The end of an era…and the beginning of a new one. 

After 11 years in the UAE, Scott Price will be leaving Dubai at the end of July to move back to the UK.

Along with close friend and business partner Nick Alvis, Scott has had a huge impact on the UAE dining scene, from successfully launching the region’s first homegrown fine dining restaurant, table 9 by nick & scott, back in 2013 to creating the award-winning folly by nick and scott in Madinat Jumeirah and more recently concepting and opening folly workshop at the Time Out Market Dubai. 

“I’ve had the most amazing time in the UAE and feel a huge amount of pride in what we’ve achieved here,” Scott said. “The decision to leave was certainly not an easy one, but it feels like the right time. I’ve got a young family and my wife and I want our children to grow up in the countryside.”

“We’ve bought a small farm property a stone’s throw from Gretna Green in Scotland where I spent my childhood and are very excited about our next venture, Moorside Farmhouse. Offering great food and a taste of rural farm living, Moorside Farmhouse will feature a self-contained cottage for bed and breakfast and bespoke dining experiences, as well as being an exciting destination venue for the local community. 

“I’ll always be extremely grateful for all the career opportunities that the UAE has given me and certainly don’t feel like this is goodbye. I’m very much committed to nurturing local F&B talent, driving growth in the region and supporting the next generation. My wife and I have a vast amount of combined experience in this area and are setting up a consultancy company – Centre Stage 

Hospitality – to help passionate people with big ideas create their own brands, from initial development right through to securing a local investor.”

“I am extremely proud of the team at Folly and what we have accomplished together with the support of Gates Hospitality. I have no doubt that both the restaurant and brand will continue to thrive under Nick’s direction. 

“Over the course of my career I’ve worked with a lot of talented chefs and I can honestly say that Nick is one of the most gifted and dedicated of his generation. When we both arrived in 2010 I never dared imagine that we’d be able to achieve so much- it has been an incredible journey and our partnership really means a lot to me.”

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates: Top K-pop band, Stray Kids will be among sensations at the Korean Pavilion when Expo 2020 kicks off in October this year.

The band, having bragging rights to 34 million social networking followers around the world, has been appointed by the Korean government as the country’s ambassadors to the much-anticipated world fair. 

The K-pop band has won the boy band competition TV series in Korea ‘Kingdom-Legendary War’ (2021).

Themed, “Smart Korea, Moving The World To You,” the Korea Pavilion is in the Mobility District of Expo 2020 Dubai.

Hundreds of thousands of visitors are expected to be at the pavilion, according to Jeong-yeol Yoo, president of Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency (KOTRA). 

Dubai, UAE: The good vibes keep rolling on. 

A Filipino expatriate working as gym sales associate in Dubai won AED 1 million in a live weekly raffle draw after matching 5 out of 6 numbers.

The winner, named only as “Antonio,” 33, in the official announcement, has been in Dubai for three years.

“I participate in Mahzooz every week and never miss a draw. However, I couldn’t watch the live draw this week and I didn’t realise I won until I received a call from the Mahzooz team congratulating me. I was shocked and couldn’t believe it. I’ve never expected I would win such a big amount of money. This is a life-changing win to say the least. I feel blessed and overwhelmed!” Mahzooz quoted him as saying.

The new millionaire has been in Dubai for three years and is currently engaged to the love of his life.

“This money is such a blessing for us and our whole family,” said Antonio. “My fiancé and I can finally have our dream wedding and set ourselves up for the future.”

Antonio’s good deeds don’t stop at home.

“I have a nephew who was dreaming of studying abroad and I plan on helping him pay for that,” said Antonio. “Also, my friend works in a church in Oud Metha and I know a lot of people in that community have really been hit hard during the Covid-19 pandemic. I will donate some of my winnings to the church to help those in need.”

Antonio is grateful for the fortune that has transformed his life and has a message to his fellow Mahzooz participants.

“Life won’t always be easy, but Mahzooz is there to help. Always look at the bright side; no matter what you go through, there will be blessings along the way,” concluded Antonio.

To date, Mahzooz has seen more than 17 thousand Filipino winners take home over AED 6.5 million in cash prizes. Mahzooz crowned its first Filipino millionaire in the 27th draw which took place on 29th May 2021, where Abu Dhabi resident and delivery driver Roland bagged AED 1 million.

For those who missed out on last week’s live draw, entrants can participate in Mahzooz by registering via www.mahzooz.ae and purchasing a bottle of water. Each bottle of water purchased (for AED 35) provides eligibility for one line in the draw and the donation is channelled through Mahzooz’s community partners to hydrate those in need.

The next draw will be held as scheduled on Saturday 26 June 2021 at 9:00pm UAE time. Mahzooz is inclusive to all who are eligible. (Photo by Rosaline Baylosis) 

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates – The world’s biggest travel hub – Dubai International Airport – is now home to the world’s largest in-house Covid-19 PCR test lab.

In a media announcement, Dubai Airports, which operates the international hub, said the 20,000 sq. ft. facility, located near Terminal 2, is capable of doing round-the-clock processing of RT-PCR test samples collected from passengers.

Khaleej Times (KT), in a report, quoted Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, chairman of Dubai Airports, as saying that “as the world’s busiest international hub prepares for a surge in passenger traffic over the summer holidays and beyond, we were keen to make sure that the airport journey is safer, smoother and faster while fulfilling the required health protocols.”

He said the lab’s quick turnaround for processing test results “will go a long way in helping us deliver a service experience the world expects from Dubai.

This development came following a statement issued the other day also by Dubai Airports that it would reopen terminal 1 at Dubai International Airport tomorrow, Thursday, June 24.

The move will pave the way for over 40 airlines across the world to gradually shift operations to the reopened terminal, the main hub, which has been closed for 15 months due to the coronavirus pandemic, when landing in Dubai.

Currently, foreign airlines make use of terminals 2 and 3.

Meantime Dubai Airports said the lab can process up to 100,000 samples per day and provide reliable results within a few hours using latest WHO-standard Covid-19 RT-PCR testing equipment.

The laboratory was established in collaboration with Dubai Health Authority (DHA) and Pure Health which said the lab opened on Tuesday, June 22.

The lab is equipped with negative and positive pressure rooms and is linked to government reporting platforms ensuring secure and easy sharing of information between health and regulatory authorities and airlines, KT said in its report.

The Times of India, citing Dubai Airport, recently said Dubai International Airport has been the world’s busiest for international flights in May this year, topping the list with 189,5866 scheduled seats.

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — The cost of living in this international city that never sleeps has dropped significantly, according to a Mercer report, citing a decline in housing rentals. 

Alongside Dubai, the neighboring capital city of Abu Dhabi has likewise experienced a drop in housing prices.

Dubai’s ranking in the list of the world’s most expensive cities improved from 23rd to 42nd, while Abu Dhabi moved 17 places from 39th to 56^th, Khaleej Times (KT) reported, citing Mercer. 

“The major reason for increased affordability is credited to decline in rentals and house prices,” the KT report said.

It also quoted Vladimir Vrzhovski, Mercer’s Global Mobility Practice Lead, in the Middle East and Africa as saying: “For over two years, we have been witnessing deflation across Dubai and Abu Dhabi. This can be attributed to a range of factors, including a decline in the real estate sector, which has made expatriate accommodation cheaper. 

“Moreover, a drive to enable remote and flexible working is driving mobility and cementing the UAE’s reputation as a destination of choice for expatriate workers.” 

As such, Dubai and Abu Dhabi have, from a cost perspective, become attractive compared to some of the global hubs for digital and creative talent like London (19), San Francisco (26), Paris (34), Dublin (40), the report said.

Mercer is an American asset management firm.  

(Photo by Rosaline Baylosis) 

Dubai, United Arab Emirates: Reinforcing the legendary status of one of the Middle East’s best-loved vehicles, Al-Futtaim Toyota has launched the eagerly awaited new generation of its iconic Land Cruiser in the UAE. The all-new Land Cruiser combines outstanding all-terrain performance with a spacious, high-quality interior to bring drivers and passengers an elevated experience on every journey.

Since its launch in 1951, the Land Cruiser has continued to be selected by customers as a safe and secure vehicle symbolizing Toyota’s quality, durability and reliability. Now, 70 years later, Al-Futtaim Toyota has introduced the long-anticipated evolution, with ground-breaking enhancements to the platform and powertrain befitting the king of SUVs.

The first Land Cruiser was launched as the four-wheel-drive Toyota BJ equipped with a powerful engine, which demonstrated a high level of off-road performance in adverse environments. Since then, a cumulative total of approximately 10.4 million units have been enjoyed by customers in 170 countries and regions all over the world. 

The redesigned Land Cruiser 300 Series is the successor to the 200 Series that debuted in 2007.  The flagship model of the Land Cruiser series, it has in every generation led the way in vehicle evolution while incorporating the latest technologies. The Land Cruiser 300 maintains all-time, best-ever off-road performance as well as setting a new benchmark in on-road performance.

The Land Cruiser 300 is lighter and more powerful – with an overall weight reduction of 200 kg which results in more fuel efficiency, better performance with 409 Horsepower, 650 newton meters of torque and more responsive handling. The exterior design offers an overwhelming presence and strength through a new overall design language, while the interior is appointed with luxury and functionality that truly sets this generation apart from any other vehicle in its class.

Dubai, UAE: In what is widely seen as a step quite closer to “normalization in the new normal,” Dubai Airports has announced it would reopen terminal 1 at Dubai International Airport on Thursday. 

The move paved the way for over 40 airlines across the world to gradually shift operations to the reopened terminal, the main hub which has been closed for 15 months due to the coronavirus pandemic, when landing in Dubai.

Currently, foreign airlines make use of terminals 2 and 3.

According to local media reports, terminal 1 has an annual passenger capacity of 18 million passengers. The airport is capable of handling up to 100 million passengers a year.

“On June 24, 2021, the Terminal 1 and Concourse D facilities at Dubai International (DXB) will be reopening. To ensure we continue to offer a safe, smooth and easy airport journey for all our guests, we will be moving the operations of some airlines from Terminal 3 over to Terminal 1,” local media quoted Dubai Airports as saying on its website.