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Bawadi: Dubai’s Grand Hotel Strip That Faced Unforeseen Challenges

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Dubai government brought the world Bawadi on May 1, 2006. This is a development project led by Tatweer subsidiary of the parent Dubai Holding company. Arif Mubarak took up the managerial mantle as the CEO of this iconic undertaking that was part of the giant initiative to create Dubailand.

The concept plan for Bawadi was nothing but fantastic. A heart of the scheme was a 10-kilometer long grand boulevard leading to 31 thematic hotels-it was expected to host 29,000 rooms. The hotels would be designed according to different cultural motifs, inspired by ideas from all regions of the world, from Asia to the Americas, and the Middle East, up to Africa. Examples were the Asia-Asia Hotel, which would be one of the biggest hotels in the world, conceived with more than 6,500 rooms.

These theme hotels, the Wild Wild West Hotel being just an example of an American-themed hotel, were designed to meet Dubai’s booming tourist market. Undoubtedly, they would draw in numerous people with their character and world-class facilities. Bawadi would be a hub of amusement parks, commercial centres, and residential developments-wholly a gigantic project; its total bill is rumored to run over $100 billion.

In 2007, the master plan was readjusted according to the widened vision of Bawadi. The project was tentatively scheduled to add 51 hotels with more than 60,000 rooms. This expansion would, therefore, help Dubai have an idea of its position as a global leader in terms of tourism and hospitality. The residential segment also enjoyed growth, and new plans were introduced for 308 townhouses and a community centre, complete with a retail area. Bawadi was more than a theme park or a shopping centre. It represented the vision of Dubai as an all-inclusive lifestyle destination, where visitors and residents could stay, shop, and experience the best that Dubai had to offer.

Bawadi’s bright prospects were cut short when the global financial crisis of 2008 slammed shut the world economy. The Dubai real estate market had crashed, and several of the great plans were put on ice or drastically slowed down. Bawadi is one of many developments hard hit by this downturn. At first, initial development had begun, with site preparations and some early construction, but the depth of this financial crisis turned the project of this magnitude to impossible for Tatweer to support. Many components of the Bawadi master plan were subsequently cancelled, including the Desert Gate Hotels and Towers, which had been contemplated as part of the elaborate hotel strip. The Asia-Asia Hotel, once to be the crown jewel of the Bawadi strip, also was indefinitely put on the backburner. Other projects, such as the Wild West Hotel, never came out of the ground.

Dubai’s priorities shifted. While many sectors in Dubai continued to rocket forward, Bawadi fell to the side. By 2014, the official Bawadi project website, bawadi.info, was taken offline, signalling the quiet demise of one of Dubai’s most ambitious undertakings.

Although it ended in failure, Bawadi remains an intriguing page in the story of Dubai’s urban development. In fact, its original vision was a great one – a brilliant example of Dubai’s drive to do things that no one else ever thought possible. While Bawadi failed to achieve what was envisioned for it, other parts of Dubailand were reincarnated and thrived, drawing visitors from all over the world to its gates: Dubai Miracle Garden and Dubai Parks and Resorts.

While Bawadi may not have blossomed into the entertainment and hotel hub that it was once planned to be, Dubai’s reinvention remains as vibrant as ever. The city is innovating today with hospitality, entertainment, and real estate. Many of the elements that were part of the Bawadi project may still sprout new life as Dubai continues along its course to be the global destination of choice.

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Tatiana Tretyak’s Entrepreneurial Empire: The Russian Visionary behind Dubai’s Hottest Ventures

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Tatiana Tretyak started her career in Russia, honing skills and entrepreneurial spirits, but it was only by shifting to Dubai-the city of unlimited opportunities-that would really launch the true vision. Known for its reputation as a business-friendly place, in addition to a luxury lifestyle and multicultural environment, Dubai proved to be an ideal background for Tatiana Tretyak.

On arrival to Dubai, Tatiana was stirred by the desire to transform thoughts into business and enterprise. She had the possibility of viewing areas feasible for her interests and qualifications-captivating creativity and luxury-since then. Years have passed, and Tatiana has become one synonymous with success: she manages, analyses, and takes on high-class opportunities.

Among other important feats of Tatiana is her film studio, which immediately drew attention based on new technologies and class capabilities in the installations. The location itself quickly became a major hub of attraction for directors and producers seeking to create top-tier, quality video content. This is what helped Tatiana develop a space attuned to the very diversified needs of the creative, be it top-notch equipment or the best post-production facilities. Her film studio not only hosts filmmakers but inspires creative expression of their stories, in efforts towards the increasingly growing status of Dubai as a global entertainment hub. Tatiana’s creativity and collaborations have established her studio at an industry top spot in local and regional cinema.

Tatiana Tretyak’s sense of adventure led her to the wellness industry; it launched a luxury spa that completely redefined and put Dubai into relaxation and self-care. Ultra-luxurious interiors and bespoke treatment make it a favorite of Dubai’s elite. Tatiana Tretyak’s spas were made unique by her attention to details and making absolutely sure that nothing but the best in wellness experiences is offered to customers. Tatiana takes an approach to the business of the spa built on the believe that the wellness experience should be immersed in both body and mind. Her management has been able to create a haven, placing holistic treatments, innovative therapies, and serene environments under one roof for those who seek refuge from the hustling and bustle of city life. Her spa has been praised for combining the best of old-school wellness practices and new-age thinking, making it one of the most luxurious destinations.

The unique Tatiana love for luxury and creativity spills over even into fashion as she founded a style brand embodying chic elegance. The designs represent personal style: bold, chic, and contemporary-which certainly entails luring fashion gurus to taste bud quality craftsmanship with fine attention to detail. Tatiana’s brand created ripples in the fashion scene of Dubai, making her collections appear at high-profile events, with influencers and celebrities alike wearing them on the red carpet. It is this change of industry where style and trendiness cut across any sector, making Tatiana a flexible entrepreneur whose brand speaks volumes for Dubai trendsetters. Moreover, the Tatiana collections have reached her great vision: combine luxury with accessibility, which makes her a staple for the modern woman.

She also impacts the greater community because Tatiana Tretyak is one of the influential leaders in Dubai. Many will be inspired and called into action because of her actions towards doing their dreams. Her journey in being an unfamiliar face in Dubai until she walked as a successful entrepreneur has echoed many, especially those in the business world. Tatiana is always bringing insight on succeeding as an entrepreneur, motivating people to believe in themselves and their vision, and how they can move forward and not give up.

Tatiana’s entrepreneurial success perfectly depicts and symbolizes the opportunities found in Dubai for a person who is willing to make the push. Her businesses not only thrived but also played a positive role in the continually growing reputation of Dubai as a global center for luxury, entertainment, and innovation.

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Mai Dubai: The Purest Drop from the Heart of Dubai

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Mai Dubai was established in 2012 by DEWA with the aim of furthering its efforts in the diversification of its investment portfolio towards the strengthening of the economy in Dubai. DEWA owns 99% of Mai Dubai. The company was established with the vision to create an in-bottled water premium brand that can be strong enough to compete both locally and globally. The company has produced a Dubai-based production facility, full capacity since 2014, and bottles began to reach the shelves. In a few years, Mai Dubai dominates the UAE bottled-water market, hence showing its significant presence around the region.

The company extended its markets to Qatar, Bahrain, Oman markets, as well as Asian, European, and South African markets. Apart from the purity that Mai Dubai water guards, its meteoric rise to the premium bottled water market position was grounded by strategic positioning. Among the reasons for such phenomenal success of Mai Dubai has been its bold decision not to choose blue tones among other options in the branding needed to establish coolness and purity. The one exception of this seemingly homogeneous product line is Mai Dubai, whose bright red logo gives this firm a competitive edge and its bottle design stands as distinctive. Prior to its release, there was no alternative choice that could compete with the premium water segment, which targets customers who value quality over everything else in their eye-catching bottle designs.

The quality input is maintained at each level of production. Mai Dubai ensures only the best quality at each level. The company has the plant at Yalayis on Al Qudra Road in Dubai, where it has developed the technology for having a clear and safe water bottle. Presently, with the production capacity of over 207 million units every year, by last year, 2015, and production at this brand increase with the launch of the brand.

This commitment to quality did not go unnoticed. To cite one example, the US magazine Beverage World presented a bronze award at its 7th Annual BevStar Awards to Mai Dubai, in view of exemplary taste, packaging, and market positioning of the product, in 2016. The brand’s reputation continued rising as Gulf News reported that Mai Dubai had emerged as the favourite bottled water of Emirates Airlines passengers.

Mai Dubai was ranked Grade A in the year 2015, which is the highest ranking on food safety approved by Dubai Municipality, proving itself to be the industry leader. This was mainly due to the care that they served for their food safety protocols and hygiene standards. In the Middle East Beverage Awards 2016, it received the “Best Marketing Impact” that manifested that it had a strong presence and strength in the market.

It focuses on innovation, sustainability, and expansion as Mai Dubai grows. The company hasn’t been bound to the borders of the UAE, for its bottled water now reaches 13 countries. With so many options, Mai Dubai simply has it easy in supplying what consumers need – small and medium-sized bottles (1.5L, 500ml, and 330ml) and five-gallon bottles for home and office delivery. The company sells water in 200ml and 100ml tumblers to a number of small businesses for carrying events or at home.

Mai Dubai has sustainability imprinted into its DNA. Since most of the globe is transitioning towards green substitutes, it also looks out for new ways that cut down on carbon footprints, save water, and more mindful production.

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Catering to the Skies: Inside Emirates’ Culinary Empire

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If you ever fly on Emirates or virtually any other airline out of Dubai International Airport, odds are high that the delicious meal you are offered has been prepared by Emirates Flight Catering, commonly known as EKFC. For those who don’t know, this is one of the largest in-flight catering services around the world, and much more than just a catering company-it’s an unseen giant serving millions of passengers every year with premium culinary experiences. From providing exquisite fine dining to events at amazing venues, Emirates Flight Catering is the new standard in fine in-flight cuisine.

Emirates Flight Catering was formed in 2003 from its parent company, Emirates Abela Catering Company, splitting into its current entity. Since its parent company first began, envisioning to serve Emirates Airline flights, Emirates Flight Catering expanded into a world operation that currently serves more than 120 international airlines arriving and departing Dubai International Airport. Emirates Flight Catering Centre is a highly advanced facility that can produce more than 225,000 meals every day. It employs more than 11,000 people, and alone in 2017, it provided 55 million meals, producing an average of 180,000 meals for its passengers every day.

Advanced food production facilities are the keys of mass scale offered at EKFC. For its own part, the group’s flagship facility is the Emirates Flight Catering Centre at Dubai International Airport, representing one of the most sophisticated operations of its kind globally. The facility produces over 115,000 meals a day, and operates exclusively for Emirates Airline. Besides this one, it has a second facility that caters to more than 120 other international airlines. In pursuit of its aggressive expansion strategy, in 2005, EKFC established Food Point, a 10,000-square-meter production facility at Dubai Investment Park. The increase in production capacity will provide 30 million extra meals per year and is one of the companies’ key assets in terms of global food production capabilities. International Food Systems Ltd designed the facility to ensure Emirates Flight Catering could meet the culinary requirements of the airlines within and outside the region.

But catering isn’t the only business domain where Emirates Flight Catering stands tall. Besides its food factories, EKFC runs Linencraft, a vast laundry complex located in Dubai Investment Park. Since 2007 when it was upgraded, Linencraft can clean or dry clean up to 210 tons every day. This enables the airlines run by Emirates to service passengers in the best possible manner under bright, fresh-looking linens. Further securing its status as a pioneer in innovative food, Emirates Flight Catering was in the news in February 2024 for fully acquiring Emirates Bustanica, previously called Emirates Crop One. Bustanica is touted to be the world’s largest indoor vertical farm, and the sustainable farming process gives EKFC the opportunity to grow fresh ingredients 365 days a year for its meals on board. This takeover shows the commitment of EKFC towards sustainable food supply, that the company makes use of the most modern technology toward excellence in operations.

Emirates Flight Catering has brought not just excellence in operations but also offered a forward-looking sustainability approach. In this acquisition, Bustanica takes into account the minimizing of environmental impact on the overall food production process. This indoor vertical farm grows fresh produce utilizing 95% less water as compared to traditional farming methods and delivers EKFC a range of high-quality ingredients to ensure nutritious and flavoursome meals for its passengers. EKFC has significantly invested in energy-efficient infrastructure. Emirates Flight Catering thus acts towards creating a greener future both for aviation and the food industry through the usage of advanced technologies that are used to optimize food production and efficient waste management.

Another reason behind the success of EKFC is that it adheres to be watchful and attentive to the diverse requirements for food by passengers. Here, the choices for meals range from the traditional Emirati to vegetarian and gluten-free, and all the passengers are assured of enjoying a quality meal suited to their choice. Again, it is robust on the issues of food safety and quality control, and hence, it takes maximum care towards that aspect to ensure quality meals for all the passengers.

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