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.
OMODA&JAECOO UAE has officially announced the arrival of the JAECOO J5, a new urban SUV set to launch in August 2025. With a design language that draws inspiration from luxury off-roaders like the Land Rover Discovery Sport, the JAECOO J5 is tailored for the UAE’s urban drivers seeking bold aesthetics, modern features, and competitive pricing. Striking a Balance Between Ruggedness and RefinementThe JAECOO J5 is set to appeal to drivers looking for a visual statement. Designed by a team that includes former Land Rover experts, the J5 carries a muscular stance, squared edges, and adventure-inspired styling—positioning it as a stylish…
Samsung Gulf Electronics has launched its latest generation of foldable smartphones — the Galaxy Z Fold7 and Galaxy Z Flip7 — alongside the Galaxy Watch8 Series at a high-profile event held at BCH:CLB beach club in Dubai. The event marked the UAE debut of Samsung’s most advanced AI-powered devices, designed to adapt seamlessly to modern, mobile lifestyles. Spanning four interactive zones — business, lifestyle and fashion, health and fitness, and travel and photography — the immersive launch experience allowed guests to explore how Samsung’s new devices integrate into everyday life. A Leap in Foldable Innovation Fadi Abu Shamat, Vice President…
DHL Aviation, the air cargo division of DHL Express, has unveiled a new premium cargo product, Xcelerate, designed to provide customers with fast-track, airport-to-airport shipping solutions. The service promises the fastest available transit times, guaranteed capacity, and high loading priority to meet growing demand for expedited global logistics. The launch of Xcelerate signals DHL’s strategic push into premium freight offerings, targeting freight forwarders and major shippers with urgent and time-sensitive needs. According to the company, the product was developed based on direct customer feedback and is aimed at providing a “must-fly” solution similar to priority passenger travel experiences. Ingrid Raj,…
Alaska Airlines temporarily grounded all its flights on Sunday following a major IT outage that disrupted its systems and operations nationwide. The airline confirmed the system-wide ground stop affected both Alaska Airlines and its regional partner, Horizon Air. The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) also updated its status page to reflect the full halt of Alaska Airlines flights due to the technical issue. “We’ve experienced an IT outage that’s impacting our operations,” the company said in a statement. “As a result, we enacted a temporary, system-wide ground stop for Alaska and Horizon Air flights until the issue is resolved.” The…
Aldar has announced the record-breaking sale of an ultra-luxury mansion in Faya Al Saadiyat for AED 400 million, making it the most expensive home ever sold in Abu Dhabi. The eight-bedroom beachfront residence is located within an exclusive gated community on Saadiyat Island and spans over 6,561 square metres. This landmark deal not only underscores the emirate’s growing appeal among global high-net-worth individuals (HNWIs) but also signals Abu Dhabi’s position as a rising global luxury real estate hub. The sale surpasses Aldar’s previous record of AED 137 million for a Nobu Residences penthouse on the same island. According to Aldar,…
In a notable development in regional diplomacy, a senior Saudi delegation led by Minister of Investment Khalid bin Abdulaziz Al-Falih arrived in Damascus on Wednesday to take part in the Saudi-Syrian Investment Forum—a move that underscores growing efforts to repair ties and build economic bridges between the two nations. The forum, held under the guidance of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, brought together over 130 Saudi investors and business leaders, highlighting a strong official push towards reviving trade, investment, and development ties with Syria after years of diplomatic estrangement. According to Syria’s state-run SANA news agency, the forum is…
The National Bank of Bahrain (NBB) has announced its role as a major sponsor of the 14th edition of Youth City 2030, further solidifying its commitment to youth empowerment and national development. The collaboration with the Ministry of Youth Affairs places NBB at the forefront of private sector efforts to invest in the future of Bahrain’s young population. Held under the theme “Beyond Dreams”, Youth City 2030 is a flagship summer programme that equips young Bahrainis with the skills and knowledge needed to thrive in a changing world. Organised by the Ministry of Youth Affairs in partnership with Tamkeen, the…
Nissan is bringing a new level of comfort to its drivers in the Middle East with the expanded rollout of its Zero Gravity Seats—an innovation inspired by NASA’s studies on human posture in space. These seats are designed to reduce driver fatigue, enhance spinal alignment, and ensure a more relaxing experience on every journey. First launched in the Nissan Altima, Zero Gravity Seats are now featured in more than half of Nissan’s passenger vehicle range in the region. This includes popular models such as the all-new KICKS, X-TRAIL, and Pathfinder. Notably, the all-new Nissan Patrol now includes Zero Gravity Seats…
The skyrocketing demand for Pop Mart’s viral Labubu dolls has fueled a black-market surge of counterfeit “Lafufu” figures across China, raising concerns among collectors and sparking action from authorities. The original Labubu dolls, launched in 2019 by Chinese toy giant Pop Mart, became an international sensation only recently—thanks in part to global celebrities such as Blackpink’s Lisa, Rihanna, Dua Lipa, and Post Malone, who have all been seen flaunting the quirky collectible. However, with fame has come a shadow industry of bootlegs, offering near-identical knockoffs at a fraction of the price. According to Dexerto, the “Lafufu” dolls have flooded the…
NVIDIA continues to redefine PC gaming performance with the rollout of DLSS 4 featuring Multi Frame Generation, enhancing gameplay across several major July releases including Killing Floor 3, WUCHANG: Fallen Feathers, and The First Descendant. These updates arrive alongside a new GeForce Game Ready Driver, designed to deliver optimal performance and support for upcoming Unreal Engine 5 upgrades, including Riot Games’ Valorant. Launching on July 24, Killing Floor 3 by Tripwire Interactive brings intense action-horror FPS gameplay back into focus. Players join forces as Nightfall specialists to battle unrelenting waves of bioengineered threats. With full support for DLSS 4 with…