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DODO PIZZA UAE OPENED DUBAI’S FIRST AND LARGEST KIDS’ CULINARY EDUTAINMENT ACADEMY

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Dodo Pizza UAE opened the Kids Pizza Academy, Dubai’s first and largest purpose-built culinary edutainment facility for children aged 3-12, located in JLT, Cluster T.

The launch positions the brand within the UAE’s 2026 Year of the Family agenda, offering a structured, screen-free alternative to passive family entertainment formats.Ivan Pyadyshev, CEO of Dodo Pizza MENA, cut the ribbon at the opening, attended by families, media, and members of the JLT community.

The masterclasses

The Academy’s hands-on “Masters of Pizza” masterclasses are the heart of the concept. Since its soft opening, Dodo Kids Pizza Academy has already hosted 15 masterclasses, with plans to run 25 sessions per week, spanning daily drop-in classes, school field trips, all-inclusive birthday parties, and community events, all tailored by age group. Each one-hour session is led by trained “friendstructors” who guide children through dough-rolling, topping, and baking from start to finish, before they tuck into their creations fresh from the oven.

At the grand opening, two masterclasses were held across the afternoon and evening, with kids split into two age groups (3-7 and 8-12) so each session matched their skills and needs. Every young chef wore a personalized apron, shaped their own pizza, and left with a diploma and sticker pack to mark the occasion.

The same format is available year-round through the Academy’s birthday packages, which scale across three tiers. The Junior Chef experience (130 AED/kid weekdays, 150 AED/kid weekends; 2 hours) includes the masterclass, greeting games, signature tableware, food and beverages, a personal host, photo booth, and diploma pack with e-invites. Master Chef (150/170 AED/kid; 2 hours) adds a greeting quest, a choice of themed tableware, face painting or temporary tattoos, and a birthday gift. Culinary Maestro (300/330 AED/kid; 3 hours) is the full celebration, with guest prizes, the Dodo bird mascot and disco time, themed balloon decor, a piñata, and a 2kg themed cake.

The science behind the fun

Recent research confirms that structured cooking programmes improve children’s confidence, problem-solving skills, and culinary self-efficacy – benefits that compound alongside the fine motor and sensory development that hands-on kitchen activities naturally support.

For parents, structured activities that hold a child’s attention don’t just make for a better outing, they actively reduce the mental load of parenting in public, giving children something real to do and parents space to actually be present. This is what separates purposeful family programming from entertainment that merely keeps children occupied.

The full experience

Beyond the masterclasses, the grand opening delivered face painting, dance battles, a wheel of fortune, live entertainment, games, and ice cream vouchers between sessions.

The grand opening included an emcee, face painting, dance battles, a wheel of fortune, and ice cream vouchers between sessions. Once the masterclasses wrapped, children gathered at communal tables to share the pizzas they had made.

The opening marks the start of an ongoing programme. With weekly masterclasses planned and formats designed to scale with a child’s age, the Academy is building a recurring curriculum rather than a single experience.

The brand has signalled plans for regional growth, with Qatar identified as a likely next market and early-stage discussions underway for Iraq and Abu Dhabi. For Dodo Pizza UAE, the Academy represents a long-term investment in the local family community, one the brand intends to replicate across the GCC.

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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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