As another week wraps up, new releases and experiences keep the momentum going. While Art Dubai might be what most are thinking about, we turn to new launches worth adding to cart, new dining addresses worth stopping by, and new experiences worth savouring. We round up all the names on our radar.
To Shop
Cult Gaia Cult Gaia Fragrances
As a brand synonymous with summer and sculptural wear, Cult Gaia has taken a new step ahead of the warmer season by releasing a fragrance line. Inspired by Farsi words that connect to the founder and creative director, Jasmin Larian Hekmat’s Persian heritage, each scent evokes a new mood while the bottles remain a sculptural work of art, a Cult Gaia standard.
Cult Gaia Mast is warm and heady, featuring notes of Italian bergamot, coconut, Brazilian cumaru, orange blossom, Haitian vetiver, amber, and musk. It’s sweet, fruity, and fresh, which feels like early summer. Cult Gaia Zan comes with musky, powdery notes. The scent opens with white incense, ambrox, and musks that ground the scent before cutting it with pink pepper and Guatemalan cardamom. Finally, Cult Gaia Noor, AKA ‘light’, bottles up the essence of the sun into a scent. With notes of black pepper, rose, vetiver, lavender, fig, and pine, it’s a fresh spicy scent that tickles the nose and creates an invigorating scent profile.
TIMEBEAM Beauty | The Sun Protection Habit Set
Since suncare here is more of a practical survival tip rather than any ordinary skin ritual, TIMEBEAM Beauty has gone one step ahead to address the gaps that come with irregular sun protection. Releasing The Sun Protection Habit Set, the set comes with the Sunbeam Daily Mineral Sunscreen Broad Spectrum SPF 50, a nifty lightweight sunscreen that imparts a glow instead of a white cast. Astaxanthin, a microalgae-derived antioxidant, Vitamin C, Green Tea, Niacinamide, and Hyaluronic Acid all add to strengthening the skin, keeping it plump and hydrated.
And for all the times we forget to reapply, don’t apply enough, or accidentally apply uneven coverage, the Sol Mate Sun Gummies Skin Protection Supplement tackles that problem. The latest gummy to join the ‘skincare you can eat’ lineup, the gummies are formulated with Polypodium Leucotomos, an antioxidant that shields the skin from UV and environmental damage. Whereas Vitamin C supports collagen production and Vitamin E neutralises free radicals and supports the skin barrier.
With comprehensive coverage, TIMEBEAM Beauty sets to show off the future of sun care; one that takes care of things inside and out and definitely beats the Gulf sun.
To Dine
Flat12 | Marina Cubes, Dubai Port Rashid
Dubai’s Port Rashid might need some serious GPS navigation, but if Flat12 is anything to go by, the area makes it worth the trouble. Hidden inside a 1979 warehouse, Flat12 was born from six Emirati brothers with a shared love of cars, design and good food. Vintage brown couches and pipeline exposure ground the cafe, while the open space is decorated with heritage cars, art, and collectables. You can get your weekly car wash done here while sipping on a fresh brew or snacking on their baked bites. Their recently refreshed menu also allows for a relaxing sit-down moment over comforting mains such as the Shelby Burger, the Roasted Sesame Shrimp Rice Bowl and the Filet Mignon. And of course, don’t forget to leave without a spoonful of dessert, their Seared Dates with Vanilla Ice Cream leaves the tongue with a hot and cold contrast, while the Malva Pudding is a cosy, syrup-soaked sponge that perfectly satisfies the sweet tooth.
Sutēki | Dubai Harbour
Recently joining the current culinary delights at Dubai Harbour, Sutēki blends Tokyo soul with Dubai heat. Using the Japanese loanword for Steak, Sutēki is strictly a wagyu room, with a menu reimagining the premium cut in every way possible. With neon lighting to set the mood, tables here hold wagyu gyozas and croquettes alongside heavy hitters like Australian sirloins and bavettes.
To Experience
Poolside Brunch | Nikki Beach Dubai
Savouring what’s left of the weather before it gets unbelievably hot, the Poolside Brunch by Nikki Beach Dubai serves as the ultimate coastal escape needed for the weekend. Taking place every Saturday, from 12 – 5 PM, here stress about the week’s worries melts away as DJs turn the tempo up and dining options allow for a moment of indulgence. And whether the day ends with dips in the pool or with lounging by the daybeds, the experience leaves behind the ultimate relaxation by soaking up the sun and letting time simply flow by.
Your Mind, Your Rules: Live with Marisa Peer | Theatre of Digital Art (TODA), Madinat Jumeirah
Recently releasing her new book, Your Mind, Your Rules, Marisa Peer works to bring her dialogue to a new, immersive level by getting up on stage. Taking place on Sunday, May 17, from 8 PM onwards, Peer brings her insights to life in a 90-minute session. Here, guests can learn deeper about their thought patterns and how to achieve mindset shifts, while also grabbing connection with the rest of the community. TODA’s digital art environment will create the immersive ambience needed while attendees learn more about Peer and her work, away from the typical book launch.
To Watch
In the Grey
Starring Henry Cavill, Jake Gyllenhaal, and Eiza González, In the Grey is an action-adventure film that follows the story of a covert team of elite operatives living in the shadows. Filled with stunts, strategy, and a heist, it’s a thrilling weekend watch of pure entertainment.
Remarkably Bright Creatures | Netflix
A drama adapted from the novel of the same name, Remarkably Bright Creatures, follows the story of a widow and a young drifter who form an unlikely friendship at an aquarium where they work. Narrated by an octopus watching the story unfold from his tank, the film is rich with little details and a heartfelt watch about loneliness, grief, and growth.
