Author: Sam Allcock
Sam Allcock
Sam Allcock is a seasoned media professional and content strategist with a passion for storytelling across digital platforms. As a contributor to Abu Dhabi Week, Sam brings a sharp editorial eye and a deep appreciation for the culture, innovation, and lifestyle that define the UAE capital. With over a decade of experience in journalism and public relations, he covers everything from local events and business trends to travel, dining, and community highlights. When he's not writing, Sam is exploring the hidden gems of Abu Dhabi, always on the lookout for the next story worth sharing.
XBase Virtual Assets Broker & Dealer Services (XBase), under the XBD Group umbrella, has obtained In-Principle Approval (IPA) from the Dubai Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority (VARA) for its Broker-Dealer Services Licence. This milestone signifies the final phase before XBase launches full operations, pending formal authorisation. It represents another key moment in the evolution of Dubai’s regulated digital finance ecosystem and highlights the emirate’s growing global influence in the virtual asset landscape. The approval reinforces Dubai’s proactive efforts to create a transparent and sustainable framework for virtual assets. As of 2025, Dubai hosts the world’s largest regulated market for digital assets,…
Investment and Grid Bottlenecks Threaten Momentum, IRENA and Partners Warn Ahead of COP30 The world risks falling short of its renewable energy and efficiency targets despite achieving record deployment last year, warns a new report jointly published today by the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), the COP30 Brazilian Presidency, and the Global Renewables Alliance (GRA). The findings were presented at a high-level pre-COP30 gathering in Brasília. According to the report, global renewable energy capacity grew by an unprecedented 582 GW in 2024 – the largest single-year increase to date. Yet this remains insufficient to achieve the COP28 UAE Consensus commitment…
Metropolitan Capital Real Estate Achieves AED 2.7 Billion in Deals Abu Dhabi’s property sector delivered an exceptional performance over the summer of 2025, with the total transaction value exceeding AED 11.6 billion—more than double the same period last year. The analysis, released by Metropolitan Capital Real Estate, a leading agency under the Metropolitan Group, marks the highest-performing summer in the capital’s real estate history. From June to August 2025, activity remained buoyant, supported by continued investor optimism, new off-plan launches, and government reforms including wider Golden Visa eligibility and the allowance of full foreign property ownership. Insights from the Abu…
Aiming to reshape how hotels engage with guests and manage operations, The First Group Hospitality has entered into a strategic partnership with Inntelo AI, a leading provider of AI-native guest experience and operations solutions. This collaboration marks a bold new chapter in the digital reinvention of hospitality. Building on a successful deployment at TRYP by Wyndham Dubai, the company will roll out Inntelo’s innovative technology across all its properties, including the iconic Ciel Dubai Marina – Vignette Collection by IHG, soon to be recognised as the tallest hotel in the world. Through Inntelo’s AI-powered ecosystem, guests will enjoy instant, intuitive…
The spotlight will be on Riyadh later this month as the city welcomes Athar – Saudi Festival of Creativity, the Kingdom’s largest and most influential creative marketing gathering. The festival will bring together top decision makers, leading brands, and emerging talent to celebrate innovation and the power of creative communication. Featuring a remarkable lineup of over 200 renowned speakers, the festival will host some of the industry’s most recognised creative minds, including HRH Princess Lamia Bint Majed Al Saud, Jo Malone CBE, Ellie Norman, Mo Gawdat, and Ali Ali. Together, they will share insights, experiences, and forward-thinking perspectives shaping the…
From spooky dining to fang-tastic fun, Central Hotels & Resorts transforms October into a month of food, festivities, and frightful delights. Dubai, UAE; 14 October 2025 – Central Hotels & Resorts is turning up the excitement this October with a series of themed dining events that combine delicious cuisine with family fun. From Halloween celebrations to Oktoberfest-inspired gatherings, guests can look forward to a vibrant line-up of experiences across the group’s renowned Dubai properties, each promising exceptional flavours and lively entertainment. At Canal Central Hotel Business Bay, guests are invited to “Fangs & Feasts” Night Brunch at Lilly’s Social House.…
The UAE capital is set to welcome the return of world-class women’s tennis as the Mubadala Abu Dhabi Open, presented by Abu Dhabi Sports Council, announces the dates for its highly anticipated fourth edition. The tournament will take place from 31 January to 7 February 2026 at the International Tennis Centre, Zayed Sports City. Following a record-breaking 2025 event, which saw eight of the world’s top 20 players and thousands of fans attend over eight thrilling days, the 2026 edition promises to deliver even greater excitement, reaffirming Abu Dhabi’s position as a global hub for top-tier sporting events. The Mubadala…
A new global survey by Cloudera reveals that 59% of UAE enterprises have already embedded artificial intelligence within their main business processes, as organisations continue to harness AI for improved outcomes and sustainable growth. The study also identifies hybrid data architecture as a fundamental driver for deploying AI securely and at scale. Dubai, UAE – 13 October 2025 – Cloudera, the only company bringing AI to data anywhere, has unveiled the findings of its comprehensive global survey report titled The Evolution of AI: The State of Enterprise AI and Data Architecture. The study, which surveyed over 1,500 IT leaders worldwide,…
HP has officially inaugurated its first global technology manufacturing facility in Riyadh and launched an AI Research and Development Centre of Excellence in Dhahran, signalling a strong commitment to advancing Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 agenda. News in Brief HP (NYSE: HPQ) today marked a major milestone with the commencement of operations at its new Riyadh-based manufacturing facility and the official opening of its AI R&D Centre of Excellence in Dhahran. The two initiatives are designed to boost local employment, accelerate technological progress, and support the Kingdom’s growing digital economy. “Saudi Arabia has a bright future, is developing rapidly, and needs…
Home heroes Jameel Motorsport celebrated a historic triumph in Qiddiya City, Saudi Arabia, as drivers Molly Taylor and Kevin Hansen powered to victory in the debut FIA Extreme H World Cup — the world’s first hydrogen-powered event under FIA sanction. Held over three action-packed days in the Saudi desert, the pioneering championship featured 16 elite off-road competitors across eight teams, each battling through three distinct race disciplines in cutting-edge Pioneer 25 machines powered by hydrogen fuel cells. Each team fielded one male and one female driver, both sharing driving duties equally — a format designed to promote balance and teamwork…