Following the success of its previous culinary showcases, Flavours of Royal India and Taste of Kerala, Mausam continues its regional cuisine series with the introduction of Coastal Flavours of Pondicherry, a limited-time dining experience inspired by the rich culinary heritage of India’s picturesque southern coastline. Set against stunning views of the Burj Khalifa and Dubai Fountain, Mausam offers an immersive setting that complements its authentic regional dining experiences.

Each edition in the series celebrates a different region of India through thoughtfully curated menus that highlight local traditions, distinctive ingredients and time-honoured recipes. This latest chapter pays tribute to Pondicherry’s unique blend of South Indian influences and coastal flavours, bringing together comforting dishes, aromatic spices and fresh produce that define the region’s culinary identity.

Guests can begin their culinary adventure with the fragrant Murungai Lemon Rasam, followed by a choice of the crispy Vazhaipoo Vadai or the flavour-packed Prawns Milagu Varuval. The main course showcases regional favourites including Mutton Takkali Kuzhambu, Chicken Fricassee and the traditional Avial, complemented by Madras Chicken Biryani or Lemon Rice, seasonal vegetables and freshly prepared breads. The experience concludes with a delicate Tender Coconut Custard, offering the perfect sweet finish inspired by the tropical flavours of the region.

Whether discovering Pondicherry’s cuisine for the first time or revisiting familiar favourites, guests can savour an authentic taste of India’s southern coast while enjoying one of Downtown Dubai’s most scenic dining destinations.

Offer: Coastal Flavours of Pondicherry Set Menu
When: 20th July – 31st July 2026
Price: AED 180 per person
Location: Mausam, Dubai Mall

For reservation, please call +971 4 438 4001 or email at emaarhospitalitypr@meansdesign.ae and follow-on Instagram @mausamdubai.

Abrar Fayaz Khazi, Country Director Qatar, Euro Systems

Qatar’s hospitality sector is entering a new phase of maturity. Across Doha, Lusail, West Bay, and The Pearl, luxury hospitality developments are no longer competing purely through architecture or visual grandeur, but through experience, comfort, operational performance, and long-term spatial quality.

As hospitality expectations continue evolving, upholstery and soft furnishing systems have become far more than decorative finishes. They are now playing a critical role in defining how guests physically experience luxury environments daily.

In many projects, upholstery is still approached primarily from an aesthetic perspective. However, within Qatar’s hospitality environment, material performance is equally as important as appearance. Hotels across the region operate under demanding conditions involving continuous air conditioning cycles, high occupancy turnover, UV exposure, and constant operational wear. Materials that appear visually impressive during handover can deteriorate quickly if they are not engineered specifically for the realities of the GCC climate.

This is where the industry is beginning to shift.

Architects, consultants, and hospitality operators are increasingly looking beyond colour palettes and texture selections toward performance-led specification strategies that support operational longevity, maintenance efficiency, guest comfort, and brand consistency over time.

For public areas, lounges, and high-traffic hospitality zones, upholstery must withstand continuous use without compromising appearance or comfort. Guest suites and premium rooms require softer tactile environments combined with shading systems that contribute to privacy, glare reduction, thermal comfort, and acoustic softness. Outdoor hospitality spaces introduce even greater complexity, demanding UV-stabilized, weather-resistant, and breathable materials capable of maintaining performance under aggressive environmental conditions.

At the same time, Qatar’s hospitality market is witnessing a noticeable shift toward warmer and more human-centric interior environments. Designers are moving away from colder minimalist aesthetics and introducing layered textures, softer finishes, and more tactile materiality that creates emotional connection and sensory comfort for guests.

This evolution is also changing how hospitality projects are approached operationally.

The most successful projects today are not driven by product selection alone, but by early technical collaboration between architects, consultants, interior designers, and specialized fit-out and upholstery experts who understand both design intent and long-term material behaviour within the region.

Early involvement allows projects to properly address critical considerations such as durability, flame retardancy, acoustic performance, foam retention, stitching detailing, UV stability, and maintenance planning before procurement stages begin. This significantly reduces long-term operational issues while protecting the integrity of the design vision.

There is also growing recognition within Qatar’s hospitality sector that localized manufacturing and technical execution provide major advantages for large-scale developments. Greater control over fabrication quality, lead times, detailing, mock-ups, and installation coordination is becoming increasingly important as hospitality projects accelerate in complexity and delivery expectations.

Luxury hospitality is ultimately measured by how a space performs long after opening day.

The projects that will continue defining Qatar’s hospitality future are those that successfully combine design ambition with technical performance, operational resilience, and guest-centred comfort, creating environments that not only look exceptional, but continue performing at the highest level for years to come.

Sun Siyam, the Maldivian-owned hospitality group operating six resorts across the Maldives and Sri Lanka, has been recognised with two awards at the International Property Awards Asia Pacific, one of the world’s most respected benchmarks for excellence in architecture, design, and real estate. The awards were presented in Bangkok, Thailand, and celebrate outstanding design achievement across two of the group’s most distinguished properties: Sun Siyam Pasikudah in Sri Lanka and Sun Siyam Iru Fushi in the Maldives.

The International Property Awards are judged by an independent panel of more than 80 industry experts and are widely regarded as a gold standard for design and architectural achievement across the Asia Pacific region. Sun Siyam received the Award for Hotel Interiors — Sri Lanka for Sun Siyam Pasikudah, and the Award for Hotel Suite Interiors — Maldives for the Deluxe Water Villa at Sun Siyam Iru Fushi. Both projects were led by London-based Studio Sixty7, founded by Jose Rivero and Lee McNichol.

Both award-winning projects were realised through a long-standing creative partnership between Sun Siyam and Studio Sixty7, a London-based interior design practice whose work is distinguished by its sensitivity to context, materiality, and the spirit of a place. Both Jose and Lee guided the design transformation of two very different island environments, the Sri Lankan coastline and the Maldivian lagoon,  while maintaining a coherent philosophy: that luxury should feel earned by the land it sits in, not imposed upon it.

“We are so proud to have received two awards at the International Property Awards Asia Pacific, for Sun Siyam Pasikudah in Sri Lanka and Sun Siyam Iru Fushi in the Maldives. These projects mean a great deal to us. The work we have done with Sun Siyam has pushed us to design spaces that are truly rooted in their environment — not just aesthetically, but in the way they feel and the way guests experience them. To have that recognised is something we are really proud of as a studio. We could not have done it without the Sun Siyam team. They have trusted us with their vision, given us the space to do our best work, and shared our belief that luxury and a deep respect for place are not competing ideas. We are deeply grateful for that partnership, and proud to be part of what they are building, “ said Jose Rivero and Lee McNichol, Co-founders, Studio Sixty7.

Set on a private island in Noonu Atoll where Maldivian magic meets its most elevated expression, Sun Siyam Iru Fushi is the flagship of Sun Siyam’s Luxury Collection, a five-star sanctuary where considered design, curated calm, and experiences crafted entirely to your taste come together effortlessly. Generous enough for families, intimate enough for romance, and restorative enough for those who need it most, the resort offers 15 dining and bar venues, an award-winning spa with over 165 treatments, and the largest diving centre in the region. The International Property Award for Hotel Suite Interiors recognises the resort’s newly reimagined Deluxe Water Villa,  the first chapter of a resort-wide design transformation under the creative direction of Studio Sixty7, and a fitting reflection of a place where every detail is an invitation to stay a little longer.

The new aesthetic introduces muted tones, natural textures, and softly sculpted forms — gently imperfect plastered walls, tactile finishes, and breathable linen creating an atmosphere that is relaxed yet unmistakably elevated. Each villa is conceived as a frame for the ocean: open-plan, serene, with a bathroom offering direct lagoon views. Private decks with suspended hammocks and soft green accents invite stillness, while Horizon Water Villas add a 22 sqm private pool and sunken seating spaces made for sunrise rituals and slow Maldivian afternoons.

“Every element has been chosen to feel grounded and sensorial, inviting guests into a deep sense of calm,” said Lee McNichol and Jose Rivero.

Nestled along a pristine stretch of coastline on Sri Lanka’s northeast shore, Sun Siyam Pasikudah is a boutique retreat of 34 contemporary pavilions and part of the Privé Collection under The House of Siyam. The resort underwent an extensive transformation and reopened in November 2023, reimagined from the ground up with new colour concepts, fittings, furnishings, and offerings, while preserving the original structure that gives the property its architectural character.

The International Property Award for Hotel Interiors- Sri Lanka reflects the depth and integrity of that renovation. Central to the design was a commitment to local craftsmanship: the transformation was realised in close collaboration with Sri Lankan artisans and community woodworkers, with bespoke furniture, handmade chandeliers, and joinery items created locally and woven throughout the interiors. The result is a property that feels genuinely rooted in its surroundings, not imported, but grown from the island itself. Nearly 90 percent of the resort’s staff come from surrounding communities, a figure that speaks to a philosophy that extends well beyond interior design and into the daily life of the property.