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Hospitality
Arada to open Nest Hotel at Aljada this December, introducing a bold new hospitality brand at Sharjah’s premier lifestyle destination
Arada has announced that booking has now begun at Nest Hotel, the first property in its new lifestyle hospitality brand, ahead of the hotel’s formal opening in late December at Aljada, Sharjah’s premier lifestyle destination.
Independently managed by Arada Hospitality and Entertainment and located alongside the Nest Campus student housing complex, the 395-room property is designed to accommodate a wide range of guests including business travellers, families, leisure visitors, long-stay guests, sports groups, and distinctively, students and faculty members.
As a midscale hospitality brand, the Nest Hotel has been designed to grow both elsewhere in the UAE and internationally, either as a standalone property or alongside the Nest Campus concept.
Nest Hotel includes lounges, co-working areas, dining outlets, and direct access to Aljada’s East Boulevard, which features over 100 restaurants, retail, sports and entertainment venues.
The brand incorporates smart technology throughout the guest experience, with a dedicated website that allows travelers to check in, access rooms digitally, manage bookings, and navigate Aljada’s services. Features such as eBike rentals, dining reservations, and high-speed Wi-Fi support a modern, frictionless stay.
Nest Hotel was developed in consultation with students from Sharjah’s University City and the adjoining Nest Campus, incorporating their input into room layouts, co-working zones, and communal spaces, while also offering part-time employment opportunities to provide hands-on hospitality experience during their studies.
Amit Arora, Chief Operating Officer of Arada Hospitality and Entertainment, said: “We’re thrilled to open bookings for travellers to experience Sharjah in a whole new way. Nest Hotel offers a modern stay that captures the lifestyle spirit of Aljada — family-oriented, connected and full of life. It’s the first property ideally located near Sharjah International Airport and University City, catering to growing demand with a variety of room types and smart amenities for students, their families and business travellers alike.”
Nest Hotel room types include Solo, Stylish, Signature, Family and Suites, offering single, twin, king and suite options. The hotel is also the first property in Sharjah to offer guaranteed interconnecting family rooms, paired with a flexible 24-hour check-in and check-out. Guests enjoy the convenience of a complimentary shuttle running between the hotel and Sharjah International Airport.
All rooms feature high-speed internet, smart TVs, and in-room coffee and tea facilities. Onsite amenities include an all-day dining restaurant, café, swimming pool, valet parking, and complimentary access to the Wellfit Sarab gym. Guests also receive discounts at selected dining outlets across Aljada’s top dining outlets including Kashtat Amina, Boost and Hungry Wolves.
Guests at Nest Hotel Aljada benefit from direct access to Al Dhaid Road and Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Road (E311), making travel across Sharjah and the wider UAE convenient. The hotel is just five minutes from Sharjah International Airport and close to University City, the Sharjah Research Technology and Innovation Park (SRTIP), the Sharjah Airport International Free Zone (SAIF Zone), and the upcoming Etihad Rail station.
Nest Hotel supports rising demand from Sharjah’s MICE and leisure tourism sectors, including visitors to Aljada’s own event spaces such as YourSpace and nearby venues like Al Jawaher Reception and Convention Centre and House of Wisdom. With 14.2 million passengers passing through Sharjah International Airport in the first three quarters of this year, the hotel also provides convenient accommodation for guests linked to academic, professional, and community events.
Nest Hotel marks the first opening in Arada’s expanding hospitality portfolio, which will deliver a pipeline of 1,650 hotel keys across the emirate. Upcoming brands include owned and managed properties such as Akala Hotel Dubai, alongside strategic partnerships with Vida, Rove and Anantara, setting new benchmarks for hospitality in the Emirate of Sharjah.
Already home to 20,000 residents, Aljada integrates multiple residential districts with extensive retail, entertainment, sports, education, wellness, hospitality, and commercial components. Madar Mall, the landmark anchor of Aljada’s entertainment district designed by Zaha Hadid Architects, is scheduled for completion in 2028, supporting an estimated 20 million annual visits to Aljada. In 2024 alone, the destination welcomed 8 million visitors.
Hospitality
Stomping Grounds Marks International Coffee Day With Buy One, Get One Free Coffee and Bottomless Filter
Stomping Grounds, the Aussie-owned café in Jumeirah 1, is marking International Coffee Day with an offer built around one simple idea: have another cup or three! On Thursday, 1 October 2026, guests who buy any coffee can pick one of two ways to keep going:
•Taking it away? Buy any coffee and get a second one of the same, free.
•Dining in? Enjoy bottomless filter coffee all day.
This year’s International Coffee Day is the first since the United Nations General Assembly formally recognised 1 October in March 2026, acknowledging the millions of farming households whose livelihoods depend on coffee.
“Every cup we pour started with one hardworking farmer and their family. They put in the hard yards all year, then we grind a few grams, push a couple buttons, pull a lever or two, draw a little leaf with the milk and take all the compliments, ” said Ryan Godinho, founder of Stomping Grounds. “So have another cup, ask the team where it came from, and give a quiet nod to everyone who got it here. We’ve been at this since 2015, and the best part is still seeing someone who popped in for a quick coffee settle in an hour later, second cup in hand, chatting with our team. That’s the whole idea.”
The coffee is roasted in Dubai by its partners at Specialty Batch, who have been pioneering the UAE’s specialty coffee scene since 2011 and have filled every grinder at Stomping Grounds since day one. The menu runs from its house blends through to rotating single origins and seasonal micro lots.
On the day, the filter brews will rotate through exceptional coffees from Brazil, Kenya, El Salvador and Colombia. Four countries, no passport required.
The baristas are trained, know their stuff and love a coffee chat. Guests can discover a new favourite micro lot or simply get a recommendation based on what they normally drink.
Whether you stick to your usual order, try something new or settle in for a bottomless cup of filter, it’s a good day to drink a little more and find out what you like.
About Stomping Grounds
Tucked away in Jumeirah 1, off the main roads and away from the malls, Stomping Grounds is an escape from the hustle: close enough to the water for a post coffee wander, far enough from the traffic that you can actually hear yourself think. Owner-operated since opening in 2015, it has a warm, rustic vibe, a menu built for people who properly enjoy eating, and an exceptional coffee programme roasted locally by Specialty Batch. It’s pet-friendly, so four-legged regulars are welcome too, and the team are switched on hospo professionals who care about the details, from the first coffee of the morning to the last plate out of the kitchen.
There’s plenty of free parking nearby, which makes life that much easier. Breakfast, lunch, dinner, afternoon tea, a quick cuppa, a laptop session, or one of those “I’ll just pop in for a coffee” visits that somehow turns into brunch. Happens to the best of us.
Terms:
Valid Thursday, 1 October 2026 only, during opening hours. Takeaway: one free coffee per coffee purchased; the free coffee must be the same drink, same size, and
is served on the same visit. Bottomless filter coffee is for dine-in guests only and runs all day with any coffee purchase. Cannot be combined with other offers. While coffee stocks last.
Details
Location: Villa 98, 12D Street (corner of 51st Street), Jumeirah 1, Dubai | Phone: +971 4 344 4451 | Hours: Monday-Thursday: 7:30am to 8pm; Friday-Sunday: 7:30am to 11pm | Instagram: instagram.com/stompinggroundsdxb | Website: stompinggrounds.me
TYAM – Tbilisi Youth Art Market is launching its first exhibition project in Tbilisi. The project brings together emerging and independent artists, galleries, collectors, cultural institutions, and international experts from the art world.
The event will take place from September 25–27, 2026, at the National Palace of Youth, on Rustaveli Avenue in Tbilisi. TYAM is a new platform created to support young and independent artists, increase their visibility, and establish connections with the broader art market.
The first edition brings together artists working in Georgia and abroad under the theme “COEXISTENCE.” The concept reflects the meeting of different generations, artistic practices, perspectives, and approaches within one shared creative space.
The programme includes an Art Market section, public and panel discussions featuring international guests, opportunities for professional networking and the development of an artistic network, as well as a special VIP programme. TYAM aims to become a new point of attraction for Georgia’s and the international creative community, connecting artists with collectors, galleries, institutions, and the wider public.
- TYAM 2026, September 25–27, 2026
- National Palace, Rustaveli Avenue, Tbilisi, Georgia
- Tbilisi Youth Art Market
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.
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