As the Islamic New Year holiday on June 15 approaches, UAE residents have the perfect opportunity to transform a three-day break into an unforgettable island escape with Sun Siyam. Just a short flight from the UAE, the collection’s award-winning resorts across the Maldives offer everything from refined island luxury and wellness-focused retreats to family adventures and world-class marine experiences, making the long weekend feel far longer than it is.

Whether seeking relaxation, adventure, wellness, or quality family time, guests can choose from a collection of distinctive island experiences across Sun Siyam’s Maldivian resorts, each designed to offer effortless luxury against a backdrop of turquoise waters, pristine beaches, and uninterrupted ocean views.

At Sun Siyam Iru Fushi, located in the untouched beauty of Noonu Atoll, guests can experience premium Maldivian island living through spacious villas, curated culinary journeys, and a range of activities designed for both relaxation and discovery. Visitors can spend their days snorkelling vibrant coral reefs, unwinding at The Spa by Thalgo France, enjoying sunset cruises, or simply embracing the resort’s atmosphere of quiet sophistication.

Coinciding with the holiday period, Sun Siyam Iru Fushi will also host a special Wellness Reset Programme, in partnership with Regina Gimranova designed to disccover a path of lasting well-being. The programme complements the spirit of the Islamic New Year, offering guests an opportunity to reset, recharge, and begin the new year with intention.

For travellers seeking a wellness-focused escape, Sun Siyam Iru Veli presents a thoughtfully curated programme centred around self-care and holistic wellbeing. During the holiday period, guests can embark on a specially designed Three-Day Wellness Journey at Ocean Spa, combining therapeutic treatments, hydrotherapy experiences, restorative body rituals, and marine-based skincare therapies.

The wellness experience extends beyond the spa with a calendar of activities including Sunrise Yoga overlooking the Indian Ocean and Sunset Strength & Stillness, a combination of Power Yoga and Pranayama breathing techniques. Guests can also enjoy wellness-inspired culinary experiences such as the Sea to Soul BBQ and refreshing Fresh Juice Pop-Up Bars, designed to nourish both body and mind.

Adding a cultural dimension to the programme, Wellness Week will feature immersive Maldivian Roots experiences, including Traditional Coconut Oil Making sessions and Dhivehibeys Stories & Traditions, where guests can discover local healing wisdom and cultural heritage through engaging sessions led by a visiting practitioner.

Meanwhile, at Siyam World, guests looking for adventure can be among the first to experience the resort’s highly anticipated Shipwreck Dive Site, set to relaunch next week in time for the Islamic New Year holiday. Designed to create a unique underwater attraction for divers and snorkelling enthusiasts, the newly enhanced shipwreck experience will offer guests the opportunity to explore a fascinating marine habitat while discovering yet another side of the Maldives’ vibrant underwater world.

Adding further value is the signature WOW! All Inclusive offering, which combines dining experiences across multiple restaurants, premium beverages, and a curated selection of island activities. Guests booking a summer escape can also take advantage of the resort’s exclusive Summer Offer, with up to 45% off the best available rates. Those staying a minimum of four nights will receive a complimentary shared seaplane transfer for one guest, while stays of seven nights or more include complimentary shared seaplane transfers for two guests, making an island getaway even more rewarding.

At Sun Siyam Olhuveli offers an effortless island escape where the Maldives begins the moment guests arrive. Spread across three interconnected islands, the resort combines expansive beaches, crystal-clear lagoons, and a wide variety of experiences suited to couples, families, and groups of friends. Guests can enjoy added value through complimentary floating breakfasts, savings on airport transfers, indulgent spa experiences with hydrotherapy access, dining privileges across selected à la carte restaurants, room upgrade opportunities, water sports benefits, and special diving offers. With its convenient location close to Malé and an abundance of activities both above and below the water, Sun Siyam Olhuveli is perfectly positioned for travellers seeking a seamless tropical getaway during the long weekend.

From luxurious villa stays and all-inclusive indulgence to transformative wellness experiences and exciting new marine attractions, Sun Siyam offers UAE residents a collection of extraordinary island escapes perfectly suited to the upcoming Islamic New Year long weekend. Because sometimes, three days are all it takes to leave routine behind and rediscover the art of island living.

Synology, a global technology company that enables businesses to manage, secure, and protect their data, unveiled a series of product updates at COMPUTEX 2026 across data management, backup and recovery, surveillance, businessproductivity, and private cloud environments. The latest updates address growing requirements among GCC organizations for stronger cyber resilience, data governance, and AI-driven operations.

The innovations include the next generation of DiskStation Manager (DSM), ActiveProtect Manager 2.0, the new DP5200 appliance, expanded surveillance and access control solutions, new additions to Synology Office Suite, and updates to the Bee Series private cloud ecosystem.

The updates come as organizations across the Middle East, particularly in the GCC, reassess how they manage rapidly growing data volumes, secure increasingly distributed infrastructure, prepare for AI workloads, and improve recovery readiness across on-premises, hybrid, and cloud environments. According to industry forecasts, IT spending in the Middle East and North Africa is expected to reach USD 169 billion in 2026, representing an 8.9 percent increase from 2025, while end-user spending on information security is projected to reach USD 4 billion in 2026.

Philip Wong, Chairman and CEO of Synology, stated: “Data is at the heart of everything we build, and trust is the foundation. From enterprise infrastructure to personal cloud solutions, we develop every product to give users complete control over their data, backed by uncompromising security, reliability, and privacy, so they can embrace what’s next with confidence.”

For regional businesses, the announcements reflect a broader shift in technology priorities as AI adoption accelerates and organizations seek greater control over how data is stored, governed, protected, and recovered across on-premises, hybrid, and cloud environments.

Mike Chen, Senior Regional Sales Manager for the Middle East, Synology, added: “As Middle Eastern enterprises navigate increasingly complex data landscapes, the demand for heightened visibility, governance, and operational resilience has intensified. Our latest enhancements across DSM, ActiveProtect, and our broader enterprise portfolio directly address these requirements. Together, these updates establish a secure data management framework, guarantee business continuity through recovery readiness, and deliver the infrastructure vital for future AI initiatives.”

The next generation of DSM introduces capabilities designed for both AI-ready and enterprise-scale environments. With support for GPU-powered NAS systems and AI appliances, organizations can enable on-premises AI inference and governance while maintaining full control over their data infrastructure. Synology has also introduced DSM Agent to automate and orchestrate workflows across systems, while Cluster Manager provides centralized management for large-scale deployments, including workload migration, quality-of-service controls, and unified protection management. Additional enhancements include Active Insight’s Mass Deployment feature for faster multi-site provisioning and an upgraded Log Center to improve observability, compliance, and security monitoring.

Synology also introduced ActiveProtect Manager 2.0, extending backup and recovery support to AWS EC2, Azure VM, Proxmox, Nutanix AHV, and Google Workspace. The platform enables cross-platform recovery across hybrid cloud and virtualized infrastructures and introduces AI-powered anomaly and malware detection capabilities to help organizations identify threats and strengthen recovery preparedness. Complementing the platform, the new DP5200 appliance expands the ActiveProtect portfoliowith an additional deployment option for centralized data protection.

Further expanding its surveillance ecosystem, Synology introduced new access control solutions, including the AC100 door controller and AR Series readers, alongside new DC Series dome cameras and Deep Video Analytics appliances featuring AI-powered semantic event search and re-identification path tracking. The company also unveiled Surveillance365, a video surveillance-as-a-service (VSaaS) offering that integrates with on-premises Surveillance Station deployments, enabling hybrid cloud monitoring for remote and multi-site environments. The solution is designed for organizations requiring remote and multi-site security monitoring, and other distributed environments where centralized security management is becoming increasingly important.

In business productivity, Synology expanded its Office Suite with the introduction of ChatPlus and Meet, bringing secure communication and virtual meeting capabilities under organizational control. Both solutions feature AI-powered transcription and translation while keeping data stored on-premises, enabling organizations to enhance business productivity without compromising governance or privacy requirements.

For individuals and homes, Synology announced updates to its BeeStation and BeeStation Plus offerings, further expanding storage options. New features include BeeCamera, which enables home monitoring through BeeStation Plus using Synology cameras, and Synology Deep Search, an AI-powered local search function for macOS and Windows that allows users to quickly find and manage personal content while maintaining complete privacy and local data ownership.

Together, these product updates reinforce Synology’s commitment to helping organizations and individuals manage, protect, and maximize the value of their data in an increasingly AI-driven world.

InterContinental Residences Business Bay has announced the appointment of Chef Vincent Gadaud as its new Cluster Executive Chef, overseeing culinary operations across InterContinental Residences Business Bay and Kimpton Sevn Dubai, effective 1^st May 2026. 

This appointment marks a significant step in strengthening the culinary direction and overall guest experience across both properties. As InterContinental Residences Business Bay continues to position itself as a leading residential destination in Dubai and with Kimpton Sevn Dubai bringing its distinct, design-led lifestyle approach to the market, this appointment reinforces a shared commitment to delivering distinctive dining experiences rooted in quality and detail.

Chef Vincent brings over 20 years of international experience across luxury hotels and fine dining establishments in Europe, Japan and the Middle East. A highly accomplished F&B Director and Executive Chef, he is recognised for his ability to seamlessly combine culinary creativity with operational excellence, consistently driving both guest satisfaction and commercial performance.

Most recently, Chef Vincent served as F&B Director and Executive Chef at ANA InterContinental Manza Beach Resort in Japan, where he oversaw the full scope of culinary and service operations across multiple outlets, managing a team of over 140 professionals. During his tenure, he successfully led sustained top-line growth, significantly increasing revenue while improving departmental profitability, alongside spearheading concept development, menu transformation and brand positioning initiatives.

His career spans a number of prestigious roles, including Executive Chef at ANA Crowne Plaza Fukuoka and The St. Regis Osaka, as well as leading Ladurée’s London operations across Harrods and Covent Garden. He has also played a key role in multiple pre-openings and brand expansions internationally, demonstrating a strong capability in building concepts from the ground up and aligning them with market expectations.

Chef Vincent’s culinary philosophy is shaped by extensive global travel and a deep appreciation for local food cultures, ingredients and techniques. His approach balances precision with intuition, bringing together refined execution with a genuine sense of warmth and accessibility.

Commenting on his appointment, Chef Vincent Gadaud said, “Joining InterContinental Residences Business Bay and Kimpton Sevn Dubai is an exciting opportunity to contribute to two concepts that value both quality and experience. My focus is on building strong foundations within the kitchen, nurturing talent and creating dishes that feel intuitive, honest and memorable for our guests.”

Beyond the professional kitchen, Chef Vincent maintains a strong personal connection to food, often cooking in a more relaxed and instinctive setting for family and friends. An avid traveller, he continues to draw inspiration from discovering new cultures and culinary traditions, while staying active through outdoor pursuits and exploring new destinations with his family.

At the heart of his leadership philosophy is a commitment to team development and mentorship, having guided many individuals throughout his career into leadership roles.

Speaking on the new development, Cluster General Manager of InterContinental Residences Business Bay and Kimpton Sevn Dubai, Mohamed Mahmoud said, “Chef Vincent’s appointment reflects our vision for InterContinental Residences Business Bay and Kimpton Sevn Dubai as destinations that deliver not only exceptional living and lifestyle experiences, but also refined and meaningful dining. His global expertise, strong leadership and proven track record make him a valuable addition to the team and we are confident he will play a key role in shaping our culinary identity.”

Guests and residents can expect to see the first expressions of Chef Vincent’s culinary direction in the coming months, with thoughtfully developed menus and experiences that reflect both his expertise and the propertys’ elevated positioning.

This appointment marks an important milestone for InterContinental Residences Business Bay and Kimpton Sevn Dubai as they continue to enhance their offerings and redefine modern residential and lifestyle hospitality in Dubai.