Dubai

The world became obsessed with pistachios because of Dubai chocolate. Now the war has turned it into a trap

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The last few years have been anything but quiet for the pistachio industry. First ‘Dubai chocolate’ fever Its demand skyrocketed, straining supply chains and skyrocketing prices. Now the Iran conflict has struck a blow to its market, causing an earthquake whose consequences are still difficult to predict. For now there are already analysts warning that the fruit is beginning to be priced at highs that have not been seen for almost a decade. The big question is… And now what? What has happened? That the pistachio market is showing signs that it does not remain immune to the Middle East conflict, something that is otherwise expected if we take into account that Iran is one of the large world producers of this dried fruit. The alarm signal was raised by Bloomberg, which on Monday warned that the conflict is already affecting the price of pistachios in the markets. Their analysis is based on measurements from Expana Markets, a British firm specialized in the agri-food sector, which assures that in March the pound of pistachios reached $4.57the highest value since May 2018. Is it important? Yes. The pistachio market is very broad, it moves billions and it is supplied from more suppliers than Iran, so Expana’s data should be taken as a clue. Even so, they are interesting for their context. The pistachio had already experienced a price increase in recent years, driven by its popularization in the the drinks and food in general and especially for the enormous success of Dubai chocolate, a sweet made with cocoa and pistachios. After TikTok was filled with viral videos about its tablets, the price of grain skyrocketed: Bloomberg estimates that between the end of 2023 and 2025, Expana’s reference value for the US rose 30%. Are there more indicators? Yes. In Spain we have the platform data Pistachio Prowhich shows the increase in prices that the different varieties of grain have experienced in recent years in the Lonja de Albacete. A few months ago, in fact, the website informed that the price of Kerman-type grain had reached a “historical record” in both conventional and organic grains. Globally, a year ago Financial Times I already warned that Dubai chocolate was straining global pistachio supplies, driving up prices. Does the war in Iran have that much influence now? Yes. And for several reasons. The main one is that Iran does not occupy just any place on the world pistachio map. Although his weight is nowhere near what it was a few decades ago, when he hoarded good part of global production, the Islamic Republic continues to be the second largest breadwinner on the planet, only behind the United States. USDA estimates in fact indicated that during the 2025/2026 season its production would be around 200,000 metric tons, 18% of world production. They are 80,000 tons more than the third country by volume, Türkiye, and 160,000 tons more than the contribution of the entire EU. Some analysts it’s been several weeks warning that Iranian crops may be affected by the impact of the war on energy and water supplies for irrigation, in addition to problems with infrastructure. This is without, of course, taking into account the blow that the conflict has dealt to maritime traffic and the entire logistics chain. Some voices even have slipped in which the Iranian pistachio industry has been directly punished by the bombings. Are there more factors? The answer is once again affirmative. The war has tightened the rope, but the reality is that the pistachio trade was not going through its best moment in Iran. The industry has not been immune to the sanctions and geopolitical tensions that preceded the attack launched by the US and Israel on February 28. Neither, remember Bloombergto the repression with which Tehran responded to the protests internal. Even the harvest would have been lower than expected. All these factors also impact the supply of the fruit. “Pistachios are undoubtedly sensitive to disruptions in the Middle East, given the region’s role as a producer, transit hub and destination,” warns Nick Moss of Expana Markets. Tehran is also a key supplier of pistachio to the gigantic Indian market, which has now seen its supply chains affected, like other nations. “The war has led shipping companies to cancel all new reservations from March 2 for shipments destined for the Middle East,” duck Gyana Ranjan Das, from Grown Point. Does it only affect Iran? At all. If the war in Ukraine in 2022 and that in Iran now demonstrated anything, it is that the effect of bombs and drones is still felt in the countries where the battles are fought, but the disruptions they generate extend to markets and economies around the world. Iranian farmers are not the only ones affected by the conflict. The Strait of Hormuz is key to global shipping oil and ureaso its blockage directly affects the supply (and therefore the costs) of two essential inputs for farmers: fuel and fertilizer. Although there are those who believe that US producers will be the big beneficiaries, in recent weeks media such as Associated Press (AP) or Los Angeles Times They have interviewed California farmers who acknowledge that they have also been harmed by the conflict. one of them assured have merchandise worth five million dollars blocked on ships, fruits that under normal conditions would have already arrived in Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. An expectant market. Surely that is the adjective that best defines the current state of the world pistachio market. Expectant. And not only because the second largest producer on the planet is at the center of a conflict that is currently hanging on a very delicate truce. After years marked by increased demand, the sector faces a potential increase in costs, a rise in prices, a decrease in supply and a strangulation of trade. “Even for buyers who do not normally source directly or indirectly from Iran, these supply restrictions could lead to increased competition for stock available elsewhere,” … Read more

The Boeing 747 that the Emir of Dubai uses as a private plane is so luxurious that even the pilot’s controls are made of gold

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When we talk about private jetsluxury is already inferred in that same concept, but even within something as exclusive as that, there are airplanes and then there is he Boeing 747 of the emir of dubaia separate category that makes a normal Gulfstream look like a regular bus. Sheikh Mohamed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, emir of dubaidid not limit itself to converting one of the largest airplanes in the world into a flying mansion, it also extended the luxury to the pilot cabin, with the engine control knobs, flaps and brakes covered in gold. Aviation youtuber Sam Chui had access to the interior and documented in detail everything he found aboard this flying palace that has all the luxury and comforts of a five star hotel designed both to satisfy the government needs of its owner, as well as those of the entire entourage that accompanies him. A jumbo jet with a double identity The base of this mobile mansion is a Boeing 747-400 Combi, a variant of the commercial jumbo jet that combines a large passenger area in the front, with cargo capacity in the rear. This duality allows it to transport the head of state, his team and the cargo (luggage, vehicles, etc.) they need on the same flight, something that clearly differentiates it from other private jets. more “modest.” The most striking element of the interior is the majlis, the traditional Arab reception room, adapted in the form of a huge open space in the central part of the plane in which there are a series of very comfortable seats for the president and his governing council. At the front, just below the cockpit, is the master bedroom, which looks more like a the luxury hotel suite than to a cabin at 10,000 meters above sea level. The lighting is warm, the bathroom and faucets are goldand it has a shower that you don’t expect to find on a plane. In the rear, a large dining room serves as a meeting room with capacity for 26 people, turning the plane into a valid space for negotiations or state dinners. On the upper deck there are eight minisuites with large reclining seats for VIP passengers, and a section with business class seats for the staff who accompany the emir on each trip. When luxury reaches the cockpit Most private jets reserve luxury for the passenger and limiting the cockpit to a more practical and austere function. That doesn’t happen on the emir of Dubai’s plane. Just like published LuxuryLaunchesin this private jet right down to the throttle levers, aerodynamic brake controls and flaps They have a gold finishturning each maneuver into a symbolic gesture and reminding pilots what type of aircraft they are flying. The Combi configuration of the aircraft allows cargo to be carried in the rear, including specific containers for the emir’s horsessomething consistent with the sheikh’s well-known love of horse riding. The plane has a range of about 13,500 kilometers, enough to connect Dubai with any part of the world without stops. The sheikh has at least two Boeing 747s like this one. According to Mallorca DiaryIn March 2026, one of them landed in Palma de Mallorca, generating all kinds of speculation about its destination. In Xataka | The Emir of Dubai bought a 500 million superyacht but discovered that it had a serious problem: there was no mobile coverage inside Image | Wikimedia Commons (Ukrainian Government), Sam Chui

The war has led many expats to look beyond Dubai. In Italy there is already a city willing to take advantage of it

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He skyline It may be Dubai’s most recognizable feature, however in recent decades the city has gained something much more important (and complicated) than its skyscrapers: prestige. For years the expats half the world has seen in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) a destination in which to settleattracted by their tax advantagesadministrative facilities, luxury and stability of the country. Now the shock wave of the Iran war is erasing some of that image and has led some expats to look for alternatives in safer cities. An Italian city already appears on the horizon. The other bill of war. As with all wars, that of Iran It looks a lot like a set of dominoes. Operation ‘Epic Fury’ launched on February 28 by Washington and Tel Aviv on Iran ended the life of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, supreme leader of the Islamic regime; but that was only the first step of the war. The first in a long chain of pieces. Since then the conflict has escalatedaffecting international markets, skyrocketing the price of crude oil and infecting the rest of the Persian Gulf. We had the most graphic proof in the first days of the war, when Iran harshly punished some US allies in the region, including the UAE. Their attacks blocked Gulf airspace, unleashed the biggest crisis of aviation since the pandemic and left images that until recently were unimaginable, such as luxury residences attacked by Iranian drones. Reputation blow. The casualty toll in the UAE is relatively low (the Emirati authorities numbered at 13 those killed during the attacks launched by Iran), but the reputational damage has yet to be measured. For decades, the Emirates knew how to carve out a niche for itself as a favorite destination for expats from other countries. As explained a few months ago Guillaume Giroux, of the Dubai Inmo firm, in cities like Dubai, fortunes found tax facilities, bureaucratic agility, stability, an attractive real estate market and a high standard of living, especially for people accustomed to luxuries. Some of that magnetism remains, but the Iran war has tarnished the image of a safe, reliable and ‘boring’ (in a good way) destination created by the UAE. Has it changed that much? Public discourse certainly has. If it is news for hosting more than 81,000 millionaires or attract thousands of residents wealthy in just one yearDubai has made headlines for the chaos unleashed by the Iranian war. At the beginning of March Financial Times spoke of people driving 10 hours to cross the border into Oman, desperate to leave the region. In Guardian even they assured that a jet company was asking 85,000 euros (triple the normal amount) for a flight to Istanbul. They are specific cases, but they punish the UAE’s global projection. Looking for alternatives. It is unlikely that Dubai will suddenly lose the image that has been built up for years and it remains an unknown what the effect of the war will be in the medium and long term. there are those already warn that he is not considering leaving the Emirates. None of the above means that there are already millionaires looking for alternatives. I confirmed it recently Guardian in a chronicle explaining that as Dubai sees its reputation as a safe haven erode, there is expats thinking about the best way to return to Europe. The article, signed by Lauren Almeida, focuses on British billionaires, but still leaves out an interesting idea: when looking for European destinations, there is one in particular that seems to be winning. Which? Milan. “Those leaving the UAE can easily imagine themselves living in Rome or Milan, metropolitan and international centres,” point Armand Arton, who is dedicated to advising millionaires on citizenship and investment plans. Why’s that? For a sum of factors. In a way, Milan offers the rich a package similar to the one they find in Dubai: a attractive tax regimea rising real estate market (something especially interesting for those who buy with an investment mentality) and above all luxury. It’s nothing new. In September the Italian edition of Idealista explained that Milan was becoming one of the most attractive destinations in Europe to attract great fortunes. “Italy offers the best advantages: single tax and good quality of life,” insist Arton. “It’s a beautiful country. Milan has a very developed financial services sector, many of the things that are attractive in London, Milan also has them,” adds Marc Acheson of Utmost Wealth Solutions. This sum of factors, added to its environment, schools, services and cosmopolitan lifestyle, explains that the Italian city be home now from some of Europe’s biggest investors and bankers. Also the increase in price of your home. Luxury and something more. The attractiveness of Italy as a city is not the only factor that explains its ability to attract expats. Another is its tax policy. In 2017 the country introduced the “single rate”also known as “Ronaldo tax” and that it is designed precisely to attract wealthy foreigners. In summary, the regime allows new residents (foreigners and returned Italians) to pay 300,000 euros annually for income obtained outside the country. It may seem like a high tax, but as its name indicates, it is applied in a fixed manner, regardless of the base amount, which makes it an interesting option for large fortunes. Until recently, its amount was also lower, making it even more attractive. When it was introduced, the “single rate” amounted to 100,000 euros annual. In 2024 that figure rose to 200,000 and did not reach its current level, of 300,000 euros, until this year. This tax advantage can be enjoyed for only 15 years, but it has extras. Marking distances. It’s not just about what Italy has done. As explains the Golden Visas platform, the Italian system gained attractiveness after in 2024 United Kingdom review its tax regime for non-domiciled residents and for Portugal to also rethink its system. Reuters precise that in 2023 around 1,500 people took advantage of the single rate regime in Italy, … Read more

If you want to buy a mansion at a bargain price, it’s easier than ever. The only thing is that you will have to move to Dubai

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Dubai and Abu Dhabi have positioned themselves as the favorite destination of the richest people on the planet thanks to very lax taxation and great possibilities to obtain profitability with a rising real estate market. Luxury apartments on the artificial island of Palm Jumeirah, penthouses with views of the Burj Khalifa or luxury mansions on the seafront They were sold in hours to newly arrived millionaires. The Iranian missile attacks on airports, ports and residential areas of the United Arab Emirates have suddenly shattered the image of a safe haven that the region had built for decades. The real estate market, which seemed bulletproof, faces your first challenge: not to sink in the face of the uncertainty of war. ​The boom that no one wanted to stop. The real estate boom in the Emirates is supported mainly by the investments that foreign millionaires have made in the country to obtain your residency. The UAE offered zero income taxes, long-term visas for investors, and political stability that few countries in the area could boast. By 2025, nearly 90% of the UAE’s more than 11 million residents were expatriates, according to data collected by Reuters. The result was an off-plan apartment sales machinery that worked at full capacity. According to the report ‘Dubai Residential Real Estate FY 2025‘ the consulting firm Betterhomes, 65% of real estate transactions in Dubai in 2025 corresponded to off-plan homes that did not yet exist. Promoters launched projects and sold them out in hours. In Abu Dhabi, real estate prices rose by around 32% in 2025 alone from the previous year, according to the report ‘UAE Real Estate Market Review Q4 2025‘ from CBRE. And then the missiles came. On March 4, the markets of Dubai and Abu Dhabi reopened after two days closed due to missile attacks launched by Iran against US interests and its allies in the area. Shares in Aldar Properties, Abu Dhabi’s largest listed developer, and Emaar Properties, the company behind the Burj Khalifa, fell 5% in a single session. The bonds of large developers also collapsed and the debt market, key to financing new developments, was practically blocked for new issues. A senior banking manager in the sector explained to Reuters that his firm canceled that same week a capital raising operation for the UAE real estate market. “Investors are not thinking about investing in the region at the moment,” he said, adding that the risk associated with property in the UAE had become “much higher”. Records and sales at the same time. In the midst of the confusion of the bombings, Dubai closed one of its most striking operations of recent years. A 2,900 m2 apartment in the Aman Residences Dubai project, in the coastal neighborhood of Jumeirah 2, was sold for 422 million dirhams (about $115 million), becoming the third most expensive apartment sale in the history of the emirate. It is only surpassed by an operation of 550 million dirhams in Bugatti Residences in 2025. But at the same time, the platform PanicSelling.xyz, that monitors prices on more than 20,000 luxury properties in Dubai and Abu Dhabi, detected 82 discounts that totaled 14.3 million dollars in just a few days after the Iran attacks. Dale Buckner, CEO of Global Guardian, explained to CNBC that the exodus of expatriates showed no signs of slowing down and that just that morning his company had seven corporate clients looking to evacuate between 1,000 and 3,000 employees. “This situation is similar to Ukraine,” Buckner said. The storm that was already seen coming. What aggravates the situation is that the problems do not only come from outside. JPMorgan analysts they already warned before the attacks that Dubai’s population growth would likely not absorb the 300,000 to 400,000 new homes expected by 2028. The market already had an oversupply problem on the horizon before the missiles arrived. Ryan Lemand, co-founder and CEO of Neovision Wealth Management in Abu Dhabi, summed it up: “Real estate investing depends on stability, visibility and investor confidence, and all of these factors tend to weaken during prolonged periods of geopolitical uncertainty.” The excess real estate supply and a complicated geopolitical situation have kept the interest of investors for properties in Abu Dhabi and Dubai, suggesting the best time to invest in the area. The risk in this case is not in profitability, but in the precision of the missiles. In Xataka | While NEOM builds ski slopes in the desert, Dubai is going in the opposite direction: attracting tourism without going bankrupt Image | Unsplash (Duane Mendes), Wikipedia

Dubai was a mecca for expats. Now they are driving 10 hours and paying thousands of dollars for a flight to escape from there

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Iran has shown it needs very little to upend Middle East air traffic and hit the United Arab Emirates (UAE) where it hurts the most: the image of reliability that has been built for years at an international level, with great benefitsby the way. The wave of attacks launched by Tehran to neighboring countries that facilitate US military deployment in the region, such as Bahrain, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait or the UAE itself, has affected thousands of flights and left a curious image: expats desperate to leave Dubai. There are those who are shelling out large sums to fly on private jets and those who have even driven 10 hours to get to Riyadh and get on a plane there. What has happened? If Tehran wanted to damage the image of stability of neighbors like the UAE, it was completely right. Although the country managed to intercept most of the drones and missiles launched by Iran, the truth is that some of the projectiles reached Dubai, the tourist and financial heart of the region. In practice, this translated into fires in luxury hotels, towers with windows shattered by explosions, a knocked out airport and, above all, considerable reputational damage for a city that has spent years building the image of a safe and comfortable destination for expats. Sums it up beautifully Elizabeth Rayment, a consultant caught off guard by the Iranian attack in Palm Islands: “You never expect to hear missiles flying overhead in Dubai.” Have there been more consequences? Yes. The most serious are undoubtedly the victims. Arab News I was talking yesterday about three deceased and 58 injured in the United Arab Emirates. There are not many if you take into account that the country’s authorities claim to have detected a total of 156 ballistic missiles and several cruise missiles, in addition to more than half a thousand drones, most of them intercepted and destroyed. The other consequence is the chaos generated in air traffic in the Persian Gulf, where some airports and airlines have had to suspend their operations, affecting both customers in the region and others who had planned to pass through Dubai, Abu Dhabi or Qatar to take connecting flights between Europe and Asia. Have many been cancelled? FlightAware estimates that around 2,800 operations and on Sunday more than 3,1500. Added to these are the flights canceled and suspended today by Gulf airlines. For reference, Financial Times assured this morning that more than half of the services that had been booked for today in the region have been cancelled. The Iranian attacks have altered to a greater or lesser extent the programming of Emirates, Etihad Airways and Qatar Airways and the airports of Dubai, Doha and Abu Dhabi, as well as other terminals in Kuwait and Bahrain. The BBC has chatted with travelers who have found flights canceled upon arriving at the terminal. There are those who already talk about the biggest crisis aviation since the pandemic. How do I leave the country? That is the question that expats and tourists have been asking themselves since Saturday. The Iranian attacks have surprised them in the region and now they find that there are few (or no) regular flights that take them to other parts of the globe. Faced with such a scenario, there are those who have armed themselves with patience, those who have drawn on their checkbook and those who have resigned themselves to traveling kilometers and kilometers to reach airports with flights. So I told it a few hours ago FTwhich speaks of “tens of thousands of passengers” stranded in the region and assures that there are Dubai residents who have traveled to neighboring Oman to get a flight. What’s more, some have even driven 10 hours to get on a plane in Riyadh. They don’t have it easy. Most scheduled flights these days between Muscat (Oman) and Europe are reserved. And what do they do? The wealthiest, pull out their checkbook and try their luck with private jet companies. EnterJet, which is dedicated to intermediating between customers and available planes, says that reservations have skyrocketed 40% since the weekend. The problem is that the sector also has its limitations. Its founder explains to Financial Times that “the only viable option” to operate is the Muscat terminal, which makes it difficult to obtain landing slots. Added to this are the difficulties in finding ships. The businessman hopes that as traffic recovers in the Gulf, private flights will increase. Are they very expensive? The situation in the Gulf has caused a curious effect: while the price of airlines such as International Airlines Group or Air France-KLM they resent the price of private services skyrockets. The JetVip agency (Oman) explains to Guardian that a flight to Istanbul on a small Nextant jet costs around 85,000 euros, about three times the normal price. The same media reveals that seats on private charter flights to Moscow are paid for about 20,000 euros… per person. Rates vary depending on the company, but they usually always range in the five digits, or even more. It may sound strange, but we must keep in mind that Donald Trump has hinted that the offensive against Iran could continue even further. “four weeks” and the question remains as to how Tehran will respond. Added to this is that over the last few years the UAE has managed to position itself as a priority destination for thousands of expatsa position largely based on reliability and stability that Tehran has now managed to damage with missiles. Images | Michael Ranzau (Flickr) In Xataka | The arrival of the B-2s to Iran can only mean one thing: the search for the greatest threat to the United States has begun

14,000 Spaniards live in Dubai. Not everyone is fleeing from the Treasury, but everyone is equally terrified of the missiles

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The Iranian attacks against the Arab Emirates in retaliation for the US and Israeli offensive have trapped thousands of Spaniards in Dubai, including content creators and celebrities who denounced their situation on the networks. And under the missile fire, a paradox: the city that promised security and zero taxes has been suffering for two days from an attack that could have devastating economic consequences. Spaniards in Dubai. After the attack by the United States and Israel on Iran On February 28, the response consisted of a wave of retaliation with 137 missiles and 209 drones directed against the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Bahrain and other positions with a US military presence in the Gulf. The region’s airspace closed and tens of thousands of people were left without flights. Among them, Spaniards like Ofelia Hentschel, a MasterChef 9 contestant and content creator who released videos that, due to their content, quickly went viral. in them explained that, while on vacation in Dubai, he had begun to hear “bombs and tremors in the hotel” while sunbathing by the pool, and that air traffic was paralyzed. What made his case spread in an extraordinary way was that he claimed that the Spanish embassy “does not speak, does not answer”, while Italian and French citizens were receiving a response from their diplomatic representations. Frustration led her to the phrase “Stop paying taxes, because as you see they are of no use.” Ah, the irony. Hentschel is located in one of the favorite destinations of those have moved their tax residence outside of Spain precisely so as not to contribute to the taxes whose effect she now needed. This was not necessarily the case (Hentschel was awayis not a resident of the Emirates) but the phrase once again triggered a debate that already existed: that of the limits of reciprocity between the citizen who pays more taxes for having more income and the State. Less than 24 hours laternow calmer, Hentschel commented that she had been contacted by the embassy and that she felt “super supported by Spain.” More Spanish. Hentschel’s case was the most covered in the media, but not the only one. The Cordoba paddler Javi Garrido was in Dubai with his girlfriend and his coach, finalizing the preparation for the Gijón paddle tennis tournament. Garrido opted for a different tone than Hentschel, with a message of calm to his followers, where he spoke of the desire to return “as soon as possible.” His profile (elite athlete in the middle of preseason) points to another segment of the large group of Spaniards who at that time were in the Emirates for reasons that have nothing to do with tax evasion. It is also the case of Hugo KyotoSpanish who makes videos about investment and personal economy. Kyoto is closer to the profile that has been criticized: resident in Dubai, with content about money and investments and that the media noise identifies with those who settle there in search of tax advantages. Spanish expats. The Spanish community in the United Arab Emirates has grown steadily over the last decade. According to data from the Spanish Embassy in Abu Dhabi The Consular Registration Registry had 8,500 registered in 2024, although ambassador Íñigo de Palacio’s own estimates suggest that the real number could be closer to 14,000, given that around 38% of residents are not registered. Between 2022 and 2023, 404 new Spanish residents were registered, and between 2023 and 2024 that figure almost doubleduntil reaching 722. Among them, executives displaced by multinationals, engineers in infrastructure projects, airline and hospitality staff, and also a segment of content creators and digital entrepreneurs, undoubtedly the most in the media (and criticized). The real profile of the Spanish expat in Dubai is mostly work-related. In addition to that, the tax reality is more complex than simply transferring residence to the Emirates, which does not guarantee the end of tax obligations in Spain. The Double Taxation Agreement between both countries, signed in Abu Dhabi in 2006, establishes that only Emirati nationals can benefit from the status of tax residents in the UAE, and the tax authorities of the Emirates themselves They do not issue tax residence certificates for stays of less than twelve months. Influencers in danger. The attack has not exclusively affected Spaniards, and content creators from different nationalities They have reacted with a mixture of disbelief and terror to the attacks. The city that has been sold on numerous occasions as a synonym for safe luxury has shown this weekend in its skies the luminous trail of intercepted missiles. Dubai’s illusion of invulnerability has fractured in a few hours. Beyond the war. All this leads us to the fact that the logic of Iranian retaliation transcends the military. Tehran was targeting not only US military installations, but also the economic architecture of the region: the financial and logistical hubs of the Gulf that for three decades have functioned as a lever for the order that the US and Israel want to preserve. The attack on the Jebel Ali port, the Dubai international airport or the financial districts of Abu Dhabi are more than planned. They are not collateral damage. That’s why, with 88% of its GDP generated by expats, tourism, finance, aviation and maritime transport, a deterioration in the perception of security can produce a flight of these economic assets in the form of influencers and visitors. Dubai and Abu Dhabi had converted their security and stability on the basis of its attractiveness, and the Iranian missiles brought out such accurate tweets like that of investor TK Robinson in X: “I moved to Qatar to escape taxes; now I’m fleeing missiles.” Header | Darcey Beau in Unsplash

The world’s largest hotel is not in Las Vegas or Dubai. It is in Malaysia and has 7,351 rooms

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He is at the top of a mountain, does not presume luxury and does not even reach four stars. But the First World Hotel It has something that no other hotel can say: 7,351 operational rooms. It is officially the major of the planet in this regard. This was certified by the Guinness book of records In 2015, and it is claimed by the website of the First World Hotel. The complex is in the heart of Resorts World Gentingin Malaysia, and today it is organized in three towers: Tower 1, Tower 2 and Tower 3/Y5. From there you access direct nodes such as First World Plaza, Skyovenuethe covered park Skytopolis Indoor Theme Park or the Genting International Convention Center. A city inside a building: how a hotel with more than 7,000 rooms is managed Sometimes, stars deceive. One would expect the world’s largest hotel to be also one of the most luxurious. But the First World Hotel is not sold like this. In Malaysia, The stars are assigned by the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture (Motac). There are no butlers, but strict cleaning and automated check-in, in addition to an accreditation “Clean & Safe Malaysia” with 100%score. Once inside, the logical question is: And now what? In those mentioned First World Plaza And Skyovenue there are stores, restaurants, an attraction park covered And even a convention center, all under ceiling. We also find the Skytopolis Indoor Theme Parkwhich is one of the jewels: more than 20 attractions in 400,000 square feet, open all year without depending on the weather. To eat fast and cheap are the Coffee lobby and The Junctionwhere the Nasi Lemak wrapped in banana leaves It is announced as “probably the best of Genting.” Managing something like that does not have more staff, it will have a system. The First World Hotel works as a machinery: check-in in kiosks, digital keys from the app, strict rules on furniture and non -transferable reserves. Everything is specified by the hotel itself: you cannot move furniture or enter with appliances. When you manage more than 7,000 rooms, any exception can discourage the gear. Spa and gym? They exist, but are not in the First World Hotel. They are in him Genting Grandanother of the resort hotels, and the access is paid for the guests of the First World. Why in Malaysia and not in a large tourist capital? Because this is not an isolated hotel: it is a piece of a project born in the sixties. The founder of the group, Lim Goh Tong, imagined in 1965 a resort on the mountainfresher than Kuala Lumpur and with entertainment for families. The company itself tells it in its corporate profile and in the official history of the group. From there came resorts World Genting, with casinos, shopping centers, parks and hotels for all pockets. The First World fulfills the strategic function of hosting in mass. He does not need to be in a capital, because the resort is already a city. Since Guinness recognized himthe data of the 7,351 rooms has attracted even more curious. Continues ahead of colossi like the MGM Grand of Las Vegaswith “almost 5,000 rooms” According to the chain itself. The striking thing is that he succeeds without luxury suites or premium services: he does it with compact rooms and an operation designed to function as a gigantic gear. No one has yet taken the title. And that says a lot, not only the size, but of the viability of a model that, despite it seems impossible, continues to work every day. Images | Genting Group In Xataka | In Madrid there were no economic hotels left, but there was a “virgin” space for tourists: polygons

An influencer wanted to sunbathe in bikini in Dubai. Her husband did the most logical among millionaires, buy an island

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With the heat that We are suffering in Spain, And with the holidays around the cornermore than one sure you want to lie on the beach To sunbathe and do What is most fancy in summer: nothing. However, if you are a woman and live in Dubai, that is a slightly more restricted activity … unless your husband is a millionaire and can buy you an island For you alone. Jamal al Nadak, a magnate of the Arab Emirates, has taken this concept to the next level when bought a private island just so that his wife can sunbathe in a bikini without worrying about other people’s looks. An island only for her Soudi al Nadak26, it is a British influencer that resides in Dubai and has conquered more than 431,000 followers on Instagram and 1.3 million in Tiktok, with a publication that accumulates more than 1.8 million views. In That publicationthe influencer included a video in which he saw her traveling by plane and arriving at a Paradisiaca Isla de Arenas Blancasleafy vegetation and crystalline waters to which he added a phrase: “Pov: you wanted to use a bikini, so your millionaire husband bought you an island.” Although it is defined as “full -time housewife”, the reality is that its day to day is surrounded by luxuries and attentions, while his house is attended by an army of employees. That allows you to dedicate yourself to your image and social networks. “My only rule in life is to always be pretty,” he laughs in one of his videos, while showing exclusive purchases in London or dinners in the most expensive restaurants in Dubai. The idea of ​​buying the island arose when Soudi told her husband her desire to, as a good British, sunbatsomething that Jamal, Muslim practitioner, did not approve in public. However, he decided to look for the most millionaire solution possible: to acquire a private island so that his wife could enjoy the sun with total freedom and privacy. The price of the island amounted to 50 million dollarsa figure that for many is unattainable, but that in the context of Dubai can be seen as One more investment. Touch the image to go to the original message Living in Dubai, the most logical thing would have been to think that the chosen island would be one of the many Artificial islands that are abandoned in the surroundings the city. However, again, the most millionaire solution emerges. The island in question is at some indeterminate point of Asia. Throughout the video, the influencer made sure to keep its exact location for privacy reasons. This detail is not less: the couple seeks to enjoy their fortune without restrictions and Far from the traditional rules of Dubai, where bikini exposure can be a reason for controversy. Beyond that, the influencer counted in the comments that the couple considered the island as A real estate investment More than a while considering. “It was something we were looking for for some time as an investment and my husband wants me to feel safe on a beach, that’s why he bought a,”collected ABC. The new Dubai the old customs Although Dubai is a emirate recognized for his Modernity and Opening to Tourismit continues to maintain many traditional customs. It is allowed to bathe in bikini on the beach, provided be done with discretion and cover once out of the water. This rule is more tolerant of tourists, but socially it is not well seen that local women do it, especially if they are Muslim. For that reason, the influencer made that peculiar request. In Xataka | Larry Page wants to get lost on an island, but it is not decided which. So you bought five Image | SoudiofarabiaPexels (Shukhrat Umarov), Unspash (Andrew Bui)

Dubai is building two buildings signed by Bugatti. That means being able to park your supercar in the 52 -floor hall

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Someone drive a supercar Through the streets of Dubai it is something as usual as a humble Dacia Sandero travels the streets of any city in Spain. The difference is that, park those cars valued at millions of euros In the living room of a luxury attic on floor 52, it may also become common, provided you have the 54.5 million that one of the floors cost one of the most exclusive residences in the world: the Bugatti residences by binghatti. He projectwhich will be delivered at the end of the year, is located in the coveted Business Bay area, a few minutes from Burj Khalifa and the Dubai Mall. With its design inspired by the curves of its supercar and an offer of unprecedented services, the Bugatti residents promise to become the New exclusivity symbol And sophistication in the city, something that has already caught the attention of well -known names worldwide. A luxury of 52 plants designed by Bugatti The Bugatti Residences are the result of the collaboration between the legendary French car brand and the Binghatti real estate developer. The complex is composed of two towers of 52 plants which will house a total of 182 luxury apartments. Those apartments are divided between 171 Riviera Mansions and 11 Sky Mansions Penthouse. In other words, 171 intermediate floors, and 11 luxury penthouses equipped with all kinds of exclusive luxuries and services. The exterior design draws attention to its curved lines and elegant finishes, reflecting the aesthetics used in the design of Bugatti cars. That differentiates Bugatti buildings from any other skyscraper in Dubai. Bugatti Residences offer apartments between two and four bedrooms, with surfaces that in many cases exceed 1,000 square meters. The prices start from about 4.75 million euros for two bedroom apartments, 9 million euros for three bedrooms, and up to 13 million euros for four bedrooms. Prices within reach very few pockets. Atticos or Sky Mansions, such as Neymar, start from a price of 32.5 million euros although its price can be increased depending on the required customization. Without a doubt, one of the largest attractions of the building is the possibility that residents arrive conducting their supercar and can park them directly In the living roomeven if it is in one of the penthouses with 51 floors under their wheels. This fruslería is possible thanks to a system of car elevators that directly communicates the parking lot of the building with the living room of some of the floors. In this way, owners can exhibit their vehicles as One more decoration pieceenjoying panoramic views to Downtown Dubai and Burj Khalifa. “The first Bugatti residence is designed with incomparable luxury comforts, which include a beach inspired by the Riviera, private pool, spa with jacuzzi, gym, chef table, private parking and private club service,” says Bugatti in Your official statement. Neymar Jr, the star tenant of the Bugatti Residences Among the most outstanding buyers of the Bugatti residences It is found Neymar Jr., that has acquired one of the Sky Mansionsthe most luxurious option of the building, for the negligible sum of 54.5 million dollars. The exclusive attic of Neymar Jr. in Dubai includes one of those private elevators for vehicles, in addition to a private pool with privileged views to the city. As explained The promoter“This acquisition consolidates not only Neymar’s position as one of the most outstanding figures of world sport, but also Dubai as the epicenter of high -end real estate.” Muhammad Binghatti, CEO of Binghatti, added that “our collaboration with Bugatti aims to offer a unique and exclusive life experience. We wanted to create a space that not only reflected luxury, but also a sense of pride and distinction for its owners.” Neymar is not the only millionaire soccer player interested in the Bugatti building. The Spanish Aymeric Laporte also It has been awarded one of the luxury penthouses, as well as the singer of Italian opera Andrea Bocellialready They have announced that will be neighbors of the Brazilian star. The rise of brand architecture Bugatti’s foray into the real estate sector is part of A growing trend Among the supercar manufacturers, which seek to transfer their design and exclusivity language to high -level residential buildings. Brands such as Pagani, Porsche, Bentley and Mercedes-Benz have developed similar projects in Miami and Dubai, such as the Porsche Design Tower, the Bentley Residences and the Mercedes-Benz Places that Binghatti herself is building in Dubai. All of them have in common characteristics inspired by engineering and luxury that each brand applies in the manufacture of its exclusive cars. These projects respond to the demand of a millionaire clientele who wants to live surrounded by same level of sophistication enjoy when they put themselves at the wheel of their cars. In Xataka | A youtuber has a car that is worth four million euros. To drive it you have to pay 7,000 every 60 kilometers In Xataka | The Magarigawa Club: the private luxury circuit in which the millionaires conduct their supercar Image | Binghatti

Lidl took a limited version of Dubai chocolate. Hours later I was exhausted gold price in Vinned

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The idea was good. At least on paper. A few days ago Lidl decided to delight cocoa lovers by selling, in a very limited way, its own version of the “Dubai chocolate”a delicatessen based on cocoa, pistachio and Kadayif Turk who despite his short life has managed to reach the Holy Grail of Modern Marketing: The virality In networks. For more Inri, Lidl sold its tablets for 4.49 euros, well below of what the brand that has popularized them cost, Fix dessert chocolatier. The problem is that Lidl’s offer lasted Only a few days. And that unleashed a Chocolate furywith tails in the super, early risers, Cabreos And also Some speculation. Chocolate obsession. That chocolate raises passions is not a novelty. If what we are talking about is “Dubai chocolate” However, passion directly becomes virality and obsession. Although the phenomenon around him is relatively recent and starts after In 2021 Fix dessert chocolatier The flavors of the Middle East will combine in a tablet with the classic chocolate, in just a few years the sweet Dubaiti origin has earned a legion of fans. Videos circulate (many, many) on networks How to prepare it at home, recordings of Influencers that They give their opinion about Its flavor, Explanations Why is it so popular, comments of pastry experts … And that Fix Dessert Chocolatier tablets are not exactly cheap. Much of his secret is in Your recipethat combines chocolate with milk, pistachio paste, tahini and kunafa mass or kataifi noodles. All in tablets of considerable thickness and with an outer touch. Click on the image to go to Tweet. Where there is an obsession … There is a good business. And that has not long to understand Fix Desert, but also other companies that have sought ways to take advantage of the enormous interest in these ounces of chocolate stuffed with pistachio. One of them was the Lidl supermarket chain, which a few days ago announced in networks The launch of a “Dubai” tablet prepared by JD Gross, its brand of “Premium chocolates”. His announcement generated considerable expectation (with more than 32,600 likes in the original Instagram publication and news about the launch in various media) and ended up combining three factors difficult to harmonize. Which is it? The expectation for the launch, the obsession around the Dubai chocolate and the haste. The Tablets of the German chain were put for sale by 4.49 eurosquite less than those of the Dubaiti brand, and (most importantly) for a very limited time. In Your adLidl already warned that they would be available in their stores only a few days: from Friday 21 to Sunday 23. And what happened? Scenes similar to those seen in stores during large pitches or remind of the golden years of the sales. Chocolate fever resulted in early risers and tails of customers who wanted to be the first to reach the sweet shelves. Maybe it seems exaggerated, but in Tiktok they can be seen some Videosof people who, despite being in a Lidl early in the morning they had run out of their Dubai tablet. “They have brought this. You explain to me where you go with this!” He complained a Tiktoker While teaching a small completely empty cardboard box in the chocolate section. “Everyone here at nine in the morning, logically with that small palace we have run out of Dubai chocolate. But well … we will continue trying.” It is not the only one. Others They opted directly for going to more supermarkets. From the shelves to Vinted. Not all those tablets sold in record time by Lidl ended up starring videos in networks, devoured or stored in the pantries of Dubai chocolate fans. A few ended in a very different place: second -hand sale platforms. In Vinned For example, ads could be found from individuals determined to take advantage of the very high demand of the sweet Emiratí. Of course, at prices quite superior to those who charged Lidl in his supermarkets. On Saturday a user He complained In X that the tablets that were on sale in stores for less than 5 euros were offered in Vinned for 20, 35, 50 or even 60 euros. “People who are selling Lidl’s Dubai chocolate in Vinned, you give a lot He complained On Friday another tweet. Looking at Spain … and beyond. Dubai chocolate fever is not exclusive to Spain. In the United Kingdom Lidl met A similar phenomenon When a limited edition of its Dubai -style chocolate is released: a surprising impact on networks and a delirious sales rhythm of 72 tablets per minute through its Tiktok channel, according to The data that manages The Grocer. In less than an hour and a half They had exhausted all stocks. The phenomenon is not exclusive to the German chain. Other brands have also tried to take advantage of the interest that the chocolate with a pistachio and Kadayifboth supermarket chains and chocolate companies or even small businesses. All often have a peculiarity: their chocolate is not exactly economic. The boards do not require an exorbitant disbursement, but the price per kilo is analyzed 37 or even 80 euros. Images | Tiktok and Lidl In Xataka | The secret for a healthier chocolate is in prebiotics and probiotics. And now we know the “recipe”

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