In Conversation In Conversation: Rebecca Bemhena, VP Content at Shoptalk Luxe As Shoptalk Luxe makes its Abu Dhabi debut, Rebecca Bemhena reflects on technology as luxury's new craftsmanship, how heritage maisons and disruptor brands forge the future together, and why invisible AI creates space for deeper human intimacy in elevated retail. By Staff Writer • 3 min read
In Conversation In Conversation: Georgette Davey, Abu Dhabi Hospitality Academy – Les Roches From Switzerland to Shanghai and now Abu Dhabi, Georgette Davey reflects on three decades of hospitality education and why the Middle East represents the next frontier for Swiss academic excellence, one that meets Emirati cultural heritage. By Staff Writer • 5 min read
Culture East Meets West: The Cultural Architecture of Market Entry For international SMEs, the Middle East represents opportunity and complexity in equal measure. Success requires more than market research: it demands cultural intelligence, patient partnership and strategic design from day one, writes Taqua Malik. By Taqua Malik • 4 min read
Opening in December 2025, the Zayed National Museum will feature six permanent galleries spanning 300,000 years of history. Image: Abu Dhabi Media Office Culture Abu Dhabi’s bold bid to become a global art capital Pouring billions into museums and fairs, Abu Dhabi leads the Gulf’s cultural development. But it has grander ambitions: to become the world’s next art capital. By Staff Writer • 5 min read
Culture In Conversation: Hanan Sayed Worrell, Cultural Strategist and Place-maker From airports and museums to wildlife conservation and authorship, the civil engineer turned placemaker has spent three decades translating Abu Dhabi's vision into built reality. Now, she reflects on the art of creating spaces that honour heritage whilst inviting what's next. By Staff Writer • 6 min read
In Conversation In Conversation: Raya Abu Gulal, Founder, R.A.G Legal Consultancy From Abu Dhabi to The Hague, the award-winning legal advisor reflects on the Gulf's rapid transformation, the power of clear laws, and why women's leadership is central to progress. By Staff Writer • 3 min read
Luxury Luxury Made Local: Hospitality, Discretion, and Enduring Equity in the Gulf In the second of two pieces on luxury and cultural fluency in the Gulf, Taqua Malik, founder of Freedomvisory, explores how hospitality, discretion and community contribution transform presence into lasting equity. By Taqua Malik • 3 min read
Culture Luxury in Translation: From Words to Meaning in the Gulf Global luxury codes matter in the Gulf, but cultural fluency is what transforms transactions into lasting relationships, writes Taqua Malik, founder of Freedomvisory, a leading Middle East cultural intelligence advisor. By Taqua Malik • 3 min read
Technology The Passport Moment: Why Luxury’s Next Advantage Is Proof, Not Promise The most valuable logo in luxury won’t sit on a clasp or heel: it will live inside a code. DPPs are moving from regulation to relevance, turning provenance into the industry’s next competitive edge. By Staff Writer • 3 min read
In Conversation In Conversation: Mo Shadman, Chalhoub Group's Director of Intelligence The Gulf’s luxury economy is entering a new chapter. Chalhoub Group’s 2025 insights reveal a market outpacing the world on every metric — fuelled by ambitious investment, evolving consumers, and an ecosystem where retail, tourism, and storytelling now converge. By Staff Writer • 6 min read
Image: Hub71 Technology How Hub71 Is Rewiring the Gulf’s Startup Ambition Abu Dhabi’s founder ecosystem is maturing fast — combining policy, capital, and AI depth to attract a new generation of global builders. By Julienna Law • 3 min read
Photo by Immo Wegmann / Unsplash Technology AI meets Arabic: the race to build culturally fluent chatbots For 400 million Arabic speakers, ChatGPT falls short. Local AI is filling the gap. By Staff Writer • 4 min read
