By: Rashid Gargash – Founder of Rashtions

People often assume Rashtions started because I wanted to create a protein snack.

It didn’t.

It started with a much bigger question: could we use the ingredients already available in our region to create nutritious food capable of feeding entire countries and communities?

That question led me on a journey across the UAE, visiting farms, studying our agricultural landscape and learning more about the resources we already have. Time and again, I came back to two ingredients that have sustained this region for generations: dates and milk.

Those ingredients eventually became the foundation of Rashtions – a premium protein truffle made with dates, camel milk and A2 ghee that combines traditional Emirati ingredients with modern nutrition. But the product was never the starting point. It was the outcome of a much broader idea about food innovation.

When people talk about innovation in food, the conversation usually revolves around alternative proteins, artificial intelligence, or entirely new ingredients. Those advances are important, but I believe innovation can also come from looking at familiar ingredients through a different lens.

Across the UAE, we already have ingredients that are naturally nutritious, deeply connected to our heritage and well suited to our environment. Yet they are often overlooked in modern food products in favor of imported alternatives.

That represents an opportunity – not just for entrepreneurs, but for the wider food and hospitality industry.

My earliest prototypes were built in my own kitchen in attempts to create something filling, nutritious and practical. Without access to expensive equipment, I improvised, even modifying a washing machine to perform a task that would normally require laboratory equipment. It was far from perfect, but it allowed me to continue experimenting, learning and improving.

The first product looked nothing like the one consumers know today. It was larger, provided substantial nourishment, and was designed to be handed directly to people who were already holding pots, so it did not have packaging. It could even be heated and eaten as a meal, and it did not taste like emergency food or something heavily preserved.

Later, I refinined the concept through humanitarian nutrition initiatives for children in Africa. When the children ate it, they felt full and this was important to me because the product was not only meant to look nutritious on paper – I wanted it to actually feel like a proper meal.

Eventually, limited funding meant I could no longer produce and distribute the product for free. Rather than abandon the idea, I transformed it into a commercial business so the mission could continue and adapted the product into smaller, easier-to-eat portions that were better suited to different consumers.

That evolution became Rashtions.

Today, the product has become a premium protein truffle, but the original philosophy remains unchanged: use regional ingredients to create practical, nutritious food that fits modern lifestyles.

For me, dates and camel milk were never chosen simply because they are traditional. They are also remarkably functional.

The Khalas Dates we use provide natural carbohydrates for sustained energy, along with fiber and essential minerals. Camel milk offers high-quality protein and naturally contains vitamins and minerals that have made it a valued part of diets across the region for centuries. Combined with wholesome ingredients such as A2 ghee, they create a nutrient-dense snack that delivers natural energy without relying on added sugar, preservatives or artificial sweeteners.

As consumers become increasingly health conscious, they are looking beyond calorie counts. They want recognizable ingredients, clean labels and products that fit into busy lives without compromising on nutrition or taste.

That shift presents an exciting opportunity for the F&B and hospitality industries.

Hotels, cafés and restaurants have always celebrated local flavors through their menus, but there is growing potential to take those same ingredients beyond traditional recipes. Regional ingredients can inspire healthier grab-and-go concepts, functional snacks, premium gifting and contemporary dining experiences that feel both authentic and relevant.

Consumers increasingly value products with a genuine story behind them. They want to understand where ingredients come from, why they were chosen and how they reflect the communities in which they were created.

Hospitality businesses are uniquely positioned to tell those stories.

Using local ingredients is no longer simply about supporting domestic agriculture. It is about creating memorable guest experiences while contributing to more resilient food systems and celebrating the region’s culinary identity.

As the UAE continues positioning itself as a global hub for food innovation, I believe our greatest competitive advantage may already exist within our own agricultural heritage.

Innovation doesn’t always require discovering the next superfood or inventing a revolutionary technology. Sometimes, it begins by recognising the value of what has always been around us and asking a simple question:

How can we make these ingredients relevant for the way people eat today?

For me, that question became Rashtions. But more importantly, it reinforced a belief that extends far beyond one product: the future of food innovation will belong to those who can bridge heritage with modern nutrition, creating food that is not only healthier and more sustainable, but also deeply connected to the places and people it represents.

By Twinkle Aswani

Dark chocolate, particularly varieties with a high cocoa content, contains naturally occurring antioxidants known as flavonoids, which have been associated with supporting heart health and overall wellbeing when enjoyed in moderation as part of a healthy diet. As consumers become more conscious about what they eat, there is a growing appreciation for premium chocolate made with quality ingredients, thoughtful sourcing, and authentic craftsmanship.

For chefs, chocolate represents far more than sweetness. It is an ingredient that tells stories, evokes memories, and creates emotional connections through food. Whether paired with fruits, nuts, spices, or floral notes, chocolate continues to evolve as a versatile ingredient that bridges tradition with innovation.

Reflecting on chocolate’s cultural significance and timeless appeal he shares to us that chocolate to him has always felt like a universal language, in every country I have cooked in, and every kitchen I have worked in, chocolate carries a different story.

In Switzerland, where Mövenpick’s heritage began, it is precision and craft, generations of chocolatiers perfecting the art of conching to create that unmistakable smoothness. In India, where I grew up, it is often layered into celebrations, folded into sweets during festivals or given as a gesture of warmth between families.

In the Middle East, I have seen it paired with dates, pistachios and rosewater, a beautiful meeting point between two very different culinary worlds.

What draws me to chocolate as a chef is that it is never just an ingredient. It is a memory. A single bite can carry someone back to a childhood kitchen, a festival table, or a gift shared between family. That is the magic of it. Chocolate holds onto emotion the way few other ingredients can.

At Rohini, our approach to dessert follows the same philosophy that shapes the rest of our menu, honouring Indian heritage while leaving room for creativity and surprise. Chocolate gives us a wonderful canvas for that, a familiar ingredient that can still hold onto the flavours and memories closest to home.

Our Rasmalai with rose and white chocolate cream is nostalgic with a European touch, our Warm Chocolate Brownie with Kulfi pairs nutty chocolate with hazelnut kulfi and chocolate sauce, and our Chocolate Coated Pistachio Kulfi with a dash of rose rounds it off, three small stories about where chocolate can take you.

For Chocolate Day, my hope is that people slow down and taste with curiosity. Ask where the cacao came from, how it was made, who it might have passed through before reaching the plate. Every bar and every bonbon carries a journey, farmers, roasters, chocolatiers, chefs, each adding their own chapter.

That, to me, is the real joy of chocolate. It connects people across cultures and generations, one bite at a time.”

This World Chocolate Day, the celebration is not about giving up indulgence—it is about redefining it. Choosing quality over quantity, appreciating the journey from cacao bean to dessert, and savouring each bite mindfully allows chocolate to become part of a more balanced and wellness-focused lifestyle.

After all, the healthiest indulgence is often one that is enjoyed slowly, shared with others, and remembered long after the last bite!

BY SRIJITH KN FOR FINANCIAL INTEGRATOR

Over the past few years, investor participation across the region has evolved beyond speculative trading activity into something far more structured, technology-driven, and institutionally aligned. Retail traders are becoming increasingly sophisticated, expectations around transparency and execution quality are rising, and financial platforms are under pressure to offer far more than simple market access.

The speculative frenzy that once defined large parts of retail trading is gradually giving way to a more measured investor mindset, shaped largely by regulation, financial awareness, and long-term wealth preservation rather than short-term market excitement.

In this changing landscape, brokerage firms are no longer positioning themselves purely as trading providers. Instead, many are beginning to evolve into broader financial ecosystems, combining infrastructure, education, technology, regulatory credibility, and long-term investment access into a single platform experience.

For UAE-based firms such as Traders’ Hub Capital Markets, this shift represents more than market expansion. It signals a transformation in how the region’s next generation of investors may engage with financial markets altogether.

Founded in 2022 and headquartered in Abu Dhabi, Traders’ Hub has rapidly positioned itself as a locally regulated, technology-enabled brokerage focused on transparency, multi-asset access, and client-centric trading infrastructure.

Today, the company offers access to more than 2,000 instruments across forex, commodities, equities, indices, and cryptocurrencies, while simultaneously preparing for a broader move into wealth management and long-term investment services.

But the story surrounding Traders’ Hub is not simply about growth.

It is also about the wider evolution of the UAE’s financial ecosystem itself.

THE SHIFT IN UAE INVESTOR CULTURE

Across the GCC, financial participation is changing shape.

The rapid rise of digital platforms, increasing financial literacy, regulatory modernization, and mobile-first investing have fundamentally altered how younger investors interact with markets.

In parallel, the UAE has continued strengthening its position as a regional financial hub, attracting capital, fintech innovation, institutional activity, and globally mobile investors seeking regulated access to international markets. This transformation has also created new expectations.

Today’s investors are increasingly prioritising transparency, regulatory protection, execution quality, multi-asset accessibility, and seamless digital experiences.

In many ways, expectations around trading platforms are beginning to resemble expectations traditionally associated with banking and wealth management institutions.

According to Michael Barbour, Head of Product Implementation at Traders’ Hub Capital Markets, these changes reflect a deeper transformation in investor behaviour itself.

“Investors increasingly seek integrated, trustworthy financial ecosystems prioritising long-term value, convenience, and institutional-grade service.”

Over the past five years, the psychological profile of the UAE investor has gradually shifted from short-term speculation toward a far more informed, disciplined, and globally aware mindset. Earlier retail participation was often driven primarily by leverage, speed, and short-term market movements. Today, however, younger investors across the UAE are becoming more research-driven, risk-conscious, and focused on long-term wealth creation rather than impulsive trading behaviour.

Modern traders are also seeking far more than market access alone. Transparency, educational support, analytical tools, platform stability, and institutional credibility are becoming increasingly important components of the investor experience itself.

FROM SCOTLAND TO GULF CAPITAL MARKETS

Long before helping shape the growth trajectory of Traders’ Hub Capital Markets, Michael Barbour’s early ambitions were far removed from financial markets.

Growing up in Stonehaven, a small Scottish town south of Aberdeen, he originally aspired to become a professional footballer, eventually playing semi-professionally before moving into finance.

His early exposure to financial systems came during the 2008 financial crisis while working within the legal and asset management sector in Scotland, assisting major UK banking institutions in managing distressed real estate portfolios during one of the most volatile periods in modern financial history.

That experience, combined with his later move to the Middle East in 2011 and subsequent years at the Dubai Gold and Commodities Exchange (DGCX), helped shape a perspective grounded not only in trading infrastructure, but in how markets behave under pressure, uncertainty, and rapid transformation.

Today, that institutional perspective continues influencing Traders’ Hub’s broader focus on operational credibility, technology infrastructure, and long-term investor engagement across the UAE market.

BUILDING A LOCALLY ROOTED TRADING PLATFORM

One of Traders’ Hub’s strongest positioning advantages lies in its status as a UAE-regulated Category 1 Capital Markets Authority (CMA) licensed broker, one of the highest licensing classifications within the country’s financial ecosystem.

In a market where offshore platforms have historically dominated retail participation, regulatory credibility has become increasingly significant, particularly as investors grow more conscious of operational risk, fund protection, execution transparency, and long-term platform reliability.

Rather than positioning itself through aggressive speculative messaging, Traders’ Hub appears to be building its identity around institutional-grade infrastructure, operational discipline, and client alignment.

Its trading environment is built around a Straight Through Processing (STP) execution model, meaning trades are routed directly to liquidity providers rather than internally warehoused by the broker itself.

In increasingly crowded financial markets, brokerage differentiation is no longer being shaped purely by leverage offerings or execution speed. Investors across the UAE are becoming far more conscious of pricing transparency, liquidity structures, operational credibility, and how trades are ultimately executed, particularly as financial literacy continues maturing across the region.

According to Michael Barbour, many investors still misunderstand how brokerage models differ operationally, particularly around spreads, slippage, pricing structures, and conflicts of interest between market-making and STP environments.

For Barbour, transparency itself is becoming a defining factor in long-term investor confidence.

Modern investors are also becoming more selective around how brokers disclose execution policies, fee structures, liquidity relationships, and client fund protections. In many ways, execution architecture itself is increasingly becoming part of the trust equation.

For regulated regional firms such as Traders’ Hub, this shift may ultimately represent a broader advantage. As investor sophistication continues evolving across the UAE, operational credibility and institutional transparency are beginning to matter as much as platform functionality itself.

FROM BROKERAGE TO FINANCIAL ECOSYSTEM

The transition from Traders’ Hub Currency Brokerage to Traders’ Hub Capital Markets reflects more than a naming evolution. It signals a broader ambition to position the company as a longer-term financial institution within the UAE’s evolving investment ecosystem.

Globally, the distinction between trading platforms, investment platforms, and wealth management ecosystems is beginning to blur. Increasingly, investors no longer want fragmented financial experiences spread across multiple platforms. Instead, they are seeking connected environments capable of combining active trading, long-term investing, financial planning, analytics, and educational support within a single ecosystem.

For Traders’ Hub, this transition also reflects an effort to solve a longstanding regional friction point: the difficulty many UAE investors face when moving between active trading and structured long-term wealth accumulation.

“The modern investor no longer wants isolated trading access. They want a complete financial environment,” says Barbour.

The company’s planned expansion into wealth management and broader investment services reflects a wider regional shift toward more integrated financial participation models.

TECHNOLOGY, AI, AND THE NEXT INVESTOR EXPERIENCE

As trading platforms become increasingly automated and algorithmically assisted, the financial industry is also confronting a deeper question: how much of investing should remain human?

Technology is rapidly becoming the defining layer of modern financial platforms, from AI-assisted analytics and mobile-first investing experiences to increasingly sophisticated execution infrastructure.

But while automation can enhance speed and efficiency, long-term investing still remains deeply shaped by human behaviour itself. Markets continue being influenced by fear, overconfidence, emotional reaction, and risk perception, factors technology alone cannot fully eliminate.

One potential differentiator for firms such as Traders’ Hub may therefore lie in how effectively they balance algorithmic intelligence with human judgement.

EDUCATION, TRUST, AND LONG-TERM ENGAGEMENT

As trading participation expands across the GCC, financial platforms are increasingly carrying responsibilities extending far beyond market access alone.

While digital platforms have lowered barriers into global financial markets, they have also intensified conversations around behavioural investing, financial literacy, emotional discipline, and long-term risk awareness.

Increasingly, sustainable platform growth may depend not only on user acquisition, but on trust, transparency, and investor education itself.

In the GCC particularly, where retail participation continues expanding rapidly, financial firms are beginning to recognise their role in shaping long-term investor behaviour and financial understanding.

THE NEXT PHASE OF REGIONAL FINANCE

The UAE’s financial landscape is evolving rapidly.

As regulation strengthens, investor sophistication increases, and technology continues reshaping how capital moves through markets, financial platforms and capital markets institutions are being forced to rethink what they represent within the broader financial ecosystem.

The company’s broader direction, spanning infrastructure investment, wealth management expansion, AI integration, mobile accessibility, and educational initiatives, reflects a wider regional transition toward more mature, technology-enabled financial participation.

 Barbour believes the future of finance will increasingly belong to intelligent platforms capable of combining technology, trust, education, accessibility, and long-term wealth creation into a unified experience.

Whether this next generation of financial platforms ultimately succeeds will depend not only on execution speed or product breadth, but on something far more enduring: trust.

And in an increasingly crowded financial landscape, trust may ultimately become the most valuable asset of all.

Gaming headsets today are no longer just about audio alone. They have become part of the overall gaming setup and experience itself, especially for users who spend long hours gaming, streaming, watching content, or constantly switching between devices. The HyperX Cloud Alpha 2 Wireless feels designed exactly around that idea, combining endurance, comfort, immersive sound, and a more customizable setup into a single package.

The first thing that stood out to me was actually the presentation. HyperX has clearly paid attention to the unboxing experience. From the neatly arranged accessories to the premium placement of the headset and cables inside the box, the overall packaging immediately gives the feeling that this is positioned as a more serious premium gaming headset rather than just another accessory.

                                                   Reviewed By Srijith KN

COMFORT & DESIGN

Once I started using the headset, the biggest thing I noticed was comfort. Despite packing a large battery and multiple connectivity features, the Cloud Alpha 2 Wireless never really felt overly heavy during use. The microfiber ear cushions and memory foam padding make a noticeable difference during longer sessions, especially compared to headsets that begin feeling warm or uncomfortable after extended use.

The stainless-steel frame and aluminum forks also help give the headset a reassuring sense of durability without making it feel bulky. The earcups rotate smoothly, while the adjustable headband makes it easy to settle into a comfortable fit. It definitely feels designed for users who spend serious amounts of time wearing a headset.

BATTERY LIFE THAT STANDS OUT

Then comes what is probably the biggest talking point here: battery life.

HyperX claims up to 250 hours of battery life in 2.4GHz wireless mode, which honestly sounds almost unbelievable at first glance. But after using it, it quickly became obvious that battery anxiety simply is not something you think about here anymore. For gamers who spend long hours online or constantly forget charging schedules, this alone becomes a major advantage.

AUDIO EXPERIENCE

Audio performance itself feels immersive and energetic. The 53mm dual chamber drivers deliver strong bass response while still maintaining decent clarity across games, music, and entertainment. Explosions, cinematic effects, environmental sounds, and gameplay details all come through with a noticeable sense of depth, while the spatial audio support adds another layer of immersion during gaming sessions.

THE RGB BASE STATION

One of the more interesting additions here is the RGB Base Station. Initially, it looked like something that might unnecessarily complicate the setup, but it actually turned out to be one of the easiest and most enjoyable parts of the experience.

The central dial handles volume adjustments smoothly, lighting indicators make controls intuitive, and the touch mute functionality becomes useful surprisingly quickly during gameplay or calls. The programmable controls and seamless device switching also help separate the headset from more conventional gaming setups.

CONNECTIVITY & SOFTWARE

Connectivity is another area where the headset feels modern. The simultaneous 2.4GHz wireless and Bluetooth connectivity allows users to stay connected to a gaming system while still managing calls or media playback from another device. It is one of those features that sounds small initially but becomes genuinely convenient once used regularly.

The detachable boom microphone also performs well for standard gaming communication and calls, with clear enough voice pickup and a useful LED mute indicator that prevents confusion while chatting.

HyperX’s NGENUITY software is another area that offers deeper customization options, especially for users interested in EQ adjustments, RGB lighting controls, and audio tuning. While the software side may still require some exploration to fully understand and optimize, the hardware experience itself already feels polished enough straight out of the box.

The RGB Base Station and dual wireless connectivity also help the headset stand apart from more traditional gaming audio setups, giving it a more modern and customizable feel overall.

At the same time, audio preferences are always subjective, and users who enjoy diving deeply into customization will likely spend more time exploring the HyperX NGENUITY software ecosystem to fully tailor the experience to their own preferences.

But from a broader lifestyle and gaming perspective, the Cloud Alpha 2 Wireless feels like a solid, feature-packed headset that clearly understands the audience it is built for.

By Nazneen Abbas, Founder, Ma’an

Families with wealth across borders are already used to complexity. They live with different legal systems, different inheritance regimes, and different tax realities, often all at once. That part is not new. What has changed is the speed at which the environment around those structures is moving. The geopolitical backdrop is no longer something families can treat as distant noise. It is beginning to alter the conditions in which wealth is held, transferred, and protected.

That is becoming visible in the questions families are now asking. Across the GCC, many who already have Wills, trusts, foundations, and succession structures in place are no longer asking whether they have planned. They are asking whether what they put in place still holds. The conversation is shifting away from documents and toward durability, resilience, and relevance over time.

The issue is not complexity, it is movement

Cross-border planning has always required care. What feels different now is the sense that the regulatory environment may be entering a period of faster movement. Tax agreements that were once taken as given could come under review. Reporting standards may tighten further.  Frameworks in some jurisdictions may no longer offer the same level of certainty that families have relied on.

That does not automatically make an existing plan ineffective. It does mean the assumptions on which it was built may no longer be fully reliable. A structure that made sense five or seven years ago may still be valid on paper, but it may now interact differently with another jurisdiction’s rules. That difference is where risk begins to accumulate.

Many families are not dealing with poor planning. They are dealing with planning built for a slower-moving environment. A framework can be professionally drafted and entirely appropriate for its time, yet still require review because the conditions around it have changed. The gap, in many cases, is one of timing rather than quality.

Families do not experience risk as corporations do

Public discussion around geopolitical risk is usually framed in corporate language – market access, supply chains, revenue exposure. But geopolitical literacy is no longer just a corporate issue.

The same forces that alter corporate decision-making also alter the legal and tax environment in which private wealth sits. The difference is that families encounter those forces at far more personal moments. A business responds through compliance and restructuring. A family may discover, during a bereavement or a generational transition, that a structure meant to preserve stability is now sitting between conflicting legal systems or newly expanded obligations. The cost of outdated planning is rarely just technical. It is emotional, and it often surfaces when a family is least equipped to navigate it.

What a meaningful review actually covers

Families and family offices in the GCC with assets or obligations across multiple jurisdictions need to review their planning as a connected system. The question is not whether the Will is signed or the foundation properly established. It is whether those elements continue to work together under current conditions.

Do existing Wills still align with the succession laws of each jurisdiction involved? Do trust or foundation structures still operate as intended alongside local inheritance frameworks, reporting obligations, and tax treatment? The review also needs to reach instruments often created with care and then left untouched. Private Placement Life Insurance (PPLI), for example, may still be appropriate, but its treatment can vary depending on where the family is resident, where beneficiaries sit, and how international agreements evolve. Dynasty Trusts and Irrevocable Life Insurance Trusts (ILITs), especially when governed by US law, deserve renewed scrutiny where family circumstances or legal interpretation have materially changed.

This is not about alarm. It is about alignment. Cross-border structures fail less often because a single instrument is flawed, and more often because the instruments stop speaking to one another.

The plan may hold. Does it still fit?

A plan can remain legally intact and still fall behind. Families change. Children grow up. New dependents enter the picture. Businesses expand into new jurisdictions. Property is acquired in places never part of the original conversation.

If a structure no longer reflects the family’s wishes, responsibilities, or values, it is no longer doing its full job. The real test is not whether it remains untouched, but whether it continues to reflect the life it is meant to support. That matters especially in this region, where families operate across borders almost by default.

The strongest plans are not always the most elaborate. They are the ones revisited honestly and adjusted before pressure forces the issue. Families often treat estate planning as something to complete and put away, which is understandable.

Cross-border wealth planning across jurisdictions cannot remain static. It requires ongoing stewardship. Families that pause to review their structures now are doing what good planning has always required: ensuring the framework continues to reflect not just the world it operates in, but the family it is there to serve.

“Cloud waste isn’t created by bad engineers. It’s created by systems that show problems too late. Once I saw that, it became clear, the solution wasn’t better reporting. It was prevention.” – Atmoz CEO Yael Shatzky

Yael Shatzky didn’t set out to build a company around cloud costs. What she noticed, after more than 25 years across enterprise technology, product marketing, and growth at organisations including Amdocs and Microsoft’s R&D ecosystem, was a pattern.

Not just rising cloud spend, but a deeper structural disconnect in how it’s managed.

If you were introducing yourself and Atmoz to someone outside tech, where would you begin?

I’d say I’m building a company that changes how people think about waste—specifically cloud and AI waste.

Imagine a house where electricity prices constantly change depending on what you use and when, but no one knows the cost. Lights stay on, AC runs all day, and while you know you’re wasting about 30%, you have no way to prevent it. The only signal you get is last month’s bill.

That’s how companies operate in the cloud today.

Atmoz changes that by bringing cost awareness into the moment decisions are made, helping teams make smarter choices without disrupting how they work. The result is simple: waste is prevented before it happens.

What is the core problem Atmoz is solving—and where has the market gone wrong?

The market has focused on visibility, dashboards and reports that explain what already happened.

But the problem isn’t visibility.
It’s timing.

By the time companies see the data, the money is already spent and systems are already in production. Even with perfect visibility, nothing changes.

Atmoz works at the moment engineers are building, engaging them with immediate, simple recommendations that don’t slow them down. That’s where prevention becomes possible.

What does ‘AI-first’ product development look like at Atmoz?

We built a data foundation that reconstructs cost signals as resources are created, before billing data exists. That’s the hard part.

On top of that, we use AI where it matters most: interaction and execution. Our AI agent takes accurate, contextual data and delivers actionable recommendations directly within developer workflows.

Because the system is grounded in precise data, the guidance isn’t just intelligent, it’s reliable and immediately usable.

What are the biggest challenges in getting engineers to trust AI-driven recommendations?

Interestingly, it’s not trust in AI, it’s the belief that prevention is even possible.

For years, companies have been told they can reduce costs, yet around 30% of cloud spend is still wasted. That’s because most tools analyse waste after it happens, they don’t stop it.

Once engineers see an issue flagged in real time, with clear context and a simple fix, the skepticism disappears. It becomes tangible.

What is one leadership mistake that fundamentally changed how you operate?

Focusing too much on the product, and not enough on marketing early on.

Great products don’t speak for themselves, especially when you’re creating a new category. Marketing isn’t something you layer on later; it shapes how the product is understood and adopted. Starting early makes a significant difference.

Where do you see the biggest inefficiencies today?

The biggest inefficiency is the disconnect between engineering decisions and their financial impact.

Every time a developer deploys infrastructure or triggers an AI workload, they’re making a financial decision, without visibility into its cost implications.

AI is amplifying this. Costs are more volatile, and traditional feedback loops can’t keep up.

Atmoz brings cost awareness into that decision point, making efficiency part of the engineering discipline, much like security became over time.

At this stage, how do you define success?

Success isn’t a single milestone, it’s a series of moments.

Signing a new customer. Launching a capability that impacts spend. Getting a call from a customer excited because they just saved $30K on something they didn’t even know was happening.

Those moments are what drive us forward.

You’re defining a new category. What does it take to change long-held assumptions?

It starts with conviction. You’re asking people to question something they’ve accepted as normal.

But conviction alone isn’t enough, proof is everything. Category change happens when someone sees it working in their own environment and has that “aha” moment.

That’s why we focus on immediate, tangible value. When waste is prevented in real time, the mindset shift follows naturally.

Resilience also matters. When you challenge established models, you will be dismissed. The key is to stay grounded in the problem and keep showing evidence.

Has the industry been solving cloud waste the wrong way? Why hasn’t it changed?

I wouldn’t say wrong, FinOps tools solved the problem they were designed for. They brought visibility and governance, which was critical.

But they were built on the assumption that cost is something you analyse after it happens.

Today, cost is created instantly, when infrastructure is provisioned or AI workloads run. But feedback still comes later. That gap is the issue.

What’s changed is the pace of engineering. With AI, decisions are faster and costs are more dynamic. What used to be inefficient is now unsustainable.

That’s why prevention isn’t just an improvement, it’s becoming essential.

How will engineering teams work differently in five years?

Cost will no longer be treated as something external, owned by finance. It will become part of the engineering feedback loop, like performance or reliability.

Atmoz brings that awareness into everyday workflows, guiding better decisions without adding friction.

Over time, this shifts behaviour. Waste isn’t something you detect and fix later, it simply doesn’t get created.

The result is not just lower cost, but faster teams, better decisions, and more room to innovate.

Huawei’s compact tablet feels less like a gadget and more like a thoughtfully designed digital notebook, blending portability with everyday productivity.

I have been using Huawei’s MatePad 11.5 S for a while now for writing, editing, and most of my day-to-day journalistic work. It has turned out to be a surprisingly capable productivity device. So, when the MatePad Mini arrived, I was curious to see how Huawei would translate that experience into a much smaller form factor.

Reviewed By: Srijith KN, Senior Editor, Integrator

Design and Accessories

The first thing that stood out during the unboxing was not just the device, its accessories! Huawei has clearly put thought into the overall experience. The tablet ships with well-designed cases, including a transparent option and a diary-style booklet cover.

The diary cover, in particular, immediately felt right to me. It makes the tablet feel less like a gadget and more like a compact notebook you would carry every day. There is a certain familiarity to it, almost like picking up a journal rather than a device.

Huawei also continues to include a charger in the box, and this one comes with a 66W unit, a thoughtful touch at a time when many brands have moved away from bundling one altogether.

Everyday Portability

The 8.8 inch tablet immediately feels comfortable in the hand. It is extremely light and compact, measuring just 5.1 mm thick and weighing around 255 grams. That portability is noticeable right away.

In many ways, it feels closer to carrying a paperback than a traditional tablet. I currently use the Nothing Phone 3 as my daily device, and at times even that feels heavier than this. The MatePad Mini, on the other hand, almost disappears in your hands.

Huawei is also using a magnesium alloy body here, which keeps the device light without compromising on rigidity. Given how thin it is, that added structural strength feels reassuring.

A Paper Like Experience That Works

Last night, I found myself reading long articles on it for hours without feeling any strain. That is where the device really begins to make sense.

It genuinely feels like a digital paper booklet, built for reading, note-taking, writing, or quickly catching up on work while on the move. The green variant, in particular, features Huawei’s PaperMatte display, and it is easily one of the most distinctive aspects of this device.

Huawei claims the display reduces up to 99 percent of ambient light interference, and in real-world use, that translates into a noticeably glare-free experience. Even under indoor lighting, reflections are minimal, and the screen remains comfortable to look at for extended periods.

At the same time, it does not compromise on performance. With up to 1800 nits of brightness, a 120Hz refresh rate, and a wide color gamut, the display manages to balance readability with visual richness, something that is not easy to get right in smaller devices.

There is also an eBook mode that shifts the display into a black and white, paper like view, along with other settings designed to reduce eye strain during longer reading sessions. Additional options like eye comfort and sleep mode further support extended use.

Writing and Creativity

I also spent some time using the M Pencil for quick notes, and the experience feels surprisingly close to paper. Coming from the MatePad 11.5 S, Huawei continues to deliver one of the better stylus experiences in this space.

The M Pencil Pro adds more depth to the experience than expected. With different tip options and subtle haptic feedback, writing feels more tactile and intentional, rather than just tapping on glass.

Paired with the updated Huawei Notes app, the experience becomes more refined. Features like handwriting enhancement subtly improve legibility without taking away the personal feel of your writing, making it especially useful for quick notes and longer-form thinking.

Hardware and Performance

The MatePad Mini packs a 6400 mAh battery with support for fast charging, capable of going from zero to full in about an hour. On paper, it looks promising, though I will reserve judgment until I have spent more time with it.

On the hardware side, it includes a 50MP rear camera and a 32MP front camera, along with stereo speakers, Wi-Fi 7, USB-C 3.0, and a fingerprint sensor, something I wish Huawei had included on the MatePad 11.5 S as well.

Editor’s Perspective

Whenever I am seen using a Huawei device, the first question that comes up from people around me is usually about the ecosystem, particularly about Google services.

I too had similar concerns earlier, but having used Huawei devices for a while now, the experience has been smoother than expected. HarmonyOS feels clean and fluid, and tools like GBox make it possible to access most essential apps. Even for someone deeply tied to Google services, it has been more manageable than I initially thought.

Mohamed Fiaz Khazi, Entrepreneur & Managing Director, Euro Systems

Architecture across the GCC is entering a more demanding phase, shaped by the realities of day-to-day operation. For much of the past decade, design ambition was defined by scale, visibility, and speed. Towers rose quickly, façades grew lighter, and skylines transformed almost overnight. In 2026, the focus has shifted to how buildings perform over time and the quality of experience they deliver to occupants.

This evolution reflects a more mature, performance-driven market while maintaining bold design. Questions around energy use, occupant comfort, maintenance, and durability are now central to architectural decision-making. In a region shaped by heat, dust, and intense solar exposure, design intent carries weight only when it is supported by systems capable of delivering consistent performance over time.

A changing regional approach

Façades illustrate this shift particularly clearly. Glass-heavy architecture remains integral to the region’s visual language, yet it is now approached with greater technical intent. Solar control, shading, acoustic performance, and automation are increasingly considered as parts of a unified strategy rather than isolated design features.

Industry studies consistently show that external shading devices, such as louvers and overhangs, can significantly reduce solar heat gain before it enters the building envelope, lowering cooling demand in the process. Fully shaded glazed areas further reduce thermal loads, easing pressure on mechanical systems while improving internal comfort.

While this performance-led direction is shared across the GCC, each market is responding in its own way.

In the UAE, architectural expression continues to take center stage. Landmark developments, hospitality projects, and mixed-use districts place strong emphasis on experience and identity. What has changed is the level of coordination behind the scenes. Façades are now expected to deliver daylight and transparency without introducing glare or thermal instability. Shading and glazing strategies are increasingly developed together, allowing design ambition to be preserved while meeting operational requirements.

Saudi Arabia presents a different dynamic. Here, scale and speed dominate, with large-scale developments and giga-projects compressing timelines and increasing complexity. In such an environment, fragmented decisions quickly translate into operational challenges. Architecture in the Kingdom is therefore being shaped by early integration, industrialized delivery, and lifecycle planning, where performance and repeatability become essential to building at scale. Research from McKinsey reinforces this approach, showing that large capital projects perform more reliably when coordination replaces siloed decision-making.

Qatar occupies a distinct position between these two models. Following a period of rapid delivery, focus has shifted toward longevity, sustainability, and adaptability. Buildings are expected to operate efficiently over decades and align closely with national sustainability frameworks. Façade performance, shading strategies, and acoustic control are increasingly specified for their contribution to long-term asset value and occupant well-being.

Technology integration

Technology underpins much of this evolution. Smart shading, responsive glazing, and integrated control systems are now practical tools for managing daylight, reducing glare, and stabilizing interior conditions. By reducing solar radiation before it reaches the glazing, external shading delivers measurable performance benefits in high-sun environments.

When façade strategies are developed early and embedded into the design process, materials, structure, and systems align more naturally. The result is architecture that feels deliberate in appearance and dependable in operation.

An operational view

The next wave of GCC projects will approach architecture as a dynamic system, ensuring long-term efficiency and reliability. Design ambition will remain high, but it will be matched by discipline in execution. Integration will increasingly define the process, particularly on complex and large-scale developments, with performance considered alongside form from the outset.

This shift represents meaningful progress. It reflects a region learning from experience and raising its own standards. The skyline will continue to evolve, but its true measure will lie in buildings that remain comfortable, efficient, and resilient long after the initial excitement has passed.

By Srijith KN

An in-depth look at Nothing’s 4a Pro, the clean stylish looking mid-range powerhouse!

Nothing has built its reputation on standing apart in an increasingly crowded smartphone market. With the launch of the Nothing Phone (4a) and the more ambitious Nothing Phone (4a) Pro, the company continues that philosophy while shifting its positioning. While the standard model focuses on accessibility, the Pro model moves closer to the premium segment, combining refined hardware with one of the most impressive displays in its category.

The Design Shift

The first thing that stands out about the Phone (4a) Pro is its departure from Nothing’s signature transparent aesthetic. Instead of the exposed internal design language that defined earlier models, the Pro adopts a more traditional and solid look with a clean metal frame and a conventional camera bump. At just 7.95mm, it is also the slimmest Nothing phone to date.

It is a different direction, but one that works. The device feels noticeably more premium than its price might suggest. Having used Nothing phones extensively, including the Phone (1) for nearly two years and the Phone (3) as a daily driver, this design shift feels like a more mature step for the brand. For some users, the move toward a more understated look may actually increase its appeal.

A Display Built for Immersion

The Phone (4a) Pro features a large 6.83-inch AMOLED display with a 1.5K resolution and a variable 144Hz refresh rate. On paper, these specifications are already top tier for this price range.

In practice, the display delivers exactly what those numbers promise. The screen feels fast and responsive with extremely smooth scrolling, while peak brightness reaching up to 5000 nits ensures excellent outdoor visibility. For everyday use, the combination of size, speed, and brightness makes the device feel significantly more expensive than its mid-range positioning suggests.

Performance That Surprises

Powering the device is the Snapdragon 7 Gen 4 chipset paired with up to 12GB of RAM. While this chipset is not designed to compete with flagship processors, it represents a meaningful performance jump compared with previous mid-range Nothing devices.

In early testing, the phone handled multitasking comfortably and performed well in gaming scenarios. Nothing has always focused on smooth real-world performance rather than chasing benchmark numbers, and the Phone (4a) Pro continues that same philosophy. For most users, the device feels quick, responsive, and capable of handling everyday workloads without difficulty.

Nothing OS Remains a Strength

Nothing OS continues to be one of the strongest aspects of the device. The software experience remains clean, responsive, and refreshingly free from unnecessary bloatware.

In a smartphone landscape increasingly filled with overly aggressive AI features and cluttered interfaces, Nothing OS stands out for its simplicity. For users who prefer a lightweight Android experience that stays focused on usability, the software remains one of the Phone (4a) Pro’s biggest competitive advantages.

Camera Performance

The Phone (4a) Pro includes a 50-megapixel main camera supported by a telephoto lens designed to offer additional versatility for photography.

In good lighting conditions the camera produces detailed images with balanced colour reproduction. While it may not fully compete with flagship level camera systems, the overall performance remains strong for the device’s price category.

However, there are some compromises. The ultra-wide camera uses an 8MP sensor and the front facing camera represents a slight downgrade compared with higher end models in the Nothing lineup. For most users the results will still be more than sufficient, but the camera system does not completely match flagship expectations.

The 140× Zoom Experiment

One of the more unusual features on the Phone (4a) Pro is the advertised 140× zoom capability. On paper this sounds extraordinary, particularly for a mid-range device.

In practice the phone achieves this through a combination of its 3.5× optical telephoto lens and AI driven image processing that digitally extends the zoom range far beyond what the optics alone can provide.

Carl Pei once mentioned in an interview that some features come from giving internal teams the freedom to experiment creatively. The 140× zoom feels like one of those ideas. It may not always produce perfect photos, but it works surprisingly well as what could be described as a “digital binocular” mode.

The Glyph System: Refined Identity

The Glyph lighting system remains one of Nothing’s most recognisable design signatures. On the Phone (4a) Pro the concept evolves with a larger and brighter light array that expands its visual notification capabilities.

The Glyph system can display alerts for incoming calls, timers, notifications, and recording indicators through distinctive lighting patterns on the back of the phone.

While visually distinctive and occasionally useful for quick notifications, the Glyph system still feels more like a signature design element than a practical necessity. That said, the implementation on the Phone (4a) Pro looks particularly striking and continues to give Nothing devices a visual identity that few other smartphones offer.

Editor’s Impressions

Having moved from the Phone (1) to the Phone (3) as my primary device, the Phone (4a) Pro feels like an interesting pivot for Nothing. The shift away from a fully transparent aesthetic toward a polished metal design feels both refreshing and more mature.

Performance is strong enough for everyday use and even moderate gaming, while the display is easily one of the highlights of the device. The camera system is capable, though there are a few compromises including the 8MP ultra-wide lens and the slightly downgraded front camera.

For users looking for the absolute highest specifications available, there are other devices that push further into flagship territory. But that has never been Nothing’s core philosophy. Instead, the brand focuses on creating devices that feel distinctive, practical, and thoughtfully designed.

The Middle East’s consumer technology market is in the middle of a remarkable run.
Smartphone shipments across the region grew 13 percent in 2025, marking a third consecutive year of growth. Ramadan alone now accounts for 15 percent of annual technology and durables sales across MENA. By any measure, the opportunity is significant.

But headline growth can hide an uncomfortable truth. The way consumers in this region evaluate and choose a technology brand has fundamentally changed. Brands still running the old playbook, buying reach from celebrity and mega influencers, measuring success in gross impressions, and treating the GCC as a single audience, are leaving both conversion and credibility on the table.

Mariam Abouzeid
PR & Influencer Marketing Manager, MEA, Nothing Technology

Having managed PR ecosystems generating billions of impressions across the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and beyond, I have seen this shift unfold in real time.

The data is clear. The market has moved. Many marketing strategies have not.

In today’s GCC market, attention is easy. Credibility is rare.

Beyond the Bigger-is-Better Logic

For most of the last decade, the dominant logic in technology marketing across the region was simple. Bigger reach meant better results. Secure the highest-reach influencers, maximize impressions, and sales will follow.

That logic made sense when social media behaved like a broadcast channel. Today it does not.

The UAE and Saudi Arabia are now among the most digitally saturated markets in the world. Social media penetration in the UAE has reached 111 percent of the population, while Saudi Arabia counts 34.1 million social media identities for a population of 34.7 million.

In markets this connected, audiences are no longer passive viewers. They are sophisticated, fast-moving, and deeply skeptical of content that does not feel earned.

Reach alone is no longer influence.

The Power of the Micro-Influencer By the Numbers

The consequences for influencer marketing are measurable. Macro influencers typically achieve engagement rates of around 1.7 percent. Nano influencers, those with between 1,000 and 10,000 followers, consistently deliver engagement rates of 6 to 8 percent in the UAE market.

When cost per engagement is considered, micro-influencer campaigns cost roughly $0.20 per interaction compared with $0.33 for macro campaigns. More importantly, they routinely deliver 5 to 8 times the return on investment, compared with the 3 to 5 times range typical of macro campaigns. The conclusion is simple.

Reach creates visibility. Trust creates action.

The Shift from Search to Social Feed

To understand why community-driven marketing works, it is important to understand how the modern GCC consumer actually makes a purchase decision.

It rarely begins with a search engine. It begins in the feed.

Nearly half of UAE users, 48.1 percent, and 60 percent of Saudi users now use social networks as their primary tool for researching brands and products. Before a consumer clicks add to cart, they have already passed through a quiet community validation process. They have watched unboxing videos from creators they follow and seen devices appear in the rhythm of everyday life.

Celebrity endorsements signal aspiration. Micro creators signal authenticity.

In consumer electronics, authenticity wins.

The Tiered Ecosystem: A Multi-Dimensional Strategy

The most effective technology marketing campaigns in the region now operate through a deliberate multi-tier structure.

Macro influencers are used sparingly to create cultural moments and announce major launches. Mid-tier creators establish niche authority and technical credibility. Micro-influencers carry the critical work of storytelling and product validation. The final layer, the nano tier, drives conversion through peer trust and cultural familiarity.

This distinction matters.

When consumers see a mega-influencer holding a new smartphone, they recognize an advertisement. When they see someone from their own community using the same device in everyday life, they recognize a recommendation.

That difference shapes behavior.

The GCC creator economy has grown 74 percent over the last two years and now includes more than 263,000 active influencers. Technology has become the fastest-growing vertical within that ecosystem. The pool of credible creators available to brands has never been deeper.

The Regional Calendar Geography Is Not a Strategy

One factor global marketing teams often underestimate is cultural timing.

The GCC is not simply a geography. It operates like a calendar.

Consumer spending in the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Egypt increases by more than 53 percent during Ramadan. Campaigns that might perform modestly in a typical month can deliver outsized impact when creative work reflects the values and rituals of the season.

That kind of resonance can only be achieved by collaborating with creators who understand the culture from the inside.

Moving From Output to Outcomes

There is an uncomfortable truth at the center of the influencer marketing industry in this region.

Many brands are still measuring the wrong things.

Total impressions and cost per mile remain dominant metrics because they are easy to present in reports. But the shift required is from output metrics to outcome metrics.

The questions that matter are different.

What was the depth of engagement?
How many saves and shares did the content generate?
How much earned advocacy emerged from creators who chose to talk about the product because they genuinely valued it?

Organic enthusiasm cannot be purchased. It can only be earned.

The GCC influencer marketing market is valued at $315.5 million in 2025 and is projected to reach $771.6 million by 2032.

The brands that will lead the next phase of this market will not simply be those with the largest budgets. They will be the brands that understand how their consumers actually make decisions, build disciplined influencer ecosystems, and measure the signals that truly drive behavior.

The Middle East tech consumer is one of the most digitally engaged and brand-aware audiences in the world. They expect strategies that reflect that sophistication.