The Middle East’s Most Anticipated New Openings

Mandarin Oriental's second Dubai property is now open within Wasl Tower on Sheikh Zayed Road. It features 259 guestrooms and suites, 224 private residences, and a rooftop helipad for discreet VIP arrivals. The design is notable for featuring the region’s tallest ceramic façade and energy-efficient technologies throughout. Dining is central to the property: Yù & Mì brings 1960s Hong Kong energy – go the former for crafted cocktails at Yù and the latter for bold Cantonese and Sichuan dishes. Chitarra celebrates Italian heritage with handmade pasta, while Noia by the Pool serves Mediterranean cuisine on the 11th-floor rooftop. Coming soon are Billionaire, Lion in the Sun, Nikkei concept Osaka, and Pavyllon Dubai by Yannick Alléno (the world's most Michelin-starred chef). A two-floor wellness space features nine treatment rooms, vitality pools, saunas and a fitness centre, alongside a landscaped terrace with three pools.

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This December, Rosewood Abu Dhabi will transform into a winter escape with festive flavours and refined celebrations across the Al Maryah Island property. The highlight is an elegant Pierre Hermé collaboration at Majlis, featuring limited-edition festive packaging on macaroons and chocolates. Handcrafted Christmas Log Cakes arrive in two signature flavours – Mandarin and Chocolate & Dried Lemon – while a winter-inspired Christmas Afternoon Tea runs until 7th January, showcasing seasonal pastries and spiced teas infused with cinnamon and warm aromatics. Special Christmas amenities will be presented to all guests staying on 24th and 25th December, with an exclusive version for children.

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Set to open its doors before November is out, the Natural History Museum Abu Dhabi will immediately become one of the region's most significant cultural landmarks. In Saadiyat Cultural District, the museum will take visitors on a journey from the origins of the universe into the future of Earth, featuring some of the rarest natural history specimens ever found along the way. Don’t miss 'Stan' – a Tyrannosaurus rex skeleton – or the Murchison Meteorite, alongside other spectacular natural wonders.

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Rising above the fairways of LA VIE Club Golf Course, Tivoli La Vie Muscat is preparing to open next year. Just ten minutes from Muscat International Airport, the property features 79 elegant hotel rooms and 100 fully serviced residences with modern European interiors – many enjoy views over the course and surrounding hills. The rooftop pool and Anantara Spa are spaces to slow down in, while SEEN Rooftop is the place to watch the sunset. Oman's first Toptracer golf facility is also next door.

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Nikki Beach Hospitality Group is opening a Provençal-inspired restaurant on Pearl Jumeira island this November. Maison Mer summons the spirit of the French Riviera, from mornings at the market to long afternoons with rosé. The menu spans Nice to Marseille with regional classics like linguini aux tomate with market-fresh fish, and parmigiana de courgette with smoked scamorza. Cocktails channel sunlit terraces and herb gardens, while the design blends Mediterranean elegance with rustic charm – vaulted ceilings, hand-tiled tables and precious waterfront views.

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This December, the team behind Paris's Pink Mamma and London's Circolo Popolare brings Gloria Osteria to the Ritz-Carlton DIFC – the Big Mamma group’s first Middle East opening. Expect the same theatrical sense of fun that you may have noticed at its European outposts. The food will be just as authentic too: aged parmigiano reggiano, fresh mozzarella and high-quality extra virgin olive oil are all sourced from Italy, while pasta will be hand-rolled in-house each day. 

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Photogenic British mini-chain Tattu has taken over three floors of Ciel Dubai Marina – the world’s tallest hotel. On Level 74, a canopy of cherry blossom spills from the ceiling above a restaurant offering the group’s signature Chinese-Japanese cuisine. Level 76 is where you’ll find an infinity pool with 50 daybeds, while Level 81's sky lounge is the place to head for sunset cocktails and late-night DJ sets.

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The Oberoi is preparing to open a second hotel in Saudi Arabia next year. The Wadi Safar will be the first luxury resort at the gateway to one of Saudi Arabia's most captivating cultural destinations. Unfurling across more than 60 sq km of untouched landscape close to Diriyah, the property will feature 60 rooms and 10 private villas, all served by Oberoi's signature intuitive hospitality. The resort overlooks the Royal Equestrian & Polo Club, with a Greg Norman-designed 27-hole championship golf course on the horizon. Amenities include a spa, pool area, yoga studio, kids club and five restaurants – each with outdoor seating overlooking either the central grand water feature or the escarpment beyond. 

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At Club Vista Mare on Palm Jumeirah, Canary Beach brings the West Coast-inspired energy of the original Canary Club to the waterfront, where it adjoins The MAINE Palm. The beach club channels the spirit of Baja and California with a buzzy atmosphere and multiple spaces including loungers, cabanas and four distinct dining areas. Menus feature Canary Club's signature sushi, crudos and ceviches alongside fresh seafood and grilled dishes. 

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The new Vegetarian Room at Address Dubai Mall is everything its name promises it will be. Seating up to 22 guests in a serene space of polished marble and plush seating, it elevates vegetarian cuisine through artful presentation and fresh ingredients. The Indian-inspired menu features signature items like punjabi paneer tikka and malai kofta, alongside vibrant chaats such as papdi chaat and dahi puri. Desserts like kesari rasmalai and malai kulfi complete the offering. 

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The largest specialist beauty retailer in the US has opened its first Middle East store at The Avenues in Kuwait. Spanning make-up, skin, brow and nail services, Ulta Beauty showcases more than 300 brands at a variety of price points – American names like Ôrəbella, Morphe, LolaVie and Snif feature alongside global favourites like Kiko Milano and emerging local brands such as Bex Beauty and Nadine Njeim Beauty. Following the Kuwait opening, Ulta Beauty will expand across the region with stores at Mall of the Emirates, Dubai Mall and Saudi Arabia’s Red Sea Mall all set to open in the first few months of next year.

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French heritage brand Tartine et Chocolat has opened a first Middle East boutique at Dubai Mall. On the second floor of the Kids Fashion section, you can now find ready-to-wear, accessories, nursery items, soft toys and gifting collections for children from newborns to pre-teens – all in the Paris label’s refined, minimalist, ‘chic à la française’ style. The store also includes a selection from sister label Bonton. A second Tartine et Chocolat boutique is lined up to open at Mall of the Emirates next year.

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On the Ghantoot coastline between Dubai and Abu Dhabi, Cala 399 takes over the legendary Blue Marlin site with a day-to-night escape for sun-seekers and music lovers. The open-air beach club, whose name pays homage to exit 399 on the highway, can host up to 2,000 guests across its sandy beach, elevated pool, sun deck, VIP cabanas, boutique and restaurant. Each evening, DJs take the party atmosphere to the next level.

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