Category: Promoted

I’m sure you’ve heard of UPayments by now. If you’re starting a business or already running one, their name has probably come up more than once.

What makes UPayments interesting is how much they’ve transformed over the years. They started off as a simple payment solution, but today they’ve become a full ecosystem that a lot of businesses rely on. And now, as a subsidiary of NBK, they’ve grown into one of the most trusted and regulated payment providers in Kuwait. That alone gives a lot of confidence to anyone trying to build a serious business.

When you’re choosing a payments partner, there are plenty of options out there. But reliability, security, and long-term stability are things you can’t compromise on. That’s where UPayments really stands out. They’ve gone from being “another payment solution” to becoming a solid growth partner for businesses of all sizes.

Only after that transformation does it make sense to look at what they actually offer today. Their services cover pretty much everything a business might need:

• Online invoicing and payment links for instant collection

• A full e-commerce platform to help you launch and run an online store

• Payment gateway APIs and plugins for easy website and app integration

• Smart point-of-sale devices for in-store payments

• A property management and rent collection system for landlords

If you’re running a small business or planning to start one soon, UPayments is definitely worth checking out. You can find more information on their website upayments.com

Last year around this time I posted about the then-newly opened Gourmet Grocers, a premium grocery boutique at the Nasco building in Shuwaikh. Since then they’ve brought in even more brands and have become a go-to spot for anyone looking for premium essentials and interesting finds you don’t usually come across elsewhere.

Gourmet Grocers recently expanded their lineup with new gourmet brands like Ortiz, Greenomic, and Bornibus, while still carrying popular favorites such as Bjorg, Lune de Miel, Nicolas Alziari, and Nina’s Marie-Antoinette. It’s a mix of everyday essentials and those rare items you end up buying the moment you see them. Ortiz, by the way, is my favorite canned tuna brand, and if you’ve never tried it, you really should.

Gourmet Grocers also puts together seasonal collections throughout the year for occasions like Ramadan, Valentine’s Day, and other key events. For the holidays they’ve brought in Panettone, Panforte, festive sweets, and a new range of Gift Hampers and Gift Boxes. They regularly share curated hamper ideas on Instagram, or you can build your own by picking items directly from the store. Everything is packaged really nicely with a lot of attention to detail, so the gifts end up feeling thoughtful and premium.

They offer online ordering as well with complimentary delivery anywhere in Kuwait, and if you place your order before 2 p.m. you get same-day delivery through gourmet-grocers.com.

If you prefer passing by in person, the boutique is located in Shuwaikh (Google Maps). For updates and product highlights, check out @gourmetgrocers on Instagram or browse their website.

Active Arena is one of Shuwaikh Gate Holding’s latest projects (@shuwaikhgate) and is a new modern destination that just opened in Funaitees on the coastal strip. If you’ve driven down Road 30 toward Fahaheel recently, you’ve probably noticed it on the left side next to the National Guard Officers Club. It’s a futuristic looking building in a super convenient spot, easy to access with plenty of parking, which makes it a great stop for families or anyone looking for a quick and easy place to hang out.

Right now the project has Raising Cane’s, HID Café, and the largest PLAY Entertainment in Kuwait, with more concepts opening soon. The PLAY branch is huge and occupies most of the building. According to the manager I spoke to, it also has one of the largest soft play areas in the region.

If you’re in the area and looking for a quick bite, a cup of coffee, or a new spot to take the kids, check the place out. You’ll find the mall’s exact location linked in their bio @activearenakw

If you’ve been wanting to go to India and are looking for direct flights on brand new planes then this post will interest you.

Akasa Air is one of the newest Indian airlines, established just a few years ago, which is why their fleet is one of the youngest in the world. They currently operate Boeing 737 MAX aircraft flying to over 28 destinations including Kuwait, Riyadh, Jeddah, Abu Dhabi, and Doha.

Their local agent is AlKazemi Travel & Tourism, one of the oldest travel agencies in Kuwait, established in the late 60s, so you can expect everything to be handled smoothly and professionally. Akasa has been operating in Kuwait since last year and now has daily flights to India except on Sundays. Their local office is located on the mezzanine floor in Sanabil Tower, Sharq.

Akasa’s aim is to provide comfortable air travel at competitive rates while maintaining a high level of service. Café Akasa, their inflight meal service, offers a menu with over 45 meal options to suit all diets and tastes. Even though they’re a more economical option, all their seats have extra legroom and most of their aircraft have USB ports to charge your devices. The cabin is noticeably quieter, with up to 50 percent less noise inside.

They’re also an airline that cares. Akasa believes in sustainability, which is why they use recycled and bio-friendly materials wherever they can. Not only is their packaging and cutlery for inflight meals biodegradable, but even their crew wear sneakers specially designed for them by Adidas and made from recycled materials. They’re one of India’s greenest fleets. Their safety manual and menu card even include braille, a small but thoughtful detail that shows how much they care about accessibility. Last but not least, Akasa is a pet-friendly airline.

If you want to book your next trip or learn more about their routes and services, check out akasaiar.com and their local agent alkazemitravel.com

Mr Baker is probably everyone’s favorite cake shop brand. I personally love their eclairs and tend to have them a couple of times a month when we get Mr Baker cakes for Friday lunch. Last week they shared with me their new Tea Cake collection with a campaign inspired by Alice in Wonderland.

The idea behind the collection is to make tea time feel a bit more magical. They’ve created over ten different “Tea Cake families,” each one built around a specific origin or purpose. The traditional family includes the classics we all grew up with in Kuwait like Rahash and Girs Ogaili, while the international family features cakes inspired by favorites from around the world such as Victorian cake, honey cake, coconut and fudge.

Some of the families are more about convenience. The bites family is made up of smaller cakes for anyone who prefers lighter portions, while the Tea Cake Baskets are curated mini selections that work perfectly when you’re visiting a small group or hosting a quick gathering.

The whole collection is meant to give you options depending on what you’re in the mood for, whether you want something nostalgic, something international, or something easy to share.

You can order everything through their newly launched website with delivery across Kuwait, or pass by any of their shops and choose from the display. For more photos, head over to @mrbakerkwt

Soundstorm, MDLBEAST’s flagship festival, is the largest electronic music event in the region and has been held annually in Riyadh since 2019. I remember the first time I heard about it back then, I couldn’t believe it was happening in Saudi since they were just starting to open up and the event was bigger than anything I had seen in the region at the time. Since then Soundstorm has kept growing, with last year attracting over 450,000 visitors, and this year they’re going even bigger.

Soundstorm 2025 will have a lineup of over 200 artists with some huge names including Post Malone, Benson Boone, Cardi B, Metro Boomin, DJ Snake, Halsey, Major Lazer, Pitbull, Calvin Harris, and many more.

This year they’re also unveiling a totally new experience with a revamped festival site and brand new stage designs. Riyadh’s downtown area will be completely redesigned and the site will be divided into 4 districts with a total of 14 stages.

Soundstorm 2025 is taking place in Riyadh over three days from December 11th to 13th. Tickets are on sale now at mdlbeast.com. For more info along with the full lineup, head over to the website or their Instagram @mdlbeast.

Aseer Time, the largest juice shop franchise in Kuwait, made headlines a few months ago after opening their first store in China. Now they’re back in the news again after becoming an official sponsor of Spanish football team Sevilla FC.

Sevilla FC, founded in 1890, is based in Seville and known for its passionate fans and strong European record. They’ve won the UEFA Europa League a record seven times, making them one of Europe’s most successful clubs in that competition.

Aseer Time isn’t just a sponsor, they’re also the team’s official juice for this season.

If you’re interested in learning more about the partnership or owning an Aseer Time franchise, you can contact them on WhatsApp at +96567090966.

Prolife has launched a new line of chips called ProGrills, bringing a bold, smoky crunch to their protein snack lineup. Each chip is packed with protein, maximum flavor and come in four flavors:

• ProGrills Cheese
• ProGrills Sweet Chili
• ProGrills Lemon Cumin
• ProGrills Sour Spice

Each pack has 13g of protein and great macros, making it a great healthy snack option.

That’s not all, Prolife also announced they’re now the first Kuwaiti salty snacks manufacturer to get certified by the NSF (National Sanitation Foundation), a globally recognized organization that sets public health and safety standards. They’ve earned NSF Vegan and NSF Cruelty-Free certifications.

In total, they’ve received five certifications this year:

• NSF Non-GMO
• NSF Gluten-Free
• NSF Vegan
• NSF Cruelty-Free
• Nut-Free

To find out more, check out @prolifesnacks or head over to their website prolifesnacks.com

Provin, my go-to app for ordering supplements, just went through a brand refresh and launched a new campaign centered around Strength, Beauty, and Balance. The idea behind it is simple but powerful. Health looks different for everyone, and Provin wants to be there for your personal wellness goals, whatever they are.

They’re one of the few local brands that really focus on high-quality supplements and herbal remedies, carrying over 100 international brands including popular ones like NOW, Thorne, Goli, Health Nag, and Optimum Nutrition. They’ve also started curating clean beauty and personal care products such as aluminum-free deodorants, fluoride-free toothpastes, and creams that are as clean as the supplements they carry.

They deliver across the GCC and can deliver chilled products within Kuwait in under 3 hours, which is impressive for anyone who’s ordered supplements or probiotics before. Some of the exclusive brands they carry, like Thorne, are priced close to international rates without the usual crazy local markups.

Their new campaign is about redefining what wellness means to you, whether you’re chasing strength, beauty, or balance. If you’ve never ordered from Provin or want to find out more, check them out at @weareprovin

Go Greek Yogurt, the popular LA-based brand known for its authentic Greek yogurt, opened in Kuwait earlier this year. They’re a favorite among celebrities in LA, and you’ve probably seen paparazzi shots of your favorite stars holding a cup of Go Greek Yogurt.

They recently launched a new product called the Greek Essentials Box. It’s basically a gathering box that includes nine frozen yogurt cups with eighteen toppings on the side.

Because of the richness of Greek yogurt, they can’t use dry ice to keep everything cold since it ruins the taste and texture. So they had to find a better way to insulate the yogurt while keeping things also eco-friendly (so no styrofoam either). Eventually, they came up with an insulated cardboard box that uses bags of ice to keep the yogurt frozen and fresh during delivery. The inside of the box is lined with a reflective material that helps slow how quickly the ice and yogurt melts by reflecting heat away and keeping the temperature inside stable.

Go Greek Yogurt has a physical location on the ground floor of Arraya Complex, but if you want to order delivery, head to gogreekyogurtkw.com or check out their instagram @gogreekyogurt.kw

Qudra is a Kuwait-based freelance marketplace that connects freelancers with clients. I posted about them when they first launched last year, and now, a year later, they’ve expanded beyond Kuwait with a launch in Dubai to serve the wider MENA region.

Their platform connects talent in Kuwait and the MENA region with clients seeking services like graphic design, digital marketing, and interior design. The app offers secure payments, direct chat, and detailed freelancer profiles to help clients find the right match.

Since I last posted about them, Qudra has rolled out new features including Qudra Pro, a way for freelancers to verify their profiles, gain more visibility, and access exclusive opportunities. They’ve also improved payments, added better project management tools, and enhanced communication features based on user feedback.

If you’re a freelancer
Qudra lets you showcase your skills and get discovered by clients. Payments are secured before you start a project, and once it’s completed, the funds are released to you.

If you’re a business
Qudra simplifies the hiring process by providing access to a diverse pool of talent with a wide range of skills. You can also post a job listing with a specific budget and have freelancers reach out to you.

Qudra makes freelancing safe, efficient, and rewarding for both sides. Try them out joinqudra.com

I usually post about brands and their products, but this one’s a bit different since it’s about the company behind the brands. You’ve probably never heard of SocialEats, but you’ve definitely heard of their concepts. SocialEats is a creative hospitality group that started in Kuwait in 2016 with its first brand, Chocomelt, and has since grown to multiple brands and over 30 branches across the GCC. Some of their brands include:

Chocomelt
A flagship dessert spot that’s been serving handcrafted creations for over 10 years across the GCC.

Chutney & Co
An Indian tapas concept bringing elevated Indian cuisine to Kuwait and soon Qatar.

B.Social
A creativity-driven brand for custom cakes and desserts made for every kind of celebration (including allergen-free).

The Neighbourhood
A nostalgic space built around good vibes and balanced food, and home to their award-winning matcha.

MoG
A specialty coffee concept known for its signature menu and attention to detail in every cup.

From Kuwait to the world, SocialEats is growing fast and going global with plans to expand beyond the GCC into the UK, Turkey, India, and Iraq. What started as a shared passion for hospitality has turned into a diverse portfolio of brands, from award-winning desserts and elevated Indian cuisine to specialty coffee and custom cakes. Check them out socialeats.com

Deliveroo just did something pretty cool and fun. They took four of Kuwait’s favorite chefs and sent them abroad to cook, learn and trade recipes with some of the world’s top chefs.

The Kuwaiti chefs that took part in this program were:

Faisal Al Nashmi (Table Otto, San Ristorante, and more)
Ghalia Hayat (Oh G!)
Khaled AlBaker (Little Ruby’s, Young Po, and more)
Sawsan Daana (Matbakhi by Sawsan)

The idea? Bring back the secrets behind viral global dishes while sharing Kuwait’s own flavors with the world. They sent Faisal to Rome, Ghalia to London, Khaled to Seoul and Sawsan to Athens. Think of it as a culinary exchange program and going by the videos Deliveroo have been publishing, it looked pretty fun.

The chefs are now back in Kuwait and they’re each working on creating a dish based on their experience abroad. These 4 new dishes are going to be exclusive to Deliveroo, so you won’t find them anywhere else. To find out when they drop, make sure you are following @deliveroo_kw

If you’ve been thinking about eating healthier or losing weight in a realistic way, then this post might be of interest to you. Eman AlAwadhi is a licensed dietitian here in Kuwait who specializes in weight management. She holds a Master’s in Applied Sport and Exercise Science and runs the instagram account @health_talk where she focuses on simplifying healthy eating and weight loss.

Eman’s goal is to make weight loss less complicated and more achievable, while helping people build habits they can actually stick to. A lot of diets start off strong but quickly feel impossible to maintain, which is why her tips and approach are designed to be practical and sustainable.

It’s also common for people who want to start eating better or losing weight not to know where to begin. That’s why Eman offers customized meal plans as a practical way to understand healthy eating, what to eat, what to avoid, and how much of it. Her plans are tailored to fit your lifestyle, start at KD 40, and come with the following benefits:

• Full nutrition assessment (dietary, lifestyle, medical)

• Customized meal plan based on your goals and desired outcomes

• Daily exercise program based on your goals and desired outcomes

• Educational print out for food portion size

• Healthy recipes based on your needs

If you’re looking for diet tips or want to sign up for her plans, you can find Eman on Instagram @health_talk check her website healthtalkdiets.com

It’s been a few months since Jar’s, the pizza spot, opened and today marks the start of their next chapter.

I’ve posted about the owner of Jar’s, Abdullah AlJarallah twice so far (here and here). Initially when he was making and delivering pizzas out of a commercial kitchen as a side hobby, and then again when he eventually opened his spot in Hawalli. It was a small cozy hole-in-the-wall that just made pizzas and had a set menu. Now Jar’s is expanding with more seating, a larger menu and they’re making a few other changes as well.

In addition to pizzas, Jar’s is now introducing two highly requested items, steaks and pastas. With these new additions, they’re moving away from the set menu, so you can now order freely without limitations. Like with their pizzas, they’re using top quality ingredients and making as much as possible in house. So fresh tomatoes, and plenty of good aged cheeses. All your favorite pizzas are still there as well.

The second biggest change is the addition of more chairs and tables. Jar’s outgrew the small space, so what used to be indoor seating is now a larger kitchen with a small gourmet merch section, while a new seating area was built outside. With the addition of more seating, you no longer need a reservation, you can just walk in.

Since I’ve been posting about Abdullah and his pizzas from the very start, it feels like I’ve become his official documentarian along the way, and it’s been fun watching Jar’s grow. Swipe left to check out some photos of the new items and then make sure you head over to his Instagram account @atjars