For those who believe there is no such thing as too much cheese, Nando’s UAE is bringing a richer, more indulgent twist to its menu this May, layering its signature flame-grilled PERi-PERi chicken with melted cheese, creamy sauces and comfort driven sides.

Launching from 7th May, the limited time menu leans into familiar favourites, reworked with a more decadent edge, where flame-grilled heat meets soft, melty finishes and deeper, savoury flavours.

At the centre of the line up are two new gourmet burger meals. The PERi-Cheese Chicken Burger pairs juicy chicken thighs with a melted cheese slice and a smooth, creamy cheese sauce, balanced with lettuce, tomato and crunchy onions in a toasted potato bun. The Mighty Chicken & Mushroom Burger offers a slightly richer take, layered with caramelised mushrooms and red onion, finished with the same signature cheese sauce.

Beyond the burgers, the Cheesy Loaded Garlic Bread brings a bold new appeteaser to the table, topped with pulled chicken, caramelised onion and melted mozzarella. The PERi-Mac & Cheese also makes its highly anticipated UAE debut, bringing a much-loved Nando’s favourite from other markets with a comforting, creamy base and a subtle PERi-PERi kick, finished with a crunchy, garlicky crumb.

Designed for everything from quick midweek lunches to easy, laid back dinners, the menu is available across Nando’s UAE for a limited time, with prices starting from AED 24 and gourmet burger meals from AED 69 including a regular side.

Details

• When: From 7th May | Where: Nando’s restaurants across the UAE | How much: Prices start from AED 24, with gourmet burger meals from AED 69 including one regular side | Available for: A limited time only

By Twinkle Aswani, editorial division, Integrator Media

In a region defined by ambition, agility, and world-class service standards, the hospitality sector across the UAE and wider GCC continues to demonstrate a key strength: its ability to stay grounded in what matters most—people. While external conditions may evolve, the industry’s foundation remains unchanged. At its core, hospitality is about human connection, and that principle continues to drive resilience across the sector.

Today, hospitality operators across the region are reinforcing a people-first approach, focusing on team culture, communication, and employee wellbeing. This is not simply a response to current conditions, but a reflection of the UAE and GCC’s long-standing commitment to service excellence powered by engaged and empowered teams.

Resilient leadership also requires emotional discipline. Staying calm, visible, and accessible sets the tone for the entire organization. Empathy plays a key role here: acknowledging that teams may feel anxious or distracted builds trust, but this must be balanced with clear expectations around service standards. Guests still expect consistency, regardless of external events. Ultimately, resilience comes from focusing on what can be controlled: people, purpose, and sound decision-making. If you lead with integrity and composure, teams know where to focus their energy and feel supported in doing so, and the business can continue to operate with purpose, even in uncertain conditions.”

This perspective is increasingly reflected across the industry. Hospitality leaders are placing greater emphasis on transparent communication, ensuring that teams are not only informed but also aligned with a shared sense of purpose. In an environment where service excellence is directly tied to employee engagement, clarity and consistency from leadership play a critical role in maintaining performance.

At the same time, empathy is emerging as a key leadership strength. Across the UAE and GCC, organisations are fostering environments where employees feel supported and valued, while still upholding the high standards expected by guests. This balance between understanding and accountability enables teams to remain focused and motivated, even during periods of uncertainty.

Operational consistency also serves as a stabilizing force. By maintaining routines and reinforcing standard practices, hotels create a sense of normalcy for both employees and guests. These structures provide reassurance, ensuring that service delivery remains seamless and reliable regardless of external developments.

What distinguishes the UAE and GCC hospitality sector is its ability to combine this people-first philosophy with a forward-looking mindset. Continuous investment in talent, alongside a strong culture of adaptability and innovation, has positioned the region as a global benchmark for resilience and service excellence.

Ultimately, resilience in hospitality is built on trust, strengthened through leadership, and sustained by a clear focus on people. As the industry continues to evolve, one thing remains clear: when teams feel empowered, supported, and connected to a shared purpose, they become the strongest foundation for long-term success.

JS Anand, CEO and Founder, LEVA Hotels

Multi-generational and family travel is becoming a defining trend in the UAE, with 41% of travellers now planning trips with extended family members and actively looking for destinations that balance adventure with relaxation across age groups. At the same time, bleisure travel is gaining momentum as professionals mix work and leisure, often extending trips and choosing flexible short stays.

These shifts are directly contributing to the rise of blended stays across the UAE and wider GCC. What was once described as bleisure or workation is now a common travel pattern, where the boundaries between work, rest, and leisure are increasingly fluid. Travellers are staying longer, choosing lifestyle-led hotels, and expecting spaces that can support multiple needs within a single journey.

This change is closely linked to how work itself has evolved, with hybrid models and greater mobility enabling people to work from almost anywhere. In response, hotels are now viewed as flexible environments that support both productivity and personal time. The UAE is particularly well positioned for this shift, with its strong infrastructure, connectivity, and diverse hospitality offering making extended, blended stays both practical and appealing.

As a result, stay behaviour is changing noticeably. Traditional short business trips are being replaced by longer, more adaptable bookings, with hotels increasingly functioning as multi-purpose living spaces. This trend is influencing design, operations, and pricing strategies, with a stronger emphasis on flexibility and continuity.

Guest expectations have also evolved significantly. Travellers now expect purpose-built work environments within hotels, including co-working areas, meeting pods, and more thoughtful in-room setups that support sustained productivity. At the same time, wellness and lifestyle features like gyms, outdoor spaces, and social areas are now key factors in how people choose where to stay, reflecting a growing focus on balance in travel.

The UAE continues to lead this transformation, supported by a hospitality ecosystem that is closely integrated with retail, business, entertainment, and residential infrastructure. This natural alignment has created the ideal conditions for blended stays to grow and become a long-term feature of the region’s travel landscape.

For developers and investors, this shift is also redefining value creation. Occupancy alone is becoming less indicative of performance, with greater focus placed on a hotel’s ability to support longer stays, adaptable layouts, and multi-functional experiences. Hotels that can seamlessly shift between short-term and extended-stay demand are better positioned for the future of hospitality in the region.

Ultimately, blended stays reflect a deeper structural change in how people approach travel, work, and time away from home. For the UAE and the wider GCC, the opportunity lies in building hospitality experiences that respond to these evolving behaviours and remain aligned with how people choose to live and move today.