BISSELL Middle East is celebrating the company’s 150th anniversary, marking a significant milestone in a journey defined by innovation, family leadership and a long-standing commitment to developing practical cleaning solutions for homes. From its beginnings in a small Michigan shop in 1876, BISSELL has evolved into an established home cleaning brand serving households across the GCC and international markets.

The company’s story began when Melville Bissell invented a carpet sweeper to solve a practical challenge in the crockery shop he operated with his wife, Anna. Growing customer demand transformed that invention into a family business. In 1889, Anna Bissell assumed leadership of the company and helped expand its reach beyond the United States, establishing a legacy of entrepreneurship and leadership that has continued across generations.

Over the past 150 years, BISSELL has continued to evolve alongside changing lifestyles and household needs. The company expanded from manual sweepers into carpet washers, vacuums, portable cleaners and multi-surface cleaning solutions.

“Reaching 150 years is an important milestone for BISSELL and a reflection of the values that have shaped the company across five generations. Our heritage is built on understanding real household needs and developing practical solutions that make cleaning easier and more effective. As we celebrate this anniversary, we are proud of our journey and remain focused on continuing to innovate, listen to our customers and strengthen our relevance to families across the region,” said Faten Al-Baltaji, General Manager of BISSELL META and India.

The 150th anniversary also underscores the continuity of BISSELL’s family-led heritage. Five generations after the company’s first carpet sweeper, BISSELL continues to build on its founding purpose by developing cleaning solutions designed around the practical demands of modern homes, including households with pets.

As BISSELL enters its next chapter, the milestone provides an opportunity to reflect on a century and a half of progress while reaffirming the company’s focus on innovation, customer needs and the continued development of home cleaning solutions for future generations.

From scented boyfriend sweaters to cocktails that cross continents, Murali, Co-founder of Jockamo Barnes, is turning Dubai’s cultural quirks and everyday observations into unexpected creative experiences.

In an industry where every brand wants to be culturally relevant, Murali, Co-founder of innovation studio Jockamo Barnes, is challenging the very idea of what that means. “Culture is one of the most abused words today, especially in marketing and advertising. Every agency claims it. Every brand sees it as a shortcut to relevance. But few truly understand what it means to be a part of it.”

For Murali, the answer lies in creating rather than chasing culture. At Jockamo Barnes, that translates into unconventional objects, brands and experiences rooted in human behaviour, often inspired by the contradictions of life in the UAE. ““Every project starts with a tension: two things that shouldn’t necessarily work together, but somehow do. The UAE produces them faster than anywhere I’ve lived,” he explains.

Take Boomerang, a playful inversion of hospitality inspired by a New Orleans cocktail tradition. Instead of visiting bars to be served, Murali travels with a drink to gift bartenders around the world, creating an unexpected connection between cocktail communities across continents.

Then there’s Pre-Worn Boyfriend Sweater, a tongue-in-cheek take on Dubai’s dating culture, built around the observation that “the best part of situationships are the clothes you steal; the worst part is the man.” Created with fragrance studio Oo La Lab Dubai, the scented sweaters capture three familiar dating archetypes: the Entrepreneur, the Gym Rat and the Desert Philosopher. Beyond the humour, the project explores how scent and touch can evoke memories in ways traditional advertising cannot.

A more poignant expression of this thinking is Bitter Meat, created with Aidan Frederick. Described as a love letter to the UAE’s expat experience, the project challenges the familiar narrative of Dubai as a temporary stopover. Its message, “for those who chose here,” speaks to residents who have made the country home by choice. “Reverence without romanticism. We love this place too much to put it on a postcard,” says Murali.

This creative philosophy also shapes the studio’s collaborations. The Away Kit, developed with Super Cellar for the 2026 World Cup, features more than 17 editorial posters pairing nations with culturally inspired cocktails. The insight is distinctly local: Dubai experiences the tournament as a city of away fans, where people passionately support countries they no longer live in.

For Murali, partnerships like these are about shared authorship rather than conventional sponsorship. “Super Cellar started as a client and became a co-author. That’s the model we want: invite a brand into something already in motion instead of shopping them a finished idea.”

Ultimately, Jockamo Barnes is interested in ideas that live beyond the fleeting attention of a campaign. “Advertising asks for attention. People watch it, skim past it. But it’s ignorable and avoidable. Objects earn a place in someone’s life. We’re more interested in the second.”

And perhaps that’s the studio’s most compelling proposition: culture isn’t something brands need to borrow relevance from. It’s something they can meaningfully contribute to.

AHS Properties is set to launch AHS Twin Towers, its new commercial development on Sheikh Zayed Road, following the AED 1.1 billion acquisition of Shangri-La Dubai. The property will undergo a major transformation into a Grade A commercial destination.

Positioned on one of Dubai’s most prominent commercial corridors, AHS Twin Towers will introduce a new architectural identity for the property. The project has been designed by Gensler, an internationally recognised architecture and design firm, with interiors by AHS Atelier, the company’s in-house design studio, bringing a bespoke approach to materiality, detailing and craftsmanship throughout the development.

AHS Twin Towers will comprise ground floor plus 50. The development will offer flexible Grade A office environments supported by an integrated mix of business, wellness and lifestyle amenities. More than 30,000 sq. ft. will be dedicated to wellness and fitness, alongside over 12,000 sq. ft. of culinary experiences and more than 1,000 parking spaces. The wider offering will include an elevated dining destination, a private wellness sanctuary with a dedicated lap pool, executive business lounges and a landscaped rooftop sky garden.

Abbas Sajwani, Founder and CEO of AHS Properties, said: “AHS Twin Towers represents our next major step in Dubai’s commercial real estate market. Businesses in Dubai are expecting more from prime commercial real estate than ever before. Location will always remain fundamental, but today there is a much greater focus on design, amenities and the overall experience a building can offer. By transforming Shangri-La Dubai into AHS Twin Towers, we are bringing these elements together at one of Sheikh Zayed Road’s most established addresses. Our aim is to create a workplace that reflects how companies and their teams want to work today, and to set a new standard for the commercial assets Dubai’s next phase of growth will demand.”

AHS Twin Towers builds on the track record of AHS Tower, the company’s first Grade A commercial development, which sold out for more than USD 700 million during development.