As UAE consumers increasingly look for healthier ways to eat without compromising on taste, convenience or their lifestyles, premium meal plan brand iDiet is taking a more personal approach to nutrition by combining wholesome chef-crafted meals with dedicated dietitian support and flexible meal plans designed around individual goals and everyday routines.

Operating in the UAE since 2021, and currently serving all emirates, iDiet is the UAE brand of Lebanon’s established HealthBox Diet and Nutrition Center, founded in 2010 by nutritionist and entrepreneur Sabine Karam and is backed by more than 16 years of experience in nutrition, food and healthy meal planning.

Taste sits at the heart of the iDiet experience. Fresh, high-quality ingredients and no preservatives come together across menus inspired by Mediterranean, Asian, Oriental and international cuisines, offering the variety needed to keep healthy eating interesting and avoid boredom. Rather than relying on restrictive or repetitive diet food, iDiet focuses on meals that deliver on both nutrition and flavour – an approach designed to make customers feel they are choosing a better way of eating, rather than simply following a diet.

This is complemented by ongoing, personalised support from a dedicated dietitian. Every customer is assigned a dietitian as their account manager, providing guidance and accountability throughout their subscription, from selecting the most suitable meal plan and navigating nutritional needs to adjusting menus and making recommendations as goals, preferences and routines evolve. This continued relationship means customers have a nutrition professional supporting them beyond the initial assessment and throughout their entire meal plan journey.

“Healthy eating only becomes sustainable when people genuinely enjoy the food and feel supported throughout the journey,” said Sabine Karam, Co-Founder of iDiet. “At iDiet, we don’t believe people should have to choose between food they love and food that supports their health. Our dietitians stay closely involved throughout the customer journey, while our chefs work to make every meal nutritious, varied and genuinely delicious. Ultimately, we want to make healthier eating feel practical and enjoyable enough to become part of everyday life.”

iDiet offers a diverse range of personalised meal plans in the UAE, catering to different health goals, dietary needs and lifestyles. Options include low-calorie, high-protein, keto, vegan, cleanse, maintenance, anti-inflammatory, pregnancy and intermittent fasting plans. Customers can also enjoy a variety of meals inspired by different cuisines, reflecting the UAE’s diverse population and tastes.

Flexibility is also built into the experience. Through the iDiet app, customers can swap, pause and skip meals as their schedules change, while continuing to receive support from their dietitian. This allows meal plans to adapt to real life, rather than requiring customers to adapt their lives around a rigid diet.

Beyond its meal plan subscriptions and healthy food delivery, iDiet also offers healthy treats through its website and delivery platforms including Deliveroo and Careem, as well as healthy corporate catering and corporate wellness activations for businesses looking to make healthier eating more accessible in the workplace.

The brand’s UAE offering builds on the established HealthBox business, which began in a small kitchen in Beirut in 2010 and has since grown into a leading diet, nutrition and healthy catering business. Today, iDiet serves more than 3,500 customers and delivers over one million healthy meals annually in the UAE, alongside HealthBox’s established operations in Lebanon that also serve more than one million meals annually. With more than 16 years of experience across nutrition, culinary development, kitchen operations and customer experience, Sabine continues to be closely involved in the development of iDiet’s products and customer journey.

Today, iDiet is building on that regional expertise to meet the evolving expectations of UAE consumers by bringing together great-tasting food, expert nutritional guidance, personalisation and flexibility to make healthy eating easier to enjoy and easier to sustain.

Barceló Hotel Group announces the opening of Occidental Cairo Grand Museum, a 207-key, modern four-star urban retreat in the Egypt capital. With an exceptional location near the iconic Pyramids of Giza, situated opposite the Grand Egyptian Museum, the property promises a central base from which to discover the city’s rich history and culture.

Occidental Cairo Grand Museum marks the Spanish hotel group’s second property in Cairo, further strengthening its presence in Egypt. The opening represents another milestone in the company’s expansion strategy and reinforces its position across Middle East and North Africa, a region with significant potential for tourism growth. It also demonstrates the group’s ability to identify strategic assets in high-value locations and develop distinctive offerings tailored to international demand.

Occidental Cairo Grand Museum, A Gateway to Discover Egypt

Occidental Cairo Grand Museum brings contemporary style to one of Cairo’s most historic settings. It features 207 rooms and suites, showcasing contemporary design and thoughtful comforts, promising a calm retreat after a day of exploring. Guests can cool off in the rooftop pool, recharge at the spa and wellness centre, or stay active in the fully-equipped fitness centre. For business travellers, a versatile 266-square-metre meeting space features modern audiovisual technology and accommodates events of up to 60 guests.

Dining is designed to take guests from relaxed daytime meals to memorable evenings overlooking the city. The main restaurant serves a selection of varied international dishes, while the hotel’s bars offer distinct settings for every occasion, from casual drinks at the Champs Sports Bar to quiet moments in the welcoming Lobby Bar. The standout Stage Skybar & Lounge can be found on the rooftop, where cocktails, sunset skies, and panoramic views of the Pyramids of Giza come together for an unforgettable end to the day.

Cairo, A Growing and Increasingly Established Market

Egypt continues to establish itself as one of North Africa’s most dynamic tourism markets, supported by its developing infrastructure and unique cultural heritage, which has been further enhanced by landmark projects such as the opening of the Grand Egyptian Museum. Within this growing tourism landscape, Cairo continues to strengthen its position as a key emerging market, attracting leisure travellers drawn to its historic heritage as well as business and incentive travellers.

“Cairo is a strategic location due to its iconic appeal, commercial importance, and ability to offer rich cultural experiences. The addition of Occidental Cairo Grand Museum enhances our presence in this strategic market and demonstrates the strength of our management model in creating sustainable, long-term value for owners, guests, and destinations,” says José Canals, Chief Operations Officer for the Mediterranean, Middle East, and Asia at Barceló Hotel Group.

Barceló Hotel Group contributes to local economic development through quality employment and support for local businesses. Its operations in Egypt sustain 1,876 direct and indirect jobs, with permanent employment levels above the industry average. The group also sources entirely from approved local suppliers, 70% of which are based in the immediate area, generating more than €4 million in revenue for these businesses.

In line with its Barceló ReGen sustainability strategy, the group is committed to a responsible growth model that combines tourism development with the creation of shared value for local communities by generating economic opportunities, supporting employment, and encouraging growth of local businesses. As a result, each new opening expands the group’s international presence and actively contributes to the social, economic, and environmental progress of the destinations in which it operates.

September is bringing a pepperoni takeover to Pizza Di Rocco with the launch of the Roni Revolution, a limited-time line-up giving the much-loved topping four very different spins. Available throughout the month, the new collection ranges from double pepperoni and a fully loaded Italian-inspired creation to combinations with hot honey and ricotta or homemade pesto Genovese.

Beyond the new Ronis, Pizza Di Rocco is making it easy to feed a crowd with Team Treats for office lunches and get-togethers. For celebrations at home or your chosen venue, the team can even bring the pizzeria to you, arriving with a wood-fired oven to prepare and serve fresh pizzas on site for a proper Pizza Di Rocco pizza party.

Meet the Ronis: The Roni Revolution Lands at Pizza Di Rocco

Pepperoni fans, this one’s for you. From 1 to 30 September, Pizza Di Rocco is giving one of the world’s most-loved pizza toppings its moment with the Roni Revolution, a limited-time line-up that reinvents pepperoni four different ways.

Keep things classic with the Roni Roni (AED 59), loaded with double pepperoni, fior di latte mozzarella and oregano, or go all in with the Italian Stallion (AED 65), topped with pepperoni, salami, Italian sausage and caramelised onion. The Hot Honey Ricotta (AED 55) brings together pepperoni, whipped ricotta and chilli honey for a sweet and spicy twist, while the Pesto Roni (AED 65) swaps the traditional tomato base for homemade pesto Genovese, finished with pepperoni, fresh basil and Parmesan.

Can’t pick a favourite? The Four Ronis offer lets you order any four Roni pizzas for AED 199. Try them all, share them around and find your Roni before the revolution wraps up on 30 September.

Available until 30 September 2026.

Bring the Pizzeria to Your Next Party

Why order pizza when you can have it made fresh at home? Pizza Di Rocco brings its wood-fired oven and dedicated team straight to your location, turning birthdays, celebrations and get-togethers into an authentic pizza party, with pizzas prepared and cooked live for guests.

The team takes care of everything from transport and complete setup to cooking and serving, with hosts able to choose up to five pizza flavours, appetisers, and desserts for the occasion. Each pizza is made fresh and served piping hot from the oven, so guests can enjoy the fun of watching their pizzas come together before tucking in. Available for events of 30 guests or more, it’s an easy way to bring a little taste of the pizzeria to your own party.

For more information and pricing, contact enquiries@pizzadirocco.com.

Get the Team Together with Pizza Di Rocco’s Team Treats

With everyone back at their desks, September is the perfect time to bring the team together over lunch. Pizza Di Rocco’s Team Treats make office lunches, meetings and team celebrations easy, with generous sharing packages delivered straight to the workplace.

The Squad Meal (AED 699) serves around 10 to 15 people with two appetiser sharing boxes, one jumbo chicken strips box, ten pizzas, a dessert selection and soft drinks. For larger teams, the Club Meal (AED 999) caters for 15 to 25 people with three appetiser sharing boxes, one jumbo chicken strips box, eighteen pizzas, dessert and beverages. Planning something bigger? The Pro Meal (AED 1,999) feeds 40 to 50 people with thirty-five pizzas, appetisers, chicken strips, dessert and soft drinks.

experience and authentic Italian flavours at the Palm West Beach trattoria. Inspired by Cucina’s celebration of aperitivo culture and the Italian ritual of gathering over good food, good wine and great company, the new weekly experience offers guests a taste of la dolce vita in the middle of the week.

Taking place every Wednesday from 7pm until late, Sips & Serenata is inspired by the Italian tradition of aperitivo, an evening made for sharing, socialising and lingering a little longer around the table. Guests can settle in over vino carafes and signature spritzes as the evening unfolds, bringing a little of the Italian way of life to Dubai’s midweek dining scene.

Priced at AED 299 for two, the experience includes two hours of free flow wine carafes alongside the Tagliere dello Chef, a generous antipasti board featuring a chef’s selection of Italian cheeses and an assortment of beef or pork cold cuts, with the option to enhance the experience with favourites such as arancini, bruschetta, focaccina, marinated Apulian olives and fried calamari.

Adding to the atmosphere, Verou Poli will provide the soundtrack to the evening. Known across Dubai for her live performances and distinctive one-woman-band format, Verou combines vocals, piano, percussion and live looping in real time. Fluent in both English and Italian, her repertoire spans timeless classics and contemporary favourites, creating the perfect backdrop for Cucina’s spirited aperitivo nights.

Made for after-work aperitivo, date nights or a midweek catch-up with friends, Sips & Serenata offers an easy excuse to linger a little longer at Cucina. The à la carte menu is also available throughout the evening.

• Offer Details:
• When: every Wednesday from September 2026
• Time: 7:00pm until late
• Where: Cucina, Palm West Beach
• Price: AED 299 for two, including two hours of free-flow carafes of vino and Tagliere dello Chef
• Add-ons: Arancini (4 pieces) AED 30, marinated Apulian olives AED 10, fried calamari AED 30, bruschetta (2 pieces) AED 20 and freshly baked focaccina AED 30
• À la carte: also available

You began your culinary journey in a small town and went on to work across some of the world’s leading gastronomic destinations. Looking back, what moments fundamentally changed the way you understood food and the craft of being a chef?

I don’t think there was one defining moment that changed how I understood food. As a young cook, you learn how to respect ingredients and bring out their best flavours. As you grow in the profession, you also learn how to create dishes that are commercially successful without compromising on taste. Now, in my forties, my focus is on respecting the product, creating something memorable for the guest, ensuring the business remains profitable and, most importantly, being original in my work.

From working alongside some of the industry’s most respected chefs to leading the culinary direction of multiple high-profile concepts, what experiences have most shaped your approach to cooking and leadership?

My approach to both cooking and leadership has been shaped by seeing where others have failed, as well as recognising my own failures. One of the greatest tests of a chef is the ability to make a mistake, recover from it and avoid repeating it. Do I still make mistakes as a leader? Absolutely. But I make a conscious effort to acknowledge and correct them immediately.

As Executive Chef of Demind Group, how do you see your role beyond creating dishes? What is your larger vision for the teams, concepts and dining experiences you are building?

My role at Demind has always extended beyond creating dishes. I have had the privilege of helping to shape and develop the brands themselves. My director has consistently given me the freedom to create, experiment and, importantly, make mistakes and grow from them. My vision for the team is to help each person mature and develop their skills. I never expect my employees to remain with me forever, so I believe it is our responsibility to prepare them for successful careers beyond Demind.

With Bagatelle, OPA, La Niña and Myrra each having their own culinary personality, what is your overarching vision for the kind of dining experiences Demind Group should be known for?

Demind Group is known for creating top-tier dining experiences, but each of its concepts has a distinct identity. At La Niña, guests experience refined Spanish and Latin American cuisine in a beautiful, romantic setting. OPA offers a complete night out, combining vibrant party energy with excellent food. Casa Myrra is positioned as an upscale-casual concept, offering the quality and attention to detail associated with La Niña and OPA, but within a more relaxed atmosphere.

Each of these concepts draws from a distinct culinary culture, from French and Greek to Iberian Latino and Greek-Spanish influences. How do you approach reinterpretation without losing the authenticity that makes a cuisine recognisable?

I approach every brand in the same way: I study, I develop the flavour profile and then I create. It may sound simple, but the process can take months. Take OPA Dubai, our flagship concept, for example. Even today, we never allow ourselves to become complacent when developing new dishes. Around 70 per cent of the menu remains consistent, while the remaining 30 per cent is continuously evolving. We study market trends, but we also aspire to set them. I travel across Greece, discovering regional dishes and ingredients that are often overlooked, while continually searching for the finest products available. At Demind, we are always moving forward.

Rapid Fire Questions:

What is the most unexpected food combination you genuinely love?

I’m a big fan of ranch dressing, so I would have to say Bolognese with a generous dollop of ranch on top. The height of gourmet dining!

What’s the one dish you would happily cook for friends at home, and what’s the one dish you absolutely refuse to make outside the professional kitchen?

Tacos, any day of the week.

What is the one kitchen rule you refuse to compromise on?

Respect one another.

A dish I would refuse to make outside the kitchen?

That’s a difficult one, because I don’t find anything too challenging. I would gladly take on any culinary challenge in my home kitchen.

Every chef has a dish they secretly think they make better than anyone else. What’s yours?

Paella—for sure!

As the UAE enters the second half of 2026, how would you assess the current state of the job market? What key trends are shaping recruitment today?

The UAE job market remains fundamentally resilient, although it has become more selective. Regional uncertainty created some short-term caution among employers, particularly around the middle of the year, but this has not changed the underlying attractiveness of the UAE as a business and employment hub. Recruiters are already expecting hiring activity to strengthen as companies restart recruitment plans that were temporarily paused.

Despite recent regional uncertainties, hiring activity appears to be picking up. What factors are driving this renewed recruitment momentum?

The biggest driver is the UAE’s continued economic diversification. Businesses are investing across technology, financial services, healthcare, real estate, infrastructure, energy and professional services rather than relying on a single economic engine.

Dubai’s Q1 2026 GDP grew 2.4% year-on-year, with particularly strong performances in healthcare, construction, financial services and utilities. 

There is also a significant amount of investment already committed to long-term projects. As business confidence improves, organisations that delayed hiring are likely to revisit those plans.

Dubai has become one of the world’s most attractive employment destinations. What do you believe has contributed to this transformation, and why does it continue to attract global talent?

Dubai has successfully created something that goes beyond simply being a place to work—it has become a global platform for business. 

Its advantages include world-class infrastructure, connectivity, a highly international business environment, a relatively business-friendly regulatory framework and access to markets across the Middle East, Africa and Asia. Importantly, Dubai has continuously reinvented itself. It has moved from being primarily associated with trade and real estate to becoming a significant centre for finance, technology, logistics, tourism, healthcare, and professional services and innovation.

Which sectors are expected to lead hiring in the UAE during the second half of 2026, and what roles are currently in highest demand?

I would expect technology and AI, financial services, healthcare, energy and renewables, construction, real estate, logistics, professional services to remain among the strongest areas.

In terms of roles, demand is increasingly concentrated around AI and data professionals, technology specialists, cybersecurity, finance and investment professionals, sales and business development, healthcare specialist, engineering and specialized talent. The important point is that AI is creating demand not only for pure AI specialists, but for people who can combine AI capability with industry expertise

What advice would you give to professionals who are looking to advance their careers or secure new opportunities in the UAE?

My advice would be to be much more strategic about the job search. Don’t simply apply to hundreds of vacancies with the same CV. Understand the industry, identify companies that are expanding and tailor your profile to the requirements of those organisations. Networking is also extremely important in the UAE. Build relationships with recruiters, industry professionals and decision-makers rather than relying entirely on job portals.

Are there any emerging workplace trends—such as flexible work, upskilling, or digital transformation—that will significantly influence the future of work in the UAE?

First is AI enabled work. AI will increasingly become part of everyday workflows rather than a separate technology function.

Second is continuous upskilling. The half-life of skills is becoming shorter, so employers and employees will both have to invest in learning. Third is the evolution of flexible working. I don’t think the future will necessarily be completely remote or completely office-based. Instead, organisations will increasingly adopt hybrid models based on productivity, collaboration and the nature of the role. The UAE has an opportunity to become a leader in this new model because of its young, international and digitally sophisticated workforce.

Looking ahead, what is your outlook for the UAE job market over the next 12 months, and what opportunities do you foresee for employers and job seekers?

I am cautiously optimistic about the next 12 months. I expect recruitment to become progressively more active as businesses move beyond the uncertainty of the first half of 2026 and resume investment and expansion plans. The fundamentals remain strong: economic diversification, infrastructure investment, international capital, population growth and the UAE’s continued positioning as a global business hub.

However, I don’t expect every segment of the market to grow equally. The market will remain selective, and employers will continue to demand stronger productivity and specialised skills.

For employers, the opportunity is to access an increasingly sophisticated global talent pool. For professionals, the opportunity is to build careers in sectors that are expanding rapidly.

Ultimately, I believe the UAE job market is moving from a “jobs market” to a “skills market.” The winners over the next few years will be organisations that can attract and retain the right talent, and professionals who continuously upgrade their skills and demonstrate measurable value.

With its winding pathways, Nubian-inspired architecture, and uninterrupted views across the Arabian Gulf, The Cove Rotana Resort Ras Al Khaimah feels worlds away from the everyday. Framed by desert hills and a 600-metre private beach, the village-style retreat invites guests to slow down, whether that means lingering over a Mediterranean brunch at Basilico, retreating to a private pool villa, stretching a midweek escape into 36 unhurried hours by the coast, or raising a glass with all-day Happy Hour at Basilico and Breeze. This August, every moment is designed to be savoured at a gentler pace, surrounded by the timeless beauty of Ras Al Khaimah’s coastline.

Coastal Brunch at Basilico
Saturdays at Basilico invite guests to settle into the weekend with the Coastal Brunch, where Mediterranean flavours, live entertainment, and relaxed waterfront dining come together in an elegant setting. The generous spread features live oyster and sushi stations, poached crab and shrimp, a mozzarella and burrata bar, Arabic mezze, freshly prepared pasta, carving stations, and an indulgent selection of desserts, all complemented by live performances from a duo band.

Guests are also invited to make a day of it with complimentary access to the resort’s pool and private beach, extending the experience beyond the table and into a leisurely afternoon by the water.

When: Every Saturday, 1pm – 4pm. | Price: AED 249 per person (soft beverages); AED 339 per person (house beverages).

Basilico Sunday Roast
Gather with family and friends for a leisurely Sunday Roast at Basilico, where Sundays at The Cove Rotana Resort are best enjoyed with a traditional roast and uninterrupted views across the Arabian Gulf. Available every Sunday from 12:00 pm to 6:00 pm, the menu features a classic roast with all the trimmings, accompanied by hearty sides, rich gravies, and a comforting dessert to finish.

Priced at AED 99 per person, it’s an inviting way to bring the weekend to a close, with good food, sea views, and the resort’s relaxed atmosphere setting the tone for an unhurried afternoon.

When: Every Sunday, noon – 6pm. | Price: AED 99 per person.

All-Day Happy Hour at Basilico and Breeze

This August, enjoy an all-day Happy Hour at two of The Cove Rotana Resort’s dining destinations, Basilico and Breeze. Available on weekdays, the offer invites guests to unwind over a long lunch, an afternoon catch-up, or sunset drinks while enjoying selected beverages at exclusive rates in two distinct waterfront settings. When: Mondays to Thursdays, all day.

Private Pool Villa Summer Special
Slow the pace of summer with a secluded stay in one of The Cove Rotana Resort Ras Al Khaimah’s Private Pool Villas, where sun-soaked days unfold in the resort’s charming village-inspired surroundings. Designed for couples, families, and solo travellers alike, the Summer Special invites guests to embrace unhurried moments, from breakfast floating in the pool to relaxed evenings spent dining under the stars.

From AED 1,199 per room, per night, the package includes a floating breakfast and floating afternoon tea served in your private villa, an à la carte dinner at Basilico, a complimentary minibar on arrival,. Guests can also enjoy an exclusive in-villa dining menu throughout their stay, with the option to elevate the evening with a private BBQ on the villa terrace for an additional charge, while children under 12 stay and dine free.

When: Valid until 30 September 2026. | Price: From AED 1,199 per room per night on a half-board basis for two adults, with complimentary stay and dining for children below 12 years of age, and complimentary minibar upon arrival. Upgrade to a two-bedroom villa for an additional AED 500 per night or upgrade to a three-bedroom villa for an additional AED 1,250 per night. Terms and conditions apply.

36-Hour Weekday Getaway
Make the most of summer with an extended coastal stay at The Cove Rotana Resort Ras Al Khaimah, where extra time means unhurried mornings, afternoons by the pool or beach, and relaxed evenings overlooking the Arabian Gulf. Available from Sunday to Thursday, the offer includes early check-in from 9:00 am and late check-out until 9:00 pm, giving guests up to 36 hours to settle into the resort’s tranquil surroundings.

Rates start from AED 355 per room, per night, including breakfast for two adults, with flexible dining options to choose from, including breakfast, half board, and full board packages. Families are warmly welcomed, with up to two children under 12 staying free. Guests booking three nights or more will also enjoy a complimentary room upgrade, subject to availability.

When: Valid Sundays to Thursdays until 30 September 2026. | Price: From AED 355 per room, per night for two adults and two children with breakfast. Terms and conditions apply.

Pool and Beach Day Pass
Sun-drenched days and uninterrupted views of the Arabian Gulf set the scene for a relaxing day out at The Cove Rotana Resort Ras Al Khaimah. Available daily from 9:00 am until sunset, the Pool and Beach Day Pass includes access to the resort’s private beach, swimming pools, and Aqua Fun Waterslide, offering everything needed for an easy-going day by the water.

The pass also includes a fully redeemable food and beverage credit, allowing guests to enjoy a leisurely lunch, refreshing drinks, or light bites at one of the resort’s restaurants before returning to the pool or beach.

When: Daily, 9am – sunset. | Price: Weekdays: AED 125 per adult; AED 62.50 per child (6 to 12 years); free for children under 6 years of age. Weekends: AED 225 per adult; AED 112.50 per child (6 to 12 years); free for children under 6 years of age. Entrance fee fully redeemable against F&B.

Available from now and throughout the summer season, The Cove Rotana Resort introduces a collection of staycation offers designed to make the most of time by the coast.

Set between desert hills and the shoreline, the resort is known for its relaxed, village-style setting, where Nubian-inspired architecture, gardens, and lagoons create a calm and easy sense of escape. With a mix of rooms and private villas, a range of dining venues, and spaces designed for both families and couples, The Cove Rotana offers a setting that naturally lends itself to short breaks, weekend stays, and longer getaways.

Your 24 Hours, Your Way

Escape the everyday at The Cove Rotana Resort. Designed for both couples and families, the resort offers an easy change of pace, with spaces that encourage guests to slow down and settle into their surroundings.

The “Your 24 Hours, Your Way” experience highlights the flexibility of a full 24-hour stay from check-in, allowing for a more relaxed rhythm throughout the stay. Paired with half-board or full-board dining, added savings, and flexible benefits, it offers a more considered and comfortable way to make the most of time away.

Starting from AED 399++ with a 24-hour stay for 2 adults and up to 2 children, inclusive of 30% off dining and spa and a complimentary room upgrade when booking for 3 nights.

Valid until 30th September 2026

Brunch. Beach. Bed

The resort’s “Brunch. Beach. Bed” experience brings together dining and a relaxed overnight stay, offering an easy way to spend a weekend by the coast. The package pairs a Saturday brunch at Basilico with a one-night stay in a room or private villa, combining good food with time to switch off.

The brunch centres on coastal and seafood-inspired dishes, with live cooking stations and a live band creating a social, laid-back atmosphere. Afterwards, guests can retreat to their room or opt for the added privacy of a villa, settling into a quieter pace for the rest of the stay.

Starting from AED 770++ (non-alcoholic) and AED 850++ (alcoholic) for two adults, inclusive of breakfast, Saturday brunch at Basilico, and an overnight stay in a room or villa. Applicable for Friday–Saturday or Saturday–Sunday stays.

Valid until 30th May

The Ultimate Month-cation

The resort’s “Ultimate Month-cation” brings together an extended stay and everyday comforts, offering an easy way to settle into a slower pace by the coast. Designed for individuals, couples and families, the experience provides a fixed monthly rate, combining the flexibility of working remotely with time to unwind in a resort setting.

The stay includes daily breakfast and thoughtful perks that make longer visits feel seamless. Guests can take advantage of complimentary daily laundry, along with exclusive savings across dining and spa experiences. Added benefits such as brunch vouchers and kids staying free further enhance the experience, allowing guests to ease into a relaxed routine while enjoying everything the resort has to offer.

Starting from AED 10,500 net for 30 consecutive nights on a bed and breakfast basis, with a 50% discount on additional laundry, a 30% discount on F&B, kids stay free (up to two children), a 25% discount on spa treatments, and two complimentary brunch vouchers for two persons.

As UAE residents look ahead to the Prophet Muhammad’s (PBUH) Birthday long weekend from 28–30 August, one of the year’s easiest international escapes is just four hours away. Sun Siyam is inviting travellers to make the most of the three-day break with two distinct Maldives experiences. Families looking for space, activities and plenty of choice can retreat to Sun Siyam Iru Fushi in the Noonu Atoll, while couples seeking a more intimate, slower-paced island experience can escape to Sun Siyam Vilu Reef in the South Nilandhe Atoll.

Direct connections to Malé are available with Emirates and flydubai from Dubai, Etihad Airways from Abu Dhabi, and Air Arabia from Sharjah, with fares starting from around AED 1,500 one-way from Dubai and return fares from Sharjah currently available from approximately AED 1,650 per person, subject to availability.

Whichever style of escape travellers choose, Sun Siyam makes a short Maldives break easy to plan, with 24-hour All-Inclusive experiences and packages combining accommodation, return transfers, dining and added experiences. Depending on the resort, these range from full dine-around dining and premium beverages to complimentary excursions, spa experiences and floating breakfasts, allowing guests to spend less of their long weekend planning and more of it enjoying the island. Families can also benefit from Kids Stay, Eat & Play Free for up to two children sharing with their parents, making the Maldives equally suited to a spontaneous couples’ getaway or a multi-generational family long weekend.

Sun Siyam Iru Fushi – A curated Island Sanctuary

Set in the Noonu Atoll, Sun Siyam Iru Fushi is part of Sun Siyam’s Luxury Collection, combining generous space, privacy and extensive dining and leisure experiences. Particularly suited to families and multi-generational groups, the resort offers spacious beach and overwater villas, including private pool options, alongside plenty of room for families to spend time together while still enjoying their own space. The resort’s extensive choice of restaurants and café, wellness experiences, water sports and activities means a short break can be tailored around every member of the family. Its 24-hour Premium All-Inclusive experience adds to the ease of a long-weekend stay, with full dine-around options, premium beverage selections, while children can stay, eat and play free when sharing with their parents.

For the August long weekend, a three-night package at Sun Siyam Iru Fushi starts from USD 3,337 (approximately AED 12,255) for two adults, including 24-hour Premium All-Inclusive, return seaplane transfers and a complimentary villa upgrade. Service charge, applicable taxes and Green Tax are also included in the package price.

Sun Siyam Vilu Reef- A Timeless Island Escape

For couples looking to leave the pace of the city behind, Sun Siyam Vilu Reef, part of Sun Siyam’s Privé Collection offers a romantic boutique island retreat in the South Nilandhe Atoll. Intimate, unhurried and surrounded by an iridescent house reef, the resort brings together the seclusion of a private island with the warmth and character of a distinctly Maldivian experience. Days can move effortlessly between snorkelling the house reef, spa rituals, dolphin cruises and quiet hours beside the lagoon, while six dining venues offer flavours from around the world. The resort’s 24-hour All-Inclusive experience makes a short stay particularly effortless, allowing couples to spend less time planning and more time enjoying the island.

For the long weekend, a three-night package at Sun Siyam Vilu Reef starts from USD 2,959 (approximately AED 10,867) for two adults, including 24-hour All-Inclusive, return seaplane transfers and a romantic set dinner. Service charge, applicable taxes and Green Tax are included.

Guests can book their August long weekend escape directly through Sun Siyam, with the latest packages, availability and offers available at sunsiyam.com/offers or book@sunsiyam.com

Sometimes the best holidays are the ones you did not plan months in advance. With the Maldives only four hours away, the August long weekend is enough time to disconnect completely and return home feeling as though you’ve been away for a week.

Exclusive interview with Jai Sharma, Founder, Envelop Designs Arabia 

Envelop has worked with major hospitality names including Taj Hotels, Rambagh Palace, Fairmont Udaipur, Ananta Hotels & Resorts and Emaar. What does a hotel or hospitality brand typically come to you wanting, and how does that differ from what a private client wants?

The starting point is actually the same, we begin with the story. Before we think about the space or the visual language, we want to understand who we’re designing for, their personalities, their values, what makes them different from everyone else in the room.

With a private client, that story is personal, a couple’s journey, their relationship, their families. With a hospitality brand, the story belongs to the property itself, its history, its guests, what it wants to be remembered for. The questions we ask change, but the process doesn’t. We’re still uncovering the emotional core before a single design decision gets made.

Hospitality brands are increasingly investing in “experience” as a differentiator rather than just service or amenities. From where you sit, is that a genuine shift in the industry or more of a marketing trend?

I’d call it a genuine shift, and it mirrors what we’ve seen happen with weddings over the last decade. The biggest change has been from display to meaning. Earlier, everything was about grandeur, now it’s increasingly about intention. Guests want experiences that reflect a place’s personality and values, not just its amenities.

The common thread across hospitality, weddings and brand experiences is emotional storytelling. People remember how something made them feel far longer than they remember what it looked like. We call it the memory economy, and hotels are starting to design for it the same way we’ve always designed celebrations, around recall, not just service.

You’ve now partnered with Rayqube to launch Envelop Designs Arabia in the UAE. What made Rayqube the right partner, and what does the division of expertise look like between design and technology in that partnership?

Rayqube brings nearly a decade of expertise in events, exhibition build-outs and technology-driven experiences, and that’s exactly the layer we needed to build properly in this market. Our strength has always been narrative, understanding a story and translating it into a spatial and experiential journey. Rayqube’s strength is production and technology, the infrastructure that makes ambitious ideas actually executable at scale.

Bringing that philosophy into the UAE through Envelop Designs Arabia let us build for a market that’s hungry for experiences with real cultural depth, and Rayqube is the right partner to help us do that. Design and technology under one roof means we’re not compromising on either side.

Hospitality operators think in terms of repeat guests and brand loyalty, not just single events. How do you design an experience that serves that longer-term relationship rather than just the moment itself?

A single celebration has one goal, to be remembered by the people in the room that night. A hospitality brand needs something that keeps working long after the guests have left, that makes them want to come back, or tell someone else about it.

What we’ve found is that the two aren’t actually in conflict. If an experience is built around genuine narrative rather than spectacle, it tends to create exactly the kind of memory that brings people back. We’re not designing for one night when we work with a hotel group, we’re designing for how that property wants to be felt every time someone walks through it.

The UAE hospitality and events market is famously competitive at the luxury end. What gap did you see here that made you confident there was still room for a studio built around narrative rather than décor?

We didn’t come to the UAE because it was the obvious next step. We came because I believe this region understands what it means to design a moment rather than just produce an event. There’s a real appetite here for depth, for culture, for experiences that are felt rather than simply seen.

Much of the region’s industry has been built around production and décor, and it’s genuinely excellent at that. What we saw was a different question waiting to be asked, not what a space should look like, but how it should make guests feel, treating every project as a complete sensory experience and reading psychology, pacing and emotion as real materials of design, alongside light, sound and space.

You’ve said Envelop deliberately limits itself to seven or eight social projects a year. Does that same discipline apply to hospitality partnerships, or does a longer-term brand relationship with a hotel group work differently from a single wedding or celebration?

The discipline is the same, even if the shape of the relationship is different. A hospitality partnership isn’t one project, it’s an ongoing one, so the depth we’d normally put into a single celebration gets spread across a longer relationship instead. That actually suits us. We’re not interested in taking on every hotel group that approaches us, we’re interested in the ones where there’s real alignment on what an experience should be.

The seven or eight number applies specifically to social projects, but the underlying principle, depth over volume, is what governs every relationship we take on, hospitality included.

With Envelop Designs Arabia, you’ve mentioned engaging in early conversations around Dubai’s real estate sector alongside hospitality and brand work. How closely connected are real estate and hospitality experience design from where you sit, and do they draw on the same process?

They’re closer than people assume. A real estate launch and a hospitality brand are both, in a sense, asking people to imagine a feeling before they’ve fully experienced the place, whether that’s living somewhere or staying somewhere. Both are memory economy exercises.

We’re already engaged in conversations for potential pitches with the city’s rapidly evolving real estate sector, and the process we’d bring to that is identical to what we bring to hospitality, understand the story, understand what feeling needs to be associated with the brand, then build the experience backward from there.

Technology is becoming a bigger part of how hospitality brands design guest experiences, from immersive installations to digital touchpoints. How do you decide when technology adds to a narrative versus when it distracts from it?

Technology can accelerate research, visualisation and execution, and we use it for exactly that. But it can not sit with a guest and understand what a particular moment means to them. That part of the work, empathy, intuition, storytelling, will always be human.

The test for us is simple, does the technology serve the story, or is it there because it looks impressive. If it’s the latter, we leave it out, no matter how capable it is. Technology should disappear into the experience, not announce itself.

Looking at Envelop’s growth trajectory, from Jaipur to Abu Dhabi to a full-time UAE presence, what does success in this market look like for you three to five years from now, beyond revenue targets?

The numbers matter, and we’ve set clear targets as part of that growth. But if I look at it purely through revenue, I’d be missing the point of why we came here in the first place.

Success for me looks like the UAE becoming a place where we get to attempt ideas we simply couldn’t have executed before, projects that need this scale, this appetite for depth, this cultural richness. If in three to five years people in this market associate Envelop with experiences that are felt rather than seen, that’s the real marker, the revenue will follow that, not the other way around.