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ANA Restaurant Brings the Contemporary Emirati Melting Pot to Abu Dhabi

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ANA, the contemporary Emirati dining destination celebrated for reimagining the flavours of the Emirates, opens its doors this July at Dalma Mall, Abu Dhabi. The opening follows the success of ANA’s flagship at The Dubai Mall. There, the brand has become known for its hand-brushed “ANA” signature, sun-drenched food styling, and a dining room overlooking the Burj Khalifa and the Dubai Fountain. ANA in Abu Dhabi brings that same spirit indoors, offering a warmer, more intimate setting suited to the capital.

ANA was born from a simple question: where does one cuisine end, and another begin? The answer lies in the Emirates itself, a nation shaped by trade, travel and generosity, where cultures have long met and mingled. At ANA, every dish is a small act of storytelling. Every ingredient carries a memory. Every sitting is a ritual. Rather than treating Emirati cuisine as something to preserve behind glass, ANA reimagines it in motion. Traditional recipes meet contemporary technique. Local ingredients meet global influence. The result feels rooted, yet entirely of today.

Guests are invited to discover ANA’s signature menu, where cross-cultural influences meet the flavours of the region. Standout dishes include the Mubahar Chicken, served with ANA’s signature sauce, saffron rice, toasted nuts, and crisp shallots, alongside the Machbous, featuring slow-cooked lamb layered over fragrant hessa rice. From leisurely mornings to relaxed lunches and memorable evenings, ANA offers an all-day dining experience, welcoming guests seven days a week from 10:00 am to midnight. Each dish tells a story of heritage and tradition, thoughtfully reimagined through a contemporary culinary lens.

ANA is a concept by Mohamed Hilal, Founder and CEO of Mohamed Hilal Group, the Emirati lifestyle company. Under Hilal’s vision, ANA was created to introduce the richness of Emirati culture to the world through contemporary dining experiences that celebrate heritage, creativity and genuine hospitality.

“ANA is a space for convening, where ideas of the past, present and future can be tapped into, explored and given shape,” said Founder and CEO Mohamed Hilal of ANA. “The opening of Ana Dalma Mall allows us to bring that same spirit of Emirati hospitality to Abu Dhabi, inviting a new community of guests to discover cross-cultural Emirati cuisine that is as rooted in heritage as it is contemporary in expression.”

True to ANA’s brand identity, which is built on the concept of infinite iterations of the ANA “supergraphic” – a distinctive, hand-brushed rendering of the word “ANA” in both Arabic and Latin script. More than a restaurant, ANA is a place where culture is experienced and every guest is welcomed like family. ANA. Emirati for everyone.

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Hospitality

From Mdardara to Morning Shots: iDiet Gives Anti-Inflammatory Eating a Flavourful Twist 

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With conversations around gut health, bloating and ultra-processed foods becoming an increasingly prominent part of everyday wellness, iDiet, the premium healthy food and diet meal plan brand in the UAE, is highlighting its established Anti-Inflammatory Diet Plan – an approach to eating that puts whole foods, variety and flavour at the centre of the plate. 

Designed for people looking to move away from heavily processed foods and build more balanced eating habits, the plan focuses on seafood, legumes, eggs, colourful vegetables, whole grains, healthy fats, nuts, seeds and spices such as turmeric and ginger. It excludes red meat, poultry, fried foods, refined sugars and ultra-processed ingredients, offering a structured way to make whole-food eating part of everyday life. 

The plan is particularly suited to those looking to prioritise gut health, incorporate more antioxidant-rich foods into their diets, or take a nutritional reset after a period of frequent takeaways and processed food. It offers a deliberate pause from heavily processed foods and ingredients the programme is designed to limit, while reintroducing a greater variety of nourishing, antioxidant-rich and gut-friendly choices to everyday meals. Meals are prepared fresh daily in iDiet’s kitchen, without seed oils or preservatives, and are halal. 

For Sabine Karam, CEO and Co-founder of iDiet, the idea behind the plan is not to single out one ingredient as a solution, but to focus on the overall pattern of eating. 

“Anti-inflammatory eating isn’t about one magic ingredient. A spoonful of turmeric won’t undo a week of processed food. What matters is the overall pattern: more plants, more fibre, fermented foods, good fats and simple cooking. Many of our Levant and Mediterranean dishes, like Mdardara, already follow these principles, so we didn’t need to reinvent anything. Our focus is on making this way of eating practical, varied and enjoyable. Some customers tell us that, after following the plan for a few weeks, they feel lighter, less bloated and notice steadier energy,” said Sabine Karam, CEO and Co-founder of iDiet. 

The menu brings these principles to life through more than a checklist of ingredients. Each day begins with a morning shot, such as turmeric-ginger or orange-beet, while the evening winds down with a digestive tea or rosemary-lemon calm tea. Levantine and Mediterranean-inspired food traditions sit alongside a focus on seafood, legumes, whole grains and vegetables, making the plan feel like an enjoyable way of eating rather than a list of foods to avoid.  

Since healthier eating shouldn’t mean skipping dessert, the plan also includes a selection of clean, no refined sugar-free treats made with whole ingredients, including sweet potato chocolate fudge, avocado chocolate mousse, chickpea mocha truffles and baked carrot squares with tahini-date caramel – all with natural sweetness from dates and fruit. 

This emphasis on taste is central to iDiet’s wider approach to healthy eating. Its menus draw inspiration from Mediterranean, Asian, Oriental and international cuisines, offering the variety needed to keep meals interesting. Rather than relying on restrictive or repetitive diet food, iDiet aims to make customers feel they are choosing a better way of eating, not simply following a diet. 

That experience is also supported by ongoing, personalised guidance from a qualified dietitian. Every customer is assigned a dietitian as their account manager, who helps select the most suitable plan, navigate nutritional needs, adjust menus and make recommendations as goals, preferences and routines evolve. The relationship continues throughout the subscription, providing professional guidance beyond the initial assessment. 

“People often focus on individual ingredients or the latest wellness trend, but the bigger challenge is building eating habits that work in real life,” Sabine added. “One plan doesn’t suit everyone. The food needs to fit the person, their preferences and their routine, and it needs to taste good enough that they want to keep eating it.” 

Operating in the UAE since 2021, iDiet is the UAE brand of HealthBox Diet and Nutrition Center, founded in Lebanon in 2010 by Sabine Karam. With more than 16 years of experience across nutrition, food and healthy meal planning, iDiet currently serves more than 3,500 customers and delivers over one million meals annually in the UAE. 

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Hospitality

The Guild’s Famous Sandwiches Are Coming to JLT

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The Guild is bringing its popular Sandwich Collection beyond DIFC, with a new weekend pop-up launching on November 7th at Splendour Fields in JLT. Located in the venue’s downstairs area, the pop-up will serve The Guild’s signature chicken, lamb and beef sandwiches every Saturday and Sunday, giving JLT residents and visitors the chance to enjoy one of DIFC’s lunchtime favourites closer to home.

Inspired by The Guild’s much-loved Sunday Roast, the sandwiches bring together quality ingredients, generous portions and carefully prepared accompaniments in a more casual, on-the-go format. Guests can choose from three options. The Chicken (AED 55), The Lamb (AED 65) and The Beef (AED 70), with roast potatoes or duck fat fries available on the side for AED 15 each.

Available in limited quantities, the sandwiches will be served on a first-come, first-served basis, so guests are encouraged to arrive early to avoid missing out.

Located in Gate Avenue, DIFC, The Guild has established itself as one of Dubai’s leading dining destinations, known for its ingredient-led menus and signature dining experiences. The JLT pop-up brings a taste of The Guild to a new neighbourhood, making its Roast Collection accessible to even more sandwich lovers across the city.

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Under the Patronage of the Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the State of Qatar, Qatar Airways Hosts Arab Air Carriers’ Organization’s 59th Annual General Meeting 

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Under the patronage of HE Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the State of Qatar, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al-Thani, the 59th Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the Arab Air Carriers’ Organization (AACO) officially opened yesterday at the Sheraton Grand Doha Resort & Convention Hotel. 

Hosted by Qatar Airways from 2-4 November 2026, the event opened with addresses from Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive Officer and AGM Chairman, Hamad Al-Khater, and AACO Secretary General, Abdul Wahab Teffaha, setting the stage for the discussions on the industry’s evolving landscape and strategic priorities. 

The annual gathering brings together over 200 senior aviation executives and stakeholders, including chief executive officers of AACO member airlines, partner carriers, and representatives of leading organisations in the aviation industry.  

Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive Officer and AGM Chairman, Hamad Al-Khater, said: “This AACO gathering brings together the airlines of the Arab world, which collectively play a vital role in connecting people, businesses and economies across six continents. As our industry faces a very difficult period, with geopolitical developments continuing to disrupt global connectivity, regional cooperation has become our greatest strength. 

“Our priority, together with our fellow AACO members, is to build on the partnerships this year has deepened, strengthening the resilience of our region and advancing a shared vision for the future of Arab aviation. Qatar Airways is honoured to welcome this Assembly to Doha and to play its full part in that work.” 

AACO Secretary General, Abdul Wahab Teffaha, said: “We are pleased to gather in Doha for AACO’s 59th Annual General Meeting, and we extend our sincere appreciation to the State of Qatar for its patronage and to Qatar Airways for its generous hospitality. The aviation industry continues to face complex challenges, from geopolitical uncertainties and operational pressures to the growing need for environmental sustainability. Yet, Arab airlines have consistently demonstrated their ability to adapt, innovate, and maintain their vital role in global air connectivity 

“This Annual General Meeting provides an important platform to exchange views, strengthen cooperation, and identify practical solutions to our shared challenges. By working together, we can reinforce the competitiveness and resilience of Arab aviation and ensure its continued contribution to economic development and global connectivity.” 

The AGM’s working sessions, scheduled for Tuesday, 3 November 2026, will open with AACO Secretary General’s ‘State of the Industry’ report, offering an overview of the latest developments, challenges, and opportunities across the aviation sector. This will be followed by a speech by the Director General of the Arab Civil Aviation Organization (ACAO), Khalid Cherkaoui, and a presentation by Bloomberg examining the global economic outlook and its implications for aviation. 

The programme will also feature the Arab Aviation Summit, including a high-level panel discussion bringing together airline chief executives and aviation leaders to examine the industry’s most pressing issues.  

The summit will be followed by a closed-door session for AACO members to discuss internal and administrative matters, and address key strategic challenges affecting member airlines. 

As the host of the 59th AACO AGM, Qatar Airways continues to support industry collaboration and the exchange of expertise across the aviation sector in the region. The airline’s extensive global network, connecting Doha to more than 170 global destinations through its award-winning hub, Hamad International Airport, reflects the importance of international connectivity to regional economic growth and global trade. 

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