Category: News

Dubai, UAE – SandBox Middle East, the largest Filipino-owned importer and distributor of food and grocery items, proudly announced its venture into the retail business with the grand opening of its Sari Sari store – a specialty convenience shop showcasing curated Philippine-made food and grocery items.

Sari Sari store made its highly anticipated opening in the vibrant neighborhood of Karama, Dubai. This marks the first of 15 planned locations across the United Arab Emirates, offering residents and expatriates a taste of the Philippines’ rich culinary heritage.

The exclusive ribbon-cutting ceremonies were held under the esteemed presence of His Excellency, Alfonso Ferdinand A. Ver, Chief of Mission Class I, and the Ambassador of the Republic of the Philippines to the United Arab Emirates. Joining him were Philippine Consul General Renato N. Dueñas Jr., SandBox Middle East Chief Executive Officer, Lito German, and SandBox Chief Operating Officer Mark Mauricio, among other VIPs in attendance.

“We are thrilled to introduce Sari Sari Store to the residents of Dubai and the wider UAE,” expressed Lito German, CEO of SandBox Middle East. “Sari Sari Store will serve as a hub for the Filipino community and a gateway for everyone to experience the rich flavors and products that the Philippines has to offer.”

German further explained that Sari Sari Store will entice visitors to explore its thoughtfully designed and inviting space, where they will discover an extensive range of authentic Filipino food products, including spices, sauces, snacks, canned goods, beverages, and much more. From traditional delicacies to modern culinary delights, Sari Sari Store aims to cater to every palate and preference, ensuring an unforgettable shopping experience.

“I extend my warmest congratulations and well wishes to SandBox Middle East,” added Ambassador Ver. “The Filipinos in the UAE would now be able to recreate traditional dishes from the Sari Sari Store’s curated offerings, to bring to this country the taste of home. I am happy that the Filipino value of sharing is encouraged by Sari Sari Store, especially our own unique and flavorful cuisines from all over the Philippines. This way, we are able to contribute our rich cultural heritage to our Emirati friends and this country’s more than 200 expatriate communities.”

Sari Sari Store in Karama, Dubai, is set to become the go-to destination for anyone seeking authentic Philippine flavors and products. The store is conveniently located at 56 2C St in Karama, within walking distance from the ADCB Metro Station, offering ample parking and designed with a warm, inviting ambiance intended to make customers feel right at home.

Four years after their online launch and with thousands of homes in the Middle East now  enjoying healthy chocolates and drinks, homegrown-UAE, women-led, family-run brand Co Chocolat now opens its doors to the first farm-to-table chocolate factory in the Middle East. 

It will be another proud first for the UAE as homegrown brand Co  Chocolat, creators of farm-to-table, handcrafted, artisanal single-origin chocolates, officially  opens its doors to the first farm-to-table chocolate factory in the Middle East on February 21,  2023. 

Differentiating itself from typical chocolate companies, the factory which will be open to  interactive tours will educate about chocolates right from its very source – cacao. Guests to the  factory will not only see machines, take part in the chocolate-making process, and taste Co  Chocolat’s many products, they will also get a chance to taste fresh cacao fruit. This is before  the cocoa pod is even dried and roasted to become the main ingredient of chocolates. Their  tours will also highlight how Co Chocolat’s mother company is a social enterprise that  empowers farmers in the founders’ native country, the Philippines. 

Iman Suguitan, co-founder and head of marketing, says, “There is no better time than now to  prepare our millennials who will be our future consumers about the importance of ethical  sourcing. We cannot be luxuriating while halfway around the world somebody is suffering because of our luxury. At Co Chocolat, making truly ‘guilt-free’ food choices is imperative.” 

Sister co-founders Iman and Luchie Suguitan started cacao farming in 2015 together with their  diabetic mother who has survived several brain strokes and a heart attack. “The World Health  Organization reports that about 422 million people worldwide now have diabetes. We thought of  revolutionizing how chocolates are perceived and made by creating chocolates and desserts  that are actually mouth-watering. Even if a person is diabetic, vegan, gluten-intolerant, or  requires a specific diet, he should be able to safely enjoy delicious treats. In our research, we  found that it all boils down to the choosing and handling of ingredients, and specifically for  chocolates, it all starts with our beloved cacao. Although we have lived in the UAE for almost two  decades, we spent time in the south of the Philippines where we learned to grow and  rehabilitate cacao trees, and even mastered the fermentation and post-harvest process. These  cacao trees we farmed then, and trees of other farmers who are part of our social enterprise,  now give the cacao which we use in the chocolates we sell here in the UAE,” according to  Luchie, who is COO and head of products. 

The farm-to-table chocolate factory will also be the venue for the first chocolate and cacao  school in the UAE. Chocolate Masterclasses where both newbie choco-enthusiasts and  professional chocolatiers can learn and improve their craft beginning this May. Co Chocolat  held with their community herbalist last week the very first “Xocolatl Workshop” which was all  about creating natural, zero-chemical skincare products using cacao specifically high-grade  cocoa butter.

About Co Chocolat:

Co-founders Luchie and Iman are certified “Cacao Doctors” after they were able to directly  grow cacao trees in their farm after one year of graduation in 2015. They co-founded the  social enterprise www.OFWparasaMagsasaka.com in 2016 and continue to empower  farmers through healthy chocolates.

Related article: Luchie & Iman Suguitan – Illustrado 300 Most Influential Filipinos in the Gulf

Dubai, United Arab Emirates – Liter of Light, a social enterprise based in the UAE, is one of the 12 international artists whose large-scale hand-built solar art installation will be exhibited at the Pyramids of Giza this November. The initiative is made possible through the sponsorship of MDRT Foundation and UNESCO’s International Day of Light, with media partners Yalla TV and Bhutani Infra, and is under the patronage of His Excellency Suhail Muhammad Al Zarooni.

This exhibition comes at a pivotal moment for the MENA region as the next international climate change conferences, COP27 and COP28, which will be hosted by Egypt in 2022 and the United Arab Emirates in 2023.

This community-built artwork combines the skills of 300 UNESCO potters from Safi, Morocco; 600 youth from schools and the Rotaract Clubs in the UAE; and 300 youth from Egypt who built the circuits by hand as part of the “Light It Forward” challenge. Modeled after the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge, the initiative invites youth, corporate partners, and members of the private sector to do their part to solve energy poverty from the safety of home.

Each light built is accompanied by a handwritten message expressing dreams and hopes for the planet.

The hand-built solar lights will be showcased in Egypt, where Liter of Light was invited to feature its work at “Art d’Egypte: Forever is Now II”, the second edition of the prestigious art exhibition at the Giza Pyramids in Egypt. The parallel project is being unveiled in November to coincide with the global climate change conference, COP27, that Egypt is hosting this month. Founder Illac Diaz is an Emirati resident and party delegate to the conference for the UAE.

“As our region gets ready to host COP27 and COP28  in 2022 and 2023, we want to lend our voices to the dialogue on climate change solutions,” says Illac Diaz, Founder of Liter of Light in the UAE. “This artwork is inspired by the first multi-cultural environmental hero called Captain Planet, who as a young man inspired me, and showed a generation of change makers what’s possible when we combine our powers to save the planet.

By engaging youth and the community in our work, we are pioneering a new kind of engagement, where technical know-how for climate action meets creative expression.”

“The members of the Million Dollar Round Table (MDRT) are proud to partner with Liter of Light through their MDRT Foundation,” says Adrian P. Baker, DipPFS, 2023 President of the MDRT Foundation. “Our hope is that this exhibit inspires people in Africa and around the world to bring light to those living in darkness while also raising awareness about sustainable energy.”

Nadine Abdel Ghaffar, Founder of Culturvator/ Art D’Egypte says: “We are so thrilled to

announce that Liter of Light are participating in a parallel project in Forever Is Now II at the Pyramids of Giza Plateau with hand built solar artworks, in parallel to COP27 happening in Egypt while aligning the vision of Art D’Egypte following the strategy of climate change”.

After the installation at the Giza Pyramids, the lights will be distributed to communities living with little to no access to electricity in the region.

***

About Liter of Light:

Working in 32 countries with over 2,700 youth ambassadors, Liter of Light is one of the largest organizations that works with youth to engage companies in Europe, Latin America, Southeast Asia, and Africa on building simple and repairable solar lights, mobile charging systems, and street lights. Using materials from within each community, the organization, an ambassador for UNESCO’s International Day of Light, has empowered the lives of over one million people a year, while creating opportunities for green micro business, and lowering carbon emissions by 1000kg per hand-built solar lamp. Liter of Light was selected as one of 120 Global Innovators for the EXPOLive Impact Innovation Grant program at EXPO2020 in Dubai in 2020. It was awarded the Zayed Future Energy Prize in 2015.

VIDEO: Messages for the Planet – International Installations

About Art d’Egypte:

Art D’Égypte is a privately owned Egyptian multidisciplinary firm founded by Nadine Abdel Ghaffar to support the Egyptian arts and culture scene. It provides art consultancies to institutions, corporations and private collectors as well as curatorial services to public spaces and private entities. Art D’Égypte aims to bridge the gap between Egyptian artists and the world and to support young artists and artists with scarce funds to get their work displayed and published. Cataloguing Egypt’s modern and contemporary art heritage is a further goal of the company through the development of documentaries on modern Egyptian artists.

By raising awareness, the team’s target is to help preserve Egypt’s heritage and advance the international profile of modern and contemporary Egyptian art, presenting a different view of Egypt to the world. Every aspect of Art D’Égypte’s projects is designed with sustainability and community in mind. This commitment to inclusivity and accessibility aligns with UNESCO’s Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions and has resulted in Art D’Égypte operating under UNESCO patronage since 2019.

About UNESCO International Day of Light:

The International Day of Light is celebrated on 16 May each year, the anniversary of the first successful operation of the laser in 1960 by physicist and engineer, Theodore Maiman. This day is a call to strengthen scientific cooperation and harness its potential to foster peace and sustainable development.

The International Day of Light celebrates the role light plays in science, culture and art, education, and sustainable development, and in fields as diverse as medicine, communications, and energy. The celebration will allow many different sectors of society worldwide to participate in activities that demonstrates how science, technology, art and culture can help achieve the goals of UNESCO – building the foundation for peaceful societies. Since it’s launch in 2015, Liter of Light has been an official partner of the International Day of Light.

Dubai, United Arab Emirates – Liter of Light, a social enterprise based in the UAE, is one of the 12 international artists whose large-scale hand-built solar art installation will be exhibited at the Pyramids of Giza this October 27 to November 30. The initiative is made possible through the sponsorship of MDRT Foundation and UNESCO’s International Day of Light, with media partners Yalla TV and Bhutani Infra, and is under the patronage of His Excellency Suhail Muhammad Al Zarooni.

This exhibition comes at a pivotal moment for the MENA region as the next international climate change conferences, COP27 and COP28, which will be hosted by Egypt in 2022 and the United Arab Emirates in 2023.

This community-built artwork combines the skills of UNESCO potters from Safi, Morocco; more than one thousand youth from schools in the UAE; and the Rotaract Clubs of Dubai and Egypt who built the circuits by hand as part of the “Light It Forward” challenge. Modeled after the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge, the initiative invites youth, corporate partners, and members of the private sector to do their part to solve energy poverty from the safety of home.

Each light built is accompanied by a handwritten message expressing hope for the planet.

The hand-built solar lights will make their way to Egypt, where Liter of Light was invited to showcase their work at “Art d’Egypte: Forever is Now II”, the second edition of the prestigious art exhibition at the Giza Pyramids in Egypt which opens on October 27.

“As our region gets ready to host the next global climate change conferences (COP27-28)  in 2022 and 2023, we want to lend our voices to the dialogue on climate change solutions,” says Illac Diaz, Founder of Liter of Light in the UAE. “This artwork is inspired by the first multi-cultural environmental hero called Captain Planet, who as a young man inspired me, and showed a generation of change makers what’s possible when we combine our powers to save the planet.”

By engaging youth and the community in our work, we are pioneering a new kind of engagement, where technical know-how for climate action meets creative expression.”

“The members of the Million Dollar Round Table (MDRT) are proud to partner with Liter of Light through their MDRT Foundation,” says Adrian P. Baker, DipPFS, 2023 President of the MDRT Foundation. “Our hope is that this exhibit inspires people in Africa and around the world to bring light to those living in darkness while also raising awareness about sustainable energy.”

Nadine Abdel Ghaffar, Founder of Culturvator/ Art D’Egypte says: “We are so thrilled to

announce that Liter of Light are participating in a parallel project in Forever Is Now II at the Pyramids of Giza Plateau with hand built solar artworks, in parallel to COP27 happening in Egypt while aligning the vision of Art D’Egypte following the strategy of climate change”.

After the installation at the Giza Pyramids, the lights will be distributed to communities living with little to no access to electricity in the region.

***

About Liter of Light:

Working in 32 countries with over 2,700 youth ambassadors, Liter of Light is one of the largest organizations that works with youth to engage companies in Europe, Latin America, Southeast Asia, and Africa on building simple and repairable solar lights, mobile charging systems, and street lights. Using materials from within each community, the organization, an ambassador for UNESCO’s International Day of Light, has empowered the lives of over one million people a year, while creating opportunities for green micro business, and lowering carbon emissions by 1000kg per hand-built solar lamp. Liter of Light was selected as one of 120 Global Innovators for the EXPOLive Impact Innovation Grant program at EXPO2020 in Dubai in 2020. It was awarded the Zayed Future Energy Prize in 2015.

VIDEO: Messages for the Planet – International Installations

About Rotaract Clubs:

Rotaract clubs bring together people ages 18 and older to exchange ideas with leaders in the community, develop leadership and professional skills, and have fun through service.

In communities worldwide, Rotary and Rotaract members work side by side to take action through service. From big cities to rural villages, Rotaract is changing communities around the world.

About Art d’Egypte:

Art D’Égypte is a privately owned Egyptian multidisciplinary firm founded by Nadine Abdel Ghaffar to support the Egyptian arts and culture scene. It provides art consultancies to institutions, corporations and private collectors as well as curatorial services to public spaces and private entities. Art D’Égypte aims to bridge the gap between Egyptian artists and the world and to support young artists and artists with scarce funds to get their work displayed and published. Cataloguing Egypt’s modern and contemporary art heritage is a further goal of the company through the development of documentaries on modern Egyptian artists.

By raising awareness, the team’s target is to help preserve Egypt’s heritage and advance the international profile of modern and contemporary Egyptian art, presenting a different view of Egypt to the world. Every aspect of Art D’Égypte’s projects is designed with sustainability and community in mind. This commitment to inclusivity and accessibility aligns with UNESCO’s Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions and has resulted in Art D’Égypte operating under UNESCO patronage since 2019.

Mamoso K-beauty is the first Korean beauty manufacturer sales agency and importer of popular Korean cosmetics brands based in the UAE.

The company is geared to provide local wholesalers, distributors, and retailers access to authentic Korean beauty products.

The beauty market demand in the region is forecasted to increase to $13.9B by 2027.

Dubai, United Arab Emirates – Mamoso K-beauty, the first Korean manufacturer sales agency and importer of popular Korean cosmetic brands based in the UAE, is poised to give the thriving Korean Beauty (KBeauty) segment a boost. The beauty market in the Middle East was valued at $10.2B in 2019 and is projected to reach $13.9B by 2027, growing at a CAGR of 9.0% from 2021 to 2027, according to Allied Market Research. (1)

Partnering with some of the most loved and trusted Korean beauty manufacturers including CKD and Vivozon, Korea’s largest healthcare companies, with brands such as O!GETi and Tinazana among others, the company aims to bridge the gap between manufacturers, wholesalers, and distributors in the region. The development is expected to reduce costs for wholesalers and distributors, as well as provide instant access to valuable Kbeauty industry knowledge and expertise. With all supplies coming directly from South Korea to ensure authenticity, companies can now benefit from selling some of the most coveted and viral KBeauty products.

“As the first Korean manufacturer sales agency and importer of KBeauty products in the UAE, we are filling the gap in the market for trustworthy sources of authentic KBeauty products produced and shipped directly from South Korea. Also, due to the high margins and rising demand, the KBeauty market is becoming more and more attractive for wholesalers and distributors. Hence, to meet this, we plan to expand our operations; and explore opportunities for business cooperation. This includes retail spaces in shopping malls and franchises.” said serial entrepreneur EJ Pang, Founder of Mamoso K-beauty. EJ Pang has almost two decades of experience in the retail industry in the UAE and GCC markets.

Along with their Debut into the UAE Market, Mamoso invites you to their showcase and unveiling of Korean cosmetics and BTS licensed products at Al Joud Center from until October 31st 2022. 

Mamoso KBeauty, whose clientele includes JD.com, China’s largest retailer and leading e-commerce platform, is prepared to be a prime partner for businesses in the Middle East’s flourishing market. Korean Institute of Halal Industry (KIHI) figures indicate exports to Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) countries grew by 14% in 2020 to $308M and 28% in 2021 to $395M, cumulatively reflecting a sizable increase of 42% in two years. In 2020 imports of Korean cosmetics to UAE and Saudi Arabia grew to 62.7% and 90.1%, respectively from 2019. In 2021, the UAE imported $43M, Saudi Arabia $19M, and Kuwait $13M. Non-Arab Middle Eastern countries Iran and Turkey account for 7% of exports, with Turkey importing $27M last year. Dubai, a leading driver of Kbeauty’s growth in the Middle East, operates as a significant hub for sales and re-exports of the products. (2)

With Middle East consumers having one of the largest per capita expenditures on beauty worldwide and the growing preference for organic, clean, or green beauty, Kbeauty is poised to thrive well into the future with its high-quality, all-natural ingredients, innovative formulations, and emphasis on wellness and health. Products are also halal with ingredients that come from plants, aquatic organisms, minerals, and compounds. Kbeauty is further bolstered by the unabated rise of “Hallyu,” or the “Korean Wave” used to refer to the spectacular rise of Korean culture promoted via KPop, Kdramas, and celebrities.

EJ Pang adds, “With honest ingredients and honest prices, the products we offer are based on the Korean beauty concept of maintaining the skin’s health, hydration, and radiance using natural ingredients instead of chemical-based products. We offer carefully chosen products that meet the needs of individuals in the UAE and the Middle East.”

Recently, Mamoso KBeauty has also been appointed by Dobu Mask and All International as the official distributor of BTS masks and other merchandise in the region. With the iconic Korean group being one of the world’s most popular bands and top-selling artists in recent years, with a dedicated massive fanbase around the world, the demand for the group’s merchandise is expected to grow tremendously.

About Mamoso K-Beauty

Mamoso K-beauty is the first Korean manufacturer sales agency, and importer of popular Korean cosmetics brands based in the UAE. The company represents authentic KBeauty products manufactured with 100% all-natural ingredients using innovative formulations. Mamoso KBeauty is also the official representative for BTS masks and other merchandise in the region.

For more information, please visit: https://kbeauty.ae/

On July 29th 2022, K-Pop Idol group MustB will be performing at Boracay, Asiana Hotel in front of Dubai fans!

MUSTB is an abbreviation of “Must Believe”, a message from the band to their fandom, aptly named “Muffins”.

Members Taegeon, Wooyeon, Doha, Soohyun, and Sihoo founded the band in 2019. Due to their talent and commitment, the group established themselves in the music market relatively fast. The five members have been active in the artistic field since 2015 – as models, singers, dancers, and even working with famous idol group, BTS. 

The K-Pop concert will be the highlight of a full Korean Fiesta night – where more surprises and activities await fans. Event goers will have the opportunity to meet MustB up close for a meet&greet, and even dance dance together to today’s trending K-Pop hits alongside popular dance crews. MustB themselves also claimed to have a special surprise for two of Dubai’s fan groups – BTS Army’s and Stray Kids’ Stays.

Guests will also take part in a Korean Wave Experience, immersing themselves in beautiful Korean customs, arts, crafts, beauty, dance, food and pop culture. 

The event is organized by SONE Studios – a label of SONE Corporation, an event management, artist representation and music production company focused on the Korean market and entertainment. They have partnered up for a second time with Choego Club, the Korean culture-focused community led by Emirati youth.

Tickets now available online on Virgin Megastore Tickets and in-store, in every branch across the United Arab Emirates. 

For more information, follow SONE Studios and Choego Club on social media: 

Website: www.sone-corp.com 

IG: @sone.studios, @choego_club

Twitter: @sonestudios; TikTok: @sone.studios