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KERRY RELEASES 2026 REGIONAL TASTE CHARTS: DEFINING THE FUTURE OF FLAVOUR WITH DATA-RICH INSIGHTS

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Close-up of a person biting into a burger made with Kerry ingredients, featuring a sesame bun, beef patty, melted cheese, jalapeños, purple cabbage slaw and dripping sauce against a blue background.

Kerry, a global leader in taste and nutrition, has released its 2026 Global Taste Charts, offering the food and beverage industry a detailed view of how flavour is evolving across the Middle East and where innovation is headed next.

Built on the expertise of more than 1,200 scientists, 100 flavourists and extensive consumer research, the 2026 Taste Charts reflect how consumers across the Middle East are eating, drinking and experimenting with flavour. The result is a practical, forward-looking guide designed to help manufacturers respond to fast-moving tastes with clarity and confidence.

As consumer expectations continue to fragment and intensify, the 2026 Taste Charts expand from six to eight categories, covering Refreshing Beverages; Tea & Coffee; Savoury Snacks; Sweet; Sauces & Dressings and Meat. This broader view captures the growing crossover between indulgence and wellness, tradition and novelty, plus global inspiration with local identity, all increasingly shaping flavour decisions in the region.

Flavour Trends in the Middle East

Newstalgia: Tradition Reworked for Today
Comfort flavours are being reimagined through premium formats and modern twists. Across the Middle East, classic flavours such as date, za’atar, cardamom and saffron are appearing in unexpected formats, from date mustard and za’atar ice cream to camel milk pistachio iced coffee. This blend of nostalgia and creativity stirs emotional connection while celebrating cultural identity.

Beyond Burn: Layered Heat, Global Meets Local
Consumers in the Middle East are moving away from one-note spiciness toward more nuanced heat. Paprika-led blends are gaining momentum across snacks, sauces, grilled meats and ready meals, offering smoky, sweet and aromatic complexity inspired by street food traditions. This shift supports richer seasoning systems that deliver depth rather than intensity alone.

Hydration with Character: Fruit-Forward Refreshment
Refreshing fruits continue to play a key role in beverage innovation across the Middle East. Watermelon features prominently in sparkling waters, juices and alcohol-inspired drinks, aligning with demand for clean-label, vibrant, hydrating and naturally sweet thirst quenchers.

Micro Moments of Indulgence
In fast-paced lifestyles, small treats are taking on outsized importance. Across the Middle East, bite-sized energy balls, chilli-lemon snacks, mini desserts and convenient marinated proteins are delivering moments of indulgence and reward without the commitment of full-scale indulgence.

These insights are supported by KerryNow™, a digital platform that allows customers to access Kerry’s flavour portfolio, instantly order samples of trending flavours featured in the 2026 Taste Charts and receive expert support on product applications, regulatory guidance and sample selection.

“The 2026 Taste Charts reflect how consumers are eating and drinking today, with a growing desire for contrast, comfort, depth, and meaning in flavour,” said Pinar Taskin, Marketing Manager, Kerry Middle East, Türkiye and Pakistan. “Designed to support R&D and marketing teams, the 2026 Taste Charts help guide product development that resonates locally while drawing on global flavour cues. Across markets from Türkiye to Saudi Arabia, and from Kuwait to Jordan, we are seeing a stronger use of local flavours reinterpreted with a global twist. By bringing together sensory science, cultural understanding, and real consumption data, the charts highlight where flavours are gaining momentum and how they are being expressed locally. Each year, through the launch of these Taste Charts, we support our customers in moving more confidently from idea to product while keeping pace with evolving tastes across the region.”

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Qatar Airways Unveils Onboard Signature Music Created in Partnership with Award-Winning Composer Hans Zimmer

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Qatar Airways today unveiled its new onboard signature music, created in partnership with world-renowned composer Hans Zimmer.

Inspired by Qatar and its culture, Qatar Airways’ new onboard music brings a distinctive sound identity to the passenger experience through its collaboration with the iconic composition of Hans Zimmer. The music is also featured on the ‘Burgundy Symphony’ album, a bespoke five-track album that encapsulates the airline’s wider sound identity and signature sound elements.

The collaboration brings together Zimmer’s acclaimed cinematic storytelling and Qatar Airways’ commitment to delivering memorable experiences, creating a recognisable sound that reflects the emotions, moments and memories that define travel.

The launch was celebrated at Hans Zimmer’s highly-anticipated concert in Doha on 6 November, where audiences were given an exclusive first look at the story behind the collaboration through a specially created film on the creative process and inspiration behind Burgundy Symphony, alongside a preview of the music. Qatar Airways passengers can experience the new composition onboard from today.

The Burgundy Symphony album captures the rhythm of travel through five original tracks, each reflecting a different stage of the journey:

Dawn opens the collection with a sense of anticipation and possibility experienced when stepping beyond the daily routine and discovering new horizons.

Dusk reflects the tranquillity of flight as daylight fades and travellers are carried above the clouds beneath a sky illuminated by stars.

The Orchard introduces a restorative pause, inspired by moments of calm and reflection amidst the pace of everyday life. The inspiration for the composition is drawn from the sense of escape offered by the ORCHARD – one of Hamad International Airport’s most distinctive passenger experiences.

Homecoming reflects the quiet gift of returning home and the small but lasting ways travel enriches life. The track encapsulates the adventure continues beyond touchdown, with memories of places and skies keeping moments of wonder alive long after the journey ends.

An Ode to Qatar, concludes the album with a tribute to the nation’s rich heritage and forward-looking vision. The piece brings together a sense of history, culture, and ambition, reflecting a country where tradition and progress exist in harmony.

Following the unveiling, Burgundy Symphony is now available on the Qatar Airways YouTube channel, inviting audiences around the world to experience Hans Zimmer’s original compositions inspired by the journey of travel and the spirit of Qatar Airways.

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Coral Beach Resort Sharjah Wins Sustain Sharjah Award for Second Year Running

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Coral Beach Resort Sharjah has won the Sustain Sharjah award for Hotel Properties at the Sharjah International Travel and Tourism Forum 2026, organised by the Sharjah Commerce and Tourism Development Authority (SCTDA). This marks the resort’s second consecutive recognition under the initiative.

The accolade acknowledges the property’s progress at Level 2 of the programme’s Explorers journey, structured around four core pillars: Guest, Experience, Local, and Story. Across each pillar, the resort has prioritised measurable, practical measures that engage guests, support the surrounding community, and ensure transparent sustainability reporting.

Central to this achievement are three primary operational initiatives:

  • Onsite water bottling plant: Replaces single-use plastics with reusable glass bottles, eliminating approximately 300,672 plastic bottles annually.
  • Winnow AI food-waste system: Weighs and monitors kitchen waste in real time, enabling culinary teams to curb excess directly at source.
  • Onsite biodigester: Installed in 2026, making the property the first hotel in Sharjah to process organic waste entirely on site.

Commenting on the achievement, Iftikhar Hamdani, Area General Manager of Coral Beach Resort Sharjah, said: “Securing the Sustain Sharjah award for the second consecutive year is an honour for our entire team. Initiatives such as our water bottling plant, AI-driven waste monitoring, and onsite biodigester reflect our daily operational commitment—one shared with our guests, partners, and the local community. We thank the Sharjah Commerce and Tourism Development Authority for this recognition and for their steady leadership in advancing sustainable tourism across the emirate.”

Coral Beach Resort Sharjah is a signatory to the Glasgow Declaration on Climate Action in Tourism and continues to align its operations with broader international climate targets.

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Qatar Airways Connects Doha to Caracas, Venezuela, and Bogotá, Colombia with First Flight

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Qatar Airways has inaugurated its new twice-weekly service connecting Doha with Caracas and Bogotá. The service represents a significant milestone for the airline, as Qatar Airways becomes the first Gulf carrier to serve Venezuela, and the first airline to operate nonstop services from the Middle East to both Bogotá and Caracas. The new route underscores the airline’s commitment to strengthening global connectivity for the region and is operated on Boeing 777-200LR aircraft.

Qatar Airways flights to Caracas (CCS) and Bogotá (BOG)

Qatar Airways’ flight schedule has been designed to provide smooth onward connections through Hamad International Airport to key markets including Australia, China, Japan, Lebanon, South Korea, and the United Arab Emirates. This offers passengers greater flexibility and seamless transfer options across Qatar Airways’ global network of over 170 destinations.

Departing every Wednesday and Sunday:

Doha (DOH) to Bogotá (BOG) – Flight QR783: Departure 07:35; Arrival 16:25

Bogotá (BOG) to Caracas (CCS) – Flight QR783: Departure 17:55; Arrival 21:00

Caracas (CCS) to Doha (DOH) – Flight QR783: Departure 23:30; Arrival 20:35

The addition of Caracas and Bogotá marks the 16th and 17th destinations in the Americas served by Qatar Airways. The airline began serving South America in 2010 with its inaugural flight to Brazil’s São Paulo.

The airline has recently expanded its partnership with LATAM to include LATAM Airlines Colombia, offering travellers greater access to the region. Qatar Airways will place its code on LATAM-operated flights between Bogotá and key domestic destinations including Cartagena, Armenia, Barranquilla, Bucaramanga, Cali, Cúcuta, Ibagué, Leticia, Medellín, Montería, Neiva, Pereira, Pasto, Riohacha, San Andrés Island, Santa Marta, and Yopal.

Qatar Airways continues to strengthen global connectivity, serving more than 170 destinations this winter. Bookings can be made at qatarairways.com or through the airline’s mobile app.

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