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The record-breaking reality series Million Dollar Listing: UAE is officially back for a highly anticipated second season, promising even higher stakes, fresh… Million Dollar Listing: UAE Returns for Blockbuster Season 2 The record-breaking reality series Million Dollar Listing: UAE is officially back for a highly anticipated second season, promising even higher stakes, fresh… by Rave Staff 18 Apr 2025 The record-breaking reality series Million Dollar Listing: UAE is officially back for a highly anticipated second season, promising even higher stakes, fresh rivalries, and unprecedented access to the UAE’s ultra-luxury real estate market. Following its smash-hit debut, the STARZPLAY Original—co-produced by Image Nation Abu Dhabi and STARZPLAY—has begun filming, with a 12-episode season slated to premiere by the end of 2024. The series, licensed from NBCUniversal Formats, will once again take viewers behind the scenes of jaw-dropping multimillion-dirham deals in Dubai and Abu Dhabi, featuring returning fan favorites and two exciting new brokers ready to shake up the market. Familiar faces Ben Bandari (who also serves as Executive Producer), Riad Gohar, and Rami Wahood return to navigate the cutthroat world of high-end property sales. This season, they’ll be joined by two dynamic new agents—Sarah Serhan and Mai Khaled—bringing fresh energy, fierce competition, and bold negotiation tactics to the screen. With partnerships with Aldar and DAMAC, two of the region’s most prestigious developers, Million Dollar Listing: UAE Season 2 will showcase even more extravagant listings, from waterfront mansions to sky-high penthouses, while highlighting the UAE’s booming real estate sector. The show’s debut season was a runaway success, becoming one of STARZPLAY’s top-performing original series and breaking platform records. Its popularity skyrocketed further when it was picked up by international streaming giants Hayu and Roku, introducing the drama of UAE real estate to a global audience. Ben Ross, CEO of Image Nation Abu Dhabi, emphasized the series’ impact: “The success of Million Dollar Listing: UAE demonstrates the growing appetite for premium, homegrown reality formats. By showcasing the UAE’s dynamic real estate market and diverse talent, this series reinforces the country’s position as a global media and entertainment hub.” Maaz Sheikh, CEO of STARZPLAY, added: “As the UAE's only homegrown entertainment platform of its kind, we're excited to bring our audience a second season with even higher stakes, bigger deals, and more compelling personalities. This series not only entertains but also showcases the ambition and luxury of the UAE to the world.” With an extended episode count, viewers can expect bigger, bolder listings, including private island retreats and futuristic smart homes. The addition of Sarah and Mai guarantees fresh clashes and alliances, while deeper behind-the-scenes access will reveal the brokers’ personal triumphs and challenges. The UAE’s luxury market continues to attract international buyers, adding another layer of high-stakes negotiations. Produced by Navigation Films and executive produced by Emmy-nominated and BAFTA-winning producer Marc Lorber, Million Dollar Listing: UAE is set to deliver another addictive season of glitz, glamour, and cutthroat deals.

Dubai’s nightlife is as dazzling as its skyline, where luxury, music, and high-energy crowds come together to create unforgettable nights. Whether you're… 5 Best Nightlife Spots in Dubai for an After Dark Party Dubai’s nightlife is as dazzling as its skyline, where luxury, music, and high-energy crowds come together to create unforgettable nights. Whether you're… by Rave Staff 7 May 2025 Dubai’s nightlife is as dazzling as its skyline, where luxury, music, and high-energy crowds come together to create unforgettable nights. Whether you're looking for a chic rooftop lounge with breathtaking views, an underground dance floor with world-class DJS, or an exclusive party with Dubai’s elite, the city has it all. From Franco-Japanese elegance to Latin fiestas and Tokyo-inspired after-dark experiences, these five venues promise the ultimate night out. Here are the best spots to dance, dine, and revel until the early hours. Bar des Prés Location: 51st Floor, ICD Brookfield Place, DIFC Perched high above DIFC, Bar des Prés blends Parisian elegance with Japanese precision. Its floor-to-ceiling windows frame sweeping views of the Dubai skyline, while mustard marble and peacock-embroidered textures set the tone for refined revelry. As night falls, the space evolves into a vibrant lounge with live DJ sets and an irresistible buzz. Highlights: Franco-Japanese fusion cuisine Breathtaking city views Lively after-dark atmosphere Reservations: reservations@bardespres.ae Sexy Fish Location: DIFC An underwater fantasy for Dubai's trendsetters, Sexy Fish makes a seamless shift from avant-garde dining to a high-voltage nightlife scene. With neon-lit interiors, high-octane DJ sets, and celebrity cameos, this DIFC gem is made for those who love to see and be seen. Highlights: Avant-garde underwater decor High-energy DJ sets A glamorous crowd Reservations www.sexyfishdubai.me TABŪ Location: St. Regis Downtown Dubai Inspired by Tokyo's nightlife, this sultry Japanese venue comes alive every Friday with pulsating beats, aerial performances, and a modern Japanese sharing feast. Highlights: Electrifying Friday brunch (8PM-11PM) Seductive red-lit interiors Live entertainment Reservation: www.tabu-dubai.com/specials Bâoli Dubai Location: J1 Beach At Bâoli Dubai, Tuesday is the new Friday. The exclusive Bâoli Circle invites Dubai’s tastemakers to an invitation-only gathering where deep house beats, fine dining, and elegant indulgence merge into a hypnotic experience. Executive Chef Omar Basiony curates a menu that fuses East Asian flair with Mediterranean finesse, while surprise performances elevate the night into the extraordinary. Highlights: Invitation-only sophistication – A guestlist-driven experience World-class DJs & live percussion – Deep, soulful house rhythms East-Med fusion cuisine – Chef Omar Basiony’s signature dishes Unannounced performances – Elevating the unexpected Reservations: reservations@baoli-restaurant.com La Niña Location: ICD Brookfield Place Step into La Comida, La Niña’s iconic brunch experience, where Spanish culture takes centre stage. Think vibrant music, lively conversations, and indulgent sharing plates—all set in a space bursting with energy and Latin flair. Whether you’re sipping sangria or dancing between courses, it’s a fiesta from start to finish. Highlights: Spirited Spanish brunch vibes Authentic Iberian flavours Music, laughter, and all the fiesta feels Reservation: Reserve La Comida Brunch

There is a quiet brutality to The Devil Wears Prada 2 that no one really prepared you for. The Devil Wears Prada 2 Feels Uncomfortably Close to Reality There is a quiet brutality to The Devil Wears Prada 2 that no one really prepared you for. by Khadija Husain 2 May 2026 There is a quiet brutality to The Devil Wears Prada 2 that no one really prepared you for. Not the kind that comes from cutting remarks or impossible deadlines. That version of cruelty belonged to the first film. This time, it opens with something far more unsettling: a newsroom mid-celebration, abruptly dismantled through a message on their phones. Careers end in seconds. No confrontation, no warning. Just silence. It is impersonal. And it feels uncomfortably familiar. That is where Andy Sachs re-enters the story. Not as the outsider trying to survive fashion, but as a journalist forced back into it. And suddenly, the film shifts. This is no longer about clothes. It is about what happens when institutions—once treated as permanent—begin to quietly lose their authority. When Andy walks back into Runway, it does not feel like a return. It feels like a concession. The magazine still carries its gloss, but the certainty behind it has thinned. It is no longer shaping culture with confidence; it is negotiating relevance in real time. The shift is subtle, but it is constant. Miranda Priestly remains at the helm, but even she is no longer operating from absolute power. The change is not dramatic, and that is precisely why it works. There are HR constraints now. Corporate oversight. A boardroom she answers to. For a character once defined by control, that quiet containment lands harder than any confrontation. What the film understands clearly is this: authority in fashion no longer belongs to one voice. It has fragmented. It is public, digital, and unpredictable. Runway is no longer deciding culture. It is trying to keep up with it. The first film treated fashion as spectacle, even when it critiqued it. This sequel treats it as infrastructure. A central storyline revolves around an editorial misstep—a feature that unintentionally praises a fast-fashion company tied to unethical production. The fallout is immediate and corporate. Investors intervene. Leadership is questioned. Reputation becomes currency. Fashion, here, is not romantic. It is strategic. It is political. It is tied to capital, ownership, and survival. The boardroom carries as much weight as the runway—if not more. Even Emily, once defined by proximity to power, now operates within it. Positioned inside a luxury house, she influences the system rather than serving it. The hierarchy has not disappeared; it has simply restructured itself. Alongside fashion, the film places equal weight on journalism. Andy’s trajectory is not about returning to Runway. It is about confronting what journalism has become. She enters as a serious writer—grounded in credibility and purpose—only to find herself navigating an industry where those values are increasingly difficult to sustain. The film does not soften this reality. It acknowledges layoffs, shrinking editorial authority, and the growing dependence on external capital. At times, it feels less like a critique and more like a quiet mourning. There is a late suggestion that significant funding might revive what has been lost. But the film resists certainty. It leaves the idea unresolved, as if aware that survival today often comes with its own compromises. That ambiguity feels honest. Because the industry itself is. The most compelling evolution belongs to Miranda. She remains composed, precise, and commanding—but her authority no longer defines the room in the same way. At moments, it feels as though the room has moved beyond her. The film does not ask for sympathy. It simply observes. What once read as discipline now borders on excess. What once commanded respect now invites scrutiny. It is a subtle but decisive shift—and perhaps the film’s most pointed insight. Power, particularly in fashion, is no longer enduring. It is conditional. There is a temptation, with a film like this, to lean into nostalgia. To recreate what worked. To echo what audiences remember. It resists that. The familiar faces return, but the film is not interested in repetition. It is more concerned with examining what has changed within the industry and within the audience itself. Because the audience has changed. The people who once watched Andy navigate Runway as an outsider now understand the systems behind it. They have worked within them. They have seen industries evolve, destabilise, and rebuild. And the film meets them with that awareness. The Devil Wears Prada 2 is not without flaws. Certain storylines linger longer than they should. Some emotional moments lack the precision the film is otherwise capable of. But those imperfections feel secondary to what it gets right. It understands that fashion is no longer just about image—it is about business. That journalism is no longer just about storytelling—it is about survival. And that power, once assumed to be absolute, now exists under constant negotiation. What the film ultimately leaves you with is not nostalgia, but recognition. Not of what these worlds used to be—but of what they have become.

From chic poolside afternoons and Riviera-inspired brunches to family-friendly festivals and interactive museum experiences, Abu Dhabi’s weekend line-up is… Rave's Top Weekend Picks in Abu Dhabi: May 15-17 May, 2026 From chic poolside afternoons and Riviera-inspired brunches to family-friendly festivals and interactive museum experiences, Abu Dhabi’s weekend line-up is… by Layla Hassan 14 May 2026 From chic poolside afternoons and Riviera-inspired brunches to family-friendly festivals and interactive museum experiences, Abu Dhabi’s weekend line-up is packed with ways to make the most of the city from 15 to 17 May. Whether you’re planning a laid-back escape, a long lunch with friends, or activities for the whole family, these are the experiences worth adding to your calendar this weekend. Settle Into Poolside Luxury with Vilebrequin and The St. Regis Abu Dhabi If you’re looking to slow things down this weekend, the Vilebrequin Cabana experience at The St. Regis Abu Dhabi offers a chic poolside escape made for long, easy afternoons. Settle into a shaded cabana, enjoy a curated menu, and ease into the laid-back rhythm of the day. Thoughtful touches and attentive service elevate the experience, while an exclusive Vilebrequin pop-up adds a Riviera-inspired feel, with signature swimwear, towels, and seaside essentials available to browse between dips in the pool. Price: AED 1,400 per cabana on weekends When: Valid daily until 31 August 2026. Terms & conditions apply. For more information, please call 971 269 44780 or visit Nation Riviera Beach Club Indulge in a Côte d’Azur Brunch at Villa Sélène If your Saturdays call for long lunches and a chic setting, Villa Sélène’s Côte d’Azur Brunch is worth booking. Inspired by the effortless glamour of the French Riviera, the experience brings together vibrant coastal flavours, lively energy, and a relaxed atmosphere made for lingering afternoons. Choose from a range of beverage packages, and settle in for an afternoon that feels a world away from the city. Price: starts from AED240 When: Saturday, 12:30 PM to 4 PM For more info, call +971 54 990 4246 or email villa.selene@viyagolf.com Celebrate International Museum Day at the Natural History Museum Abu Dhabi This weekend, Natural History Museum Abu Dhabi is marking International Museum Day with free entry for all visitors from 16 to 18 May, alongside a line-up of interactive workshops and family-friendly activities. Visitors can take part in hands-on experiences, including Sun Printing, Light Lab: Colour & Shadow, Shadow Safari, and the Wiggly Creatures Workshop, while 18 May will feature behind-the-scenes curator experiences and opportunities to meet the museum’s resident scientists. Price: Free entry from 16–18 May 2026 When: Friday to Sunday from 10 am–8:30 pm | Monday to Thursday from 10am–6:30pm For more information, please visit Natural History Museum Abu Dhabi . Spend the Weekend at The Royal Stables’ End of Season Family Festival in Abu Dhabi The Royal Stables is hosting a three-day End of Season Family Weekend from 15 to 17 May, bringing together equestrian showcases, artisanal markets, pony rides, food trucks, and family entertainment in the heart of Abu Dhabi. Highlights include dressage and show jumping training shows, a Kids Village, creative workshops, and the much-loved Pony Fancy Dress Competition on Sunday. Price: Free entry all weekend When: 15–17 May 2026, from 4 pm–9:30 pm daily Location: Al Mushrif, Abu Dhabi For more information, please visit The Royal Stables .

Four Seasons Bahrain Bay delivers island seclusion moments from Manama's skyline, and it feels genuinely remote. Rave Stays: Four Seasons Hotel Bahrain Bay, An Island of Its Own Four Seasons Bahrain Bay delivers island seclusion moments from Manama's skyline, and it feels genuinely remote. by Khadija Husain 26 Feb 2026 There is something slightly disorienting about arriving at the Four Seasons Bahrain Bay, and I mean that as a compliment. You drive across a short causeway, cross onto a purpose-built island, and within seconds, the noise of Manama, the t raffic, the construction, the hum of a city that rarely slows — falls away. Despite the skyline still sitting just across the water, the hotel feels genuinely removed from it. Location The hotel is fifteen minutes from the airport , opposite the Avenues Mall across the causeway. Close, in the geographical sense, to everything — the Financial Harbour, the National Theatre, Bab Al Bahrain, the souq — and yet functionally removed from all of it, because you cannot walk anywhere from here. For certain travellers, this is ideal. The hotel was designed to be the destination. The causeway becomes a border you cross voluntarily, on your own schedule, and the city is accessible when you want it and absent when you don't. For those who like stepping outside a hotel and immediately feeling part of a place, to walk to a café or a bookshop or an unremarkable side street, the isolation will eventually chafe. There is little sense of spontaneous neighbourhood discovery. Design The building itself is hard to miss, an H-shaped, 68-storey tower that becomes visible before you reach the island. From a distance , it is all glass and geometry, the kind of architectural statement that makes you prepare yourself, instinctively, for a certain kind of experience. Designed by SOM (Skidmore, Owings & Merrill), the same firm responsible for the Burj Khalifa, the H-shaped tower stands roughly 200 metres tall and has become one of the more recognisable shapes on Bahrain's skyline. Up close, it's more considered than the glassy showboating you get elsewhere in the Gulf. The porte-cochère on arrival is bronze-powder-coated aluminium, which sounds industrial but reads as warm and low-lit, and the transition into the lobby feels gradual rather than abrupt. The lobby doesn't try to wow you with ceiling height alone. What you notice first are the olive trees — real, full-grown olive trees planted in the lobby floor, their trunks worn and gnarled — scattered across a space that uses soft natural tones, pale stone and timber. There are semi-private alcoves around the perimeter where you could easily spend an afternoon with a book. It's more residential in feel than palatial, which for a hotel of this size is genuinely difficult to achieve. The Rooms The hotel holds 273 guest rooms and 57 suites. The Standard rooms start at 47 square metres, which puts them comfortably above the average for the region. They sit between floors 11 and 28, and the floor-to-ceiling windows mean there is no view that doesn't work — though it is worth noting that a ‘sea-view’ room on the lower floors can mean water and, depending on the year, active construction across the bay. City-facing rooms, meanwhile, offer Manama’s illuminated skyline at night, which is the more consistently rewarding view. Interiors were designed by Pierre-Yves Rochon and drew from 1930s ocean liner references through Macassar ebony wood accents, a maritime palette of deep blue-greens and pale sand , Art Deco geometry in the metalwork on the wardrobe handles and the bathroom fittings. It has aged beautifully , which is to say it was designed well enough that a decade of use has not diminished it. The Murano glass chandelier above the desk is the room's one extravagance and earns its place. The bathroom is full marble — dual vanities, a deep soaking tub, a rain shower with enough pressure to matter. Lorenzo Villoresi Firenze amenities add a distinctive, memorable scent profile . The small details: the robe is heavy cotton rather than microfibre, the slippers are closed-heel rather than the usual , and there is a proper magnifying mirror at a usable height. Dining The dining programme here is more ambitious than most city hotels sustain well, and it largely succeeds. There are seven venues in total, with Wolfgang Puck’s name attached to three of them— CUT, re/Asian Cuisine, and Blue Moon Lounge — forming the centrepiece of the food and beverage offering. Cut by Wolfgang Puck is the steakhouse in the formal American sense, with a dining room of palm wood and mahogany that Waldo Fernandez designed to hold its own against the 180-degree views of Manama it frames. The kitchen is run by Executive Chef Brian Becher, and the menu does what a great steakhouse should. CUT has been named Bahrain's best restaurant for five consecutive years. re/Asian Cuisine by Wolfgang Puck sits on the 50th floor, the view is the main event — you're looking down at Manama on one side and out across the Gulf on the other — but the food holds up too. The room is art deco in its bones, with crystal chandeliers, a raw-edge wooden sushi counter, and a sushi lounge that was recently reimagined with Japanese oak interiors and a minimal palette. The menu leans pan-Asian with a sushi bar running alongside. Blue Moon Lounge sits next door on the same floor and is worth the visit for an evening of relaxation, if only for how it looks at dusk. Byblos is the beachfront addition, serving Lebanese food. It works well for lunch — grilled meats, fresh mezze, eating outside when the weather allows — and it's more relaxed in feel than the other restaurants. It gets busy on weekends with families. Bahrain Bay Kitchen is an all-day dining restaurant and the place most guests default to for breakfast , with an open kitchen and an outdoor terrace when the weather permits. Bay View Lounge handles afternoon tea , drinks, and an à la carte Mediterranean menu by Chef Leonardo di Clemente. Wellness & Leisure The spa at Four Seasons Bahrain Bay is the second largest in the entire Four Seasons portfolio worldwide. Spanning 3,485 square metres, it houses 17 treatment rooms. There are separate unisex and women-only facilities, each with its own fitness centre, relaxation lounge with juice bar, whirlpool, locker rooms, steam room, and sauna. A Turkish hammam sits within the complex. The product lines are Anne Semonin Paris, MCCM Barcelona, and IS Clinic USA. The fitness centre operates 24 hours, with scheduled classes including Pilates. The pool situation is notable. Five swimming experiences across the property: three outdoor pools for general use, an adults-only pool for those who need the quiet, and an indoor spa pool. The main outdoor infinity pool overlooks the bay, and it is as handsome as the photographs suggest. There is a saltwater pool that uses actual bay water, which is unusual and appreciated by guests who find the chlorine of standard hotel pools numbing after a while. The private white-sand beach comes with complimentary cabanas and loungers, and beach yoga and kayaking are available. For families, there is a Dhow-shaped children's water park on the island. It has slides and interactive water features, and it's enclosed enough that children can be left with the kids' club staff while adults use the spa or the adult pools. T he kids’ club runs a daily activity schedule, while thoughtful touches throughout the hotel — personalised bathrobes, pop-up tents in bedrooms upon request, and dedicated baby items — make family stays feel genuinely considered. Work, Meetings & Creative Spaces Bahrain has grown as a regional business hub — it sits between Saudi Arabia and Dubai geographically, and Four Seasons Bahrain Bay is well positioned to serve that flow of regional business travel. The business centre is operational and properly staffed. The two ballrooms handle corporate gatherings, conferences, and weddings. There is a bridal suite with a private entrance, a photography room, and a companion suite, which tells you about how deeply this hotel thinks about events. For the travelling executive who is not here for an event but needs to work, the infrastructure is sound. Fast in-room WiFi, a proper desk, 24-hour room service keeps late working hours well supported, and a concierge team that communicates as fluently over the Four Seasons app as they do in person. For creative work — editorial trips, productions, concept shoots — the building's architecture and the quality of the light on the upper floors are genuinely useful backdrops. The People The Four Seasons’ reputation rests heavily on its people, and Bahrain Bay mostly upholds that. Staff learn names quickly — by the second morning, most of the restaurant and pool team had ours — and the response time to any request is fast. The concierge team knows Bahrain exceptionally well and is honest about what's worth leaving the property. The pre-arrival experience deserves a specific mention. Guests who engage the concierge before check-in — via email or the Four Seasons app — find that their preferences, requests, and occasions are absorbed and acted upon. An anniversary, a late arrival, a dietary requirement: these are not logged into a system and forgotten. They appear in the room in some form or are addressed before you think to ask. General Manager Jason Rodgers runs the property, and his influence is visible in the calibre and stability of the team. Some guests return to this hotel specifically because of individual staff members — it is the product of a team that has been given reason to stay and shown what excellence looks like. Who It's For This is a hotel that works effortlessly across guest profiles — families, couples, business travellers, and GCC weekend escapees alike. It especially suits the guest who is happy to stay within the rhythm of the property itself, moving between spa, pool, and dining without feeling the need to chase the city outside. The Verdict The Four Seasons Bahrain Bay is an island retreat that happens to be in the middle of a capital city, a resort that refuses the usual resort performances, a place where the quality is so embedded in the routine that it stops feeling like service and starts feeling like just how things are. I've stayed in properties that spend more and deliver less. What the Four Seasons Bahrain Bay offers — consistently, across service and space and table — is the sense that every decision was made for the guest. In a region full of hotels competing on superlatives, that is perhaps the most impressive thing about it. All images courtesy of Four Seasons Hotel Bahrain Bay

Inside Elggo, the platform used in schools across the region, reshaping how young people talk about stress, identity, and emotional well-being. Why Arab Teen Mental Health Is Changing — and the UAE App Behind the Shift Inside Elggo, the platform used in schools across the region, reshaping how young people talk about stress, identity, and emotional well-being. by Khadija Husain 6 Jul 2026 In a classroom somewhere in the UAE, a 13-year-old boy opens a journaling app after school. Not because he has been told to. Not because it is part of a curriculum requirement. But because he wants to understand what is happening inside his head. Later that evening, he explains to his mother that stress is not just a feeling — it changes the way the brain works. It is the first time they have had a real conversation about emotions in years. She doesn’t read his journal, nor is she supposed to. However, she claims it offers her something she’s never experienced: peace of mind without interference. For many parents, balancing awareness and control is nearly impossible, and that’s exactly the space Elggo was designed to occupy. Building something that fits how the region actually lives Elggo is a UAE-based youth wellbeing platform now reaching more than 17,000 students across the Arab world. On paper, it looks like a mix of AI journaling tools, school programmes, therapist-led sessions and wellbeing curricula. But for co-founder and CIO Luma Makari , the starting point was never technology. “It’s because the region has never had something built for it,” she says. “MENA has always imported wellbeing solutions… then someone translates the interface into Arabic and calls it localised. That’s not what we do.” What Elggo tries to do instead is more uncomfortable: design from inside the culture, not around it. That means accounting for how young people actually speak, how families function, and how emotional expression shifts depending on context. It also means rejecting the assumption that wellbeing looks the same everywhere. “Support does not always look like sitting alone and meditating,” CEO Mirna Mneimne says. “It has different shapes and forms here. It depends on what safety means to the person.” The language of emotion, and what it was missing For Luma Makari, the difference became obvious once young people started using the platform. “I expected resistance, especially from boys,” she says. “That pressure to be tough or stoic. But when you give young people a space that feels safe and speaks their language, they show up.” They didn’t just show up. They stayed. More than half of students use the journal outside school hours — unprompted. “They wanted to talk about how they feel,” she says. “And they were genuinely curious about how their minds work.” That curiosity, she says, is what surprised her most. Not resistance. It also exposed what had been missing from most digital mental health tools: not access, but emotional accuracy. Elggo’s AI journal is trained on Arabic-language datasets and designed to read nuance across dialects — something Luma describes as essential, not optional. “A translated product will never account for values, family structures, or how community shapes emotion,” she says. “A culturally native one can.” The tension between science and lived experience Building that kind of system meant holding two things at once: clinical rigour and everyday usability. “Ethics has to be the architecture, not an afterthought,” Luma says. “Every design decision starts from: is this safe, is this right — not is this possible.” But she is equally direct about a structural problem in mental health itself. “The field produces incredible research that lives in academic papers no teenager will ever read. Meanwhile, apps with beautiful UX often have no clinical depth.” Elggo’s approach sits between those two worlds. Clinical frameworks, translated into something a teenager might actually return to. “The journal feels like a private space to think,” she says. “Underneath, it’s doing serious work.” A region where emotional language is changing The shift, however, is not only technological. “It’s both,” Luma says when asked whether young people are becoming more emotionally open or simply more expressive online. “They’re not performing for an audience in the journal. They’re writing real anxiety, real family pressure, real confusion about who they are.” But the digital environment has also changed something deeper: permission. “This generation grew up seeing mental health discussed publicly in ways their parents never did,” she says. “Less shame. More willingness to say ‘I’m struggling.’” What still lags behind, she adds, is infrastructure — systems that can hold that openness when it appears. From lived silence to systemic urgency For Mirna Mneimne, Elggo began long before it had a name. Growing up in Lebanon, she says, war was part of everyday life — but what lingered was not only the events themselves, but the absence of language around them. “You go through things, and no one teaches you how to understand what you are feeling,” she says. “You just keep going.” That silence, repeated across a generation, is what eventually shaped her work. “I have seen what that does over time. People function, but they carry a lot that was never processed.” Elggo, in that sense, is not a pivot away from her past in humanitarian operations and large-scale systems. It is a continuation of it. After working across UNICEF, USAID and UNHCR-related programmes, she saw a recurring pattern: intervention often arrives too late. “Youth is where that can change,” she says. “If we support them early, we change how they understand themselves and how they carry things forward.” What schools are seeing that families don’t always see Across schools in the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Lebanon, Elggo’s presence has revealed something consistent: students are carrying more than they show. “The emotional realities are heavier than what appears in the classroom,” Mirna says. Parents, she adds, are also shifting — but unevenly. “They want more openness and awareness, but young people are also under more pressure.” That tension — between support and overwhelm, protection and resilience — is now central to how wellbeing is being negotiated at home. “There is no single answer,” she says. “It starts with awareness. But it has to be shared between schools, families, and communities.” When a crisis stops being an exception The launch of Elggo’s Relief Hub did not mark a change in direction. According to Mirna, it marked an acceleration. “It did not change our mission. It accelerated it.” In a region where she notes youth mental health struggles are significantly higher than global averages, instability is not an interruption — it is context. “What recent events did was increase urgency,” she says. “It confirmed our belief that young people need accessible, high-quality care rooted in both science and culture, especially in moments when things are unstable.” The Relief Hub was made free for that reason. The private revolution of a generation For Luma, the most telling shift is not happening in policy or institutions. It is happening quietly, at night. “When a student opens the journal at 10 pm on a Friday, not because anyone assigned it but because they want to process their week — that tells me everything.” She does not frame it as productivity or engagement. She frames it as ownership. “They see mental health as self-knowledge, not weakness.” A parent of a 13-year-old boy describes something similar in her own words. “My son doesn’t talk about his feelings,” she says. “But after a few weeks with Elggo at school, he told me stress changes how the brain works. That was the first real conversation we’ve had about emotions in years.” She does not get access to his journal. She does not want it. “Knowing he has a private space to process things gives me more peace of mind than any report card.” What comes next For Mirna, the goal is not visibility. It is normalisation. “I would like emotional wellbeing to become part of everyday life,” she says. “Not something we only talk about when things go wrong.” For Luma, it is about legitimacy — giving emotional care the same seriousness as any other system young people interact with. “The most important change is treating mental health as core, not optional,” Mirna adds. And for both founders, the measure of success is not scale alone, but whether the next generation grows up with a vocabulary their parents never had. “They are not waiting for permission,” Luma says. “They are already building it.” What remains is whether the systems around them can keep up.

The superstar performers Jessi, Simon Dominic, Liu, & Sorn will join previously announced K-Pop sensations CL, BIG Naughty, PH-1, 82MAJOR and tripleS WATERBOMB Announces More K-POP Megastars For Their First Ever Performances in Dubai The superstar performers Jessi, Simon Dominic, Liu, & Sorn will join previously announced K-Pop sensations CL, BIG Naughty, PH-1, 82MAJOR and tripleS Rave Staff 27 May 2024 WATERBOMB has announced K-Pop megastars Jessi , Simon Dominic, LIU and Sorn as acts for the epic festival happening at Dubai Festival City on Friday 7 and Saturday 8 June 2024. The artists will join a dazzling line-up which so far includes K-Pop rapping sensations CL, BIG Naughty, PH-1, tripleS and 82MAJOR - with more acts soon to be announced. Megastar Jessi is known for her hits such as No Lowkey , Gum , and Numb, as well as her appearances on famous K-Pop talent shows. Fans can look forward to electric performances featuring hits from her incredible 20-year pop career. South Korean hip-hop artist and rapper, Simon Dominic is a familiar face at WATERBOMB events. He will no doubt perform his globally-renowned hits in Dubai including Comfortable and Only You in a high octane performance. Brazilian-born EDM artist LIU will bring his electrifying sounds to the WATERBOMB stage which are guaranteed to keep the crowd energised into the night. Chonnasorn Sajakul is better known as her stage name Sorn is a Thai singer who is carving out an incredible solo career from South Korea after her 2021 departure from girl group CLC. Expect performances of her popular single Sharp Objects , Scorpio and Save Me , as she entertains the WATERBOMB crowds. WATERBOMB is the only festival where superstar acts host a mammoth water spectacular on stage. Every thirty minutes, water cannons will blast jets of sky-high, while pryos and lasers will help set a buzzing atmosphere like no other. Festival-goers can get ready to go head-to-head in a thrilling water competition - orange versus purple - throughout the 11 hour events, all conducted by the on-stage acts. This new wave of talent will be joined by previously announced acts, with more names to come. South Korean girl group tripleS, the world's first decentralised K-Pop idol group made by its own fans, will perform in a band of four, of the twenty four-member group. 82MAJOR will wow the crowds with their hip-hop brand of K-Pop, while multi award-winning CL, one of Korean music’s biggest names will perform a multitude of his hits which include People Don’t Go, The Baddest Female and Daddy . Big Naughty made his name appearing on rap competition, Show Me the Money 8 and is now known for his mega hits including Beyond Love, Hopeless Romantic and Vancouver 2 . PH-1 is renowned for his unique singing-raps and alongside Big Naughty, he won Music Video of the Year for The Purge at the Korean Hip-hop Awards. Tickets are now on sale for the most epic music event Dubai has ever seen, bringing the biggest names in EDM, hip-hop and K-Pop alongside water. Lots and lots of water. Tickets are available to purchase through the website: www.waterbombdubai.com and platinumlist.net with tickets starting from just AED 150, so get in quick and save.

I have a simple view on AI. If it does not make something meaningfully easier, clearer, or more useful, it should not be there. Right now, we are seeing AI… Why AI Should Solve Real Problems, Not Just Add Features I have a simple view on AI. If it does not make something meaningfully easier, clearer, or more useful, it should not be there. Right now, we are seeing AI… by Keila Doyle 6 May 2026 I have a simple view on AI. If it does not make something meaningfully easier, clearer, or more useful, it should not be there. Right now, we are seeing AI added to almost everything. Apps are racing to introduce it, products are being redesigned around it, and entire businesses are being positioned through it. Too often, it feels like AI is being used to decorate a product rather than improve it. Features are being added because they can, not because they need to be, and users can feel the difference. I did not set out to build an AI product. I set out to solve a very specific problem. When I started playing golf, I wanted to understand whether I was actually improving. I was taking lessons, practising regularly, and investing time into the game, but I had no clear way to track progress in a way that made sense. There was no shortage of information. Tips were everywhere, and data existed, but none of it answered the question I cared about most: Am I getting better? That gap is where I think AI becomes valuable. Not as a headline, but as a tool to remove friction. The role of AI should not be to give you more, but should be to help you focus. It should take something that is currently unclear or time-consuming and make it obvious. If it cannot do that, it is just adding noise. We often assume that more data leads to better decisions. In reality, the opposite is often true. When people are overwhelmed with information, they either ignore it or default to what they already know. Neither leads to improvement. What actually changes behaviour is clarity. This is where I think many products get it wrong. They build for capability instead of usefulness. They ask what AI can do, rather than what the user actually needs. There is a big difference between those two things. For example, showing someone ten different performance metrics might feel valuable, but if none of them clearly point to what they should do next, they are not helping. On the other hand, one simple insight that highlights where they are losing time, money, or effort can change behaviour immediately. That is the difference between information and guidance. AI should sit on the side of guidance. It should reduce the mental load, not increase it. It should help people make decisions faster, with more confidence. Most importantly, it should fit into how people already behave, rather than forcing them to learn something new. If a feature requires too much explanation, it is already too complicated. The best products I have used remove friction in a way that makes you wonder why things were ever done differently. That is what good use of AI looks like. There is also a tendency right now to build for perception and to have AI in the product because it signals innovation. However, users do not stay because something is labelled as “AI”. They stay because it works. And they leave just as quickly when it does not. As founders, that is where the real discipline comes in. It is easy to add features, but it is much harder to decide what not to build. The products that will last are not the ones with the most advanced technology but the ones that solve a clear problem in a way that feels simple and intuitive. AI should support that, not distract from it. It comes down to one question: “Does this help someone move forward?” If the answer is yes, it is worth building. If the answer is no, it is just another feature, so hold off and leave it out. About the author Keila Doyle is the founder of Golffily, a UAE-founded golf technology platform that helps players track progress, improve performance, and connect with other golfers. The platform transforms traditional paper scorecards into clear performance insights through simple scanning and data analysis. Golffily aims to make golf more accessible, social, and easier to understand for players at every level. Visit golffily.com Follow @golffily_

Dubai’s skyline is about to welcome a game-changer. TATTU, the London-born concept celebrated for its striking interiors and boundary-pushing culinary… TATTU Dubai Opens Its Doors Ahead of Launch Dubai’s skyline is about to welcome a game-changer. TATTU, the London-born concept celebrated for its striking interiors and boundary-pushing culinary… by Layla Hassan 17 Sep 2025 Dubai’s skyline is about to welcome a game-changer. TATTU, the London-born concept celebrated for its striking interiors and boundary-pushing culinary experiences, is setting its sights on the UAE with the launch of its first international flagship at Ciel Dubai Marina, the world’s tallest hotel. This isn’t just another restaurant opening. It’s a three-level journey, dining, leisure, and nightlife seamlessly woven together, each space offering its own rhythm and mood, yet connected by a shared spirit of modern elegance. The Preview Period For those who can’t wait, TATTU is offering an exclusive preview from 29th September to 8th October, with bookings now open. Guests will enjoy 50% off during this soft launch a rare invitation to step inside before the grand reveal on 10th October. T hree Levels, Three Stories Level 74 – TATTU Restaurant & Bar Here’s where the TATTU Dubai story begins. Step onto the 74th floor and you’re immediately immersed in a world where mythology collides with modern design, opulent interiors, dramatic detailing, and floor-to-ceiling windows framing the Marina and The Palm. On the menu, expect the brand’s evolution of Modern Chinese and Japanese cuisine, refined à la carte selections, curated tasting journeys, and a two-course business lunch starting at AED 149. Level 76 – TATTU Sky Pool If leisure had an address, this would be it. The world’s highest infinity pool is set against open-air views and lined with 50 plush daybeds. Mornings begin gently with breakfast, afternoons stretch into sun-soaked lunches (AED 149 for two courses), and evenings take on a new energy with live DJs and poolside Japanese-inspired plates. Level 81 – TATTU Sky Lounge & Terrace The crescendo of the TATTU experience rests on the 81st floor. This is the world’s highest fully air-conditioned terrace, offering a 360° perspective of Dubai. By day, there’s Afternoon Tea from AED 175. By golden hour, the Sunset Experience (AED 195) pairs two drinks with a Chef’s Platter against cinematic views. And by night, the lounge transforms into a high-energy sanctuary where music and the city’s skyline converge. Reservations are now live for the preview and beyond, but availability is limited. For details, follow @tattudubai .

Imagine this: it’s a hot afternoon in Dubai, and you're at a sleek, upscale café, sipping your latte. Next to you, a guy walks in, effortlessly cool, dressed… How has the Resale Sneaker Market Exploded in the Region? Imagine this: it’s a hot afternoon in Dubai, and you're at a sleek, upscale café, sipping your latte. Next to you, a guy walks in, effortlessly cool, dressed… by Khadija Husain 2 Oct 2024 Imagine this: it’s a hot afternoon in Dubai, and you're at a sleek, upscale café, sipping your latte. Next to you, a guy walks in, effortlessly cool, dressed in a plain white tee and cargo pants. Nothing too flashy, right? But then you glance down and see them. On his feet are a pair of Off-White x Nike Air Jordans, gleaming in all their limited-edition glory. And just like that, you know—he's someone. Not because of his clothes, but because of those sneakers. That’s the thing about sneakers in the Gulf right now. It’s not just about wearing a pair of shoes anymore. It’s about making a statement, telling the world you’re in on something exclusive, something almost untouchable. The sneaker resale market here has blown up, turning what used to be a niche for a few passionate collectors into a full-on cultural phenomenon. You don’t just buy sneakers now—you hunt for them. And if you can’t find them at retail? No worries. The resale market has you covered. If, of course, you’re willing to fork out the big dirhams. This isn’t your average shopping spree either. Let’s say you’ve got your eyes on a pair of Travis Scott x Nike Dunk Lows. Missed the retail drop? Don’t sweat it. For AED 12,000, maybe AED 15,000, they can still be yours, if you know where to look. In the Gulf, sneaker culture has fused with the region’s deep love for luxury and exclusivity. And let’s be real—it makes sense. In a place where people spend millions on cars, jewelry, and watches, why not elevate sneakers to the same level of obsession? The thing is, it didn’t start out this way. A few years ago, sneakers were just sneakers. Sure, some people had a pair or two of Jordans, and there were always those hardcore sneakerheads who'd line up for every drop. But the real turning point? It was when people started realizing that these shoes weren’t just footwear—they were investments. Like a Patek Philippe that grows in value, a pair of limited-release sneakers can skyrocket in price. One minute you’re paying AED 2,000 at retail, and the next, that same pair is going for AED 10,000, sometimes even more. And this isn’t happening in the streets of New York or London—it’s happening right here, in Dubai, Riyadh, Doha. The Gulf has always been a place that’s loved to flex, but there’s something different about this sneaker scene. It’s quieter, more under the radar. Sure, people are still rocking the Gucci loafers and Louboutins, but sneakers? They’re the new wave. And it’s not just the usual suspects like Yeezys or Air Jordans. Now, you’ve got collaborations with Dior, Louis Vuitton, even luxury brands stepping into the game, mixing street culture with high fashion in a way that’s never been seen before. And the Gulf’s tastemakers? They’re all in. What’s interesting is how it’s become about more than just the shoes. It’s a whole lifestyle. You see it at events like Sole DXB, where the sneakerheads gather, swapping stories about their latest pickups, flexing their collections, and, of course, trading kicks. These aren’t just casual shoppers. They know every drop, every collab, every rumor about the next big sneaker release. It’s a community, and in the Gulf, where individuality sometimes gets lost in the glitz and glam, sneakers have become a way to stand out in the most understated—but unmistakable—way. It’s not just the guys either. Women are getting in on the action too. Whether it's a pair of Nike x Sacai Waffles or the ultra-rare Dior Jordans, Gulf women are proving they’re just as serious about their kicks as the men. And why not? In a region where fashion rules are sometimes rigid, sneakers offer a little freedom. You can wear them with a flowing abaya or a sleek suit, and it works. It’s a subtle rebellion—luxury on your own terms. But here’s where it gets really interesting: the resale market isn’t slowing down. If anything, it’s ramping up. With global brands realizing that the Gulf’s sneakerheads are willing to pay top dirham for rare pairs, we’re seeing more and more attention being turned this way. The releases are getting more exclusive, the prices higher, and the chase even more intense. There’s this electric energy, this feeling that if you’re not in the game, you’re missing out on something big. And that’s the kicker. The Gulf’s sneaker resale market isn’t just about shoes—it’s about being part of something bigger, a global movement with a distinctly regional twist. It’s the perfect blend of street culture, luxury, and individuality. In a region where it sometimes feels like everything’s been done, sneakers offer something new, something fresh. And let’s be honest—there’s nothing more Gulf than that pursuit of the next big thing. So next time you see someone in a simple outfit but rocking a pair of kicks that cost more than your rent, just know—they’re not just shoes. They’re a statement. And in the Gulf right now, that’s everything.