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

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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.

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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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