We’re proud to bring another much-loved homegrown brand to travellers at Dubai International Airport - FiLLi Cafe.   Our vibrant new café in DXB Terminal 1, Concourse D, introduces the iconic Zafran Chai experience to one of the world’s busiest travel hubs.   This collaboration reflects the strength of our partnerships and our shared commitment to delivering concepts that truly resonate with today’s traveller.   FiLLi’s journey from a local favourite to a globally recognised café brand is rooted in culture, connection and consistency, values we’re proud to bring to life together in this new space. As consumer preferences continue to evolve, so do our offerings. From authentic, comforting flavours to modern, fast-casual dining experiences, this opening is another step in shaping a portfolio that blends global appeal with regional relevance. Whether it’s a quick grab-and-go moment or a pause before take-off, FiLLi offers a familiar taste of home with a contemporary twist.   This addition further strengthens our growing travel retail portfolio, where every concept is thoughtfully curated to enhance the guest experience and reflect what matters most to our customers today.   Here’s to more meaningful partnerships and memorable journeys! Head to the Media Centre on our website for the full press release - https://lnkd.in/dUHHrSfw   #EmiratesLeisureRetail #DXB #Partnerships #TravelRetail #FilliCafe #DubaiAirport #DXB #CustomerExperience #FoodAndBeverage Tyrone Reid | Murat Gun | Rafih fiLLi®| Ashraf H. | Vivek Rathour | Hitesh Mehta | Abdul Hannan | Graham Knowles | Andrew White | Norbert Erik Budai | Vipin Singh | Daniel Tomlinson | Matthew Caswell | MIKE GLEN | Deon Peacock | Narelle Fox | Khalid Khyser | Dubai Airports | EUGENE BARRY | Alison Macdonald | John Rogers

Dubai’s Kokoro Handroll Bar is to expand further this summer, launching its first international location in France. Known for its counter-driven concept, Kokoro launched in Dubai’s Alserkal Avenue in March 2024, founded by Tamer Elkhayat, CEO of FYTE Hospitality, and Faisal Yabroudi, COO of FYTE Hospitality, in collaboration with chefs Daniel Lee and Patrick Pha. It has since expanded to two more locations in Dubai, and is now set to open on La Croisette in Cannes in July 2026, developed with a strategic partnership with DB Group. – the team behind Palm Beach Cannes among others. “During the summer, Cannes becomes one of the most concentrated hospitality markets in the world, and throughout the year it remains active through major conventions and international gatherings,” said Tamer Elkhayat, CEO of FYTE Hospitality. “Its connection to the Middle East and its global audience make it uniquely positioned. Being on La Croisette places Kokoro Handroll Bar at the centre of that energy. It is the right city for us to begin our international journey.”

Nike Second Branch Opened in Dubai Mall with size 5,575 sq ft #Dubai 😍

Dubai’s flagship Marks & Spencer store, in The Dubai Mall, has reopened with a brand-new look. The 3,066 square-metre store has had a contemporary makeover, with new interiors designed to optimise the customer experience. Fans of M&S’s food hall will be pleased to hear that the revamped store now has the addition of its full chilled food range, stocking more than 2,000 more grocery goods including meat, cheese and salad in the enhanced space. M&S’s freezer range is also now available at The Dubai Mall store, alongside classic cupboard staples and British favourites. Shoppers looking to incorporate more plant-based foods into their diets will also be able to shop the Plant Kitchen range, which features dishes such as sweet-potato falafel and cashew nut and cannellini dip. As well as a much larger food hall, the store features a new Marks & Spencer Cafe, offering customers both a dine-in and pick-up service. The cafe will serve classic British afternoon tea, plus a selection of cakes and baked goods, and heartier dishes including fish and chips. Food aside, the new store offers Marks & Spencer’s clothing and accessories for men, women and children, as well as homeware. “We are pleased to welcome shoppers to our new boutique concept store, where we have introduced fresh food to the store for the very first time. The store will also offer a wide range of popular clothing collections for the whole family,” says Nick Batey, general manager of Marks & Spencer Mena. “We’ve been working hard to offer customers new, convenient ways to shop with Marks & Spencer, including the M&S Food app, e-catalogue service and partnerships with elGrocer, Deliveroo and, of course, on our website. It’s important that customers are able to shop our products in the way that is most convenient to them.” In line with government guidelines, all necessary health and safety measures are in place, including regular and ongoing deep cleaning, the provision of sanitiser and gloves to all customers, social distancing measures and twice-daily body and temperature checks for staff.

Retailers affected by business disruption and slowdown due to the Covid-19 pandemic will get up to three months rent relief. Al-Futtaim Group’s mall portfolio in the UAE comprises of Dubai Festival City Mall and the newly opened Festival Plaza mall.

You don’t have to settle for mediocre falafel again as Dubai brand Operation: Falafel is set to expand to New York, London and Paris, with the first brand in the Big Apple expected to open in Q2 of 2020, according AWJ Investments, which runs eight F&B concepts across 24 outlets in the Middle East. Operation: Falafel, which is known for its modern twist on casual Middle Eastern street food, will roll out 400 shops around the world with selected franchise partnerships by 2022. Manhal Naser, CEO and Co-Founder of AWJ Investments, said the homegrown UAE brand plans to take international markets by storm. “We’re incredibly proud of the regional success of Operation: Falafel and we know that the time is right to take the brand into unchartered international markets. Being a UAE homegrown brand and moving into the western market is almost unheard of and we’re excited to be one of the first. “In the region we see many global F&B concepts coming into Dubai but rarely see the opposite, a local brand taking international markets by storm. We’re proud to mark this change,” he said. Naser said the brand’s challenge was to find the right investors and operators to work with to ensure the quality of their products. “We have taken the time to get everything in the right place as we will never compromise on quality and consistency – when someone enjoys one of our falafels in New York, London or Paris it must be just as good as in Dubai,” he said.