy complimentary coffee and a dessert, adding to the relaxed National Day experience and giving visitors another reason to pause, gather and celebrate together.
The activation will take place at Garden Mall in Hail and KAFD in Riyadh, two locations that reflect the brand’s growing presence in the Kingdom.

For Coffee Planet, the National Day celebration is a natural extension of the role its cafés play in bringing people together, whether over a morning coffee, a catch-up with friends or a shared moment with family.
“Saudi National Day is about celebrating the Kingdom and the people who make it what it is,” said Allan Jones, Founder and Chairman of Coffee Planet. “We wanted to create an experience that gives our customers a chance to share their own memories and feelings of pride, while enjoying a simple moment together over coffee. It is a small gesture, but one that reflects the warmth and connection at the heart of the occasion.”
With Saudi Arabia’s coffee culture continuing to evolve, Coffee Planet has seen growing demand for premium specialty coffee and café experiences across the Kingdom.
“Saudi National Day is a proud moment for all of us at HB Brands and an opportunity to celebrate the Kingdom’s remarkable journey, its people, and its ambitions for the future,” said Abdullah Ihlaiel, Group Marketing & Business Development Director, HB Brands. “As Coffee Planet continues to grow in Saudi Arabia, our focus is not only on expanding the brand’s presence, but on building a meaningful connection with the communities we serve. We are proud to be part of this journey and to celebrate this special occasion together with our customers across the Kingdom.”
The celebration reflects the spirit of Saudi National Day 2026 and its theme, ‘Our Pride is in Our Nature’, while giving customers an opportunity to mark the occasion in a way that feels personal, social and rooted in community.
Hospitality
CHEF SARADHI DAKARA BRINGS THE MEDITERRANEAN TO THE TABLE WITH NEW VIVA ORILLA BRUNCH
Orilla, the chef-led MediterrAsian restaurant from Saradhi Dakara and Stellar Society Group, is entering a new season with a renewed focus on the things at the heart of the restaurant: Mediterranean-inspired food, generous hospitality, music, community and the pleasure of sharing a table.
Set on the 27th floor of Hotel Local, Autograph Collection by Marriott, in Jumeirah Village Triangle, Orilla brings together the flavours of the Mediterranean coast with subtle Asian influences, drawing on Chef Saradhi’s travels, memories and nearly two decades working in Dubai’s culinary scene.
At the centre of the new season is Orilla’s Family Sharing Brunch, taking place every Saturday from 12.30pm to 4pm. Designed around the Mediterranean tradition of gathering around the table, the experience brings guests a selection of dishes served for sharing, including tomato salad, salmon roll, beef carpaccio, garden maki, baba ganoush, focaccina, risotto ai gamberi, rigate alla Norma, tagliata and koji chicken, followed by desserts including doughnuts and chocolate mousse.
The brunch is available with Soft, House and Prosecco packages, with children under seven dining free and a dedicated children’s menu available for younger guests.


Champagne also plays a starring role at VIva Orilla with bottles of Perrier-Jouët Grand Brut NV available at AED600 and Bollinger Special Cuvée NV at AED650, offering guests the opportunity to make the weekend experience a little more celebratory.
“Orilla has always been about more than the food,” says Chef Saradhi Dakara. “It is about the feeling you get when you sit down, the people you are with, the music, the hospitality and the memories you take away with you. The Mediterranean has always been about that sense of community and generosity, and this season is about bringing even more of that spirit to Orilla.”
For Saradhi, Orilla represents a particularly personal chapter. After spending 10 years with The Maine Group and helping shape its growth, he created Stellar Society to develop concepts through his own culinary voice. His experiences across Dubai, London, Ibiza and Bodrum continue to influence the way he approaches food, hospitality and the spaces around it.
“Orilla” means shore in Spanish: a meeting point where cultures, journeys and experiences come together. That idea remains central to the restaurant: a place to eat, drink, listen to music and spend time together, from a long weekend lunch overlooking the Dubai skyline to a late evening around the bar.
Beyond brunch, Orilla’s weekly programme continues to bring different sides of its personality to life. Sunset Rituals run on weekdays from 4pm to 8pm, while After Shift offers three beverages for AED100 on Mondays and Tuesdays, Wednesdays feature Mi Amor, with complimentary wine for ladies at the bar, and Fridays introduce Neighbourhood Nights, built around community and a three-course dinner.
Every second and fourth Sunday, R&B Sundays bring a live DJ, two-course menu and late-afternoon energy to the rooftop. A new Comedy Night will also be announced soon, with all-you-can-eat sushi on the menu.
The programme reflects Chef Saradhi’s belief that a restaurant should be somewhere guests want to return to regularly, not just a place to visit once.
The menu is inspired by the coastal towns and cultures that have shaped Saradhi’s culinary journey. His approach is rooted in seasonality, ingredient-led cooking and storytelling, with each dish intended to connect guests to a place, memory or experience.
The new season also marks the continued development of Stellar Society Group, the UAE-based hospitality company co-founded by Chef Saradhi Dakara and US restaurateur Utkarsh Patel. Orilla is the group’s first concept, representing the beginning of a wider hospitality vision centred on ingredient-led dining, thoughtful execution, authenticity, community and craft.
Viva Orilla Information
- When: Every Saturday, 12.30pm-4pm | How Much: AED275 (soft drinks), AED390 (house package), AED475 (prosecco) | Free (kids under seven), A la carte (kids seven-12), AED150 (kids 12 and above) | Where: Orilla, Hotel Local Dubai, Jumeirah Village Triangle | To Book: +971 04 575 2986
Hospitality
Al Bustan Centre & Residence concludes successful participation at Arabian Travel Market 2026
Al Bustan Centre & Residence concluded a successful participation at Arabian Travel Market (ATM) 2026, where it connected with travel industry partners and explored new business opportunities across the GCC, Europe, CIS, Asia and other international markets.
During the exhibition, the established Dubai hotel apartment property held productive discussions with tour operators, destination management companies, travel agencies, corporate travel partners and international buyers. The meetings focused on building long-term partnerships that can generate sustainable, year-round business.

The property also highlighted the growing demand for accommodation that combines hotel services with the comfort, space and flexibility of a home. This trend is creating new opportunities across corporate accommodation, relocation, extended stays, family travel and group business.
Moussa El Hayek, Chief Operating Officer of Al Bustan Centre & Residence, said the positive response received during ATM reflected the travel industry’s continued confidence in Dubai as a global destination for tourism, business and long-term living.
“Our participation at Arabian Travel Market was highly productive and gave us an important opportunity to reconnect with existing partners while meeting new buyers and travel professionals from several international markets,” El Hayek said.
“Dubai continues to demonstrate that tourism growth is not only about increasing visitor numbers; it is about building a complete destination where people can visit, work, live and return. For hotel apartments such as Al Bustan Centre & Residence, that creates a strong opportunity to serve the evolving needs of today’s traveller.”
Dubai’s combination of tourism, business, lifestyle and residential opportunities has created a broad hospitality ecosystem. Travellers may initially visit for a holiday, meeting or event before returning for work, investment, relocation or a longer stay.
Al Bustan Centre & Residence differentiates itself by providing spacious accommodation, flexible short- and long-stay options, convenient connectivity and facilities that support guests’ everyday needs. The property continues to modernise and adapt its services in response to changing expectations.
Technology and sustainability were also central to the property’s discussions at ATM. Al Bustan believes digital solutions should simplify the guest experience and improve operational efficiency while preserving the personal service at the heart of hospitality.
The property recently received the Dubai Sustainable Tourism Stamp 2025 – Hotel Apartment Standard, awarded by the Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism. The recognition reflects its ongoing commitment to responsible hospitality, supported by its long-standing collaboration with Emirates Environmental Group and participation in environmental initiatives.
“Sustainability must become part of everyday hotel operations rather than simply being treated as a marketing initiative,” El Hayek added.
Following ATM 2026, Al Bustan Centre & Residence will continue discussions with potential partners while strengthening its presence across traditional and emerging source markets.
“We look forward to building on the conversations held at ATM and developing practical, long-term collaborations that create value for our partners and support Dubai’s continued tourism growth,” El Hayek concluded.
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