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TREASURES OF BAHR AIN
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WELCOME
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First Impression
A word from the editor-in-chief
March 2021
Editorial Editor in Chief Khalid Ahmed Juman Deputy Editor in Chief Ahmed Khunji Art Director Ronald Fuentes Features Editor Tariq Khonji Editors Amy Vaya Mohammed Hassan Charlie Holding Marketing and Sales International Media Sales Director Hussain Al Zaimoor Production Production Support Venkatesan J. S IT support Digital Manager Hussain Al Anjawi
DURRAH LUXURY MAGAZINE PO Box 13990, Manama, Kingdom of Bahrain T. +973 77077777 F. +973 17226555 VOLUME 13 ISSUE 03 AUTUMN 2021
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Perseverance has always been a trait of the Kingdom of Bahrain. Despite the circumstances that this pandemic has imposed on its social and economic environments, it has never lost sight of what is important: to keep moving forward. One leader that embodies the Kingdom’s spirit of perseverance is Southern Governor, HH Shaikh Khalifa bin Ali bin Khalifa Al Khalifa. In an exclusive interview with Durrah, he highlights the major efforts taken by the Governorate to keep its residents safe by limiting the spread of the COVID-19 virus, while still committing to projects and plans that will improve their lives. He also discusses the recently published book, ‘Riffa: Glory Between the Past and Present’, which covers the various fields in which Riffa and its notable personalities enriched the lives of all Bahrainis through their contributions over the decades. This same spirit of determination can be found throughout Bahrain, with some high-profile events and launches taking place – while ensuring the strictest health and safety measures are implemented. Undoubtedly considered Bahrain’s most popular event, the Formula One Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix returns in 2021, a testament to the Kingdom’s effective organization and adherence to international standards. A number of fans will once again have the opportunity to see the action live this year, which is a very encouraging sign. Bahrain International Airport marked a major milestone in the Kingdom’s aviation history by
transferring its operations to the New Passenger Terminal. A state-of-the-art environmentally-friendly facility, it utilizes the latest technologies to ensure a seamless travel experience for all passengers. Another landmark is the opening of Dilmunia’s Canal, which offers spectators breathtaking views of waterfalls and dancing fountains set to musical backdrops. Bahrain also recently announced that restaurants can offer dine-in to patrons again. Durrah has always been a strong supporter of the restaurant scene in the Kingdom. We talk to our longtime favorite in the local scene, Chef Tala Bashmi, who shares how she and her team managed to survive the harsh realities imposed on her restaurant, Fusions by Tala. Embodying the same unrelenting Bahraini spirit, she still has her sights set on future accomplishments. From the opening of the new Adamas Motors showroom to Tamkeen’s entrepreneurial success stories, the articles carefully curated in this issue showcase how this spirit is prevalent throughout Bahrain, led by innovators and trendsetters who thrive on turning challenges into opportunities.
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COVER IMAGE Unprecedented Luxury DURRAH is a premium quarterly English-language luxury lifestyle magazine, covering topics including VIP interviews, fashion, yachting, architecture, art and culture, jewellery and travel, Durrah’s quality is unsurpassed. Durrah, in Arabic, translates to ‘Pearl’, and focuses on luxury that is based on substance and lifestyle with intellect, rather than excess. On contemporary living that evolves from deepset roots, rather than globalization, ensuring an inherently authentic flavour for a globally travelled audience. With a core focus on the colourful fusion of both traditional and modern elements that make up the Arabian identity, Durrah aims to promote and preserve all of the elements that make the Arabian Gulf so unique. Durrah adopts international standards, however also remains closely connected to Middle Eastern heritage, culture and achievements, all of which are prominently featured.
Enjoy your read! ISSN 2210-1322
Khalid Ahmed Juman Editor in Chief
DURRAHMAGAZINE
www.durrah.bh e.mail: info@durrah.bh
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JIMMY CHOO
ONLY AT SAKS
City Centre Bahrain
CONTENTS
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CONTENTS
March 2021
Volume 13 Issue 03 Spring 2021
016
050
022
010
First Impression Editor’s Letter
016
Leading the Path to Prosperity
Southern Governor, HH Shaikh Khalifa bin Ali Al Khalifa
020
Shaping Telecommunications
030
Basketball’s Trendsetting Visionary
Shaikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Khalifa
034
Supporting the Economy Tamkeen’s schemes
036
Success Stories
Interviews with Tamkeen entrepreneurs
HE the Minister of Transportation and Telecommunications visits BNET headquarters
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022
Members of Bahrain Bosnia and Herzegovina for Friendship and Business Society meet Gulf Air
Soaring to New Heights
Soaring Aspirations
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050
Gearing Up for Success Adamas CEO, Karl Hamer
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Vacheron Constantin Builds on Legacy with New Bahrain Boutique Vacheron Constantin Regional Brand Director, Alexander Schmiedt
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Micro Expressions Atist Ayhan Üstün
062
50 Years of Iconic Creations Azza Fahmy
Bahrain International Airport’s successful transfer of operations to New Passengers Terminal
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066
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Mahonia founder, Sawsan Baluch
Ritz-Carlton Executive Chef, Yann Bernard Lejard
A Century of Excellence 100 Years of Bahrain Police
Home of Good Food
Food is Art
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094
110
Al Zain Jewellery collections
Perfumes for men
Brunello Cucinelli’s Spring-Summer 2021 Collection
Treasures of Bahrain
Fresh and Bold
Essential Values
076
096
112
Tiffany T1
Perfumes for women
Etro’s Spring-Summer 2021 Collection
Celebrating a Legacy
Alluring Fragrances
World of Discovery
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098
114
Patek Philippe’s new Twenty~4 models
The latest in luxury cosmetics
Hermes’ Women’s Spring-Summer 2021 Collection
Refined Femininity
084
The Quest for Nature
Tudor and Morgan Bourc’his’ in search of whales
088
The Culture of Design
Cartier’s remarkable family of watches and jewellery
092
Made for Glory
OMEGA Seamaster Diver 300M “Beijing 2022” Special Edition
Beauty Trends
102
Stella McCartney Summer 2021
Exclusively available at Saks Fifth Avenue, City Centre Bahrain
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Creative Elegance
Docle&Gabbana’s boys and girls collections
108
Lightness and Simplicity
Hermes Men’s Summer 2021 Collection
Reconnecting with the World
116
Code Temporal
Valentino’s Haute Couture Spring-Summer 2021 Collection
118
In Bloom
The Oscar de la Renta Fall/Winter 2021 collection
120
A Season in Hope
Chloe’s Spring Summer 21 Collection
CONTENTS
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March 2021
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142 210 164
122
Exquisite Style
The latest in ladies’ brand name bags
146
Journey Into the History of Faith
180
Fine Dining Galore
The gastronomic scene in Dubai
Sacred Route: Kaaba Coverings from the Ottoman Empire to the Present and Hajj Remembrances Exhibition
184
The latest in designer brand women’s shoes
150
Top dining locations
130
Discover Jebel Fihrayn
126
Stepping in Style
Symbol of Humanity
Edge of the World
The largest art canvas in the world
154
134
The best hotels in the world
Refined Taste
192
Unprecedented Luxury Rolls-Royce Phantom
Redefining Hospitality
202
Luxurious shopping destinations
164
Reviews of the latest luxury brands in the automotive industry
140
The best spas in the world
Boutique Experience Cruiser Supreme
Serene Treatments
The Hermes Speedster
172
142
Fusions by Tala
Inimitable Craftsmanship The CRN M/Y 137 Voice Megayacht
Culinary Art
176
Culinary Culture
Vivir by Chef Miguel Martinez
Driving In Style
210
Must Haves for Men Luxury items for men
216
Must Haves for Women Luxury items for women
U N M I S T A K A B L Y A S T O N M A R T I N. THIS IS DBX
U N M I S T A K A B L Y A S T O N M A R T I N. U N MT I SH T AIKSA BIL S Y AD S TB OX N M A R T I N. THIS IS DBX
astonmartin.com Aston Martin Bahrain, Building 1807, Road 4635, Block 646 Nuwaidrat | +973 17877007 Official WLTP fuel consumption figures in litres/100km (mpg) for the 2020 Aston Martin DBX: Low 23.2 (12.2); Medium 13.6 (20.8); High 12 (23.5); Extra High 13.4 (21.1); Combined 14.3 (19.8). CO2 emissions 323g/ km. The mpg/fuel economy figures quoted are sourced from official regulated test results obtained through laboratory testing. They are for comparability purposes only and may not reflect your real driving experience, which may vary depending on factors including road conditions, weather, vehicle load and driving style.
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Leading the Path to Prosperity Despite the challenges, Southern Governor, HH Shaikh Khalifa bin Ali Al Khalifa has succeeded in keeping the progress of the Southern Governorate at a steady pace. In a Durrah exclusive, he reveals details behind his recently published book on Riffa’s history, as well as the major achievements, prominent projects, and prospects of the Kingdom’s largest governorate. 01
WHAT ARE THE CURRENT MAJOR DEVELOPMENTS OR PROJECTS IN THE SOUTHERN GOVERNORATE? In terms of health, there are three major health centers due to open for the community in 2021, two in Riffa and one in the new housing town, Madinat Khalifa. There is also a new medical city underway. Regarding municipality work in the Southern Governorate, we are overseeing a major renovation and overhaul of the Riffa Souq, plus the restoration of two major springs which are historical sites in their own right. This is in addition to new housing projects in Buhair, Wadi Sail, and Isa town, plus a major international convention center, cycling paths, a sports city, and a theater. There is a lot to look forward to.
WHAT ARE THE EFFORTS BEING TAKEN TO BETTER COMMUNICATE WITH RESIDENTS OF THE SOUTHERN GOVERNORATE? HOW IS THE GOVERNMENT ENSURING THAT THEIR NEEDS ARE BEING MET? Last year, we established the virtual majlis, which serves as a digital and alternative platform to our weekly
audience of residents. We also established a new website for the Southern Governorate, a digital office located at our entrance, plus social media platforms where citizens and residents can both follow up on our activities and communicate with us directly. In addition, we developed an application with a direct chat service and will soon add a rainy season service to it. We are also proud and active members of the government’s National Suggestions and Complaints System, ‘Tawasul’, for which we won the Best Government Sector for Customer Service award in 2020.
WHAT ARE THE BIGGEST CHALLENGES FACING THE SOUTHERN GOVERNORATE AT THE MOMENT? Since the beginning of last year, the coronavirus pandemic has been a challenge facing the entire world. In Bahrain and in the Southern Governorate, the largest of all governorates and a center of major hospitals and institutions, this challenge is being met with great courage and determination, by our local medical team, frontline workers, members of the Ministry of Interior to which the Southern Governorate proudly adheres to, and the
community for their understanding and unity during this pandemic. Community partnership and faith has turned challenges into achievements and kept our society members even closer and their determination higher.
WHAT WERE THE MAJOR MEASURES TAKEN BY THE SOUTHERN GOVERNORATE IN LIMITING THE SPREAD OF THE CORONAVIRUS? There have been many initiatives and programs organized since the pandemic. Apart from the digitization of our programs and platforms, which is a major transformation, we collaborated closely with the Ministry of Interior, societies, organizations, and local establishments. There have been mass sterilization campaigns organized with the Civil Defense and volunteers, and continuous distribution of face masks and sanitizers - we recently distributed kits with such items to the police and firefighters. This is in addition to various digital events and sermons that help keep society engaged and aware of health precautions. Visits were conducted with the Southern Municipality to reduce congestion and enhance social and physical distancing.
01 ‘Riffa: Glory Between the Past and Present’ 02 Southern Governor, HH Shaikh Khalifa bin Ali Al Khalifa presents a copy of the book to HM King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa 02
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03 Southern Governor presents a copy of the book to the Crown Prince and Prime Minister, HRH Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa 04 Southern Governor presents a copy of the book to the Minister of Interior, HH General Shaikh Rashid bin Abdullah Al Khalifa 05 Southern Governor presents a copy of the book to Representative of His Majesty the King for Charity Work and Youth Affairs, National Security Advisor and Chairman of the Supreme Council for Youth and Sport HH Shaikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa
WHAT ARE THE PROSPECTS OF THE SOUTHERN GOVERNORATE? With the cooperation of the Sustainable Energy Authority, we are investing in renewable and alternative energy and installing solar panels. Achieving sustainable development goals is key to further promote progress and development. A major future prospect would be in the field of infrastructure, where the Southern Governorate is expecting to open new major highways, cycling and pedestrian paths, and a new network system for the rainy season in the Southern Governorate neighborhoods.
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WHAT DO YOU HOPE TO ACHIEVE IN YOUR ROLE AS GOVERNOR IN THE LONG TERM? I hope to establish more effective projects on various fields such as health, culture, and society-related requirements. I also aim to enhance, maintain, and diversify channels of communication with the people of the Southern Governorate, and most importantly, strengthen our community’s security through various commitments, programs, and initiatives in order to fulfill the vision of the Southern Governorate as being a safe, prosperous, and forward-looking governorate. The Southern Governorate is always keen on implementing the directives of HE the Minister of Interior in enhancing community partnership and achieving sustainable and security-related goals.
WHAT DO YOU BELIEVE MAKES RIFFA HOLD A SPECIAL PLACE IN BAHRAINI’S HEARTS? I believe Riffa has a special place in Bahrainis’ hearts because of the historical and strategic depth of the city. In terms of development, various establishments, societies, organizations, cultural institutions, and investments are located in and around the city of Riffa. This plethora of establishments and developmental sites add to the historical value and position of Riffa. Riffa also has Bahrain’s freshest
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water spring, which used to be a major source of water back in the 19th and early to mid-20th centuries. Al Hunanya Spring is now being renovated to be a destination in its own right. Not to mention, the historic Riffa Fort, which is a national landmark and is in the emblem of the Southern Governorate. The fort is dear to us as it was built by our ancestor Shaikh Salman bin Ahmed back in 1812. It represents the best of Bahraini traditional architecture, and a classic example of the entire Arabian Gul region’s castles and forts. All these landmarks and historical and cultural values make Riffa a special place in our hearts.
WHAT MOTIVATED YOU TO PUBLISH THE BOOK ‘RIFFA: GLORY BETWEEN THE PAST AND PRESENT’? The citizens of Riffa have been the main inspiration in publishing the book. Upon becoming governor in 2017, I visited several of the governorate’s majlises to meet directly with the community. One of the main concerns provided to us during these visits was the need to preserve Riffa’s history and document its heritage. Then, the very idea of the book was born. The people and community of Riffa, through our direct and regular contact with them, have been a main source and reason why the book was published. The book is therefore an outcome of this communication, and the entire Southern Governorate team remains fully committed in achieving the governorate’s citizens’ requirements in all fields and sectors, including the field of history, culture, and society.
THE BOOK CONTAINS SEVERAL HISTORICAL MILESTONES. WHAT WOULD YOU SAY ARE THE MOST DEFINING MOMENTS IN THE HISTORY OF RIFFA? Each decade and era has its own milestones and developments. We are proud that education for women started in Riffa as early as 1941, and that the first medical clinic opened in 1939, and the role of police and its inception in 1919. The first municipality in Riffa was established in 1951, during the rule of the late Shaikh Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa. Today, Riffa and the Southern Governorate witness progress and prosperity on all levels and fields, under the wise leadership and directives of HM King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, King of Bahrain and the continued support and encouragement of HRH Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince and Prime Minister.
THE BOOK ALSO CONTAINS SEVERAL NOTABLE PEOPLE WHO LEFT A LASTING IMPRESSION ON RIFFA’S IDENTITY. DO YOU HAVE A PERSONAL ROLE MODEL FROM RIFFA’S HISTORY THAT YOU LOOK UP TO? The role model is definitely the late Prime Minister, HRH Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa. Although he was not born in Riffa, but in Al Jasra, he lived most of his life in Riffa. This was where he went to school and where he studied. He accompanied his father Shaikh Salman at the majlis and participated in sports such as football and falconry during his youth. There are historical photographs of HH the late Prime Minister engaging in such activities in Riffa during the 1940s and 50s. Riffa is the place
where he built his residence and majlis. He knew almost every single house in Riffa. He was a father to all of Bahrain and especially in the Southern Governorate and in Riffa, a place where he lived and cherished.
WHAT DO YOU HOPE PEOPLE TAKE FROM READING THE BOOK? I hope the book shows readers that Riffa was a continuously developing place since its establishment and has always been enjoying progress in various fields. Some might assume that electricity or education and roads were not built or introduced to Riffa at an early stage. This book proves them wrong. Riffa has been a center of prosperity and its citizens are proud of its heritage, history, landmarks, unique environment, and natural surroundings. Also, no matter what era or decade we are discussing, there is always a devotion to this city by its residents and the qualities they inherited from their forefathers, such as the passion for the desert, hospitality, and generosity.
GOING FORWARD, WHAT FURTHER ACHIEVEMENTS DO YOU BELIEVE IS IN STORE FOR RIFFA? I believe Riffa is prospering and developing on a regular basis. There is always a new project to look forward to, upcoming investments, and a new landmark or historical place to be redeveloped and restored. The prospects and possibilities are endless. It is my honor and privilege to witness this development under the wise leadership of HM the King and HRH the Crown Prince and Prime Minister.
SPECIAL FEATURE
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March 2021
Shaping Telecommunications BNET Chairman, Shaikh Ali bin Khalifa bin Ahmed Al Khalifa welcomed the Minister of Transportation & Telecommunications, HE Eng. Kamal bin Ahmed Mohammed during a visit to BNET headquarters, where they discussed the progress of the Kingdom’s national telecommunication plan. Batelco Chairman Shaikh Abdullah bin Khalifa Al Khalifa and members of BNET’s board of directors and executive team were also in attendance.
HE the Minister and the delegation took a tour of the company’s new state-of-the-art facilities, namely the Cybersecurity Operations Centre (CSOC), the Service Management Centre (SMC), and the Networks Intelligence Centre of Excellence (NICE). The three centres were launched in January as part of continued efforts to optimise digital operations and ensure the resilience of Bahrain’s telecommunications sector. The CSOC was launched to secure digital infrastructure and ensure the provision of safe and reliable services, the SMC provides roundthe-clock support to BNET customers and licensed service providers in the Kingdom, and the NICE ensures the delivery of secure, reliable, and stable network services.
Headed by Chief Executive Officer Mohamed Bubashait, the BNET team presented the company’s achievements since its establishment in 2019, which were implemented following a carefully developed medium to long-term strategy and guided by its vision and goals. The presentation also highlighted BNET`s progress in deploying fibre infrastructure in line with the Fifth National Telecommunications Plan. BNET continues to work on achieving this goal and its strategic objectives to support economic growth and diversity in the telecommunications sector, encourage sustainable and effective competition, and ensure the provision of quality services to all licensed operators in the Kingdom. bnet.bh
“The presentation also
highlighted BNET`s progress in deploying fibre infrastructure in line with the Fifth National Telecommunications Plan. ”
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01 Minister of Transportation and Telecommunications, HE Eng. Kamal bin Ahmed Mohammed 02 HE the Minister presented with a gift from BNET
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SPECIAL FEATURE
Soaring to New Heights
In a milestone achievement, operations were seamlessly transferred to Bahrain International Airport’s (BIA) new Passenger Terminal, marking the start of a new chapter in the Kingdom’s rich aviation history and positioning BIA as the most modern boutique airport in the region.
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01 The new passenger terminal at Bahrain International Airport 02 Bahrain Airport Company (BAC) CEO, Mohamed Yousif Al Binfalah
The transfer was in line with the directive of His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince and Prime Minister, whose support and contributions helped to ensure the success of the Airport Modernization Program (AMP), one of the most important national projects in the Kingdom’s history. Bahrain Airport Company (BAC) Chief Executive Officer, Mohamed Yousif Al Binfalah said: “This is a proud moment for the Kingdom of Bahrain and its people. BAC and its partners have been working towards this historic moment since 2016, and the smooth transfer of operations reflects the extraordinary teamwork, commitment, and professionalism of everyone involved in this landmark
project. Four times larger than the legacy terminal, the new airport increases Bahrain’s connectivity, which will support the Kingdom’s long-term economic and tourism goals and catalyze growth in all economic sectors. Our goals for the new facility are to ensure that it reflects Bahrain’s character and that passengers enjoy a hassle-free travel experience with the highest levels of service. BAC is confident that the new terminal’s boutique design and Bahraini feel will make it an airport that people will enjoy traveling through.” BAC Chief Development and Technical Officer, Abdulla Janahi said: “The new Passenger Terminal increases BIA’s capacity to 14 million passengers and 130,000 air traffic movements per year with a handling capacity of 4,700 bags per peak
hour. Spanning 210,000 sqm, the new terminal is equipped with state-of-the-art technology to enhance efficiency, improve security, and meet passengers’ growing expectations for a more seamless airport experience. Advancements in automation will streamline some of the most timeconsuming processes and procedures, reducing waiting times for passengers and giving them more control over their journeys.” Mr. Janahi noted that BAC is committed to operating the airport as an environmentally friendly and efficient facility. The new terminal is Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design (LEED) Gold certified, making it the largest green building in the Kingdom. A globally recognized symbol of sustainability
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achievement, LEED is the most widely used green building rating system in the world. The terminal employs sustainability strategies that reduce energy and water use, improve waste management, and enhance indoor air quality. In addition, sustainable materials and environmental best practices were used to minimize pollution during the construction process. The terminal’s construction involved 431 subcontractors and local service providers and took 47 million man-hours. In total, 300,000 cubic meters of concrete, 10,700 tons of steel, 33,000 tons of rebar, and 40,000 square meters of glass facades were used. To embody the Kingdom’s natural features, including the Dilmun-era burial mounds and the ‘two seas’ that Bahrain is named for, the interior design incorporates the undulations and waves of the sea and sand, with their colors dominating the final touches to create a relaxing atmosphere. The new Passenger Terminal’s philosophy is based on several pillars, the first of which is to provide a distinctive and comprehensive experience for travelers and users of its services, supported by a state-of-the-art ICT system. The system’s ‘Smart Airport’ mechanism processes passenger procedures via automatic electronic devices at travelers’ passing points, in line with International Air Transport Association (IATA) standards, which are the strictest worldwide passenger procedures. Thanks to the optimal design of the airport building, the passenger journey will be convenient and fast. Departing passengers remain on one level from the moment they arrive until they reach their aircraft gate. Similarly, arriving passengers remain on one level until they clear customs and immigration. Entering and exiting the airport is hassle-free via an expanded road connection dedicated solely to airport users. bahrainairport.bh
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03 BAC Chief Development and Technical Officer, Abdulla Janahi 04, 05, 06, 07 The new terminal features stateof-the-art technology
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BOOK REVIEW
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A Century of Excellence
March 2021
Commemorating a once-in-a-lifetime occasion, ‘100 Years of Bahrain Police’ documents the centenary celebrations of those who safeguard the security of our Kingdom and uphold the values of service, sacrifice, and loyalty.
BOOK REVIEW
The book is full to the brim with incredible photos of the celebration, which was held under the patronage of HM King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, the Supreme Commander, and attended by the Crown Prince and Prime Minister, HRH Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa. Page after page, readers are transported to the event, feeling as if they are witnessing the milestone occasion firsthand. The vivid colors and lively photos bring the brilliantly orchestrated acts to life, showcasing the meticulous details that went into creating each one. It also recognizes Bahrain Police’s outstanding track record and comes as a moment to reflect on its landmark achievements and offer foresight into a promising future of further development. The book marks this prestigious occasion by recounting the outstanding efforts and accomplishments of the Bahrain Police throughout the past decades. Capturing the standout moments which begin upon the arrival of HM the King and his convoy at the Bahrain National Stadium, the venue of the celebration. The photos beautifully captured the artillery, which fired a 21-gun salute to welcome His Majesty as he was received by His Excellency General Shaikh Rashid bin Abdullah Al Khalifa, the Minister of Interior. The book also contains the speeches delivered by HM the King and HE the Minister of Interior, several poems praising the police, and numerous sections celebrating Bahrain’s current and previous leaders. ‘100 Years of Bahrain Police’ is a testament to their duties in the past century, which they have delivered at the highest performance, and highlights the achievements they are bound to make in the future.
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Bahrain City Center
SPECIAL FEATURE
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01 Shaikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman with the Bahrain Basketball Cup 2011/2012 02 Shaikh Mohammed on the sidelines during the finals of Prince Khalifa bin Salman Cup 2017
BASKETBALL’S Trendsetting Visionary A lifelong supporter and the Godfather of Muharraq Basketball, Shaikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Khalifa’s indelible mark on the club’s history and Bahrain’s basketball scene cannot be argued. To this day, he is actively contributing to the sport, adding to an illustrious 25 years that helped reignite the love of the game for a new generation of Muharraq Club athletes and fans. Few people have as much of an impact on Muharraq basketball scene as he does. His sheer determination, eye for talent, and love for Muharraq club are unique traits that established him as a trailblazer in the Kingdom. Realizing his vision of taking the club to new heights was a long and arduous journey, full of hardships and challenges. But his perseverance was greater than any obstacle. It’s the reason the club propelled to new heights and successes. But for us to understand the immensity of his contributions, we have to start at the very beginning when he was first involved in Muharraq Club’s affairs. He was elected a Board Member of the club in 1989, a role he assumed until 2000 when he was elected as the Head of the Basketball Committee.
His contributions led to a technical transformation in Muharraq Club, as the board appointed him president of the club’s basketball team in 1994. At the time, basketball was facing a decline. Without hesitation, he accepted his new position, cementing his love for the club. He rebuilt the club through three methods: nurturing the love of the game among its fanbase, hiring the competent Brazilian coach, Walter Barbara, and attracting stars from local clubs. When Muharraq Club was relegated to the second division in the 1997/98 season, it presented him with a new challenge. He was determined to bring the club back to its former glory, which is exactly what he accomplished. The club bounced back, reaching number two in the next season,
while the youth team won the league and the cup. This placed Muharraq firmly on the Kingdom’s basketball scene. The club later qualified for the 22nd GCC Basketball Champions League which was held in Qatar between 18th and 22nd April 2002. Muharraq then qualified for the Asian Basketball Club Championship, held in Taiwan in December 2002. Even after transitioning into his role as BBA Chairman, Muharraq continued to reap the rewards of what he sowed, as the club was crowned cup champions in the 2002/2003 season. Shaikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman’s role did not just revolve around his presidency of the basketball team, as he was also in charge of its football club. Football was the number one game in
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03 03, 05, 06, 07 Shaikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman’s various activities in the club’s affairs 04 Shaikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman receiving the lifetime achievement award from BBA President, HH Shaikh Isa bin Ali Al Khalifa
the country in 1998/1999, when Muharraq Football Club won the Bahraini Premier League and qualified to participate in the 17th GCC Championship held in Kuwait. Despite the pressure of leading two clubs in two different sports, his love of Muharraq served as motivation for him to go even further. The highlight achievement of his career was winning the first Prince Khalifa bin Salman Basketball Cup in 2017. It was a long-awaited and very memorable win, as it clinched Muharraq’s first title in three seasons, ending Manama’s domination in the past three years, and received the praise of Supreme Council for Youth and Sports First Deputy Chairman and Bahrain Athletics Association President, Shaikh Khalid bin Hamad Al Khalifa who congratulated the club on their victory.
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“Shaikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al
Khalifa built a one-of-a-kind career through his unrelenting spirit, making an incredible string of achievements along the way.”
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Today, Shaikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Khalifa retains his genuine passion for the sport he helped elevate. He is actively involved in several aspects, lending his expertise and wisdom to help the club continue its steady success. Known for having an affable and endearing personality, he continues to receive the support and adoration of the club’s athletes, staff, and fans alike. While he is missed in his official position, the club still benefits from his insight and experience in the field. Starting with nothing but a dream, his undeniable contributions and unrelenting spirit created an incredible string of achievements. His journey serves as inspiration for future generations of athletes and sports lovers in the Kingdom and the GCC.
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March 2021
Supporting the Economy Following directives of the Crown Prince and Prime Minister, HRH Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Bahrain’s Labor Fund, Tamkeen announced gradual resumption of its programs by reopening its application window for the Business Development Program within its new edition.
01 Dr Ebrahim Mohammed Janahi, the Chief Executive of Tamkeen
The announcement comes as part of Tamkeen’s ongoing efforts to support enterprises in the private sector and to develop the human capital. Applications for the Business Development Program reopened in February and will focus on the growth and sustainability of the enterprises. Tamkeen had temporarily suspended its main programs and redirected its efforts and resources towards a unified program, the Business Continuity Support program, to focus on supporting enterprises affected by the economic repercussions caused by the Coronavirus (Covid-19). Dr Ebrahim Mohammed Janahi, the Chief Executive of Tamkeen, emphasized that the new updates will focus on the effectiveness and sustainability across all sectors, including microenterprises and small and medium enterprises. It
will also include virtual CRs where the owners can benefit from the allocated financial grants to support their wages. Enterprises will also be able to apply for services from virtual CRs which are now considered part of the Business Development program, given that they’re considered service providers. Dr. Janahi added that the human capital support within the Business Development Program is an integral step that supports the development of Bahraini individuals, especially since it encourages enterprises to employ them which in the long run contributes towards the success and development of their business. The support covers different areas including machinery and equipment, marketing and branding, ICT, business consulting, quality management, accounting and audit, exhibition
participation and cloud computing provided that the support expenditures cover up to 50% of the value. When it comes to the human capital support, it covers the wages of Bahraini employees for a period of 18 months, at a rate of up to 50% of the salary. The wage support, and support for equipment leasing will be added in the coming period. All other major programs to support individuals and enterprises will be gradually resumed in the coming period, while Tamkeen continues to introduce more support areas that meet the needs of enterprises in the current stage, to help increase their contribution to the national economy and promote the creation of job opportunities for Bahrainis. tamkeen.bh
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Living in Art Celebrating its 10-year anniversary, Annada showcases unique art from the Middle east, off wall canvases and into people’s lives through lifestyle, fashion, and accessories. Believing that elegance is a way of life, founders Nada and Noor Alawi’s signature creations show individual style and personality.
WHAT IS ANNADA’S PHILOSOPHY? Annada was born because our personal mission was to share art with the world. We wanted, in our own way, to create a more beautiful world. This came to us in the idea of transforming art into another medium. The first was scarves. For us, we saw an immediate transition from a square painting to a square scarf. That was one of the elements of how the brand was imagined. We collaborate with artists mainly from the Arab World, transforming their work into other forms of art. We wanted to democratize art and promote Middle Eastern art to the world. There is so much beauty and so much talent we wanted the world to know about it. The idea of expression through art and color was very appealing to us, and we found it appealing to many of the people around us. We keep seeing wonderful growth there as more and more people are attracted to Annada’s concept and philosophy.
CAN YOU TELL US ABOUT ANNADA’S PRODUCTS? Every year, we launch new artworks and many products around them. It used to be different in the past. We used to make many artworks and fewer products.
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Every product launch is an opportunity for happiness for our team at Annada and our ecstatic customers. We get excited about how each artwork gets represented differently on each product. Some of our customers tell us that it’s so hard to choose (it’s one of these good problems to have). Each product created has a story of creation and a full journey. It’s truly exciting. With the square scarves, it was the square painting on a square scarf. The long scarf was because one of our customers (our mother!) kept saying make long scarves. Long scarves became our best seller in our scarves category. With cotton scarves and cashmere, again we listened to our customers and they too became best sellers. We always loved stationary and paper products, so when we opened our shop, we added a stationary line.
WHAT ARE THE QUALITIES THAT MUST EXIST IN EVERY ANNADA PRODUCT? It is very important for us to choose the finest materials for all our products, whether it’s our silks, cashmere, leather, or paper. The wearer’s experience is very important for us. Each product led us to another creation. We started to make our own fabrics and that is where we started to experiment with ready-to-wear
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01 Co-founder, Nada Alawi 02, 03, 04 Annada’s signature fashion creations
products and created our line of abayas; which is the top of our line in Annada. The Abaya was a creation that was a response to what we thought our customers wanted and did not know they wanted until they saw it. And we were right! The first sketch came in a cold January afternoon in London, and I sketched it while I was on a call with my sister, imagining it together for her to actually create a reality out of that sketch. Since its launch and till today, it is one of our most sought after lines. It was a sensation! We made other versions on the Abaya for different users, yet our signature reversible Abaya still is the most powerful. Our line is still growing. Our ready-to-wear keeps expanding and we started a home accessories line as well. We keep innovating and creating new products, collaborating with new artists, creating special collections for special clients, and enjoying this world we have created.
HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE THE SHOPPING EXPERIENCE AT ANNADA’S STORE?
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Our store has become a wonderful place to express our brand in its entirety. We are gathering a community of like-minded people who love art and want it to be part of their lives. They are interested in expressing themselves in an artistic way. Our customers are not afraid to have conversations with people and express themselves in their artistic mindset. They are cultured and well-traveled. We wanted our shop to be a haven for these people and for them to find that expression there. Our next step is that we are looking for franchising partners around the world to share our message of sharing art with the world and create these beautiful boutique experiences where art stories are told, and people can find the pleasure in gifting and being gifted (even if it’s by themselves for themselves) and feel good about it.
HOW DID TAMKEEN HELP YOU WITH YOUR BUSINESS? I must say that part of our success and sustainability was because of the various government projects and grants that are led by our government here in Bahrain. Most of these projects are led by Tamkeen; which was a huge support since we started the brand. It helped us to create a world class beautiful brand; they continue to support through different programs that truly help us grow. 03
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01 01 One of ParkPoint’s locations in the Kingdom 02 The ParkPoint app 03 Founder, Omar AlKhan
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Pioneering Success Established in 2008 by Omar AlKhan as Bahrain’s first valet parking service, ParkPoint Parking Solutions has grown considerably over the years, now operating in several premium locations in the Kingdom and offering a comprehensive parking system. WHAT DREW YOU TO THIS CONCEPT? In university between 2004 and 2007, we always had an issue with the parking, We jokingly thought that it would be very helpful if we had someone to help us and park our cars. In 2008, immediately after university, I established the company. We started as a valet parking company, and later on expanded to parking management. Today, we are a full parking eco system, as parking operators, providers, and installer of parking technologies, and a digital parking platform.
AT HOW MANY LOCATIONS IS PARKPOINT AVAILABLE? We operate in most of Bahrain’s prestigious locations such as City Centre Bahrain, Seef Mall, Bahrain Defence Force Royal Medical Services, Bahrain Bay Development, Bahrain World Trade Center, Bahrain International Airport and many more. We are continuously seeking expansion to more locations.
WHAT ARE THE MAIN BENEFITS OF USING PARKPOINT?
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Parking is the first touchpoint and impression of any venue. This is why eliminating drawbacks in the visitors’ experience is crucial. Any driver understands and experiences this almost every day. There is no one solution that fits all. We offer a number of parking services, and we always recommend leveling the service, as we believe that people are different with different needs. It’s also important to note that the same person has different needs at different times. For example, a
person who is visiting a mall by himself has a different need than when the same person is visiting the same mall with his family on the weekend.
WHAT WILL BE THE NEXT STEP FOR PARKPOINT? As we continue our expansion in Bahrain, we also continuously develop our technologies, management style, and improve customer experience. Today, I can comfortably say that ParkPoint is the leading parking company in the Kingdom of Bahrain, with a complete ecosystem to serve every parking need. We are looking forward to using our know-how, technologies, and systems to expand into the region.
HOW DID TAMKEEN HELP YOUR BUSINESS? In addition to the financial business support we received from Tamkeen, they also provide a full support system to the entrepreneurs, sharing the same DNA of continuous development and agility. Thanks to Tamkeen, I achieved a significant part of my growth and learned through their numerous programs. What I like the most is that their team are supportive in both our good and bad times. They are always ready to help and go the extra mile for us. I also benefit from Tamkeen through their youth programs, as I get the opportunity to mentor the youth and share my learning journey with them, grow with them, and give back to my beloved kingdom. instagram.com/parkpoint
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01, 02, 03 Unique and modern designs 04 Founder, Amal Al Mulla
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Refined Elegance
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Designed with a timeless and versatile approach in mind, Amal Al Mulla is a women’s ready-to-wear label that focuses on modern femininity. Founder Amal Al Mulla sheds light on what sets the brand apart from the competition.
CAN YOU TELL US A BIT ABOUT YOUR BRAND? WHEN DID YOU START AND WHAT MAKES IT UNIQUE?
natura fabrics such as cottons and pure linens.
We launched Amal Al Mulla back in 2014, after noticing there was a gap in the Bahrain and GCC markets. Back then, fashion was limited to a certain kind of styles. We wanted to create a brand that broke past certain familiarities and carved a path that gave fashion a sense of newness and modernity that was missing. And from then, the brand was born. We are unique in our designs, as we create collections that formulate an effortless and refined modern appeal. Our clean streamlined silhouettes and everyday lux dresses can be styled and taken from day to night, encouraging self-expression and individualism, and building a versatile wardrobe of transitional pieces that work fluidly throughout the seasons.
The creme hand-pleated piece is definitely our best seller from this new collection. It’s a design that defines the brand as whole, tailored from a beautiful crisp fabric and designed with a concentric pleating pattern all throughout the piece. This gives it an artful take on everyday dressing and elevates any look you can take from day to night.
WHAT ARE THE MATERIALS YOU PREFER TO WORK WITH?
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It really depends on the season and the collection that we are working on. We love to use a combination of textures and fabrics that range from soft crepes to luxurious satin silks and crisp taffetas. And as we are slowly moving towards a more sustainable approach within the business, we’ve been working on sourcing environmentally conscious and
WHAT ARE YOUR BEST SELLERS SO FAR?
WHAT KIND OF CHALLENGE DO YOU FACE IN YOUR FIELD? Plenty! Every business, and every new collection, comes with its own set of challenges. The beginning was always the hardest. Introducing a new brand with a fresh new perspective back then was a risk we knew we were taking, especially at a time where the fashion industry wasn’t as big the GCC as it is today. Clothing was very much restricted to a certain kind of style. But with the support of our family who always pushed us to pursue our dreams, plus a lot of hard work and a drive to create something special and lasting, we are still here today, creating, designing, and moving forward despite the many challenges we face. amalalmulla.com
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Exceptional Quality Established in 2007, The Closets International is one of the leading closets and kitchen furniture manufacturers in the Kingdom. Managing Director, Ali Al Haddad and Managing Partner, Yasser Shuaib reveal the factors behind its success.
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WHAT ARE THE BEST SELLERS FROM THE CLOSETS? We provide complete furniture solutions for closets, kitchens, and wooden floorings. our unique furniture solutions and our expertise in creating areas have established us as leaders in the Kingdom. Our sliding doors systems is considered the best in the field, and we are the only company in Bahrain to have it. We specialize in a variety of hinges, folding and walk-in closets, in both modern and classic designs.
WHAT ARE THE QUALITIES THAT SET THE CLOSETS APART FROM THE COMPETITION? Ever since the company was launched, we have been selecting our raw material suppliers carefully based on the size of company and the quality of the raw materials. This has allowed us to provide our customers with 10-year warranty and set international standards in each and every process.
There have been delays in raw material shipments from other countries which, in turn, has affected the production time. Work processes slowed down as many employees had to work from home with limited resources. And various processes and approvals related to the ministries and government offices have suffered delays due to the situation as well.
WHAT SHOULD WE EXPECT NEXT FROM THE CLOSETS? Following the success of our closets and kitchens, we are proud to announce the launch of our new internal and external door entrances with natural wood finish. We are also looking to expand our showrooms all over the GCC region in the coming years.
HOW DID TAMKEEN HELP YOUR BUSINESS?
WHAT ARE THE BIGGEST CHALLENGES YOU ARE FACING RECENTLY?
We have received huge support from Tamkeen for the setup of our factory, support for equipment, and financial support for our Bahraini workers. They have helped us improve our productivity and enable growth.
Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, we have faced a lot of issues with our supply chain.
the-closets.com
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01 Managing Partner, Yasser Fardan 02, 03, 05 Trendy and elegant offerings 04 Managing Director, Ali Al Haddad
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SOARING Aspirations Representatives from the Bahrain Bosnia and Herzegovina for Friendship and Business Society (BBHS) and the Kingdom’s national carrier, Gulf Air, recently met to explore the potential of launching a direct flight route between Manama and Sarajevo following the method of air charter service. 02
01 BBHS chairman Jawad Al Hawaj
BBHS chairman Jawad Al Hawaj and members visited Gulf Air’s headquarters to discuss potential business between the two entities in relation to enhancing joint co-operation. Mr. Al Hawaj and his team met the airline’s acting Chief Executive Captain Waleed Al Alawi. During the visit the society submitted a proposal on the launch of flights and discussed possible collaboration to improve commercial, cultural, and social ties between the Kingdom and the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina in the near future. The number of GCC visitors travelling to Bosnia and Herzegovina has grown significantly in recent years, particularly for leisure and medical tourism as well as real estate business. The society believes that a direct route between the two capitals will be successful in attracting seasonal charter travel. The BBHS will continue to work closely with Gulf Air to establish business ventures between the two countries.
02 Gulf Air Acting Chief Executive Captain, Waleed Al Alawi
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HURACÁN EVO. EVERY DAY AMPLIFIED.
LAMBORGHINI BAHRAIN Authorised Dealer
Behbehani Brothers W.l.l. Building 398 Road-2806 King Mohd IV Ave, Block-428, Seef Bahrain Phone +973 17458900 lamborghini@behbehani.com.bh www.lamborghini-bahrain.com
UP CLOSE AND PERSONAL
01 Founder, Sawsan Baluch
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HOME OF Good Food A fine dining restaurant with a unique concept, Sawsan Baluch’s Mahonia takes you on a journey of the senses, curated to exhilarate the palate and break through culinary boundaries. 02
WHAT DOES HOSPITALITY MEAN TO YOU? Hospitality has a very special meaning to me, because I see it as a way of giving and sharing the things that you enjoy with others. In a way, it allows me to offer my very best to people.
AFTER HAVING MY CAFÉ OPEN FOR 3 YEARS, WHAT MADE YOU DECIDE TO OPEN MAHONIA? I have always wanted to open a small, quaint little venue with a menu that was a bit more upscale than what My Café is. I would say Mahonia is a more playful version of My Café.
WHAT DID YOU WANT TO ACHIEVE BY OPENING A RESTAURANT LIKE MY CAFE? WHAT DID YOU WANT TO ACHIEVE BY OPENING MAHONIA? I always loved to cook, and I love cooking for people. For me, opening My Café meant being able to finally live my dream. I wanted to be able to cook good food for people, using fresh ingredients, and being thoughtful about where I source my ingredients from. Mahonia was me expanding on that dream and taking it to another level. It’s me pushing the
boundaries a bit more. I wanted to be able to get people excited and try new flavors and ingredients.
WHAT DO YOU LOOK FOR WHEN CHOOSING YOUR TEAM? In building any team in the hospitality business, you always want to look for people who aren’t afraid to try new things. Chefs are artists, so you need to look for someone that has that passion for creating or reinventing. I also look for people that, like myself, love trying new cuisines and ingredients. They must have an understanding of different cultures and what food means to each one.
WHAT GOES INTO THE PROCESS OF COMING UP WITH THE MENU OR NEW DISHES? Our team is always trying new things and finding inspiration everywhere. So, we all bring our ideas together and come up with a new dish. That’s why our menu is constantly evolving.
DO YOU CATER TO DIETARY REQUIREMENTS? Yes, we do. We try to accommodate all our guests, including vegans, vegetarians, those with nut allergies and others.
THERE HAVE BEEN MANY MISCONCEPTIONS ABOUT MAHONIA BEING OVERPRICED. CAN YOU TELL THE READERS WHAT TO EXPECT WHEN DINING IN? This is a frustrating issue for us. People think Mahonia is expensive, when it really isn’t. We are a fine dining restaurant, and we are priced as one. Everything we do is from scratch and all our ingredients are of the finest quality. This means you wouldn’t be spending the same as you would in a fast-food restaurant. What you pay for at Mahonia is the quality and the guarantee that you will enjoy a special meal. When guests join us in Mahonia, they will find our menu is suitable for everybody. You can also find our menu on our Instagram channel. My Cafe Insta: @mycafebh phone 77344444 Mahonia Insta: @mahoniabh Phone 37222244 mahoniabh.com
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02, 03, 04, 06 Delectable creations from Mahonia 05, 07 Warm and elegant interior
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“I wanted to be able to cook good food for people, using fresh ingredients, and being thoughtful about where I source my ingredients from.” 06
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Gearing Up
FOR SUCCESS Automotive industry veteran and Adamas Motors CEO Karl Hamer discusses the company’s foray into Bahrain’s automotive market, the importance of delivering a unique customer experience, and how the company is tackling the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic. 01 Adamas Motors CEO, Karl Hamer 02 Adamas is making its foray into Bahrain’s automotive market
CAN YOU TELL US A BIT ABOUT ADAMAS MOTORS? Established in 2017, Adamas Motors is a luxury motor group offering several of the world’s leading prestige–performance brands, including Aston Martin, Lotus Cars, McLaren, and Morgan Motors. Headquartered in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, the Group operates across the Middle East and Asia Pacific region and continues to develop its reputation for quality. Our goal is not to become the biggest company in the world, but rather we aim to provide our discerning customers with firstclass service and a distinct lifestyle experience. Our executive management team is comprised of automotive industry veterans who have worked with the most recognized and luxurious global brands, bringing invaluable expertise and insight to our growing business. Personally, I have 35 years of experience in the automotive industry within the gulf region, the UK, and the Republic of Ireland. I began working in the Middle East in early 2008 as Managing Director of a multi-franchise motor
group holding, ultra-luxury, prestige-performance, and volume brands.
WHY DID YOU CHOOSE BAHRAIN? Many motoring companies try to make franchises fit where they are based, whereas Adamas Motors chooses countries that best fit our franchises. We are very proud to invest in Bahrain and our objective is to provide customers in the Kingdom with an exciting product range and a distinctive customer experience. Bahrain is one of my favorite countries in the GCC. I have visited countless times over the years. It has a distinctive culture, and the people are very warm and welcoming. We look forward to expanding our presence in the Kingdom and adding value to the motoring industry. When we opened our McLaren showroom in Hong Kong, no one had heard of Adamas, but now it is the only place in the world where McLaren sells more vehicles than Ferrari. We hope to achieve the same level of success in Bahrain with some of the world-renowned franchises under our umbrella.
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03 Aston Martin, one of the leading brands offered by Adamas Motors
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04 The new Lotus showroom 05 Karl Hamer with Dan Balmer, President Aston Martin Lagonda, UK Middle East & Africa
CAN YOU TELL US ABOUT THE NEW SERVICE CENTER YOU RECENTLY OPENED IN BAHRAIN? The state-of-the-art multi-franchise service center in Nuwaidrat houses a temporary showroom in the lead-up to the opening of our Moda Mall showroom, which is scheduled to coincide with the Formula 1 Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix 2021. Some motoring companies are more focused on selling cars than providing quality after-sales services. In my opinion, after-sales are the most vital element of our business because it encourages repeat customers. Whether customers purchase an Aston Martin, Lotus, or Morgan, they can expect the same high quality after-sales support from Adamas Motors.
YOU CURRENTLY HAVE PLANS TO LAUNCH A SHOWROOM IN APRIL OF THIS YEAR. CAN YOU TELL US A BIT ABOUT WHAT TO EXPECT ONCE THE SHOWROOM IS OPEN? Our new 15,000 sq. ft showroom at Moda Mall is nearing completion and will house three iconic brands under one roof - Aston Martin, Lotus Cars, and Morgan Motors. The precision and attention to detail that goes into the construction of these vehicles is what separates them from other marques. However, manufacturers are sometimes let down because the retail experience does not match the brand that customers are buying into. This is why we pride ourselves on providing an exceptional experience that people will remember fondly. We quickly identified Moda Mall as an ideal location because of its reputation as the Kingdom’s leading luxury shopping destination and its proximity to the financial district. The showroom is more than just a building to sell cars, it offers a complete lifestyle experience and will feature a coffee shop, boutique, perfumery, and a Majlis for VIP customers and guests. It will look and feel more like a 5-star hotel or luxury retail store than a traditional showroom, with vehicles ranging in price from BD19,000 to BD752,000. The Bahrain showroom will also be one of the first in the world to display the new Lotus retail identity.
THE LAUNCH IS MEANT TO COINCIDE WITH THE FORMULA ONE BAHRAIN GRAND PRIX
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2021. WHAT ARE YOUR PREDICTIONS FOR THIS YEAR’S RACE? I would like Aston Martin to win the Bahrain race and McLaren to win in Singapore.
YOU ARE ENTERING BAHRAIN’S MARKET WITH LOTUS, ASTON MARTIN, AND MORGAN MOTOR COMPANY UNDER YOUR UMBRELLA. HOW DO YOU SEE THE PUBLIC’S RESPONSE TO THESE BRANDS? The feedback we have received so far has been fantastic. Aston Martin and Lotus Cars have been absent from the Kingdom’s automotive market for a while and I believe our customers are excited to have them back.
HOW DOES BAHRAIN’S MARKET COMPARE TO OTHERS IN THE REGION? DOES IT PRESENT CERTAIN ADVANTAGES? Luxury car buyers across the region are very selective and well-informed. The Kingdom of Bahrain’s automotive market may be smaller than some of its GCC neighbors, but customers are just as discerning. This is one of the reasons why we decided to bring a range of franchises here, enabling us to provide the same exceptional lifestyle experience we offer in bigger markets.
WAS 2020 A CHALLENGE FOR ADAMAS? HOW DID YOU OVERCOME THAT CHALLENGE? My grandfather used to say: “invest when times are a little more difficult, not when they’re good”. Despite the pandemic, Adamas Motors has been very fortunate and continues to grow while adapting to the situation. The health and wellbeing of our team members and customers are our top priorities, and we are taking every possible precaution to keep them safe. For example, our new buildings are being constructed with social distancing in mind, team members follow all government guidelines, and frequently touched surfaces are regularly cleaned and sanitized.
DO YOU HAVE PLANS TO EXPAND YOUR LINEUP OR OPEN IN NEW TERRITORIES? We are planning to bring a fourth franchise to Bahrain and look forward to sharing more details soon. We also remain focused on growing our footprint in the Middle East and Asia Pacific region. Shanghai is one of the biggest markets in the world and we are aiming to establish a presence there in the near future. We are also planning to launch new franchises in Hong Kong and the UAE. 04
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Vacheron Constantin Builds on Legacy with New Bahrain Boutique 01
Vacheron Constantin’s Regional Brand Director, Alexander Schmiedt reveals the secrets behind the success of the Maison’s unparalleled heritage and stylistic sophistication.
WHAT ARE THE QUALITIES THAT DEFINE VACHERON CONSTANTIN’S WATCHES? Vacheron Constantin watches are ‘One of Not Many’, and we have always prided ourselves on creating truly rare and collectible timepieces that combine tradition and innovation. In a world of fast fashion and overprocessed everything, Vacheron Constantin watches are a special treasure made by a person, for a person, and that is why we are producing significantly less timepieces than many other watch Maisons in our segment.
WHO WEARS VACHERON CONSTANTIN? CAN YOU DESCRIBE YOUR TARGET CLIENTELE? Our clients are true connoisseurs, not just of watches, but of life. They may have various interests, ranging from fine art and vintage cars to haute couture, but the common factor is that our clients go further in their passions than most people do. It is that same passion that causes them to seek out the finest timepieces they possibly can, which leads them to Vacheron Constantin. They appreciate the artistry,
craftsmanship, and passion that goes into creating every single one of their watches.
CAN YOU TELL US A BIT ABOUT THE NEWLY OPENED BRANCH? WHAT CAN CUSTOMERS EXPECT? Owning a Vacheron Constantin timepiece is an experience that begins from the moment the client steps into one of our boutiques. A Vacheron Constantin Boutique is almost like an embassy for our Maison, encapsulating a luxury feel, personalized attention, and dedicated care. Bahrain Jewellery Centre has been a strong Bahraini partner for us for many years, and our latest Boutique opening with them embodies our values and offers the experience you would find at any of our boutiques worldwide.
IS THERE A PARTICULAR NEW COLLECTION OR MODEL THAT HAS BEEN POPULAR AMONG BAHRAIN’S CLIENTELE? Our clients across the world share the same sophisticated tastes. They are well-travelled, passionate, and have a long relationship with the
Maison. This is true of our Bahrain clients as well, and so there is not one specific collection or model that stands out in Bahrain. Although there is a preference for white metals for male collectors and gold and gemstones for ladies in the Middle East as compared to our other markets, ultimately clients are attracted by our exquisite craftsmanship and dedication to excellence over hundreds of years.
WHAT ARE VACHERON CONSTANTIN’S MOST NOTABLE ACHIEVEMENTS AS OF LATE? We were pleased to unveil several new products in 2020, which signals our confidence in the future and is in line with our aspiration to invest for the long term. Most notable among our new offerings is the Égérie collection, Vacheron Constantin’s newest collection, dedicated and inspired by ladies. Cased in pink gold, white gold or steel, and set with diamonds, the timepieces feature an off-centered aesthetic highlighting displays and the crown, horological complications and design codes embedded in the history of the Maison. To offer versatility and variety, the Égérie rose gold timepieces come with a clever
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01 Vacheron Constantin’s Regional Brand Director, Alexander Schmiedt 02 Traditionnelle tourbillon jewellery 559 round cut diamonds and Traditionnelle tourbillon chronograph 18K 5N pink gold
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interchangeable strap system, which the wearer can swap out by herself with a simple clip mechanism. Égérie recognizes that the inspiring, independent and charismatic woman of today deserves to have something special of her own.
2020 WAS A CHALLENGING YEAR FOR MANY. HOW WAS VACHERON CONSTANTIN AFFECTED? AND HOW DID IT OVERCOME THOSE CHALLENGES?
03, 07, 08 Vacheron Constantin’s new boutique
The Maison is built on relationships, and we continued to maintain these throughout what was no doubt a difficult time. We sent our clients support messages throughout the year, simply because we wanted to make them smile. We also found new ways to engage with our clients. We did exclusive presentations of our new collections over Zoom, which still felt intimate and personal. One of our most-awaited annual events, the Watches and Wonders Show, also went online. We created a highly personalized experience for attendees, which was so successful that we are set to recreate it for Watches and Wonders 2021 in April.
04 Égérie moon phase, 18K 5N pink gold 05 Égérie moon phase, stainless steel 06 Égérie moon phase, 18K 5N pink gold 09 Patrimony self-winding and Patrimony perpetual calendar ultra-thin 18K 5N pink gold
HOW DO YOU SEE VACHERON CONSTANTIN EVOLVING OVER THE NEXT FEW YEARS? We have never needed to reposition the Maison. Vacheron Constantin has always represented, and will continue to represent, the ultimate in luxury and sophistication. We stand on centuries of tradition, and we continue to attract clients who appreciate our dedication and whose values are aligned with ours. vacheron-constantin.com
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MASTERPIECE
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01 Fred “It Wasn’t Me” Swarovski embellished, Polylactic Acid (PLA) and enamel paint in Platinum Seduction, 50 cm, 2021. Photograph by Alain Ugues and set design by Firouz Mostovfi 02 The Artist Ayhan Üstün, in his Berlin apartment
MICRO EXPRESSIONS Ayhan Üstün is an artist that approaches life with inquisitiveness. His signature visual art and fashion project, “After the Apes,” casts various types or characters of Apes as representative of his own personality, including handmade and limited editions of chrome-colored sculptures. 02
WHAT MADE YOU CHOOSE APES FOR YOUR SCULPTURES?
NOTABLE CLIENTS THAT YOU CAN SHARE WITH US?
Animals have always been a main inspiration for my work, but apes have a sense of carelessness and fun that strikes me as unique. They have fascinated me since I was a little boy.
My work has not been widely publicized so far. One of the reasons is that for each of the Apes, the process is linked to a very personal experience. So far, every client feels extra special because of the exclusivity surrounding the project. The fact that they have discovered something new and exciting is what grabs most of my clients. This gives the Apes another surprising dimension. I want to keep it that way.
WHAT WAS THE MOST DEMANDING SCULPTURE YOU’VE EVER MADE? HOW LONG DID IT TAKE YOU TO FINISH IT? It took me four years to produce the first Ape. Much of my time, resources, and attention was put into that first piece that I felt very vulnerable showing it publicly. Technical issues aside, I worked tirelessly on the micro expressions of the Ape and how I wanted it to convey my inner workings. The first ape was a very demanding but exciting journey that took me to many emotional new territories.
HOW IS THE FEEDBACK YOU HAVE RECEIVED FOR THE AFTER THE APES SCULPTURES SO FAR? ANY FAMOUS OR
THE ART WORLD IS EMBRACING DIGITAL. HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT THIS SHIFT? Digitalization has always been a huge part of my design process. With the development of new digital tools, my work will only lead further into new ideas and possibilities. Making discoveries and my own inner curiosity is a part of the reason why I love Apes so much.
WHEN DID YOU DISCOVER YOUR PASSION FOR THE ARTS?
My earliest childhood memory is me complaining about not having enough colors in my Crayon box. There was never enough of everything. Colors, courage, objects, or ideas in general. So, I felt like doing it myself. That is the core of my passion as a designer and artist. To create.
WHICH SCULPTORS OR ARTISTS INSPIRED OR INFLUENCED YOU THE MOST? Everything and anything can be an inspiration. To name one artist would be to exclude others. We need more artists, more art, and more possibilities to create and live out our ideas. Pop art encapsulates many themes of my generation and the melting pot of graphic ideas and techniques that I can always draw from.
DO YOU FOLLOW TRENDS IN YOUR FIELD? IS THERE ONE IN PARTICULAR THAT HAS CONNECTED WITH YOU? Everything that inspires and moves me is my trend. My work is inspired by architecture, nature, interior, and fashion. My imagination has no limits.
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That is why I don’t rule out future endeavors in new themes and projects. Why should I? Today, we have the chance to pick and choose from endless options and create an individual life. This is a new quality that we have just recently arrived at.
ARE YOU PLANNING ON CREATING MORE AFTER THE APES SCULPTURES? WHICH OF YOUR PERSONALITY TRAITS SHOULD WE EXPECT TO BE THE NEXT SUBJECT? Behind every ape is always another ape waiting. I will take the apes around the world, discover new places, and let them show me things that I never knew existed. The apes need a place to live, so there will be interiors built around them as well. Everything I create will somehow be connected to my personality. There is so much more to create. Shouldn’t we all be creating? And did I mention that my apes make me happy too? I hope they can continue to make many more people happy as well! After the Apes sculptures will be on display at the Park Hyatt Hotel, Dubai from March 27th - April 3rd, 2021. instagram.com/aftertheapes 04 03 03 Billy “Pow Pow Another Goal” Lenticular Print, 841 x 1189 mm, 2021. Photograph by Alain Egues and set design by Firouz Mostovfi 04 Ceasar “More is More They Say” Swarovski embellished, Polylactic Acid (PLA) and enamel paint in Platinum Seduction, 50 cm, 2021. Photograph by Alain Egues and set design by Firouz Mostovfi 05 Billy “Pow Pow Another Goal” Polylactic Acid (PLA) and enamel paint in Platinum Seduction, 50 cm, 2021. Photograph by Alain Egues and set design by Firouz Mostovfi 06 The Artist Ayhan Üstün, in front of 3 meter tall Fred “It Wasn’t Me” at Fischerhütte in Schlachtensee, Berlin, 2019. Photograph by Omid Abdi
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“One of the reasons is that for each of
the Apes, the process is linked to a very personal experience. ”
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50 Years of Iconic Creations
Carving a decades-long reputation as Egypt’s fine jewellery house of provenance, Azza Fahmy has earned a legendary status in the Middle Eastern jewellery world. Characterized by its intricate craftsmanship, her creations preserve techniques that were used thousands of years ago. WE CAN’T TELL THE AZZA FAHMY STORY WITHOUT STARTING AT KHAN EL KHALILI. GOING BACK TO THAT DECADE, HOW DID YOU FEEL WHEN YOU WERE THE ONLY WOMAN WORKING IN A BAZAAR FULL OF MEN? WAS IT INTIMIDATING? Jewellery making at the time I started, the late 1960s, was a field highly dominated by men. But this was a challenge that I was determined to overcome. I was not intimidated that it’s a male dominated field. I was only worried because this craft is usually passed down from one generation to another. It’s usually a family business. I knocked on many doors until Haj Sayed, a jewellery maker in Khan el Khalili, opened his door and welcomed me in his workshop as an apprentice. He was pleasantly surprised that a young woman and a university graduate is interested in learning this craft, so he was happy to teach me everything he knows.
DO YOU FEEL SOCIETY’S ATTITUDE TOWARDS WOMEN IN BUSINESS HAS CHANGED ENOUGH SINCE THOSE DAYS? OR IS IT STILL A STRUGGLE FOR WOMEN TODAY TO BE ACCEPTED AS EQUALS? Once you’re convinced with what you’re doing, then no one can stop you. It definitely wasn’t easy, but once people can sense the passion in your work,
then they will always help. Probably, the weirdest and most unique thing was that I was a woman. I was one of the first women in Egypt that started something like this. Of course, it was strange for my family. It wasn’t a field that was considered once you were finished with college. They didn’t understand what I would become. However, no one judged me. Actually, people pushed me and wanted my products to succeed. There was always room for success.
YOU ONCE CREDITED FINDING A BOOK OF MEDIEVAL JEWELLERY DESIGN AS THE EARLY INSPIRATION FOR YOUR WORK. WHAT CAPTIVATED YOU THE MOST IN THAT BOOK? AND DO YOU STILL FIND YOURSELF LOOKING TO THESE TYPES OF BOOKS OR RESOURCES FOR INSPIRATION? I was attending the first international book fair in Cairo, and as I was walking down the German aisle, I picked up a book about the medieval Jewellery design. Although I didn’t understand a word because I don’t speak German, the pictures in that book spoke to me and I knew right away that this was my calling. Without hesitation, I bought the book and my life changed since then. I look for inspiration in everything and everywhere, from books, nature, exhibitions, and sculptural pieces to lyrics in a song or a rug on a floor. However, our core inspiration comes from culture, as we celebrate global
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heritage and civilizations, combining it with world trends to create contemporary jewellery and wearable art.
YOU RECENTLY RELEASED THE CLASSICS REIMAGINED COLLECTION IN CELEBRATION OF THE BRAND’S 50-YEAR ANNIVERSARY. CAN YOU TELL US A BIT ABOUT THOSE PIECES? For the 50th anniversary of the brand, I decided to reflect on the most successful designs and reinterpret them to new designs. Our techniques have evolved throughout the years and I wanted to revive these pieces and reintroduce them to our clients as they are timeless designs. The Classics Reimagined Collection is a 13-piece handcrafted collection that includes statement necklaces, calligraphy earrings, stackable bangles, and a ring inspired by previous iconic pieces, such as the tassel and the crescent necklace and also modern Jewellery. One of these elements is our famous tassel necklace, which was created in 2004. Today, we had a modern take on the traditional Sahara Lariat necklace and reimagined it in a new way using different chain techniques.
OVER THE YEARS, WHICH OF YOUR COLLECTIONS DO YOU FEEL HAVE CONNECTED THE MOST WITH THE PEOPLE? IS THERE ONE THAT THEY ASSOCIATE YOU WITH MORE?
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01 Azza Fahmy 02 A Classic Bangle in 18Kt Gold and Sterling Silver Classic Bangle with inscribed lyrics by the iconic Umm Kulthum 03 Talisman necklace inspired by the Tribal Algerian necklaces, 18Kt Gold and Sterling Silver, inscribed with beautiful poetry of Saudi poet Ghazi El Kesbi
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04 18Kt Gold and Sterling Silver Fallahy Flower Earrings adorned with joyous message calligraphy
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05 Stackable Sterling Silver Blessings Bangle adorned with African tribal motifs and inscribed with heartfelt calligraphy
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06 The everyday Falahy Crescent Earrings in Sterling Silver, adorned with calligraphy 07 (from left) Azza Fahmy, Fatma Ghali, and Amina Ghali
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I would say the Pharaonic collection. It took eight years of in-depth research and creative development, with every detail being authenticated by an ex-Christie’s Egyptologist and other industry experts. As with all our collections, it is hand-crafted and is one of our largest. It artistically translated the complex art form of Ancient Egypt’s motifs and symbolic references to modern contemporary jewellery. Every piece of jewellery holds a story. It is one of our most successful collections. But we also are very proud when clients ask about some pieces in reference to the inspirations behind it, whether it’s the Nekhbet necklace from our Pharaonic collection, the Qalawun cuff from the recent Mamluk collection, or a piece that carries calligraphy from an iconic poet or a singer like Rumi or the legendary Umm Kulthum.
YOUR COLLECTIONS ARE ALSO CLOSELY ASSOCIATED WITH EGYPTIAN CINEMA AND SILVER SCREEN STARS, GOING BACK TO THE 1970’S. HOW DID THAT PARTNERSHIP START? WERE YOU A FAN OF CINEMA AT THE TIME? In my early days as a young jewellery designer, I recieved a once in a lifetime opportunity to design entire jewellery wardrobes for Egyptian stars, including Soad Hosny in her movie ‘Shafika W Metwally’, Yousra in the renowned director Youssef Shahin’s El Mohager, and a number of important Arab theaters. The experience taught me a lot and gave me a chance to design freely for the screen.
YOU HAVE HAD COUNTLESS COLLABORATION OVER THE YEARS. IS THERE ONE THAT REMAINS CLOSEST TO YOUR HEART? Each collaboration was a different experience. When I talk about collaborations, I don’t refer to fashion collaborations only, as we also do cultural and social collaborations. For London Fashion, we joined forces with Julien Macdonald in 2006 for a two-year collaborative partnership, and with British duo- Preen, Justin Thorton and Thea Bregazzi in 2010 for an avantgarde collection for New York Fashion Week. In 2013, Azza Fahmy jewellery partnered up with British designer Matthew Williamson for two-season collaboration for his SS’14 and AW14 Catwalk shows for London Fashion Week. We had several cultural collaborations, including two Bespoke collections for the British Museum in 2012 and in 2015 in support of their Exhibitions ‘Hajj: Journey to the Heart of Islam’, which entailed historic reflections inspired by Hajj pilgrimage and sacraments, and ‘Egypt: Faith after the Pharaohs’ which explores the early development and co-existence of the major Abrahamic faiths in Egypt from 30 BC onwards. One of our social collaborations was with KarmBuild, on the first showcase project and joint venture - the KarmSolar Sahl Hasheesh Campus Headquarters, coming together to imagine and attempt a different vision for real estate development and architecture in Egypt. In 2013, We collaborated with Alichimia, Contemporary Design School of Florence, Italy to create the first educational
design institute of its kind in the Middle East, ‘The Design Studio by Azza Fahmy’. It aims to equip hopeful jewellery designers with the necessary know-how to compete internationally.
WHY DO YOU BELIEVE JEWELLERY PLAYED SUCH A BIG PART IN EGYPT’S HISTORY AND CULTURE? Egyptian jewelry has gone through many stages, including the historical stages, and some of them exist at the present time. Egypt is a country that has a great history that includes the Pharaonic stage, as well as Roman, Coptic, Islamic and traditional jewelry. As a researcher, I am fascinated by how much jewellery tells us about the different eras and cultures of Egypt. I also documented all of this in my book “Enchanted Jewellery of Egypt.”
BEYOND THE 50-YEAR ANNIVERSARY, WHAT WILL BE THE NEXT CHAPTER IN THE AZZA FAHMY STORY? ARE THERE ANY FUTURE PROJECTS OR COLLECTIONS IN THE WORKS THAT YOU CAN SHARE WITH US? We are planning on expanding our design house beyond jewellery to include lifestyle products. We are also focusing on our international retail expansion. Earlier this year, we opened a new shop at THAT concept store in Dubai’s Mall of the Emirates. azzafahmy.com
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01 Deep Sea 02 Chef Yann Bernard Lejard
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Food Is Art Yann Bernard Lejard, Executive Chef at the Ritz-Carlton Bahrain, is widely recognized for his uncanny ability to blend the worlds of high art and fine cuisine, creating a recipe for success. He chats with Durrah about how his collaborations with artists outside the culinary world bring a new dimension and inspiration to his work.
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CAN YOU TELL US ABOUT YOUR NEW BOOK? I lead a worldwide vanguard culinary movement aimed at developing cooking as a new major art. My artistic expression is about realizing the surrealistic and unexpected beauty of the contemporary vision of cooking, it involves all senses and feelings. I design the aesthetic symbiosis between elements, colors, and emotions, pushing the limits of culinary creation and taste. We decided that the time had come to capture this culinary vision and worked on the artistic production in the studio of acclaimed photographer Sergio Coimbra in Sao Paulo, Brazil. We initiated this collaboration in four distinct steps over the course of a year to extract the quintessence of our combined work. The fruit of this combination will be released in the form of a one-of-akind book, “Food is Art”.
WHAT DREW YOU TO STREET ART WHEN YOU WERE YOUNGER? I have always challenged uniformity and angles of reflection stimulate my mind. I believe that I define the origin of the movement because of a pronounced sense of non-compliance and non-understanding of an unacceptable reality. I associate my first attraction to street art with the blooming of an uncommon and unusual variety of flower that needed to uproot from infertile soil. Resilient, the seed will emerge from the dark to ambitiously contemplate the light. Essentially to succeed despite the challenges.
WHAT ARE THE OVERLAPPING THEMES YOU WOULD FIND IN BOTH THE ART AND CULINARY WORLDS? My culinary artistic expression realizes the surrealistic and unexpected beauty of contemporary cooking, involving all senses and feelings. I design the aesthetic symbiosis between elements, colors, and emotions, pushing the limits of culinary creation and taste. When I discovered art as a way to communicate with the world, it accelerated my psychological process to bring mesmerizing avant-garde originality. The result of this process influenced and transformed my perception and understanding of the art of cooking. The correlation of the elementary ingredients and products brings endless possibilities, creating a mixture of textures, viscosity, unctuosity, and solid and liquid states.
WHAT IS THE HARDEST PART OF BEING A CHEF? The hardest part is actually what helped me to become an artistic version and vision of myself. The question is, can you support the hard parts and still express yourself the way you really desire? Will you be able to express and communicate a different message than the masses? To overcome these adversities, I decided that everything must go, starting from the beginning. I imposed the opposite of the understandable
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03 Edible Velvet Underground 04 Psychosomafish 05 The Spoon Move 06 Pink Miracle 07 Somewhere Only We Know
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and erased absorbed knowledge. I defined my soul to do the rest.
WHAT WAS THE PROUDEST MOMENT OF YOUR CAREER? I am proud of many things, starting with my collaborations. I am proud to represent the hope of the creative act, the idea to elevate the discipline of cooking and plating to the level of art. I am proud of the fervor and inner fire that guides me. I am proud to explore and materialize my contemporary conception of cooking. I am proud to consistently reimagine my achievements, project myself into the unexpected, think differently, and constantly reinvent my work.
WHAT WOULD YOU SAY WAS YOUR FIRST SIGNATURE DISH? This may come as a surprise, but I have never had a signature dish. Considering my desire for emancipation from any kind of influence, I see the culinary world as a reinterpretation of existing recipes created a long time ago. I prefer to speak about signature work, and in this case, I have hundreds.
CAN YOU TELL US A BIT ABOUT YOUR PARTICIPATION IN THE UPCOMING EVENT HELD IN SAO PAULO? We started the interview by talking about the
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“Food is Art” book and the artistic production in the Studio of Sergio Coimbra in Sao Paulo. The fourth and last shoot was supposed to be the conclusion of this collaboration, but it was actually more like a new beginning. This beginning is “Cultural Evolution”, a work that will be presented in the Museum “Centro Cultural de Sao Paulo” in Brazil. Cultural Evolution is a painting panorama made of edible organic paints prepared in a kitchen environment to be painted live in the presence of the public. The paintings, which reside in glass box, are all edible, harvested from the local sources of food and intensified by culinary processes. After the work is completed, a second moment of evolution starts, when the bacteria start to interact with each other and transform color, shape, and smell, allowing the invisible world of microorganisms to reveal themselves. That is the sublime moment when art gives us the ability to experience another dimension of life. The work is about understanding our ephemeral and precarious existence in face of the powerful transformative power of everything that feeds us. The work initiated by the curator Marcello Dantas is a collaboration with photographer Sergio Coimbra, who captures and enhances the aesthetic experience of the painting in large scale photographs and videos that reveal the transformative process and the invisible details of the cultured medium. instagram.com/yblinc
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TREASURES OF BAHRAIN A rich and diverse Arabian heritage built through contemporary designs.
Al Zain, one of Bahrain’s most respected and established jewellery brands has announced the launch of its annual gold exhibition “Treasures of Bahrain” set to feature unique collections depicting the rich Arabian heritage in modern and practical designs. The designs are inspired by a comprehensive collection of traditional Bahraini jewellery typically worn by the Arabian Bedouin community for decades. The exhibition will be held from March to April 2021 at a regional level commencing in Bahrain, Qatar, UAE and later in the year in KSA. Al Zain’s growing reputation both regionally and Internationally has led them to showcase their unique gold collections at a regional level which aims to showcase their rich Arabian heritage and legacy. As gold is seen as “Zeena w Khazeena” (Adornment & Treasure), it taps directly into the roots of Al Zain’s vision to transfer the rich and diverse Arabian heritage through their designs; introducing history to the future so to speak, striving to evoke an emotion in people that promises a lasting sense of trust and loyalty for generations to come.
Gifting gold jewellery in the Middle East is a long-standing tradition. Through this exhibition, Al Zain strives to rekindle and reflect the same Arabian tradition and heritage through jewellery at a regional and international level. With boutiques strategically placed all over the GCC, Al Zain also plans to expand as a luxury Arabian jeweller at a global level inspiring various cultures on the beauty and stories behind the jewellery that have been passed on through the generations. To enhance Al Zain’s reach to global markets, their unique designs are also available digitally through their online boutique at www.alzainjewellery.com with deliveries all around the world. The collections at the exhibition will include Treasures of Bahrain, Heritage, and the Malaki collections. The Treasures of Bahrain & Heritage collection both include semi-precious stones such as Malachite, Lapis Lazuli, Coral, Turquoise and Mother of Pearl; while the Malaki collection includes precious stones such as rubies, emeralds and sapphires which complement the rich 21K gold color. The stones add a richness and value to the
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01 Heritage set with Malachite stones
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“The Treasures of Bahrain is a lustrous
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03 02 Heritage set with Coral stones 03 Al Arrakis bridal set including the Gub Gub, Al Murtahesh, Al Manthura, Kaff, Hizam, Midh’at and Kursi Jaber with Malachite stones
piece making it more memorable. These collections are based on well-known and treasured designs that hold a deeper meaning such as the “Lira” (meaning the coin), “Merta’sha” (inspired by the movement of dancers), “Al Yanzeel” (inspired by arabian doors), “Al Yame’a” (The collector, traditionally used to carry notes and small items), “Al Hilal” (depicting the crescent moon) and many more. The Treasures of Bahrain is a lustrous 21K collection inspired by traditional Bedouin jewellery. Treasures of Bahrain comprises of renowned elements of traditional Arabian jewellery, reworked and given a touch of luxury. A fascinating composition of colored stones and intricate hand work combined with delicate 3d printed elements. A rare and complex manufacturing technique mastered by Al Zain Craftsmen. The Heritage collection is distinctive, taking inspiration from the shapes and patterns of the traditional Arabian and Bedouin jewellery. The collection is styled in an unconventional and contemporary way that is unlike the traditional designs. It combines contrasting finishes such as high polished and matte surfaces with highlights of diamond cutting creating a glistening and captivating look. This collection is designed to be traditional yet fashionable enough to be worn by the modern-day woman. The High-End Malaki collection is designed for those who want valuable and limited 21K gold pieces embellished with precious stones such as rubies, emerald, sapphires, and natural Bahraini pearls. More gold is used in these sets to create a heavier and more valuable treasure that will eventually become an inheritance to be passed on from one generation to the next. The collections include a variation of the shabka, bangles, chokers, bracelets, earrings, necklaces, gubgub and rings. Creating memories, intimacy and nostalgia through its timeless pieces designed for every occasion, Al Zain’s annual gold exhibition is just in time to purchase the perfect luxury gifts for Mother’s Day, Ramadan, Girgaoon, and Eid. These unique sets also work beautifully for a bride-tobe who wants to maintain her traditional heritage whilst remaining elegantly modern. The idea behind these collections is to synergize both the past and present to form distinctive pieces that are unlike any other in the market. alzainjewellery.com
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04 Mushabbak bangles with Turquoise, Malachite and Lapis stones 05 Models shot in various sets including Merriyah, Heritage, Al Merta'sha, Al Hilal, Yanzeel, Al Yame'a, among others
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Celebrating A LEGACY The evolution of the Tiffany T collection, Tiffany T1 celebrates the iconic ‘T’ motif-featured in the brand’s jewelry designs since the early 1980s. Building on the pioneering motif of a house icon, Tiffany T1 galvanizes the belief in extraordinary jewelry to wear every day.
Tiffany T1 was unveiled with a year-long series of global launches, beginning with a curated edit of nine 18k rose gold key styles and an exclusive high jewelry necklace; and followed with 18k white and yellow gold styles. Five of the nine designs are intricately set with radiant Tiffany diamonds. Intended to be worn and become part of your signature style and story, these modern and effortless fine jewelry pieces create a bold yet refined statement. Designed for a woman with a point of view, whatever phase of life the wearer is in: Tiffany T1 is the ultimate piece that people buy for themselves and wear as a symbol of their accomplishments. Tiffany T1 jewelry combines clean lines and graphic forms with new elegantly angular and feminine proportions and is timelessly elevated with expertly set diamonds. Encircling the wrist, finger or neck, the ‘T’ motif forms an unbroken circle that represents individual strength and self empowerment. Tiffany T1 is available with pendants, bracelets, rings and earrings in 18k yellow, rose and white gold, including styles with pavé diamonds expertly set by hand in a honeycomb pattern. A striking high jewelry necklace-masterfully set with mixed-cut diamonds-is also available. tiffany.com 01
“Tiffany T1 jewelry combines clean lines and
graphic forms with new elegantly angular and feminine proportions, and is timelessly elevated with expertly set diamonds” 02
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01 The Tiffany T1 collection 02, 03, 04 Bold yet refined
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05, 06, 07 Designs are intricately set with radiant Tiffany diamonds
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Refined Femininity Patek Philippe unveils three new Twenty~4 models designed to share the lives of modern active women.
The manufacture is continuing the renewal of its Twenty~4 collection, which has come to epitomize timeless feminine elegance. The “manchette” or cuff-style models with quartz movements now include a new version in rose gold with a chocolate-brown sunburst dial. The Twenty~4 Automatic, in a round case, offers two new models, one in steel adorned with an olivegreen sunburst dial, the other in rose gold, its dial gilded with a rose-gold sunburst. Three new expressions of the Patek Philippe style, bringing beauty to every instant of daily life. Twenty~4 as in the 24 hours comprising a day and night. Twenty~4 as for all the facets of a rich and varied existence. When Patek Philippe launched its first exclusively feminine collection in 1999, it had the busy lives of modern active women in mind. Refined, elegant independent women. And so was born a watch with an assertive personality, an asset to every occasion –at work and at home and during leisure activities. A watch with timeless style complementing fashionable business clothes and the most elegant eveningwear. The Twenty~4 quartz “manchette” model, featuring a cambered rectangular case and a dial adorned with applied Roman numerals, appeared in a wealth of different versions. In 2018, attuned to the needs of twenty-first century women and their increasing interest in mechanical movements,
Patek Philippe launched the Twenty~4 Automatic. While this model stands out by its round case and its dial’s Arabic numerals, it retains the same exclusive bracelet and the same spirit – that of a modern classic at ease in every situation. In 2020, the manufacture gave a new face to its “manchette” model by endowing it too with applied Arabic numerals. The creative impulse continues today with three new Twenty~4 models, so that women now have the choice of twelve lifestyle companions – with either a round or “manchette” design, a quartz or automatic movement, a steel or rose-gold case and bracelet, and a splendid palette of dials, together with diamond-set versions ranging from discreet sparkle to dazzling. To mark the arrival of these three new models in a collection recognized as one of manufacture’s greatest successes, Patek Philippe will maintain and strengthen the communications campaign “Rituals of My Life”. This digital campaign launched in autumn 2020 focuses on the precious personal moments that, day by day, punctuate and illuminate the modern woman’s life. Cherished moments to which the Twenty~4 contributes its grace and beauty. Available at Patek Philippe Boutique, Moda Mall Tel 1752 0055. patek.com
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01, 02 The Twenty~4 quartz “manchette” model features a cambered rectangular case and a dial adorned with applied Roman numerals 03, 04 The new Twenty~4 models
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“A watch with timeless style complementing fashionable business clothes and the most elegant eveningwear.”
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THE QUEST FOR NATURE TUDOR joins Morgan Bourc’his in an ambitious new project, a documentary that takes him from the temperate waters of the Mediterranean to the icy fjords of Norway in search of whales.
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01 Morgan Bourc’his 02 Tudor Pelagos
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In The Quest for Nature, a documentary film initiated by underwater Chief of Photography and director Jean-Charles Granjon, world freediving champion and friend of TUDOR, Morgan Bourc’his travels to northern Norway on a quest to reconnect with the wild. Like every hero on a quest, Morgan must leave the “ordinary world” behind before setting off on this adventure. His challenge is to locate, then swim with some of the ocean’s most powerful wild creatures - and some of the best adapted to their environment - in dark, bitterly cold winter seas. On his quest for the perfect meeting with orcas and whales, he goes in search of those for whom these animals are part of their daily lives. Spildra, a mysterious island steeped in history and legend, lies at the heart of all his encounters. On Spildra, Morgan meets an authentic character who knows remote fjords like the back of his hand; a “gatekeeper” who will introduce him to the people and animals that are vital to his mission. Audun Rikardsen, a former whaler, is one of them. Now a marine biologist, he has become an expert in his field. He helps Morgan to understand the importance of fully accepting your cultural heritage in order to transform it and use it to the benefit of living creatures. He also understands the subtle ties that connect us to marine mammals, ones that could turn any of us into a participant either in their demise or in the regeneration of their population. The history of TUDOR is scattered with adventurers who have gone beyond their own limitations and those of humanity: from the vision of Hans Wilsdorf, the brand’s founder and an innovator of early wristwatches, to the determination of the explorers of Greenland’s icy terrain in the 1950s and the bravery of professional divers who explore
the five oceans. Today, Morgan Bourc’his embodies this pioneering spirit and, The Quest for Nature, is helping to continue this tradition. A friend of TUDOR and an accomplished athlete with multiple world championship titles, here he reinvents himself as an observer of the natural world and documentary maker in one of the most hostile environments imaginable for a diver, in contact with some of the biggest creatures on the planet. He said: “On this trip, we were able to gather a wealth of insights into the relationship between humans and untamed nature: two fishermen, one old one young; a team in charge of monitoring fish populations; a scientist who is the son of whale hunters; a neo-shaman; an anthropologist; as well as enthusiastic tourists who had come, like us, to meet the great whales. Spending time in a remote environment, yet one that offers all modern comforts, nevertheless forced us to examine our relationship with time and human civilization. We were in a land of Western culture, yet in some very remote locations. Every logistical element of life there had to be planned in advance, be it supplies, transport, or energy. But none of that was difficult. There’s just a slightly different relationship with time. The ultra-urban environment in which I live is more disconnected from the environment, and it’s more tamed and organized where we are. It’s no longer truly wild or free. In short, to me, The Quest for Nature is a human and technical adventure in collaboration with nature and subject to nature’s desires.” Tudor watches available in Bahrain at Modar Art Studio. tudorwatch.com
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03, 04, 05, 06 The documentary takes Morgan Bourc’his from the temperate waters of the Mediterranean to the icy fjords of Norway in search of whales
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“On his quest for the perfect meeting with orcas
and whales, he goes in search of those for whom these animals are part of their daily lives.”
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THE CULTURE of Design This family of watches and jewellery, a remarkable collection in the history of jewellery as well as watchmaking, affirms Cartier’s original intention to create designer pieces.
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01, 02, The Trinity ring
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This radical concept, conceived by one of the only Maisons capable of designing creations that form a unique collection of cult jewellery and watchmaking designs, will become Cartier’s signature. Tank, Trinity, Juste un Clou, Santos, Love, Panthère or Ballon Bleu, instantly recognizable, these collections are based on four main principles of creation: the purity of the line, the accuracy of the shape, the precision of proportions, the precious details. Ballon Bleu was created in 2007 from a new vision of roundness which, for the Cartier designers, involved giving volume to the circle. Doubly convex, its shape strikes the perfect balance between line and volume. To avoid any breaking of the line, the sapphire crystal winding crown is perfectly integrated into the case, with the crown cap under a metal hoop at three o’clock protecting the blue bubble. With Juste un Clou, Cartier enhances the design of a basic shape by transforming a simple nail into a piece of jewellery. Clean, radical and uncompromising
lines, the precision of this bracelet’s proportions, created for Cartier in New York in the 1970s by Aldo Cipullo, allows the oval to hug the wrist. In 1917, Louis Cartier took inspiration from the purity of the line to create a new watch shape. The two parallel brancards are an established signature of the Tank watch. Inspired by the design of a combat vehicle viewed from above, this watch follows one clear graphics principle: the brancards were the treads, the case was the turret. From this combination came a new and fundamental principal: the case attachments are aligned with the strap to maintain the rhythm of the design. The Trinity ring - how jewelers reveal the beauty of a shape with a single ring. With clean lines and perfect proportions, it is made up of three intertwined, mobile bands in three colors of gold. A design created by Louis Cartier in 1924. First created in 1983, the Panthère watch is above all a piece of art: the square case with rounded angles, the seamless curve of the horns and the visible rivets. With the Panthère watch,
Cartier aspires for clean lines, without losing sight of the softness of the lines which make this timepiece a quintessential jewellery watch. The watch takes its name from the bracelet: ultra-flexible, it echoes the movements of the Maison’s emblematic animal. Redesigned in 2017, the Panthère de Cartier watch reflects liberated, joyful and triumphant femininity. Love is the expression of Cartier’s design vision. Clean lines mean perfection: an oval bracelet created by Aldo Cipullo in New York in 1969 composed of two rigid and flat circular arcs that must be screwed together using a suitable screwdriver. Created in 1904, the Santos watch design is based on the concept of form, the taste for minimalism, the precision of proportions and finally, an eye for detail. For the first time, Cartier created a square watch for the wrist at a time when the pocket watch was round. The screws, traditionally hidden in watchmaking, are made visible and become an aesthetic code of the collection. cartier.com
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“This radical concept, conceived by one of the
only Maisons capable of designing creations that form a unique collection of cult jewellery and watchmaking designs, will become Cartier’s signature. ”
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03 The Tank watch
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04 Juste Un Clou
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05 Santos de Cartier 06 Ballon Bleu de Cartier 07 Love bracelet
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WATCHES
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Made for Glory
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The Official Timekeeper of the Olympic Winter Games Beijing 2022, OMEGA begins celebrations early with the new Seamaster Diver 300M “Beijing 2022” Special Edition.
With just one year until the Olympic Winter Games begin in China, OMEGA has released this new timepiece dedicated to the historic event. The Seamaster Diver 300M “Beijing 2022” Special Edition features a 42 mm case crafted from stainless steel, and includes a unique grade 5 titanium bezel ring with a 60-minute diving scale in positive relief. On the sun-brushed blue ceramic [ZrO2] dial, owners will find laser-engraved waves along with rhodium-plated indexes and hands filled with Super-LumiNova. As a special tribute to Beijing 2022, there are also five special minute-markers at 2H, 4H, 8H, 10H and 12H, with each one created in the five colors of the iconic Olympic Rings. On the reverse side of the watch, the polished and brushed caseback includes a stamped Olympic Winter Games Beijing 2022 emblem. OMEGA’s patented NAIAD LOCK system keeps all the
engravings in perfect alignment, while behind the caseback sits the OMEGA Co-Axial Master Chronometer Calibre 8800. This powerful movement and the entire watch have passed the 8 tests set by the Swiss Federal Institute of Metrology (METAS), guaranteeing the industry’s highest standards of precision, performance and magnetic resistance. Inside the special presentation box, the timepiece is set on a polished and brushed stainless steel bracelet including OMEGA’s patented extendable foldover rack-and-pusher with an extra diver extension. During that time, the company has been proud to record the dreams of the world’s greatest athletes and time many of the most famous sporting moments in history. Beijing 2022 will mark the company’s 30th occasion in the role. omegawatches.com
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“OMEGA has been the Official
Timekeeper of the Olympic Games since 1932.”
01 The special presentation box of the new Seamaster Diver 300M “Beijing 2022” Special Edition 02 The reverse side of the watch features stamped Olympic Winter Games Beijing 2022 emblem
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03 The 42 mm case is crafted from stainless steel, and includes a unique grade 5 titanium bezel ring with a 60-minute diving scale in positive relief
FRAGRANCES - MEN
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FRESH and Bold
March 2021
An eclectic mix of stimulating fragrances and intoxicating aromas guaranteed to make a statement. For men. Emporio Armani Stronger with You Absolutely In 2020, Emporio Armani opens a new enthralling chapter in the Stronger With You olfactory story, with the introduction of Stronger With You Absolutely. This new, masculine fragrance pays tribute to the absolute power of love, with the spirit of the fragrance captured in an ever more cinematic campaign starring British actor Nicholas Hoult and Italian actress Alice Pagani. armani.com
Carolina Herrera Bad Boy 150ml Eau de Toilette Bad Boy takes a complex journey for the senses, combining notes of Black and White Pepper with the citric vibrancy of Italian green Bergamot. The BAD BOY Eau de Toilette fragrance bottle is as distinctive as he is with a striking bolt, symbolizing his heroic strength and headstrong characteristics. carolinaherrera.com
Penhaligon’s The Inimitable William Penhaligon A perfume for gentlemen. Majestic and chic. Like a good friend, stimulating and comforting in equal measure. Like great art and music, uplifting. Composed in expert, meticulous detail, but with strong, confident brush strokes - William Penhaligon´s own scent. Beyond distinguished. A timeless classic, since 2020. Created with Vetiver, one of perfumery´s master ingredients. Earthy, warm and fresh. Woven inside an Oriental structure, one of perfumery´s mistresses of sophistication. penhaligons.com
Dunhill Icon Racing Red Edition Icon Racing Red Edition opens with a blend of energizing Citrus notes and the high energy of Black Pepper. The heart follows with aromatic nuances of Cypress, Geranium and rich shades of Incense. The dry down blends modern Ambers and masculine Woods with a hint of Tonka Bean. Created under the direction of perfumer Dominique Preyssas, ICON RACING RED EDITION reflects the dunhill man’s passion for adventure. dunhill.com
Chic Shaik Emerald No.70 EDP for Men Experience an unrestrained Chic Emotion. The Chic creation for men presents an intoxicating ”woody ambery” fragrance. It is subtle, never overwhelming – yet exudes an ineffable sense of power and masculinity. A more informal, modern and relaxed lifestyle for the Shaik and his Princess. It is truly an embodiment of the beauty and romance of Arabia, and of the man who created it. designershaik.com
Valentino Born In Roma Yellow Dream
Kilian Moonlight in Heaven Omnipresent, Moonlight in Heaven sparkles with a citrus-forward opening, driven by a duo of lemon and grapefruit, spiced with pink pepper berry. Coconut milk and rice–white as the moon’s face–rounds out creamy mango and powdery jasmine sambac, while a tonka bean drydown envelops delicate vetiver.
Born In Roma Yellow Dream eau de toilette for him is composed of 3 facets: a fresh and exotic twist of juicy Italian mandarin and zesty pineapple that awakens the senses, a unique addition of a spicy gingerbread accord that brings an irresistible allure, and textured pure vanilla and cedarwood that create a powerful, lasting sensuality.
bykilian.com
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Dolce&Gabbana The One Luminous Night Following The One Royal Night and The One Mysterious Night, The One Luminous Night is the third exclusive edition for men to fuse the richness of Italian tradition with the aromatic treasures of the Arabian world. Inspired by the captivating contrast between the deep blue night sky and the blazing gold stars set within it, this intensely evocative fragrance conjures the magic and splendor of a star-studded Arabian night. dolcegabbanabeauty.com
Viktor&Rolf Spicebomb This bold men‘s fragrance explodes with black spices, a sharply contrasting lemon top note, and mellow woody notes at the base. The aromatic heart of this sensual cologne blends green resin accord and clary sage to create a deep woodiness beneath black pepper, black chili, clove, and nutmeg. viktor-rolf.com
FRAGRANCES - WOMEN
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Alluring Fragrances
March 2021
An eclectic mix of stimulating fragrances and intoxicating aromas guaranteed to make a statement. For women.
Issey Miyake A Drop d’Issey Nearly 30 years after Issey Miyake Parfums released L’Eau d’Issey, the brand is opening a new chapter in its story with a new fragrance for women: A Drop d’Issey. It is a joyful, optimistic, and innovative new fragrance in a long, iconic history of water. A Drop d’Issey starts a new, grand adventure created by the human hand and revealed by nature. The new fragrance transforms perception, breaks with tradition, and offers a forward-looking vision of the world while tying new bonds with nature. isseymiyake.com
Cartier I Only Love Wild Rose
Chic Shaik Emerald No.30 EDP for Women
So many roses in perfume, but where is the daring? So many stories with rose water. Mathilde Laurent, Cartier’s perfumer, hates the archetype of the rose — an emblem of femininity withered before it blooms — and desires to give it back its true nature. Avant-garde, she communicates its freedom in three acts. Cartier roses are neither meek nor submissive, they show their thorns with pride and dare to do anything! Three perfumes, three strokes of rose take over the Maison’s High Perfumery. cartier.com
This Chic creation for women is an “oriental and sensual” scent combining an ambery and woody bottom note with a delicious hint of passion fruit. This modern fragrance speaks of freedom and happiness, of a life lived without boundaries or restrictions. Irrepressibly joyful and slightly mischievous, it is a celebration of life and love. Created for a blissful mood to be captured and made to last. designershaikh.com
Swiss Arabian WAAW Collection Meet the romantic scents that smell like Valentine’s Day by Swiss Arabian, the region’s leading perfume house. These whimsical fragrances fall under the WAAW Love Collection, recently launched by Swiss Arabian that truly embody the meaning of love. The WAAW collection is inspired by the Arabic letter ( وpronounced “waaw”) which is known as the letter of unity as it is used in Arabic to join words, and thus everything, together – and what is more unifying than love? This magnetic collection is based on the different forms of love and includes six sense-awakening fragrances. swissarabian.com
Henry Jacques Rose Galata Rose Galata is part of the Couture collection, Henry Jacques’ most iconic creations that are presented in beautiful limited-edition crystal flacons that epitomize the Maison’s true savoir-faire and decades of excellence. A magnetic pure essence, it is intertwined with rich spices and features a unique nutmeg top note, punctuated with the feminine essence of rose for a romantic finish; with it, love is definitely in the air! parfumshenryjacques.com
Narciso Rodriguez For Her Musc Noir The newest chapter in narciso rodriguez’s iconic for her fragrance collection, for her MUSC NOIR, is a statement about the endlessly mysterious nature of a woman’s sensuality. An exploration of musc’s raw power reveals a transcendent new fragrance that portrays the everfascinating enigma of modern femininity. for her MUSC NOIR heightens the addictive nature of the original for her with an exploration of the darker, more intense aspects of narciso rodriguez’s signature musc. narcisorodriguez.com
Viktor&Rolf Flowerbomb This floral explosion releases a profusion of flowers that has the power to make everything seem more positive. Magically evocative notes immediately awaken your deepest senses, giving you the impression of living life in your own secret garden, away from reality. Sambac jasmine, centifolia rose, cattleya orchid, and ballerina freesia bloom on a base of patchouli. viktor-rolf.com
Yves Saint Laurent Libre Eau De Parfum Intense With Libre Eau De Parfum Intense, Yves Saint Laurent Beauty’s iconic scent takes on more depth and mystery, its higher concentration reflected by its rich, tawny color. LIBRE’s original, provocative move was to genderbend a classic masculine fragrance style, known as the fougère, into a feminine perfume – just like Yves Saint Laurent retailored the tuxedo for women. ysl.com
Yves Saint Laurent Black Opium Storm Illusion Limited Edition Bottle YSL Beauté introduces a new limited edition that electrifies the iconic Eau de Parfum bottle, like a hot summer night: the bottle charged with the most iconic emblem of rock music: the bolt. Like lightning, she is the light, that even just for a second, turns light out of night.The electrical heat dizzying, in a new illusion. Screens off, lights on, she is the night. ysl.com
BEAUT Y
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March 2021
BEAUTY TRENDS The latest cosmetics from the most luxurious brands for that perfect pout. Chanel Rouge Allure Velvet Just as the lion leaves a memorable footprint behind, ROUGE ALLURE VELVET lipstick offers an unforgettable allure. In a limited edition, ROUGE ALLURE VELVET LE LION comes in 8 velvet-effect shades, 8 intense colours with a luminous matte finish. Each one represents a trait of the lion’s character: passion, audacity, instinct, boldness. chanel.com
Armani Lip Power This new longwear lipstick lends a vivid intensity to lip color, and is captured in a formula that feels light and comfortable to wear. With a flattering satin finish, LIP POWER meets every lip color expectation: the matte color users looking for more comfort, the shine lovers looking for longer wear. armani.com
Tata Harper Ageless Skin Set Ideal for Ramadan and Eid gifting, the Tata Harper ‘Ageless Skin Set’ is a self-care and skincare power couple, working together to restore ageless looking skin. Elixir Vitae provides a visible filling and volumizing effect that helps diminish the look of severe wrinkles and restore a plump, youthful appearance. Crème Riche creates a velvet moisture cushion that fortifies and regenerates to reveal smooth, supple skin. tataharperskincare.com
Bourjois Paris Always Fabulous Extreme Resist 24 Hrs Foundation True to Bourjois’ proud tradition of offering premium, high performance products at affordable prices, Always Fabulous Extreme Resist 24 Hrs Foundation boasts everything you could possibly want from a foundation. Above and beyond its flawless and pore-less, it offers an oil-free formulation and skin-lover ingredients, including hyaluronic acid and vitamin E, and SPF 20 protection – all in an upscale, soft-touch luxurious glass bottle with a chic rosegold-tone cap. bourjois.com
Chanel Le Lift A line of high-performance skincare, Le Lift promises to unite modernity, efficacy and sensoriality. With no compromises. All this, thanks to botanical ingredients in their most effective concentrations and high-tolerance formulas focused on nature. Self-evident naturalness, hand in hand with performance. chanel.com
Christian Louboutin Jamais Assez Matte Fluid Lip Color An exquisite creamy lip stain that delivers full color and intense matte finish in one strike. Dress your lips with sensuality with the new Matte Fluid Lip Color by CHRISTIAN LOUBOUTIN. Designed to deliver full color in one strike, its creamy yet lightweight texture glides seamlessly to sublime the lips with an intense matte finish. Precious like an elixir, Matte Fluid Lip Color is encapsulated in the iconic Christian Louboutin amphora-shaped pack. christianlouboutin.com
Guerlain Pearl Glow The most beautiful reflections cast by this treasure from nature can now be found within two exclusive new Météorites powders and two refined Rouge G colors. Both highly covetable and collectable, these desirable limited-edition products fill spring with enchantment and naturally precious radiance. guerlain.com
BEAUT Y
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March 2021
Dolce&Gabbana Felineyes Waterproof Eyeliner Stylo Felineyes Waterproof Eyeliner Stylo creates a black line like no other: it offers intense color, effortless application thanks to a precision felt-tip applicator, expertly designed to create perfect lines from thin to bold. And right now, there’s an extra way to enrich the iconic black line: by twisting it with pops of playful color with three new limited-edition Shimmery Top Coat Powder Duos. dolcegabbana.com
Sephora Favorites x Ethar Balkhair To all the beautiful ladies out there, Sephora Favorites x Ethar Balkhair features a selection of the most beloved bestsellers. Expect a collection of makeup, skincare & perfume products from the most wanted brands, like Huda Beauty, Kayali, tarte, Natasha Denona, Sephora Collection & Sunday Riley. sephora.ae
Lancome Advanced Génifique Yeux Light-Pearl The iconic big eye champion unveils a new formula, coupled with a patented 360° massage applicator. Not only does it brighten and illuminate the eye contour, it also widens the gaze and strengthens lashes. The key to its efficiency? It lies in its formula, which holds an exceptional duo of carefully selected probiotic fractions derived from bifidus and yeast. These probiotics have been fermented, fragmented and filtered in order to obtain small-calibrated fractions suited to the skin’s needs. They help reinforce the upper skin barrier and improve the skin structure. lancome-me.com
Guerlain Pearl Glow The most beautiful reflections cast by this treasure from nature can now be found within two exclusive new Météorites powders and two refined Rouge G colors. Both highly covetable and collectable, these desirable limited-edition products fill spring with enchantment and naturally precious radiance. guerlain.com
Lancome Absolue Soft Cream Through its exceptional active ingredient, transformative texture, and deep understanding of women, the Absolue line offers a new definition of French-style premium skincare that offers women a highly poly-sensory journey through a totally surprising transformative texture. lancome-me.com
Lancome Lash Idole Target, lift, and volumize every single lash. Lash Idôle is made for the women who wants it all without any compromise. Unlock maxed-out volume, exceptional lift and a featherweight lash feel in an instant, with Lancôme’s new pioneering brush and formula combination. lancome-me.com
FASHION
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March 2021
Stella McCartney Summer 2021
Summer 2021 is made for the Stella woman in motion, actively dreaming of freedom through a connection with her body, nature and art. Conceived during lockdown, Stella took this moment of pause to question how and why we do everything; launching a conscious conversation about who we are and who we hope to be - defined in the McCartney A to Z Manifesto. The collection reflects this mindful focus on the brand’s core values, repurposing fabrics to minimize waste and made with 65% sustainable materials. Stella reconnected with and reaffirmed the importance of nature - expressed through a collective desire for movement. Instinctual, experimental silhouettes contrast sportiness against historical cuts, energizing a new love for the body and a desire to uplift spirits alongside the brand’s purpose of creating a sustainable fashion industry. An edit of graphic neutrals and classic tones is presented in parallel to a palette exploring a rich, natural vibrancy in soft shades of rosy pink, khaki, peach, tangerine orange, sky blue and bamboo. This is energized with joyful bursts of bubble gum and flame red. A play on BMX-style details, ribbing and seams create a geometric sport softened in organic cotton and linen fabrics. SU21 also features a series of form-fitting dresses, safari jackets and motocross-inspired trousers aiming to harmonize the athletic with the sculptural. Bodycon dresses, cycling shorts and fitted tops made from repurposed lace from past collections bridge sensuality, sportiness and sustainability. Having the time during lockdown to explore fashion history, a contemporary classicism borrows silhouettes from corsets and bustles - collapsing the structure, adding a softness with shapes and seaming that accentuate the female form. Stella’s signature British tailoring includes timeless menswear-inspired
silhouettes in khaki and black canvas made with traceable wool and natural linen, given a feminine twist worn over exposed Stellawear - an innovation fusing lingerie and swimwear, made from sustainable Aquafil Econyl® regenerated nylon. Playing with dichotomies of shape, a shrunken three-button jacket is paired with round, voluminous trousers, and an oversized cropped jacket complements highwaisted men’s pants. Pieces distil feelings of travel, water and sunshine across fluid satin dresses and jumpsuits adorned with oceanic prints - classical shells in navy and white, and fluo coral patterns. These designs decorate bodycon knit leggings and dresses in forest-friendly viscose. Knitwear continues the season’s athletic energy, with ribbed organic cotton yarn vests and dresses that appear sculpted onto the body. This is elaborated on by t-shirts styled with voluminous trousers in rose and poppy; Stella’s elevated yet effortless take on a tracksuit. This form-fitting moment continues with smooth compact knit shorts and dresses. Vegan, cruelty-free bags are updated in seasonal shades of powder blue, yellow and salvia green and crafted in coastal raffia - including the iconic Falabella as a beach bag. Logo and Hobo bags are also revisited in smaller styles, while the Chunky Chain is reimagined in two softer editions. Stella McCartney is exclusively available at Saks Fifth Avenue, City Centre Bahrain. saksme.com
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CREATIVE ELEGANCE Inspiration for Dolce&Gabbana’s Giardino 2021 Collection starts from art and the Italian Garden.
March 2021
These are known for their unique style and become over time the unmistakable trademark of Renaissance beauty but also of our creativity. Mediterranean beauty inspires the design of the collection that is linked to the aesthetics of the shapes, colors, and spaces. The Italian garden which combines architectural elements from classical antiquity with the concepts of symmetry and order merges with the painting of our lines. The pictorial aspect is the distinctive element, stripes made as brushstrokes of paint on clothes that become art paintings... of great elegance. The nuances in tone remind us of a kaleidoscope; the wall paintings and the colors of the cities overlooking the sea. dolcegabbana.com
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Feminine Themes Dolce&Gabbana’s Power Pastel 2021 Collection is playful and fresh.
The inspiration for this collection comes from the pastel colors that play with the camellia prints. The camellia is symbol of eternal devotion among lovers. Vanilla yellow, anise blue, candy pink, along with Baroque gold are featured on brocades, cordonetto lace, ruffles and bows - all in pastel colors that become more energetic and sweeter for this occasion. dolcegabbana.com
March 2021
FASHION
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Lightness and Simplicity Hermes Men’s Summer 2021 Collection suggests a timeless casualness.
March 2021
Titled “The Masters of Art”, the Italian fashion house’s Fall-Winter 2020 men’s collection features the latest designs by Domenico Dolce and Stefano Gabbana, celebrating expert craftsmanship and the importance of labor skills, which make their way from one generation to the next. A lineup of models dressed as artists, tradespeople, florists, and more reflect the season’s theme. From the electrician to Dolce & Gabbana’s stylish take on the shepherd, the fashion brand easily inspires.
Chunky knitwear, sheepskin pants, leather coats, and oversized scarves contribute to an impressive range that offers a contemporary juxtaposition of rural attire, workwear, and tailored suits. An impressive 116 looks drew attention with tweed, corduroy, and leather details. On the accessories front, style statements ranged from sling bags to leather boots with a vintage effect treatment. dolcegabbana.com
FASHION
ESSENTIAL VALUE The Dolce Vita buzz lives on in Brunello Cucinelli’s Spring-Summer 2021 Collection.
The collection is all about unique and distinctive elements, capable of lending a sophisticated and innovative flair to any look, always striking the perfect balance between casual elegance and new inspirations. Each category in the collection is designed to update style in a simple and skillful way, to best express the synthesis of heritage and continuous innovation. Thorough research into materials and special techniques, the harmony of colors, enhanced lightness and fine blends of natural fibers embrace renewed proportions. Contemporary style is conveyed by the soft volumes of shirts, T-shirts, polos and, above all, of trousers, enriched by detailing borrowed from the world of tailoring or by pockets and seams with a sporty nature. brunellocucinelli.com
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World of Discovery Etro’s Spring-Summer 2021 Collection is inspired by the world of travel.
Projecting a liberal, carefree, and fresh season, the Men’s and Women’s Spring-Summer 2021 Collections portray an evocative journey through Mediterranean seas and the deserts of Arizona to faraway uncontaminated lands with orientalinfluences, colors, and embroidery. The Maison’s sartorial tradition searches for innovation and contemporaneity through experimentation. Mosaics, floral panels, eagles, dragons, and water lilies reveal an alternation of
shapes and silhouettes to dress jackets, while men’s suits and shirts are decorated by fine Paisley prints. Refined and delicate, illusions and optical effect embroidery color the fine jacquard fabrics while canvases make the women’s dresses beautiful and elegant in a tribute to femininity. Earthy tones inspired by the eternal beauty of nature and art offer the perfect balance between elegance and simplicity. etro.com
March 2021
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Reconnecting with the World Hermes’ Women’s Spring-Summer 2021 Collection embraces freedoms.
March 2021
Summer ushers in a rush of freedom. A graceful, confident silhouette, a sensitive second skin that expresses strength and fragility. Reconnecting with the outside and rediscovering sensuality. The lines hug the body to better enhance it, framing without restricting. The clothing liberates, the materials protect, the warm colors tenderly interact. Apparent sobriety reveals a world of possibilities: a rolled collar, intricately woven leather, a saddle that becomes a bag. The new vision of utilitarian comfort. hermes.com
FASHION
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CODE TEMPORAL The fashion world, never a stranger to ups and downs, remains steadfast in communicating its latest offerings despite the current challenges facing the world. New collections continue to be showcased in creative formats such as virtual shows and unique settings. This philosophy is exemplified in the presentation of Valentino’s Haute Couture Spring-Summer 2021 Collection, where time is a code and value.
The rituals, the process, and the values of Couture are timeless. They celebrate the human: the mind that conceives and the hand that creates and gives value. Through a work process that sits above time, they produce timeless objects molded on the individual. Time as a code and a value, to reset and reprogrammed in a Couture of today that updates classic rituals and processes through garments designed to express oneself, as anyone desires. Women, men: naturally, smoothly. A wardrobe that draws and opens up possibilities. Verticality as a tension in which what is complex is resolved into vibrant simplicity. Fabric as a material elevated by handwork, as a texture
that incites discovery and surprise. Raised on the highest heels, the long and lean silhouettes are accumulations of elements, stripped of every evident artifice, of prints and decorations, which up close appear different from how they look from afar. The pullover is in fact woven fabric; a solid surface swarms with petals, or dematerializes into folds of ribbons. Line, the texture of the fabric, the warm and cold neutrals and the acrylic glares, do all the talking. The apparent preciousness becomes silent, intimate, just as the interchangeable and protective simplicity of the pieces is intimate. Sudden, flashes of daring. valentino.com
March 2021
FASHION
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March 2021
In Bloom The Oscar de la Renta Fall/Winter 2021 collection is a tribute to late summer. Inspired by the splendor of nature, the collection has its origins in flowers gathered and pressed in collaboration with artist Tricia Paoluccio. The resulting botanical designs are rendered in articulate threadwork embroidery, crocheting, and multi-colored floral appliques.
Fabrics range from fil coupe to cotton to taffeta, culminating in a modern, silk faille ball gown. Tailored jackets and dresses are highlighted by a round scoop neck and embellished with metallic belts and ornamental buttons. Tone-ontone color-blocking reigns for daywear in knits and crepe, elegant in an end-of-summer palette in muted shades of lavender, mint green, turquoise, and saffron. Caftans are richly textured and begin to hint at the bows that evolve throughout the collection. Market flowers wrapped in craft paper and tied with raffia ribbon are the muse behind the concept, with bows rendered in crepe, taffeta, metallics, and crystal. Sunflower prints blossom on day pieces and cocktail dresses, introducing an abundance of tulle. An electric-hued group, pristine in its absence of embellishments, boasts striking colors and undulating fabric. The timeless drama of stark black and white is illustrated by a monochromatic white crepe gown,
a black gown with gold thread embroidery, and a traditional trench trimmed with pleated black tulle. The collection reaches a crescendo with a tulle ball gown, ablaze with crystalized bows and featuring an open back and high neck. If there’s one thing that the world’s bestdressed women will agree on, it’s that Oscar de la Renta can always be relied on for unequivocally glamorous designs. Forever a champion of classically feminine silhouettes – think full skirts and fitted waists – the label’s vision is defined by red carpet-ready romanticism. The late Oscar de la Renta launched his eponymous label in 1965 after honing his craft at the houses of Lanvin-Castillo and Cristóbal Balenciaga. The creative direction of the company is now being steered by Laura Kim and Fernando Garcia, who retain the founder’s distinctly feminine aesthetic while breathing modernity into the brand. oscardelarenta.com
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March 2021
A SEASON IN HOPE Chloe’s Spring Summer 21 collection embraces the possibilities of women and the power unlocked by their vital communion.
Reflecting on intimacies and affirmations with oneself and the world around us, the Summer 2021 collection designed by Natacha RamsayLevi appears as a series of signposts: silhouettes in constant movement on the streets of Paris that converge on the steps of the Palais de Tokyo. The digital and physical gesture explores the concepts of walking and watching as contemplative exercises, inviting interpretation by both the wearer and her spectators. As female bodies united in this haven of artistic excellence, each strikes a new chord in the show’s harmonious soundscape. Mirroring Chloe’s global context through the female gaze, the graphic silkscreen works of American artist Corita Kent ebb and flow throughout the collection as moments of urgent visual poetry writ large in color. They epitomize the season’s innately ‘collaged’ spirit, where an accumulation of Chloé symbols becomes a rebellious act of femininity performed. Amongst multi-layered planes of color washed neons, bleached neutrals and warm mineral tones - Corita’s artworks are printed, knitted and
woven into garments and accessories, epitomizing the mixed-media approach to silhouettes and surfaces throughout. Interwoven with gestures and characters of seasons past, the Chloé Spring Summer 2021 accessories collection remains a bold step forward, introducing the sculptural gilded motif of the new Chloé Kiss that scales up and down as hardware on hobo and molded clutch bags, belts and jewellery pieces. The new Hailey bolster-shaped handbag in smooth calfskin features a brushed gold stirrup frame and supple drawstring sides, whilst the classic Daria and a new sunglasses pouch are stamped with Corita Kent’s silkscreen word art. Femininities amulet jewels return engraved and inlaid, ergonomic cuffs are sheathed in leather and enamel, as the Chloé Kiss becomes drop earrings and a shapely infinity pendant. On foot, laced and keyhole sandal boots create a contoured line in layered leather, canvas and suede. chloe.com
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March 2021
EXQUISITE STYLE Gorgeous designer hand bags to add a touch of class to your look. Cartier Double C A minimalist shape that has proven timeless, a chic uniform, and impeccable lines. The new Double C de Cartier bag has a long life ahead of it. Traditionally a “Grande Maison’’ bag, its jeweled clasp with the Cartier initials in metal and lacquer set the tone. It can be worn over the shoulder or across the body. cartier.com
Dolce and Gabbana Devotion Box Bag in Transparent Plexiglass with Rhinestone Embellishment New this season, the Devotion Box embodies the brand’s craftsmanship, love and attention to detail. It stands out for its detailing that looks like glass. It is made from transparent, colored and finely engraved plexiglass with small rhinestone appliqués that enhance the design of the engraving. The bag measures 19 x 12.5 x 5.5 cm and features a sliding chain strap with laminated Dauphine calfskin insert. dolcegabbana.com
Saint Laurent Le Maillon Satchel in Smooth Leather This calfskin bag, measuring 24 x 14.5 x 3.5 cm, stands out due to its front flap decorated with a magnetic curb-link chain detail in a bronze tone and magnetic closure. The interior comprises two gusseted main compartments, one zip pocket, one flat pocket, one dossier pocket at the front, while the 49.5 cm adjustable shoulder strap offers versatility. ysl.com
Prada Brushed Leather Handbag Architectural lines define this bag introduced for the Spring Summer 2021 collection. A reinterpretation of an archive design, this handbag has a distinctive graphic effect emphasized by the tubular handles and the iconic triangle logo covered in leather that decorates the front. The bag is made of brushed leather, an iconic material of the brand since the ‘90s and traditional tied to the luxury world. prada.com
Dior 30 Montaigne Bag The 30 Montaigne line, inspired by the historic, emblematic address, presents essential pieces that portray the House’s iconic codes. The compact handbag is crafted in indigo blue calfskin, further embellished with a gradient finish for an elegant and modern look. The flap is embellished with an antique gold-finish metal ‘CD’ clasp, inspired by the seal of a Christian Dior perfume bottle. Refined details such as an embossed ‘30 Montaigne’ signature on the back and the military-inspired buckle define this sleek design. dior.com
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March 2021
Valentino 03 Rose Edition Atelier Bag Amina Muaddi Pernille bag
Exquisite things made with love? That applies to this leather 03 Rose Edition Atelier small shoulder bag from Valentino. It features a single shoulder strap with ring findings, foldover top, magnetic fastening, and an internal zipped compartment for your valuables. valentino.com
Amina Muaddi’s Pernille box bag is a refreshing take on vintage design codes. It is crafted in Italy from smooth leather with a sturdy gold top handle, echoing curb chains, and a magnetic envelope flap that opens to an internal slip pocket. The bag measures approximately 19.2cm x 13.5cm x 5cm. aminamuaddi.com
Versace La Medusa Small Handbag Crafted in Italy from premium leather, Versace’s latest handbag is adorned with a Medusa plaque – the same décor that was discovered on the doors of the brand’s first headquarters in Milan. The slouchy silhouette can be styled on the wrist or across the shoulder, featuring two detachable shoulder straps: one leather and one chain. versace.com
Balenciaga Everyday XS Drawstring Bucket Bag The Everyday XS Drawstring Bucket in silver metallized Nappa lambskin with black printed logo is easily paired with all your casual and not-so-casual outfits. The adjustable and removable 55 cm crossbody strap offers versatility while the drawstring keeps your belongings safe and secure. The bag measures 14.5 cm x 20 cm x 14.5 cm. balenciaga.com
Gucci Small Shoulder Bag with Double G Presenting fashion as everlasting rather than just for one season, the Epilogue collection brings classic silhouettes to the fore. A delicate chain strap mixes with defined lines and a rectangular shape to give this shoulder bag a vintage feel. The style is crafted from white leather and completed by the House’s monogram. gucci.com
Bottega Veneta Padded Cassette Bag This cross-body bag is made with wide double-face Nappa straps in an orthogonal weave with a zipped interior pocket for valuables. The adjustable shoulder strap folds inside the bag so it can be carried as a clutch for added versatility. bottegaveneta.com
SHOES
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March 2021
Stepping in Style Add iconic style to your luxury collection with the latest and most sought-after designer women’s shoes. Amina Muaddi x AWGE LSD Crystal Embellished Gladiator Sandal Put your best foot forward this party season with these limited-edition LSD gladiator sandals. Created in collaboration with A$AP Rocky’s creative agency AWGE, they feature shimmering crystal embellishments along the wraparound leg straps and Amina Muaddi’s signature geometric base heel. To best do them justice at your next special occasion, pair these sandals with a mini dress and a bold lip. aminamuaddi.com
Christian Louboutin Mafaldina Spikes The sophisticated and elegant Mafaldina Spikes sandal features clean seductive lines. Set on a 100 mm heel, this Nappa calfskin leather model with a low cut enhances the foot in refined style. It is decorated with silver-tone spikes, a signature detail of Maison Christian Louboutin, while a thin strap fitted with a silver-tone buckle wraps delicately around the ankle. christianlouboutin.com
Versace La Medusa Naplak Pumps Crafted from glossy naplak leather, these classic pumps elevate looks from the boardroom to dinner dates. The elegant pointed-toe silhouette is adorned with a Medusa plaque – the same décor found on the doors of the brand’s first headquarters in Milan. versace.com
Sophia Webster Evangeline Sophia Webster has updated her ever-popular angel wing Evangeline sandal for the new season. Made in Brazil from a rosa and silver Nappa leather and finished with a super sparkly glitter angel wing and detailing. sophiawebster.com
Saint Laurent Jodie Platform Sandals The Jodie platform sandals are now available in smooth goatskin leather with a silk satin flower. With almond shaped peep-toes, adjustable ankle straps, and covered block heels, they combine comfort with style. ysl.com
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March 2021
Bottega Veneta Stretch Sandals These mesh and Nappa sandals feature an elongated square toe, wrap around ankle strap fastening, and rubber injected leather outsole for ultimate comfort. bottegaveneta.com
Balenciaga Scrunch Knife Ruched Neon Leather Pumps Balenciaga updates its cult ‘Knife’ pumps-named for their sharp toes-by playfully scrunching up the leather and adding a sporty toggle at the back. This neon-pink pair has been made in Italy and set on 80mm heels. balenciaga.com
Valentino Rose Edition Slide Sandal The 03 Rose Edition kidskin slide sandal from Valentino Garavani Atelier features a striking 3D rose detail in leather and 90mm heels for a fierce day to night look. valentino.com
Dolce & Gabbana Taormina Lace Pumps with Devotion Heart Dolce&Gabbana is presenting its special “Devotion” project, where the sacred heart pairs with iconic cordonetto lace on their Bellucci and Bianca shoes. The Sacred Heart is a fine detail that attests to the uniqueness of this collection. It is a sort of declaration of love that becomes a new, precious object of desire. The shoe enhances the femininity and unique qualities of every woman and is available in blue, fuchsia, red, and black, with a 90 mm lace-covered heel. dolcegabbana.com
Gucci Women’s Leather Pump with Chain Taking inspiration from the Sylvie line of handbags, this pump is distinguished by a gold-toned chain detail. Crafted from smooth black leather, the style’s pointed toe and narrow heel add a refined element. gucci.com
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Symbol of Humanity The Journey of Humanity’, the -17,000square-foot masterpiece holding the Guinness World Record™ for the largest art canvas in the world, was unveiled at Atlantis, The Palm, showcasing the strength of human connection, collaboration, and commitment to creating a better future for all humanity.
In attendance were His Excellency Sheikh Nahayan Mabarak Al Nahayan, Cabinet Member, Minister of Tolerance and Coexistence and His Excellency Dr. Tariq Al Gurg, Chief Executive Officer at Dubai Cares. The Royal Unveiling of the painting marks the return of the art piece to Atlantis, The Palm to be ‘reunited’ where it was firstly created after having been cut, stretched and framed into individual artworks. Created by Dubai-based British artist and philanthropist Sacha Jafri, the magnificent artwork was brought to life over a period of 28 weeks in Atlantis, The Palm’s ballroom from March to September 2020 during the lockdown. The initiative invited children from around the world to submit their drawings, pictures, paintings, collages, and sketches, which inspired Sacha to create the first layer of the canvas (the Soul) on the themes of isolation and connection. Reaching more than 2.5 billion individuals worldwide, ‘The Journey of Humanity’ is part of Jafri’s charitable initiative ‘Humanity Inspired’, which was launched under the patronage of His Excellency Sheikh Nahayan Mabarak Al Nahayan, Cabinet Member, Minister of Tolerance and Coexistence in partnership with Dubai Cares and Atlantis, The Palm. “‘The Journey of Humanity’ represents my own journey that I embarked upon during the COVID-19 pandemic to fulfill my dream to reconnect our planet. So many people have contributed to this beautiful initiative, in so many different ways at a time when the world had become completely
disconnected.” said Sacha Jafri. My creation narrates the story of hope and positivity at a time when we are grappling with the biggest crisis of our generation. If one man can spend 20 hours a day to create this painting, imagine what 7.5 billion could do if they came together. I thank Dubai Cares and Atlantis, The Palm along with all of our partners and supporters who are on this historical and incredible journey with us, ‘Humanity Inspired’ is a legacy and we are creating a movement that has only just begun,” he added. Described as ‘The Modern-Day Sistine Chapel’, the ‘Journey of Humanity’ invites the global community to serve as a catalyst for change for underprivileged children in urgent need of assistance and support. By purchasing part of the record-breaking painting, individuals will own a piece of history while making a significant positive difference in the lives of children most affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. ‘The Journey of Humanity’ aims to raise more than USD 30 million across live auctions over the next 12 months, with the funds to be routed through Dubai Cares to the initiative’s beneficiary partners that include UNICEF, UNESCO, The Global Gift Foundation and Dubai Cares for their humanitarian initiatives to tackle issues related to children’s digital access to connectivity and learning, as well as healthcare and sanitation. The Ministry of Tolerance and Coexistence and the Ministry of Education in the UAE also joined the initiative. dubaicares.ae
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MASTERPIECE
“My creation narrates the story of hope and
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01 Artist Sacha Jafri lying on the Largest Art Canvas in the World 02 Solar System 03 Humanity
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04 Nature and Central Beating Heart 05 Artist Sacha Jafri at work
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BOUTIQUE Experience
The most luxurious shopping destinations from around the world.
A. LANGE & SOHNE RIYADH 2020 was a special year for German luxury watchmaker A. Lange & Söhne. 175 years ago, Dresden watchmaker F. A. Lange set out to build the world’s best watches in the rural town of Glashütte. Restarted in 1990 by his great-grandson Walter Lange, the brand has once again become a key player in international fine watchmaking and has a presence in about 60 countries around the world. A new boutique located on the ground floor of the Mode Al Faisaliah in the business district of Riyadh marks a major step in the company’s retail strategy in the Middle East. The shop will be operated in cooperation with Attar United, one of the most renowned watch retailers in Saudi Arabia. With an area of over 85 square meters, A. Lange & Söhne Riyadh boutique provides ideal pre-requisites for the watchmaker’s new interior architecture concept characterized by openness, clarity, and eloquence. Authentic materials and elaborate surface treatments pay tribute to the type of craftsmanship celebrated by Lange. The Experience Library, an oversized type case which aims to bring customers on a journey into the world of A. Lange & Söhne, presents numerous exhibits which tell the story of the manufactory and its craftsmanship using lovingly designed objects. A large glass storefront exposes the showroom, inspiring visitors to enter the boutique. alange-soehne.com
March 2021
ARCHITECTURE
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March 2021
CHOPARD RIYADH Chopard, in collaboration with partner Attar United, opened its new design concept boutique located at the luxurious Kingdom Centre in Saudi Arabia, one of the major landmarks in the city of Riyadh. White oak, leather, silk and velvet are the elements that have been chosen to preserve the boutiques’ comfortable and charming atmosphere. The warmth of the new design gives visitors the feeling of going into a private home and features sections dedicated to high jewellery, watches and accessories. Acquiring a larger area, the Chopard boutique includes an exclusive VIP room to welcome selected guests into the world of Chopard in a warm and private ambiance. A boutique that combines the warmth and comfort of an elegant yet homely atmosphere, a place where every visitor can feel at home. Each detail of the boutique has been thought through in conjunction with Caroline Scheufele, Co-president and Artistic Director of Chopard. chopard.com
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March 2021
DOLCE&GABBANA SEOUL In Seoul, an imposing and precious glass encasing preserves and yet reveals extraordinary treasures of fine craftsmanship: the new Dolce&Gabbana boutique at Cheongdam-dong, in the Gangnam District, is an architectural ode to the encounter between love for tradition and ceaseless innovation. A cylinder of extra-clear glass, set between four corner pillars made of black granite, offers the city an overall view of the Dolce&Gabbana Collections preserved within it, thanks to the large convex glass facades on two sides of the building. The light transparency of the glass and the intense black, a symbol of absolute elegance, chase each other in a game of mutual references that moves from the outside into the heart of the store. Surprising and attractive, the interior of the boutique develops on a single large spiral ramp, clad in mosaic Nero Marquina marble, which seamlessly connects the different floors, thus offering a special and unique visiting experience. The visitor is invited to be carried upwards by this vortex to discover the Dolce&Gabbana Collections, which are enhanced, floor by floor, by a captivating lighting system. dolcegabbana.com
“The new Dolce&Gabbana
boutique at Cheongdam-dong, in the Gangnam District, is an architectural ode to the encounter between love for tradition and ceaseless innovation ”
YACHTS
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“The Hermes Speedster is a very unique boat, looks-wise and also performance-wise. ”
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02 01, 02 The Hermes Speedster combines luxury, efficiency, and comfort 03, 04 Handcrafted to perfection
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Cruiser Supreme
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A neat classic-styled runabout with traits reminiscent from the 1959 Porsche 356 and the gentleman-style runabout boats of the 30s, the The Hermes Speedster successfully combined luxury, efficiency, and comfort.
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The UK-based Seven Seas Yachts was founded in 2011. It created the first 17-meter yacht, the Legend 54 in 2012, followed by The Legend 56 Fly and Hermes GranTurismo. The development of the Hermes Speedster started in 2015, with production of the model starting in 2017. In 2018, the Hermes Speedster was awarded as boat of the year 2018 by HISWA. Now in 2021, the Hermes Speedster is sold in Europe, Australia, and the Americas. It takes its name from the Ancient Greek God Hermes. The messenger of the Gods, son of Zeus and one of the twelve principal gods of Olympus. Also, god of speed, wealth, luck, and travel. The Hermes Speedster comes in various color combinations. The owner can customize the color of the hull, real leather, carpet, and convertible top. This way the customer has the opportunity to cruise on a unique Hermes Speedster. Each piece of the interior, from the seats and the steering wheel to the speakers and the switches, is especially designed and hand crafted with attention to detail. Due to the convertible top, in a few seconds, you can enjoy your boat, despite bad weather conditions. The Hermes Speedster is a very unique boat, looks-wise and also performance-wise. Thanks to the patented Amfihull, the Hermes Speedster is able to cruise from 5mph up to 45mph, as the boat maintains very low trim angles between 2 and 2.8
degrees at all speeds. Unlike other boats there is no specific speed at which the Hermes transitions to plane. Instead, as the speed increases, the boat gradually comes out of the water, maintaining a nearly horizontal attitude. As there is very low drag resistance and no hump coming on plane, the jet drive offers you insane acceleration. Considering all the above, the very low center of gravity and the surprisingly low weight, Hermes ensures a very soft, safe and fun ride. Of course, let’s not forget about the extraordinary fuel economy, as the Hermes Speedster consumes on average 0.5L/Mile or 8MPG. That makes our Speedster fuel efficient and eco-friendly. It is powered by the Rotax 1503NA 155hp. With only 0.27m (0.9ft) of draft the Hermes Speedster can access any exotic beach despite how shallow the waters may be. The incredible low weight of 680kg, the jet drive propulsion and the low draft will let you take it out on the sand with ease and comfort. Its LOA is 6.75m and the beam is only 1.8m, its dimensions and its low weight makes it really easy and comfortable to tow the Hermes Speedster with any car. The Hermes Speedster also comes with an electric motor. It offers a max power of 134kW, a 30kWh battery bank and a max speed of 45mph. hermes-craft.com
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Inimitable Craftsmanship An icon of creativity, bespoke innovation, and contemporary yachting style, Voice impresses with sleek design and cutting-edge approach to yacht craftsmanship that builds on CRN’s prestigious heritage.
Voice, the latest fully custom steel and aluminium work of art by CRN, has been delivered to her owner. The megayacht has now embarked on her maiden Mediterranean cruise. Taut yet fluid, the aerodynamic external lines lend the yacht strong character and an inimitably Italian touch. The striking impression is reinforced with the personalized colors of her smoky quartz hull, silver sand superstructure and jet black details. The new 62-metre megayacht with an 11.50-metre beam was designed by CRN with Italian architecture studio Nuvolari Lenard, who developed the concept and the interior and exterior styling. The owner’s powerful personality and resolve shine through in the bold, unmistakable lines that stand out for miles, for an iconic masterpiece that will endure the test of time. This bespoke yacht spans 5 decks with a master suite and 5 VIP cabins to accommodate 12 guests in exquisite comfort. The upper deck is the owner’s exclusive domain, with a suite to the stern and a panoramic lounge at the bow offering total privacy
and a space to entertain friends. Besides her wealth of amenities and style features, Voice is also the first CRN megayacht to earn IMO Tier III certification, slashing harmful nitrogen oxide (NOx) exhaust emissions by 70%. This landmark achievement is sure to be welcomed by owners who are increasingly sensitive to environmental concerns. An emblem of CRN’s excellence and indepth expertise, the megayacht is the work of all the highly accomplished artisans and technical specialists at the Ancona yard. Her creativity and craft is a winning blend of complementary skills, ideas and knowledge, united by a passion to build something truly unique – inspired by the brand motto “Made by you with our own hands”. CRN is currently constructing another 4 fully custom yachts: the 62-metre CRN M/Y 138, the 72-metre CRN M/Y 139, the 60-metre CRN M/Y 141 and the 52-metre CRN M/Y 142. crn-yacht.com
March 2021
01 Voice, the latest fully custom steel and aluminium work of art by CRN
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“Made by you with our own hands”
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02 The aerodynamic external lines lend the yacht strong character and an inimitable Italian touch 03, 05 The megayacht is the work of all the highly accomplished artisans and technical specialists at the Ancona yard 04 This bespoke yacht spans 5 decks with a master suite and 5 VIP cabins to accommodate 12 guests in exquisite comfort
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SPECIAL FEATURE
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March 2021
Journey into the History of Faith Opened at the Turkish and Islamic Arts Museum in Sultanahmet, Istanbul, under the auspices of the Presidency’s Directorate of Communications, the “Sacred Route: Kaaba Coverings from the Ottoman Empire to the Present and Hajj Remembrances Exhibition” offered the opportunity to see the memories of the sacred voyage up close. 01
Opened at the Turkish and Islamic Arts Museum in Sultanahmet, Istanbul, under the auspices of the Presidency’s Directorate of Communications, the “Sacred Route: Kaaba Coverings from the Ottoman Empire to the Present and Hajj Remembrances Exhibition” offered the opportunity to see the memories of the sacred voyage up close. The exhibition embarks on a historical voyage of the holy lands of Mecca, Madinah and Jerusalem from the Ottoman period to the present day. Hasan Mert Kaya undertook the exhibition’s curatorship, which was compiled from the rare works acquired by the collector Bekir Kantarcı around thirty years at home and abroad. The installation of the Sacred Path Exhibition was created on the basis of the ‘Path’ metaphor. The exhibition, which covers a voyage starting from İstanbul as the capital of the Ottoman State en route to the holy lands in the provision of
services for centuries, consists of sections where artworks are displayed such as “Surre Regiment’s Procession and the Mahmil al-Sharif (the Blessed Carrier) Moving towards Hejaz”, “Historical Hejaz Railway”, “Services Provided by the Ottoman for the Holy Lands”, “Kaaba Covers and the Prophet Muhammad’s Tomb Covers in the Ottoman Era”, “Kaaba Covers in the post-Ottoman Era”, “Objects and Memoirs from the Holy Lands,” “Nostalgic Souvenirs from the Hajj in Early Times” and “Love for the Kaaba and the Holy Lands in Art”. In addition to the main exhibition area, there were also videos and infographics waiting for visitors where the historical stages of the Kaaba and important services provided in the Ottoman era for the holy lands are presented. Among the prominent works in the exhibition are such pieces from Bekir Kantarcı Collection as rare Kaaba covers from different periods,
illustrations of belt scripts for the Kaaba covers, patches making up the special corners of the Kaaba covers, bags and chests used in the Surre Procession, various medals and documents related to the Hejaz Railway, diplomatic cables from the period when Hejaz was under the Ottoman rule, and procuration and testimonials related to Hajj in the Ottoman era. The exhibition also displays a Kaaba-patterned Hilya al-Sharif by Kazasker Mustafa İzzet Efendi, one of the renowned calligraphers of the time, as well as pieces by Abdullah Zühdi Efendi, the calligrapher of the scripts for the Masjid al-Nabawi. The exhibition, which contains artworks on display related to the holy lands that possess a great value for us not only faith-wise but also artwise in the culture and civilization we belong to, brings together rich contents including video films and visual display sections with the visitors.
01, 02, 03, 04 The exhibition embarks on a historical voyage of the holy lands of Mecca, Madinah and Jerusalem
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TRAVEL
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March 2021
EDGE of the World By Mona Jumaan
Jebel Fihrayn, commonly known as the Edge of the World is part of the Jibal Tuwaiq, is a prominent natural geological wonder spreading over 1000 kilometers from the province of Najran in the South of Saudi Arabia up to Qassim in the North.
The spectacle is a result of tectonic movement in the Arabian plates and the spread of the Red Sea rift. The clear layers of Fihrayn reveal the sediment that accumulated when the Arabian Peninsula was a shallow tropical sea in the Jurassic period. This valley was once the pathway for ancient caravan routes. Today, though the caravans have been replaced by SUVs, it remains a glories backdrop to processions of travelers amongst the rocky cliffs. Having read quite a bit about this geological wonder, I decided to visit it as soon as I reached Riyad (while keeping in mind the current protocols of 3-day quarantine upon arrival followed by an exit test). I called up a local tour operator, set the time and date, and waited patiently for a trip I have long wanted to do! The trip out of Riyadh was almost two hours. The first hour was a beautiful drive through the tiny towns of Al Uyayna and Jubaila, both part of Aldiriyah governate. Organic produce farms line both sides of the road, with stalls selling the daily harvested products. Alongside these, the beautiful
date palms rise majestically. “Beautiful and serene” kept repeating in my mind. At the end of Jubaila, the adventure begins as you hit the edge of the desert. For the next 45 minutes you will be driving on dirt roads till you reach the parking area of the geological wonder. Make sure that your GPS is in top shape as it’s very easy to get disoriented in the vast desert. Once parked, I took all my camera gear with me and headed towards the hiking trail. After an easy 10-minute walk, the monumental structure Jebel Fihrayn came into view. There is absolutely nothing that can prepare you for the vastness of what you are about to witness. These precipices stretch across the desert, towards the sky, as far as the eye can see. Literally, an unobstructed view of the horizons as the sky melts into a plateau lined with rivets carved by rivers over decades and decades of time. Mixed emotions? You bet. I started my hike, choosing one of the many trails available. The trek is not strenuous, but you must be careful as gravel is loose and rocks are sharp. The scenery is beyond spectacular, with
plenty of observation spots. Uninterrupted views of the barren valley floor getting at some point to the lower plateau areas. I climbed onto the famous “pillar”, a beautiful vantage point from which you can view the entire escarpment. If you find that is not possible, just hang out and enjoy the epic views as everywhere you turn has a glorious one! I would recommend spending between 4-5 hours there as that gives you sufficient time to walk down to the plateau and across it to other pillars and enjoy the sunset at the Edge of the World. The light at this time of day is at its best, the orange hues splitting into a spectrum, transforming the pale cliffs into a gorgeous terracotta color. I left my camera and stood overcome by emotions of deep contemplation, by the sheer scale of this wonder. I imagined the many travelers and processions that have treaded across these plateaus, scaled the mountains, or simply came to enjoy them as I had (athamat ilkhaliq). Jebel Fihrayn is a reminder of how insignificant we in this enormous universe.
01 Jebel Fihrayn, also known as the Edge of the World
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Edge of the World Safety: This section is key to avoid any disappointments on the day: 1. Hiking boots or trainers should suffice (no slippers or shoes with slippery soles) 2. If you want to pose for photos or selfies, do not take them at the edge of the massive cliffs. A lot of visitors attempted that and slipped. Your photos will still look good if you stand a few feet away from it. 3. Mobile reception there is not that great. Don’t count on any internet service either. There is reportedly some 2G reception at the Edge of the World. 4. Using a Four-Wheel Drive (4WD) vehicle to get to the Edge of the World is recommended as it will make your drive and life a lot easier. Otherwise, I would suggest driving in a convoy, just in case someone gets stuck in the sand help is around. 5. Bring enough food, snacks, and water from Riyadh if you plan to spend a full day there. There isn’t much in the small towns en route (just fruits and veggies).
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02, 03, 04, 05 The incredible views of Jebel Tuwaiq
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HOTELS
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HOTEL LA PALMA CAPRI Oetker Collection announced the addition of Hotel La Palma in Capri, Italy, to the group’s portfolio of Masterpiece Hotels, debuting in April 2022. Reimagining a Capri icon, the 50-key hotel in vibrant Capri Village will be a complete transformation of the original Hotel La Palma that dates back to 1822 – the first and oldest hotel on the island. In line with Oetker Collection’s mission to create meaningful connections in endearing places, the brand’s first Italian property is set bring to life the island’s iconic dolce vita lifestyle. The hotel is owned by Reuben Brothers, marking the latest landmark procurement in their pipeline of investments and developments in Europe. The Reubens Brothers’ acquisition also includes the legendary La Taverna Anema e Core nightclub, a famous nightspot frequented by celebrities, located in the same premises. The original hotel on Capri will once more become the chicest address on the island for people who want to see and be seen. During its renovation, the room count of the hotel is being drastically decreased, from 80 to 50 rooms – including 18
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suites – each complete with its own private balcony or terrace. The property’s interiors are currently being transformed by two acclaimed architects: led by Rome-based Francesco Delogu of Delogu Architects for the rooms and lobby, and New Yorkbased Tihany Design, one of the world’s preeminent hospitality design firms, led by Adam Tihany and Alessia Genova, for the restaurant, pool, spa, and beach club. Located in the beating heart of Capri, just around the corner from the famous Piazza Umberto I – well-known as the ‘Piazzetta’ – Hotel La Palma is perfectly positioned for guests to visit some of the most notable sites of Capri: I Giardini di Augusto, Via Krupp, La Certosa and the iconic Faraglioni. Another of the island’s best-known, must-visit natural sites in easy reach from the hotel is the ‘Grotta Azzurra’ – the Blue Grotto – a dark cavern where the sea glows electric blue, the result of sunlight passing through an underwater cave. In true Italian fashion, Hotel La Palma will be a gourmand’s delight, with Gennaro’s restaurant, bar and terrace, under the culinary
direction of Chef Gennaro Esposito. Esposito is a true name in the region, having run his own two-Michelin Star restaurant, Torre del Saracino, for the last 23 years. A simple, stylish step back in time to the Capri of the 1950s, Gennaro’s will embrace the timeless romance of the island, serving unpretentious, authentic Italian cuisine. A contemporary, vibrant place that shuns formality and celebrates the spirit and cuisine of Capri, Gennaro’s will also benefit from being right next door to the great Taverna Anema e Core. Another highlight will be Bianca, a glamorous, newly created rooftop restaurant and bar open ’til late with spectacular views over the sea and Capri Village. Bianca, also under the culinary direction of Chef Gennaro Esposito, will become the island’s chicest hangout, transporting guests to another time and place. In addition, Hotel La Palma will offer a brand-new pool deck, complete with an elegant pool bar which pays homage to the ‘classic Capri’ of the golden age. anantara.com
01, 02, 03, 04 Guests can expect an inimitable experience at Hotel La Palma, Capri
Redefining Hospitality Discover the true meaning of hospitality and experience the ultimate in luxury at these global destinations. 04
HOTELS
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SLS HOTEL DUBAI Located in the Downtown district, SLS Dubai offers incomparable 360-degree views over the city, with unobstructed views of the iconic Burj Khalifa, along with a clear overhead of the calming Dubai Creek. The impressive 75-story tower makes SLS Dubai one of the tallest hotels and residences in the region. Developed in collaboration with international architecture firm Aedas, SLS Dubai comprises 254 expertly designed hotel rooms, 321 hotel apartments and 371 residential units by acclaimed designer Paul Bishop and in true SLS fashion, features contemporary art, sleek accents and exceptional fittings that are unique characteristics of the brand’s DNA. Upon entering, you’ll be met with a large stained, colored glass window, beautifully exhibiting the famous Latin quote of ‘Fortune Favors the Bold’ – a saying that holds true to our daring approach to excellence. This historic artform of colored glass
windows captivates guests, architects and design lovers alike. Decorated in lilac and violet tones, with romantic accents of rose-gold motifs, the sublime layouts of the rooms, courtesy of award-winning architects Aedas and interior designer Paul Bishop, are the epitome of luxury living, with a playful twist. Residential amenities include lap, leisure and kids’ pools, jacuzzi, spa, vitamin bar, fully equipped gym by Technogym, multipurpose room, and a dedicated lobby for residences. Guests have a wide variety of dining options including Fi’lia, an authentic restaurant serving all-day eatery, Carna, a contemporary steakhouse concept helmed by legendary butcher Dario Cecchini, Privilege, which includes two jaw-dropping infinity pools at the top of the 75 stories, 12 Chairs, which sources the best caviar to 12 reserved guests, EllaMia, a sophisticated café that brings its dedicated Los Angeles-based coffee culture to
Dubai, and the eclectically chic S Bar, which offers an impressive cocktail program. SLS Dubai also includes sbe’s signature spa concept, Ciel Spa, the epitome of luxury with 7 treatment rooms, dedicated male and female thermal areas that contain steam rooms, experience showers, plunge pools and relaxation rooms, as well as a full-service grooming salon, a fully equipped gym and two outdoor terraces. Setting the stage for your every occasion, from corporate to social events, SLS Dubai’s dedicated catering and conference service teams always value attention to detail, ensuring that every type of event is perfectly completed from start to end. There are a total of 6 meeting and ballrooms, with over 260 square meters of space that can accommodate a range of numbered guests, from 10 to 200. sbe.com
05, 06, 07, 08 SLS Dubai offers incredible views in an exquisitely elegant setting
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09, 10, 11, 12 Incomparable combination of culture and open-air experiences at the ultra-luxury retreat, One&Only Portonovi
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ONE&ONLY PORTONOVI MONTENEGRO Located at the entrance of Boka Bay, a fjord-like idyll on Montenegro’s Adriatic Coast, One&Only Portonovi is a year-round haven where cultural wonders and fresh-air adventures meet the glamour of Europe’s most fashionable new riviera. Surrounded by dramatic coastline and spectacular mountains, guests can explore a nautical playground, discover fascinating UNESCO World Heritage sites or escape to the resort’s sparkling pools and private sandy beach that rivals the finest in the Mediterranean. The first One&Only resort in Europe, this ultraluxury retreat is home to Chenot Espace, offering pioneering treatments scientifically designed to enhance guests’ vitality and optimum health. The culinary experience, led by executive chef Nancy Kinchela, includes refined Italian dishes from one of the world’s best Italian chefs at Sabia by Giorgio Locatelli, Asian fusion dining at Tapasake and farmto-table fresh Montenegrin cuisine. Tapasake Club is the energetic soul of the resort, where guests can lounge by the pool and experience the atmosphere building during the day, culminating in performances by legendary DJs. The resort is designed on an impressive scale to reflect the architectural style of the old Venetian palaces of the region including grand facades, majestic colonnades, signature red terracotta roofs, gardens and an extraordinary array of indoor and outdoor pools. One&Only Portonovi’s 123 elegant guest rooms, suites, villas and Private Homes are positioned for guests to enjoy magnificent views of the surrounding marina, bay and mountains, with various interconnecting options and clusters for groups and families seeking flexible space. The spacious guest rooms feature sleek, modern fireplaces for cooler nights, expansive bathrooms the same size as the bedrooms with space to recline and lounge, as well as large floor-to-ceiling windows and terraces for guests to relax against the backdrop of the mountain and bay views. The resort offers two secluded expansive villas; the three-bedroom Villa One (463m² interior and
1,750m² outdoor space) and two-bedroom Villa Two (218m² interior and 930m² outdoor space). Each villa is set in its own fragrant garden with an outdoor shower and private pool, as well as a hydrotherapy pool with six massage stations, and incredible sunset views over the Adriatic Sea, all paired with exceptional service from a dedicated team of butlers, chefs and valets. One&Only Portonovi is the dining destination on the Adriatic coast with a variety of distinctive, world-class culinary experiences. Sabia by Giorgio Locatelli, the Michelin-star chef’s first restaurant in the region, serves refined Southern Italian cuisine in a Riviera-style setting, with a focus on fresh seafood and vegetables and a Raw Bar offering organic crudo. Tapasake Club is a relaxed yet vibrant pool club serving contemporary Japanese cuisine, with its own sake bar and regular DJ sets. Championing locally sourced ingredients and Montenegrin-inspired cooking styles, La Veranda boasts an open kitchen and live cooking stations. Located in the Lobby, Caminetti Bar welcomes guests with expansive views over the terrace, gardens and sea, providing an extensive beverage list – ideal for an aperitif or post-dinner cocktail - as well as afternoon tea and a pre-dinner caviar menu. Finally, a selection of bespoke in-room dining experiences is also available 24 hours a day. One&Only Portonovi is a nautical playground waiting to be discovered. Guests can cruise the dramatic Adriatic coastline by yacht or speedboat, or learn to dive or sail through the clear, calm waters. World-Heritage sites, abandoned fortresses and hidden beaches can all be explored, such as the impeccably preserved medieval towns of Perast and Kotor, the fascinating islands of Our Lady of the Rocks and unspoilt National Parks, rich with local culture and folklore. Montenegro’s diverse landscape is compact and easily accessible, and guests can enjoy a variety of activities and scenery within just one day. oneandonlyresorts.com
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OZEN RESERVE BOLIFUSHI MALDIVES Situated in a pristine lagoon in South Malé Atoll is the uber lux private island resort – OZEN RESERVE BOLIFUSHI. Expansive white beaches and turquoise waters fringe the lush island resort. Guest’s every dream of a tropical paradise comes alive in this idyllic resort. At the forefront of the top-notch, bespoke services are the unique dine around experiences and a sensational spa and wellness center. From traditional Maldivian island welcome and seamless hospitality to unique tropical adventures, our carefully crafted holiday experience is sure to create magical memories for guests. Highlights include the first ice skating rink in the Maldives, a luxurious spa and wellness center, and one of the largest kids’ clubs in the destination. An impeccable experience of gracious indulgence elegantly articulated with the promise of inspiration and harmony at its core. At OZEN RESERVE BOLIFUSHI, guests can immerse themselves in a world of boundless sanctuaries while availing inspiring experiences that are thoughtfully curated to make every moment an everlasting memory. Velena International Airport is located on the island of Hulhulé and is about two kilometers away from the capital Malé. With entry to the Maldives, guests get a free visa which is valid for 90 days. On arriving at the Airport, guests are met by the Bolifushi team at the reception hall and escorted to the private air-conditioned THE OZEN COLLECTION LOUNGE. While waiting for their luxury catamaran
ride, guests have complimentary access to the lounge services, including a refreshing welcome drink, snacks, and Wi-Fi access. A 20-minute luxury speedboat ride brings guests from the Velana International Airport to the island. Guests are greeted with a traditional Maldivian welcome as they step onto Bolifushi Island. The blowing of a conch shell accompanies the placing of a handcrafted palm leaf necklace, with rhythmic ‘Bodu Beru’ drumming. OZEN RESERVE BOLIFUSHI offers 90 secluded RESERVE and villas – located overwater and beachfront – in 6 categories and a luxury superyacht. Each villa comes with a private pool and direct beach or lagoon access. The gorgeously decorated 215 m2 villas comprise a high-ceilinged bedroom with timber flooring. Features include a walk-in wardrobe, airconditioned bathroom and open-air marble bathtub, covered dining pavilion with sofa lounge, private pool and deck, wi-fi, and a maxi bar. One of the most impressive experiences during our stay was the Royal RESERVE. This luxurious 3-bedroom offers seclusion and privacy, perfect for hosting your family and friends. The expansive residence comes with a main ‘Sanctuary’ and two Guest Villas - with dramatic Indian Ocean views from almost every corner! You truly have everything you want in this regal residence. This ultimate island home features a private beach, spa pavilion, open-air Jacuzzi, gym, a pool, outdoor and indoor
living areas, stunning bathrooms, an overwater bar, and a dedicated restaurant as well as a fully stocked professional kitchen with a wine cellar. The separate service quarters can also accommodate up to four staff. Guests at the OZEN RESERVE BOLIFUSHI can enjoy the craftsmanship inherent in developing cuisine for every palate and enjoy new levels of dining experiences in Maldivian splendor, each offering sublime views of the Indian Ocean. The on-site, 5-star PADI Best Dives Centre offers dives in some of the world’s rarest coral reefs as well as diving certifications. Guests can complete the paperwork before arriving on the resort through PADI eLearning. With online examinations, the guests can start their ocean adventures the moment they arrive at the island! Guests can snorkel from the beach to explore the rich house reef teeming with vibrant marine life. They have complimentary snorkeling gear throughout their stay. Complimentary non-motorized water sports include kayaking, pedal boat, stand-up paddling, and windsurfing. Motorized water sports include sea bob, jet skiing, water skiing, wakeboarding, fun tube, banana boat riding and flyboarding. Guests can also enjoy fishing expeditions, including sunset and big game fishing. The semi-submarine rides offer a safe and comfortable way to see the fascinating and enchanting underwater world. ozenreserve-bolifushi.com
13, 16 Incredible views of the lagoon 14, 15 Elegant and chic interiors
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SOFITEL DUBAI THE PALM UAE Our stay at Sofitel Dubai The Palm was an unforgettable experience, one where we had the pleasure of being acquainted with the epitome of luxury. From the moment of our arrival, we found ourselves admiring the prevalence of style and culture that had been carefully weaved throughout the resort’s elements, starting with the majestic exterior. Exuding French Polynesian charm, the resort is encapsulated by a private 500 meters stretch of pearlescent beach, enabling guests to indulge in breathtaking sea views overlooking the East Crescent of Dubai’s must visit destination, the Palm Island. Prevalent throughout 100,000 square meters resort, Sofitel Dubai The Palm distinct French luxury offering is embraced by rich and iconic elements of Polynesian culture and civilization. With an abundance of stunning organic architecture and lush vertical gardens created by the renowned botanist Patrick Blanc, the resort graciously reflects a timeless spirit and tropical allure. The low-rise resort evokes a sense of serenity and calm, allowing guests to experience the luxuries of the French ‘art de vivre’ in a tranquil and soothing setting. Infused with a combination of vibrant colors, rich natural woods and a sophisticated touch of island chic, all 360 rooms and suites reveal a modern and
refined translation of French Polynesian culture. Understated luxury is combined with the utmost comfort, as all guest rooms feature Sofitel’s MyBed concept – an all-feather bed and extra light down duvet. Onyx laden bathrooms capture elements of traditional architecture, with exotic woods and a centered stone bathtub overlooking the rest of the living space and private balconies. A mini haven of luxury and relaxation, each bathroom features deluxe French amenities such as Lanvin and Hermes. Located on the waterfront, the Sofitel Dubai The Palm Beach Villa offers a secluded retreat and boasts immaculate sea views over a private roof terrace and pool. For longer stays in Dubai, guests can indulge in one of Sofitel’s elegant and magnificently furbished 182 fully serviced residences. We were in awe of the resort’s breathtaking aesthetics but were evenly impressed by the worldclass dining and amenities on offer, which perfectly complimented the experience. There was no shortage of options, as guests can indulge in fresh seafood, or sip on sumptuous cocktails. The resort offers a plethora of culinary excellence throughout its 12 diverse restaurants and lounges, including the award-winning Porterhouse Steaks & Grills, which imports prime cuts of meat from celebrated
producers around the world, and Moana, an exquisite pagoda-style restaurant serving fresh seafood catches in Asian and European culinary techniques. Reinforcing relaxation and rejuvenation, guests can immerse themselves in Sofitel’s state-of-the-art Sofitel SPA, whose 2,500 square meters encompass 28 graceful spa rooms, a sauna, a steam room and four outdoor cabanas dedicated to providing traditional Tahitian spa treatments. Set amidst an idyllic Polynesian setting, the guests are guaranteed to enjoy the spa’s revitalizing massages, the finest in French beauty treatments, a freshwater pool, and separate his and her beauty salons. For decades, the Sofitel name has been a hallmark of modern French culture, and the Sofitel Dubai The Palm continues that tradition. The epitome of French luxury coupled with the intricacies of, it is a must-visit destination for anyone looking for an inimitable hospitality experience. The harmonious blend of French luxury, Polynesian heritage, and varied dining and entertainment offerings give the Sofitel Dubai The Palm a unique status in the world of luxury, one that will satisfy the requirements of even the most refined tastes. sofitel-dubai-thepalm.com
17 The main pool at Sofitel Dubai, The Palm 18 The terrace at Moana 19 The beautiful green wall 17
20 The Opera Suite
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01 02, 03 Soothing treatments in relaxing rooms 04 The elegant One&Only The Palm retreat
SERENE TREATMENTS Take your body and mind on a journey of relaxation with these worldwide destinations of tranquility.
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Located on the furthest tip of The Palm’s West Crescent, One&Only The Palm offers guests the chance to escape the bustling city and enter an exclusive island enclave. Complete with its own private marina and accessible by boat or via a winding driveway, this elegant retreat might be minutes from the heart of Dubai, but it feels like a million miles away. The only Guerlain Spa in the United Arab Emirates, it features individual suits and couples’ suite as well as a relaxation room, private swimming pool and inviting lounge. A secluded, self-contained couples’ suite complete with hammam facilities, includes a double scrub room and shower, private steam room, two separate soaking baths as well as a private lounge area.
Exclusive Guerlain treatments to One&Only The Palm include ‘Désert D’Orient’, which takes guests on a sensory journey into the orient, with a Silk Indulgence Milk Scrub, Guerlain body wrap and steam room for skin purification and detoxification, culminating in a soothing massage using one of the four Guerlain scented Massage Elixirs. ‘Dubai Harmony’ is the perfect balance of treatment and massage leaving city-worn tissue re-oxygenated and illuminating the complexion. Ideal as part of a blissful beach retreat, the ‘One&Only Solar Evasion’ is a relaxing face and body exfoliation, followed by a Terracotta “Huile du Voyageur” oil massage, designed to prepare skin for tanning and prolong a post-sun healthy glow. chenotpalaceweggis.com
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“Guest’s every dream of a
tropical paradise comes alive in this idyllic resort.”
OZEN RESERVE BOLIFUSHI SPA MALDIVES The SPA offers treatments based on a holistic method that incorporates the five natural elements wind, water, fire, earth, and wood. There are four overwater and four garden treatment rooms, a hairdresser and beauty salon, and a spa boutique. The treatments are all carried out by highly trained, international therapists using premium Ila spa products. A must-try is the 100% pure, signature coconut oil, made on the island by the spa team. Situated in a pristine lagoon in South Malé Atoll is the uber lux private island resort – OZEN RESERVE BOLIFUSHI. Expansive white beaches and turquoise waters fringe the lush island resort.
Guest’s every dream of a tropical paradise comes alive in this idyllic resort. THE OZEN COLLECTION is an award-winning, Uber-Lux, hospitality brand. OZEN resorts offer ultimate privacy blended with signature luxury aesthetics, for blissfully immersive holidays in pristine, Indian Ocean locations. OZEN LIFE MAADHOO, the first resort under this brand, opened in July 2016. OZEN’s success story continues in the Maldives with the addition of OZEN RESERVE BOLIFUSHI, opening from 3rd December. ozenreserve-bolifushi.com 06 05, 06, 07 Guests can relax while enjoying spectacular views of the pristine lagoon 08 Holistic soothing treatments to help you unwind
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SOFITEL DUBAI THE PALM DUBAI Sofitel Dubai The Palm’s new full-day ‘Well-being Immunity Boost Package’ helps people restore balance and equilibrium, improving the physical health and reviving their senses. A full day package, it starts with one on one doctor consultation with Oligoscan to evaluate your health and well-being. Afterwards, you will be treated to a seaweed bath, organic warm spice mud wrap, a stimulating body buff and a detox massage for 180 minutes. Following your treatment, you will enjoy a delectable lunch at The World Eatery restaurant recommended by the nutritionist. 11 Later in the afternoon, the health and wellness
doctor will then prescribe your personalized Oxygen Therapy and IV Vitamin Therapy to deliver all the rich nutrients and vitamins your body needs. Additionally, while enjoying the wellbeing escapes, unwind at the luxurious spa facilities of the Polynesian Sofitel SPA and have access to spa’s indoor and outdoor pools, including a therapeutic pool, experience pool and plunge pool, as well as sauna, hammam and steam room. Each wellbeing program includes a personalized wellbeing kit and additional perks throughout the facilities of Sofitel Dubai The Palm. mandarinoriental.com
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09, 10 The breathtaking views at Sofitel Dubai The Palm 11, 12 Treatments that improve health and revive the senses
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13, 14, 15 A comprehensive physical, emotional, and mental wellbeing experience
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SPA AT MANDARIN ORIENTAL JUMEIRA DUBAI Discover a spa experience where every sense is indulged and every minute is focused on you and your needs. The Spa at Mandarin Oriental Jumeira, Dubai holds a true passion for wellness, placing your physical, emotional, and mental wellbeing at the center of everything they do. Guided by its Oriental heritage and influenced by the local cultural diversity of the UAE, the Spa offers a host of treatments and therapies unique to Mandarin Oriental Jumeira, Dubai. Its signature treatment, Nomadic Sensory Journey, features Emirati drumming as part of the healing process, incorporating Asian beauty knowledge with cutting edge technology. An indulgent VIP suite, Sea Jewel, offers sea views, an interconnecting Hammam-style treatment area and the option of connecting to a further space suitable for wedding parties. The spa also aims to cater to the wide-ranging needs of guests with a range of fitness classes in our state-of-the-art Fitness & Wellness Centre and Movement Studio featuring the first Outrace® equipment in a hotel in Dubai. They offer high energy strength and functional training, as well as more holistic forms of exercise and beach-based classes. The spa can also arrange in-depth personal training consultations focusing on developing programs to improve, fitness and health that suit the individual needs of the guest.
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Culinary Art Located at Gulf Hotel, Fusions by Tala serves delectable creations fusing traditional Bahraini dishes with a contemporary approach. Led by Top Chef finalist, Tala Bashmi, its exquisite offerings present a major step in modernizing the Middle Eastern cuisine. 01
WHAT WOULD YOU RECOMMEND TO A FIRST-TIME PATRON AT FUSIONS? If they really love food, I would recommend trying a tasting menu. It allows them to sample what my cuisine stands for. Plus, there is often a surprise treat in there too.
WHERE DO YOU SOURCE YOUR INGREDIENTS FROM? If possible, I try to get most of my ingredients locally from the Farmers Market. Feeding people from the natural local environment has so many health benefits. It also helps reduce my carbon footprint. We all need to take care about what we put in our bodies, but it’s also very important how we take care of the planet.
2020 WAS A CHALLENGING YEAR FOR RESTAURANTS. HOW DID YOU MANAGE TO OVERCOME THAT?
about a certain vegetable that he usually refuses to eat. He said that he’s marking it in history that, today, he finally likes cauliflower, and it’s all because of my dish!
While we were closed, I focused my team on growing who we are and reinvigorating passions. We researched, learnt, and conceptualized new dishes and new concepts, and shared them with the public. Time spent investing with our team and ideas is always time well spent.
DO YOU FEEL FEMALE CHEFS ARE NOW SEEN AS EQUAL TO THEIR MALE COUNTERPARTS? OR DOES MORE WORK NEED TO BE DONE?
WHAT WAS YOUR PROUDEST MOMENT AS A CHEF? It is no small feat to get a restaurant under my name at a 5-star hotel at the age of 31. On the face of it, having a restaurant can seem like it’s all fun, but the reality of getting to this place was a lot of hard work that I am extremely proud of.
WHAT WOULD YOU SAY IS YOUR SIGNATURE DISH? THE ONE THAT RECEIVED THE MOST COMPLIMENTS?
WHAT’S THE HIGHEST COMPLIMENT YOU EVER RECEIVED AS A CHEF?
Definitely Tikka steak! It’s reinventing traditional street food in Bahrain, taking the famous flavors and applying them in a new way to change perspectives on what Bahraini flavors can mean in the kitchen.
On Top Chef, I received compliments from two chefs who have 3 Michelin stars. One of them said that he would serve my dish in his restaurant, and the other called my dish a masterpiece. I also changed his mind
I believe that there shouldn’t be a female or male chef category at all. Being a chef is about talent, gender has no role to play in it. There needs to be work done, not among chefs, but among the way everyone thinks and talks about this industry.
WHAT’S THE NEXT STEP FOR TALA BASHMI? DO YOU HAVE MORE PROJECTS IN STORE? I’m definitely planning other projects and exciting things, so stay tuned! I will always look to be myself and offer something that people are looking for. The world has changed, and I feel that this is the time to deliver new ideas. instagram.com/fusionsbytala01
01 Chef Tala Bashmi
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02, 03, 04, 05 Fusion by Tala adds a contemporary touch to traditional dishes 02
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Culinary Culture
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01 Vivir, authentic Spanish cuisine
A pop-up at the Ritz-Carlton Bahrain, Vivir serves a variety of Spanish signature dishes that are guaranteed to take patrons on a unique experience. Chef Miguel Martinez takes us through the culinary magic behind the special menu and his signature dish, Paella Valenciana.
WHAT WOULD YOU RECOMMEND TO A FIRST-TIME PATRON AT VIVIR? Vivir’s menu takes inspiration from Spanish culture and thus a gastronomic journey is a must for a first-time guest. All dishes are excerpts of our menu from our Michelin-starred restaurant at The Ritz-Carlton Abama in Tenerife Spain called “M.B”, under 12-starred Michelin Chef Martin Berasategui. A prelude to a sumptuous culinary travel, guests will enjoy our amuse bouche, the famous Salmorejo, an unctuous tomato gazpacho with chive and eggwhite served with marinated olives and olive oil from Cordoba in Andalusia. A perfect complement to a selection of homemade breads like the famous potato and Mojo Rojo from the Canary Islands. After which, I recommend our signature tapas including Croquetas with oxtail stew, Ensalada Russa and Octopus a la Gallega, paired with a glass of handcrafted Sangria. To indulge your palate, my specialty Paella Valenciana, cooked to perfection in our outdoor kitchen, is a must try. This rich and intense dish is made with Bomba rice, chicken, gambas, broad beans, artichokes, bell pepper, saffron and a flavored chicken broth. At Vivir, we also serve other Chef’s special like black rice with calamari, Hammour con salsa verde or the Andalusian-style lamb shank “Confitado” cooked for 8 hours. To
conclude a hearty meal, I recommend a traditional Spanish dessert, Tarta de Santiago, a light almond cake served with green apple and ginger sorbet.
flavors and freshness of the products because they are integral part of a successful recipe, together with the hand of the chef.
CAN YOU TELL US ABOUT VIVIR’S MENU? WHAT MAKES IT SPECIAL?
WHAT WOULD YOU SAY IS YOUR SIGNATURE DISH?
Vivir, meaning “to live”, came to life because of The Ritz-Carlton, Bahrain’s vision to continuously provide unique gastronomic experiences for guests amidst the pandemic. True to its name, the pop-up concept aims to deliver a sense of well-being to our loyal guests thru their palate, with authentic and flavorful dishes that allows an emotional connection to Spanish culture. We want to celebrate life and the pleasure to eat, and these feelings and emotions are translated to the dishes that we make here at Vivir. What makes it even more special is the authenticity of the recipes and the grandiose atmosphere that makes our guests feel like they are in Spain. From the gardenlike setting, the music, coastal vibe, and friendly faces around, you can see and feel the authentic experience from the moment you enter the restaurant until the time you depart. The menu is based on traditional and authentic dishes that are part of the Spanish patrimony, where conviviality and simplicity is key. In fact, when we created the menu, we really focused on the importance of
Paella Valenciana! Paella is a famous dish in Spain but it’s something that you have to really be passionate about when you are cooking. When I first started to work in Tenerife for the Michelinstarred restaurant M.B, I was living with a very good friend of mine from Valencia. He loved cooking, especially rice dishes. Every Sunday, we used to wake up early in the morning, and prepare everything necessary for this amazing rice dish. It’s the best rice dish for me! Then I started to cook the same for my wife. In the beginning, the taste was not the same, but little by little and with dedication, I improved my recipes and techniques, and my rice began to be something very special for us. So now my Paella Valenciana, is my way of sharing a little bit of this history and passion in a delicious way.
WHERE DO YOU SOURCE YOUR INGREDIENTS? Before arriving at the Kingdom, I was worried about the possibility of sourcing some ingredients.
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02, 04 Some of the delectable items on Vivir’s menu 03 Chef Miguel Martinez
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But now, I am very happy about the quality of the ingredients in Bahrain, especially with the seafood, which is an important component of my cuisine. Without quality ingredients, you can’t expect great results. Here at the Ritz-Carlton Bahrain, with the culinary team’s support, we organized, well in advance before my trip, to source as much as we can the right ingredients. Sourcing locally is an important part of the cooking concept.
HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOUR CULINARY PHILOSOPHY? IS YOUR APPROACH MODERN OR TRADITIONAL? My philosophy is full of respect for traditional cuisine. It is amazing what our previous generations were able to do with the tools they had at the time. However, since I started, I have always worked in modern Michelin-starred restaurants so I can say I respect both. I am lucky because most of the chefs that I worked with have the same belief. We never forget where we came from because our ancestors gave us the key to create the dishes that we cook these days.
WHAT DO YOU BELIEVE ARE THE QUALITIES OF A SUCCESSFUL CHEF? To be successful, you have to be happy with what you are doing. To love your craft so deeply that it becomes your second nature. You have to be passionate, patient, open-minded, fearless, and curious. A successful chef never ceases to learn and teach at the same time, because cooking is an act
of sharing. You should constantly seek perfection in your work and be creative. You need to be resourceful, eager to discover new cuisines, and definitely be a team player.
WHAT ARE THE BIGGEST CHALLENGES OF BEING A CHEF? If you want to be recognized as a chef, you need to create unique recipes and showcase your own cooking style. This can be a challenge as it requires many years of experience. At the same time, this can also be a great opportunity to hone your skills. To consistently motivate yourself, not just to cook good food, but to create indelible marks through an elevated dining experience for your guests. Nowadays, the work of a chef is very trendy, but you must stand out to be recognized. I think the first thing you have to do to overcome any challenge is to believe in yourself and your capacity. It is extremely important to have aspirations and then ensure that you take every step to reach them.
WHAT SHOULD WE EXPECT NEXT FROM VIVIR? With the Ritz-Carlton, Bahrain’s perpetual pursuit of culinary excellence, I am positive that after Vivir, another interesting concept will follow. We just need to be patient and stay tuned until the details are revealed. For sure, it is going to be something unique to the island. ritzcarlton.com
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Fine Dining Galore In a city as international as Dubai, visitors can expect everything from the gastronomic scene, from local Emirati street food to Michelin-starred chefs specializing in fine dining, catering to all tastes and budgets. Across the city, foodies can explore Deira for those traditional global cuisines, through to urban food markets, pop-up concepts and chef collaborations which sees international chefs joining forces with local brands for a true Michelin star dining experience. The development of homegrown brands is dominating the dining scene in the city, with chefs looking to source artisanal produce and ingredients locally.
Studio by Tresind Offering an immersive and intimate dining experience Studio by Tresind offers a chefs table experience, serving only twenty guests per dinner service. Exclusivity is at the heart of culinary affair, perfectly in sync with unmatched service, fulfilled by butlers of the highest standards. Considered one of the youngest tastemakers in Indian cuisine today, Chef Himanshu stepped out into the world of gourmet cuisine with the aim to make his mark through constant innovation and to change the perception of Indian cuisine, globally. Over the years, he has been able to successfully change perceptions of diners toward Indian food through his innovative dishes, elevating global standing of the cuisine supported by the evolution of Trèsind which is his ode to the culinary legacy of his homeland. GAIA Located in Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) GAIA, Dubai’s home-grown Greek Mediterranean restaurant is a favourite with celebrities and royalty alike. Famed for its exquisite
cuisine and intricate details it offers a Grecian escape in the heart of the city. Designed by Chef Izu and Chef Orestis Kotefas, the cuisine pays tribute to the simplicity of Greek cooking, using high-quality ingredients that balance the palate. With a humble approach, each dish showcases the true essence of Greek-Mediterranean cuisine. Brasserie Boloud Brasserie Boulud, a new dining concept by Daniel Boulud - chef-owner of award-winning restaurants around the globe – has recently opened its doors this within Sofitel Dubai. Inspired by the French art de vivre, Boulud’s very first restaurant in the Middle East offers French-inspired contemporary cuisine, rooted in tradition. While Boulud hails from outside Lyon, France, it is in New York, that he has truly mastered the dining scene and is today considered one of America’s leading culinary authorities. Renowned for the modern appeal he adds to soulful cooking in authentic French classics, he has continuously evolved his cuisine and expanded his dining concepts in Washington DC, Miami, Palm Beach, Toronto,
Montreal, London, Singapore, and now Dubai. The menu is inspired by the rhythm of the seasons and the finest ingredients, with specialties such as foie gras with orange, dry apricot and fig brioche, sole “grenobloise” with parsley, capers, cauliflower and broccoli, truffled duck leg confit with green lentils and root vegetables as well as dessert specialties such as Vacherin, French meringue with vanilla icecream from Tahiti and red fruits compote, saffron pear and pistachio tart and a selection of refined French cheese. Twiggy by La Cantine Those in the know would have already heard of this new oasis landing at Park Hyatt Dubai, Twiggy by La Cantine is a picturesque hotspot for those who want to chill, drink and dine in an atmosphere of elegant but relax character. Bold art with specially created artwork that harks back to the sixties icon it’s named after. This sun-dappled spot promises chic vibes and a chilled yet playful atmosphere with an upbeat soundtrack, a Mediterranean-inspired menu – with the addition of a delectable sushi selection.
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01 GAIA Begel Art 02, 04 Mouthwatering creations from Studio by Tresind
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KOKO Bay This popular beachside venue on Palm Jumeirah blends Far-Eastern and European fare with laidback Balinese-style decor and a calming beachfront ambience. Enter, and you’re greeted by a neutral palette of white and tan accentuated by sky-blue and forest-green hues. If the colors aloe don’t put you at ease, the rattan and beanbag seating, thatched ceilings, delicate parasols, crocheted hammocks, breezy dreamcatchers and potted palms will surely set you sailing to an imaginary island getaway. A welcome addition to the social mediasavvy diners’ list, it’s easy to see why this spot gained near-overnight fame on Instagram. The menu is a showcase of its cuisine concept – modern Asian with a continental touch – and you’ll find a wide selection here, from seaside nibbles to three-course options. On the weekends, elevate the vacation vibes with plates of signature grills, fish and chips or vegan maki rolls and exciting craft beverages as live DJ beats entertain all day long. 21 Grams For a unique, casual bite, 21 Grams is a homegrown neighbourhood bistro serving up Balkan-style cuisine. Nestled within the cosy suburban centre
of Dubai – Umm Suqeim – the local hotspot is always bustling with good food, delightful coffee and cheerful banter. Trendy and upbeat, the bistro is home to experienced baristas serving speciality coffees and freshly baked goodies. Fish Beach Taverna The taste of fresh seafood straight from the Aegean Sea, Fish Beach Taverna is known for its delectable seafood menu, with an ambience reminiscent of sitting at a cafe in Santorini. Adorned in blue and white decor, it serves up authentic Aegean Sea fare that is traditional along Greece and Turkey’s coastline. With today’s ever-popular sharing culture 04 in mind, this restaurant offers small plates along with fresh daily catches that the chef is ready to cook up to guests liking. nean dining, with all produce and ingredients freshly sourced from Turkey. The freshest, wild cold-water fish caught from the Aegean Sea, Black Sea and Marmara Sea are flown directly to Dubai before being prepared by Turkish chefs. Fish Beach Taverna focuses on providing a beach dining experience like no other. Be delighted by the catch of the day, while soaking up the beachside atmosphere and family time over delicious and wholesome food.
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03 Tresind - Chef Himanshu 05 GAIA Grilled Lobster
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REFINED TASTE Experience a culinary journey with awardwinning and critically acclaimed restaurants from around the world.
L’ATELIER DE JOËL ROBUCHON DUBAI L’Atelier de Joël Robuchon is pleased to announce the much-anticipated opening of its private outdoor terrace in the DIFC, allowing guests to experience the best of French fine dining under the stars in a refined and friendly setting. The terrace opening marks the official opening of this exciting new venue, representing the next era in the Joël Robuchon story. Re-imagined for a new generation, the spirit of L’Atelier reflects Robuchon’s cuisine, whilst confidently carrying it forward to welcome sophisticated diners in a highly casual ambience. The expansive terrace area is envisioned as an immersive space for dining and socializing, open from lunchtime until late. Here, guests are invited into the world of the renowned French artist Philippe Pasqua, who has over the course of eighteen months, handcrafted a unique series of bronze vine sculptures especially for the Dubai venue. These are beautifully showcased throughout the terrace, silhouetted against the Dubai skyline in breathtaking fashion. Another noteworthy design feature is the out-
sized chandelier positioned in the outdoor roof, conceptualized by Gregory Gatserelia, that elevates the space into a glamorous, yet contemporary outdoor room. L’Atelier de Joel Robuchon has found quick success in its soft opening phase, with discerning Dubai diners embracing the modern, relaxed philosophy of the concept. Robuchon’s protégée, Executive Chef Axel Manes, presides over the kitchen, offering healthy and seasonal ingredients, selected from over 100 different producers, favoring dishes with only a few elements, that allow the key ingredients to shine. Manes’ authentic cuisine sets the tone for a 2.0 version of Joel Robuchon’s signature dishes, offering the best of French cuisine and the finest of fine dining in a refined yet informal atmosphere. The restaurant is situated on the podium floor of Gate Village 11 in DIFC. There are 104 seats in the main dining area while the expansive terrace can host up to 68 guests. atelier-robuchon.ae
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02 01, 02 Refined and friendly setting 03, 04, 05 Exquisite culinary creations from L’Atelier de Joël Robuchon
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06, 07, 08 Delectable iftar served by Indigo in Ramadan 09 Beautiful ambience that embraces nature
INDIGO TERRACE THE MERCHANT HOUSE BAHRAIN The appearance of the new crescent moon signals the beginning of the holy month of Ramadan. For the chefs at The Merchant House, Ramadan marks the beginning of daily preparations of delightful culinary creations. Enliven this holy month of forgiveness and contemplation by gathering with your family and friends and sharing the Ramadan spirit. The Merchant House, Bahrain welcomes you to celebrate Ramadan by offering an array of iftar specials, consisting of an extensive range of delicacies designed to bring you closer to your loved ones. Experience the holy month at Indigo Terrace, their signature restaurant with the beautiful ambiance that embraces nature. Break the fast with a family-style set menu that includes Ramadan classics, standard main courses, and desserts all in one place. the menu will feature fresh Arabic bread delivered straight from the oven, a selection of Dips that melt in your mouth, and mezze platter as starters to ignite your tasting buds. Flavorful salads include chicken and halloumi salad made with the freshest ingredients served with thick, creamy soup of the day on the side. Taking inspiration from the Middle Eastern spices, the main course will consist of juicy Shish Tawook, Lamb Kofta, Sherry Fish, Mexican Beef Fajitas, Lamb Mandi Rice, and Mixed Grill made with tender, succulent meat. A lavish selection of desserts presenting delightful treats, including both sweet and savory pastries, all planned to be enjoyed with family and friends. The guests dining will have a safe, enjoyable and memorable experience embracing the traditions and spirit of Ramadan. www.themerchanthouse.com
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10, 13 Irresistible culinary delights 11 Breathtaking views of the Dubai Canal and skyline 12 Trendy and luxurious interior
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SEVEN SISTERS DUBAI Seven Sisters is an upscale bar and lounge located in the heart of Dubai’s Business Bay, on the first floor of the JW Marriott Marquis. With a unique Mediterr-Asian food and cocktail menu served alongside breathtaking views of the Dubai Canal and skyline, Seven Sisters provides the ultimate open-air lounge experience for guests looking to unwind and indulge. Established in Lebanon in 2015, Seven Sisters Dubai is the evolution of the popular venue. Beirut’s famed nightlife lays within the essence of the Seven Sisters name, and is carried within its Dubai emergence. A trendy and luxurious furnished interior, with an alluring terrace, the evenings transcend from a winding-down session to nights of live music and entertainment, awakening the party gene residing within. Seven Sisters promises to bring Beirut’s irresistible charm to Dubai. sevensistersdubai.com
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Unprecedented Luxury Labeled ‘the next chapter in the Rolls-Royce story’, the Phantom points the way forward for the global luxury industry. It boasts the most technological advancements and features the marque’s inimitable exclusivity, making it a milestone achievement. We give the Phantom the Durrah treatment, taking it to the crème-de-la-crème of Bahrain’s luxury destinations.
Our test drive first took us to the Four Seasons Hotel Bahrain Bay, an iconic venue that emanates luxury. Situated on an exclusive island, the 48-story hotel’s H-shaped building is unmistakable in Bahrain’s skyline. The guest rooms offer incredible views of the gulf, and its gorgeous 160-metre white sand beach curves along the island’s sun-drenched southern shore. The RollsRoyce Phantom was right at home, surrounded by exclusive and inimitable luxury. On first glance the New Phantom is remarkable in its purity. Thanks to the new Architecture of Luxury and new engineering processes, the precision body joining process ensures there are few, if any, visible join lines between body panels, giving New Phantom the appearance of being hewn from a solid block of aluminium. It is truly a
triumph of design and engineering departments working hand in hand to create a beautiful masterpiece. New Phantom’s grille is for the first time integrated into the surrounding bodywork. The resulting effect is a cleaner, reduced design with modernity and clarity, allowing all New Phantom’s lines to connect with this iconic statement of power and flow from it. Our next destination was Al Areen Palace & Spa, a resort that sets new standards in distinct luxury, much like the Phantom. Bahrain’s only all-villa resort, its design blends traditional Middle Eastern palace style with contemporary flair. Its 78 luxurious appointed villas offer the ultimate in privacy, along with a choice of international dining venues, award-winning services, and an unrivaled spa experience. This is an immaculate
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01 The Rolls-Royce Phantom at the Four Seasons Hotel Bahrain Bay 02 A triumph in design and engineering
place meticulously designed to impress even the most demanding of refined tastes – another trait it shares with the Rolls-Royce Phantom. Rolls-Royce’s celebrated Magic Carpet Ride is improved as a result of the new lighter architecture, and the latest generation of self-levelling air suspension. The suspension makes millions of calculations every second as it continuously varies the electronically controlled shock absorber adjustment system – reacting to body and wheel acceleration, steering inputs and camera information. In addition, the Flagbearer – evocative of those men who were required by law to carry a red flag ahead of early motor cars – adds a stereo camera system integrated in the windscreen to see the road ahead, adjusting suspension proactively rather than reactively up to 100km/h. Finally, we arrived at Sofitel Bahrain Zallaq Thalassa Sea & Spa. Featuring the GCC’s one and only Thalassa Sea and Spa, this pristine seawater spa hotel and resort takes center stage on the beaches of Zallaq. It offers an incomparable 5-star luxury service through its 262 prestigious rooms and suites, combining elegant French and Bahraini influences. 02
A lot happens at the back of New Phantom as the design evokes the beautiful flowing rears of the 1950’s and 1960’s Phantoms. The rear glass, again defined by an impeccably crafted stainless steel frame, is more raked and the rear lines sleeker than the previous Phantom, whilst a subtle scallop on the rear roof line that hovers above the rear occupant’s assures one of preserved head room. The final visual expression of Phantom is its wheels, which of course conform to the golden mean of RollsRoyce design proportion. Essential to providing the sensation of flight on land, the largest highvalue alloy wheel ever employed on a Rolls-Royce is offered. At 22-inches, the diameter when shod in Rolls-Royce’s Seal Technology Tyres’ delivers a Magic Carpet Ride never experienced in a RollsRoyce before. The Rolls-Royce Phantom is an experience that cannot be matched. A contemporary interpretation of its predecessors, it still retains the Rolls-Royce DNA and philosophy of superior luxury and utmost exclusivity. Truly, a revelation. rolls-roycemotorcars.com
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03, 04 The new Phantom has the appearance of being hewn from a solid block of aluminium
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05, 06, 07, 08 The Phantom boasts the most technological advancements and features the marque’s inimitable exclusivity
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D EXPERIENCE SPECIAL FEATURE
09 The Phantom looks majestic against the backdrop of Bahrain’s skyline
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“This is an immaculate place meticulously
designed to impress even the most demanding of refined tastes - another trait it shares with the Rolls-Royce Phantom.”
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01 The first sport-utility vehicle from Genesis, the GV80 02 The GV80 features a sixcylinder diesel, electronically controlled suspension with road preview, and Road Active Noise Cancellation 03 The interior of GV80 focuses on “the beauty of white space,” characteristic of the elegant South Korean architectural philosophy
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Genesis GV80 The first sport-utility vehicle from Genesis, the GV80 introduces a variety of firsts for the Genesis brand, including a six-cylinder diesel, electronically controlled suspension with road preview, and Road Active Noise Cancellation. The “V” in the GV80 marque represents versatility that only a Genesis SUV can offer. The production GV80 realizes the vision of the GV80 Concept first shown at the 2017 New York International Auto Show. The GV80 SUV joins the lineup alongside the G70, G80 and G90 sedans with more than a common thread of design identity. Signature Genesis design elements are immediately visible on GV80, from every vantage point. The Crest Grille emphasizes gravitas consistent with the positioning of GV80. The Parabolic Line runs smoothly along the side with precise execution, accentuated by power lines above each wheel emphasizing stance and presence. The Quad Lamps, which flank the Crest Grille, are made possible with sophisticated lighting technology. The interior of GV80 focuses on “the beauty of white space,” characteristic of the elegant South Korean architectural philosophy. The concept of “luxury in space” defines the open feeling of the cabin of GV80, with the G-Matrix pattern as a motif. The width of the interior of GV80 was emphasized through the design of sleek, thin air vents that run across the passenger compartment. A 14.5-inch, split-screen infotainment display sits front and center
atop the dashboard. The number of hard buttons and switches was intentionally kept to a minimum, both for aesthetic purposes and ease of use. In up-level variants, soft materials cover every surface, from the inside of the door handles to the quilted knee pads that line the lower sides of the console. GV80 features the world’s first application of Road Active Noise Cancellation (RANC) technology, which dramatically reduces road noise while driving. Other exciting and impressive features found in the all-new 2021 Genesis G80 SUV are the Ergo Motion Driver’s Seat that contains seven air cells to reduce fatigue from long hours of driving. One-touch comfort control, adjustable from the front row, that allows for limousine-level relaxation in the second-row seats. Also, heated and ventilated seats are available in the first two rows. Electronically controlled suspension with road preview, another Genesis first, helps provide passengers with optimal ride comfort by recognizing information on the road ahead in advance via the front camera. GV80 is based on a unique rear-wheel-drive platform; all-wheel drive is optional. GV80 will launch in the home market of South Korea with a Genesisexclusive, 278-ps 3.0-liter six-cylinder diesel engine. Maximum torque is 60.0 kgf.m. When equipped as a five-seat model with 19-inch wheels, the rear-wheeldrive diesel GV80 variant returns 11.8 km/l. genesis.com
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Lotus Evija The world’s first fully electric British hypercar, the allnew Lotus Evija, has been revealed. With unparalleled performance and a target power output of 2,000 PS, it sets new standards in terms of advanced EV engineering. Quite simply, the Lotus Evija is the most powerful series production road car ever built. Like all Lotus cars throughout the brand’s storied 71-year history, the Evija has been precision-engineered to deliver an outstanding driving experience both on the road and track. It is the most dynamically accomplished model ever built by the company, setting new standards for Lotus driving performance. Above all else, it is ‘For The Drivers’. As a name, Evija (pronounced ‘E-vi-ya’) means ‘the first in existence’ or ‘the living one’. It is highly appropriate; Lotus has an unquestionable reputation for its pioneering approach in both automotive and motorsport. The Evija marks the start of an exciting new chapter in the history of an iconic and much-loved British sports car brand. It is the first hypercar from Lotus, and the company’s first model with an electrified powertrain. As the first completely new car to be launched under the stewardship of Geely -
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the world’s fastest growing automotive group - its significance cannot be overstated. Exclusivity and desirability go hand in hand in the world of hypercars, and the Evija is blessed with an abundance of both. Production is limited to not more than 130 examples, making it among the most exclusive cars ever launched. It’s a figure set in tribute to the car’s project code, Type 130. Lotus road and race cars throughout the brand’s seven decades of success have been assigned a Type number, and the Evija is no exception. A stunning piece of contemporary automotive design, the Evija features a dramatic Venturi tunnel through each rear quarter, giving it a truly breathtaking presence. Illustrative of the innovative thinking and ingenuity which has always been part of the Lotus DNA, the Evija is a technical tour de force. It continues the legendary Lotus bloodline that’s rich in firsts and technical game-changers, both in the automotive and motorsport sectors. While it is a glimpse of the future from Lotus, it remains true to the company’s DNA and the guiding principles of founder Colin Chapman, who built the first Lotus in 1948.
The Evija is the first Lotus road car to feature a one-piece carbon fiber monocoque chassis. The cabin, from the fully adjustable race-style seats to the multi-function steering wheel, is the very pinnacle of motorsport-inspired road car design and technology. At the heart of the Evija is an ultra-advanced all-electric powertrain. It has been developed with technical partner Williams Advanced Engineering, famed for success in motorsport, from Formula One to electrifying the first four seasons of Formula E. The battery pack is mid-mounted immediately behind the two seats and supplies energy directly to four powerful e-motors. This highly efficient system is the lightest, most energy dense, electric power package ever fitted to a road car. With a target weight of just 1,680 kg, it will be the lightest pure electric hypercar ever to go into series production. Engineered for precise and sustained performance, the Evija has five driving modes - Range, City, Tour, Sport and Track. It can race from 0-62 mph (0-100 km/h) in under three seconds and accelerate to a top speed of more than 200 mph (0-320 km/h). lotuscars.com
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04 The Lotus Evija is the most powerful series production road car ever built 05 The Evija features a dramatic Venturi tunnel through each rear quarter, giving it a truly breathtaking presence
06 It can race from 0-100 km/h in under three seconds and accelerate to a top speed of more than 320 km/h
AUTOMOTIVE
07 The Rolls-Royce Cullinan is the most technologically advanced car of its type in the world 08, 09 The cabin of Cullinan combines authentic Rolls-Royce luxury with simple, symmetrical functionality
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10 The completely reworked new 6.75 litre twinturbo V12 RollsRoyce engine delivers just the right level of torque (850Nm) at the lowest possible revolutions (1,600rpm)
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Rolls-Royce Cullinan The Rolls-Royce Cullinan is Rolls-Royce as it’s never seen before. Making luxury Effortless, Everywhere engendered an evolution in Rolls-Royce’s approach to creating an authentic Rolls-Royce SUV. The most obvious sign of this was the radical rear of Cullinan. For the first time, a Rolls-Royce has an opening tailgate, called ‘The Clasp’. In a nod to the era when luggage was mounted on the exterior of the motorcar, so the occupants did not travel with their belongings, the rear profile of Cullinan is a twopart, ‘D-Back’ format, with the bustle denoting the place of the luggage. ‘The Clasp’ opens and closes in its two sections automatically at the touch of the key fob button. The rear passenger compartment of Cullinan has been designed to offer the best seat in the house for the owner’s particular needs. Two rear configurations are offered - Lounge Seats or Individual Seats. The Lounge Seat configuration is the more functional of the two options. With space for three passengers in the rear, it will likely be more attractive to families. The rear seats also fold down - a first for Rolls-Royce. RollsRoyce’s investment in making the rear of Cullinan effortlessly and ultimately practical has the side benefit of offering a loading length longer than a Range Rover Vogue Extended Wheelbase. A very
practical Rolls-Royce indeed. Cullinan awakes at the touch of the unlock button on the Bespoke key, or indeed by simply reaching out to its beautifully tactile stainless steel door handle. It lowers itself by 40mm to make entry effortless as the iconic Rolls-Royce coach doors stand open to welcome driver and passengers to their adventure. A touch of the start button then elevates Cullinan 40mm to its standard, commanding ride height, placing its occupants in the perfect position from which to see the world as it drives off. A host of other cutting-edge technology makes Rolls-Royce Cullinan the most technologically advanced car of its type in the world. Further equipment includes: Night Vision and Vision Assist including daytime and night-time Wildlife & Pedestrian warning; Alertness Assistant; a 4-Camera system with Panoramic View, all-round visibility and helicopter view; Active Cruise Control; Collision Warning; Cross-Traffic Warning, Lane Departure and Lane Change Warning; an industry leading 7x3 High-Resolution Head-Up Display, WiFi hotspot, and of course the latest Navigation and Entertainment Systems. Inside, the cabin of Cullinan combines authentic Rolls-Royce luxury with simple, symmetrical
functionality to express the car’s inherent strength. Whether the fascia and center stack of the dashboard or the arm rests on the doors, structural horizontal and vertical elements underpin the interior design. The seats in Cullinan have a bold, confident character, showcasing Rolls-Royce quality and craftsmanship. Designed to suit the more casual and dynamic quality of Cullinan, they feature a simple but modern horseshoe graphic which emphasizes the supportive bolsters of the seat. These new seats also showcase Rolls-Royce’s mastery of leather craft as this entire backrest panel has been crafted from a single piece of leather to pick out a highly three-dimensional surface. The completely reworked new 6.75 litre twinturbo V12 Rolls-Royce engine delivers just the right level of torque (850Nm) at the lowest possible revolutions (1,600rpm). The final piece of the puzzle of ensuring that the Rolls-Royce Cullinan is Effortless, Everywhere is one single button. Known within Rolls-Royce as the ‘Everywhere’ button, one single push is all it takes to harness all the aforementioned peerless RollsRoyce engineering and unleash all of Cullinan’s off-road capability. rolls-roycemotorcars.com
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Audi e-Tron Sportback Faster charging, more convenience behind the wheel - Audi is systematically enhancing its e-tron models. The all-electric SUV and e-tron Sportback SUV coupe are receiving a number of new equipment features. Fast charging with direct current (DC) has always been a major strength of the e-tron models. Now Audi is also enabling faster charging with alternating current (AC). Effective immediately, e-tron 55* and e-tron Sportback 55* customers can order a second on-board charger that doubles the power from 11 kW to as much as 22 kW at appropriate charging terminals. This option will follow for the e-tron 50* and e-tron S* models in mid-2021. The standard mode 3 cable, with which all e-tron models can charge at public terminals, has already been converted to a charging capacity of 22 kW. The new charging system connect, which Audi offers for home garages, is also designed for a charging capacity of up to 22 kW. It is designed for use at household outlets and can thus also be used when away from home. Using a suitable domestic installation, the e-tron 55* models can be fully charged in just under five hours. The
charging system connect comprises an operating unit with a 5-inch touch display and a wall mount. Its Wi-Fi internet connection enables both control via the myAudi app and function updates. Audi recommends a three-phase, 400-volt outlet for optimal use of the charging system connect. If desired, an electrician referred by the local Audi dealer will check the power supply and install the suitable technology as needed. In conjunction with a compatible home energy management system from SMA Solar Technology or the Hager Group, the e-tron charging system connect offers additional, intelligent functions. For example, the Audi e-tron can take account of the needs of other consumers in the household and charge with the remaining power available in order to avoid overloading the home electrical system. The charging system also allows customers to define individual priorities, such as charging when electricity is less expensive under a variable electricity rate. If the home is equipped with a photovoltaic system, the car can be charged preferentially using the electricity generated by the system. Charging planning then considers forecast periods of sunshine.
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Additional features of the e-tron charging system connect include PIN protection against unauthorized use and the recording of charging energy. The updated steering wheels make driving even more convenient. The driver only has to lightly touch the touch-sensitive rim once per minute with his or her hand to ensure that the lateral guidance of the adaptive cruise assist remains active. The driver remains fully responsible for steering the vehicle, however. The high-end system, which uses data from the central driver assistance controller (zFAS), can keep the Audi e-tron centered in the lane. It also manages longitudinal guidance across the entire speed range. It supports the driver with accelerating, braking, maintaining speed, keeping distance and in traffic jam situations. The Audi e-tron S* and the Audi e-tron S Sportback* come standard with 20-inch wheels, with 21-inch wheels available as an option. Audi Sport GmbH has now upped the ante - with 10.5Jx22 wheels and 285/35 series tires. The titanium gray wheels have a five-spoke structure and a gloss turned finish. audi.com
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11 The Audi e-Tron Sportback looking stunning against the backdrop of Wyndham Grand
13 Audi e-Tron Sportback offers faster charging and added convenience
12 The e-Tron Sportback with The Face sculpture at Bank ABC and ila Bank headquarters
14, 15 The e-Tron Sportback includes a number of new and innovative features
MUST HAVE - MEN
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The latest and most exclusive luxury items for men
MB&F Avionics VM Handmade Electric Bike AVIONICS VM handmade electric bike captures the thrill of flying high while riding on solid ground. Blending minimalistic features into a retro style reminiscent of the 1930s, these two-wheelers boast an unparalleled spirit sure to turn heads as they speed by. mbandf.com
March 2021
Bang & Olufsen Beosound Level Portable WiFi Speaker Superior sound in a minimalist, portable design with up to 16 hours of battery life. Beosound Level reinvents flexible home audio. bang-olufsen.com
ACH Collection David Figurine Decor David figurine decor is an eye-catching decorative object to adorn your tabletop. Inspired by the unique David Bowie and painted by hand, this beautiful ceramic head is perfect for decorating any room division. Bowie was responsible for demystifying many taboos and opening the frontiers of society. Contributing to the general acceptance of art, performance, and music. achcollection.com
Calligaris Senza Tempo Tiny and graceful, classic at first glance, but with a touch of color that makes Senza Tempo a timeless item. A ceramic table clock with a quartz mechanism and a soft silhouette - reminiscent of pop culture in comics - it creates an unexpected contrast with the sophistication of its ceramics. With a breezy light-hearted design, it has hands in a bright brass finish which gleam against the creamyhemp, smoke-grey and oxide-red body. calligaris.com
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Fornasetti Wall plate Tema e Variazioni n.401
BOAC Speedbird Carry-On
The unmistakable features of Lina Cavalieri’s face, playfully reinterpreted by Fornasetti, provide the inspiration for the Tema e Variazioni series to which this hand-decorated porcelain plate belongs. A true collector’s item, you can use this creation as a wall plate, thanks to the two holes on the back and a special hook, but also as an ornamental piece for table art. For cleaning, we recommend a damp cloth without any soaps or solvents.
Marked with the unmistakable Speedbird insignia, the limited-edition British Airways x Globe-Trotter collaboration carry-on celebrates the retirement of British Airways icon of the air, the 747. Taking inspiration from the 747’s original livery of dark blue and white, each case also holds a precious fragment of an actual 747 aircraft in the interior lid. A mark of history that is truly one of a kind.
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Narke GT95 Electric Jet Ski Narke’s latest electric jet ski picks up where the first-generation GT45 left off, with more power, range, and a cutting-edge design. The electric motor and high-power battery pack produce 95 horsepower, with a top speed of 43 MPH and 31 miles of range. narke.com
MB&F Horological Machine N°9 ‘Sapphire Vision’ HM9 Sapphire Vision comes in four editions, each limited to only five pieces: two editions with 18K red gold frame, combined with a NAC-coated black or a PVD-coated blue engine; and two editions with 18K white gold frame, featuring a PVD-coated purple or a red gold plated engine. mbandf.com
Transparent Matte Black This all-new Matte Black finish from Transparent, the Stockholmbased modular electronics brand, is a new addition to its Small and Transparent Speaker and features True Wireless functionality. The new finish creates a unified family of speakers and offers a minimalist yet expressive aesthetic that transcends trends and complements any style of home. transpa.rent
MUST HAVE - MEN
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Spalding x Saint Laurent Saint Laurent Rive Droite Spalding x Saint Laurent have conceived and redesigned the iconic basketball with a black snakeskin effect.A 9Forty style cap has been created with New Era. This classic cap has been designed in black with the YSL logo embroidered on the front. saintlaurentrivedroite.com
Supreme X Sea-Doo Spark Trixx Jet Ski For their Spring/Summer 2021 collection, Supreme adds Sea-Doo to their long list of collaborators, putting their signature branding on a Spark Trixx Jet Ski. The lightweight watercraft boasts a Rotax 900 Ace 90 horsepower engine with intelligent throttle control and brake systems, while its 50-watt sound system is equipped with Bluetooth. supremenewyork.com
Moncler Extreme Phone Case This Extreme phone case for men is the modern, functional accessory for those who choose Moncler style in every detail. Crafted in nylon technique, it showcases functional pockets, an adjustable shoulder-strap and elastic drawcords on the sides to adjust its expansion. moncler.com
gulfair.com
أﻫﻼ ً وﺳﻬﻼ ً ﺑﻜﻢ ﰲ ﺑﻴﺘﻨﺎ اﻟﺠﺪﻳﺪ Welcome to our new home
Call us on 17 37 37 37
MUST HAVE - WOMEN
My Wish List The latest and most exclusive luxury items for women
Dolce&Gabbana Rainbow Watch This watch from the Rainbow line features a dial containing 263 brown round diamonds. Bracelets are available in 2 oval “Sky”, 2 round blue topaz, 2 oval “London” topaz, 2 cushioncut “Swiss” topaz, 2 round intense-purple amethysts, 2 rectangular purple amethysts, 2 round green tourmalines, 2 oval pink tourmalines, 2 round “Madera” quartzes, 2 oval citrines, 2 oval peridots, 2 oval cabochon essonites, 2 oval green tourmalines, and 2 cushion-cut green quartzes. dolcegabbana.com
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Anissa Kermiche Earthenware Jewelry Box Anissa Kermiche wants to bring artistic shapes into daily life. The label’s pieces are not only meant to be practical, they also feel like works of art. This jewelry box is crafted from ivory earthenware and topped with two sculptural shapes in contrasting black and gold hues. Display it on a vanity, using it store your most precious items anissakermiche.com
ACH Collection Nina Figurine Decor Nina figurine is a very special decorative ceramic head. Each detail of this item is inspired by the Native American name “Nina”, which means “mighty warrior”. A hand-painted figurine that will bring the perfect decor style to your modern luxury project. achcollection.com
L’objet Lito Plates A surrealistic “talisman” of good luck and a traditional symbol of protection, the eye serves as a constant reminder to be aware, to dispel negative energy, and to seek beauty in the everyday. The eye is also a point of connection between two souls. L’Objet + Lito is a celebration of that connection, between two creators, inviting you to see design in a whole new light. Whimsical and surreal decorative objects are handcrafted in porcelain with 24-karat gold plating and inlaid with resin details. l-objet.com
MUST HAVE - WOMEN
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March 2021
Fornasetti Vase Pensee Based on a painting by Piero Fornasetti, this decoration was later reworked to become a subject within the Tema e Variazioni series: here it adorns a colorful, hand-decorated and painted ceramic vase. fornasetti.com
Globe Trotter Albion Carry-On - 4 Wheels This Carry-On Case is the ideal companion for one, two, three nights away. And being accepted by most airlines in the cabin, it’ll never need to leave your side. As cozy as fish and chips on a windy beach, this piece from the Albion Ivory / Dorset Blue collection evokes all the charm and nostalgia of the great British holiday. A simple exterior reveals a vibrant interior reminiscent of a day beside the seaside globe-trotter.com
Calligaris Pecora The intention behind the design of these animals is to further heal the rift between mankind and nature because harmonious relations are crucial to our life. Bring the most iconic cutest farm animals into your homes with a stylish flourish. calligaris.com
Karl Rue St-Guillaume Yoga Mat And Towel 2-Set Pose, stretch, sweat with this yoga mat and towel set. For flexibility with finesse, this roll mat and towel set featuring the iconic Rue St-Guillaume logo is your new favorite workout buddy. karl.com
Louis Vuitton Dog Carrier 50 This spacious pet carrier is resistant to water and scratches. It comes equipped with a double zip-around closure and a breathable mesh window. louisvuitton.com
L’objet Oh Mon Dieu No.69 scented candle, 1000g ‘Objet’s ‘Oh Mon Dieu’ candle is designed to transport you to Paris circa 1969, during the city’s artistic and sexual revolution. Hand-blended with natural oils and essences, it opens with warm notes of Cognac and sweet Caramel, followed by a romantic floral heart and rounded out by a musky leather base. It comes in a modern porcelain vessel with a brass lid. l-objet.com
MUST HAVE - WOMEN
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March 2021
Supremex Smeg Mini Fridge Offered in two color offerings like usual, a red and a black option will be given. Taking a deep dive into the usual Smeg mini-fridge, the icebox will be 19 inches high and 15 inches wide all while boasting a modern 50’s inspired design. supremenewyork.com
Tiffany Backpack High-quality Italian leather and T-shaped accents define Tiffany leather designs. Classic and modern details combine to create this Tiffany Blue® leather backpack, perfectly suited for everyday use. tiffany.com
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