ULTA BEAUTY LAUNCHES IN QATAR IN PARTNERSHIP WITH ALSHAYA GROUP

Qatar’s first Ulta Beauty debuts at Doha Festival City on 29th October followed by a second store set to open at Villaggio Mall in November

Expanding its international footprint in the region in partnership with Alshaya Group, one of the world’s leading international retail franchise operators, Ulta Beauty, the largest specialty beauty retailer in the United States, opened its first store in Qatar at Doha Festival City on 29th October. The opening builds on the successful launch of Ulta Beauty in Kuwait and UAE and will be followed by the opening of their second Qatar store at Villaggio Mall on 25^th November 2026 and debut stores in KSA and Bahrain in the coming months. 

John Hadden, Chief Executive Officer at Alshaya Group, said: “Bringing Ulta Beauty to Qatar is a proud moment for Alshaya Group, especially given the dynamic momentum of the region's beauty and personal care market. Opening our first store here highlights our commitment to delivering world-class retail experiences, and we look forward to expanding our presence across even more key locations.”

The new locations are set to bring Ulta Beauty’s signature experience to the region, showcasing its hallmark All Things Beauty, All in One Place® concept through an unparalleled assortment of makeup, skincare, haircare and fragrance spanning from everyday favorites to prestige brands. Guests will also enjoy a range of expert-led beauty services, including makeup, skincare, brow and nail treatments, all delivered by certified category experts.

Kecia Steelman, President and Chief Executive Officer at Ulta Beauty, said: “Opening our first store in Qatar marks another exciting milestone for Ulta Beauty and our partnership with Alshaya Group. Building on the momentum of our successful launches in Kuwait and the UAE, we’re thrilled to bring our unique beauty experience to even more guests across the region. This opening reflects the passion and dedication of our teams and our shared commitment to creating a destination where guests can discover, explore and celebrate beauty and all its possibilities.”

Spanning 702sqm, the new Ulta Beauty store in Doha Festival City has an impressive layout that features Ulta’s signature beauty bar, two private beauty service rooms and highlights over 250 brands including locally-founded Haneen Al Saify and Perfume Factory.

Complementing the flagship, Ulta Beauty’s second location at Villagio Mall will deliver an intimate and cozy ambiance equipped with its own private beauty room and signature beauty bar.

Shoppers will be able to discover an exciting curation of exclusive US favourites, including the Ulta Beauty Collection, Morphe, Orebella, Polite Society, LolaVie, Sacheu, Peter Thomas Roth, About Face, and Snif, as well as world famous brands including Dior, Chanel and Charlotte Tilbury.

Aura members in Qatar can enjoy even more reasons to shop at Ulta Beauty from exclusive Aura Member Pricing, featuring 30% off select products across makeup, skincare, fragrance,

haircare and the newly launched regional complimentary weekly beauty services, available from

November 5^th in Qatar.

Ulta Beauty’s expansion in the region continues in Saudi Arabia and Bahrain in the coming months, in partnership with Alshaya Group. 

#ULTA #BEAUTY

Acer Introduces Veriton RI110 AI Mini Workstation for Powering Hybrid Agentic AI Workloads

Acer announced the Acer Veriton RI110 AI Mini Workstation, a compact yet powerful device engineered for organizations looking to accelerate AI innovation without compromising space, performance, or security. Powered by an Intel Core Ultra X7 processor 358H and Windows 11 Pro, the system delivers high-performance AI computing to expedite AI-assisted content creation, inference, design, and everyday productivity. Designed for modern AI workflows, the Veriton RI110 delivers the scalability and intelligence organizations require to balance local and cloud resources with the performance professionals expect.

Performance for Advanced AI Workflows

Built to support up to 120 billion parameter AI models, the Acer Veriton RI110 pairs an Intel Core Ultra X7 processor 358H with Intel Arc B390 graphics to deliver responsive performance across content creation, development, and AI-powered applications[1]. Complemented by up to 96 GB of LPDDR5X memory and up to 4 TB of PCIe Gen 4 SSD storage, the system enables fast multitasking and effective handling of complex datasets, models, and creative projects.

As a Copilot+ PC on Windows 11 Pro, Veriton RI110 also provides intelligent AI tools that help streamline everyday tasks and boost productivity[2]. From assisting with content creation to enhancing collaboration and workflow efficiency, it helps professionals accomplish more in less time and to focus on higher-value work.

Unleashing Hybrid Agentic AI

The Veriton RI110 comes equipped to tap into the full potential of hybrid agentic AI, supporting sandbox environments for privacy and security. The device aims to maximize choice for users, enabling them to download and deploy their preferred AI agents, including the new Acer Qubi Claw.

For automating everyday tasks, Acer Qubi Claw is Acer’s handy agentic AI solution that can run local workflows in an isolated sandbox environment for maintaining data security. Coming with one-click installation, quick and easy setup, and ready-to-use AI skills, it helps AI models reason, plan, and act to automate tasks while protecting sensitive data. With the ability to schedule tasks autonomously or as needed, its initial skills include conducting in-depth research online, recommending travel itineraries and schedules, and capturing and translating audio into text notes. Acer Qubi Claw will continue to expand support for compatible AI models, skills, and channels.

OCuLink Connectivity for Unlocking Greater Performance

Further enhancing scalability, the Acer Veriton RI110 features OCuLink connectivity for high-performance expansion for AI computing, machine learning, 3D rendering, content creation, and professional workstation applications. The dedicated PCIe 4.0 x4 interface enables direct connections to external GPUs and high-speed NVMe storage, delivering up to 64 Gbps of bandwidth. Unlike traditional connections that add extra processing steps, OCuLink provides a faster, more efficient link to external devices, resulting in lower latency and improved performance.

The Veriton RI110 also delivers versatile connectivity for AI, creative, and business workflows, with a wide range of high-speed ports, display outputs, and expansion options to support evolving workplace needs. Wi‑Fi 7 and Bluetooth^® 5.4 provide fast, reliable connectivity, and fingerprint authentication helps safeguard sensitive information and simplify secure sign-ins.

Availability

The Acer Veriton RI110 AI Mini Workstation will be available in EMEA in Q1’2027.

Exact specifications, prices, and availability will vary by region. To learn more about availability, product specifications, and prices in specific markets, please contact your nearest Acer office via www.acer.com.

Specifications

Name	Acer Veriton RI110 AI Mini Workstation
Model	VRI110
Operating System	Windows 11 Pro Windows 11 Home
Processor	Intel Core Ultra X7 processor 358H
Graphics	Intel Arc B390
Memory	Up to 96 GB of dual-channel LPDDR5X
Storage	Up to 4 TB M.2 2280 PCIe Gen 4 SSD
Dimensions	138.5 (W) x 131.3 (D) x 52.1 (H) mm (5.45 x 5.17 x 2.05 inches) Approx. 0.63 kg
Wi-Fi and Connectivity	Wi-Fi 7, dual LAN ports (10GbE and 2.5GbE), Bluetooth® 5.4
Ports	Front and side: ·        1 audio jack ·        1 USB 2.0 Type A port ·        1 USB 3.2 Gen2 10Gbps Type A port ·        1 USB 3.2 Gen2 10Gbps Type C port Rear:  ·        1 HDMI 2.1 port ·        1 DisplayPort (DP) port ·        2 LAN ports ·        2  USB 4 Type C ports ·        2 USB 2.0 Type A ports
Expansion Slot	M.2 slot (for SSD)
Power Supply	120 W AC Adapter
Features	Copilot+ PC, Kensington lock slot, OCuLink connectivity

#Acer

RXV WELLNESS VILLAGE INVITES GCC TRAVELLERS TO SLOW DOWN AND RESET IN THAILAND

Between demanding work schedules, frequent travel and the pressures of staying constantly connected, finding time to properly recover can often fall to the bottom of the priority list. As the year draws to a close, RXV Wellness Village, a holistic wellness retreat located in the peaceful surroundings of Suan Sampran, just outside Bangkok, invites GCC travelers to reconsider what it means to truly take a break.

Bringing together traditional Thai healing practices, mindful movement, restorative treatments and personalized wellness care, RXV offers an opportunity to step away from everyday demands and develop a healthier approach to managing stress.  At RXV, the focus is not on eliminating stress entirely, but on recognizing its effects and learning how to respond through a combination of movement, restorative care and nourishment.

Recognizing the Signs of Stress

At the heart of RXV's approach is its Destress Programme, designed around three key elements of recovery: recognizing the body's response to stress, actively interrupting that response and allowing time for restoration.

The experience begins with understanding how stress manifests physically, mentally and emotionally. Symptoms may include tension around the neck and shoulders, headaches, shallow breathing, brain fog, irritability or disrupted sleep.

To help guests better understand their individual stress and recovery patterns, RXV's physiotherapists may use Heart Rate Variability (HRV) assessments. HRV measures the variation in time between heartbeats and can offer insight into the body's autonomic nervous system and its response to stress, although results are interpreted within the context of each individual's health and circumstances.

This personalized approach encourages guests to become more aware of their body's signals and recognize when additional recovery may be needed.

Interrupting Stress Through Mindful Movement

Rather than relying solely on stillness to encourage relaxation, RXV incorporates movement as an important part of managing everyday stress.

Walking Meditation combines slow, deliberate movement with mindful breathing, encouraging guests to focus on the sensation of their feet touching the ground, the shifting of their weight and the rhythm of their breathing. Through this practice, guests become more aware of their bodies and surroundings, allowing their attention to move away from daily distractions and towards the present moment.

For those who prefer a more active experience, Dynamic Vision & Brain Exercise offers an alternative approach, incorporating activities designed to sharpen attention, coordination and alertness.

Restorative Treatments Rooted in Thai Tradition

Following more active sessions, RXV encourages guests to make time for rest through a selection of restorative therapies.

Among its signature experiences is the Thai Pure Nutrient Hair and Scalp Massage, a Thai-inspired treatment focusing on the head, neck and shoulders. Combining therapeutic massage techniques with cooling and rejuvenating herbal care, the treatment is designed to ease physical tension and encourage a sense of relaxation.

For guests seeking additional wellness support, RXV also offers Brain Power IV, an intravenous treatment containing nutrients such as citicoline and B vitamins. Citicoline is involved in neuronal membrane function and neurotransmitter production, while B vitamins play a role in energy metabolism and normal nervous system function.

Nutrition is another important part of the experience, with RXV's Rainbow Wellness Meals incorporating colorful, nutrient-rich ingredients and antioxidant sources. Thoughtfully prepared to balance nourishment with flavor, the meals complement the retreat's wider approach to physical and mental wellbeing.

For GCC travellers seeking a restorative break before the new year, RXV Wellness Village offers an alternative to the traditional holiday, where time away is dedicated to understanding the body's needs and developing healthier ways to manage everyday pressures. The retreat focuses on helping them return to daily life feeling calmer, clearer and better equipped to navigate its demands.

#RXVWELLNESSVILLAGE