Velaa Private Island has announced The Velaa Vampire Chronicles, an eight-day Halloween takeover running from 25^th October to 1^st  November 2026 in the Maldives’ Noonu Atoll.

For GCC travellers, the programme lands on a Halloween weekend, the 31st falls on a Saturday this year, making it a short-haul family escape at the close of the region’s October school break period.

Rather than a single themed night, the Chronicles run as a series of separate experiences, with a dedicated children’s strand across all eight days.

Across the resort, the weekend brings several experiences together at once. Younger guests can join the Lha Velaa Kids Club’s Little Vampires programme, while the Vampire’s Lair Escape Room and Scary Train Ride offer after-dark thrills for the whole family. Meanwhile, The Immortals’ Stage brings a night of live music and entertainment, before it all builds to the gothic-themed Halloween Gala Dinner on 31st October.

Tokey & Friends: Little Vampires
What: Tokey and his friends turn into the island’s littlest vampires, with fang-tastic games, spooky crafts and daily Halloween surprises.
When: 25th October – 1st November 2026
Where: Lha Velaa Kids Club, Velaa Private Island

The Vampire’s Lair Escape Room
What: Enter the Count’s hidden realm, follow the trail of clues and escape before darkness claims you.
When: 26th – 27th, 29th – 30th October and 1st November 2026
Where: The Velaa Coral House, Velaa Private Island

The Immortals’ Stage
What: Charly’s Angels take the stage for an evening of music, dance and live entertainment.
When: 28th October 2026
Where: Athiri Beach, Velaa Private Island

The Scary Train Ride
What: A haunting night-time journey through the island’s shadows, with vampires waiting around every corner.
When: 29th – 30th October and 1st November 2026
Where: Velaa Private Island
Age: All ages

The Halloween Gala Dinner
What: The Count’s invitation to an evening of exceptional dining and captivating performances, beneath the moonlit sky. The dress code is gothic.
When: 31st October 2026
Where: Velaa Private Island

To know more or for reservations, please visit the website https://www.velaaprivateisland.com/.

As the world comes together to celebrate World Tourism Day on Sunday, 27 September, UAE based hospitality group Majestic Hotels is marking the occasion by celebrating two decades of homegrown hospitality, meaningful guest experiences and its continued growth alongside one of the world’s most dynamic tourism destinations.

With a distinguished collection of upscale four-star properties across Dubai, including Majestic City Retreat, Majestic Premier and Majestic Cove, Majestic Hotels has built its reputation around a simple philosophy: “Make a Memory.” The tagline reflects the group’s commitment to creating stays that go beyond accommodation, connecting guests with the character, culture and energy of Dubai while giving them experiences worth remembering.

The group is celebrating a particularly significant year in 2026, marking its 20th anniversary while also expanding its portfolio with the launch of its fourth property, further strengthening its presence in Dubai’s competitive and rapidly evolving hospitality landscape.

For Majestic Hotels, the milestone reflects not only the growth of its portfolio, but also the evolution of Dubai itself. Over the past two decades, the city has transformed into one of the world’s leading destinations for leisure, business, retail, gastronomy and international events, welcoming millions of visitors from around the globe.

A Homegrown Hotel Group Rooted in Dubai Strategically located across Dubai, Majestic Hotels’ properties provide guests with convenient access to the city’s key attractions, transport links and business districts.

The group’s hotels place visitors within easy reach of some of Dubai’s most iconic cultural and leisure landmarks, including Meena Bazaar, Dubai Frame, the Gold and Spice Souqs, Dubai Museum, Dubai Creek, Dubai Mall and Dubai World Trade Center. Convenient access to metro connections and Dubai International Airport also makes the properties well suited to both international leisure travellers and business guests.

This balance between contemporary comfort and Dubai’s cultural heritage is central to the Majestic Hotels experience. Rather than simply offering a place to stay, the group encourages guests to explore the city, discover its neighbourhoods and create their own Dubai stories.

The result is a hospitality proposition that combines the comfort expected from an upscale four-star hotel with a distinctly local sense of place.

Looking ahead to Dubai’s Q4 Tourism Season 

World Tourism Day also comes at an important point in Dubai’s annual tourism calendar, as the city prepares to enter its traditionally vibrant Q4 season.

With cooler weather bringing increased opportunities for outdoor experiences, cultural exploration, shopping, dining and entertainment, the final quarter of the year is a particularly important period for Dubai’s hospitality sector. The season also brings a diverse mix of international visitors, families, business travellers and returning residents to the city.

For Majestic Hotels, the upcoming season represents an opportunity to welcome both first-time visitors discovering Dubai and returning guests looking to experience the city from a familiar base.

From exploring historic Dubai Creek and the traditional souqs to visiting world-renowned attractions, shopping destinations and major business and entertainment venues, guests staying at Majestic Hotels can experience the many sides of Dubai within easy reach of their hotel.

As the group enters its third decade, its focus remains firmly on the guest experience, creating comfortable stays, meaningful connections and memories that encourage visitors to return.

Twenty years of making memories 

For 20 years, Majestic Hotels has grown alongside Dubai, evolving with the city’s tourism landscape while maintaining its identity as a homegrown hospitality group.

Its latest expansion in 2026 marks another milestone in that journey, bringing the portfolio to four properties and opening a new chapter for the group.

As Dubai continues to attract visitors seeking authentic experiences alongside world-class hospitality, Majestic Hotels is looking to the future with a clear ambition: to continue growing while remaining deeply connected to the destination that has shaped its story.

This World Tourism Day, the message is simple: travel may take guests to new places, but it is the memories they create that bring them back, and for Majestic Hotels, every stay is an invitation to “Make a Memory”. 

Salute! This Negroni Week, Cucina is celebrating one of Italy’s most iconic aperitivo traditions with a limited-edition menu of six creations, each bringing a playful Cucina twist to the classic.

Available from 21 to 27 September for AED 59 each, Beverage Manager Rafael Coelho has been busy in Cucina’s Beverage Lab, playing with some of Italy’s favourite flavours and putting his own stamp on the iconic serve. Coffee, dark chocolate, pistachio, vanilla and even a little birra all make an appearance across six very different takes on the Negroni.

So, what’s your Negroni?

• A classic at heart? Start with the Diavola, Cucina’s nod to the original and the closest of the six to the much-loved Italian aperitivo.
• Coffee after everything? The Caffè Rosso brings coffee and chocolate bitters into the mix for a rich Italian-inspired take.
• Dolce is non-negotiable? Meet Cioccolato, with dark chocolate bringing a deeper, indulgent twist.
• Pistachio, sempre? The Pistacchio puts one of Italy’s favourite flavours centre stage with pistachio-infused notes.
• Something a little sweeter? Vaniglia brings vanilla-led flavours to Cucina’s interpretation of the classic.
• Prefer to break the rules? Birra Sbagliato is the wildcard of the menu, bringing limoncello, beer cordial and birra foam together in the collection’s most unexpected creation. 

Rooted in Italian aperitivo culture but unmistakably Cucina in character, the menu brings a little dolce vita to Palm West Beach for Negroni Week. Cucina is also joining the global celebration as an official Premium Partner, appearing on the Negroni Week map alongside participating venues around the world.

Details:

Negroni Week at Cucina

What: Six limited-edition Negroni creations by Beverage Manager Rafael Coelho, with flavours including coffee, dark chocolate, pistachio, vanilla and birra

• Price: AED 59 per Negroni
• When: 21 to 27 September
• Where: Cucina, Palm West Beach
• Reservations: Visit cucinadubai.com, call +971 4 666 1408 or email reservations@cucinadubai.com