Latest news with #KayanWellnessFestival


Zawya
30-04-2025
- Business
- Zawya
Oman: CFI extends record growth streak with $1.279trln trading volume in Q1 2025
Dubai: CFI Financial Group, a leading global online trading provider, is proud to announce the continuation of its exceptional momentum into 2025, posting a landmark first quarter fueled by innovation, client trust, and strategic expansion. Building on the breakthroughs of 2024, the Group has further solidified its leadership position, setting a new standard in global online trading. Q1 2025: A New Benchmark in Trading Performance In Q1 2025, CFI achieved an all-time high with a trading volume of $1.279 trillion, representing a 13.5% increase from Q4 2024 and a staggering 129% surge compared to Q1 2024. This continued growth reaffirms the company's robust infrastructure, client-first philosophy, and commitment to empowering traders and investors worldwide. Client growth remained a core highlight of the quarter: * Funded accounts grew by 5.5% compared to Q4 2024 and by an impressive 75% compared to Q1 2024, reflecting strong year-over-year growth. * Active accounts rose by 7.4% compared to Q4 2024 and achieved a 92% year-over-year increase compared to Q1 2024, driven by enhanced acquisition efforts and personalized retention strategies. * Funding transactions saw exceptional momentum, increasing by 54% from Q4 and a remarkable 148% from Q1 2024, demonstrating growing confidence and engagement. Strategic Market Growth & Leadership CFI's focus on expansion, innovation, and service excellence translated into tangible milestones in Q1: * Official Opening of CFI Azerbaijan: Marking a major milestone in CFI's regional expansion strategy, bringing world-class trading services to a dynamic new market. * Launch of CFI Prime: A new division designed to cater to institutional and professional traders, offering specialized services and cutting-edge technology. * Award Recognition: CFI was honored with two prestigious titles at the iFX Expo, 'Best CFD Broker MEA' and 'Best Mobile Trading App MEA', reaffirming its leadership in both technological innovation and service excellence. High-Impact Strategic Partnerships Q1 2025 also marked a series of high-impact partnerships that elevated brand visibility and community engagement: * Ya Hala Festival: As a strategic partner of Kuwait's premier shopping event, CFI showcased its regional leadership and support for local initiatives. * Saadiyat Nights: through a partnership with the Department of Culture and Tourism - Abu Dhabi, supporting the UAE's premier entertainment festival featuring global stars like Jennifer Lopez, Christina Aguilera, Omar Khairat, and more. * Kayan Wellness Festival: Supporting wellness and innovation, CFI expanded its presence in the lifestyle and wellbeing space in Abu Dhabi. * Official Partner of Kuwait Basketball Association: Strengthening its presence in the sports sector and deepening community engagement in Kuwait and in the Gulf region. Looking Forward Reflecting on Q1's achievements, Hisham Mansour, Co-Founder and Managing Director of CFI, stated: 'Q1 2025 sets the tone for a landmark year ahead for CFI. Surpassing new records once again is a testament to the passion of our global teams and the trust of our growing client base. As we continue to build on this momentum, our focus remains clear, pushing the boundaries of innovation, expanding our global presence, and empowering traders and investors with world-class experiences.' As CFI continues its journey through 2025, we are scaling innovation, setting new standards for client experience, and forging impactful partnerships, redefining what excellence means in the world of online trading. About CFI: CFI Financial Group, established in 1998, is MENA's leading online trading broker with over 25 years of experience. Operating from key locations like London, Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Cape Town, Baku, Beirut, Amman, and Cairo, CFI provides seamless access to both global and local markets. Offering diverse trading options across equities, currencies, commodities, and more, CFI delivers superior conditions, including zero-pip spreads, no commission fees, and ultra-fast execution. AI-driven tools The company is a leader in AI-driven tools, offering intuitive and advanced solutions for traders of all experience levels. CFI fosters financial literacy through multilingual educational content and inspires excellence through partnerships with global icons like AC Milan, FIBA WASL, and MI Cape Town cricket team, as well as the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi. With Seven-Time Formula One™ World Champion Sir Lewis Hamilton as Global Brand Ambassador, CFI reflects a shared commitment to innovation and success while supporting cultural and community initiatives worldwide. © Muscat Media Group Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (


Times of Oman
30-04-2025
- Business
- Times of Oman
CFI extends record growth streak with $1.279 trillion trading volume in Q1 2025
Dubai: CFI Financial Group, a leading global online trading provider, is proud to announce the continuation of its exceptional momentum into 2025, posting a landmark first quarter fueled by innovation, client trust, and strategic expansion. Building on the breakthroughs of 2024, the Group has further solidified its leadership position, setting a new standard in global online trading. Q1 2025: A New Benchmark in Trading Performance In Q1 2025, CFI achieved an all-time high with a trading volume of $1.279 trillion, representing a 13.5% increase from Q4 2024 and a staggering 129% surge compared to Q1 2024. This continued growth reaffirms the company's robust infrastructure, client-first philosophy, and commitment to empowering traders and investors worldwide. Client growth remained a core highlight of the quarter: * Funded accounts grew by 5.5% compared to Q4 2024 and by an impressive 75% compared to Q1 2024, reflecting strong year-over-year growth. * Active accounts rose by 7.4% compared to Q4 2024 and achieved a 92% year-over-year increase compared to Q1 2024, driven by enhanced acquisition efforts and personalized retention strategies. * Funding transactions saw exceptional momentum, increasing by 54% from Q4 and a remarkable 148% from Q1 2024, demonstrating growing confidence and engagement. Strategic Market Growth & Leadership CFI's focus on expansion, innovation, and service excellence translated into tangible milestones in Q1: * Official Opening of CFI Azerbaijan: Marking a major milestone in CFI's regional expansion strategy, bringing world-class trading services to a dynamic new market. * Launch of CFI Prime: A new division designed to cater to institutional and professional traders, offering specialized services and cutting-edge technology. * Award Recognition: CFI was honored with two prestigious titles at the iFX Expo, 'Best CFD Broker MEA' and 'Best Mobile Trading App MEA', reaffirming its leadership in both technological innovation and service excellence. High-Impact Strategic Partnerships Q1 2025 also marked a series of high-impact partnerships that elevated brand visibility and community engagement: * Ya Hala Festival: As a strategic partner of Kuwait's premier shopping event, CFI showcased its regional leadership and support for local initiatives. * Saadiyat Nights: through a partnership with the Department of Culture and Tourism - Abu Dhabi, supporting the UAE's premier entertainment festival featuring global stars like Jennifer Lopez, Christina Aguilera, Omar Khairat, and more. * Kayan Wellness Festival: Supporting wellness and innovation, CFI expanded its presence in the lifestyle and wellbeing space in Abu Dhabi. * Official Partner of Kuwait Basketball Association: Strengthening its presence in the sports sector and deepening community engagement in Kuwait and in the Gulf region. Looking Forward Reflecting on Q1's achievements, Hisham Mansour, Co-Founder and Managing Director of CFI, stated: 'Q1 2025 sets the tone for a landmark year ahead for CFI. Surpassing new records once again is a testament to the passion of our global teams and the trust of our growing client base. As we continue to build on this momentum, our focus remains clear, pushing the boundaries of innovation, expanding our global presence, and empowering traders and investors with world-class experiences.' As CFI continues its journey through 2025, we are scaling innovation, setting new standards for client experience, and forging impactful partnerships, redefining what excellence means in the world of online trading. About CFI: CFI Financial Group, established in 1998, is MENA's leading online trading broker with over 25 years of experience. Operating from key locations like London, Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Cape Town, Baku, Beirut, Amman, and Cairo, CFI provides seamless access to both global and local markets. Offering diverse trading options across equities, currencies, commodities, and more, CFI delivers superior conditions, including zero-pip spreads, no commission fees, and ultra-fast execution. AI-driven tools The company is a leader in AI-driven tools, offering intuitive and advanced solutions for traders of all experience levels. CFI fosters financial literacy through multilingual educational content and inspires excellence through partnerships with global icons like AC Milan, FIBA WASL, and MI Cape Town cricket team, as well as the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi. With Seven-Time Formula One™ World Champion Sir Lewis Hamilton as Global Brand Ambassador, CFI reflects a shared commitment to innovation and success while supporting cultural and community initiatives worldwide.


The National
06-02-2025
- Entertainment
- The National
Kayan Wellness Festival: What I learnt from spending three days at the Abu Dhabi event
I am only 20 minutes into a Qigong session when everything starts to snap into place. Not so much physically as mentally, as my internal chatter fades away. It is a reminder of just how resistant the mind is to changing its ways. That is why it takes until early Saturday afternoon at Kayan Wellness Festival in Abu Dhabi for me to shake off the week and the outside world, and lean into the present moment. It is not festival of music and not quite a mindfulness retreat, so what does a weekend event like this entail, and what can visitors take away? The Qigong session provided my first learning: to be in the present moment – which can take more that an occasional 45-minute yoga class to achieve. After three days spent in talks, workshops and soaking up the atmosphere on Al Fahid Island, here are the lessons that left a lasting impression. Sadhguru, an Indian yoga guru who rose to global fame in the early 2000s, was the headline speaker at the three-day event, making his first appearance in the UAE. Queues of his followers and curious festival-goers circled a pop-up amphitheatre as the clock crept closer to 8pm. After the support act – handpan player Anas Alhalabi and his band – Sadhguru eventually made his way to the stage – in true rock star fashion – an hour late. Even as someone not overly familiar with his work (meaning some of his star presence was lost on me), his teacher status was palpable as he commanded silent attention. Sadhguru joked that, due to the lights, he could not see whether people were awake or asleep. But the not-so-sleepy Friday night crowd soon made themselves heard, proving they had plenty of energy to see the weekend through. Intelligence was on Sadhguru's mind. For him, the human brain is 'a true miracle', humanity's greatest strength and its greatest weakness. Yet 'too many people experience this miracle as a misery manufacturing machine' he said, detailing mental afflictions such as depression, anxiety and suicidal ideation. He asked the audience: 'If you had a choice, would you like your intellect to be sharp or blunt?' Most people muttered in favour of the former. Then he asked: 'Why don't we give a knife to a child's hand? Because it's dangerous if the child is not conscious enough.' He extended the metaphor to say that a knife in itself never harms. 'The same goes for your intellect – it is a sharp instrument. If you do not know how to hold it, if you do not know how to wield it, then it will cut you up to ribbons,' he said, getting to the heart of why it is essential to train our minds to work in our favour. The following evening, Mo Gawdat likewise declared: 'The ultimate superpower is intelligence.' He quickly added, however, that it is not inherently a positive thing. As he often does, the former Google X executive, author and podcaster spoke about artificial intelligence, the dystopia or utopia it could bring about, and humanity's role in either outcome. Like wellness gurus before him, he addressed the notion of retreat – but not in the way you might think. 'The truth of the matter is that humanity does not need to continue forward, it needs to retreat backwards,' he told the audience. Now more than ever, 'the answer is to return to things like our core essence, our spirituality, our human connection', Gadwat said. 'The problem is not a problem of progress. The challenge that humanity is facing is a problem of morality.' When it comes to ensuring the superpower of AI is used for good, Gawdat said it is our duty, like any responsible parent, to instil good ethics into the technology, which he believes will ultimately become sentient. Yet his message was not scaremongering, as he clarified. 'I'm not the kind of guy that's predicting the end of the world at all,' Gadwat said. 'As a matter of fact, I'm predicting that we will end up with a total abundance … we will first get through a bit of a tough time, followed by a total utopia.' The next problem for mankind? 'Utopia gets us to the question – what is our purpose?' You may be new to the wellness world, or you may be a regular at sound healing sessions and chanting circles. Either way, a weekend wellness festival provides ample opportunity to try something new – which can be hard to make time for in our busy day-to-day lives. Over the three days, wellbeing sessions included chakra clearing, sound journeys, cacao ceremonies, chanting circles, breathwork and more. As for fitness, there was yogalates (a combination of yoga and Pilates), rhythmic bodyweight HIIT and ecstatic dance, to name a few. I have taken home a nugget of wisdom from my first Qigong session, including how to activate my kidney meridian line by tapping my feet. What draws people to a music festival? As well as the attraction of seeing their favourite artists perform live, a collective effervescence is generated when so many people come together to revel in their passions. The same goes for wellness festivals. Walid Aboulnaga, a breathwork practitioner running workshops and hosting sessions at the event, told The National: 'You can walk, smile at everybody, and feel it easy to talk and connect. 'As opposed to different venues, concerts, places with alcohol or just different energies, this is love,' he continued 'It's very beautiful. And once you're in the space, you want more of it.'


What's On
31-01-2025
- Entertainment
- What's On
6 things to do in Abu Dhabi this weekend: January 31 to February 2
All the fun to be had… If you clicked on this, you wanted a quick, neat list of fun things to do in the capital. The great news is, here are 6 fun things to do in Abu Dhabi this weekend. Keep an eye on it all From the lovely rooftop poolside bar of the Four Seasons Abu Dhabi, Eclipse Terrace Lounge. Enjoy the Friday sunset while you sip on beverages and tuck into creative bar bites with gorgeous views of Al Maryah Island and Abu Dhabi. Four Seasons Abu Dhabi, The Galleria Al Maryah Island. @fsabudhabi Keep the Chinese New Year celebrations going In high luxury, no less. Head to Emirates Palace Mandarin Oriental's Vendome, where a culinary journey across China with cultural delicacies and flavours awaits, available until February 2. Dhs318, until February 2. @mo_emiratespalace Head to Saadiyat Nights for Omar Khairat For those looking forward to top regional talent, Egypt's legendary composer Omar Khairat will perform a collection of his iconic symphonies this Saturday. Expect symphonic brilliance with scores including Qadeyat Am Ahmad , Dameer Abla Hekmat , and Afwan Ayoha El Kanoun performed live. Tickets start from Dhs250. Omar Khairat, Saadiyat Nights, Saadiyat Island, Abu Dhabi, February 1. @saadiyatnights Discover a cool new brunch This lovely Latin American brunch offering on Hudayriyat is just where you need to head on a sunny Saturday in the capital, with fresh flavours bringing you the essence of Latin cuisine across a refreshing selection of carefully-crafted beverages and a fabulous set menu. You'll be able to experience all of that while you drink in gorgeous views of the capital and of Surf Dhabi, as live music and a DJ performance will keep the foot-tapping beats pouring in all afternoon. Nalu Surf Club, Hudayriyat Island, Abu Dhabi, Saturday brunch 1pm to 4pm, Dhs300 soft, Dhs400 house. Tel: (0)2 419 8509. @nalu_surfclub Sunday, February 2 Fire up your wellness goals Abu Dhabi's Kayan Wellness Festival is finally here, and here to stay all weekend long. Fahid Island will play host to the first-ever edition of this largest wellness event in the region and will feature yoga, meditation, workshops, and talks from global wellness experts. An impressive lineup of global wellness experts, including the visionary Sadhguru, biohacker Gary Brecka, and transformative thinkers Marisa Peer and Mo Gawdat will be coming to town to deliver immersive sessions in breathwork, sound healing, yoga, and fitness, alongside inspirational talks that explore the latest advancements in the wellness industry. Kayan Wellness Festival, Al Fahid Island, Abu Dhabi, January 31 to February 2, ticket from Dhs75. @kayanfestival Catch top tennis action Because the Mubadala Abu Dhabi Open is back for its 2025 edition. Celebrate your love for the sport with top tennis stars including defending champion Elena Rybakina, Ons Jabeur, Paula Badosa, and just announced wildcard Emma Raducanu. Mubadala Abu Dhabi Open, Zayed Sports City, Abu Dhabi, February 1 to 8, 2025, from Dhs25. @mubadalaabudhabiopen > Sign up for FREE to get exclusive updates that you are interested in