McLaren driver Lando Norris was crowned the 2025 FIA Formula One World Champion, following the season–ending round at the 17th edition of the Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix at Yas Marina Circuit.

Sheikh Theyab bin Zayed Al Nahyan handed him the trophy.

Sheikh Theyab also presented the race winner’s trophy to Max Verstappen of Red Bull Racing, who claimed victory in the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, state news agency, WAM reported.

Norris secured the overall championship by finishing third in the race, edging out Verstappen by just two points in the final standings.

Norris is 11th Brit driver to clinch F1 Drivers’ Championship title

The 2025 season finale marked a dramatic conclusion to one of the tightest championship battles in recent years. Norris, 26, becomes the 11th British driver to claim the title and the first McLaren champion since 2008.

Verstappen’s win in Abu Dhabi was his eighth of the year — the most by any driver this season — and extended his streak of Grands Prix victories for a fifth straight year. However, despite dominating the race, the Red Bull driver fell short in the season-long points tally.

iSolution has grown significantly since its inception. Take us through the company’s journey: from the early days to the business you are leading today.

Years ago, iSolution began as a small but ambitious startup with just one employee — me as the founder — driven by a bold vision to accelerate digital transformation across the region. We were among the first companies to leave meaningful footprints in the Middle East’s technology landscape, adopting cloud technologies at a time when the market was still in its early stages.

From that humble beginning, iSolution has evolved into a leading technology powerhouse, now home to more than 250 experts operating across Saudi Arabia, Qatar, the UAE, Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Jordan, and Egypt.

Our purpose from day one has been consistent: to be early adopters of transformative technologies, to lead the cloud movement in the region, and to empower organisations to innovate and grow through the right technology solutions. Over the years, we have supported enterprises, government entities, and SMBs, earning a strong reputation for delivering measurable business outcomes. The journey has not been easy, but every challenge became motivation to push harder and strengthen our market presence.

Digital transformation is a key driver of growth across the Middle East. What role is iSolution playing in helping organisations modernise their IT infrastructure?

Digital transformation is not just about adopting technology — it’s about enabling agility, resilience, and continuous innovation. At iSolution, we help organisations achieve this by modernising their infrastructure, data, and applications through secure, scalable cloud solutions.

We have played a major role in moving enterprises from legacy systems to intelligent, cloud-native architectures that unlock better collaboration, advanced analytics, and AI-driven decision-making. What differentiates us is that we follow global best practices and act as advisors, providing tailored recommendations that ensure long-term success.

Vendor partnerships are central to your growth strategy. How have these collaborations shaped your competitive edge?

Partnerships are at the core of iSolution’s DNA. We were the first local partner for Google Cloud to achieve their highest level of partnership, reflecting our early cloud adoption and deep technical capabilities.

Our rapid advancement with IBM further demonstrates the strength of our technical team. These relationships reinforce our position as a trusted multi-vendor integrator and enable us to deliver world-class solutions designed for the region.

The IT workforce is evolving rapidly. How is iSolution developing its talent pool?

Our people are our greatest asset. We invest heavily in continuous learning and certifications, ensuring our engineers and consultants remain aligned with the latest cloud, AI, and cybersecurity advancements.

Cross-functional collaboration enables our teams to deliver business-driven outcomes, not just technical solutions.

Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 places technology at the heart of diversification. How is iSolution aligning with the Kingdom’s agenda?

We see Vision 2030 as both an inspiration and a roadmap. Our work helps organisations build smarter, more efficient digital ecosystems that align with national priorities — from AI enablement to data sovereignty.

Looking ahead, what’s next for iSolution?

The next chapter is centred on scale, innovation, and long-term regional impact. We are strengthening partnerships, expanding into new sectors such as fintech, and shaping how businesses operate in an AI-driven world.

Our focus remains clear: empowering clients, enabling innovation, and delivering sustainable, measurable impact across the Middle East.

Two decades ago, in 2005, Coffee Planet began its story with little more than a single coffee machine and a bold ambition: to bring world-class specialty coffee to the UAE. Today, the company stands as one of the region’s most respected roasters, a brand with international recognition and deep local roots.

Marking its 20th anniversary this year, Coffee Planet is not only celebrating the journey so far but also looking firmly toward the future. At the center of this story is the dynamic partnership between chairman Allan Jones and his son, CEO William Jones, two leaders whose different approaches have shaped the company into what it is today. Their shared belief in quality and innovation has been the foundation for Coffee Planet’s steady growth, its entry into international markets, and its expansion into retail outlets across the UAE and Saudi Arabia.

From a small start to a coffee powerhouse

Coffee Planet’s beginnings were humble. Allan Jones and his co-founder, Matthew Yorke Smith, first introduced the idea of specialty coffee in a market that was still finding its appreciation for high-quality brews. What started with 30 cups a day from a single machine inside a petrol station quickly grew into something larger, driven by the rising demand for better coffee experiences.

Today, Coffee Planet operates a state-of-the-art roasting facility in Dubai, sourcing beans from more than 23 origins around the globe. Its coffees now reach consumers not only in the UAE but also in multiple international markets, proving that a local idea can grow into a global name while staying true to its heritage.

“From those early days to now, the scale of what we’ve achieved is extraordinary,” Allan reflects. “But what matters most is that we’ve remained true to our principles, Coffee Planet has always been a UAE brand with international ambition.”

The strength of two perspectives

What sets Coffee Planet apart is not just its coffee but also its leadership. Allan Jones brings with him decades of business experience and a deep respect for tradition. For him, the essentials of business, integrity, reliability, and longterm relationships, are non-negotiable.

“Businesses that endure do so because they stay consistent with their values,” Allan notes. “Quality and trust have kept us here for 20 years, and they’ll keep us going for decades more.”

His son William, however, represents the other half of Coffee Planet’s strength: innovation and adaptability. Since stepping into his role, William has pushed the company toward digital transformation, embraced new consumer trends, and explored international opportunities.

“The way people experience coffee today is very different from 20 years ago,” William explains.

“Our customers are informed, adventurous, and expect more from their cup. My role is to ensure Coffee Planet continues to lead with innovation, whether that’s through technology, sustainability, or creative new products.”

This balance, Allan’s focus on heritage and William’s focus on reinvention, has become Coffee Planet’s signature advantage, ensuring the business remains both grounded and progressive.

Blending tradition with progress

Coffee Planet’s operations reflect this philosophy of balance. On one hand, the company maintains long-standing ties with coffee farmers, supporting traditional methods of cultivation and ethical sourcing. On the other hand, it invests in cutting-edge roasting equipment, barista training, and product development to stay ahead of changing customer tastes.

Allan explains it simply: “We’ve always believed that great coffee should not be an exclusive luxury. Our goal has been to make specialty coffee accessible, and that belief has guided our innovation every step of the way.”

William builds on that: “For us, innovation doesn’t mean ignoring tradition. It means celebrating the history of coffee while finding new ways to connect with today’s and tomorrow’s consumers.”

Expanding the coffee planet experience

In addition to supplying hotels, restaurants, and retailers, Coffee Planet has made significant strides in its own retail presence. Over the past few years, the company has opened 12 coffee shops across the UAE through its trusted partners DASH Hospitality.

These outlets have allowed the brand to create direct connections with customers, offering them a taste of Coffee Planet’s craftsmanship in carefully designed spaces.

The company has also looked beyond the UAE, with exciting growth in Saudi Arabia. In partnership with HB Brands, Coffee Planet recently opened its 5th coffee shop in Riyadh’s King Abdullah Financial District (KAFD), one of the capital’s most prestigious business hubs.

These ventures highlight Coffee Planet’s ability to adapt its model to new markets while keeping its identity consistent.

The next 20 years

While the anniversary is an opportunity to look back, the Jones family is focused on what lies ahead. For Allan, the priority is legacy. “Reaching 20 years proves that our foundations are strong. The next step is ensuring those values endure as we continue to expand.”

For William, the vision is about growth and reinvention. “We want Coffee Planet to be more than a roaster. Our ambition is to shape how people experience coffee globally. That means pushing into new territories, exploring sustainability in deeper ways, and delivering experiences that surprise and delight.”

More than just coffee

Ultimately, Coffee Planet’s story is not only about coffee beans and machines. It is about family, perseverance, and the strength of combining different perspectives. Allan and William’s contrasting philosophies sometimes pull in different directions, but together they have given the company resilience, character, and staying power.

As Coffee Planet celebrates its 20th anniversary, it is clear that its success has come not just from great coffee but from human values, integrity, vision, and the belief that a family-run business can thrive on the world stage.

Allan sums it up: “At the heart of everything we’ve done is the fact that we are, and always will be, a family business. That’s what makes Coffee Planet special. It’s why we’ve lasted 20 years, and why we’ll continue to grow.”

With two decades behind it and an exciting future ahead, Coffee Planet is ready to continue its mission: to honor coffee’s traditions while constantly innovating for a new generation of drinkers.

The journey that began with one machine now spans countries and cultures, and this is only the beginning.

We sat down with renowned serial entrepreneur Alex Reinhardt to unpack the vision behind his ‘digital economic highway’: a blockchain ecosystem built to be fast, simple and invisible to everyday users.

Read more-Not just for traders: How Ultima Chain is bringing blockchain to the people

From anxiety-free UX to real-world payments and rewards, Reinhardt explains why the UAE is the ideal launchpad for mass adoption. What follows is an in-depth Q and A on trust, regulation, real utility, and the future of decentralised tech.

For readers who use a smartphone every day but don’t follow blockchain at all: how do you personally explain what your current blockchain initiative is about, and what an ordinary person can actually do with it in daily life?

If I strip away all the jargon, I would say we are building a kind of digital economic highway that quietly runs in the background of everyday life. In my view, a good blockchain shouldn’t feel like “technology” at all. For an ordinary person it’s just a way to send assets across borders as easily as sending a message, to pay in a shop with a regular card while everything on the back end is settled automatically, to earn rewards for supporting the network or using certain apps, and to move value between different tools without friction.

From my own experience, when people first interact with what we build, they don’t say, “What a clever consensus algorithm.” They usually say, “It’s fast, it’s simple, and I feel in control.” For me, that is the real definition of a next-generation blockchain.

You’ve chosen the UAE, and Dubai in particular, as your home base. From your own experience building tech companies here, what does this region give you and your team that Europe or the US couldn’t?

I’ve lived and worked in different cities, from Germany to different European hubs, and I’ve learned that where you build can be just as important as what you build. Dubai, and the UAE more broadly, give us a combination that is very hard to find elsewhere. There is a real willingness from regulators to sit down, listen, and say, “Explain what you’re building and let’s find a responsible framework.” For a young and often misunderstood industry, that attitude is priceless.

At the same time, the UAE is a natural bridge between Europe, Asia, and Africa. Our users, partners, and community members come from all of those regions, and this is one of the few places where their paths cross constantly. On top of that, the culture here is extremely entrepreneurial. As someone who spends a lot of time with founders and investors, and has been recognised in regional business rankings, I feel that energy every day, and it pushes our team to move faster and think bigger.

When you and your team design products, who do you really have in mind beyond traders and early blockchain enthusiasts? Can you share a couple of concrete stories from your own projects of how people or businesses already use your solutions in everyday life?

I never wanted to build technology only for traders and early blockchain enthusiasts. In every project we start, we ask a simple question: how can this make life easier for as many people as possible? For me it’s about simplifying everyday payments, removing borders from the way value moves, and giving people additional ways to grow their capital in a disciplined and transparent way. If someone can send transactions, pay, save and get extra profit inside one clear system, then the technology is doing its job.

Today your ecosystem includes a non-custodial wallet, payment cards linked to digital assets, automated trading bots, and reward tools where users freeze tokens and receive rewards. From your point of view, which of these turned out to be the real “game changer” for mass adoption, and why?

When I explain what we are building, I usually describe it in layers. At the foundation there is the network itself, the chain that is responsible for security, consensus, transaction speed, and the economic rules of the system. On top of that sits what I call the blockchain utility layer: the non-custodial wallet in your pocket, payment cards that connect digital assets to the traditional payment world, and automated trading tools that let people participate in markets without staring at charts all day.

Above that there is the experience layer. This is where you find games, loyalty programmes, marketplaces and other applications that make the technology tangible. From my perspective, a well-designed tap-to-earn game or a very simple subscription product can teach more people about blockchain than a stack of whitepapers. Inside the team we constantly test how these layers interact. Can a reward earned in a game end up on a card? Can profit from a bot be used directly for everyday purchases? For me, this fluid movement of value between layers is where the real magic happens.

On the technical side, you work with delegated proof-of-stake, short block times and the ability to process thousands of transactions per second. In your own projects, how do you personally balance speed, security and decentralisation so that the system stays robust, but doesn’t become a black box for users?

My background is in economics rather than pure computer science, so I always look at technology through incentives and trade-offs. On the consensus side, we use a delegated model that allows the network to confirm blocks in a few seconds and process a very large number of transactions while consuming only a fraction of the energy that traditional mining would require.

Many people still think blockchain means high fees and a painful onboarding. Based on your team’s experience, what are the two or three concrete design decisions that actually made things simpler and cheaper for first-time users, for example, here in the UAE?

If I’m completely honest, the main user-experience problem in blockchain is not speed but anxiety. People are afraid of pressing the wrong button, losing funds, or suddenly paying a fee they didn’t expect. That’s why inside our projects we treat UX almost like aviation safety. We try to minimise the number of critical decisions a user has to make, we reduce the amount of risky actions, and we build guardrails around fees and transactions.

You often say that without clear rules there is no mass adoption. How do you and your companies work with regulators, banks and payment partners in the region today? And what were the toughest lessons for you personally on the regulatory side?

We operate at the intersection of digital technologies, data, and modern blockchain infrastructure, so regulation is simply part of the game.In our team we work with specialised legal partners in the region and internationally to make sure that what we do fits into existing frameworks.

In practice this means building proper KYC and AML flows where they are needed, clearly separating technology providers from regulated entities, and maintaining an ongoing dialogue with regulators as the rules evolve. I’ve learned that it is much easier to design products with compliance in mind from day one than it is to retrofit them later. It can slow you down in the short term, but in the long term it builds trust with users, institutions, and governments, and that trust becomes a real competitive advantage.

You’ve spoken about global fintech partnerships, merchant integrations, multi-token support, and an NFT marketplace.

Which of these is your immediate priority, and how do you plan to scale adoption across the Middle East?

I often say that a blockchain without an ecosystem is just an expensive database. Our strategy is to build what I call a virtuous cycle, where users, developers, merchants, and partners all reinforce each other. On the one hand, we focus on payments and everyday utility: cards, merchant tools, and integrations that let people actually spend and receive value instead of just holding it. On the other hand, we develop automated trading tools, so that users can put their assets to work through structured strategies rather than emotional manual trading.

Around this core we grow developer and partner programmes that offer grants, technical help, and go-to-market support to teams that decide to build with us. In the GCC, for example, I see particularly strong potential in remittances, travel, and solutions for small and medium-sized businesses. My view is that ecosystems grow fastest where they solve real, painful problems, not where they simply chase the latest narrative on social media.

You often talk about making blockchain understandable for ordinary people, not just developers. What are the biggest barriers to adoption from a community perspective, and how are you and your team addressing them through education and communication?

Education has never been a side activity for me. Long before this particular blockchain initiative, I spent years speaking and teaching in different countries, and that experience strongly shaped how I think about community today. Together with my team, we put a lot of effort into creating materials that make blockchain and its tools understandable for anyone, not only for people with a specialised professional background.

My philosophy is simple: if people don’t understand what they are using, they will not trust it. So we focus on very clear, human language, without unnecessary buzzwords. We produce guides, videos, live sessions and in-app explanations that show how things work step by step, and what the real benefits are in everyday life. We also rely heavily on local community leaders and ambassadors who know their culture, their language and their audience, and can adapt our message to their reality.

In my experience, the best promotion for this industry is not hype, but a well-informed community member who can explain, in their own words, how this technology made something in their life simpler or more convenient.

The splitting technology (rewards model you use can offer rewards to users who freeze their assets), very attractive in the short term. Many people, however, still associate blockchain rewards with energy-hungry mining farms and environmental concerns. How do you make sure your approach to rewards remains sustainable from an energy and environmental perspective in the long run?

As an economist, I am naturally sceptical of any model that promises high rewards forever without a clear source of value. Over the years I’ve seen several cycles where systems collapsed the moment the hype faded. That’s why, in our projects, we design rewards around a few principles that I always come back to.

First, over time the rewards have to be increasingly backed by real economic activity: transaction fees, services, spreads, and not just new tokens printed out of thin air. Second, the rules around supply need to be transparent and long-term, so people understand that today’s incentives are a trade-off with tomorrow’s. And third, we try to reward actions that genuinely strengthen the ecosystem, such as running infrastructure, providing liquidity, or using trading strategies responsibly. For me, a sustainable model is one that can survive a multi-year bear market without collapsing and where users feel they are helping to build something durable, not just chasing the flavour of the month.

What are your near-term goals for user growth, transaction volume, and
merchant adoption? Can you share any current milestones or numbers that
demonstrate momentum?

Price will always dominate headlines, but for me it is actually the least interesting metric. When I look at our internal dashboards, I’m much more focused on how many people are active every week across the different parts of the ecosystem, how quickly the number of accounts in the network is growing, how many smart contracts and tokens are being created and used, and how many independent teams choose this infrastructure for their own products. I also pay a lot of attention to the health of the ecosystem around us: how many independent teams are building products on top of this infrastructure, how many merchants decide to accept it in their daily operations, and how many developers choose to commit their time and creativity here. If, in five years, we can show that millions of people use this infrastructure every week without even thinking about it, they just pay, save, and run businesses, that will be a much bigger success in my eyes than any single price chart going vertical.

If we fast-forward five years, what would have to happen for you to say: “Yes, this was worth decades of work”? And what is, in your view, the single biggest obstacle between today’s blockchain industry and that future?

If I had to put my vision into one sentence, I would say that I want blockchain to become invisible. In five years, I don’t want people to walk around saying, “I used a blockchain today.” I want them to say, “I sent transfer home instantly,” or “I launched a product and got paid from three continents,” or “I joined a game and my in-game items really belong to me,” and only later discover that all of this was powered by decentralised infrastructure.

The biggest challenge, in my opinion, is rebuilding trust after the scandals and failures that the industry has gone through, while still moving quickly enough to stay relevant. That requires a very delicate balance between technological ambition, regulatory maturity, and a genuinely human-centred approach to product design. If my team and I can help show that this industry can be both bold and responsible at the same time, then I will feel that we’ve used this decade well.

The Formula 1 season decider has arrived in Abu Dhabi, with fans from 105 countries descending on the UAE capital to witness what is expected to be one of the most dramatic finales in recent years. The title showdown between Red Bull’s Max Verstappen and McLaren drivers Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri has set the stage for a high-stakes weekend at Yas Marina Circuit.

Here are five key things visitors need to know about the venue during race weekend:

1. A circuit built for championship drama
Yas Marina Circuit is among the most technically advanced tracks in Formula 1, featuring a 1.2-kilometre straight where cars surpass 330 km/h, an underground pit-lane exit tunnel, and a fan-centric layout. It has hosted several iconic championship moments, including Sebastian Vettel’s first title win in 2010, Nico Rosberg’s emotional win-and-retire moment in 2016, and Verstappen’s last-lap title battle in 2021. As the final race of the season, the track is poised to add another historic chapter.

2. Seamless movement around the circuit
Navigating the venue has been made simple through a circular shuttle system operating throughout race weekend. Fans can move easily between main access gates, fan zones, Yas Marina, and Etihad Park for the Emirates NBD Yasalam After-Race Concerts. The Abu Dhabi GP mobile app also provides instant wayfinding tools.

3. Fans can arrive by yacht
Visitors docking at Yas Marina or staying onboard one of the moored yachts can reach the circuit using dedicated water taxis. Those on the marina vessels will have exclusive, trackside vantage points with clear visibility of several high-action sections of the circuit.

4. Hospitality, entertainment, and nightlife at scale
Purpose-built for hospitality, Yas Marina Circuit features more than 40 trackside suites integrated into its architecture, alongside the W Abu Dhabi – Yas Island hotel, which sits directly above Sector 3. Unlike circuits that retrofit hospitality offerings, Yas Marina was designed from inception as an entertainment destination.

New this year is 360 at Sixteen, an elevated multi-level open-air lounge above Turn 16. Returning favourites include Deck at Two featuring Dani García’s LEÑA, Deck at Nine with OPA’s Greek-inspired menu, and Luna Lounge by Cé La Vi. The circuit’s unique podium placement also turns post-race celebrations into a large-scale, visible trackside party.

5. One ticket unlocks experiences across the venue
All ticket holders gain access to multiple on- and off-track experiences. Family Fridays allow free entry for children, offering interactive racing activities, roaming performers, and entertainment zones. Fans can also upgrade their access to premium grandstands and fan zones.

Every attendee also receives entry to the Emirates NBD Yasalam After-Race Concerts, which bring global performers to the heart of race weekend.

Beyond the finale, Yas Marina Circuit operates year-round, offering public driving programmes, karting, drag racing, guided tours, community fitness activities, and motorsport events.

For the latest updates and timings, fans are advised to check the Abu Dhabi GP app.