Lifestyle

Dubai Concludes an Unforgettable 54th Eid Al Etihad With Spectacular Citywide Celebrations

Dubai: Dubai has concluded spectacular citywide celebrations for the 54th Eid Al Etihad that brought together hundreds of thousands of residents and visitors to witness a sensational showcase of national pride, joy, and community. From the sky to the city’s streets, a packed programme of 577 events, activations, and exclusive offers across just 3 days cemented Dubai’s position as one of the world’s leading destinations for world-class celebrations that resonates with more than 200 nationalities who call the city home.

Organised by Dubai Festivals and Retail Establishment (DFRE) to commemorate 54 astounding years of the UAE’s union, this year’s festivities transformed the city into a vibrant stage of dazzling fireworks, 16 sold-out concerts and live entertainment events, surprise celebrity appearances, high-energy parades and roaming performances, exclusive savings for shoppers across 500 top brands at 2,000 retail outlets during the 3 Day Super Sale, record participation in 5 major mall activations, exclusive offers at 44 hotels and attractions, the debut of the Dubai Burger, a dynamic student art showcase spotlighting young creatives across Dubai, and a breathtaking aerial skydive performance that became one of the most iconic visual tributes of the long weekend. 

Dubai : December 12, 2025: Tanishq, India’s most trusted name in fine jewellery, has launched a new flagship store in Dubai’s Meena Bazaar, transforming the neighbourhood where its international journey began into the launchpad for its next, larger chapter in the GCC. Located in one of the region’s most iconic jewellery districts, the flagship marks Tanishq’s first opening in the GCC following the Titan–Damas merger. It sets the tone for a more ambitious, integrated regional expansion.​

Designed as a contemporary, immersive jewellery destination, the flagship significantly enhances Tanishq’s presence with expanded gold and diamond collections, dedicated high-end and bridal zones, and a refined in-store experience tailored for the UAE customers. The store also introduces Tanishq’s first Diamond Excellence Centre outside India, elevating standards in craftsmanship, certification, and personalised diamond services in the UAE.

The inauguration was officiated by Mr C.K. Venkataraman, Managing Director of Titan Company Limited, who led Titan’s international expansion and steered the Titan–Damas merger; with his retirement scheduled for January, this flagship marks his final GCC store launch and a symbolic return to where the brand’s global story began. He highlighted Meena Bazaar’s role in Tanishq’s success, noting that the neighbourhood’s enduring consumer trust and vibrancy made it the natural choice for a larger, more future-ready flagship that reflects the scale of Titan’s ambitions in the region.

Mr Ajoy Chawla, CEO Jewellery Division, Titan Company Limited, underlined the strategic importance of this opening, calling the Middle East one of Titan’s most critical growth engines and positioning the Meena Bazaar flagship as the blueprint for “bigger, better” Tanishq stores across the GCC. He emphasised that the flagship combines richer assortments, specialised zones, and the Diamond Excellence Centre to deliver a world-class retail environment where heritage, innovation, and design are brought together under one roof.​

With its prime Meena Bazaar location, the store is designed to serve a wide and diverse customer base that has long considered the neighbourhood a go-to jewellery hub, while also attracting a new generation of shoppers seeking contemporary design with trusted quality. The curated bridal and high-value zones offer an intimate, elevated environment for milestone purchases, while the Diamond Excellence Centre brings greater transparency, certification, and a significantly expanded diamond offering, reinforcing Tanishq’s promise of trust.​

Commenting on the opening, Mr Ananthanarayanan Hariharan, Chief Executive Officer – Damas Jewellery, said the Meena Bazaar flagship showcases the early strengths and future potential of the Titan–Damas partnership. He noted that customers will experience richer collections, higher service standards, and a more seamless, integrated retail journey, with this store setting a new benchmark for what a neighbourhood jewellery destination can be in Dubai.​

The new flagship strengthens Tanishq’s expanding presence in the GCC. It reflects Titan’s broader vision to create a future-ready jewellery network across the region through flagship stores, innovative retail formats, and a steadfast commitment to trust and craftsmanship. By selecting Meena Bazaar as the venue for its largest and most advanced GCC store yet, Tanishq clearly signals its intent: the brand is not only strengthening its roots in Dubai but also preparing to grow larger and better across the Middle East.

Dubai, 12 December 2025 — As this year’s BRIDGE Summit 2025 brought global attention to how Gen Z is reshaping media, culture, and digital influence, Khaleej Times joined the three-day gathering to engage directly with the conversations defining the future of storytelling. With Chief Content Officer Ted Kemp leading multiple sessions and the brand connecting with thousands of young attendees throughout the event, BRIDGE offered a timely backdrop for Khaleej Times to spotlight the momentum of its KT+150 youth initiative and the innovators behind it.

Held at ADNEC Abu Dhabi from 8–10 December, the BRIDGE Summit drew thousands of participants, and a host of speakers and emerging voices from around the world. Kemp moderated key sessions, including Winning Back Gen Z One Swipe at a Time, which examined how news organisations can evolve their storytelling to earn relevance and trust among younger audiences.

The themes shaping BRIDGE — authenticity, new media behaviours, and youth-driven influence — mirror the purpose behind Khaleej Times’ KT+150 platform, launched earlier this year to highlight the UAE’s boldest young changemakers. Just two weeks before BRIDGE, the inaugural KT+150 Summit brought together 150 innovators for a day of learning, networking, and idea-building.

“At BRIDGE, the conversations around Gen Z and the future of storytelling echoed everything we’ve seen through KT+150. Young audiences are rewriting the rules on how they consume information, who they trust, and how they want to participate. The KT+150 Summit brought those ideas to life here in the UAE, and BRIDGE showed that this shift is global. Our job now is to make sure their voices have room to grow.”

A key highlight of the KT+150 Summit was the Elevator Pitch competition, offering young entrepreneurs Dh250,000 in media coverage across Khaleej Times platforms. Over 20 entries were received, with three finalists showcased throughout the day. Dhana Abdul Fathah, an 18-year-old environmental science student at the American University of Sharjah, was named the winner for her innovative self-charging power bank and received 250,000 Emirates Skywards Miles.

By taking part in BRIDGE Summit 2025 and continuing to build momentum around the KT+150 programme, Khaleej Times is expanding its work with young creators, thinkers, and entrepreneurs, and opening more spaces where they can experiment, be heard, and shape the next chapter of the UAE’s media and innovation landscape.

Launched in October, the KT+150 List recognises 150 changemakers across 15 industries  including AI, education, esports, food, sustainability, social impact, and real estate, and continues to serve as a catalyst for youth-led innovation in the UAE.