Magic Mushrooms. LSD. Ketamine. The Drugs That Power Silicon Valley.
Entrepreneurs including Elon Musk and Sergey Brin are part of a drug movement that proponents hope will expand minds, enhance lives and produce business breakthroughs
9 min
Elon Musk takes ketamine. Sergey Brin sometimes enjoys magic mushrooms. Executives at venture-capital firm Founders Fund, known for its investments in SpaceX and Facebook, have thrown parties that include psychedelics.
Routine drug use has moved from an after-hours activity squarely into corporate culture, leaving boards and business leaders to wrestle with their responsibilities for a workforce that frequently uses. At the vanguard are tech executives and employees who see psychedelics and similar substances, among them psilocybin, ketamine and LSD, as gateways to business breakthroughs.
“There are millions of people microdosing psychedelics right now,” said Karl Goldfield, a former sales and marketing consultant in San Francisco who informally counsels friends and colleagues across the tech world on calibrating the right small dose for maximum mindfulness. It is “the fastest path to opening your mind up and clearly seeing for yourself what’s going on,” said Goldfield.
Goldfield doesn’t have a medical degree and said he learned to dose through experience. He said the number of questions he gets about how to microdose has grown dramatically in recent months.
The account of Musk’s drug use comes from people who witnessed him use ketamine and others with direct knowledge of his use. Details about Brin’s drug use and the Founders Fund parties come from people familiar with them.
Musk, his attorney and a top adviser didn’t respond to requests for comment. A spokeswoman for Brin, the co-founder of Google, didn’t respond to requests for comment.
In a tweet following online publication of this article, Musk said he believed ketamine is a better way to deal with depression compared with more widely prescribed antidepressants that are “zombifying” people.
The movement isn’t a medical experiment or a related investment opportunity, but a practice that has become for many a routine part of doing business. It comes with risks of dependence and abuse. Most of the drugs are illegal. Before he was killed in April in San Francisco, Bob Lee, the founder of CashApp, was part of an underground party scene known as “the Lifestyle,” where the use of psychedelics was common. Lee had ingested drugs including ketamine before his death, an autopsy showed.
Silicon Valley has long had a tolerance toward drug use—many companies don’t test employees regularly—but the phenomenon is worrying some companies and their boards, who fear they could be held liable for illegal activity, according to consultants and others close to the companies.
Users rely on drug dealers for ecstasy and most other psychedelics, or in elite cases, they employ chemists. One prolific drug dealer in San Francisco who serves a slice of the tech world is known as “Costco” because users can buy bulk at a discount, according to people familiar with the business. “Cuddle puddles,” which feature groups of people embracing and showing platonic affection, have become standard fare.
Some start dabbling with psychedelics in search of mental clarity or to address health issues and end up using the drugs more frequently at Silicon Valley parties or raves, where they have taken a role similar to alcohol at a cocktail party.
Invitations to psychedelic parties are often sent through the encrypted messaging app Signal, rather than over email or text, so they can’t be shared easily. At some high-end private parties, users are asked to sign nondisclosure agreements and sometimes pay hundreds of dollars to attend, according to people who have attended or received invitations.
Spencer Shulem, CEO of the startup BuildBetter.ai, said he uses LSD about every three months because it increases focus and helps him think more creatively. While working alone after hours, he will sometimes take a low-enough dose where he said no one would know he was on LSD. Other times, he’ll take a larger dose alone and connect with nature on a hike.
Shulem, who lives in New York City, said the high expectations of venture-capital firms and investors in general can lead founders to turn to psychedelics to provide an edge. “They don’t want a normal person, a normal company,” he said. “They want something extraordinary. You’re not born extraordinary.”
He said he is cautious about sharing his LSD experiences at work unless someone asks. “I am not having a preaching seminar every Friday about the joys of drugs,” he said.
Fueling the informal use of psychedelics across the tech world is the formal, clinical work performed by doctors and researchers seeking new solutions for mental-health problems. Ketamine, which doctors have long used as an anaesthetic, is sometimes prescribed to treat depression or post-traumatic stress disorder, often as pills or through infusions at clinics.
Investors are pouring funds into companies working to develop treatments with psychedelics. Rick Doblin, the founder of the research and advocacy nonprofit Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies, or MAPS, saw about 12,000 attendees at his psychedelics science conference in Denver last week, a record, compared with about 3,000 six years ago.
Using psychedelics was the subject of a bestselling book by Michael Pollan in 2018 called “How to Change Your Mind.” A Netflix docuseries based on the book followed in 2022.
The value of the psychedelic drug market, which includes companies engaging in research and trials to legalise the use, is expected to reach $11.8 billion by 2029, up from $4.9 billion in 2022, according to research firm BrandEssence. Founders Fund has an ownership stake in Compass Pathways, a company researching commercial psilocybin development, and its co-founder Peter Thiel is personally invested in Atai Life Sciences, which is developing psychedelics for mental health.
A spokeswoman for Founders Fund said, “Research shows that psychedelics can provide significant mental health benefits, and we support public and private sector efforts to make these drugs safely and legally available.”
While some tech players say taking the drugs brings a medical benefit, most are dosing themselves, and not in a clinical setting. Tech innovators such as Apple’s Steve Jobs have long talked about using LSD. Today, the use of psychedelics has become widespread.
“A few years ago, talking about psychedelics in Silicon Valley was a big no-no,” said Edward Sullivan, the chief executive of Velocity Coaching, a business that coaches startup founders and corporate executives. “That has really changed.”
He said about 40% of his clients have expressed an interest in psychedelics recently, up from a handful five years ago. Some executive coaches said they are now helping companies and leadership teams navigate drug use.
Some entrepreneurs microdose to derive benefits, often in hope of alleviating anxiety or sharpening focus. Others in tech said they take full doses of a drug—using the term macrodose—as they try to reach a high that will lead to a new disruptive idea. Goldfield describes this as “ego death,” an experience when a user gets to the core of their being and “lets go.”
The chief executive of the startup Iterable, Justin Zhu, said he microdosed LSD two years ago and was fired by the company’s board of directors. Zhu’s dismissal was for violations of “Iterable’s Employee Handbook, policies and values,” the company wrote in an email to staff at the time.
Zhu said he microdosed LSD once in 2019 on the recommendation of another entrepreneur, to help cope with depression as a result of being a CEO. He found meditation and fasting weren’t enough. “It did really heal a lot of the trauma for me,” he said in an interview.
Zhu filed a lawsuit against Iterable and some of its board members alleging he was terminated for voicing complaints about anti-Asian discrimination, and that the microdosing issue was a pretext. The dose affected Zhu’s vision during an investor meeting, but overall the experience brought a positive change to his work life, Zhu’s lawyers said in the lawsuit.
A spokeswoman for Iterable declined to comment for the company and the board. The case is proceeding to private arbitration, Zhu said.
When Musk in 2018 smoked marijuana on “The Joe Rogan Experience” podcast, he and employees of Musk’s rocket company, SpaceX, were subjected to drug tests for months after, Musk has said, without offering further details.
The CEO has told people he microdoses ketamine for depression, and he also takes full doses of ketamine at parties, according to the people who have witnessed his drug use and others who have direct knowledge of it.
The psychedelic parties that attract chief executives such as Musk and others across the tech industry extend beyond Silicon Valley. Tech and other industry executives have attended similar parties in Miami and Mexico, where guest lists are tightly controlled and kept confidential, according to attendees.
Goldfield, the former sales consultant who helps his friends microdose, said he counsels users to take a small amount of a psychedelic—say 10 micrograms in a gummy or a pill—and wait an hour to gauge the effect. Goldfield said that LSD helped him recover from a tough childhood in Chicago of bullying and feeling suicidal.
Microdosing, he said, isn’t the same as being high. “Think of it as a smart drug,” he said. “It’s giving you the ability to be more analytical and be more aware.”
Experts in the field say people who attempt to self-diagnose can slide into abuse. “There’s no guarantee you’re going to be the one who gets that positive outcome on your own,” said Alex Penrod, an addiction specialist in Austin, Texas.
Penrod said he supports the use of psychedelics with the help of a trained therapist but worries about people who use the potential therapeutic benefits of the drugs as a justification for recreational use. “You can get very comfortable with, ‘Well it has positive values, so I’m not going to pay attention to my use,’ ” he said. “It’s kind of blinding.”
When using powerful substances without the assistance of trained professionals, “you’re going to have some people falling into self-destructive behaviour, rather than self-healing behaviour,” said Sullivan, the executive coach.
That is what happened to Tony Hsieh, the former Zappos chief executive who died in late 2020 following injuries in a house fire, the Journal has previously reported. Hsieh believed that ketamine could help him think through business challenges while working at Zappos, which is owned by Amazon.com. Soon, he was overusing, the friends said. Under pressure from Amazon to improve his erratic behaviour, Hsieh resigned shortly before his death, the Journal reported.
Doblin, the founder of MAPS, and other researchers, said they believe there is a way to incorporate drugs into the workplace. At MAPS, which has about 35 employees, Doblin added to his employee manual a section called smokable tasks—things you can do at work when you’re high on drugs, such as brainstorming in a meeting or using Excel.
A for-profit subsidiary of MAPS, which is working to develop a therapy that works in conjunction with MDMA, also known as ecstasy, and has about 130 employees, declined to implement the policy. Doblin called that position “timid and risk-averse.”
CREDIT: Clara Mokri for The Wall Street Journal
SLUG: SVDRUGS
Amy Emerson, the chief executive of MAPS Public Benefit Corp., MAPS’s for-profit arm, said in a written statement, “We support MAPS having policies that work for their teams and the work they are doing and maintain separate policies for our employees and the work we do at MAPS PBC.”
Tim Sae Koo was the founder of a digital marketing startup in San Francisco when he discovered psychedelics at the Coachella music festival in 2014.
He said they helped him realise he had started his business to make his mother proud, and that it was time to sell. “A lot of that kind of exploration in my psychedelic experience helped give me a clarity that I had started the company from a place of a wound,” he said.
For the past five years, he has hosted ayahuasca retreats in Costa Rica geared toward tech entrepreneurs and CEOs. Over 500 people have attended the ceremonies, including a handful of founders of startups worth more than $1 billion, he said.
The retreats last days where people drink a hallucinogenic brew that often induces vomiting but can also open the mind, said Sae Koo, incorporating elements of a practice used by some indigenous cultures.
Dustin Robinson, a former attorney at the law firm Holland & Knight, based in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., said he began researching psychedelics and their healing properties before trying psilocybin in the presence of his life coach. Suddenly, Robinson said, he could see a much broader career path.
He started a psychedelic-focused venture-capital fund. “It helped me step away and think, ‘Wow, I can have so much of a larger impact,’ ” he said.
In the past couple of years, the fund has invested nearly $20 million in 18 different companies involved with psychedelics. He is on track to launch a second fund. The companies are all legal, he said, because they are researching and dispensing the drugs for pharmaceutical purposes.
Robinson said he has received ketamine therapy—full-dose injections by a doctor at a private clinic. He recently attended a five-day psilocybin retreat in Jamaica organised by Beckley Retreats, where he is a lead investor. Users don eye masks in a spiritual ceremony and, under the guidance of trained facilitators, receive a high dose of the drug to “go inward,” he said.
If he still worked at Holland & Knight, “I certainly wouldn’t be posting information about my psychedelic experience,” he said.
Sylvia Benito, a board member and spokeswoman for Beckley, said there is a waiting list for most of the roughly 30 retreats each year. The retreats are popular because “we’re in a time when people are looking for ways to feel like their lives matter.”
At Tesla’s factory in Fremont, Calif., S.O. Swanson, a former line worker, said that while Tesla had a policy against drugs, it had a high tolerance for cannabis and psychedelic use outside of the workday, and employees weren’t routinely tested.
Often Tesla workers were bussed in an hour or more from nearby cities, and it was common to ingest cannabis or psychedelics and arrive at work “California sober,” Swanson said.
Swanson took small doses of LSD, or chocolate laced with magic mushrooms, sometimes after work or on weekends. “Every single day felt a little bit more shiny,” he said.
He said he felt encouraged by Tesla’s chief executive, who occasionally makes drug-related jokes on Twitter.
Swanson was put on leave in 2022 and never brought back to work after offering to sell cannabis brownies to an employee who turned out to be a security guard, he said. After unsuccessfully trying to reach his supervisors to appeal, Swanson said, he emailed Musk through a private email available to employees but didn’t hear back.
Representatives for Tesla and Musk didn’t respond to requests for comment on Swanson.
—Emily Glazer and Shalini Ramachandran contributed to this article.
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Chris Dixon, a partner who led the charge, says he has a ‘very long-term horizon’
Americans now think they need at least $1.25 million for retirement, a 20% increase from a year ago, according to a survey by Northwestern Mutual
Ras Al Khaimah, UAE, is set to host the Modern Buildings Summit 2025 on June 19, focusing on green building design, smart technologies, retrofitting, urban modernization, and HVAC efficiency. The event will also serve as a networking platform.
2 min
As the UAE continues its ambitious journey toward futuristic, sustainable urbanism, Ras Al Khaimah is set to host the Modern Buildings Summit 2025 on June 19 at the Mövenpick Resort Al Marjan Island. The highly anticipated event will bring together leading voices from across the architecture, engineering, construction, and property development sectors to explore the future of modern buildings.
With the theme “Building Tomorrow’s Skylines: Innovation, Sustainability, and Resilience in Modern Architecture,” the summit aims to spotlight the technologies, practices, and policies redefining the built environment across the Gulf and beyond.
A Platform for Visionary Dialogue
The Modern Buildings Summit comes at a pivotal time as Ras Al Khaimah experiences a surge in development, driven by sustainable urban planning, smart infrastructure, and investment-friendly initiatives. The emirate’s transformation into a regional hub for innovation makes it an ideal backdrop for an event focused on future-ready design and construction.
The summit will offer in-depth discussions and keynotes on:
- Green Building Design & Sustainability: Showcasing low-impact construction models and energy-efficient solutions.
- Smart Building Technologies: Unpacking IoT, AI integration, and automation in infrastructure.
- Retrofitting and Urban Modernization: Exploring the adaptation of existing structures for new-age performance.
- HVAC & Building Efficiency: Understanding cutting-edge systems that enhance indoor comfort and sustainability.
An Impressive Lineup of Speakers
The summit will feature a dynamic roster of industry leaders, including:
- Steven Velegrinis, Design Director, Gensler
- Ammar Al Assam, CEO, Dewan Architects + Engineers
- Mohammed Khader, CDO, Almal Real Estate Development
- Mahmoud Shahin, Associate Director – Design, P&T Architects
- Andreja Marolt, Director of R&D, LWK + PARTNERS
- Zain Ahmed, Senior Manager – Strategic Consulting, JLL
- Jide Sleiman Haidar, Associate Urban Designer, Insite International
- Dima Rachid, Founding Partner, Studio Libani
- Basem Mohamed, Associate Professor, Zayed University
Bridging Innovation and Opportunity
This event will also serve as a powerful networking platform, welcoming government representatives, developers, MEP contractors, architects, hotel groups, hospital chains, and real estate investors, among others.
As Ras Al Khaimah and its neighboring emirates push forward with bold infrastructure projects, the Modern Buildings Summit offers a front-row seat to the innovations shaping the region’s architectural future.
For registration and more details, visit: https://buildings-efficiency.com/ras-al-khaimah-uae/
Chris Dixon, a partner who led the charge, says he has a ‘very long-term horizon’
Americans now think they need at least $1.25 million for retirement, a 20% increase from a year ago, according to a survey by Northwestern Mutual
Priority Pass, a Collinson International airport experiences program, has seen a 17% increase in lounge visits and 201 new lounges worldwide in April 2025. With 48% of travelers citing airport lounge access as their top payment card perk, the program has expanded its global network by 12%.
2 min
As the UAE gears up for its busiest travel season, with summer bookings surging across the region, Priority Pass, the world’s leading airport experiences program by Collinson International, offers travelers access to premium airport lounges and curated travel experiences. Designed to elevate every journey, Priority Pass provides a smoother and more enjoyable travel experience for UAE travelers this summer.
Holidays are no longer a luxury – they’ve become essential moments of rest and connection. Priority Pass aims to ensure every traveler has a moment of respite by making every journey as important as the destination. Research from Collinson International reveals that nearly half of travellers (48%) say airport lounge access is their top payment card perk, highlighting that people want comfort and convenience while waiting for their flights. Reflecting this, Priority Pass saw a 17% increase in lounge and experience visits in April 2025 compared to April 2024.
Priority Pass has grown its global network by 12% in the past year, adding 201 new lounges and airport experiences to keep up with travelers’ needs. Beyond traditional lounges, members can also enjoy sleep pods, immersive gaming spaces, tasty dining options, and wellness services like spa treatments, delivering personalized comfort for travelers at every stage of their journey.
Priority Pass offers unparalleled access to over 1,700 premium airport lounges and experiences worldwide, including key travel corridors such as the UAE, India, the United Kingdom, the United States, and Saudi Arabia. Whether flying for business or leisure, Priority Pass ensures seamless lounge access and premium experiences for some of the world’s most dynamic passenger flows. Through partnerships with international credit cards, access via payment card, and direct membership options, Priority Pass remains the go-to choice for travelers seeking premium airport hospitality.
To further enhance the airport journey, Priority Pass has introduced Pre-Book Assist, an AI-powered tool that forecasts lounge busyness and helps travelers reserve their spot in advance, ensuring a stress-free, personalized lounge visit, even during peak travel times.
These evolving traveler preferences present a key opportunity for banks and card issuers. Today’s travelers expect more than just rewards from their cards – they want experiences that make every step of the journey better. 84% of consumers say the benefits a card offers are just as important or even more important than the bank’s reputation. Appealing rewards such as lounge access not only drive engagement, with 61% spending more frequently, but also influence brand loyalty: 62% would consider switching providers if benefits like lounge access were removed.
Younger travelers, particularly Gen Z, are leading this shift. For high earners in this group, 75% would switch cards to retain airport lounge access, valuing it even more than cashback rewards. This shows people are looking for benefits that offer emotional comfort and convenience, not just transactional perks.
When asked which travel-related card benefits matter most, consumers ranked them as follows:
- Airport lounge access (48%)
- Travel insurance (42%)
- Complimentary airport transfers (41%)
- Express security lane access (37%)
- Discounts on airport dining and shopping (37%)
These insights make one thing clear: comfort, speed and premium, seamless services are no longer extras-they’re must-haves in today’s fast-paced travel landscape.
Chris Dixon, a partner who led the charge, says he has a ‘very long-term horizon’
Interior designer Thomas Hamel on where it goes wrong in so many homes.
CyberSHE, a four-week program by Women in CyberSecurity Middle East, offers technical training and career development opportunities for aspiring women professionals in the Middle East. Launched at Kuwait College of Science and Technology, it combines government, academia, and industry leaders to train 1,500 women over three years.
2 min
The cybersecurity industry continues to evolve rapidly, demanding a skilled and diverse talent pipeline to address growing threats. In a strategic effort to expand access to world-class cybersecurity education across the Middle East, EC-Council, the global leader in cybersecurity training and the creator of the world-renowned Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH) credential, has partnered with CyberSHE to deliver impactful technical training and career development opportunities for aspiring women professionals across the region.
CyberSHE, an initiative by Women in CyberSecurity Middle East (WiCSME), was launched at Kuwait College of Science and Technology (KCST). The initiative brings together leaders from government, academia, and industry to deliver focused training, mentorship, and structured career pathways for women seeking to build technical capability and pursue careers in cybersecurity. By equipping more women with cutting-edge skills, the program is helping to unlock new perspectives and build stronger, more inclusive cyber teams across the region.
“Cybersecurity is one of the fastest-growing fields in the world, and the Middle East holds extraordinary untapped potential. At EC-Council, we see education as a catalyst for transformation. Through CyberSHE, we are opening the door to global-standard training, mentorship, and new career pathways for women across the region. This initiative represents the kind of purposeful collaboration that creates lasting opportunity. We are honored to support it, and we believe it is just the beginning of a much larger movement to shape the future of cyber talent in the region.” said Jay Bavisi, Group President, EC-Council.
CyberSHE is a four-week program built around EC-Council’s internationally respected certifications. Participants undertake technical training through the Certified Cybersecurity Technician (CCT), Certified Network Defender (CND), and Certified SOC Analyst (CSA) programs. The hands-on, lab-driven curriculum is delivered over three weeks and is followed by a structured set of career-readiness modules that include mentorship, soft skills development, and industry insights.
Dr. Reem Faraj AlShammari, Chairperson of WiCSME, added: “CyberSHE is more than just a program, it represents the power of collective efforts in action. Through CyberSHE, we are uniting key pillars of our society to create a generation of empowered, job-ready women professionals in cybersecurity. By building skilled workforce, the program is directly boosting the National Cyber readiness (Strategic Workforce Development), and is strategically positioned to improve the entire region’s Global Cybersecurity Index rankings.”
Following its launch in Kuwait, CyberSHE will expand to the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Bahrain, Jordan, and Qatar. Over the next three years, the program aims to train 1,500 women, helping to strengthen national cyber capabilities and promote more inclusive workforce participation.
This partnership reflects EC-Council’s global mission to make cybersecurity education accessible, relevant, and transformative. By supporting initiatives like CyberSHE, EC-Council continues to shape pathways that empower women, elevate careers, and contribute to a safer digital future.
Chris Dixon, a partner who led the charge, says he has a ‘very long-term horizon’
Following the devastation of recent flooding, experts are urging government intervention to drive the cessation of building in areas at risk.
Kuwait mandates expatriate workers to obtain an official exit permit from employers before traveling abroad, as part of a regulatory effort to improve expatriate mobility oversight and worker rights, and to reduce incidents of workers leaving without proper notification.
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In a significant regulatory development, expatriate workers in the private sector will soon be required to obtain an official exit permit from their registered employers before traveling abroad. This new measure, set to take effect early next month, is part of efforts to strengthen oversight of expatriate mobility while safeguarding the rights of both workers and employers.
The decision was formalized through a ministerial circular issued by First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Sheikh Fahad Al-Yousef. The directive requires all expatriate workers to obtain an exit permit before leaving the country.
The Public Authority for Manpower confirmed that the implementation of this regulation will require exit permits to include the worker’s personal details, travel date, and mode of transportation. The completed permit must be submitted electronically through a designated platform (SAHEL APP or the PUBLIC AUTHORITY OF MANPOWER WEBSITE) to streamline processing and maintain accuracy.
Authorities emphasized that the new system is designed to ensure that departures are conducted legally, protect all parties involved, and reduce incidents of workers leaving without proper notification.
Both employers and expatriate workers are urged to strictly adhere to this requirement, as enforcement of the regulation is set to begin from 1st July.
PURPOSE OF THE DECISION
- Ensure balance between employer and worker rights
- Enhance legal compliance and oversight
- Prevent illegal departures without employer notification
- Support labor market organization efforts
WHO MUST COMPLY?
- All expatriate workers registered under the private sector
- Applies to workers intending to leave Kuwait temporarily or permanently
HOW TO APPLY FOR THE EXIT PERMIT
- Submit request using CIVIL ID number
- Use the SAHEL APP or the PUBLIC AUTHORITY OF MANPOWER WEBSITE
- Request must be made BEFORE TRAVEL
IMPORTANT NOTES
- The system automatically verifies employer-employee matching
- If inconsistencies are found, the case is referred to specialized departments
Chris Dixon, a partner who led the charge, says he has a ‘very long-term horizon’
El Palace Barcelona is launching El Jardín Libanés, a rooftop restaurant with Chef Paul Haddad, opening on June 12th. The restaurant features orange blossoms and jasmine, symbolizing Lebanon and gardens. Guests can choose between two tasting menus: La Mezza del Chef and La Mezza del Cedro.
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El Palace Barcelona introduces El Jardín Libanés (‘The Lebanese Garden’), a new culinary pop-up rooftop experience, created in partnership with Chef Paul Haddad. Haddad brings the rich and colourful culinary traditions of Lebanon to life with a new menu inspired by family recipes passed down through the generations. El Jardín Libanés will open on 12th June and be open every evening until the end of September.
El Jardín Libanés has been created in collaboration with chef Paul Haddad, whose 30 years of culinary and hospitality experience in Beirut and Barcelona have culminated in a distinct culinary style, bringing Lebanese authenticity and local flavours to every dish. Born and raised in Beirut, Paul honours Lebanese culinary traditions and the art of home cooking with his menu inspired by family recipes which have been handed down across generations.
Guests will be invited to relax and enjoy El Palace Barcelona’s blossoming fragrant rooftop terrace where orange blossom and jasmine are in full bloom, reminiscent of Lebanon and Lebanese gardens. In Lebanon, orange blossom is a symbol of purity and prosperity, hence it is found in many ceremonies and celebrations similar to jasmine which is planted traditionally in archways, as it has been planted on El Palace Barcelona’s rooftop garden, framing the terrace’s view of the Sagrada Familia.
The menu will include generous spreads of traditional sharing plates, or mezze, true to Lebanese custom, including Haddad’s interpretation of classics, including houmous, moutabal, mouhamara, crudités, tabbouleh, fattoush, falafel with tahini, cheese ribak, kébbe kraás, spinach fatayer and traditional Lebanese bread. Guests can choose between two tasting menus. La Mezza del Chef which features a grilled selection of kebabs, shish taouk, lahem meshwi, kafta, sijouk, lamb ribs and grilled vegetables. Alternatively, La Mezza del Cedro includes the traditional fish dish samke harra, a roasted sea bass fillet with tomato, spices, almonds, and pine nuts, served with cumin-scented basmati rice and crispy pita. Both menus include a trio of classic Lebanese desserts: baklawa soirée (a nut-filled pastry with syrup and honey), mahmoul de pistacho (a semolina and pistachio biscuit with rose water), and mohalabihe (a Lebanese-style milk pudding topped with walnuts).
Chris Dixon, a partner who led the charge, says he has a ‘very long-term horizon’
FIVE LUXE, Dubai’s ‘Most Glam Beachfront Resort’ at JBR, offers 222 stylish hotel rooms and suites for ‘All-You-Can-Play’ celebrations. The resort features Mediterranean vibes, Japanese fine-dining, French sophistication, and decadent culinary adventures. FIVE LUXE also offers a beachfront shisha lounge, Cielo, and ReFIVE Spa, providing a luxurious and world-class experience.
3 min
Step into the luxurious world of FIVE LUXE, where the shimmering Arabian Gulf and Ain Dubai create a backdrop for ultimate indulgence and nonstop fun. With 222 stylish hotel rooms and suites and 222 lavish residences, it’s your ticket to a glam-packed adventure for ‘All-You-Can-Play’ celebrations, paired with sensational dining, nightlife, and entertainment this summer.
FIVE LUXE, Dubai’s ‘Most Glam Beachfront Resort’ at JBR, is the ultimate destination for those in pursuit of glamour, luxury, and world-class entertainment under one roof! No matter what day of the week, there’s always something fun and exciting to keep you entertained from day to night!
Experience Highlights
- Suite Indulgences – The 1-Bed Poolside Room with Pool is ideal for a sizzling stay for two, placing you at the heart of Dubai’s most exhilarating destination. Enjoy direct access to the iconic Playa Pacha pool and beach club, the city’s largest and most electrifying pool party spot. For guests looking to go all-out, the Encore Suite transforms into the ultimate party destination. Complete with a DJ booth, dance floor, LED screen, and state-of-the-art sound system, it sets the stage for epic celebrations!
- Where the Party Never Ends – Feel the electric pulse of Ibiza at Playa Pacha, where Mediterranean vibes ignite non-stop all-day parties every single day. From the irresistible beats of Wet Cherry Wednesdays to the soulful grooves of Sam Oui & Friends on Saturdays, and the fiery rhythms of Latin House on Sundays—there’s a perfect soundtrack for every mood, every moment, and every vibe.
- A Magical Scene at Level 9 – Dive into the exquisite world of Japanese fine-dining at Ronin and experience live fire Teppanyaki cooking, a swanky Sushi Bar, intimate Pagoda-style dining and Lazy Weekend Lunches featuring heavenly Ramen and fresh Hand Rolls. Embrace French sophistication with a Dubai twist at Tête-à-Tête, inspired by the French Riviera where vibrant, sun-kissed flavours shine against a chic, lavender backdrop with sweeping views of Palm Jumeirah and the Arabian Gulf. Take things up a notch at the Friday Dinner Party and dance to French hits remixed with the hottest international house beats, enjoy a signature set menu and cocktails – or savour delicious flavours at the Bisous Bisous Brunch on Saturdays. Cocktail bar Paradiso Dubai captivates with surreal, theatrical decor paired with exquisite cocktails, and tapas-style menu – along with weekly events such as the Queen of Hearts Ladies Night on Thursdays and Paradiso Blackbook with the hottest DJs that spin tracks from a variety of genres.
- Decadent Culinary Adventures – Find yourself spoilt for choice with innovative dining and nightlife at several distinct venues within FIVE LUXE. For pub enthusiasts, Goose Island Tap House offers a range of over 22 craft brews – the largest in the UAE – paired with delicious bites. Enjoy daily Happy Hours, a vibrant Ladies’ Night every Tuesday, indulge in Wings Wednesdays with irresistible chicken or vegan wings, and kick-start your weekend with The Ultimate Breakfast, served in true indulgent style, along with the famed Sunday Roast. Bask under the sunny skies of Cielo, where every meal is a celebration of the good life, from breakfast to dinner and a spectacular beachfront shisha lounge.
- Wellness Goals Redefined – Hit reset at ReFIVE Spa — where cutting-edge wellness meets serious indulgence. From rooftop workouts with skyline views and a 24/7 gym to the bliss of indoor spa pools, healing quartz beds, and ice therapy for muscle recovery, it’s the ultimate self-care playground. Dive into detox with signature Hammam rituals, Ayurvedic treatments, and luxe facials by Auteur and Omorovicza — because feeling fabulous is just part of the vibe.
Whether you’re here to party, pamper or play, FIVE LUXE brings it all together under one dazzling roof. Soak up the sun, savour every bite, and let the good times roll — this is your all-access pass to the most iconic summer yet!
Chris Dixon, a partner who led the charge, says he has a ‘very long-term horizon’
The UAE Restaurant Group and IMAGES RetailME are partnering to host a Food Service Forum and Food Business Forum on June 19th at JW Marriott Marina, focusing on the HoReCa ecosystem and the UAE’s F&B scene.
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As two of the region’s leading forces shaping the future of the food and retail industries, the UAE Restaurant Group (UAERG) and IMAGES RetailME will come together to host another edition of their insightful forums. UAERG, the official representative body of the UAE’s food and beverage sector, will present the Food Service Forum with a focus on the HoReCa ecosystem, while IMAGES RetailME, the region’s premier retail business intelligence platform, will lead the Food Business Forum, spotlighting the food and grocery retail market. Set to take place on June 19th at JW Marriott Marina, both concurrent events will feature keynote speeches, panel discussions, and networking opportunities, concluding with a UAERG Partners Felicitation Ceremony.
UAERG Food Service Forum
In recent years, MENA has experienced a surge of fine-dining restaurants, cafés, bars, international fast-food chains, and homegrown culinary concepts, catering to the region’s evolving palate and growing appetite for unique dining experiences. Helping participants tap into the local market’s immense potential, the UAERG Food Service Forum will feature a series of impactful roundtables, exhibition areas, and networking sessions, as well as the chance to meet the region’s most powerful food service professionals.
To set the tone for the forums, Amit Nayak, Vice Chairman of UAE Restaurant Group and Vice President of HAMA MEA, and Amitabh Taneja, Editor-in-Chief at IMAGES Retail, will deliver an introductory speech. After, participants can dive into the discussions, starting at 10.20am with an inaugural session exploring the balance between ultra-fast delivery models and food quality, featuring Jaskaran Singh, Vice President of Product at Careem. Later at 2.00pm, a session on experiential dining will examine whether premium restaurant concepts and entertainment hybrids are worth the investment for shopping centers, with key insights from Jitin Joshi, Chef and Culinary Leader at Revolver (Culinary Arts Group), and Fay Economides, Executive Managing Director at M Management Company.
Other highlights include an expert-led discussion on transforming café brands into lifestyle icons with various industry leaders sharing their experiences, including Duncan Muir, Senior Director of F&B and Retail at Bateel. The food service forum will also explore AI integration in the kitchen, with a panel featuring Sheikha Al Mheiri, Owner of MAD Hospitality, and Tapan Vaidya, Treasurer at UAERG and CEO of PJP Investments Group. Finally, Naved Nasir, Founder of Khadak, will join fellow industry trailblazers to share the ingredients for long-term success.
Through meaningful events like the Food Service Forum, UAERG aims to provide a platform for dialogue and collaboration, helping shape the future of the UAE’s dynamic F&B scene. In line with this role, the group is led by four key committees: the Education & Innovation Committee, headed by Board Member Walid Fakih, which keeps members informed on trends and tech, and the Membership Engagement & Events Committee, led by Treasurer Tapan Vaidya, aimed at fostering connection and knowledge-sharing. Meanwhile, Vice Chairman Amit Nayak leads both the Sustainability Committee and the Government Relations & Advocacy Committee, which ensures their voices are heard in policy and regulatory matters.
Amit Nayak, Vice Chairman of UAE Restaurant Group and Vice President of HAMA MEA, shared, ‘The second edition of UAERG Food Service Forum and IMAGES RetailME Food Business Forum comes at a crucial turning point. Several factors, including lifestyle changes, sustainability, and technology, are completely transforming how diners engage with concepts. Through events like this, we hope to contribute to the greater success of the UAE’s food service industry, sharing expert insights and practices that will help businesses of all sizes thrive.’
IMAGES RetailME Food Business Forum
In the realm of Food & Grocery Retail, the MENA market is experiencing a profound shift, driven by the evolving needs of modern consumers, rapid technological advancements, and diversified products. This year’s IMAGES RetailME Food Business Forum seeks to empower participants to navigate these industry shifts and highlight emerging trends by bringing together key industry players from leading hypermarkets, supermarkets, convenience stores, and specialty retailers. One of the day’s standout sessions is the 12.00pm CEO Power Panel, which will explore how both legacy and next-gen brands are reinventing themselves through agile strategies, new formats, and bold market experimentation.
Following the expert-led discussions, the forums will conclude with the UAERG Partners Felicitation Ceremony, honouring outstanding contributions across the food sector. Spanning a range of categories, the event will spotlight companies driving innovation, growth, and positive change within the industry.
Abdulla Al Mulla, Chairman of UAERG, said, ‘We are thrilled to be working with IMAGES RetailME once again, uniting some of the most renowned names in the food and beverage industry to exchange knowledge, share practical insights, and address the challenges shaping our sector. These forums represent more than just an opportunity to gather – they reflect our collective ambition to push boundaries, inspire innovation, and position the UAE and the greater MENA region as a global gastronomic hub of culinary excellence and business leadership.’
After a successful inaugural edition, the second UAERG Food Service Forum and IMAGES RetailME Food Business Forum aim to build on that momentum. This year’s edition offers a dynamic platform to stay ahead of emerging trends, forge meaningful connections, and uncover new avenues for growth, making it a must-attend for industry professionals and business owners alike.
Chris Dixon, a partner who led the charge, says he has a ‘very long-term horizon’
Infobip has introduced its Conversational Experience Orchestration Platform (CXOP), a solution that uses agentic AI to improve customer interactions across various channels, reducing response times, increasing lead conversion, and supporting hybrid teams, while reducing costs.
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Global cloud communications platform Infobip today announced its Conversational Experience Orchestration Platform (CXOP) — a game-changing solution that places agentic AI at the heart of every customer interaction. CXOP enables brands to move beyond static, rules-based workflows to deliver dynamic, goal-oriented conversations across marketing, sales, and support — at scale. The announcement builds on Infobip’s AI Hub, marking a major step forward by natively infusing agentic AI across Infobip’s entire award-winning product stack — unifying channels, data, and automation into a single intelligent platform.
Built on Microsoft Azure OpenAI in Foundry Models, CXOP uses intelligent AI agents to orchestrate personalized customer journeys across channels like WhatsApp, RCS, and web chat. These agents understand context, act autonomously, and seamlessly collaborate with human teams when needed — reducing time to resolution, improving loyalty, and cutting costs.
Today’s consumers expect instant, relevant, and seamless interactions no matter what the channel. CXOP meets this demand by unifying messaging, automation, and AI-powered assistance within a single, intelligent platform that adapts to behavior, sentiment, and intent in real time.
With CXOP, businesses can:
- Deliver empathetic, goal-driven AI interactions across channels
- Slash response times and reduce service costs through automation
- Increase lead conversion and campaign performance with real-time personalization
- Support hybrid teams with human-in-the-loop for complex cases
- Launch fast with no-code or full-code deployment options
At its core, CXOP leverages a network of intelligent, agentic AI assistants that understand user intent and execute context-sensitive workflows. These agents don’t just answer — they guide, solve, and act, creating fluid, human-like experiences from lead generation to retention.
“CXOP enables enterprises to move beyond static workflows and deliver intelligent, empathetic interactions at scale,” said Ivan Ostojić, Chief Business Officer at Infobip. “It’s a foundational step toward building AI-first customer experiences that drive measurable business impact.”
“Using agentic AI instead of a rules-based automation, Infobip’s new CXOP is an enhancement for customer experiences,” said Myladie Stoumbou, Sr Director ISV Partnerships, at Microsoft. “Available within the Microsoft Azure Marketplace, clients can access such certified products and eliminate the complexity of managing individual vendor relationships.”
Chris Dixon, a partner who led the charge, says he has a ‘very long-term horizon’
City Football Schools and Al Jazira Club Academy have announced a partnership to develop and help talented players in the UAE on a professional pathway from the age of six. Starting next season, City Football Schools will provide coaching for the Al Jazira Club Academy foundation phase for six-to-nine-year-olds. The coaches will be based on Manchester City Academy’s philosophy and training program, with a minimum UEFA B qualification. The partnership aims to create elite players using a structured methodology used globally across all City Football Group clubs. The partnership will also contribute to the wider development of football in the UAE, providing young players with an incredible footballing opportunity for years to come. The partnership will complement the City Football Schools program, which currently coaches over 2,500 players across eight venues in the UAE.
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City Football Schools and Al Jazira Club Academy today announced a landmark collaboration that will see talented players in the UAE developed and helped on a professional pathway from the age of six years old.
From the start of next season, City Football Schools will deliver the coaching for the Al Jazira Club Academy foundation phase for six-to-nine-year-olds.
With more than a decade of coaching in the UAE, built on the philosophy and training program of the Manchester City Academy, City Football Schools will supply the coaches – all of whom hold a minimum UEFA B qualification, and have undergone Manchester City’s in house coach education.
They will coach and develop Al Jazira’s young players, introducing them to a structured methodology designed to create elite players, one that is used globally across all City Football Group clubs. This will be combined with the principles of a safe, creative and positive space, with player happiness and welfare at the forefront of the learning environment.
The move further demonstrates the unique and authentic player pathway in the UAE, allowing players who have demonstrated talent and aptitude for the game to flourish in a professional club and work through different age groups, with the ultimate aim of signing a professional first-team contract in the future.
For those behind this historic partnership, this not only offers the opportunity for helping produce the stars of tomorrow for Al Jazira Club, but it will also contribute to the wider development of football in the UAE.
City Football Group’s Head of Football Operations MENA, Simon Hewitt said: “This is a revolutionary partnership that will provide young players an incredible footballing opportunity for years to come. Early sports and football fundamentals are so important for a player’s development. We will look for the best six to nine-year olds in Abu Dhabi and give them an incredible start to their football journey. Everything from coaching to facilities and wider pastoral care will be best in class with the goal of harnessing their skills and supporting them to reach the next level.”
This exciting new partnership will complement the market leading City Football Schools program that coaches over 2,500 players, both male and female, who train with City coaches on a weekly basis across eight venues in the UAE.
“The pathway being created between City Football Schools and Al Jazira Club hasn’t been seen before in the UAE and will benefit players, the Club, and the wider football ecosystem in the country,” added Hewitt.
Scott Sellars, Sporting Director of Al Jazira Club said: “We are delighted to partner with City Football Schools on such an exciting and visionary initiative. As the Pride of Abu Dhabi, we want to be able to offer young players the opportunity to excel and go as far as possible in the world of football. We are excited that some of the players who join us next season might be those running out with not only our first team, but also the UAE national team in the future.”
Chris Dixon, a partner who led the charge, says he has a ‘very long-term horizon’
Gulf Navigation Holding has finalized a strategic acquisition of Brooge Energy’s assets and subsidiaries, totaling AED3.2 billion ($871 million). The deal will involve securing regulatory approvals, fulfilling contractual terms, and executing corporate actions. The focus will be on operational integration for a smooth transition.
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Gulf Navigation Holding, a leading maritime and shipping company listed on the Dubai Financial Market, has entered into a deal with Brooge Energy, a leading Cayman Islands-based crude oil, fuel oil and refined fuel products storage company, to formalize the sale and purchase agreement (SPA) in accordance with the acquisition structure that was previously approved by Gulfnav’s shareholders in the March general assembly meeting, thus marking a key milestone in the AED3.2 billion ($871 million) strategic acquisition.
This agreement finalizes Gulfnav’s acquisition of the assets and subsidiaries of Nasdaq-listed Brooge, including Brooge Petroleum and Gas Investment Company FZE, Brooge Petroleum and Gas Investment Company Phase III FZE, and BPGIC Phase 3 Limited.
Following the signing of the Sale and Purchase Agreement, both parties will work closely to fulfill the remaining conditions required to complete the transaction, including securing final regulatory approvals, satisfying all contractual and legal completion terms, and executing the necessary corporate actions.
As part of this process, Gulfnav will implement a capital increase, issue new shares to Brooge Energy Limited, and initiate a structured capital raising initiative through the issuance of Mandatory Convertible Bonds (MCBs).
Upon completion, the focus will shift to operational integration to ensure a smooth transition and to unlock synergies across both organizations. All final conditions of the deal are expected to be completed before the end of the third quarter of 2025, subject to customary closing conditions.
Signing the agreement reflects the continued commitment of both companies to transform the regional midstream oil and gas landscape.
This transaction reinforces Gulfnav’s strategy to become an integrated energy logistics powerhouse by significantly expanding its storage, terminal, and related infrastructure capabilities.
The acquisition, involves a settlement structure comprising cash, newly issued shares, and Mandatory Convertible Bonds (MCBs). This includes:
•Issuance of 358.8 million new shares to Brooge at AED1.25 per share, subject to a one-year lock-up.
•AED2.33 billion in MCBs issued to Brooge, convertible at AED1.25 per share.
•AED500 million in MCBs exclusively offered to Gulfnav’s existing shareholders at AED1.1 per share.
•A cash component of AED460 million.
Founded in 2013, Brooge today it is one of the most technologically advanced companies in the crude oil storage services sector, as the company’s facilities and terminals use advanced technologies consistent with the best international standards.
It has strengthened its investments and presence in Fujairah being an important hub in oil storage and exporting.
Gulfnav said this acquisition is expected to strengthen its market position and boost operational efficiency and competitive edge.
It will also diversify the company’s revenue streams and deepen relationships with key strategic partners in the energy sector, positioning Gulfnav to capitalize on future growth opportunities across local and regional markets.
Through this strategic expansion, Gulfnav aims to enhance financial performance and deliver greater returns to its shareholders.
“This signing marks a pivotal moment in our growth journey. This is more than an acquisition, it’s a strategic integration that will allow us to unlock new opportunities in the energy logistics space,” remarked its CEO Ahmad Kilani.
“By combining our maritime capabilities with Brooge’s cutting-edge infrastructure, we are well-positioned to deliver value to our customers, shareholders, and the UAE’s broader energy ecosystem,” he added.
Trussbridge Advisory (DIFC) Limited acted as exclusive financial advisor to Gulfnav on the transaction. Pinsent Masons acted as the lead counsel, while Ibrahim & Partners advised on structuring and regulatory matters of the transaction.
Chris Dixon, a partner who led the charge, says he has a ‘very long-term horizon’
Egypt plans to attract 30 million tourists by 2031 through a new investment plan in its tourism and antiquities sectors. The government is focusing on investment in tourist restaurants, cafeterias, and antiquities preservation. The plan will be available on the country’s investment map.
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Egypt targets 30 million tourists by 2031 under a new investment plan for its tourism and antiquities sectors.
The target was part of a government strategy to increase foreign direct investment, which was reviewed at a meeting chaired by Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly.
“The government is working to formulate clear plans with specific targets in order to present investment opportunities in various sectors, in a way that contributes to increasing foreign direct investment,” the prime minister said at the start of the meeting at the government’s headquarters in the New Administrative Capital.
Madbouly added that the tourism sector is one of the country’s most important, and the meeting aimed to follow up on the efforts of the tourism and investment ministries in this regard.
Sherif Fathy, Minister of Tourism and Antiquities, said a unit is being formed to monitor investment opportunities with the goal of creating an “investment opportunities bank” to present available projects in the sector. The minister clarified that achieving the tourist arrival target is linked to expanding hotel capacity.
In 2024, hotel capacity grew by an additional 7,200 rooms, 55% of which were new, the minister said. Around 19,000 new hotel rooms are expected to be added in 2025. The plan also calls for investment in tourist restaurants, cafeterias, and the preservation and restoration of antiquities. The Supreme Council of Antiquities has averaged 36 projects annually over the past five years, he noted.
The minister reviewed the targeted investment plan for 2025 to 2031, which covers hotel rooms, restaurants, safaris, camps, and theme parks across Egypt’s governorates. It also includes investment in the rehabilitation and reuse of archaeological sites and museums through public-private partnerships.
Hassan El-Khatib, Minister of Investment and Foreign Trade, said the meeting was the third in a series to discuss sectoral investment targets within the state’s unified national investment strategy.
He described tourism and antiquities as a vital area for investment, adding that opportunities in these sectors will be made available on the country’s investment map with all necessary data for investors.
El-Khatib explained that the national investment strategy’s methodology involves diagnosing each sector, setting priorities, proposing policy and legislative reforms, and preparing a detailed investment map with ready-to-implement opportunities. The implementation timeline includes coordination meetings between relevant ministries, the formation of joint working groups, and the submission of periodic progress reports to the cabinet.
The meeting was attended by the ministers of Tourism and Antiquities, and Investment and Foreign Trade, along with officials from both ministries.
Chris Dixon, a partner who led the charge, says he has a ‘very long-term horizon’
The UAE Restaurant Group (UAERG) is supporting a study aimed at reducing food waste across all sectors, including the hospitality sector. The initiative, led by ne’ma, will collect real data across the value chain, contributing to national food loss and waste indices. The study will generate sector-specific data, empower businesses, and align with the UAE’s Sustainable Development Goal 12.3.
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The UAE Restaurant Group (UAERG) has announced its support for a first-of-its-kind study aimed at addressing food waste across all sectors in the UAE, including the hospitality sector. Led by ne’ma – the National Food Loss and Waste Initiative, the UAE’s First Food Loss and Waste Baseline Study will measure and collect real data across the value chain. These insights will contribute to the creation of national FLW indices, forming the foundation for evidence-based actions and long-term progress.
Backed by a coalition of hospitality leaders, including HAMA MEA and Dubai Hotel Group, UAERG will spearhead industry-wide collaboration and mobilize key stakeholders to ensure robust data collection. By generating sector-specific data, the study will support the generation of actionable insights that drive meaningful progress across the hospitality sector. It will also empower businesses to adopt unified measurement tools and best practices for reducing food waste, contributing to the UAE’s goal of halving food loss and waste by 2030, in line with Sustainable Development Goal 12.3.
Abdulla Al Mulla, Chairman of UAERG, said, ‘We are thrilled to support this vital study by ne’ma alongside HAMA MEA and Dubai Hotel Group as we collectively work towards a more efficient and sustainable future for the UAE’s hospitality sector. By leveraging our platform and industry network, we aim to empower restaurants to make meaningful changes that significantly reduce food waste in the years to come.’
Khuloud Hassan Al Nuwais, Chief Sustainability Officer of Emirates Foundation and ne’ma Committee Secretary General, said, “The UAE’s commitment to sustainable production and consumption calls for shared responsibility and collective action to address food loss and waste across all sectors. ne’ma is collaborating with the UAE Restaurant Group (UAERG), HAMA MEA, and Dubai Hotel Group to engage the hospitality sector in driving measurable change and support the UAE’s first Food Loss and Waste Baseline Study. The study will generate real data, build national benchmarks, and inform evidence-based interventions. By participating, restaurants and hospitality leaders will be empowered to track progress, adopt best practices, and contribute meaningfully to the national target of halving food loss and waste by 2030, while also helping scale the hospitality sector’s role in achieving long-term sustainability goals.”
Amit Nayak, CHA, Chairman of Dubai Hotel Group & Vice President of HAMA MEA, stated: “Sustainability is no longer a choice; it is a responsibility. As industry leaders, we must set the benchmark for positive change. At HAMA MEA and Dubai Hotel Group, we recognize that tackling food waste is critical to shaping a more resilient and responsible hospitality sector. By supporting ne’ma’s groundbreaking study, we are not only contributing to the UAE’s national sustainability goals but also empowering businesses with the insights they need to implement meaningful, informed solutions. This collaboration reflects our commitment to powering innovation, driving impactful change, and ensuring a future where sustainability and profitability go hand in hand.”Tyrone Reid, UAERG Board Member and CEO of MMI & ELR, added, ‘As a voice in the UAE’s F&B sector, UAERG is proud to support ne’ma’s national mission to reduce food loss and waste. This collaboration reflects our commitment to sustainability as a business priority and as part of our shared responsibility to the UAE’s long-term goals. By participating in the baseline study and embedding data-driven practices across our member restaurants, we are contributing to a more efficient, resilient, and globally recognized hospitality sector.’
Originally founded as the Dubai Restaurant Group in 2020, the UAE Restaurant Group (UAERG) brings together leading voices from across the food and beverage landscape. Beyond championing culinary excellence and positioning the UAE as a global dining destination, the group plays a key role in supporting innovation, sustainability, and sector-wide growth. In line with this role, the group has proposed the creation of a dedicated working group comprising leadership from HAMA MEA, Dubai Hotel Group, and UAERG to further the UAE’s leadership in sustainability within the hospitality industry.
As UAERG continues to elevate the UAE’s F&B industry, initiatives like ne’ma’s pioneering study ensure the nation stays at the forefront of innovation and sustainable best practices. Through promoting data-driven solutions and encouraging industry-wide collaboration, UAERG’s support of this study, alongside industry leaders HAMA MEA and Dubai Hotel Group, marks a major step toward a more resilient and responsible hospitality ecosystem.
Chris Dixon, a partner who led the charge, says he has a ‘very long-term horizon’
Alexandre de Betak and his wife are focusing on their most personal project yet.
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People do like to sit high in their rides, but this high? A ladder would have been helpful to mount the extra-tall Krug Expedition Bedrock XT2, a US$690,000 go-anywhere camper from an Austrian company that wants to conquer the American off-road RV market. This is off-the-beaten-path glamping at its finest.
The example tested is, so far, the only one, but Krug has high hopes for the American market, which has a growing appetite for “expedition” off-road vehicles ranging from trucks to beefed-up RVs. The company describes the XT2 as a “6×4 off-road machine converting a luxury variant of the Ford Super Duty F-550 and bringing it to the next level with suspension and chassis frame reliability.” In other words, it’s a rugged three-axle truck with a double bed attached. The camper is a joint production with Iceland-based Arctic Trucks, which specialises in polar expeditions to the Arctic and Antarctic.
One of Arctic’s vehicles set a speed record of 108 hours from the Russian Novolazarevskaya Antarctic research station to the South Pole in 2010. The XT2 might be ideal, then, for a trip through the spectacular scenery of Alaska or for hitting the highway in Canada and driving north. The truck is ready to go off the grid, supported by electric power from a 1,450-watt-peak solar panel array and a 23-kilowatt-hour battery bank.
The founder of Krug, Viktor Ermolov, tried a competitor’s expedition vehicle around 2010 and thought he could do better with a vehicle filling an unmet need for a light (relatively speaking) expedition camper that could drive well in extreme terrain. The first truck came out in 2011.
“Our clients are adventure-seeking individuals with a passion for nature and conservation. They prioritise quality, reliability, and sustainability in their purchasing decisions and are motivated by the desire for unique and meaningful experiences,” Krug Expedition CEO Slawa Knorr said in a statement to Penta .
Asked about the typical client, he said that young couples and families with children are being seen more and more.
On the road, the 9,000 to 10,000-pound XT2, which looks like a normal truck-mounted camper on steroids, was surprisingly easy to drive. Under the hood was a Ford Powerstroke 6.7-litre diesel with direct injection and 330 horsepower, with the weight of the camper yielding something like nine miles per gallon. The assisted steering was fairly light. The brakes felt like they were hauling down considerable weight, which they were. The biggest consideration while driving was considering the width and avoiding contact with cars lining the road. The cab was relatively comfortable, and the visibility good except toward the back, where the big mirrors became extra important.
The third axle decreases ground pressure up to 25%, and the big Continental multi-purpose tires provide a lot of grip. The rear air suspension is adjustable from the cab to accommodate heavy loads and rough terrain.
Krug
The exterior camper panels are made from a high-grade, glass-reinforced plastic (GRP) laminate that is 70% fibreglass. Inside, the XT2 offers functional luxury. There was a comfortable-looking king bed in its own nook, a kitchenette, a bathroom with walk-in shower supported by a 118-gallon filtered water tank, and a dining area and lounge with a 32-inch TV (with Starlink connectivity) and a table that converted to a second sleeping area. For a week away, it was more than fine, and the buyer can make it as luxurious as they want.
The kitchen’s fresh water uses the General Ecology Seagull IV-X2 system to banish chemicals, bacteria, and viruses. It may be cold where you’re going, so the quiet Truma Combi diesel-powered air heating system is on board, providing cabin heat and hot water. A hydronic system for underfloor heating is also available for colder climates, with automatic frost protection and radiators in the bathroom and dining area radiators. And for hotter weather, there’s the highly energy-efficient Nomadic Cooling air-conditioning system.
If cooking al fresco is desired, a portable outdoor kitchen can be built into the underfloor storage boxes.
For weekend getaways, any number of less-expensive camper solutions are available. The XT2 is aimed at rugged adventurers, who want to be virtually self-sufficient for excursions off the beaten path. It’s not the only vehicle in this expedition category. There’s also the evocatively named Storyteller GXV Epic, priced at a similar US$696,377. This is a big, tough all-wheel drive truck with up to 1,800 miles of range, 18 kilowatt-hours of available power, a built-in washer and dryer, and more.
Or how about the Ford F-250-based US$350,000 27 North Ascender RexRover truck, which sleeps four? Need more room? The cabover Loki Steyr 1491 accommodates six.
Chris Dixon, a partner who led the charge, says he has a ‘very long-term horizon’
Sydney’s prestige market is looking up, here’s three of the best on the market right now.
Michelle Wie West, the youngest player to qualify for the U.S. Women’s Amateur Championship and make the cut at an LPGA tournament, is now promoting the game to help a new generation of girls. Wie West, 33, raised her 2-year-old daughter and hosted the Mizuho Americas Open, inviting 24 female junior golfers from the American Junior Golf Association Tour to compete. She believes in the importance of transitioning to other stages in life and that contentment is what makes people happy.
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The woman who set LPGA Tour records when she was a kid is taking a step back to help a new generation of girls gain their own special experiences through the game of golf.
In 2000, the 10-year-old Michelle Wie West became the youngest player ever to qualify for the U.S. Women’s Amateur Championship. Three years later, she became the youngest player to make the cut of an LPGA tournament at the Kraft Nabisco Championship in Southern California and the youngest to do the same in a U.S. Women’s Open—making her an immediate media superstar sensation.
In the run-up to the 2023 U.S. Women’s Open at the legendary Pebble Beach Golf Links in July, Wie West announced she would depart the LPGA Tour, listing the Carmel, Calif., event as her only tournament appearance of the season and perhaps her last rounds in the field of any LPGA major. Only 33, she’s moving beyond competitive golf to raise her 2-year-old daughter and to promote the game as a way to encourage girls looking for challenges and guidance.
As one of her first efforts to support girls in the sport, Wie West served as tournament host at the Mizuho Americas Open at Liberty National Golf Club in Jersey City, N.J. That LPGA event invited 24 female junior golfers from the American Junior Golf Association Tour to compete alongside the 120-player LPGA field for their own separate title. That new format marked the first time the AJGA and the LPGA partnered to bring pros and young amateurs together for golf and networking.
With the Open approaching, its 2014 champion sat down with Penta at Pebble Beach to talk about what she hopes to pass on to the oncoming generation of women golfers.
You have so many opportunities to invest yourself in different charities. You often select causes that involve getting girls, adolescents, and young women into the game of golf. What do you think golf can teach those young people?
In itself, golf can teach anyone so much. “Show up on time. Be honest and truthful on the course. Navigate the stakes of the game. Realize that you’re never perfect.” And, aside from that, golf is always such a great business and networking tool. So many deals get done on the golf course, and so many friendships are made—business and personal.
What can teenage Michelle Wie of 20 years ago teach the young people your causes work with today?
I would love anyone—and the girls, especially—to take away from my career that there isn’t just one way to success. There are many. In fact, success itself can have many meanings. I want girls to know that they can take whatever course they choose, even if there are people out there telling them it’s not conventional or normal to do so. I hope they do what they want because there are so many ways to get to do what you want to do.
Do players today have opportunities you didn’t have when you were 10 or 12 years old?
I think we live in a time now that’s good and bad. In 2023, there can be more distractions—but you can also choose your plan more clearly. I chose a non-conventional path—choosing to play LPGA Tour events when I was younger. I chose to go to college and still play on tour full time. Today, there could be more opportunities for young people to choose equally unusual paths.
What do you think they can take away from your decision to step away from LPGA Tour competition at the age of 33?
I think it’s never too early and never too late to transition to other stages in your life. I made what was a very difficult personal decision to step away from playing full time, but at the end of the day what’s most important to me, to my parents, and to my husband is doing what makes me content. I hope my daughter understands that and sees me doing the things that reflect what I believe in, and that makes me happy.
On your podcast, “Golf, Mostly,” you and your friend Hally Leadbetter often explore the wider aspects of mental health. How did that become an important focus for you?
Every season on the podcast, we have a mental health episode. I think that people see professional athletes and celebrities as these invincible figures, but it’s important to know that we’re all human. We all deal with the same stuff. Sometimes anxiety or depression can even be magnified because of the position we’re in out there.
How can you take the anxieties you feel as a professional athlete or how you dealt with them and translate that so others can apply what you’ve learned?
Growing up, mental health wasn’t really discussed. When I was wanting to be a professional athlete, I thought I had to be invincible. I thought bleeding was the only way to get there. It was that old mantra of “no pain, no gain.” Now, it’s possible to be the top in your sport or your field and still talk about those kinds of issues, of allowing yourself a mistake.
I want these girls growing up to see and to know it’s OK to be weak sometimes. You don’t have to fake the persona of being untouchable.
How do you balance the fact that you pushed your childhood self very hard, but you emerged a great success as a result?
I don’t think I was overly pushed. I made the choice to drive myself as hard as I could to be the best I could be. That required sacrifice, and that’s never something I want to discourage in young people. Working hard and pushing yourself is extremely important.
But, I’d add it’s just as important to be OK with telling those around you, “Hey, I’m not having a good day today. I’m struggling today.” In the past, my younger self would tell everyone I was fine all the time, no matter what—even if that meant taking a cast off an injury before I was really ready. Now, it’s important to me to get that message out to girls and young women that it’s OK to be imperfect.
Chris Dixon, a partner who led the charge, says he has a ‘very long-term horizon’
Saudi Roads General Authority (RGA) has launched the world’s largest AI-powered road inspection fleet for Hajj, aiming to improve road safety, quality, and pilgrim experience, and reduce fatalities.
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Saudi Roads General Authority (RGA) has launched the largest and most advanced AI-powered road inspection fleet in the world for the Hajj season.
This fleet consists of 18 high-tech units utilizing five state-of-the-art technologies, all aimed at improving road safety, enhancing quality, and ensuring an exceptional experience for pilgrims.
It includes specialized equipment for scanning surface damage, measuring the International Roughness Index (IRI), assessing pavement layer thickness, evaluating structural deflection, and testing skid resistance.
As the national regulator of Saudi Arabia’s road sector, RGA said it aims to elevate the quality of roads in the kingdom to rank sixth globally by 2030 and reduce road fatalities to fewer than five per 100,000 people.
Saudi Arabia currently boasts the world’s leading intercity road connectivity, with a total network exceeding 73,000km.
On the new fleet, RGA said its key highlights include seven surface damage scanners equipped with high-resolution cameras, laser units, GPS, and data storage systems for precise analysis and immediate maintenance decisions, especially critical on routes to the key sites. Four IRI units evaluate road smoothness and driving comfort using laser sensors. Another three use multi-frequency radar to check pavement layer thickness, while another three measure road deflection under traffic loads using advanced sensor systems.
A single skid resistance unit simulates rainy conditions to test friction levels and ensure safety in adverse weather.
The fleet is completed by a mobile digital imaging scanner that inspects unpaved elements such as road signs and safety barriers, assisting in identifying potential risks and optimizing maintenance planning.
Chris Dixon, a partner who led the charge, says he has a ‘very long-term horizon’
Self-tracking has moved beyond professional athletes and data geeks.
