The famed Tokyo ramen atelier Konjiki Hototogisu, led by Chef Yamamoto, is excited to introduce two brand-new signature ramen in Dubai, Duck Shoyu Ramen and Chicken Edamame Wonton Ramen. These additions mark a new chapter in the brand’s journey of blending Japanese craftsmanship with Dubai’s evolving dining scene.

Handpicked by Chef Yamamoto-san following strong guest demand, the two new ramen dishes continue the brand’s commitment to authentic, artfully balanced flavours.

The Duck Shoyu Ramen presents a deeply layered broth made with duck and Japanese dashi, complemented by mushroom fig sauce and truffle pistachio sauce, and finished with tender duck chashu. It showcases the chef’s meticulous attention to flavour and texture, offering a bowl that feels indulgent yet refined. In contrast, the Chicken Edamame Wonton Ramen brings a gentler harmony of flavours, combining a cloudy chicken and scallop broth with basil paste, edamame and rolled chicken chashu. Light yet satisfying, it offers a comforting warmth that highlights Konjiki’s ability to create depth even in simplicity.

Chef Yamamoto-san recently visited Dubai to mark the official opening of the new Palm Jumeirah Mall branch, located on Level 1, a milestone moment for the Michelin-recognised ramen house as it continues to expand Tokyo’s celebrated ramen culture across the UAE. The new restaurant builds on the success of Konjiki Hototogisu’s Mall of the Emirates branch, which has earned the Michelin Bib Gourmand in both 2024 and 2025.

The Palm Jumeirah Mall location reflects Konjiki’s dedication to precision and authenticity, translated into a welcoming setting that mirrors the artistry of every bowl. Guests can expect a dining experience rooted in Japanese culinary philosophy while embracing Dubai’s growing appetite for quality and creativity in gastronomy.

Exclusive Interview with Steve Swenson – Senior Director, Product and Marketing, Secure Issuance, HID FARGO

What are the key innovations HID is showcasing this year at GITEX Global, and how do they reflect the company’s vision for a better, more secure, and connected digital ecosystem?

Okay, sure, great question. So here at the show today, we’re showcasing a line of HID FARGO printers. FARGO is a strong and storied brand for HID in the desktop issuance space. We are specifically showing our full line of retransfer and DTC printers. One printer in particular that we’re showcasing is our new HDP5000e, which is a refresh of a long and storied product for the Fargo brand.

The HDP5000e has a number of important updates to strengthen overall performance, improve output and processing power, and reinforce reliability ensuring the product can stand up to the rigor of our customers’ needs. It also includes usability enhancements to streamline the issuance and card creation process, and strong end-to-end security with AES encryption and resin scramble technology to protect leftover data after cards are created.

We’re also talking about our HID FARGO Connect technology, which is a cloud-based software that allows organizations with complex issuance processes to remotely manage devices, create credentials from one location, and print them at another. This is particularly important for enterprise and healthcare customers with distributed operations.

It’s an exciting time for the HID FARGO business. We’re doing a lot to strengthen the product line and build on our reputation. You mentioned how this connects to HID’s broader vision when we look at issuance processes, they can be quite complex. Customers want high quality visual credentials with secure encoding and durability. Our strategy with the HID FARGO line is to create robust end-to-end solutions that streamline issuance and help organizations operate efficiently.

HID serves a wide range of sectors—from finance to hospitality to transportation. How do you tailor your solutions to meet the unique identity and access management needs of such diverse industries?

Great question. One of the most fundamental things we do as a business is to study and understand the different needs of those sectors. We create a range of solutions—high-end retransfer printers for speed, quality, and resolution, and DTC products for lighter applications. All of our products are modular, allowing customers to configure them according to their specific issuance and organizational requirements.

We complement that with high-quality consumables such as ribbons, overlaminates, and visual security features, as well as software for both desktop and cloud-based issuance. Another key part of our approach is our partner network. HID FARGO doesn’t sell directly to end customers because we understand that every customer has unique needs. Our partners work closely with end users to understand their requirements and collaborate with HID to deliver custom solutions. This combination of modular products, software, and local expertise ensures each customer gets exactly what they need.

In sectors such as hospitality and retail, convenience is key. How is HID leveraging digital identity, mobile access, and cloud-based issuance to create smoother and more secure guest experiences?

Great question. Going back to understanding the end user, we study every aspect of the issuance process. Creating an ID credential can be complex, so we focus on making it simple from setup to configuration. The HID FARGO business invests in strong out-of-box experiences, easy instructions, and partner support to help customers get up and running quickly.

For card design and creation, we provide intuitive software solutions, whether on premise or cloud based. For customers managing large fleets of printers, our cloud solutions allow them to monitor device status, print to multiple locations, and design credentials centrally. We also invest heavily in technical support both directly and through our partners to minimize downtime and quickly resolve any issues.

The Middle East is witnessing diverse growth in digital infrastructure and smart technologies. What is HID’s priority for its 2025 vision and beyond?

It goes back to what we just discussed bringing all these components together to help organizations create secure, durable, and visually robust credentials efficiently. Organizations don’t exist to create credentials, but they all need them to manage access and identity.

Our goal is to take the power of HID’s technology and turn it into simple, easy to understand, and customizable solutions for each user, supported by a strong partner network that provides a complete solution. If we can do that, we’re truly harnessing the full power of HID to meet the most important issuance needs of our customers.

London Gate, UAE’s premium real estate developer, and Swiss luxury watchmaker Franck Muller have reached major construction progress across their branded residences portfolio, marking another chapter of success in their expanding strategic partnership.

Their debut project, Aeternitas, which sold out within three months, is now making impressive headway, having reached the 75^th floor. The substructure for the world’s tallest residential tower is 100% complete, and the superstructure is over 70% finished. The project is on track for handover in Q4 2027, setting a new benchmark for precision, craftsmanship, and luxury in Dubai’s branded real estate landscape.

Vanguard, the second collaboration between London Gate and Franck Muller, has also sold out and is making steady progress toward its Q3 2027 handover. Construction has already reached the 18th floor. Located in the heart of Dubai Marina, The Vanguard showcases the distinctive design and timeless sophistication that both brands are known for.

Building on this success, London Gate and Franck Muller are finalising details for their third branded tower. The upcoming project, set to be officially unveiled soon, represents the growing synergy in their partnership and their shared vision to redefine luxury living through innovative design and architectural excellence.

Eman Taha, CEO of London Gate, said: “Our partnership with Franck Muller grows stronger with every project. These construction milestones reflect our shared commitment to excellence. From Aeternitas reaching its 75^th floor to Vanguard’s steady progress, we’re equally excited about our upcoming announcement. Together, we’re creating a legacy of branded residences that blend Swiss precision with Dubai’s dynamic skyline and shaping the future of luxury living.”

Erol Baliyan, Managing Director of Franck Muller, added: “When we first entered the real estate world, it was an exciting venture into uncharted territory. Now, it’s become a core part of Franck Muller’s long-term vision, thanks to our partnership with London Gate. The progress we’re seeing on both projects goes beyond construction timelines — it reflects how well our values align around craftsmanship, innovation, and creating something timeless. Dubai has proven to be the ideal setting for this collaboration to grow and push boundaries.”

Every Franck Muller-branded residence represents a unique fusion of two distinct legacies coming together. London Gate brings its expertise in transforming Dubai’s skyline with architectural innovation and design excellence, while Franck Muller contributes over three decades of horological mastery and Swiss precision. Together, they’re creating something entirely new — luxury towers that aren’t just buildings but living expressions of craftsmanship and artistry.