Dubai is set to welcome yet another exclusive residential project bearing the Marriott stamp, with The Ritz-Carlton Residences, Dubai, Business Bay set to open its doors in 2025. The development will cater to those seeking luxury living with a range of bespoke services, including butlers, personal chefs, and staff for booking private jets. With 73 units, including penthouses and a villa, the project will feature a gym, spa, resident-only theatre, and café. 

Developed by Khamas Group and designed by Ana Moussinet, sales and marketing will be managed by Devmark Group and Knight Frank. Mohamed Khamas, MD of Khamas Group, expressed pride in partnering with Marriott International, saying the new project will offer “nothing but the best”. Meanwhile, Sean McCauley, CEO of The Devmark Group, highlighted the growing demand for luxury branded residences in Dubai.

NEOM’s Shushah Island, first mentioned in 2021, is set to become a luxurious island destination with a marina, hotels, villas, a beach club, a museum, and the world’s largest coral garden, complete with a nursery and research center. The island is part of NEOM’s vision to develop in harmony with nature and promote sustainability, with the coral garden serving as a centerpiece to showcase innovations in coral reef preservation amidst climate change.

The island’s floating marina will feature 43 berths and two airplane docks, while the hotels will include a standalone 300-key tower, an upscale boutique hotel of 60 keys, and a luxury boutique hotel of 70 keys, along with village apartments, a floating research center, villas, and a beach club. NEOM aims to make Shushah Island a regenerative tourism landmark, offering a unique R&D opportunity for coral preservation and attracting international scientists, researchers, and eco-conscious travelers.

Moreover, the coral nurseries on the island will serve as the world’s largest repository for Red Sea species, utilizing Maritechture Technologies developed by scientists at KAUST’s Red Sea Research Center and Coastal and Marine Resources Core Lab. This innovative technology will be employed in on-shore coral nurseries and used to populate the coral gardens, benefiting the region for generations to come. NEOM envisions Shushah Island as a bold landmark for regenerative tourism.

• EU moves closer to digitalizing Schengen visa application process

The Schengen visa application process is being digitized by the European Union (EU) to make it easier for UAE residents to apply for visas digitally without having to wait in queues or submit their passports. The move is aimed at making the visa application process more efficient and improving the security of the Schengen area, while replacing the current visa sticker with a digital visa. The proposed new rules will create a visa application platform that will forward all applications for Schengen visas to the relevant national visa systems, where visa applicants can upload their travel and supporting documents and pay their visa fees. 

Visas will be issued in digital format as a 2D barcode, cryptographically signed, which will reduce security risks related to counterfeit and stolen visa stickers. The council presidency will start negotiations with the European Parliament to decide on the final wording of the new rules.

Sunset Hospitality Group (SHG), based in Dubai, has disclosed its entry into Indonesia with the launch of two new brands, Santana and Mamasita, as well as the debut of Folie and Attiko in the region. In collaboration with Bali’s Mirah Investment and Development, all four venues are expected to open between Q2 and Q3 of 2023. Folie and Attiko will be situated in the Canggu district’s Secana Beachtown and are scheduled to open in Q2 2023. Santana and Mamasita, both located in Canggu, will be launched as standalone venues in July.

 SHG is seeking additional opportunities for further portfolio brands to enter the Bali market. The company plans to open 20 new venues globally by the end of the year and aims to expand its portfolio to over 50 operating venues in 14 countries.