Food, music, entertainment, guests, venue, theme – the list of requirements if you want to host a talked-about and endlessly hashtagged party might be long but, according to experts, the real skill lies in finding the right mix among the various parameters.
Social media might have upped the ante when it comes to parties, especially if your goal is to have the pictures plastered across your platforms, but apps such as Pinterest offer up millions of inspirational ideas to suit all budgets and party sizes.
We ask four party planning and hosting experts to share their tips for throwing a fabulous bash.
Set it all up
“Planning, personalisation and a curated guest list,” says event planner Victoria Harrison, owner of Flowerwall Dubai of her party must-haves. “Plus, the right catering and drinks, ensuring everyone feels comfortable. And, if possible, space for a dance floor for guests of all ages.”
During festive season, many hosts like to organise gatherings at home, taking advantage of the cooler months by throwing open their doors for garden parties. Parties at home also allow for greater personalisation and tailored experiences.
“A successful party is all about creating an unforgettable experience that feels personal and effortless, yet luxurious,” says Ayman Fakoussa, managing partner at communications and events agency The Qode. “Key components include a well-thought-out theme or concept, exceptional hospitality, a carefully curated guest list, and, of course, the environment.
“The setting should reflect the mood of the event – be it intimate and elegant or lively and extravagant,” adds Fakoussa.
From canapes to buffets
Whether offering up simple nibbles, a buffet or a sit-down meal, party planning experts agree that providing food is a must.
“If you want to be a great host, I’d say it’s absolutely vital and an important part of creating that warm, welcoming atmosphere,” says Ziying Zhou, founder of Berkeley Etiquette. “The type of food you serve depends on the vibe, the space and the size of the group.”
She suggests canapes and nibbles for casual mingling, buffets for larger groups and a sit-down dinner for smaller, more intimate gatherings “where deeper conversations or a formal vibe are key”.
Attentive hosts should check each guest’s dietary requirements beforehand and have options to suit cultural and personal preferences. “Guests will come hungry as they are expecting to be fed yummy food,” says Lorate Hamzeh, founder and managing director of The Big Moo Events. “Live stations tend to be guest favourites, as the smell of freshly made popcorn or candy floss wafting through the air can trigger happiness. It’s important to make sure that plenty of food is available at your event as people eat, drink and enjoy themselves.”
Zhou adds: “At the end of the day, food isn’t just about filling stomachs, it’s about bringing people together and making them feel looked after.”
Helping guests mix and mingle
Throwing a party often involves inviting different friend groups from different areas of your personal and professional life, and it’s the host’s job to make sure friends from work, the school run, sport and hobby groups mix, mingle and meet new people.
“I enjoy mixing and matching groups that wouldn’t typically mingle as it often leads to interesting dynamics and conversations,” says Fakoussa. “It’s about creating a setting where people are encouraged to step outside their comfort zone. One way I do this is by intentionally pairing guests with different backgrounds or interests during dinner or activities. This often sparks unexpected connections and fresh conversations.”
Have a loose plan for how the party will flow, but don’t stress if things need to shift a bit
Ziying Zhou,
founder, Berkeley Etiquette
For Harrison “the right playlist” is the best way to bring everyone together, while Hamzeh says “games are the ultimate icebreaker”.
“Fun trivia or active competitions are always the thing to do to get people to mingle,” she says. “We have giant games that we scatter around our events that help with making the environment more welcoming for those with a little social anxiety.”
Fakoussa adds: “The key is to trust the process and let the natural energy of diverse groups unfold; it’s usually the most engaging part of the evening.”
Happy host, happy guests
It’s up to the host to set the tone for the party and while you can bring every aspect together perfectly, if you’re not enjoying yourself, your guests will pick up on the vibe.
The layout should encourage guests to mingle without feeling too spread out or too cramped
Ayman Fakoussa,
managing partner, The Qode
“The key is preparation that will give you the peace of mind. Also, don’t be afraid to get some help if you need it,” says Zhou. “Try to get as much done as possible ahead of time – set up the decor, prep the food and sort out the space the day before. Have a loose plan for how the party will flow, but don’t stress if things need to shift a bit. Most importantly, remind yourself it doesn’t have to be perfect. The whole point is to have fun with your guests and creating lasting memories.”
Smaller or casual gatherings might entail less stress than large or formal parties, but having a vague outline or idea of how the event should progress is an easy way to stay on top of things and allay anxiety. “Creating a detailed timeline for the day and ensuring that everything from catering to entertainment is locked in ahead of time also helps,” says Fakoussa. “The key to avoiding stress on the day of the event is meticulous planning and delegating effectively.”
Top tips
“The number one thing to get absolutely right is the flow of the space,” says Foussaka. “Whether at home or a venue, the layout should encourage guests to mingle without feeling too spread out or too cramped. You want a space that’s just the right size – not too big, where people feel distant, or too small, where it feels crowded.”
Guest experience should be the ultimate goal for hosts, which also means not sweating the small stuff and taking it in your stride when things might not go as planned. Zhou says: “It’s about creating an atmosphere where people can relax, connect and genuinely enjoy themselves. When your guests feel looked after, it won’t matter if a minor detail goes wrong. They might forget what was on the menu, but they’ll never forget how your party made them feel or how much fun they had.”
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Brief scores
Toss India, chose to bat
India 281-7 in 50 ov (Pandya 83, Dhoni 79; Coulter-Nile 3-44)
Australia 137-9 in 21 ov (Maxwell 39, Warner 25; Chahal 3-30)
India won by 26 runs on Duckworth-Lewis Method
Desert Warrior
Starring: Anthony Mackie, Aiysha Hart, Ben Kingsley
Director: Rupert Wyatt
Rating: 3/5
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Afghanistan fixtures
- v Australia, today
- v Sri Lanka, Tuesday
- v New Zealand, Saturday,
- v South Africa, June 15
- v England, June 18
- v India, June 22
- v Bangladesh, June 24
- v Pakistan, June 29
- v West Indies, July 4
LILO & STITCH
Starring: Sydney Elizebeth Agudong, Maia Kealoha, Chris Sanders
Director: Dean Fleischer Camp
Rating: 4.5/5
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THE DETAILS
Kaala
Dir: Pa. Ranjith
Starring: Rajinikanth, Huma Qureshi, Easwari Rao, Nana Patekar
Rating: 1.5/5
The Sand Castle
Director: Matty Brown
Stars: Nadine Labaki, Ziad Bakri, Zain Al Rafeea, Riman Al Rafeea
Rating: 2.5/5
MOUNTAINHEAD REVIEW
Starring: Ramy Youssef, Steve Carell, Jason Schwartzman
Director: Jesse Armstrong
Rating: 3.5/5
The specs
Engine: 4.0-litre V8 twin-turbocharged and three electric motors
Power: Combined output 920hp
Torque: 730Nm at 4,000-7,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed dual-clutch automatic
Fuel consumption: 11.2L/100km
On sale: Now, deliveries expected later in 2025
Price: expected to start at Dh1,432,000
Who has lived at The Bishops Avenue?
- George Sainsbury of the supermarket dynasty, sugar magnate William Park Lyle and actress Dame Gracie Fields were residents in the 1930s when the street was only known as ‘Millionaires’ Row’.
- Then came the international super rich, including the last king of Greece, Constantine II, the Sultan of Brunei and Indian steel magnate Lakshmi Mittal who was at one point ranked the third richest person in the world.
- Turkish tycoon Halis Torprak sold his mansion for £50m in 2008 after spending just two days there. The House of Saud sold 10 properties on the road in 2013 for almost £80m.
- Other residents have included Iraqi businessman Nemir Kirdar, singer Ariana Grande, holiday camp impresario Sir Billy Butlin, businessman Asil Nadir, Paul McCartney’s former wife Heather Mills.
Hunting park to luxury living
- Land was originally the Bishop of London's hunting park, hence the name
- The road was laid out in the mid 19th Century, meandering through woodland and farmland
- Its earliest houses at the turn of the 20th Century were substantial detached properties with extensive grounds
The biog
Name: Dhabia Khalifa AlQubaisi
Age: 23
How she spends spare time: Playing with cats at the clinic and feeding them
Inspiration: My father. He’s a hard working man who has been through a lot to provide us with everything we need
Favourite book: Attitude, emotions and the psychology of cats by Dr Nicholes Dodman
Favourit film: 101 Dalmatians - it remind me of my childhood and began my love of dogs
Word of advice: By being patient, good things will come and by staying positive you’ll have the will to continue to love what you're doing
Result
Qualifier: Islamabad United beat Karachi Kings by eight wickets
Fixtures
Tuesday, Lahore: Eliminator 1 - Peshawar Zalmi v Quetta Gladiators
Wednesday, Lahore: Eliminator 2 – Karachi Kings v Winner of Eliminator 1
Sunday, Karachi: Final – Islamabad United v Winner of Eliminator 2
Infiniti QX80 specs
Engine: twin-turbocharged 3.5-liter V6
Power: 450hp
Torque: 700Nm
Price: From Dh450,000, Autograph model from Dh510,000
Available: Now
First Person
Richard Flanagan
Chatto & Windus
Trump v Khan
2016: Feud begins after Khan criticised Trump’s proposed Muslim travel ban to US
2017: Trump criticises Khan’s ‘no reason to be alarmed’ response to London Bridge terror attacks
2019: Trump calls Khan a “stone cold loser” before first state visit
2019: Trump tweets about “Khan’s Londonistan”, calling him “a national disgrace”
2022: Khan’s office attributes rise in Islamophobic abuse against the major to hostility stoked during Trump’s presidency
July 2025 During a golfing trip to Scotland, Trump calls Khan “a nasty person”
Sept 2025 Trump blames Khan for London’s “stabbings and the dirt and the filth”.
Dec 2025 Trump suggests migrants got Khan elected, calls him a “horrible, vicious, disgusting mayor”
MATCH INFO
Manchester United v Everton
Where: Old Trafford, Manchester
When: Sunday, kick-off 7pm (UAE)
How to watch: Live on BeIN Sports 11HD
The specs
- Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
- Power: 640hp
- Torque: 760nm
- On sale: 2026
- Price: Not announced yet
SPECS
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If you go
The flights
Emirates and Etihad fly direct to Nairobi, with fares starting from Dh1,695. The resort can be reached from Nairobi via a 35-minute flight from Wilson Airport or Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, or by road, which takes at least three hours.
The rooms
Rooms at Fairmont Mount Kenya range from Dh1,870 per night for a deluxe room to Dh11,000 per night for the William Holden Cottage.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Western Region Asia Cup Qualifier
Results
UAE beat Saudi Arabia by 12 runs
Kuwait beat Iran by eight wickets
Oman beat Maldives by 10 wickets
Bahrain beat Qatar by six wickets
Semi-finals
UAE v Qatar
Bahrain v Kuwait
Who's who in Yemen conflict
Houthis: Iran-backed rebels who occupy Sanaa and run unrecognised government
Yemeni government: Exiled government in Aden led by eight-member Presidential Leadership Council
Southern Transitional Council: Faction in Yemeni government that seeks autonomy for the south
Habrish 'rebels': Tribal-backed forces feuding with STC over control of oil in government territory
You may remember …
Robbie Keane (Atletico de Kolkata) The Irish striker is, along with his former Spurs teammate Dimitar Berbatov, the headline figure in this season’s ISL, having joined defending champions ATK. His grand entrance after arrival from Major League Soccer in the US will be delayed by three games, though, due to a knee injury.
Dimitar Berbatov (Kerala Blasters) Word has it that Rene Meulensteen, the Kerala manager, plans to deploy his Bulgarian star in central midfield. The idea of Berbatov as an all-action, box-to-box midfielder, might jar with Spurs and Manchester United supporters, who more likely recall an always-languid, often-lazy striker.
Wes Brown (Kerala Blasters) Revived his playing career last season to help out at Blackburn Rovers, where he was also a coach. Since then, the 23-cap England centre back, who is now 38, has been reunited with the former Manchester United assistant coach Meulensteen, after signing for Kerala.
Andre Bikey (Jamshedpur) The Cameroonian defender is onto the 17th club of a career has taken him to Spain, Portugal, Russia, the UK, Greece, and now India. He is still only 32, so there is plenty of time to add to that tally, too. Scored goals against Liverpool and Chelsea during his time with Reading in England.
Emiliano Alfaro (Pune City) The Uruguayan striker has played for Liverpool – the Montevideo one, rather than the better-known side in England – and Lazio in Italy. He was prolific for a season at Al Wasl in the Arabian Gulf League in 2012/13. He returned for one season with Fujairah, whom he left to join Pune.
Terminator: Dark Fate
Director: Tim Miller
Starring: Arnold Schwarzenegger, Linda Hamilton, Mackenzie Davis
Rating: 3/5
