
Taj Hotels and Resorts to open two properties in Saudi Arabia
In an exclusive interview with TravelTV Middle East, Saurabh Tiwari – Area Director Middle East & CIS, Taj Hotels part of IHCL shared that there are two hotels in the pipeline for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. One will be in the cultural capital of Diriyah Gate in Riyadh with 200 rooms whilst the other will be in Mecca with an inventory of 350 rooms. ' Saudi Arabia is growing at a phenomenal pace—it's already among the world's top 20 economies and is well on its way to breaking into the top 10. With numerous giga projects underway and nearly a trillion-dollar economy, the momentum is unstoppable. The opportunities here are vast; it's not just one runway, but six major runways of growth and potential. The future truly looks bright. As for Taj Hotels, we currently operate three exceptional properties in Dubai. Now that we're well-established there and our growth in India has been remarkable, we've turned our attention to Saudi Arabia. We've already signed two hotels—one in the holy city of Mecca and another in Riyadh. We're actively engaging with promising partners and like-minded investors who recognize the strength of our brand. And it's not just about Taj—it's also about the power of Brand India. There's a strong Indian diaspora here in Riyadh, over 1.7 million people, not to mention the countless pilgrims from the subcontinent who visit Saudi Arabia. They know our brand, they trust it, and they connect with it. We're confident that Taj will thrive in Saudi Arabia, and we're incredibly excited about what's ahead.'

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What's On
22 minutes ago
- What's On
What chefs eat: This is where UAE chefs dine abroad
Written by: Manaal Fatimah 30th July 2025 We're spoiled for choice with restaurants in UAE. But this travel season, we've tapped some of our culinary greats for their favourite restaurants worldwide, to inspire where you dine on your globetrotting adventures. Check out what these UAE chefs eat around the world. goes to…Dishoom, Shoreditch, London Dishoom in Shoreditch holds a special place in my heart. It's where my husband Shadi and I celebrated our first wedding anniversary, surrounded by the cosy charm of its Bombay-inspired interiors. Think warm lighting, vintage touches, and the comforting chatter of conversation around. There's something incredibly wholesome about the food: the smoky grilled meats, buttery naan straight from the tandoor, the rich, slow- cooked black daal that feels like a hug in a bowl, and the perfectly crisp fried okra that we couldn't stop reaching for. Dishoom isn't just a restaurant; it's an experience – nostalgic, soulful, and warm. @dishoom goes to…Gymkhana, London, UK One place that stands out to me, even though I've only been there once, is Gymkhana, a two Michelin Star Indian restaurant in London that's home to the best butter chicken and the best biryani. It's the kind of cool you can't put your finger on what makes it so special, but it is just so attractive as a venue. Also, my girlfriend is not a fan of tasting menus (which is what you get at most Michelin restaurants), so when I'm in London, I usually visit them alone. But Gymkhana is special because we're able to order a la carte and can enjoy a Michelin experience together. It's one of those restaurants that I want to go back to again and again. @gymkhanalondon goes to…Mercado del Puerto, Montevideo, Uruguay To this day, nothing compares to my experience in Uruguay. I first got to know about this gem through Anthony Bourdain's No Reservations and I was instantly hooked. Back in 2019 I was unbelievably lucky to be part of a course called 7 fires by Francis Mallmann, in Garzon – an old train station converted into a hotel and restaurant. We spent the best part of 3 weeks cooking with live fire right in the middle of the road across from the restaurant and also visiting the most amazing restaurants in idyllic locations, either by the beach or the plains, in the city or the countryside. goes to…Lung King Heen, Hong Kong Lung King Heen offers exquisite seafood and dim sum by Executive Chinese Chef Chan Yan Tak. As the world's first Chinese restaurant to earn three Michelin stars,I had the unforgettable privilege of attending an event in Hong Kong where Chef Chan Yan Tak personally prepared his signature crispy frogs legs with spicy salt for us – it was one of the most memorable dining experiences of my life. I was even invited into the kitchen to cook alongside this legendary chef. The consistency of the personally- sourced ingredients, the depth of flavour, and the elegant oriental atmosphere of the restaurant truly reflect a standard of excellence that continues to inspire me. @fshongkong goes to…Disfrutar, Barcelona, Spain Disfrutar is co-owned by Mateu Casañas, Oriol Castro, and Eduard Xatruch – former colleagues at the legendary elBulli. Since its opening in December 2014, the restaurant has earned 3 Michelin Stars and was recently named the Best Restaurant in the World for 2024. It pushes the boundaries of art, science, and creativity, delivering flawless execution with every dish. What truly set the experience apart was the warm, genuine hospitality, which elevated it beyond other world-class restaurants I've had the pleasure of dining at. @disfrutarbcn goes to…Asador Etxebarri, Bizkaia, Spain Etxebarri is purity at its finest, it's simplicity at it's finest, it's respect and passion towards one's craft, respect for ingredients, respect to suppliers, respect in the simple art of cooking. All the ingredients come from around the restaurant – the cows are on top of the hill, the shrimp comes fresh from a certain local supplier, the milk comes from the cows. When I went, it was my wife and I's honeymoon, and we drove from Madrid – it was a long but worthwhile journey. I had the chef – Bittor Arginzoniz – cookbook and I had it signed, and to see him in the flesh was like seeing Michael Jordan or Kobe Bryant, like meeting a culinary god. @asadorextebarrioficial goes to…Concettina ai Tre Santi, Naples, Italy On a long pizza tour of southern Italy, my son Sebastian and I fell deeply in love with Concettina ai Tre Santi deep in the Rione Sanità neighborhood of Naples. It remains the best meal of my life and the perfect blend of tradition and modernity in the food that I love most – pizza. We walked into Concettina as strangers and we walked out as family. It was a powerful expression of hospitality for young Sebastian and for me a lesson in blending youthful irreverence with the weight of history and its rich traditions. There's room for both and a need for them to live in harmony. They do at Concettina just as they do at Marmellata, and for us it served as confirmation that what we had in mind already existed. @concettina3santi Images: Socials/Supplied > Sign up for FREE to get exclusive updates that you are interested in


Arabian Post
4 hours ago
- Arabian Post
ADIA Expands Portfolio with Stake in NSDL
Arabian Post Staff -Dubai The Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, a prominent sovereign wealth fund, has bolstered its investment in India with the acquisition of a 1.17% stake in the National Securities Depository Limited, the country's oldest central depository. This move comes as part of NSDL's initial public offering, which has garnered significant attention within the Indian financial sector. The deal positions ADIA as one of the key anchor investors in NSDL's IPO, valued at ₹40.12 billion. The IPO officially opened for subscription today, marking a critical phase for both the company and the broader investment landscape. ADIA's involvement is seen as a strong endorsement of NSDL's role within the Indian financial ecosystem and reflects the UAE-based fund's growing confidence in India's capital markets. ADVERTISEMENT ADIA has acquired 174,996 equity shares in NSDL at ₹800 per share, amounting to an investment of ₹140 million. This participation places ADIA among the notable institutional investors backing the public offering, signalling the strategic importance of NSDL in India's burgeoning financial sector. The sovereign wealth fund's move is likely to strengthen its position in the Indian market, where it has been increasing its footprint over the past several years. The IPO has attracted substantial attention from institutional investors, with the Life Insurance Corporation of India securing the largest anchor allotment. LIC holds an 11.99% stake, underscoring its significant role in India's financial services landscape. Following closely is the Smallcap World Fund, which has committed to an 8.33% stake, further highlighting the appeal of NSDL as a viable investment proposition for large-scale financial institutions. NSDL, which plays a pivotal role in the clearing, settlement, and dematerialisation of securities in India, has been integral to the functioning of the Indian stock markets since its inception in 1996. The company provides critical infrastructure that supports the trading of securities and facilitates the electronic transfer of ownership. Its IPO is seen as a major milestone, not only for the company but for the broader development of the Indian financial market. As the oldest depository in the country, NSDL has witnessed the rapid expansion of India's financial markets over the past few decades. The company's role in streamlining the trading of securities has been a key enabler of the country's financial growth, positioning it as a leader in the sector. The funds raised through the IPO will be used to further enhance its technological infrastructure and expand its range of services, including the digitalisation of securities. The growing interest from global institutional investors, such as ADIA, underscores the attractiveness of India's financial market. Despite global economic uncertainty, India's stock exchanges continue to attract significant foreign investments, bolstered by the country's large consumer base, robust economic growth, and ongoing reforms aimed at improving market liquidity and transparency. ADIA, which has been active in the Indian market for several years, has diversified its portfolio across various sectors, including infrastructure, real estate, and technology. The sovereign wealth fund has shown a particular interest in India's financial services sector, making strategic investments in leading financial institutions and companies with strong growth potential. NSDL's IPO marks a significant step in the company's journey, with the funds raised providing a boost to its expansion and digitalisation efforts. For ADIA, this investment represents a continuation of its strategy to capitalise on India's growing financial sector and enhance its portfolio through carefully selected high-potential opportunities.


Gulf Today
5 hours ago
- Gulf Today
Indian auto industry emissions could reduce drastically
A new study released by India's Council on Energy, Environment and Water (CEEW) has said that India's automobile industry — the third-largest in the world — could cut its manufacturing emissions by as much as 87% by 2050 through a shift to green electricity and low-carbon steel. According to a CEEW press release, the study comes as several leading automakers — such as Mahindra & Mahindra, Tata Motors, TVS Motors, Ford, BMW, Mercedes-Benz, and Toyota — have, over the past two years, ramped up electric and hybrid vehicle production while simultaneously setting ambitious emission reduction targets. These automakers have also committed to the Science-Based Targets initiative (SBTi), aligning with global definitions of net-zero (NZ) that require full value-chain decarbonization by 2050. For large Indian auto manufacturers, cleaning up supply chains will not just lower emissions; it will enhance long-term cost competitiveness and position them as preferred international suppliers. The Executive Summary of the study says as the world moves towards NZ emissions, a transition is expected across all economic sectors. For the automobile sector, this would lead to a higher demand for low-carbon vehicles. Currently, about 65–80% of a vehicle's emissions come from its use phase. Electrification is a major step toward reducing these emissions, while hybrid vehicles are also being explored as a bridge in the short to medium term. This, in turn, means that there will be major shift in the type of vehicles being manufactured. The Indian automobile sector contributes around 7.1% to the gross domestic product, the Executive Summary points out, and employs over 19 million people. Indian original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) will need to ramp up low-carbon vehicle manufacturing to tap into the growing demand. For auto OEMs to be competitive, they will need to focus on decarbonizing their own manufacturing and upstream supply chains. It is, therefore, important to understand the future pattern of vehicle production, associated energy use and emissions, as well as the growth in demand for materials like steel or rubber used in vehicles. The OEMs must make informed decisions based on long-term assessments on the kind of materials and energy required for vehicle manufacturing. Emissions intensity is declining — but not fast enough, the press release points out. The CEEW study uses a custom version of the Global Change Analysis Model to project emissions under various pathways. It finds that if current business-as-usual (BAU) trends continue, annual vehicle production could rise nearly fourfold — from 25 million units in 2020 to 96 million by 2050. Emissions, however, would only double, reaching 64 million tonnes of CO₂, suggesting a steady decline in emissions per vehicle. Still, the absolute rise in emissions underscores the need for accelerated action. Steel alone would remain the largest source of supply chain emissions, with suppliers expected to rely heavily on coal in this business-as-usual scenario. The study estimates that sourcing low-carbon steel could reduce emissions by nearly 38 million tonnes by 2050. Green electricity and green steel are essential for deep decarbonization, according to the study. If both OEMs and their suppliers were to aim for NZ by 2050, annual emissions could fall from the projected 64 MtCO₂ (BAU) to just 9 MtCO₂ — an 87% reduction. This would require OEMs to shift to 100% green electricity — sourced through power purchase agreements, renewable energy certificates, or captive solar — and steel suppliers to use 56% hydrogen-based energy, reducing coal's share to under 10%. In addition, increasing scrap-based steel production to 48% by 2050 would significantly reduce emissions and resource intensity. The CEEW study also highlights that rubber suppliers must transition to green electricity to clean up Scope 2 emissions. The CEEW study also examines a high-hybrid scenario, where hybrids dominate in the near term before electric vehicles (EVs) take off. While this reduces energy demand among component suppliers by 7%, emissions remain slightly higher than in a BAU shift to EVs due to continued reliance on combustion engines. Ultimately, hybrid vehicles are at best a bridge and will need to be reduced to make way for zero-carbon vehicles. To align the automobile sector with a 2050 NZ pathway, the CEEW study recommends a two-pronged strategy: accelerate the transition to electric vehicles and decarbonize the full manufacturing value chain.