benchmark middle east
JULY 2015 / VOL. 4 NO. 6
Work + Play = Life
Published from Dubai Media City
JULY 2015
On your marks... Get set... SHOP!
The Dubai Mall is the world’s biggest shopping centre by total size, at 12.1 million sq ft – and the 19th largest by gross leasable area. Here are the top stats about the UAE megamall.
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013
75
2014
80
65
14% growth In retailers sales compared with 2013
5%
Sales as proportion of dubai gdp
54
320,000 twitter followers (@TheDubaiMall)
47
1,200+
37
Shops
Yearly visitors in millions YEAR OPENED: 2008
200 Food and beverage outlets
UAE retail in numbers Retail is big business in the UAE, home to the world’s largest mall p8
“A captain fighting piracy on the airwaves Q&A with David Butorac, chief executive of OSN p34
Ferrari FF review
Just one look and you know this is no normal Ferrari p48
benchmark middle east
inside
JULY 2015 / VOL. 4 NO. 6
Work + Play = Life
ON YOUR MARKS... GET SET... SHOP!
July 2015
Published from Dubai Media City
JULY 2015
The Dubai Mall is the world’s biggest shopping centre by total size, at 12.1 million sq ft – and the 19th largest by gross leasable area. Here are the top stats about the UAE megamall.
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013
75
2014
80
65
14% growth In retailers sales compared with 2013
5%
Sales as proportion of dubai gdp
54
320,000 twitter followers (@TheDubaiMall)
47
1,200+
37
Shops
Yearly visitors in millions YEAR OPENED: 2008
200 Food and beverage outlets
UAE retail in numbers Retail is big business in the UAE, home to the world’s largest mall p8
“A captain fighting piracy on the airwaves Q&A with David Butorac, chief executive of OSN p34
Ferrari FF review
Just one look and you know this is no normal Ferrari p48
Cover design: Geri Batara Sonny Photography: Evgeniya Porechenskaya / Shutterstock.com
Work
8 14 18
4
UAE retail boom in numbers Retail is big business in the UAE, home to the world’s largest mall by area and a raft of other major shopping centres. Here are the numbers behind this boom industry. Top 10 retail trends in the UAE Malls, malls and more malls – that’s the abridged version of the UAE retail industry’s five-year business plan. Does Dubai need a bigger mall? Stuck for somewhere to shop this weekend? Probably not, if you live in the UAE, given the mass of megamalls, luxury retail outlets and penchant for “world’s largest” accolades. The place just shouts, “do buy”.
24
Do summer sale work? Over 6,000 retailers are participating in this year’s Dubai Summer Surprises (DSS) shopping festival, as they grapple with the annual lull in tourism and traditional ‘expat exodus’.
30
Cru Kafe take their coffee differently The London-based startup has brewed up an environmentally-friendly coffee pod.
34 40
A captain fighting piracy on airwaves Q&A with David Butorac, chief executive of OSN Work events planner Top 10 events on your doorstep this summer.
b e n c h m ar k m i d d l e e a s t | J u l y 2 0 15
PLAY
42
DIFC Ritz-Carlton review ‘Distinction’ is defined by the Oxford English dictionary as “excellence that sets someone or something apart from others”.
48
Ferrari FF review As noise explodes around me I focus on what is ahead, surging forward I leave everyone else in my wake as the desert flashes past.
54
Swiss race for smart bling Swiss watch shops will be stocked with a whole new range of smart watches in coming weeks as producers look to combat Apple.
56 60 64 66
Fashion for Her and Him Courtyard Marriott review Scott Armstrong foregoes his usual five-star standards for Benchmark and is pleasantly surprised. Play events planner Top 10 events on your doorstep this summer. Ramadan Nutrition Concerns What happens when you fast for long periods of time, and how to avoid it?
J u l y 2 0 15 | b e n c h m ar k m i d d l e e a s t
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Reproduction of any part of the contents in any manner is prohibited. Benchmark Middle East does not take responsibility for returning unsolicited publication material.
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5
Editor's Note All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy, or so James Howell wrote in 1659, and we here at Benchmark thoroughly agree. And so we thought we'd shake things up a bit and now we come to you with two simple offerings each month, WORK and PLAY. It's not going to take a genius to figure out what sort of content you'll get in each section but we thought we'd keep things simple. It being July and the summer of sales we've devoted WORK this month to the art of shopping and the retail industry. Did you know there are more than 550,000 people working in shopping sector in Dubai alone? We'll take you through an eyewatering set of numbers. Ben Flanagan's back for Benchmark counting down the top ten trends in retail for 2015 in the UAE, and he's also answering the question 'Does Dubai really need a bigger-than-the-world'sbiggest-mall?'. Also we ask "Summer sales, does the shopkeeper win?" plus a personal shopper gives her top five secrets to bagging a bargain. In our new monthly feature The Boss, the top man at OSN talks about the battle against piracy. Meanwhile in PLAY this month, climb inside a Ferrari FF and hit the streets of Dubai, and find out what this gorgeous machine has in common with Messi and Russell Crowe. And we know you love your watches, and so we report on how the Swiss are scrambling to catch up in the 'smart' market to bring some bling to tech wearable's. Want to save your money for clothes rather than hotels? Well we've discovered a four-star hotel that over-delivers and could just stop you going five-star. If that's impossible for you, then fear not, come with Benchmark and check in to Dubai's Ritz-Carlton DIFC. All in all we think it's a healthy balance of work and play, all things in moderation as they say (not entirely sure we agree with that one). Scott Armstrong, Chief Executive Editor
6
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21 June - 24 July 2015
You deserve extra. Extra features. Extra luxury. Extra peace of mind. All yours this Ramadan, when you purchase a new Audi. Enjoy peace of mind with: • 6 year service plan* • 6 year maintenance plan* • 6 year extended warranty* • Free registration * 6 years or 105,000 kms whichever come first. This offer is not valid on corporate, fleet and government deals. No offers on S, RS and Q3 models.
Tel: +968 24 500 200 | www.audi-oman.com C.R. No. 1262610
Audi3Oman
WORK UAE retail in numbers
THE UAE R RETAIL BOOM IN NUMBERS
Retail is big business in the UAE, home to the world’s largest mall by area and a raft of other major shopping centres. Here are the numbers behind this boom industry SOURCES International Council of Shopping Centres Dubai Statistics Centre Emirates NBD Euromonitor AT Kearney Wikipedia Emaar
8
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UAE retail in numbers
WORK
UAE retail market Grocery retail
$70.9 billion
44%
of total sales
7%
Total retail sales in 2014
Internet retail
41%
Growth of internet retail in 2014
Forecast annual growth of industry in next five years
Dh2 billion
Dh10.1b Forecast value of internet retail by 2019
Internet 2014 retailing value
29.2%
Retail as percentage of Dubai’s GDP (2013)
15%-20% Rent rises at Dubai Mall, Mall of the Emirates, Deira City Centre (2012 figures)
549,800
Number of retail workers in Dubai (2012)
38%
Projected growth rate of internet retail
22%
Proportion of web sales via mobile
International brands
55.7% b e n c h m ar k m i d d l e e a s t | J u l y 2 0 15
Dubai is the world’s second most-important retail market in terms of attracting international retailers, according to CBRE’s ‘How Global is the Business of Retail?’ report. The Emirate is home to 55.7 percent of global brands, behind only London in terms of being a magnet for international retailers, the report found.
J u l y 2 0 15 | b e n c h m ar k m i d d l e e a s t
9
WORK UAE retail in numbers
The Dubai Mall is the world’s biggest shopping centre by total size, at 12.1 million sq ft – and the 19th largest by gross leasable area. Here are the top stats about the UAE megamall.
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013
75
2014
80
65
14% growth In retailers sales compared with 2013
5%
Sales as proportion of dubai gdp
54
320,000 twitter followers (@TheDubaiMall)
47
1,200+
37
Shops
Yearly visitors in millions YEAR OPENED: 2008
200 Food and beverage outlets
10
b e n c h m ar k m i d d l e e a s t | J u l y 2 0 15
J u l y 2 0 15 | b e n c h m ar k m i d d l e e a s t
UAE retail in numbers
WORK
(Miami, US)
rs lla do
2, 55
in
5
s le Sa
1 Bal Harbour Shops
e ar qu rs pe et fe 2 Forum Shops at Caesars
0
The most lucrative
1,7 5
(Las Vegas, US)
00
MALLS
3 Westfield Stratford 4 Westfield London
00
1,6
(London, UK)
5 Shops at Columbus Circle
00
1,6
(London, UK)
1,6
(New York, US)
00
1,5
The Mall of the Emirates in Dubai is among the world’s most lucrative shopping centres, according to a 2012 report. The International Council of Shopping Centres ranked the mall seventh in a list of the world’s 15 most lucrative malls, earning more than $1,400 per square foot. That is roughly three times more profitable than the industry average.
6 Westfield Sydney
(Sydney, Australia)
23
1,4 7 Mall of the Emirates
00
1,4
(Dubai, UAE)
8 The Grove
(Los Angeles, US)
55
1,2 9 Pacific Centre
50
1,2
(Vancouver, Canada)
00 1,2
(Orlando, US)
11 Ala Moana Center
(Honolulu, US)
1,1
00
94
00 1,1
00 1,1
10
1,1
Brent Cross 16 (London, UK)
57
1,1
1,1
Aventura Mall 17 (Florida, US)
10 The Mall at Millenia
12 Yorkdale
(Toronto, Canada)
13 Chadstone
(Melbourne, Australia)
14 The Mall at Short Hills
(New Jersey, US)
15 Americana at Brand (Glendale, California, US)
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WORK UAE retail in numbers
World top 20 biggest malls by gross leasable area
The world’s biggest mall has an equivalent area of 92 football grounds
Ranking
1
Mall’s name Location
New South China Mall Dongguan, China
7.10
Gross leasing area (in million square feet) Number of shops
2,350
2 Golden Resources Mall Beijing, China
6.00 1,000
12
One of the first fully enclosed shopping malls was the Valley Fair Shopping Center in Appleton, Wisconsin, which opened in 1955
3 SM Megamall Mandaluyong, Philippines
5.45
4 SM City North EDSA Philippines
16
5.20
1,000
1,100
5 Isfahan City Center Isfahan, Iran
5.01 770
7 Gulf Complex Shiraz, Iran
4.84 2,500
8 Central World Bangkok, Thailand
4.62 600
6 1 Utama Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
4.90 700
12
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UAE retail in numbers
WORK
17 Bashundhara City Dhaka, Bangladesh
4.04 1,500
The Dubai Mall has an equivalent area of 49 football grounds 19
18
The Avenues Mall Kuwait City, Kuwait
Mall Taman Anggrek Jakarta, Indonesia
3.84
3.88
800
20
526
16
The Dubai Mall Dubai, UAE
Albrook Mall Panama City, Panama
3.77
4.09
1,200
555
15
The world’s biggest malls are in Asia
4.09
5
10
One of the earliest examples of public shopping malls comes from ancient Rome
Jamuna Future Park Dhaka, Bangladesh
17
7
19
15 20
430
2
1
3
14 4
8 13
Sunway Pyramid Subang Jaya, Malaysia
11
4.26
6 9
18
800
14
13 Siam Paragon Bangkok, Thailand
10 Istanbul Cevahir Mall Istanbul, Turkey
4.31
4.52
270
343
11 9 Mid Valley Megamall Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
4.52
SM Mall of Asia Pasay, Philippines
4.38 1,080
430
12 West Edmonton Mall Edmonton, Canada
4.31 800
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Work 10 Shopping Development
Top 10 retail trends in the UAE Malls, malls and more malls – that’s the abridged version of the UAE retail industry’s five-year business plan. With Dubai aiming to pull in 20 million tourists a year by 2020, and Abu Dhabi set to open grand projects like the Louvre and Guggenheim, it seems there will be no shortage of visitors and residents wanting to shop ‘til they drop, then shop some more. As mall developers look to meet rising demand, here Ben Flanagan counts down Benchmark’s top 10 trends in retail:
1 Megamalls to get even more mega
If you’re the owner of the world’s largest mall, there can only be one thing at the top of your in-tray… Make it even bigger, of course. As no strangers to the concept ‘bigger is best’, some of the UAE’s most prominent mall developers are embarking on ever-ambitious expansion plans. Dubai Mall, already the world’s largest shopping centre by total area (but not by leasable space), in 2013 commenced a 1 million square-foot expansion as part of a target to attract 100 million annual visitors. According to contractor Balfour Beatty, which won a Dh1.4bn contract for the work, the project is due for completion in early 2016. The Mall of the Emirates, home to Dubai’s indoor ski slope, is also in the midst of an expansion plan, as is Ibn Battuta mall, which plans to double its retail space in what will be its second largescale expansion.
14
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10 Shopping Development
Work
2 Mall of the World
Dubai also plans a new megamall that will indisputably be the world’s largest. It’s $6.2bn Mall of the World, being developed by Dubai Holding, is set to span 8 million sq. ft. and be part of a 48 million sq. ft “temperature-controlled city”. The project, launched by Dubai ruler Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum in July 2014, is expected to take three years to complete. It will include a network of shopping “streets” including The Celebration Walk, modelled on Las Ramblas in Barcelona.
Abu Dhabi on the up
It’s not all about Dubai. The UAE capital also has several major retail projects in the pipeline. Construction of a $1 billion shopping centre on Al Maryah Island, which is set to span 2.3 million sq ft, is scheduled to begin this year and complete in 2018. Part of the Al Maryah Central development, the mall will comprise 400 stores, 90 food and beverage outlets, a 20-screen cinema, a medical center and other facilities. Other projects include the long-delayed $1 billion Reem Mall. Matthew Green, the head of research and consultancy for the UAE at CBRE Middle East, said these big projects will address the relative lack of retail space in Abu Dhabi. “The market has been undersupplied for a number of years and still looks capable of absorbing additional retail space,” he told Benchmark. “Occupancy performance within the major malls reflects this, with Abu Dhabi Mall, Marina Mall, Wahda Mall and Yas Mall all running at or close to full capacity.
3
4 Community malls boom
Despite the bling bling of the big malls, smaller community shopping centres make up the majority of new retail developments in the UAE. There is “huge potential for community shopping malls all around the UAE, especially in Northern Emirates,” said Euromonitor’s retail analyst Diana Jarmalaite. These include Nakheel’s Circle Mall, expected to open in 2017, which the developer says will primarily serve residents of Jumeirah Village Circle. Nakheel also has the larger Al Khail Avenue in the pipeline, geared towards residents of Jumeirah Village, Jumeirah Park and other nearby areas. It is scheduled for completion in 2018.
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15
Work 10 Shopping Development
5 The Palm springs into action
The Palm Jumeirah: Posh villas – check. Bling hotels – check. Private beaches – check. Decent shopping centre… checkmate. That said, the surprising lack of a significant retail presence on the manmade island is set to end, with two malls on their way. There’s the $220 million The Pointe mall, which Nakheel said in May is around 30% complete and set to open in 2016. About 100 restaurants and shops have already signed up to be part of the 1.4 million square foot waterfront development. The master developer is also building the Nakheel Mall, spanning an area of nearly one million square feet, and which is set to compete in 2017.
6 Dubai’s bite of the Apple
Apple fans will be right at home at the U.S. tech giant’s upcoming Dubai store, which is set to be the world’s largest, as well as the first in the Arab world. Rumour has it that it will be located in the Mall of Emirates and open in August.
More online shopping
7
Consumers in the UAE may be obsessed with their smartphones, but they’re not using them to shop as much as those in other markets. Online retail in the Emirates is still way below the average of developed countries like the US and UK. But, as endless press reports tell us, transactions are growing apace. Euromonitor forecasts online revenues will top Dh10.1bn by 2019, up from about Dh2 billion last year.
16
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10 Shopping Development
Work
8 ‘Old Dubai’ development
Though the centre of Dubai’s gravity has shifted south in recent years, developers are not overlooking older parts of the city around the Creek. Nakheel plans a 1.1 million square meter retail, residential and leisure development at a four-island waterfront development in Deira.
Year of the Dragon Mart
9
Nakheel also plans to revamp the already massive Dragon Mart complex in Dubai, which will be rebranded ‘Dragon City’. The extension will add 1.3 million square feet of leasable retail space, increasing the total area of the China-themed complex to 11m sq ft.
10
Duty Free growth
Dubai Duty Free reported a massive $1.917 billion in sales for 2014, representing a 7.36 percent increase over the previous year – and looks almost certain to top $2 billion this year. That’s a lot of giant Toblerones.
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17
Work Does Dubai need a bigger mall?
Wo rk
Does Dubai need a bigge mall?
18
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Does Dubai need a bigger mall?
S
ger ? b e n c h m ar k m i d d l e e a s t | J u l y 2 0 15
Work
BEN FLANAGAN
tuck for somewhere to shop this weekend? Probably not, if you live in the UAE, given the mass of megamalls, luxury retail outlets and penchant for “world’s largest” accolades. The place just shouts, “do buy” Given the existing choice, the ambitious scale of new shopping centres planned or under construction in the UAE may come as a surprise. These include Dubai’s Mall of the World, which is set to be – you guessed it – the biggest on the planet. Numerous smaller retail developments are also in development, will millions of square feet of leasable space set to enter the market over the next five years. Yet this prompts the question: Is it all too much? Is this another bubble waiting to burst? Perhaps surprisingly, the answer of local analysts is a resounding “no”. Despite largescale centres such as the Dubai Mall – the world’s biggest shopping centre by total size, at 12.1 million sq ft, but not by gross leasable area, at 3.8m sq ft – the retail market is relatively underserved, they say. In Dubai, the amount of retail space per capita is actually below that in many western markets, said Diana Jarmalaite, retail analyst at Euromonitor. “Keeping in mind the population growth as well as the expected tourist flow, the current size of existing selling space per capita is… more than two to three times lower compared to the mature markets in Europe or America,” she said. “The market still has room for expansion.” And expanding it is. Dubai Mall, Mall of the Emirates and Ibn Battuta all have extension programmes underway; there are two shopping centres planned on the Palm Jumeirah; and a number of smaller community malls are being built. In neighbouring Abu Dhabi, megamalls are planned on both the Al Maryah and Reem islands. But it is Dubai’s proposed Mall of the World development that marks the most ambitions new venture. The $6.2bn project, being developed by Dubai Holding, is set to span 8 million sq. ft. and be part of a 48 million sq. ft “temperature-controlled city” that will also include an indoor theme park – the world’s largest, naturally. J u l y 2 0 15 | b e n c h m ar k m i d d l e e a s t
19
Work Does Dubai need a bigger mall?
The overall development is hoping to pull in a whopping 180 million visitors a year – more than double Dubai Mall’s 80 million in 2014 – according to the government’s announcement of the project in July 2014. “The growth in family and retail tourism underpins the need to enhance Dubai’s tourism infrastructure as soon as possible,” Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, ruler of Dubai, said at the time. Matthew Green, the head of research and consultancy for the UAE at CBRE Middle East, said tourism was a big factor in the demand for such megamalls. “Over the past decade Dubai has established itself as a retail tourism destination, attracting a significant number of visitors from the GCC, Europe and Asia, with the Russian and Chinese renowned for spending big in the emirate’s luxury boutiques,” he said. 20
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The decline in Russian tourists to Dubai due to the falling rouble will have a big effect on some individual luxury retailers – but a negligible impact on the market as a whole, said Ms Jarmalaite. “Some particular retailers have been very negatively affected. [But] within the overall retailing industry their impact is much lower in comparison to other visitors, for instance Saudis or Indians,” she said. “Declining sales to Russian tourists are more than offset by increasing sales to Chinese, Australians, and Indians to name just a few.” Euromonitor expects the gap between supply and demand for Dubai retail space to narrow, but says the risk of the market overheating is “negligible over next five years, providing there are no unpredictable external shocks.” J u l y 2 0 15 | b e n c h m ar k m i d d l e e a s t
Does Dubai need a bigger mall?
Work
The growth in family and retail tourism underpins the need to enhance Dubai’s tourism infrastructure as soon as possible
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21
Work Does Dubai need a bigger mall?
The bigger selling areas require more efforts to attract customers, ‘Footfall efficiency’ might be achieved by the smaller-scale selling areas rather than bigger
“Lack of sales tax, low labour costs and general ease of doing business makes the retailing industry in the UAE more profitable than global averages. So even with declining demand, retailers would still have relatively high profit margins,” said Ms Jarmalaite. International brands are certainly queuing up to get exposure to Dubai’s retail market. According to CBRE, the emirate is the second most important international shopping destination globally when ranked by the presence of foreign brands. “Dubai continues to progress, attracting a host of new international brands each year, and this trend shows no signs of slowing down,” said Mr Green. “Whilst we are still a little way behind London, we do see a time when Dubai will challenge London for the top spot,” he added. “The emirate has already established itself as a stepping stone into the wider region, with most retailers choosing to test the market in Dubai before rolling out store concepts into other Middle Eastern locations. This position is unlikely to be challenged by any other location in the region.” That said, greater demand for retail space is also seen in Abu Dhabi, where Mr Green said the market “has been undersupplied for a number of years”. That is in spite of the November opening of the giant Yas Mall, close to Abu Dhabi’s Formula 1 circuit. 22
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Does Dubai need a bigger mall?
Work
But despite there being room for growth in the UAE retail market, it won’t be all plain sailing. Building colossal shopping centres such as Mall of the World comes with its challenges, said Ms Jarmalaite. Smaller retailers, for example, can be lost in such environments. The gold souq in Dubai Mall closed for nine months after dozens of individual jewellers said they couldn’t survive on a trickle of visitors each day. The area reopened in May 2012, rebranded as ‘The Souk’, which did away with the labyrinthine corridors that had made some shops hard to find. “The bigger selling areas require more efforts to attract customers,” said Ms Jarmalaite. “‘Footfall efficiency’ might be achieved by the smaller-scale selling areas rather than bigger.” With that in mind, Euromonitor expects the bulk of individual new malls in Dubai to be smaller shopping centres, rather than the likes of Mall of the World. “Convenience [is] the core trend related to the opening of the new shopping centres,” said Ms Jarmalaite. “The majority of planned malls in Dubai are expected to be community shopping centres, as for instance The Circle Mall due in 2017 or Nakheel Mall due in 2017.” So while bigger may not always mean better for the UAE retail market, the demand for more and more stores remains. There will certainly be more choice of destinations for that weekend shop in the years to come. b e n c h m ar k m i d d l e e a s t | J u l y 2 0 15
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23
Work Do summer sales work?
Do summer sales work? 24
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Do summer sales work?
Work
More than 6,000 retailers are participating in this year’s Dubai Summer Surprises (DSS) shopping festival, as they grapple with the annual lull in tourism and traditional ‘expat exodus’
D
BEN FLANAGAN
ubai has two main shop-‘tilyou drop extravaganzas – the Dubai Shopping Festival in January, and the six-weeklong DSS. Both have a dizzying array of offers, millions of dirhams in prizes, and entertainment shows designed to lure more people – and, more importantly, their wallets – to the malls. But the two festivals are at polar extremes in terms of their places on the local retail calendar. While Dubai Shopping Festival is held during the pleasant winter months when tourism is at a high, DSS is all about keeping retailers smiling during the slow summer season. Diana Jarmalaite, retail analyst at Euromonitor, says DSS is designed to offset the lower numbers of visitors during summer. Summer sales are not the main factor fuelling the growth in the retail industry, she added. “Keeping in mind the low number of visitors during the summer season, as well as lower numbers of residents – who travel abroad – summer sales are actually the best for retailers to deal with lower demand,” said Ms Jarmalaite. “At the same time, retailers are using the summer sales to promote their own brands, clear the stocks etcetera.” The 18th Dubai Summer Surprises will be held from 23 July to 5 September and include Dh5.5 million of prizes – including cars, cash and shopping vouchers. Last year, the 27 participating malls recorded an average 10 percent rise in footfall during the first two weeks of festival, it was reported.
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Do summer sales work?
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Summer is traditionally perceived as the quietest period in Dubai’s commercial calendar. It is seen as the vacation season, where demand decreases and sales slowdown Luxury retailer Paris Gallery said it saw a 20 percent sales increase during the festival as a whole, compared with the same period in 2013. Half of its customers during the festival were visitors to Dubai, with Saudis, Chinese and Russians the top spenders – although the latter are unlikely to be in large number this year, given the decline in the value of the rouble. Even sales of big-ticket items accelerated last year. Car dealer Arabian Automobiles – the distributor for Nissan, Infiniti and Renault in Dubai and the Northern Emirates – recorded a 39 percent sales growth during DSS in 2014. Michel Ayat, chief executive of Arabian Automobiles, said at the time there was a “surge” in sales during the period. “Summer is traditionally perceived as the quietest period in Dubai’s commercial calendar. It is seen as the vacation season, where demand decreases and sales slowdown. But that perception is changing each year,” he told DSS at the time. “The incentives provided by Dubai Summer Surprises have a huge effect on sales, and the automotive market is no exception. This is one of the busiest times.” The Dubai Shopping Festival (DSF) last January, which marked the 20th anniversary of the event, is similarly important to shop owners given the emirate’s increasingly crowded retail space. b e n c h m ar k m i d d l e e a s t | J u l y 2 0 15
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Work Do summer sales work?
In its first nineteen years, DSF attracted 56 million visitors to Dubai malls, according to the organisers. They spent a total of Dh145 billion – although it is unclear how much of that would have happen anyway, were the festival not to exist. Nakheel’s Ibn Battuta Mall recorded an increase of 40 percent in consumer spending during DSF this year, according to a statement from the Dubai Festivals and Retail Establishment (DFRE), part of the local tourism board. The January shopping festival is “key to our annual business plan” and helps set the tone for the year, Omar Khoory, Director of Nakheel Retail, told the DFRE in January. 28
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The summer sales are important from a retail and tourism perspective, as they generate additional visitor flows during what would otherwise be a quiet time for hoteliers and mall owners alike Matthew Green Head of research and consultancy for the UAE at CBRE Middle East
With a raft of new retail developments underway in Dubai, and the emirate’s ambitious aim to pull in 20 million visitors a year by 2020, the two shopping festivals look set to be more and more important in keeping the tills ringing. Matthew Green, the head of research and consultancy for the UAE at CBRE Middle East, said Dubai Summer Surprises had “become an institution in itself” in the emirate’s marketing efforts in global tourism. “The summer sales are important from a retail and tourism perspective, as they generate additional visitor flows during what would otherwise be a quiet time for hoteliers and mall owners alike,” he said. J u l y 2 0 15 | b e n c h m ar k m i d d l e e a s t
Do summer sales work?
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Top 5 places D to bargain hunt in Dubai 1
ubai’s retail scene may be slanted more towards boutiques than bargains – but there are cheap buys if you know where to look. So says stylist, personal shopper and entrepreneur Kelly Lundberg, who gave Benchmark her five tips for shopping on a budget in Dubai. www.kellylundberg.co Gold & Diamond Park Who can resist diamonds or a little bit of bling? The Gold and Diamond Park, located on Sheikh Zayed Road, has not only some of the best bargains, but experienced craftsmen can also remodel existing jewellery giving you a whole new look without breaking the bank. www.goldanddiamondpark.com
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Dubai Outlet Mall The Dubai Outlet Mall’s 240 stores offer product discounts of anywhere between 30 percent and 90 percent. There are fashion favourites like DKNY and Diesel, as well as high street stores Mango and Massimo Dutti. www.dubaioutletmall.com
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Classifieds site Dubizzle Advertising everything from fashion to furniture, cars and collectable watches, there is very little that Dubizzle doesn’t list for sale. It also has a huge advertising platform for apartment and villa rentals and sales. The one website any new expat should visit. www.dubizzle.com
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Dragon Mart The largest source of products imported from China. From pretty pearls and accessories – note, the clothes are not worth a look-in – to fantastic items for your home, chances are you will go looking for one thing and come home with 10 items you didn’t know you needed. www.dragonmart.ae
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Luxury brands, second hand With the successful launch and growing profile of services such as Inseller and The Luxury Closet, this new concept means pre-loved designer goodies can be re-sold in style. Whether it’s a Hermes bag, Chanel tote or Céline sunglasses, this is the best place to bag a designer bargain. www.Inseller.com www.theluxurycloset.com
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Work How to break into UAE retail
Cru Kafe take their coffee differently to most
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Ben Flanagan
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he London-based startup has brewed up an environmentally-friendly coffee pod, amid growing backlash against the disposable capsules made famous
by the likes of the George Clooney-fronted Nespresso.
It’s no ordinary cup of Joe. Cru Kafe’s pods use fair trade, speciality grade, organic coffee. They are biodegradable, unlike the billions of plastic and aluminium pods sent to landfill each year, and Cru is working on making a fully compostable capsule, as rival Lavazza has already done. The company was launched in 2013 by the UK’s emerging celebrity chef John Quilter, Norwegian businesswoman and model Bodil Blain, and Canadian entrepreneur Colin Pyle. It sells Nespresso-compatible capsules for around 29 pence (45 cents) each in the UK. Cru Kafe also has a limited-edition variety made with coffee from the Galapagos which — at £25 ($39) for a bag of 24 — is believed to be the world’s most expensive pod coffee. Having launched its coffee capsules for sale online in the UK and parts of Europe,
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Cru Kafe is currently in the process of bringing the product to the UAE and Kuwait. Speaking to Benchmark on the banks of the Thames in London, Colin Pyle and John Quilter explained the brand’s mission to percolate the Gulf’s retail market. Why are you looking to launch your brand in the Gulf market? I think the opportunity in the Middle East is enormous. It’s quite a big market for Nespresso, and a lot of people have the machines. And I think people in the Middle East really like their coffee and have a good taste for it. [Our product is stocked in London department store] Harrods and we get a lot of interest from the Gulf region. We get emails saying, ‘I got your coffee at Harrods, I’m now back home, I can’t live without it, we need it in this part of the world.’
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And how are your Gulf plans going? We have partnerships with a distributor in the UAE and another in Kuwait. It’s very early days for them. The Middle East is a very different market to the UK. The UK has the highest per-capita spend on ecommerce in the world. In the Middle East it’s very much a retail environment – coffee shops and shopping malls. So we’re going to test it out and try to sell a little bit via ecommerce in the UAE. We’re working on an Arabiclanguage website at the moment. We’re already in talks with a host of fivestar hotels in the Gulf region. Most fivestar hotels have Nespresso machines in their rooms or suites. And so why not have a better-tasting, more ethical, organic and eco-friendly product? Right now our distributors are working with hotels and then they’re talking with some retail chains. But those are longer conversations. There’s quite a bit of red tape to get the product onto the store shelf. Because we’re organic and fair trade, it has to be processed properly with all the documentation and paperwork. Coffee pods get quite a bad press given their environmental impact. Has that had a negative impact on your business, even though yours are eco-friendly? John: There are a lot of people we talk to who are very frustrated, and haven’t bought Nespresso machines because of that. But we’re had such a positive response – relief would be the right word to use, when people find out that there’s an alternative to Nespresso. And that’s been probably one of the most rewarding and encouraging things for us, to feel that sense of, not only did we get this right, but that we’re doing something good. Because people don’t like a monopoly. And millions of these aluminium pods go into landfill every day.
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How to break into UAE retail
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We’d be happy for more people to come into the market and do what we do. There’s enough coffee to go around for everybody, there really is
Tell us more about your biodegradable pods. Colin: The capsule is biodegradable, but we can do better, and we are continuing to do better. What we really want is a compostable capsule, one that you can throw into your compost. That at the end of the day is our goal. This current version biodegrades in several years. It’s good, but we could do better. We want to have 100 percent compostable everything, and we won’t stop until we get there. How ‘fair’ is your fair-trade coffee? John: Everything we buy is well over the fair-trade price. Because speciality coffee demands a much higher price. So by default, by buying the best quality speciality, it means that we are rewarding those farmers that are being responsible. Because organic farmers can’t put nasty chemicals and terrible pesticides into the ground. So we’re rewarding people that care about their environment, care about their community, and care about the product. You’ve also launched in Norway, where your other cofounder – model Bodil Blain – hails from. Why there? Colin: Norway has been a hot market for us since we launched here in the UK. Because Bodil is from Norway we had just a tonne of b e n c h m ar k m i d d l e e a s t | J u l y 2 0 15
opportunities. We found an amazing entrepreneur in Norway who’s going to help us out. There’s only four million Norwegians, but they drink a lot of coffee. How can you protect your business against emerging competition? John: Nothing that we’re doing is revolutionary. But it’s the fact that we’re bringing all those elements together in one place. We’d be happy for more people to come into the market and do what we do. It’s the second-biggest traded resource on the planet. There’s enough coffee to go around for everybody, there really is. After your limited-edition coffee from the Galapagos, what about the coffee made from civet cat poo? Is that something you’re going to dump on the market? Colin: It’s actually got a lot of bad press recently, because people are starting to inhumanely use the cats to digest the coffee beans, and then use the excrement. We’d like to launch another limited-edition coffee, probably in September if we can, definitely before the end of the year. We’ve got some pretty cool ideas but we want to keep it under wraps for now. John: Yes… We don’t want to let the cat out of the bag... J u l y 2 0 15 | b e n c h m ar k m i d d l e e a s t
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THE BOSS
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WORK THE BOSS
Q&A with David Butorac, chief executive of OSN
By Ben Flanagan
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egitimate Arab media companies have long wanted to sink the pirates, amid claims the illegal copying and distribution of content costs them up to $500 million a year. ut the recent closure of a shop in Abu Dhabi that was selling illegal subscriptions to a popular Indian TV network suggests the authorities are also on board for the fight. The shop, which was not named, was closed and fined Dh200,000 ($55,000) by an Abu Dhabi court, after it was found selling Dish TV set-top boxes. It can appeal the ruling. Dish TV is a legitimate broadcaster in India, but the footprint of the satellite it uses spills over into the Middle East region, where the network does not own the regional rights for much of the content it airs. This means residents can tune-in illegally to the service if they have the right equipment. Though other South Asian networks are also available, Dish TV is said to be the most popular, mainly among expatriate residents. Across the region as a whole, it estimated that up to a million households illegally tune in to TV networks that are not properly licensed in the region. David Butorac, chief executive of the Dubai-based pay-TV network OSN, says governments of countries such as the UAE are increasingly aware of the wider economic impact of the Middle East’s piracy epidemic. “They are recognising the economic impact on the economy of the Emirates, and indeed the wider economy of the region, rather than just seeing as it an issue for the profits for the broadcast companies,” he said. Illegal piracy covers everything from knockoff DVDs, to internet ‘torrent’ downloads and the reception of TV networks not intended for this region. Regional companies have formed the Broadcast Satellite Anti-Piracy Coalition – which includes networks like OSN and MBC Group, as well as telecoms and satellite companies – to help fight the rampant problem within the region.
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THE BOSS
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Here, Mr Butorac explains why the war on the pirates will be long, but one worth fighting for both the media industry and wider economy. How significant is the recent raid on the shop in Abu Dhabi found to be illegally selling Dish TV boxes? This court judgement is a landmark for us because it just reinforces the seriousness with which government is now taking piracy, which is a very good step. The UAE government has been very proactive in the last six to 12 months – there is a lot more awareness now of the impact on the economy. It’s not just a matter of broadcast companies like ours and MBC being hurt. It’s a matter of the economy being hurt, because of the repatriation of illegal funds out of the country. What other evidence is there that the UAE government is taking a strong stance on piracy? There is a real momentum. There’s been about 47 raids taking place in the last few months in the UAE, between the police and the economic department, on premises that are selling illegal receivers. We do expect there will be several more coming through the courts system. And it just sends the message very clearly that this activity is illegal, it’s not appropriate, and it’s not going to be tolerated by the government.
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This is a fight that means a lot to our industry and it’s a fight that we will continue to resource. It’s a constant battle
On what kind of scale are such distributors selling these illegal satellite boxes? These distributors are not just selling one or two boxes. They’re selling significant amounts of illegal boxes. There’s an estimate that there’s between half a million and a million illegal dish subscribers in the region. That’s spread out between lots of different dealers. The message very clearly to all of them is that the sale of these boxes is illegal and therefore they should not be doing it. How much is piracy costing the legitimate Arab media sector? Industry estimates put it at $500 million a year. That’s the impact of piracy across the board when you take into consideration broadcast piracy and the sharing of files over the internet.
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THE BOSS
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So piracy makes up about a quarter of the revenues of the legitimate Arab TV broadcasters, estimated at about $2 billion a year? It does give you some indication of the economic impact. If the revenues that are flowing illegally out of the country through the organised-crime groups that are orchestrating these sorts of pirate activities was curtailed and stayed within the economy, what it would sustain is a huge investment in creative skills, the production skill-base in the region. Why is that important? The UAE government has taken a leadership position in investing in facilities – Studio City here in Dubai, twofour54 in Abu Dhabi. They are world-class, quality facilities. But what we lack as we create a proper production industry is the skills, the jobs, employment. I think the government is realising that the impact of piracy precludes the industry to create those sort of skills. The impact of piracy is unemployment, on the creation of skills, and indeed the repatriation of funds through organised-crime groups. That is I think why the governments are taking it seriously. Is Dish TV the only Indian network that can be picked up illegally here in the Middle East? There is distribution of other platforms, but it is on a much smaller scale. Some of the other Indian networks are available here. But it’s nowhere near the volumes that we see with the Dish TV proliferation. Can the fight on piracy ever be won? As an industry working together, we’re achieving strong strides in the fight against piracy and we will continue to do so. This is a fight that means a lot to our industry and it’s a fight that we will continue to resource. It’s a constant battle.
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Work Events Planner
The Gulf’s main conference season does not start until September, so regional executives may have to fly further afield to get their fix of networking, keynotes and hummus-heavy buffets. For those prepared to travel, the summer months see a host of trade events to keep the business cards flying. Here’s ten notable events held in July and August.
3. San Francisco International Gift Fair
1. International Congress on Big Data
2. World Engineers Summit on Climate Change Expo 2015
WHERE: Millennium Broadway Hotel, New York, USA WHEN: 27 June-2 July
WHEN: 21-24 July
Big data is a buzz topic in geek circles right now, and this conference in New York is dedicated to it. The event will look at the business revolution that springs from such technologies, such as allowing companies to mine large amounts of information for golden nuggets of consumer insight. The conference, aimed at techies, is co-located with others on cloud computing, web and mobile services. www.ieeebigdata.org
WHERE: Suntec Singapore Convention & Exhibition Centre, Singapore There are so many climate-change conferences these days, one wonders what the environmental impact is... But still, climate change is real, and this conference is all about it. Experts will jet in from around the world to talk about sustainability, energy conservation and demonstrate green products. The target audience includes engineers, scientists, governments and NGOs. Philippe Joubert, senior advisor to the World Business Council on Sustainable Development, is one of the keynote speakers. www.wes-ies.org
WHEN: 25-28 July WHERE: Moscone Convention Center, San Francisco, USA For all the thousands of shops in the UAE, sometimes the products on sale can feel a little samey. Retailers wanting to stand out from the crowd could venture to this summer’s gift fair in San Francisco. It’s a long way to travel but there are a diverse range of products on offer, from handicrafts to home furnishings. It’s open to trade visitors only so only serious buyers can apply. WEBSITE: www.sfigf.com
4. India International Jewellery Show WHERE: Bombay Convention & Exhibition Centre, Mumbai, India WHEN: 6-10 Aug More than 1,100 exhibitors are expected at this large fashion jewellery show in India. It’s a trade-orientated event designed for professionals in all walks of the business, from loose diamonds and plain gold jewellery to high-fashion items. www.iijs.org
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5. International Conference on Advanced Robotics WHEN: 27-31 July WHERE: Kadir Has University, Istanbul, Turkey You’ll need more than a casual interest in robotic gadgetry to get the most out of this conference, aimed at top academics in the field. The technical programme will consist of talks, workshops and the submission of academic papers on everything from how robots can learn to their interaction with humans. www.icar2015.org
7. Y20 Turkey Summit
9. Global Innovation Summit
WHEN: 15-21 August WHERE: Convention and Exhibition Centre, Istanbul, Turkey
WHERE: Jumeirah Beach Hotel, Dubai WHEN: September 1
Y20 is the official youth-engagement group of the G20, and aims to give young people a chance to have their voices heard concerning the global economic and social issues of the day. The agenda this year include themes like the impact of technology on youth unemployment, the youth’s contribution to peace and education.
Conference season kicks off in the UAE with The Global Innovation Summit in Dubai on September 1. The one-day event, which is supported by the Government of Dubai, is set to include discussions and demonstrations on cool technologies such as wearable devices, smart cities, the ‘internet of things’ and 3D printing. After this summit there is the usual run of big events in the UAE, such as Cityscape Global (8-10 September), Gitex Technology Week (18-22 October) – both in Dubai – and the World Economic Forum Summit on the Global Agenda in Abu Dhabi (25-27 October).
www.y20turkey.org
ENTRY: Free, or Dh100 with lunch www.innovationsummit.ae
10. Kid Show Las Vegas 2015 6. World Halal Gourmet Expo WHEN: 14-16 August WHERE: Singapore EXPO Convention and Exhibition, Singapore The global halal food and beverage market is forecast to be worth a whopping $1.6 trillion a year by 2018, and is growing by about 6.9 percent annually, according to Dubai Chamber of Commerce estimates. Little surprise, then, that there are whole trade shows dedicated to the industry. This show in Singapore is expected to pull in 65,000 visitors over three days. Billed as a “food theme park”, it will include celebrity chefs, demonstrations and product showcases. It’s geared towards trade visitors.
8. Port Security and Coastal Surveillance Oman WHEN: 17-18 August WHERE: InterContinental Muscat, Muscat, Oman
WHERE: Planet Hollywood Hotel, Las Vegas WHEN: 17-19 August
Oman, given its location on the strategic Strait of Hormuz, is perhaps an apt place to host this conference on port security and coastal surveillance. The two-day event – one of few serious conferences in the Gulf region held this summer – will include speakers from around the world discussing maritime security issues and how to monitor and prevent incidents.
Las Vegas is not exactly the first destination that springs to mind when it comes to child-friendly products and services. But the Kid Show Las Vegas 2015 specialises in just that, showcasing the latest kit – including clothes, accessories and footwear – for babies, kids and expectant mothers. It’s aimed at wholesale buyers rather than the casual consumer – so perfect for Gulf retailers looking for the next big thing for the little ones.
www.portsecurityoman.com
WEBSITE: www.kidshow.cc
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Play DIFC Ritz-Carlton review
P l ay
Defining distinction
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DIFC Ritz-Carlton review
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'Distinction’ is defined by the Oxford English dictionary as “excellence that sets someone or something apart from others” scott armstrong
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ubai defines it as the RitzCarlton Dubai International Financial Centre. A bold statement in a city/ emirate over-flowing with hotels, all promising ‘luxury’, a term which has become the most homogenised word in tourism. So how does a property in the one of the global capitals of ‘bling’ approach setting itself apart from the madding crowd? Quite simply it forgets the rest and focuses on its own standards of refinement and service to make a stay under its roof a memorable experience. From the outside this stunning venue seems more at home in a New York or Chicago skyline, but equally sits well within the growing sophistication of Dubai’s financial district which is a maturing as a hub for culture and dining. As you walk into the warm marble of the lobby you feel welcome, the design grand, but yet not austere. The soft tones and elegant furnishings evoke a sense of style and substance, this is not death by crystals or overkill on opulence this is a hotel purposefully created to put one at ease. The warm smiles of the staff are convincing, less forced familiarity and more genuine hospitality than many Dubai hotels. Here you are don’t receive the mass market greeting of ‘Mam, sir’, rather the ‘ah Mr Armstrong, delighted you could join us’ as if you are an old friend returning for a visit after too long away.
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Play DIFC Ritz-Carlton review
it is without question an excellent place for work meetings, but this place has so much more to offer to the leisure traveller
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If you book a Club Level room, thoroughly recommended, you are taken to the plush executive lounge where you enjoy a welcome drink as all the check-in formalities are effortlessly taken care of. You chat with the affable Director of Rooms Kevin Song (cool guy according to my teenage boy) while your bags are whisked away, deepening the sense of hospitality, and you haven’t even reached your room yet. Opting for the Ambassador Suite affords you the opportunity to let your jaw drop a little, while ‘wow’ seems too cheap a word, it neatly describes the ‘walk-through the door’ experience. Some 1,400 sq ft of space is luxuriously divided into an entry lobby leading to a spacious lounge & dining area, where wall-toceiling windows add more space and light, looking out on a grand balcony and out further to the DIFC. Off the entrance lobby is the master bedroom, here the king-sized bed with feather beds and down comforter with duvet, and
400 thread-count Egyptian cotton linens, promise a good night’s rest. The marble bathroom, with bath and monsoon rain shower providing invigoration on demand, creates that personal spa experience. This hotel has perhaps unfairly been labeled as a business property. Situated in the sophisticated heart of the DIFC it’s easy to see why some have made the assumption, and it is without question an excellent place for work meetings, but this place has so much more to offer to the leisure traveller. Summer always focuses the mind on travel so firstly its location just 15 minutes from Dubai International Airport makes it the ideal staging platform for a journey away or relaxing when you are returning from a trip. But, with the emirate’s shopping malls offering Ramadan and Eid discounts galore, the fact it is five minutes away from Dubai Mall (and the Burj Khalifa) provides the perfect excuse for a retail-inspired UAE staycation. J u l y 2 0 15 | b e n c h m ar k m i d d l e e a s t
DIFC Ritz-Carlton review
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Play DIFC Ritz-Carlton review
The hotel’s most memorable dining option, for this traveller at least, was perhaps Café Belge, which ‘celebrates the vibrant spirit of 1920s Brussels’. It’s an eatery that oozes charm and easy sophistication. A lively evening crowd come for the jazz as much as the excellent food, a place where suits and ties sit comfortably next to hipsters. It’s all rather cool in a Downton Abbeyesque way – or Downtown Abbey if you like. However, if you want to escape the noise and indulge in some quiet time, returning to the executive lounge is a great option. No ‘happy hours’ here just food and beverages available all day in sumptuous surroundings, your needs waited on by the attentive (but not overly so) staff. Featuring its own kitchen and chef it also serves up delicious surprises so that no single visit is the same as the last. The tone of the lounge it set by its director, the immensely likeable Dara, who is competence and conviviality perfectly blended. Easy charm mixing with absolutely apparent ability, in many ways he reflects what makes Ritz-Carlton stand out in the crowd. While you know this hotel works tirelessly to make your stay memorable it never seems to be trying too hard, probably because it has hand-picked a team who know precisely what they are doing. The end result is a stay that is practically effortless for the visitor, where the science of stress-free has become an art.
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DIFC Ritz-Carlton review
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To visit the website of the Ritz-Carlton DIFC scan the QR code
Summer surprise With the summer of staycations the RitzCarlton DIFC has prepared a surprise for those visiting with smaller, but equally important, guests. The ‘Family Fun’ package offers guests the chance to reserve a three nights’ hotel stay and pay for just two nights in a Deluxe Room, Premier Room, Junior Suite or Executive Suite, with the option of a connecting room and suite for those traveling with young children. Ritz Kids can discover a sense of adventure, with the option to sleep in a fun teepee tent complete with RitzCarlton linen, designed to capture the imagination of any young explorer. Families who reserve the package will also receive complimentary tickets to Modhesh World, the indoor theme park hosted at Dubai World Trade Centre, as well as a VIP tour and meet and greet experience with Modhesh himself.
The ‘Family Fun’ packages are available until to 15 September 2015 Reservations difcroomreservations@ritzcarlton.com +971 4 372 2555 More information is available at www.ritzcarlton.com/dubaiifc
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Play Ferrari FF review
“At
my signal
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Ferrari FF review Play
The opening words to Ridley’s Scott epic blockbuster Gladiator echo in my mind as I prepare myself for what is about to happen
unleash
by Scott Armstrong
hell�
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Play Ferrari FF review
s noise explodes around me I focus on what is ahead, surging forward I leave everyone else in my wake as the desert flashes past. My battleground is the Sheikh Zayed highway in the UAE, my warhorse is the Ferrari FF, and what a ride it is. Just one look and you know this is no normal Ferrari, if indeed you can apply the term normal to this iconic brand. The FF is Ferrari’s 612 replacement, the first Ferrari to get four-wheel drive, and while it might bear the logo of the Prancing Horse, this is no nervous, flighty racehorse. Instead, this is a battle-hardened steed that knights rode into combat. Returning to Gladiator think rugged Russell Crowe rather than the pretty-boy pin-up looks that come out of Hollywood. In fact, the FF is Ferrari’s Roman gladiator, 50
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striking to look at, fast on its feet, street smart and tough, with real presence on the roads. In some ways it feels less like a sports car and more like a muscle car, just with explosive acceleration added. That speed is born inside the V12 engine with the FF turning out 0 to 100kph in just 3.7 seconds. To put that into perspective, the FF gets to 100kph in half the time it took you to read the last sentence … go ahead time yourself. Driving along the beauty pageant of expensive SUVs and ten-a-penny supercars that is the Sheikh Zayed highway, behind the wheel of the FF you feel a sense of pride that you are different from the pack (even such an elite pack). The FF is a choice for discerning drivers who love football’s Messi and who think Ronaldo is an over-preened poser. Yes the latter has pace and talent, like many supercars and superstars, but when the going
gets tough the FF doesn’tfall to the ground with all the drama of a ballet dancer performing Swan Lake. The FF has Messi’s pace and agility, but it also has that solid determination, which is exactly how you feel, in control and assured. That sense of reassurance flows from the FF’s innovative four-wheel drive system (4RM) combined with its seven-speed dual clutch gearbox. Essentially for most of the time you think you are driving a rear-wheel car, because in reality you are, until you need the extra power, such as on uphill corner or in less clement conditions. It is then, and only then, that power is routed into the front wheels too, and instantly you have four-wheel stability, grip and control. The result irons out much of the understeer and over-steer that can throw drivers, giving real confidence in the vehicle’s ability to cope under pressure. J u l y 2 0 15 | b e n c h m ar k m i d d l e e a s t
Ferrari FF review Play
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Play Ferrari FF review
Its sturdiness however doesn’t detract from its good looks, though this is handsome in the unconventional sense. Just pull up at Dubai’s The Address Downtown behind the wheel of the FF and you’ll feel the heads turn in your direction. For a brief moment you’ll tell yourself they are looking at you, but they are not, they are clocking the logo and then their eyes sweep up the bonnet and across to the Pininfarina-designed ‘shooting brake’ rear. But those admiring glances are partly aimed your way, because choosing the FF sets you apart, you are different, you are in some ways a Russell Crowe-esque rebel. While emotion plays a big part in the Ferrari FF experience it is also the work of an army of engineers and technicians for whom speed and performance is almost a religion. The FF brings a wealth of technology to the mix, starting with a completely new mid-front-mounted 6,262 cc GDI V12 engine that delivers performance and responsiveness at all engine speeds, including the lower range. For you die-hard motoring maths junkies here’s some more stats. It sports 660 CV at 8,000 rpm, a specific output of 105 CV/l (77 kW/ cu in), a weightpower ratio of 2.7 Kg/CV. The torque is also blistering: 683 Nm at 6, 000 rpm, 500 Nm
It is fast yet firm, beautiful yet bold, commanding yet comfortable
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Ferrari FF review Play
Tech specs Engine Type 65° V12 Total displacement: 6262 cc Maximum power: 660 CV at 8000 rpm Maximum torque: 683 Nm a 6000 rpm Specific power: 77 kW/litre - 105 CV/litre Maximum revs: 8000 rpm Boot volume: 450 litres Fuel tank capacity: 91 litres
Transmission and gearbox 4RM (four-wheel drive) and 7-speed dual-clutch transmission
Performance Top speed 335 km/h 0-100 km/h: 3,7 sec 0-200 km/h: 11 sec 100-0 km/h: 35 m Weight/power ratio: 2,7 kg/CV
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available from 1,000 rpm up to 8,000 rpm. Oh and to round it off, the FF has a top speed of 335 kph. And stepping away from the romance for a second, every relationship needs practicalities to survive so let’s talk about the boot. Yes we are talking about boot space in a Ferrari. You get 450 litres of storage in normal conditions, however as both rear seats can fold down separately, upping the size to more than 800 litres. This means, for example, that four occupants can take four standard side trolley cases, two golf bags or two children’s strollers with them. The central section of the rear seat can also be folded down to accommodate particularly bulky items such as a large golf bag or two pairs of skis. Ferrari have tried, and largely succeeded, to be all things to all drivers with this ambitious outing in the FF, it is fast yet firm, beautiful yet bold, commanding yet comfortable. To quote Gladiator one last time: “My name is Maximus DecimusMeridius, commander of the Armies of the North, General of the Felix Legions and loyal servant to the true emperor, Marcus Aurelius. “Father to a murdered son, husband to a murdered wife. And I will have my vengeance, in this life or the next.” In the next life I bet you he’ll be driving an FF.
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Play Watches
Corinne Gretler
I Swiss race for Smart bling
t is no big secret that the UAE has a love affair with the watch, the more expensive the better. So much so that when UK comedian Michael McIntyre played in Dubai last month he poked fun at Dubai's bling culture, painting the picture of the man falling out of his Lamborghini being dragged to the earth by the weight of his massive watch. And, it is also fair to say that your average UAE consumer loves a gadget, and so begins the battle for 'smart bling', with the Apple Watch much coveted. So what happens when you cross 'latest' with 'luxury'? A world away from the deserts of the UAE, in the mountains of Switzerland there is a race going on that's sure to interest more than a few shoppers here.
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Play Watches
High-end watches are passed down to future generations. But Apple’s move puts the pressure on
Swiss watch shops will be stocked with a whole new range of smart watches in coming weeks as producers look to combat Apple to get a lead in Switzerland, the home of brands such as Rolex and Patek Philippe. Montblanc showcased last month an “e-Strap,” which can make a watch receive e-mails and control music playlists. The device, which is clipped into the band of a watch, that should already be on sale by the time Benchmark went to print. The Apple Watch was due to enter Switzerland on June 26, and Swiss watchmakers are scrambling to add electronic functions to their products. Elmar Mock, one of the inventors of the Swatch, said in March that the Californian company’s device may cause an “ice age” for the Swiss watch industry. Other experts feel it will take time before tech companies pose a threat. “Swiss players depend 50 percent on the b e n c h m ar k m i d d l e e a s t | J u l y 2 0 15
Chinese, and about 70 percent of Chinese want their watch to be Swiss-made,” Luca Solca, an analyst at Exane BNP Paribas, wrote in a note Friday. “High-end watches are passed down to future generations. But Apple’s move puts the pressure on.” Frederique Constant’s smartwatch started reaching stores in the US and Switzerland last month (surely it can't be long until they hit the UAE?). Mondaine’s first Helvetica Smart model will be available for preorder online this month, while four other models will go on sale by October, according to Chief Executive Officer Andre Bernheim. Movado Group Inc. plans to introduce wearable technology in its namesake brand ahead of the Christmas gift-buying season, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Efraim Grinberg told analysts on a May 27 conference call.
Swatch Group AG will start selling a namesake timepiece that can make mobile payments sometime this month or next, while LVMH Moet Hennessy Louis Vuitton SE has said it will introduce a $1,400 TAG Heuer smartwatch later this year. Montblanc’s e-Strap accompanies the brand’s TimeWalker watches and will also allow users to track physical activity. The brand is owned by Cie. Financiere Richemont SA, whose chairman, Johann Rupert, has said it will probably only introduce electronic functions into straps and not the case of a watch, so the timepiece doesn’t become outdated. Richemont’s IWC brand also plans an intelligent watchband device. Whoever wins the race, you can bet is won't be long before some of the world's most expensive smart watches start appearing on wrists in the UAE. J u l y 2 0 15 | b e n c h m ar k m i d d l e e a s t
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Play Fashion for Her
1 L.K.Bennett L.K.Bennett stores are located in Dubai Festival City Mall, Mirdif City Centre, Dubai Marina Mall, The Dubai Mall and Marina Mall in Abu Dhabi.
Lyda Fitted Jacquard Dress (AED 1,570) Lyda is the dress for all occasions. Effortlessly stylish in blue overlaid with white jacquard daisy print, this sleeveless shift dress is the epitome of summer style. Partner with the matching coat or wear under a bright summer cardigan.
Estelle Cyan Clutch (AED 1,750) Designed with intricate lace-effect embossing and scalloped edges
Floret Nappa Leather Point Toe Court (AED 1,090) Floret is a statement shoe for the season. With a pointed toe and high heel this elegant style is finished in beautiful nappa leather.
Giselle Suede Strappy Sandal (AED 1,570) Constructed with foam padding in the soles, these shoes are the most fashionable pair of practical sandals
Juna Scarf (AED 420) Juna is the go-to scarf for everyday chic. In a block colour with delicate frayed edge detail, Juna can be paired with everything from day to evening wear to add the finishing touch to your outfit.
Florisa Mist AED 1,020 This signature style is made with soft nappa leather for the new season, perfect for chic style from 9 to 5 and beyond. Handmade in Spain from the finest quality Italian leathers, the shoes are constructed with an extraordinary foam padding in the soles, for extreme impact protection - creating comfort, ideal for all-day wear.
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Fashion for Her Play
2 kate spade new york kate spade new york stores located at The Dubai Mall, Mall of the Emirates, Mirdif City Center, Dubai Marina Mall and Abu Dhabi Mall.
Neva clutch (AED 1,090) constructed from smooth cowhide and decorated with chic laser cutouts, the lillian court neva is the perfect summer clutch; carry it with everything from jeans to sundresses for a look that’s truly effortless.
Kaylee Pewter (AED 950) This little bag is petitely proportioned for when you want to travel light. Made from pewter grained leather, Kaylee features a silver-tone zip, which opens to reveal a main compartment and internal pocket. Designed to be worn across the body - with a long, adjustable strap - this small style is an on-thego essential. Small harmony tote (AED 1,440) constructed from pebble-embossed leathers in a range of chic colors and decorated with a modern-looking bow, the new julia street collection is both fun and stylish. the small harmony boasts a classic, clean-lined shape and a zippered top, making it a great go-anywhere.
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Play Fashion for Him Her
1 Brooks Brothers Brooks Brothers stores are located in Deira City Centre, Dubai Festival City, Galleries Lafayette-Dubai Mall, Jashanmal-Dubai Marina Mall, Dubai Mall and Yas Mall.
2 Bally Bally stores are located in Etihad Towers, City Centre Mirdif, Level Shoe District and Galaries Lafayatte in Dubai Mall.
Milano Fit Windowpanel Three-Piece 1818 Suit (AED 6,170) The two-button suit is crafted from pure wool woven in Italy. Framed interior pockets to eliminate stress points, hand sewn upper armholes for added comfort and movement. Railroad stitching in back neck for stability. Our slimmest-fitting suit, the Milano fit features a shorter jacket with narrow lapels, high armhole, and our trimmest trousers. Side vents,vest and plain-front trousers. Dry clean. Made in Italy.
Heider (AED 1,990) These leather low top sneakers are a lightweight design with quilted detailing and contrasting tan leather.
3 T.M. Lewin are located in Deira City Centre, Dubai Marina Mall and Al Ain Mall.
Clark Fit Garment-Dyed Chinos (AED 295) As a nod to our nearly two centuries of providing quality men's essentials, we have crafted these garment-dyed chinos from pure cotton. Uncuffed finished hem. Machine wash. Imported. The Clark fit has a plain-front and sits straight through the hip and thigh.
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Burgundy Large Check Slim Tie (AED 235) T.M.Lewin has increased their slim tie range with more colour, texture and fabrics as the popularity for slim, tailored lines is on the rise. Their slim ties should be paired with a classic semi-spread, point or long collar and tied with a four in hand knot. Accessorize with a tie slide and a slim fit jacket with narrow lapels for a completely polished look. From the John Francomb collection. J u l y 2 0 15 | b e n c h m ar k m i d d l e e a s t
Fashion Fashionfor forHim Her Play
Tayson (AED 1,790) From boardroom to black tie, a black leather oxford shoe is the unmistakable hero of formal dressing with an elegantly shaped toe and flawless craftsmanship its defining features.
Navy Dot Wool Pocket Square (AED 125) This navy polka dot pocket square is a perfect transitional piece and ideal for creating a more textured look. Made up in 100% wool with a contrasting dot pattern, this pocket square will give your formal attire a modern twist.
Harrison Herringbone Jacket (AED 1,295) Update your wardrobe with our versatile Harrison casual jacket. You can create a layered look with our casual shirts and knitwear. Jump on board the business-casual style by pairing our blazers with rolled up chinos. We have a wide range of accessories, such as slim knitted ties and pocket squares, that will add the finishing touch to your outfit.
London Fitted Light Blue Circle Print Shirt (AED 275) Add subtle texture to your spring style with this fitted shirt from T.M.Lewin's London collection. Made from a seasonal light blue cotton with a small circle print to ensure you stick to this season's textural trend. Pair with a contrasting pattern tie to complete your contemporary look. b e n c h m ar k m i d d l e e a s t | J u l y 2 0 15
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Play Courtyard Marriott review
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Courtyard Marriott review Play
When four stars feel like five Scott Armstrong foregoes his usual five-star standards for Benchmark and is pleasantly surprised
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hile the UAE marches ever closer to the world’s first 100 star hotel, (come on, it will happen one day) a growing number of savvy consumers are compromising uber-luxury for value for money. Once upon a time seeking a bargain meant a huge gulf in class, being charged through the nose for internet access, grumpy employees, rooms smelling of stale smoke, and breakfasts not fit for your pets. Though these still exist (I could name some in Abu Dhabi and Dubai with pleasure) times are changing. There is a quiet revolution happening in the UAE, not just only in budget hotels,
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where service is getting better and rooms cleaner, but also in the four-star sector which is working to narrow the gap with the star above. Nowhere is a better example of this than the new Marriott Courtyard World Trade Center, Abu Dhabi. This is hotel that from the outset under-promises but over-delivers in almost every area. Let’s go through the checklist of things we expect from a five-star location. • Prime location. Well the Marriott is directly connected to the new World Trade Center mall, packed with luxury shops, plus it is maybe a 10-minute walk, at most, to the seafront of Abu Dhabi’s beautiful Corniche.
• Spacious, well designed room. Here the basic rooms started from around 32 sq m and do not feel cramped at all, however opt for the junior suite and you get a separate lounge and a total of 50 sq m. • Spa-esque bathroom. Marble and monsoon showers are generally the order of the day at five-stars, the Courtyard delivers this too. In fact it probably features one of the best monsoon showers I’ve discovered in any hotel. • Excellent restaurant, especially breakfast. Again here Courtyard over delivers, its restaurant is bright, featuring modern design and attentive staff, and the food on offer is good quality, fresh, with buffet and al a carte choices, plus a live cooking station. J u l y 2 0 15 | b e n c h m ar k m i d d l e e a s t
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Play Courtyard Marriott review
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Courtyard Marriott review Play
To contact the hotel call +971-2-6982222. It is located at Hamdan Bin Mohammed Street (5th Street) Abu Dhabi. To visit the website scan the QR code attached.
• Gadgets & tech. An iPod docking station, flat screen television, free Wi-Fi all come as standard at the Courtyard. • Pool and pool bar. Ok so you won’t be training for any triathlons in Courtyard’s cute rooftop pool, but as a place to soak up the sun and then cool off it works well as a sophisticated space. The happy hour besides the pool makes it a popular place to be too. • Great service. We expect this at fivestar hotels and too often they fail to deliver, with snooty staff looking down at the guests. Again here Courtyard goes a step beyond what one might expect from a four-star property. Smiling courteous staff who remember your name, and who are willing to help with all queries, rather than a default ‘no’ especially when querying a cost. To linger on the rooms available it’s worth saying that the king-size beds do exactly what they supposed to, deliver a good night’s sleep. The compromise might come if you demand the wood fittings in your room to be genuine deep walnut rather than veneer. However, the room designer has delivered a modern and clean look, nothing jars on the eye, the use of light and space helps to quell any claustrophobia. Perhaps the main concession the guest at the Courtyard has to make is that of the b e n c h m ar k m i d d l e e a s t | J u l y 2 0 15
view, being on the outskirts of a busy commercial district in the capital don’t expect breathtaking scenery out of the window. But that is a small compromise when you consider a room at this hotel will set you back from Dh325 a night. Other surprising treats at this property include the Fifth Street Café, through which you access the mall. Ideal for a coffee, this serves up lunchtime treats, and (surprisingly) is licensed too, making it ideal for the grumpy husband waiting for his wife to finish shopping (the mall has a multi-level House of Fraser so that could be a while). Its rooftop pool lounge also offers great views across the city on nighttime, particularly in the winter months when the temperatures allow al fresco entertainment. It is the ideal location for anyone looking for a spot of retail therapy. Firstly the World Trade Center mall, plus the Souq, is right on the doorstep, and it is also a short taxi ride to Marina Mall in one direction, or Abu Dhabi Mall, and Galleria on Al Maryah Island, in the other. Spot on for a quick city break in Abu Dhabi, but big enough to allow for a longer stay, you even get fluffy dressing gowns and slippers. So go on, why not treat yourself to a fourstar hotel, you can spend the money you save in the mall. J u l y 2 0 15 | b e n c h m ar k m i d d l e e a s t
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Play Events Planner
Droves of people may leave the Gulf over the hot summer months, whether for an Eid getaway or a longer break during the annual ‘expat exodus’. But there are still goings-on both here and in the surrounding region – notably Lebanon – during July and August. Here’s a brief guide to the top 10 events on your doorstep this summer
1. Ramadan events in the UAE WHERE: Various venues WHEN: Until Eid The holy month of Ramadan is marked in the UAE with a host of activities, many of which are open to residents and tourists of different faiths. In Abu Dhabi, the majestic Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque is open as usual over Ramadan, although with limited hours for non-Muslims on Fridays. The Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre is hosting the Ramadan and Eid Festival 2015 (17 June to 16 July), which features traditional celebrations, shopping, Arabic food, and games. Other events include ‘Ramadan on The Walk’, in Dubai’s Jumeirah Beach Residence district (until July 25), which features different zones inspired by Arab culture. And The Majlis, an annual event at the Dubai World Trade Centre, offers daily iftar (7pm-8pm) and suhoor (9pm-3am, or 4am at weekends), with an admission cost of Dh140 per person. www.visitdubai.com
2. Modhesh World WHERE: Dubai World Trade Centre WHEN: 9 July to 29 August No summer in Dubai is complete without the yellow, worm-like, evergrinning Modhesh bouncing into our collective consciousness, invited or otherwise. The summer shopping mascot has inspired mixed reactions among citizens: Kids invariably love it; someone – an adult, presumably – once posted a Facebook group called “Death to Modhesh”. Modhesh World is aimed very much at those in the former camp. There are games, rides, interactive experiences, an indoor GoKarting track, and mirror maze. Guaranteed fun – or panic attack, depending on your take on it – at every turn. www.visitdubai.com
3. Dubai Sports World 2015 WHERE: Dubai World Trade Centre WHEN: 21 June to 29 August Dubai, summer, and outdoor sport do not mix. But you can escape the heat with this indoor sports arena that includes playing fields, basketball, volleyball, tennis courts and more.
4. Beiteddine Art Festival WHERE: Beiteddine Palace, Chouf, Lebanon WHEN: 29 July to 5 September English rock singer-songwriter David Gray (song cue: ‘Babylon’) and Peruvian operatic tenor Juan Diego Flórez (the so-called ‘heir to Pavarotti’, much to the annoyance of many music buffs) are two of the headliners at this summer’s Beiteddine Art Festival. The festival is one of the leading cultural events in the Middle East, and this year celebrates its 30th anniversary, having first been held during the Lebanese Civil War. Art exhibitions and performances by Lebanese composer Marcel Khalifé and the Armenian National Philharmonic Orchestra are also part of the line-up, with big events held sporadically over almost six weeks. The acts are impressive but the setting steals the show: The venue is the ornate Beiteddine Palace, a jewel of 19th century Lebanese architecture, overlooking the terraced Chouf mountains 45km southeast of Beirut. TICKETS: Prices vary. Tickets for Juan Diego Flórez range from LBP75,000375,000 ($50-$250) depending on seating. David Gray tickets cost between $50-$120. www.beiteddine.org
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5. Byblos International Festival 2015 WHEN: 13 July to 18 August WHERE: Byblos, Lebanon More musical treats can be had at the Byblos International Festival in Lebanon, where the line-up includes ninetime Grammy winner singer-songwriter John Legend, Irish stadium-rockers The Script, and UK alternative rock band Alt-J. The festival is located in the Mediterranean city of Byblos, about 42 kilometres north of Beirut. TICKETS: Prices vary: John Legend ($60-$150), The Script ($50-$120), Alt-J ($50-$90) www.byblosfestival.org
6. Dubai Shopping Festival WHERE: Across the city WHEN: 23 July to 5 September A very different kind of festival is held in the UAE each summer: Dubai Summer Surprises, the annual celebration of shopping as performance art, is back for its 18th season. Over 6000 retail outlets participate in the shop-til-youdrop fest, offering discounts of up to 70 per cent… although it’s important to remember the “up to” in that sentence. There’s also the usual array of entertainment and Dh5.5 million of prizes – including cars, cash and shopping vouchers – up for grabs. The festival is a feature of malls and other venues across the city – you certainly won’t miss it.
7. The Outlawz Live in Dubai WHEN: 6 August 2015 WHERE: The Music Room - Majestic Hotel - Bur Dubai The American hip-hop group, which was formed in 1995 by the late and legendary rapper Tupac, is providing more musical respite to Dubai residents over the hot summer months.
9. Habib Elyasi Live WHEN: 19 July WHERE: du Forum, Abu Dhabi Habib Elyasi, the singing sensation billed as one of the most promising stars of Emirati music, is performing in the UAE capital. The event is part of the wider Abu Dhabi Summer Season – a 12-week programme of comedy acts, children’s events and concerts. For more details see: abudhabievents.ae TICKETS: Dh75-Dh100 www.duforum.ae
TICKETS: Dh100/Dh150 www.themusicroomdubai.com
8. Qatar Summer Festival 2015 WHEN: 1-31 August WHERE: Across Doha Qatar also attempts to lure in visitors over the summer, promoting local attractions under the Qatar Summer Festival banner. The month-long festival includes special hotel packages, cultural events and the Entertainment City at Doha Exhibition Centre, which includes skate boarding and rock climbing. www.qatarsummerfestival.qa
10. Saudi summer festivals WHERE: Across the kingdom WHEN: Until mid-August Saudi Arabia does not just have one summer festival – it has 57. The local tourism agency announced a programme of events to span the summer months, ending in mid-August, including entertainment, cultural, heritage, social and sports programmes. Riyadh province will host four summer events alone, including the Riyadh Shopping and Entertainment Festival. www.saudievents.sa
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Play Health
Foods to avoid
•D eep-fried foods, eg pakoras, samosas, fried dumplings. •H igh-sugar/high-fat foods, eg sweets. •H igh-fat cooked foods, eg oily curries, greasy pastries.
Ramadan Nutrition Concerns
Healthy/Alternative Foods •W hole grains, eg chickpeas (plain, or with potato in yogurt with different spices), samosas baked instead of fried, and boiled dumplings. •M ilk-based sweets and puddings. •A lternate with bakery items made without oil, and baked or grilled meat and chicken. Try to make pastry at home and use a single layer.
What happens when you fast for long periods of time, and how to avoid it?
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asting for long hours means cutting out food and water and this may cause a lot of changes in one’s body: Loss of vitamins and minerals: symptoms may include excessive thirst, dry mouth, dry eyes, nausea, vomiting, dizziness, and low blood pressure. It is important to consume all nutrients in your meals and drink plenty of water. Low metabolic rate: during fasting, our bodies become less capable of burning fat, so we gain weight. Follow a balanced and fat-free diet to maintain your weight. Thirst: Avoid adding Salt to your food. You should drink 1-1.5 cups of water every hour and eat light at Suhoor. What is the ideal meal at Iftar? Start with a cup of water and two dates to compensate for the dehydration state that occurs during fasting. A bowl of soup will also make up for the lost water. The soup could be a mushroom or lentil soup since they are high in fiber, vitamins, and iron. Salad will be a good 66
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choice to continue with, it could help in preventing constipation. For the main dish, it is important to focus on one type of food and try not to choose from a variety to avoid excessive calorie intake. Include protein sources like fish, chicken breast, and grilled steak. Carbohydrate sources are also crucial in the main meal to compensate for the glucose being used during fasting. Rice, potato and pasta are good sources of carbohydrates. What to do to avoid hunger during fasting? High fiber containing food during Suhoor is important to decrease hunger and increase satiety during the day. Our body is able to digest fiber slowly and that’s why we are able feel less hungry during the day. Fruits, vegetables, whole wheat bread, nuts, and brown corn are great sources of fiber. Have a blessed Ramadan, and stay healthy!
Cooking methods to avoid Deep frying , Frying , Excessive oil.
Alternative cooking methods
• Shallow frying – usually there is very little difference in taste. •G rilling or baking is healthier and helps retain the taste and original flavor of the food, especially chicken and fish. • Start with measuring the oil used and try to bring the oil content down gradually, eg reducing five tablespoons to four. This is a good way of reducing oil without noticing much difference in the taste. A useful tip is to use more onions and tomatoes.
Dana Z. Taleb, RD J u l y 2 0 15 | b e n c h m ar k m i d d l e e a s t
OYSTER PERPETUAL GMT-MASTER II