Hospitality

BREWED TO PERFECTION

Published

3 months ago

November 24, 2025

Integrator Web-Editor

Michael Aldendorff, Managing Director of Sage, professional black and white portrait photograph

Exclusive Interview with Michael Aldendorff, Managing Director, Sage

From its Breville heritage to the Sage identity today, how has the brand’s philosophy evolved, especially when catering to professional kitchens, homes and hotels alike?
Our heritage lies in Breville’s engineering-led approach to creating appliances defined by precision and performance. When the Group expanded globally, it introduced the Sage® brand in markets such as the UK, Europe and the Middle East, since the Breville name was already owned by a third party in these regions. This gave us a company-owned identity that delivers the same global innovation while resonating with local consumers.

Coffee has always been at the center of that journey. What began as engineering for performance has evolved into what is now known as third-wave coffee at home, where origin, flavor integrity and ritual matter as much as caffeine. Guided by our “Food Thinking” ethos, we work with baristas, chefs and consumers to translate challenges into “Simple Moments of Brilliance.”

Today this means “Mastery in a Box”: intuitive appliances that empower people to achieve café-quality results at home and “Master Every Moment” with family and friends.

As Managing Director, how do you identify emerging trends in hospitality and dining that could inspire the next generation of Sage products?
The most important thing is to spend time in our customers’ kitchens, listening, observing and learning. Trends do not appear overnight; they grow from cultural and lifestyle shifts. In coffee, the growing focus on wellness has meant cleaner flavors, less sugar and a stronger emphasis on origin and brewing style. At the same time, entertaining at home has become more experiential, with the kitchen increasingly acting as the stage.

We also look closely at the café world, since what happens behind the bar often sets the tone for what people later want at home. Guided by our “Food Thinking” ethos, we translate those insights into innovations we describe as “Mastery in a Box.” By the time cold brew or plant-based milk became mainstream at home, Sage had already anticipated the shift, giving consumers the ability to create café-quality experiences with confidence in their own kitchens.

Sage just rolled deep into the UAE market with the Luxe Precision Brewer and Oracle Jet with cold functions—so tell us, what’s the vibe behind bringing such café-level tech into hospitality ecosystems here?
The UAE is one of the most dynamic coffee landscapes in the world, where tradition and innovation exist side by side. Consumers here are highly discerning, well-traveled and passionate about food and drink, and their expectations at home are shaped by the quality they encounter in specialty cafés. Introducing products like the Luxe Precision Brewer and the Oracle Jet with cold functions is about making that same level of craftsmanship accessible in domestic kitchens.

Ultimately, it is about elevating the domestic ritual. A guest visiting your home in Dubai might expect their morning coffee to be just as refined as the one they would order in a café. By bringing this level of technology into the home, Sage helps people transform everyday routines into memorable experiences, whether it is a family breakfast or an evening with friends.

Cold beverages have become central to menus in the Middle East’s climate. How do Sage’s latest innovations answer this growing hospitality trend?
In the Middle East, cold coffee is not just a seasonal refreshment but a year-round staple. What began as a niche has quickly become a central part of home coffee culture. Consumers now expect more than a simple iced coffee; they want cold brews, iced lattes and flash-brewed pour-overs with the same flavor integrity and depth as hot coffee.

Our latest machines, particularly the Oracle Jet, were designed with this in mind. They do more than brew coffee that is later chilled; they deliver extractions tailored to cold beverages, ensuring that flavor remains vibrant and authentic. For home entertainers, this versatility is transformative. One machine can produce a perfect morning espresso, a refreshing iced latte in the afternoon and a clean, balanced cold brew for dinner guests. This flexibility allows people to explore their creativity, expand their repertoire and surprise their guests while keeping the process simple and consistent.

Coffee in the Middle East isn’t just about caffeine—it’s about flavor notes, from earthy to savory. How do Sage machines ensure these subtler profiles are preserved?
Coffee in this region is cultural, artisanal, and steeped in tradition. It’s less about the caffeine hit and more about the flavor journey. Preserving those nuances is at the heart of our engineering. Sage machines employ technologies like PID temperature control, low-pressure pre-infusion, and adjustable flow rates to ensure precise and repeatable extractions. These details may sound technical, but they translate into something very tangible at home: the floral notes in an Ethiopian roast or the earthy richness of Yemeni beans can shine through rather than being lost.

We also focus heavily on grind precision and milk texturing. Many of the subtler flavor profiles are diminished when paired with poorly textured milk or an inconsistent grind. By controlling these variables, our machines protect the integrity of the bean and the craft of the roaster. For home users, that means confidence—whether they’re making a quick morning coffee or hosting a tasting evening, every cup lives up to its promise.

What role do you see Sage playing in shaping coffee tasting menus—where coffee is paired with specific courses, desserts, or even savory dishes in fine dining?
This is one of the most exciting trends we are seeing: coffee moving beyond the end of the meal and becoming part of the broader hospitality experience at home. More and more people want to explore coffee in new ways, treating it as something to be discovered, shared and celebrated.

Sage’s role is to make this exploration accessible. Our machines allow users to fine-tune every variable, from grind size to temperature to extraction time, so they can highlight flavor notes and create moments that feel truly personal. For some, this might mean experimenting with pairings, while for others it is simply about elevating the daily ritual.

For us, success is when coffee becomes more than a beverage. It becomes a tool for creativity, connection and shared experience in the home.

Hospitality

A SIZZLING VALENTINE’S ROMANCE AT MARRIOTT AL FORSAN

Published

8 hours ago

February 10, 2026

Integrator Web-Editor

Indulge in a romantic four-course dinner paired with a bottle of Prosecco

Celebrate love this Valentine’s Day with an intimate dining experience at The Grill, Marriott Al Forsan. Couples are invited to indulge in a sizzling four-course dinner, thoughtfully crafted for the occasion and perfectly paired with a bottle of Prosecco.

Set against a warm and elegant ambiance, it’s the ideal setting for a memorable night together.

Date: Saturday, 14^th February
Time: 6:30 PM – 11:30 PM
Venue: The Grill, Marriott Al Forsan, Abu Dhabi

Hospitality

PROJECT CHAIWALA AND OATLY INTRODUCE THE KARAK CLUB AT DXB AIRPORT

Published

8 hours ago

February 10, 2026

Integrator Web-Editor

Project Chaiwala (PCW), Dubai’s homegrown chai brand founded in 2017 by Justin Joseph and Ahmed Kazim, has partnered with Swedish oat-based dairy alternative brand Oatly to launch The Karak Club, exclusively at Dubai International Airport (DXB). For a limited time, the world’s busiest international airport will welcome travellers from every corner of the globe to experience the UAE’s beloved karak chai with a plant-based twist.

With the support of travel and retail partner Lagardère Travel Retail, The Karak Club will be live across DXB Terminal 3 and select Terminal 1 outlets from December 15, 2025, to February 15, 2026. The concept reimagines Dubai’s unofficial national drink using Oatly’s non-dairy alternatives in innovative formats such as iced chai, smoothies, shakes, and soft serve. Travellers can also purchase limited-edition merchandise, including postcards, custom playing cards, luggage tags, stickers, and tote bags, celebrating the collaboration.

“This is Project Chaiwala showcasing Dubai’s unique flavour to the world through Oatly’s plant-based magic, turning karak from a fresh milk tradition into a global lifestyle experience,” said Ahmed Kazim, Co-founder of Project Chaiwala.

“Born from our first Karak Club community event at Project Chaiwala’s Cinema Akil flagship in Alserkal Avenue, this DXB edition targets young, global urban travellers seeking authentic flavours of Dubai’s third-culture identity in a modern, accessible way. As a homegrown brand with global aspirations, we’re proud to champion Dubai’s multicultural spirit at DXB, following our representations at SXSW 2025 with Museum of the Future, EXPO 2020, and COP28,” added Justin Joseph, Co-founder of Project Chaiwala.

“We’re honoured to bring the Karak Club to DXB, one of the world’s cultural melting pots, through our collaboration with Project Chaiwala and Lagardère Travel Retail UAE. Together, we’re celebrating the heritage of karak chai, reimagined with Oatly as a delicious alternative to the traditional dairy-based drink. In a moment of taste bonanza and rising non-coffee based beverages, Project Chaiwala’s creativity and Lagardère’s commitment to delivering lifestyle experiences at DXB enable us to bridge cultures through flavour for travellers and the wider airport community”, says Dimitri de Martignac, Regional Director Oatly MEA.

Founded after countless chai breaks between Justin Joseph and Ahmed Kazim during their time as colleagues in Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC), Project Chaiwala was inspired by the founders’ brainstorming sessions and travels to Darjeeling and West Bengal’s tea estates, inspired by their love for getting the perfect cup of chai. Their first pop-up at Etisalat Beach Canteen led to the opening of the flagship Cinema Akil café in Alserkal Avenue in 2018, a cultural hub that captures the brand’s ethos of “Blending Tradition, Brewing Innovation.” The café’s offerings include the signature Clove-Chocolate Karak, vada pav, cheese toast, spicy chana, and Karak Groove Sessions with local DJs.

Evolving from a lifestyle café into an omnichannel brand, Project Chaiwala successfully pivoted during the 2020 pandemic, expanding into packaged retail with handcrafted tea blends now available at Spinneys, ENOC, Careem, Noon, and Amazon. The brand currently employs over 20 team members across café, retail, and B2B operations — including corporate outlets at ENBD and Standard Chartered, and more than 100 HORECA accounts. Through proceeds from its clay kulhar cups, Project Chaiwala supports ethical initiatives promoting education, clean water access, and women’s empowerment.

Activation Locations at DXB:

● Project Chaiwala, Concourse C, S34, Terminal 3

● Project Chaiwala, Daily DXB, Concourse B, Terminal 3

● Project Chaiwala, Concourse A, Terminal 3

● FIX Coffee, Daily DXB, Terminal 1

Hospitality

DUBAI’S HAG AL LEILA CELEBRATIONS DRAW STRONG ENGAGEMENT ACROSS CITYWIDE ACTIVATIONS

Published

1 day ago

February 9, 2026

Integrator Web-Editor

Families and children queue around a colourful HAG AL LEILA activation inside a Dubai shopping mall, where staff distribute sweets and lead festive activities in a decorated central atrium

Dubai’s Hag Al Leila celebrations concluded this week with strong engagement across a wide-ranging programme of community, cultural, and destination-based activations, marking the opening moment of the Season of Wulfa and setting the tone for the Holy Month of Ramadan.

Observed across the city, Hag Al Leila in Dubai brought residents and visitors together through shared moments rooted in generosity, participation, and the exchange of sweets. From heritage-led experiences and neighbourhood gatherings to activations in major destinations, the programme reflected how the tradition continues to be lived and shared across generations.

Across the programme, activations recorded strong footfall and sustained participation, with high levels of engagement from families, children, and wider communities. Public response reinforced Hag Al Leila’s role as a shared cultural moment, experienced through familiar rituals that encourage connection, participation, and a gentle transition into the reflective rhythm of Ramadan.

Key activations across Dubai helped translate the tradition into diverse contemporary settings while remaining grounded in cultural authenticity. Dubai Hills Mall hosted one of the season’s most visible celebrations, adapting the traditional door-to-door custom into a guided, child-led experience within a major retail destination. Cultural institutions led by Dubai Culture delivered neighbourhood-rooted programming, including heritage trails, workshops, and creative activities designed to introduce younger audiences to the meaning and rituals of the occasion.

Dubai Municipality activated public spaces and community venues across the city, embedding Hag Al Leila within everyday neighbourhood life and ensuring broad public access to the celebration. At the Museum of the Future, the tradition was reimagined through an interactive cultural programme combining storytelling and hands-on activities, while the Knowledge and Human Development Authority’s student design initiative, delivered in collaboration with Patchi, engaged young people directly in cultural storytelling through contemporary creative expression. More than 45 activations unfolded across retail destinations, cultural venues, and community hubs, delivered in collaboration with a range of public and private partners as part of the wider Season of Wulfa programme.

Muna Faisal Al Gurg, CEO of the Museums and Heritage Sector at Dubai Culture, affirmed the Authority’s commitment to raising awareness of Hag Al Leila’s cultural significance, saying: “Hag Al Leila represents an authentic Emirati tradition that reflects the essence of our heritage and embodies generosity, kindness, and tolerance. It is also a powerful expression of our pride in our national identity. Through this initiative, we aim to strengthen community engagement, introduce the youth to our customs, and deepen their sense of belonging.”

Al Gurg added: “Each year, we celebrate this occasion through programmes hosted across our cultural sites to highlight the meaning, symbolism, and beauty of Hag Al Leila. We seek to preserve the custom in the Emirati collective memory, underscore its value, and showcase how it fosters harmony within the community. These efforts also help future generations connect with their roots and cultivate national pride.

Ahmed Al Khaja, CEO of Dubai Festivals and Retail Establishment (DFRE), said: “Hag Al Leila continues to resonate because it is experienced in familiar, shared spaces across the city. This year’s programme demonstrated how simple, community-centred moments can create meaningful connections, particularly for younger generations. The strong engagement we saw across activations reflects the city’s appreciation for traditions that bring people together and naturally set the tone for the Holy Month of Ramadan.”

With Hag Al Leila setting the tone across the city, the Season of Wulfa now moves into its next phase, as Dubai prepares to observe Ramadan through a programme of cultural, community, and citywide experiences shaped by reflection, connection, and shared responsibility.