The six authentic dishes featured in the campaign include zenkol, mouhalibiya, macaroni bi crème, spinach and cheese fatayer, kebbet batata with cheese, and cheese maamoul. Photos: Puck
The six authentic dishes featured in the campaign include zenkol, mouhalibiya, macaroni bi crème, spinach and cheese fatayer, kebbet batata with cheese, and cheese maamoul. Photos: Puck
The six authentic dishes featured in the campaign include zenkol, mouhalibiya, macaroni bi crème, spinach and cheese fatayer, kebbet batata with cheese, and cheese maamoul. Photos: Puck
The six authentic dishes featured in the campaign include zenkol, mouhalibiya, macaroni bi crème, spinach and cheese fatayer, kebbet batata with cheese, and cheese maamoul. Photos: Puck

‘Recipe for Change': Puck is turning the act of eating into an act of giving this Ramadan



Dairy foods brand Puck has announced the launch of ‘Recipe for Change’ - a Ramadan initiative to empower Lebanese women while celebrating the country's rich culinary heritage. In collaboration with Dubai Cares and renowned food critic Anthony Rahayel, the initiative introduces six traditional home-cooked dishes, crafted by Lebanese women, to leading Lebanese restaurants across the UAE and KSA.

As part of this initiative, 50 per cent of the proceeds from each dish sold in the UAE will be donated to support affected Lebanese families, reinforcing Puck’s commitment to being a true ally to mothers in the region by supporting women’s well-being and driving meaningful change in society.

In the wake of the conflict in Lebanon at the end of 2024, many families, particularly women and children, faced immense hardship, with displacement and loss of homes disrupting their lives. Through 'Recipe for Change', Puck is offering women a platform to share their culinary creations while also supporting affected Lebanese families. For the second year in a row, Puck partnered with Rahayel to find and select six women to participate in this life-changing initiative.

50 per cent of the proceeds from each dish sold in the UAE will be donated to support affected Lebanese families.
50 per cent of the proceeds from each dish sold in the UAE will be donated to support affected Lebanese families.

From March 1 until March 31, Lebanese diaspora and lovers of Lebanese cuisine now have an opportunity to make a tangible difference - simply by dining in or ordering online for iftar, suhoor or any meal of the day at Abdul Wahab, Al Safadi, Kaak Al Manara, Manarit Beirut, Habib Beirut, Mosaic and Karam Beirut branches across the UAE.

Mahitab Hamed, marketing vice president at Arla Foods, said: “As a brand with purpose at its core, Puck is committed to uplifting communities and championing women. Recipe for Change is a testament to this mission, honouring the culinary traditions of remarkable Lebanese mothers supporting affected Lebanese families.”

The six authentic dishes featured in the campaign include zenkol, mouhalibiya, macaroni bi creme, spinach and cheese fatayer, kebbet batata with cheese, and cheese maamoul. These recipes have been lovingly shared by the talented women behind them: Ibtihaj, Fidaa, Viviane, Nada, Amani, and Feryal. Through this initiative, their voices and culinary legacies are given the opportunity to be celebrated and shared with the world. The collaboration with Anthony Rahayel, whose passion for Lebanese food and culture, helped connect these women to renowned restaurants across the UAE, will also see Awani Restaurant in KSA adding these special dishes to their menu, ensuring the stories reach a wider audience beyond the UAE.

As Ramadan approaches, Puck invites everyone to join in the 'Recipe for Change' initiative. Every dish ordered is more than just a meal - it’s a chance to sustain a family and make a lasting impact on the rebuilding of Lebanon.

Mercer, the investment consulting arm of US services company Marsh & McLennan, expects its wealth division to at least double its assets under management (AUM) in the Middle East as wealth in the region continues to grow despite economic headwinds, a company official said.

Mercer Wealth, which globally has $160 billion in AUM, plans to boost its AUM in the region to $2-$3bn in the next 2-3 years from the present $1bn, said Yasir AbuShaban, a Dubai-based principal with Mercer Wealth.

Within the next two to three years, we are looking at reaching $2 to $3 billion as a conservative estimate and we do see an opportunity to do so,” said Mr AbuShaban.

Mercer does not directly make investments, but allocates clients’ money they have discretion to, to professional asset managers. They also provide advice to clients.

“We have buying power. We can negotiate on their (client’s) behalf with asset managers to provide them lower fees than they otherwise would have to get on their own,” he added.

Mercer Wealth’s clients include sovereign wealth funds, family offices, and insurance companies among others.

From its office in Dubai, Mercer also looks after Africa, India and Turkey, where they also see opportunity for growth.

Wealth creation in Middle East and Africa (MEA) grew 8.5 per cent to $8.1 trillion last year from $7.5tn in 2015, higher than last year’s global average of 6 per cent and the second-highest growth in a region after Asia-Pacific which grew 9.9 per cent, according to consultancy Boston Consulting Group (BCG). In the region, where wealth grew just 1.9 per cent in 2015 compared with 2014, a pickup in oil prices has helped in wealth generation.

BCG is forecasting MEA wealth will rise to $12tn by 2021, growing at an annual average of 8 per cent.

Drivers of wealth generation in the region will be split evenly between new wealth creation and growth of performance of existing assets, according to BCG.

Another general trend in the region is clients’ looking for a comprehensive approach to investing, according to Mr AbuShaban.

“Institutional investors or some of the families are seeing a slowdown in the available capital they have to invest and in that sense they are looking at optimizing the way they manage their portfolios and making sure they are not investing haphazardly and different parts of their investment are working together,” said Mr AbuShaban.

Some clients also have a higher appetite for risk, given the low interest-rate environment that does not provide enough yield for some institutional investors. These clients are keen to invest in illiquid assets, such as private equity and infrastructure.

“What we have seen is a desire for higher returns in what has been a low-return environment specifically in various fixed income or bonds,” he said.

“In this environment, we have seen a de facto increase in the risk that clients are taking in things like illiquid investments, private equity investments, infrastructure and private debt, those kind of investments were higher illiquidity results in incrementally higher returns.”

The Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, one of the largest sovereign wealth funds, said in its 2016 report that has gradually increased its exposure in direct private equity and private credit transactions, mainly in Asian markets and especially in China and India. The authority’s private equity department focused on structured equities owing to “their defensive characteristics.”

MATCH INFO

Uefa Champions League final:

Who: Real Madrid v Liverpool
Where: NSC Olimpiyskiy Stadium, Kiev, Ukraine
When: Saturday, May 26, 10.45pm (UAE)
TV: Match on BeIN Sports

ESSENTIALS

The flights 
Fly Etihad or Emirates from the UAE to Moscow from 2,763 return per person return including taxes. 
Where to stay 
Trips on the Golden Eagle Trans-Siberian cost from US$16,995 (Dh62,414) per person, based on two sharing.

Groom and Two Brides

Director: Elie Semaan

Starring: Abdullah Boushehri, Laila Abdallah, Lulwa Almulla

Rating: 3/5

The White Lotus: Season three

Creator: Mike White

Starring: Walton Goggins, Jason Isaacs, Natasha Rothwell

Rating: 4.5/5

Updated: March 05, 2025, 4:00 AM