Hospitality

THE FUTURE OF FOOD INNOVATION DOESN’T NEED NEW INGREDIENTS

Published

3 weeks ago

July 21, 2026

Integrator Web-Admin

By: Rashid Gargash – Founder of Rashtions

People often assume Rashtions started because I wanted to create a protein snack.

It didn’t.

It started with a much bigger question: could we use the ingredients already available in our region to create nutritious food capable of feeding entire countries and communities?

That question led me on a journey across the UAE, visiting farms, studying our agricultural landscape and learning more about the resources we already have. Time and again, I came back to two ingredients that have sustained this region for generations: dates and milk.

Those ingredients eventually became the foundation of Rashtions – a premium protein truffle made with dates, camel milk and A2 ghee that combines traditional Emirati ingredients with modern nutrition. But the product was never the starting point. It was the outcome of a much broader idea about food innovation.

When people talk about innovation in food, the conversation usually revolves around alternative proteins, artificial intelligence, or entirely new ingredients. Those advances are important, but I believe innovation can also come from looking at familiar ingredients through a different lens.

Across the UAE, we already have ingredients that are naturally nutritious, deeply connected to our heritage and well suited to our environment. Yet they are often overlooked in modern food products in favor of imported alternatives.

That represents an opportunity – not just for entrepreneurs, but for the wider food and hospitality industry.

My earliest prototypes were built in my own kitchen in attempts to create something filling, nutritious and practical. Without access to expensive equipment, I improvised, even modifying a washing machine to perform a task that would normally require laboratory equipment. It was far from perfect, but it allowed me to continue experimenting, learning and improving.

The first product looked nothing like the one consumers know today. It was larger, provided substantial nourishment, and was designed to be handed directly to people who were already holding pots, so it did not have packaging. It could even be heated and eaten as a meal, and it did not taste like emergency food or something heavily preserved.

Later, I refinined the concept through humanitarian nutrition initiatives for children in Africa. When the children ate it, they felt full and this was important to me because the product was not only meant to look nutritious on paper – I wanted it to actually feel like a proper meal.

Eventually, limited funding meant I could no longer produce and distribute the product for free. Rather than abandon the idea, I transformed it into a commercial business so the mission could continue and adapted the product into smaller, easier-to-eat portions that were better suited to different consumers.

That evolution became Rashtions.

Today, the product has become a premium protein truffle, but the original philosophy remains unchanged: use regional ingredients to create practical, nutritious food that fits modern lifestyles.

For me, dates and camel milk were never chosen simply because they are traditional. They are also remarkably functional.

The Khalas Dates we use provide natural carbohydrates for sustained energy, along with fiber and essential minerals. Camel milk offers high-quality protein and naturally contains vitamins and minerals that have made it a valued part of diets across the region for centuries. Combined with wholesome ingredients such as A2 ghee, they create a nutrient-dense snack that delivers natural energy without relying on added sugar, preservatives or artificial sweeteners.

As consumers become increasingly health conscious, they are looking beyond calorie counts. They want recognizable ingredients, clean labels and products that fit into busy lives without compromising on nutrition or taste.

That shift presents an exciting opportunity for the F&B and hospitality industries.

Hotels, cafés and restaurants have always celebrated local flavors through their menus, but there is growing potential to take those same ingredients beyond traditional recipes. Regional ingredients can inspire healthier grab-and-go concepts, functional snacks, premium gifting and contemporary dining experiences that feel both authentic and relevant.

Consumers increasingly value products with a genuine story behind them. They want to understand where ingredients come from, why they were chosen and how they reflect the communities in which they were created.

Hospitality businesses are uniquely positioned to tell those stories.

Using local ingredients is no longer simply about supporting domestic agriculture. It is about creating memorable guest experiences while contributing to more resilient food systems and celebrating the region’s culinary identity.

As the UAE continues positioning itself as a global hub for food innovation, I believe our greatest competitive advantage may already exist within our own agricultural heritage.

Innovation doesn’t always require discovering the next superfood or inventing a revolutionary technology. Sometimes, it begins by recognising the value of what has always been around us and asking a simple question:

How can we make these ingredients relevant for the way people eat today?

For me, that question became Rashtions. But more importantly, it reinforced a belief that extends far beyond one product: the future of food innovation will belong to those who can bridge heritage with modern nutrition, creating food that is not only healthier and more sustainable, but also deeply connected to the places and people it represents.

Hospitality

JW MARRIOTT MARQUIS HOTEL DUBAI INTRODUCES A SUMMER OF WELLNESS AT SARAY SPA AND BODYBASE

Published

3 hours ago

August 10, 2026

Integrator Web-Editor

This August, JW Marriott Marquis Hotel Dubai has three very different ways for guests to relax in Business Bay. The new City Wellness Retreat pairs a stay with breakfast and a spa treatment, and Saray Spa is offering its hammam ritual with special offers, while on the same floor, BodyBase keeps things energetic with reformer classes and offers designed to draw in newcomers. Add a dip in the Aqua Pool with Burj Khalifa in view, and August gives guests plenty of reason to stay a while longer.

City Wellness Retreat

For guests who want to properly switch off, JW Marriott Marquis Hotel Dubai is introducing the City Wellness Retreat this August. Designed for guests seeking a restorative urban wellness escape, the package pairs a night at the hotel with a full breakfast and a 30-minute massage at Saray Spa, so a stay in Business Bay comes with breakfast at Business Bay by Kitchen6, energy one morning and a proper spa break the next, without having to leave the property.

Details:

When: Throughout August 2026
Where: JW Marriott Marquis Hotel Dubai
Offer: Room stay with breakfast and a 30-minute massage at Saray Spa
Booking: Via WhatsApp on +971 4 414 6757

30% off Hammam Treatments at Saray Spa

Saray Spa’s Hammam Treatment is a rejuvenating ritual combining soothing steam, invigorating exfoliation and a traditional wash-down, all enhanced by the calming scents of orange and frankincense. Designed to refresh both body and mind, this has proven to be a guest favourite. Throughout August, enjoy 30% off this signature hammam experience and indulge in a moment of well-deserved self-care.

Details:

When: Daily until 31^st August 2026
Where: Saray Spa at JW Marriott Marquis Hotel Dubai
Offer: 30% off Hammam Treatments
Booking: Via WhatsApp on +971 4 414 6757

BodyBase Trio Trial

BodyBase is giving beginners an easy way into its reformer classes, no experience needed. The Trio Trial gives newcomers three classes for AED 250, with a pair of BodyBase grip socks included, a good way to try both styles before committing to a membership.

Details:

When: Daily until 31^st August 2026
Where: BodyBase at JW Marriott Marquis Hotel Dubai
Offer: Three classes for AED 250, exclusive to newcomers and inclusive of complimentary BodyBase grip socks
Booking: Via WhatsApp on +971 4 414 6757

BodyBase Reformer Class and Pool Access

New for summer, BodyBase is pairing its dynamic reformer fitness classes with access to the Aqua Pool for the ultimate wellness morning. After an invigorating session that challenges the entire body and leaves guests feeling energised, the experience continues with a relaxing poolside retreat. Guests can take a refreshing dip, lounge in the sun and admire sweeping Burj Khalifa views, turning a simple workout into a morning of fitness, recovery and indulgence. Open to members old and new, the combination costs AED 100 for the full morning.

Details:

When: Daily until 31^st August 2026
Where: BodyBase at JW Marriott Marquis Hotel Dubai
Offer: Reformer class with access to the Aqua Pool
Price: AED 100
Booking: Via WhatsApp on +971 4 414 6757

Hospitality

Common Grounds and Cymbiotika introduce Inner Bloom

Published

11 hours ago

August 10, 2026

Integrator Web-Editor

Common Grounds has partnered with Cymbiotika to introduce Inner Bloom, a limited-edition smoothie designed for those looking to nourish their bodies, without compromising on flavour. Launching on 7 August and available until 30 September, the wellness-focused drink will be served at Dubai Hills Mall, Kite Beach, DIFC, JBR, and Mall of the Emirates for AED 45.

At the heart of the collaboration is the Inner Boom, a smoothie that’s as beautiful as it is beneficial. Blending sun-ripened mango, strawberry purée, Greek yoghurt, blue spirulina, and agave with Cymbiotika’s Liquid Colostrum. The Liquid Colostrum helps support gut health, immune function, healthy skin, hair and nails, making it an ideal choice for everyone seeking a more mindful approach to their daily nutrition.

Created as part of a shared mission to make everyday wellness more approachable, the collaboration brings together two brands that believe feeling good should fit seamlessly into daily life. Whether enjoyed after a workout, between meetings, or as a morning pick-me-up, this smoothie offers a simple way to add a functional boost to the day.

The partnership reflects the natural synergy between Common Grounds and Cymbiotika. Known for creating spaces where great food, specialty coffee and community come together, Common Grounds continues to evolve its wellness offering through thoughtful partnerships and guest experiences. Cymbiotika, meanwhile, has built a global following through its science-backed supplements, transparent sourcing, and commitment to empowering healthier lifestyles.

More than just a smoothie, Inner Bloom reflects a shared belief that small, intentional choices can have a positive impact on how we feel every day.

Inner Bloom | Available: 7 August – 30 September 2026
Price: AED 45 | Locations: Common Grounds Dubai Hills Mall, Kite Beach, DIFC, JBR and Mall of the Emirates

Hospitality

DUBAI’S NEWEST DINING TREND ISN’T A DISH, IT’S AN EXPERIENCE FOR BRINGING BACK THE OLD ROMANCE

Published

12 hours ago

August 10, 2026

Integrator Web-Editor

Launching on 3rd August 2026 and running every Monday from 7pm to midnight, the restaurant’s “Bringing Back the Old Romance” transforms the restaurant into a full sensory reset for the evening, with candlelight, dimmed lighting and a slower soundtrack replacing the usual buzz. Every table is dressed for the occasion, with personalised candles carrying a single rose, and a notepad for writing messages to take home, sealed in an envelope.

In a city where restaurant tables are as likely to be shared with a phone as with a partner, Rodeo Drive at Ibn Battuta Gate has introduced a weekly ritual designed to bring couples back to each other, a chance to ditch the phone, disconnect, and reconnect with their lover.

Couples can choose from four set menu packages, priced per couple ranging from 220 AED to 499 AED. You & Me offers a pared-back shared starter, a main each and a shared dessert. Romeo & Juliet builds on this with access to the full menu, including smokehouse and live-fire dishes, alongside a house beverage each. Beauty & the Beast adds a starter and dessert per person and a bottle of house wine to share, while Bonnie & Clyde Go Crazy, the most indulgent tier, offers unlimited starters and house beverages across a relaxed 2.5-hour seating.

Dishes lean into bold, comforting flavours built for sharing, from smoked brisket queso and live-fire cedar plank salmon to rib eye topped with cowboy butter, alongside a wider selection of wings, tacos, pasta and burgers, finishing with Basque cheesecake or a s’mores brownie for two.

The host can further personalise the evening while reserving the table with add-ons including a single long-stem rose, chocolate-dipped strawberries, a smokehouse sharing board, or a romantic table upgrade complete with a bouquet, chocolates and a personalised card to surprise the other.

At the centre of the evening sits an unusual proposition: put the phone away, and be rewarded for it. The 20% Challenge invites couples to lock their phones in a table box for a full hour, receiving 20% off their bill once the hour is complete. The mechanic is built around a simple idea, rewarding couples for giving each other undivided attention.

This idea taps into something couples quietly know but rarely act on: an evening feels different when nobody reaches for their phone. By tying that hour of disconnection to a genuine reward, Rodeo Drive makes it easy to actually follow through, turning a familiar intention into a habit worth keeping. Guests can look forward to it each week, a small, standing invitation to slow down together.

Tables can be booked 24 hours in advance, with a prepayment confirming the table, the romantic set-up and the finer details. Guests are asked to share both first names when booking so candle cards are ready on arrival.