Mariya Khilawala was born and raised in Mumbai, India. With a passion to travel the world, she started her career in the most natural of places to her, the travel industry. Taking the leap and moving to Dubai, her life took a completely different direction when she joined a leading lifestyle brand opening the door to the heart of Dubai “shopping and retail.”

After a successful start in her career, Khilawala took a little time out to be a mother, but then decided to continue her career in retail, without sacrificing the upbringing of her children, and she started a unique retail distribution concept offering brands that were never seen or heard of before.  After five successful years and travelling half the world and realizing just how many amazing ideas worth sharing were out there, she decided to launch flip19.com.

Flip19.com is a new e-commerce platform launched in Dubai that houses inventive, modern and environmentally-friendly products, including home and lifestyle, kids and baby range, stationery, gadgets and toys. 

The retail concept serves as a curated platform for products that combine aesthetics with functionality to make daily tasks easier and more engaging. The website is home to unique brands sourced from all around the world and whilst still in its early days continues to go from strength to strength. 

Khilawala holds an MBA from S P Jain School of Global Management, one of Asia’s top-ranked global business schools. 

Whether you are an expecting, or new mother aiming to stay fit and enjoy a smooth birth and recover promptly post-partum,  are an instructor who would like to deepen your knowledge of good core function, or are an athlete hoping to strengthen your core, heal injuries and improve performance; Marianne Tafani is here to help and support you with her very own Pilates-infused comprehensive method.

The Core Connect Method is ultimately aimed at effecting positive change for women, through the prism of core function. Being a core strength guru and a pre-and-post-natal Pilates instructor, Marianne has developed her very own methodology which she brings to clients both in-person and through online bespoke programs. 

As a child, Tafani was a competing rhythmic gymnast who, by the age of 16 was ridden with feet and pelvic injuries. At that time, not having access to physiotherapy and preventative therapies in her small hometown of Bandol, in the South of France, Tafani was forced to stop competing and training altogether. 

Despite medical treatment, professionals were not able to explain her pain after the acute phase was over. It was only years later, in 2008, while studying for her degree in London that Tafani took her first Pilates class which proved to be life-changing for her. 

Throughout the practice, Tafani started to regain control over her body, both physically and mentally; and continued to practice Pilates religiously. After finishing her degrees, Tafani went on to hold high profile positions for the French National Health Service (NHS) in Public Policy and as Head of Office at the French Parliament, but never lost sight of her beloved Pilates. 

In 2015, Tafani moved to Dubai and decided to pursue her true passion. She took Arabic classes, completed her Pilates certifications and within a matter of months, was teaching in studios across Dubai, accomplishing a four-year partnership with the Pilates Academy. 

Tafani also works very closely with some of the most esteemed women’s health physiotherapists in Dubai, through referrals and her ability to work with complex clinical cases and high-performance athletes is what sets her apart.

Having experienced a difficult childbirth and isolating first year postpartum, Tafani worked towards developing a thorough, compassionate and holistic approach for prenatal and postnatal training. She created and hosted workshops for expecting mothers, along with a comprehensive pre-natal and postnatal course for instructors. Her second birth was a much happier and restorative experience, thanks to putting her own honed techniques into practice and having a fantastic team around her. 

Today, Tafani’s goal is that no other mother in her community would have to go through what she experienced the first time around. Her aim is for women to feel connected to themselves, their bodies and to others as they navigate the early postpartum days.

Through the development of her postnatal abdominal rehabilitation program, Tafani was struck by how relevant the techniques that she used with new mothers were to her regular clients, and clients in rehab alike. As such, The Core Connect Method was born in mid-August 2020. 

Over the past five years, Tafani has completed over 900 hours of training, taught and coached over 5,000 hours, completed 1,100 hours of self-study, developed two original courses to certify Pilates instructors and become a mother to her two adorable boys, which she considers instrumental to both her personal and professional growth. Her commitment is to keep educating herself and others endlessly, fostering creativity, joy and a sense of community through movement. 

Tafani has lived in France, UK, US and currently resides in the UAE. She speaks French, English and Spanish.  

Hanan is an experienced and certified positive discipline educator for both parents and teachers. A parent herself, Ezzeldin is based in Dubai and has been teaching and educating for over 11 years in four different countries. She holds a master’s degree in Education and is currently working on her second in Psychology from the prestigious Harvard Extension School.  

A positive discipline educator for parents and children, Hanan launched her hugely popular online platform, The Family Hub, designed to educate, support and inspire parents to raise well-balanced children who are a positive addition to society. 

Hanan is also a lead examiner for IBDP Economics where she leads and trains teachers on examining the IB exams and methods of learning and teaching. She also leads workshops and talks supporting parents and teachers on a variety of topics such as bullying, dealing with change, managing screen time, communication, special needs in children, raising third culture kids, managing a child’s self-confidence, anger management, sex education, raising responsible children and more. 

Over the course of Hanan’s career, her teaching and workshops have taken her to Dubai, Jeddah, Cairo and Geneva and she is proud to have worked with corporate giants such as UNICEF Egypt, Procter & Gamble UAE, Vodafone Group UK and Dell Technologies.

Hanan’s true passion is teaching and she is currently in a role at the American School of Dubai (ASD) as an AP Microeconomics teacher. For the past eleven years, Hanan has worked in teaching roles at the International School of Geneva (the school that invented the IB system) as an IBDP Economics and Business Management teacher and held teaching roles at the British School of Jeddah and the American International School of Egypt. 

Hanan is proud to be a published writer and has contributed to a number of publications including Teen Stuff and Supermama. Writing about topics such as the importance of communicating with teenagers, Hanan has a wealth of experience in this area. 

Hanan is hugely passionate and loves what she does. Whether educating parents or children, she finds it thoroughly inspirational, humbling and uplifting to be able to support others with the experience and education she has gained on her journey so far.

In her spare time, Hanan loves reading, swimming and diving. She enjoys spending time with her family including her 12 year old son and their adopted dog Bobby! Having celiac disease, Hanan is a huge advocate of clean eating and she also speaks English and Arabic.

Follow Hanan on social media @thefamilyhub_hanan.

Koala Picks launched in October 2019, promoting healthy lifestyle habits for families. Their products range from healthy sweet and savory snacks, which can be purchased in single boxes or as part of a subscription service, and delicious breakfast and baking items which can be purchased on their own. 

All Koala Picks recipes are made from scratch in-house by the talented team in their licensed kitchen, with all items approved by a certified nutritionist. The Koala Picks promise is to provide families with yummy snacks and products that are completely koalified – meaning no refined sugar, no preservatives, no artificial colours or flavours; just the good stuff! Delivery is available to Dubai, Sharjah and Abu Dhabi.

With the team is Aya Assaf, an ex-corporate with a background in marketing. She leads product development and operations for Koala Picks and is also a proud full-time crafty mom. 

Also with the team is Omnia Abdelhalim,  a super organized, social butterfly with an advertising background and a passion for copywriting. She manages brand communication, social media and marketing for Koala Picks.

Ahmed Mobasher, meantime, is Koala Picks’ strategic numbers guy. He leads the team into the right opportunities whilst protecting their brand vision and purpose.

Angelica Robinson, Founder and CEO of CloudNine Kids, the trusted childcare services company operating across Dubai and Abu Dhabi, committed to providing the perfect childcare solution. 

Robinson, otherwise known as the “Nanny Whisperer,” is a qualified childcare specialist from the UK, with more than 13 years’ experience. She set up CloudNine Kids three years ago since living in Dubai after witnessing first-hand a real gap in the market.  

Although there were a number of at-home childcare facilities in the market, Angelica realized that common issues between nannies and employers, such as language barriers, communication breakdowns and skill expectations, were not being tackled, ergo creating unnecessary issues and unhappiness for both parties. 

For this reason, Robinson decided to create a service that focuses on the importance of supporting and equipping nannies and childcare providers with the right skills-based training to make a difference in family homes.  

Robinson uses her personal expertise and practices to create a childcare agency that goes beyond the standard. With her passion for training, she developed the UAE’s first childcare program accredited by Highfield (UK) specifically for the care of young children at home and used this accreditation as the foundation for CloudNine Kids. 

The CloudNine Kids recruitment model created by Robinson enables the company to hire the best childcare professionals and nannies that become trained and certified through her program.

When not at work Angelica enjoys going for long walks, dining with friends and catching up on the latest Netflix series. 

Dubai, UAE:  Vincent Moreau, a seasoned hotelier with more than 19 years of progressive experience in multi-cultural environments, has been appointed new Director of Food & Beverage at The Ritz-Carlton Ras Al Khaimah, Al Hamra Beach. 

Since commencing his tenure, Moreau has worked closely with the dedicated staff at The Ritz-Carlton Ras Al Khaimah, Al Hamra Beach, to refine and enhance the unique and memorable culinary experiences offered to each guest. 

Moreau specializes in hotel food and beverage management and has held leadership positions in several acclaimed luxury hotels and nine countries across Europe, Northern America, The Caribbean, Africa and the Middle East, including Four Seasons Hotels & Resorts, MGM Resorts International, Hilton Worldwide, Sandals Resorts International, Blue Diamond Resorts and the Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company. 

Moreau’s  appointment at The Ritz-Carlton Ras Al Khaimah, Al Hamra Beach marks his first endeavor in the UAE and he looks forward to being instrumental in curating and delivering high quality gourmet experiences at one of the UAE’s most prestigious properties.

“We are delighted to welcome Vincent Moreau to The Ritz-Carlton Ras Al Khaimah, Al Hamra Beach, where he will lead and mentor a vibrant team in order to enhance the property’s food and beverage offerings. We look forward to working together to implement new and exciting ideas and to creating exceptional culinary experiences and signature gourmet memories for our guests”, said Tracey Oliver, General Manager at The Ritz-Carlton Ras Al Khaimah, Al Hamra Beach resort.

“The Ritz-Carlton hotels are known worldwide for providing unparalleled experiences and immaculate services, which align with my own style and ethos. I look forward to working with the renowned team of Ladies and Gentlemen, develop them and impact their lives positively, while creating unique and memorable experiences for our guests and always strive for excellence.” said Moreau.

A secluded oasis set along the Arabian Gulf, The Ritz-Carlton Ras Al Khaimah, Al Hamra Beach celebrates natural beauty and cultural heritage at its resort near Dubai. Blending traditional elements with modern luxury, the hotel offers a collection of experiences including outdoor adventure, bespoke dining and sea-inspired spa treatments.

Dubai, UAE: The vibrant beachfront restaurant at Hilton Dubai Jumeirah – Wavebreaker Beach Bar & Grill has launched a new happy hour deal this month. 

Guests are invited to unwind at Wavebreaker’s terrace area on weekdays from 5:00pm to 7:00pm and enjoy a buy 1 get 1 free deal on selected beverages. 

Perfect for al fresco sundowners, the Wavebreaker happy hour offer also includes a selection of bar bites including buffalo chicken wings in signature BBQ sauce (AED 35), crispy calamari rings (AED 35) and Wavebreaker’s signature mini slider (AED 40) . 

For those staying for dinner, Wavebreaker Beach Restaurant and Grill offers a laidback dining and casual beachfront experience with majestic views and a wide range of dishes on the menu including salads, perfectly seasoned grills and vegan dishes. 

This family-friendly beach restaurant promises fun for everyone with the biggest rugby and football matches of the day played live on the big screen and a dedicated kids play area right in the sand for the little ones. 

Contact: Restaurant.JBR@hilton.com or call +971 4 318 2319.

Popular for their deathly delicious Mediterranean options, Go! Greek, Dubai’s favorite Greek delivery-only concept presents the biggest gyro in the city. Tear into the giant 370 grams of juicy goodness for AED 39 only. Revel in the fusion of authentic Greek flavors inspired by the coastal regions in the biggest and best way you can! The monster roll consists of freshly baked pita bread straight out the oven loaded with mouth-watering goodness.

Inside the freshly baked pita, diners can expect the most robust Greek marinated chicken, sizzling and straight off the spit. To blissfully bind the experience together, Go! Greek has specially curated the most lip-smacking tzatziki sauce done the Greek way and garnished with juicy red tomatoes. 

For the perfect crunch, the Greek haven has rolled in fresh red onions, red cabbage and lastly crispy Greek fries.  If onions and tomatoes aren’t your thing, don’t worry – Go! Greek gives you the choice to have them removed when you order exclusively on Deliveroo.