Launched to close a gap in the UAE’s wellness space, Recovery On Demand delivers high-performance recovery tools — think ice baths, infrared saunas, and hyperbaric chambers — directly to your doorstep, gym, or office. No traffic, no queues, no compromise.

Here, we speak to co-founder Joe Hanney to uncover how the business is transforming recovery into a lifestyle and why education and convenience are at the core of the model.

What inspired you to launch Recovery On Demand, and how does it address a gap in the UAE’s wellness market?

Recovery On Demand was born from a disconnect in the wellness industry — while recovery tools have advanced, accessibility hasn’t. In a city where everything is on-demand, recovery still requires travel, wait times, and rigid scheduling. With worsening traffic and busier lives, this outdated model no longer fits.

Research shows that frequent recovery use is key, yet traditional services make consistency difficult. We bridge this gap by delivering elite recovery directly to clients — whether at home, work, or the gym — eliminating barriers to regular use.

Whether it’s ice baths, infrared saunas, hyperbaric oxygen chambers, or red light therapy, we make recovery as easy as ordering food or booking a ride.

By redefining access, we don’t just make recovery convenient — we make it effective. True recovery isn’t a one-off session; it’s a lifestyle integration.

How does the Recovery On Demand model work, and what sets it apart from traditional recovery and wellness services?

Traditional recovery services require scheduling, travel, and wait times — adding stress instead of relieving it. We’ve flipped the model. Instead of people going to recovery, we bring recovery to them. We deliver, set up, and maintain everything — so all they have to do is use it.

Beyond convenience, education is key. Unlike one-size-fits-all wellness centres, we tailor recovery to individual goals — be it performance, detoxification, stress relief, or metabolic health. With more than 32 years of experience in biohacking and recovery, we’ve worked with elite athletes like Usain Bolt and Tai ‘BamBam’ Tuivasa. We empower clients with knowledge, helping them optimise results and take control of their health.

Privacy and hygiene also set us apart. Many don’t want to share cold plunges or saunas with strangers. Our service ensures a personal, sanitised setup every time. Plus, unlike buying equipment that requires maintenance, with rentals, we take care of everything—from servicing and repairs to upgrades — so clients never have to deal with downtime.

How has the demand for at-home recovery and wellness services evolved in the UAE, and what trends are driving this shift?

When we launched, we were first to market with this model. The rapid shift since then — competitors now replicating our rental approach — validates the demand. People prefer flexibility over ownership.

Choice paralysis is a major trend. With so many recovery tools available, people struggle to choose. Rentals allow a trial-first approach before committing to a purchase. Unlike home gym equipment, which often goes unused, recovery is low effort but high reward — no grinding through workouts, just consistent use with tangible benefits.

The corporate sector is also shifting. Major brands now approach us to manage rental verticals, recognising that consumers value access over ownership. This aligns with the UAE’s broader shift towards subscription-based convenience, seen in everything from car rentals to IV therapy.

The hospitality industry is catching on, too. Luxury hotels like The Ritz-Carlton Abu Dhabi already offer private wellness suites, and guests are renting ice baths and hyperbaric chambers for in-room recovery. Holiday home operators are also leveraging recovery tools to attract bookings —

one saw a major difference in guest interest after adding an infrared sauna.

Dubai is also becoming a training hub for elite athletes. Fighters prepping for high-stakes competitions in Saudi Arabia rent our recovery equipment to maintain peak performance. The demand for accessible, high-performance recovery is only growing.

What challenges have you faced as an SME in the health and wellness sector, and how have you navigated them?

Our biggest challenge wasn’t convincing people of recovery’s importance — it was mastering logistics. Importing, warehousing, and deliveries were all new territory, but we knew operational efficiency was key to accessibility.

We started lean — managing stock ourselves, handling setups firsthand, even riding along for installations. This hands-on approach ensured a seamless client experience from day one. Rather than overstocking, we prioritised early adopters, refining our service through real feedback before scaling.

Demand continues to outpace supply. We currently have a waiting list of 24 people — six just last week — for hyperbaric chambers. Constant reinvestment in stock is essential to keeping up. Staying true to our client-first philosophy has built trust, fueling our rapid growth.

Are you incorporating any technology or digital solutions to enhance your services and customer experience?

While we’re developing tech-driven solutions, we’re focused on making them seamless and client-first. More importantly, we cut through marketing hype to ensure every tool we provide delivers real benefits.

Take red light therapy. Many brands exaggerate power claims, leading people to believe higher intensity means better results — it doesn’t. We conduct third-party testing to verify manufacturer claims, ensuring:

• No exaggerated power ratings
• Optimal LED angles for maximum absorption
• Minimal flicker and EMF exposure to avoid headaches and eye strain

Every product we offer is vetted for efficacy and safety, ensuring clients get the best results without misinformation. Our approach is rooted in science, not sales hype, and that’s what makes our service truly stand out.

What strategies have been most effective in scaling Recovery On Demand, and do you have plans for regional expansion?

One of our biggest growth drivers has been customer service and word of mouth. With 22 five-star Google reviews and counting, we make it a priority to reward loyal customers for their referrals. By focusing on precision recovery solutions rather than a one-size-fits-all approach, we’ve built a strong foundation in Dubai.

As for regional expansion, we’re not in a rush to move beyond the UAE just yet. There’s still significant opportunity here, and we’d rather refine and perfect our model before looking further afield. That said, you never know what the future holds.

What advice would you give to aspiring entrepreneurs looking to start an SME in the UAE’s wellness industry?

First, deeply understand your niche — whether it’s recovery, longevity, or performance optimization. The UAE’s wellness market is competitive, so differentiation is key. Second, for the lucky few, success might come from a get-rich-quick scheme, but those stories are rare. What you see on social media — the highlight reels of entrepreneurs — can trick you into thinking it’s easy. It’s not. For every successful rental we’ve done, we’ve probably made several mistakes. The reality? Building something that lasts takes time, effort, and a ridiculous amount of persistence.

Read: Disconnect between mental health and perceived wellbeing, shows report

US President Donald Trump has unveiled the first ‘gold card,’ a residency permit that costs $5 million each.

According to a report from Firstpost, the card offers foreigners a pathway to American citizenship.

Trump introduced the card while onboard Air Force One, with his own face appearing on its front.

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The image featured on the card was taken at the Atlanta courthouse, which later became a defining moment in his re-election campaign.

In February, Trump proposed replacing the visa program for foreign investors with a so-called “gold card” that could be purchased for $5 million, offering a route to American citizenship.

Trump told reporters that he would replace the “EB-5” immigrant investor visa program—which allows foreign investors who contribute large sums of money to create or preserve U.S. jobs—with the “gold card.”

The EB-5 program grants “green cards” to foreigners who promise to invest in U.S. businesses.

“We are going to be selling a gold card,” Trump said. “We will be pricing that card at about $5 million,” he added.

“It’s going to provide green card privileges and serve as a pathway to (American) citizenship, with wealthy individuals gaining access to our country by purchasing this card,” Trump explained.

(With inputs from Reuters)

The Ministry of Investment in Saudi Arabia has revealed that foreign investors are now allowed to own and engage in the buying and selling of real estate in the country.

According to a report by Saudi Gazette, this opportunity is provided for investment purposes.

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However, the ministry has outlined certain conditions for foreign investors to participate in these activities. The most notable conditions include:

• The property must be located outside the boundaries of the holy cities of Makkah and Madinah.
• The purpose of buying and selling real estate should not be for commercial speculation, which refers to the practice of purchasing assets (such as stocks, commodities, or real estate) with the expectation of profiting from price fluctuations. Speculators typically take on high-risk, high-reward investments to make quick gains.

The ministry also clarified that foreign investor firms must obtain approval to own real estate for personal residences, industrial facilities, company headquarters, employee residential facilities, and warehouses.

Additionally, there is no financial fee for this service. It is provided through the ministry’s e-services portal, and approval is granted within five business days.

Document submission requirements

Interested entities are required to submit:

• A copy of the municipality’s building permit, a letter of approval from the municipality, or a statement indicating the intended use of the land, issued by an official authority.
• A copy of the deed for the property to be acquired.

Real estate development companies wishing to implement or sell a real estate project must submit a report from an engineering office accredited by the Saudi Council of Engineers, detailing the total project cost. The cost should be no less than SR30 million for both land and construction, and the project must be located outside Makkah and Madinah. The development must be utilized within five years.

World cocoa and coffee prices fell on Thursday as investors fretted that President Donald Trump’s move to slap punishing tariffs on US imports would damage chocolate and coffee demand in the world’s top consumer of the products.

Sugar prices also fell, caught in the melee of tariffs as the US is also one of the world’s top sugar importers.

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Trump said he would impose a 10 per cent baseline tariff on all US imports, taking the maximum to nearly 50 per cenr for some countries and unleashing turbulence across world markets as investors fret about the end of a decades-long era of trade liberalisation.

The worst hit coffee growers

Top robusta growers Vietnam and Indonesia were targeted with 46 per cent and 32 per cent tariffs, respectively, top arabica and sugar grower Brazil was hit with 10 per cent tariffs for its goods, while top cocoa growers Ivory Coast and Ghana face 21 per cent and 10 per cent tariffs.

The first US tariffs on coffee imports since colonial times will increase costs and complexity to importers and roasters already dealing with near-record prices, experts said on Thursday.

The US is also a major importer of processed cocoa products like butter and powder from the EU, Malaysia and Indonesia. Trump slapped 20 per cent tariffs on EU imports and 24 per cent on Malaysian goods, while the 32 per cent tariffs on Indonesia of course apply to both robusta coffee and to cocoa products.

“We don’t know the (full) impact right now (but) there are no winners, this is bad for everyone. For the US, its inflationary while others lose access to the US, a huge market,” said a Europe-based coffee trader.

Arabica coffee futures on the ICE exchange, seen as a global price benchmark, settled down 3.6 cents, or 0.9 per cent, at $3.8525 per lb​​, having earlier fallen nearly 3 per cent, while robusta coffee futures slipped 0.2 per cent at $5,388 a ton, having earlier fallen 2.5 per cent.

How are tariffs effecting

London cocoa futures fell 1.4 per cent to 6,683 pounds per ton, having earlier fallen nearly 5 per cent, while New York cocoa gained 3.6 per cent to $9,291 a ton, having earlier risen nearly 6 per cent.

Dealers said New York cocoa was being boosted by weakness in the dollar as the harsher-than-expected Trump tariffs sent investors scrambling for bonds and gold.

A weak dollar makes dollar-priced cocoa cheaper for non-US investors.

Sterling for example gained versus the dollar, making sterling-priced London cocoa more expensive for investors outside Britain and prompting them to sell.

In other soft commodities traded, raw sugar ​​settled down 0.48 cents, or 2.5 per cent, at 19.11 cents per lb​, while white sugar sank 1.6 per cent at $543.80 a ton.

The pace of technological advancement today is unprecedented, and those driving innovation are shaping the future of the global digital economy. Saudi Arabia is embracing this shift with ambition and purpose. Having witnessed the Kingdom’s rapid progress, I’m deeply impressed by its strategic commitment to technological leadership.

Guided by the forward-thinking framework of its Vision 2030, Saudi Arabia is redefining its economy and cultivating a dynamic ecosystem driven by technology that unlocks new opportunities for future generations. Saudi Arabia recently ranked 4th in the 2024 United Nations E-Government Development Index. It also placed 14th in the Global AI Index for 2024 , and first in the Arab world, demonstrating the country’s rapid progress in AI adoption as well as its growing influence in the technology sector.

At HP, we view ourselves as a key partner in Saudi Arabia’s technological advancement, actively investing in local manufacturing, AI and talent development to support sustainable economic growth.

Building a new era of manufacturing excellence

At LEAP, we announced a new manufacturing facility in Riyadh which marks a significant milestone in our support for reinforcing the country’s technological infrastructure. As part of HP’s “Made in Saudi” initiative, this strategic investment enhances HP’s regional presence and ability to scale local production, contributing to a more resilient supply chain.

Saudi Arabia’s strategic position, bridging Asia, Europe and Africa, makes it a prime location for regional and global distribution. Establishing operations in the Kingdom ensures that regional businesses and consumers have seamless access to the latest technology while enhancing trade networks. This new facility will manufacture millions of devices locally, boosting supply chain resilience, and enabling HP to better serve its customers in the region.

With economic development in mind, HP’s “Made in Saudi” initiative and the new manufacturing facility also support the Kingdom’s broader economic diversification agenda by contributing to its job creation goals. By 2027, thousands of new jobs will be created thanks to the Riyadh facility, enhancing the country’s economic transformation through direct and indirect employment and empowering local talent.

Accelerating AI leadership

As AI is reshaping industries worldwide, HP also intends to support Saudi Arabia in leading this transformation. HP’s new AI and R&D Centre of Excellence (CoE) in Dhahran will serve as a hub for innovation and new AI solutions, optimising business operations, enhancing decision-making, and unlocking new economic opportunities for Saudi companies. This investment by HP in Saudi Arabia’s knowledge-based economy by equipping its workforce with AI skills and tools also fits within the Vision 2030’s objective to diversify the country’s economy.

By attracting top talent and fostering collaboration with AI experts from HP’s global research teams, the CoE will empower Saudi professionals to drive AI advancements and innovation across various industries. The facility will develop specialised research initiatives, equipping Saudi businesses with the capabilities to remain competitive in a changing economy. It will facilitate training programs, workshops, and talent exchange efforts, ensuring the Saudi workforce remains at the forefront of technological advancements.

Beyond driving research and development, the CoE will solidify Saudi Arabia’s leadership in implementing new AI solutions to existing industries. By embedding AI capabilities in smart cities as well as into core sectors such as healthcare and finance, the CoE will support businesses in adapting to an increasingly AI-powered world.

Transforming the future of work with AI

Business leaders in Saudi Arabia recognise AI’s potential to sharpen employee focus and unlock new levels of efficiency. At HP, we envision a future where AI redefines productivity, personalisation and workplace fulfilment. According to HP’s Work Relationship Index, a survey of 15,600 IT industry workers across 12 countries, more than half of surveyed participants believe that AI will create a better working environment. HP is committed to delivering on that optimism, ensuring businesses in Saudi Arabia and beyond can fully leverage AI’s potential in the workplace.

HP is putting AI directly in the hands of businesses with solutions designed to enhance and streamline workflows. As part of its commitment to the future of work, HP has recently unveiled the HP EliteBook Ultra, a next-generation AI-powered PC designed to significantly improve productivity and collaboration. This new device is equipped with AI features such as real-time transcription, intelligent noise reduction, and an AI-enhanced camera experience. Its sustainable design also aligns with Saudi Arabia’s growing commitment to environmental responsibility. The EliteBook Ultra, along with HP’s suite of AI-powered products, offers an opportunity to empower professionals to work smarter, faster, and more efficiently.

HP’s long-term vision in Saudi Arabia extends beyond providing technology. It involves becoming a trusted partner in the Kingdom’s digital transformation. The “Made in Saudi” initiative, the CoE, and HP’s workforce development projects exemplify its dedication to supporting Saudi Arabia’s leadership in AI-driven industries, economic diversification, and job creation.

As Saudi Arabia advances towards becoming a global AI and technology pioneer, HP is honoured to play a key role in this journey.

• Fadle Saad, Managing Director Saudi Arabia, HP MENA Regional Headquarters