Push for a pizza, swipe for a cleaner and tap for a taxi. The rise of apps like Uber is facilitating the culture of ‘I want it, and I want it now’. For digital-savvy city-dwellers from London to Beijing, everything you need – from your dinner to a ride home – is just an app away.

Dubai's ban on animals using public transport has led a British expat, Arthur Obyrne, to start a business that aims to fix this inconvenience. After growing tired of friends asking him for lifts to and from the vet, he set up Pet Taxi – which provides animal transport.

A living room, double bedroom, ensuite shower and vanity area sounds like the floor plan of a luxury hotel, not a flight from London to Dubai. Etihad Airways has unveiled a more luxurious way to fly: a three-room ‘residence’, complete with a Savoy-trained private butler.

The UAE has a highly diverse population across its seven Emirates, but there's still a strong sense of pride in a shared national identity. To appeal to its well-travelled citizens, brands are proving their commitment with tailored products, events and social engagement.