A night where stories unfolded like journeys, set within Arcadia at Jumeirah Zabeel Saray’s secret garden. Quiet, immersive, and built for connection.

The evening brought together a community of hikers, runners, world record breakers, and everyday explorers to experience the Skechers trail range in a new light. At the heart of it all was an immersive storytelling dinner, shaped by the personal adventures of host Dolores Al Shallah - the first Arab woman to summit Everest via the Northeast Ridge.

MELA curated a menu of food and drink that echoed key milestones in Dolores’s story, with each course marking a new checkpoint. A feast for the eyes, every dish celebrated local produce and was plated with intention, rich in flavour and meaning. Postcards accompanied each course, revealing different chapters of Dolores’ journey.

Every detail added to the experience, from wildflowers sprouting between rocky clusters to soft gradient acrylic menus embedded in stone - a sharp contrast to the organic tablescape.

Guests were invited to write down three words to inspire their next adventure. At the end of the night, those same words were returned to them, engraved on thermal flasks - a moment of reflection turned into something they could carry forward.

The evening closed with the floor opening up. The tables turned, and guests became the storytellers, sharing their own experiences with the Namshi x Skechers community. Impromptu contributions from world record holders Paris Norris and Harry Amos brought the night full circle - grounded in adventure, connection, and the stories still waiting to be written.