Gulf Elite #2 by Gulf Elite

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ISSUE 2

WHY YOU NEED TO FIND YOUR MICHELLE IN LIFE The danger of your comfort zone Starting from the bottom now weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re here! Douchebags of the 21st century

LESSONS ON LEADERSHIP FROM BOEING ON THE BEAT On The Beat is a monthly newletter about Music, tracks recommendations, events and opinions!

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WELCOMEMESSAGE

LETTER FROM THE EDITOR ISSUE 2, OCTOBER 2013

e´ve all read how every successful business started up. Mark Zuckerburg started a blog about his crazy ex-girlfriend. Steve Jobs was inspired by Steve Wozniak and created the Apple I in his mother’s garage. Ibrahim Naji got a wierd text message at 2 AM from Mohamed Amine saying, “Yo, lets start a magazine”.

Yep, that’s really where it all started. I had just arrived to Stockholm, and couldn’t really sleep. We had just entered the time of Ramadan too, so I was lying in bed counting the minutes before sunrise, just another night. Or so I thought. The clock had just struck 2 AM and starvation mode was just about to go on. Out of no were I get a text message from Mohamed Amine on Facebook with a message you don’t really see coming at 2 in the morning,it went like this “Yo, lets open a magazine.” To be honest with you, I thought the guy was high, I mean who comes up with such an idea at two AM? Maybe the hunger had struck him already or he was drunk out of his mind. But I humbled myself and replied “Alright crazy, we´ll talk tomorrow”. Tomorrow came, I got on Skype, wondering if he still was as bold as last night, taking into consideration that the guy who wanted to study politics just wanted to establish a Magazine… a little weird if you ask me. So after three hours of brainstorming, Gulf Elite Magazine was hooked. We didn’t really know what to expect, were we looking at a couple of hundred readers or a couple of thousand readers? What the hell where we going to write about? I mean if you throw in two recent high school graduates into a business they’ve only heard about, what would you expect? A month later we hit hard, with over 23 000 readers world wide, we established a partnership with Elite Daily, got Derek Khan on board as mentor and currently discussing sponsorship deals with Al-Jahra Hotel. It’s unbelievable huh? You think I woke up that day expecting a text message from Amine telling me about his crazy idea? Helll noo! You see, there is something to learn from this: Life is full of surprises, you’ll never know what’s waiting around the corner to jump at you. So embrace the fact that anything can change in an instance, whether its good or bad, change is galloping your way, and so are opportunities!

IBRAHIM NAJI - EDITOR

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issue 2 FIND YOUR MICHELLE IN LIFE THE DANGER OF YOUR COMFORT ZONE RISK AND BOLDNESS FROM THE DESERT LESSONS ON LEADERSHIP FROM BOEING DOUCHEBAGS OF THE 21ST CENTURY ELITE PROFILE: RAHA MOHARRAK LIFE LESSONS: AN ARTIST’S TAKE ON THE BEAT STARTING FROM THE BOTTOM NOW WE’RE HERE THE GULF’S EIGHT WONDERS StudInov Marketing Strategies offers Gulf Elite readers an exclusive 25% OFF coupon to benefit from our Business cards design and print service. Simply send us an email at studinovstrategies@gmail.com with the subject line GULFELITE coupon and we will offer you instantly a 25% reduction. Along with providing Business cards, we provide multiple marketing solutions such as websites, logos, brochures, magazine designs, intercative pitch presentations, content generation, SEO, promotional videos as well as exclusive access to relevant networks. Are you a student launching a new venture, an NGO or an initiative? Then benefit from our CHANGEMAKERS discounts for up to 50% accross our services!

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relationships WHY YOU NEED TO FIND YOUR MICHELLE

Your partner makes you or breaks you

s you’re reading this, remember that you will, at some point in your life, start thinking seriously about finding your soul mate, the other half that’ll complete you, the sweetheart who you’ll be waking up next to every morning, and when that time comes, it won’t be as easy as you think, because if it is, then you’re doing something wrong! Finding the perfect match should not be about hooking up with that 10 or that 9, but about finding the woman of your life. It is not high school anymore, and it is sure as hell not college where you were getting into a relationship for the hell of it every few weeks! Your partner in fact can either make you or break you; she can boost your professional career or flush it down the drain, she can enhance your social circle or burn it to the ground, she can be your best friend or your worst nightmare when you need a shoulder to lean on. Morale of the story, it is a big deal, and a lifetime investment you should ponder carefully. What traits or characters are essential for you to chose the right partner and tick all the boxes? No need to look into fairytales, because there is already someone who you can use as reference: Michelle Obama! Now it might sound too cliché to think of the first lady at first, mainly because all first ladies are portrayed as the perfect women for the perfect husbands, but truth be said, Michelle is one of a kind and her story with Barack is an inspiration for us all. Here are the headlines you might want to consider when looking for your Michelle, try to keep up.

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Can she push you forward in your professional career? Love can bind us together, but professional aspirations are sometimes just too grand to keep your relationship alive. You want to spend more hours on working those extra shifts to move ahead, but she might not be fine with it. You want to spend more time with her and take a break together? She is too busy going out every weekend. You want to be promoted and get to the top executive echelon? Well, she´s not that into your career and couldn’t care any less. Your partner is just as ambitious as you are, only difference is, you’re aiming for two different goals. If you want to get along with someone in your life, make sure she values your professional endeavors as much as she values your relationship. Michelle dropped her job and quit practicing law because she knew that supporting her husband in his political path is a sacrifice too small compared to the value she placed in maintaining her marriage and supporting Barack. Barack Obama’s success was as much his as it was hers, and Michelle knew all too well that whatever it takes, she loved that man and her family too damn much to prioritize her career over them. Whether it is a relationship or a marriage, your second half is half of your success, so make sure they are entirely devoted and willing to take on profesionnal and personal sacrifices to further your career. Not only that, but also include them in your endeavors, for Michelle didn’t just stay at home and take care of the family; she spoke at conferences, appeared in TV shows and launched projects for the sake of boosting her husband’s visibility, credibility and success.

Your partner makes your personal brand You feel it when you get into a relationship, but you hardly think of it when you’re making the step to choose the right person to live with. Think of yourself as a brand, a company, and be careful about the image your brand displays or is associated with. You want your other half to reflect well on you, whether we are talking about your social circle or your professional network. What your “Michelle” represents is not only constrained to your house, but spreads way beyond. You’ll have ultimately to take your partner to your business dinners, social gatherings, she will meet your Boss or speak on your behalf if you’re not there, and this is where shit gets real. Your entourage will judge you for your choice, so if your “one” makes a poor impression, lets inappropriate comments slip or lacks the spirit of initiative and leadership that gives you extra points on your personal brand board, your relationship will drag your quest for success down rather than further it up. When Michelle Obama spoke at the DNC convention, the approval rate for Barack Obama skyrocketed and many didn’t fail to point out to the president that he was lucky to have such a woman in his life. You should be able to trust your partner with your reputation and credibility, and feel comfortable taking her to your networking events because you know she’ll stand out and send a strong message to your circles: if I am such an

amazing woman and I decided to spend my life with this dude, he must be the real deal! World brands spend millions on their PR and Marketing efforts, and the least they want to do is associate themselves with companies, governments or personalities who stain their image and discredit their reputation. You shouldn’t spend as much, but at least take all the time necessary to carefully pick whom your name will be associated with for the foreseeable future.

When stress hits hard, can she take the heat off you? Life is a sequence of ups and downs, and when things get pretty messed up, you need someone you can ask for advice or simply talk to. A long day at work or a life crisis will be in your to do list sooner or later, and alone it is much of a gamble to try to take them on. What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger, but are you wiling to take the risk of getting dragged to the bottom? Someone in your life can be a great asset to have, and Barack Obama for example, understands very well why! If it weren’t for Mi-

chelle Obama, the president would have had a nervous breakdown a long time ago, especially with such a joyful job that puts him in the same room as hardcore republicans trying to tear his policies apart! One’s house is supposed to be a comfortable environment, immune from the stress that comes along work and the outside world. Your partner needs to understand when to step in and get you to relieve all your anxiety, speak out how hard your day was, or when to stay away and give you space to breath. Your partner should also be your strategic ally and advisor, someone to remind you of who you are, what you’re doing wrong and what could be improved. Getting to the top sometimes turns you blind to your own imperfections, so while all those around you will lick your boots and tell you you’re awesome, your partner should be in a position to tell you the truth, even if it hurts. An anecmen-

dote worth tioning here

is the fact that Barack Obama quit smoking for 6 years now, and when asked why, he simply said that he was afraid of Michelle. Your wife or partner is your last defense against insanity and arrogance, she can keep your feet on the ground when your head is flying high in the clouds, or she can lie and boost your ego just for the sake of having that Chanel perfume. Are you willing to make your partner your best associate and your greatest supporter? Then sit and think carefully about your next step. Your reputation, brand, success and pursuit of happiness is at stake, and your other half will have a big say on how that will go. The life example of the Clintons and the Obamas is a striking reminder that a relationship can be a source of mutual support and stunning achievements, so decide if you are looking for a Michelle in your life, because if you do, you’ve completed your first step towards a brilliant marriage, life and career.

by mohamed amine belarbi

life THE DANGER OF YOUR COMFORT ZONE

You have to sacrifice who you are now for what you want to be

o the third season of Suits just got released and on top of that, the Champions league is waiting right around the corner – you’re comfortable. Laying there on your couch with your hand down your pants, watching Harvey kick the shit out of Stephen Huntley – you’re comfortable. Yet somewhere within your subconscious, something is telling you to get your ass up and finish that job application you were supposed to finish last night. Sadly, you’re not in touch with that inner consciousness, because you’re comfortable. Whether we like it or not, time and change will be two constants that will forever remain in our lives, a kind of alternation that will always be drifting towards us. Things will always change, develop and adjust – so imagine being disassociated from change, living life with a naïve sense of disillusion. Imagine that you’re actually choosing to live your life from a much less optimum point than what you’re capable of because of comfort. It’s crazy – I mean why would you constantly allow yourself to inactively accept change, instead of actively seeking it? Putting yourself in situations and circumstances dictated and set by others. I mean, unless you just got hit by a train, why the hell would you just lay back and let others use you as they please because you were too lazy to stand up for your dreams? In life, you either pursue your dreams, or somebody else will hire you to achieve theirs. I say screw comfort, before it screws you. Getting out of the so-called comfort zone is easier than you think; you just need something to gulf elite magazine

snap you out of it. But understand something first; I won’t pity you, your rival won’t pity you and the world sure as hell won’t feel sorry for you. There is no one out there who is going to make life easier for you, and why should they? Once you realize that you’re not a victim of circumstances, you’ll start your journey out of the comfort zone.

Comfort is a bitch cloaked in seducing sexy lingerie; a delusional beauty that blinds us from the absolute changes that are heading our way. So how do we grow a pair to resist this seduction? Well let us first get acquainted with the term “change”. There are sudden changes and there are subtle changes. Most of us see sudden changes as something uncontrollable and ruthless in contrast to subtle changes which you might see as good because we´re able to adjust and prepare for them, due to their gradual forthcoming. We´re human, we respond to what we see. The less abrupt the change is, the better our chances are of responding and coping with it. But then

again, I don’t picture you seeing the bad in you winning the lottery, which by the way, is a sudden change. So then why are sudden changes seen as a negative alternation while subtle changes are seen as a positive alternation? Simple, in most circumstances, sudden changes happen to us, while subtle changes happen for us. You see, every sudden occasion in our life, whether good or bad, can only hurt us or help us depending on how well equipped we are to deal with it. On the other hand, subtle changes are alternations that we know are going to occur - the gradual changes which are easier to tackle due to your sense of awareness. Its crazy - we´ve embraced our comfort zone to an extent where “good old habits” like walking have been replaced by consumerist and stupid routines like spending all day watching TV and devouring junk…and you wonder why 70% of the US population is obese… So how do we fight the sudden changes, or even better, remove them from our lives? How do you become a better individual tomorrow than you were today? You get your shit together, and you equip yourself with your potential skills and get it touch with your consciousness

to strategically face change, before it faces you. It’s like preparing for a test: unless you know what questions and requirements are going to be asked from you, you’re screwed. No pain no gain. You grow when you feel the burn, when you know you are going through pain, that’s what getting your shit together feels like. Getting out of a routine, breaking out of a bad habit or forcing yourself to adopt a new lifestyle ain’t easy. Expect a tough time when you are transitioning form the lazy, complacent and unproductive snob you were to a productive and fast moving machine. Pain is temporary, it may last a minute, an hour, a month or a year, but it will ultimately fade away as a result of your success. The pain of quitting and never trying lasts a lifetime. So stop whining about how hard it is and get cracking on it, because nothing ever worth doing has been acquired easily. You want it? Fight for it! We´ve all heard the hipster’s liberal and spiritual bullshit; “We live in the moment, we see it as it comes”. Now yes you might not want to take on university just yet or see yourself through that potential promotion, but ask yourself this, what kind of moment are you really living in if you’re not ready for what’s coming to you?

by ibrahim naji Because change is coming, it is either sneaking up on you or blitzing its way towards you, either way, it is coming. So if it means working long hours and missing that champions league game to alter your current financial circumstances, do it! If hitting the gym five times a week will give you that crazy body you desire, then five times a week you will be in the gym. If thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s not doing the trick, remember, the need for change is always motivated by the perceptual vision of better circumstances. There will always be another optimum point. There will

always be better opportunities out there, and theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re waiting for you to take them. So never float through the present, take an aggressive stance towards the future and embrace your potentials.

The voice of generation Y

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risk LESSONS ON RISK AND BOLDNESS

The greater the risk, the greater the reward

aking risks in your life is not a question of choice, but a matter of necessity. You see, what you have to understand is that the greater the risk you take and the bolder you are in your endeavors, the greater are the consequent rewards and achievements. You can’t just go around jumping from the second floor, eating a spoon of hit chili or confronting your crush with your love and claim that you’ve taken a great risk, that success should come galloping your way because you’ve done something you wouldn’t have felt comfortable doing.

That is not taking risk on the scale great achievements happen, and sure as hell, it won’t enlighten you or change your life upside down. Instead of talking theory here, let me speak from personal experience and demonstrate how much gut it takes to go down the path of danger and success! Imagine your country is at war with a military group that happens to be headquartered in the middle of the Algerian desert, and where only a handful people of your kind have set foot and ended up either exiled or jailed after they returned back to the homeland. Gloomy picture you might think? Now add a 17 year old with a backpack knowing no one in that desert, heading to stay a week with those his governments consider an enemy militia, and taking the risk of being labeled an enemy of the state upon his return. Well, that’s me! The journey, as it turned out later, didn’t only bear unthinkable dangers and risks (being picked up by masked men in a military airport, traveling in a WWII 4x4 falling apart, getting food poisoned etc.) but it turned out to be the start for a series of achievements that paved the way to where I stand today.

Be bold, be visible! Taking bold moves will give you an edge over everyone - attention and visibility. Starting from university up to the employer, all admission offices are flooded with thousands of applications, all marked with sharp sets of qualifications and awards, and one of the files in gulf elite magazine

that pile happens to be yours. How to catch the attention of the potential university recruiter, employer or even crush is to show it, him or her that unlike everyone else, you have something more to show: balls! In today’s society, having the guts to go about doing anything is a great plus, because in an unconventional world, unconventional tasks are common currency. Your employer, university or crush needs to know that the person in front of him/her can be up to the task, that they can do the dirty work if needed, have the bravery to confront him or her if they’re about to make the biggest mistake of their lives, can have the guts to go beyond what’s asked from him and innovate the next big thing!

Reach out to the competition Something else that I learned from this journey, and that you’ll have to develop if you want to achieve what you’re after, is to understand how to put yourself in other people’s shoes and how to openly confront and come together with what or who is considered your competition or enemy. Whether its business or your personal life, never settle for a single story, never have an ultimate truth and never think that you got it all figured out, because if you did, you should be sitting in the white house and not in front of your laptop reading this. You can’t stand that asshole from the dorm next door? Well, man up and go reach out to him because he might be the guy who’ll partner up with you in coming up with that million dollar project or the guy who has the skills you need to complete that amazing product of yours. You hate that marketing agency on the upper side? Have a drink with the employees there, share some tips and ideas and don’t boycott them because they are after your clients. There is much to learn from cooperation and knowledge sharing because alone we go fast, but together we go far (Silicon Valley is an amazing example of such philosophy). Keep your friends close bur your enemies closer.

Screw conformity When I decided to put on that backpack, miss school and risk everything on my way to a camp in the middle of nowhere, my family and surrounding didn’t pop champaign to celebrate this move! Everyone opposed my plans, everyone taught of it as suicidal and insane, but all I could think of was: Why not? Who the hell decided that no one should do what I did? Who put the rules of how and why we deal with those people they tell us are our enemies? If you listen to what people say, and live the way people tell you, statistically you’ll belong to the 99% who we never wanted to end up like in the first place. Conformity is the mother of all sins, and so much has been overlooked, so many opportunities missed and so many issues are unresolved today because we decided that we should leave things as they are and do everything as it has been done before. If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it? Bullshit! We want a life that means more than an “ain;t broke”. We didn’t bust ourselves studying and working hard just so we can end up living life like Mr Average, sitting on the same crappy desk, driving the same shitty car for the rest of our lives. Rules are made to be broken, that’s how breakthroughs happen and that’s how life-changing events occur. Take your destiny in your own hands. Don’t follow the path your predecessors made on the way, start your own and make the rest of your life and adventure full of surprises!

Storytelling is THE next big thing Even the Harvard Business Review took the time to focus on this growing marketing trend in Business, why shouldn’t you? The secret to persuade people and attract their undivided full attention is to inspire them, tell them a story that will make them intrigued, curious and gasping for more! This is quite hard when all you know are a bunch of bed time stories from your childhood, but when you have

by mohamed amine belarbi

an amazing narrative about that kickass crazy thing you did in the middle of nowhere with masked men carrying AK-47s, then it turns into a piece of cake! Being bold and going after risky endeavors will arm you with the intellectual baggage and emotional tools to affect people deeply, connect with them at a whole new level and charm them into listening to you, because you have something to say about an adventure they couldn’t have! So whether it is a college essay, an employment interview or a girl you’re trying to sweep off, story telling is your most effective game plan, because a story is not void, its not plain bullshit. A story has a purpose, a life of its own that has a great ability to influence and fascinate the person sitting in front of you. A charmed person is like a drunken one, it’s easy to get them to say YES!

Morale of the story, my adventure in the heart of the Algerian desert with the POLISARIO front was not just a simple round trip, it was a risk I took that paid immensely, both in terms of achievements and realizations. I may just list to you the positives of taking risky and bold actions, but to internalize them and make them a living part of your interactions, lifestyle and work, you’ll need more than words! You’ll need to pick yourself up and go act as long as you can, because there will be a time where walking up the stairs is a mission of its own.

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leadership LESSONS ON LEADERSHIP FROM BOEING

An intern’s perspective

here are plenty of books on leadership out there by countless self-entitled business gurus. Way too many if you ask me. It’s an industry. Next time you’re at a bookstore try counting how many authors promise to reveal to you the quasi-magical secrets to becoming the next corporate Napoleon or Ghandi. You’ll see what I mean. Call me cynical, but I’m always reluctant to trust books advertised with someone’s big smiling face on the cover, large colorful titles, earth-shattering recipe-like promises, and a hefty price tag. I often shoot a quick indifferent glance at these books and move along. I don’t mean to say that they’re all useless. You’ll definitely find a lot of valuable insights from fantastic authors who actually know their stuff very well. It’s just that, by sheer gut instinct, I’d much rather learn leadership from the men and women who make their living by leading – and not by selling books. Throughout my first few weeks at The Boeing Company in Seattle, I have been incredibly fortunate to meet with many of its leaders. From the CEO of the company’s Commercial Airplanes business unit down to my own manager, I have learned – mainly through observation and reflection – about the unflawed qualities of true leaders as demonstrated by them. My very first executive roundtable alongside eight other international interns was with Commercial Airplanes CEO Ray Conner. What first struck me about Conner was his humble, friendly, and down-to-earth persona. Here was a man in charge of a top line of over US$ 35

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billion, and yet you could have easily mistaken him for one of your favorite high school teachers. When asked about what the job of a CEO is like, he did not hesitate to answer honestly and plainly: “It’s a 24/7 job.” That’s lesson number one about top-level leadership. Don’t be mistaken, being a leader is not about glory or status. Far from that – leadership is first and foremost about total dedication and even sacrifice. Indeed, when you’re a leader, you’ll likely have to work harder than everyone else. That is a key truth to understand. People look up to you and people depend on you. At top levels, it’s a responsibility that not everybody can handle. So it’s important to ask yourself if you’ve got what it takes, and more importantly, if you actually want it. Being a leader is a mission, a duty, and serious lifestyle that you must embrace wholly or not embrace at all. Later that same week I participated in a twoday offsite with Boeing’s Global Technology and Supplier Management group. Each of us had “trading cards” with our names, pictures, and fun facts such favorite movies and travel destinations. These cards were brilliant ice-breakers and networking facilitators as people went around and traded them. Throughout those two days our Vice President, Paul Pasquier, went around and exchanged cards with every single employee present. He made it a point to get to know each of us personally and there were 190 of us! Then, to our surprise,

he revealed he still had people’s trading cards from previous years. At the end of the two-day event, we had a group tour of the 737 factory in Renton. When the tour concluded, as everyone was about to leave and head back to their homes or hotels, Pasquier made sure he shook hands, thanked, and said a friendly good-bye to each individual who had accompanied him on that tour. Only once he had done that did he leave for his home. Those gestures made a huge impression on me. Lesson number two for leaders: always care about your people. They’re your most valuable assets. If you want them to follow you, you have to earn their respect, loyalty, and appreciation. The best and most sincere way to do that is to care about them. Then other people will be dying to work for you too. My second executive roundtable was with Billy Glover, Commercial Airplane’s Vice President of International Strategy. During the Q&A, he turned the tables and began asking us the questions: “Is there anything about your countries that Boeing misunderstands or things that we should know? How can we do better?” Suddenly the interns were

glowing with excitement. The Socratic Method worked: soon we had an impromptu seminar in that conference room, where we all shared and discussed insights about our countries’ culture and political trends. Later, we were all smiling and couldn’t stop talking about how wonderful that roundtable had been... Lesson number three for leaders: always encourage two-way dialogue with your people and listen to them, regardless of their position. Everybody has something to contribute. That is especially true in today’s world, where globalization and increased social mobility have provided companies with a rich diversity of backgrounds and experience. Moreover, the impression a leader makes on his people when he engages them in such genuine two-way conversations is a very powerful one. People feel valuable. It inspires. Lesson number four came from my own manager, Kyle Teater, who leads Global Technology’s strategy and finance team. When I first joined his team, we sat to talk about some of the expeche has for my six-month assign“I want you to spend about 50of your time working on the finance tasks and 10your time on activiyour in-

Did you intern with an amazing company, startup or multinational and learned a great deal from them? Want to share your advice, recommendations or lessons learnt while interning? Contact us now!

down tations ment. 60% usual 20% of ties with ternship program. The

remainder of your time is for you to work on a project of your own. Go ahead and do anything related to Boeing. Take ownership and impress.” What he did was hand me a blank canvas. I couldn’t be more ecstatic. Lesson number four on leadership: empower your people. Organizations have plenty of talented and ambitious people who just need an opportunity to shine. So give it to them. Hand them a blank canvas and let them create, innovate, and accomplish – and above all, find satisfaction in their work. These are just four brief lessons on leadership I’ve learnt from simply observing my leaders. Next time you feel the urge to reach for your credit card whilst browsing the business section of a bookstore, consider if instead you could try to draw some insights by reflecting about the leaders you know. You might be surprised by what you learn.

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by rafael scharan

life DOUCHEBAGS OF THE 21ST CENTURY

Time for a change

emember Romeo? Whatever happened to that guy? You know, the handsome, intelligent and sensitive man that fought for his Juliet back in the 15th century. The idealistic and passionate character that only had one woman in his life. The man all women dreamt of. Well, it’s been a long stretch since the 1400s, and after douchebags such as Donald Trump and Charlie Sheen made it to the spotlight, all that was left of Romeo was, well, nothing. What the fuck happened? Lets face it, no woman wakes up saying “God, I hope I don’t get swept off my feet today”. Now, she might say something like; “I’m really into my career right now” or “It’s a really bad time right now” or “Insert bullshit excuse here”. You don’t actually believe that do you? Well guess what, neither does she! They’re all looking for Mr. Perfect, the right man who’s going to love them “through sickness and in health”, a man who would never cheat, lie or abandon them - sounds like a fairytale doesn’t it? You see, there is a reason why they blow you off. It’s not your look that’s the problem, not your brains either, and if you had the guts to walk up to her, it shouldn’t be your lack of confidence. Believe it or not, it has nothing to do with you specifically, but rather your gender

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predispositions. It sounds messed up doesn’t it? I mean how the hell can your gender be the problem, when that’s the only thing that shouldn’t be the problem? Let me break it down to you. From a female perspective, men live in a new society where social and ethical norms have flourished into a reality where getting laid is as easy as buying a pack of Skittles. A new era where “new” social standards have blurred out the boundary between love and sex. She would never believe you are genuinely interested in her without having your own agenda figured out. She´ll be thinking, “He´s like every other guy, just looking for a good lay”, which, as life experience has taught her, is a virtual certainty. You see, whether it’s a good guy or a bad guy, today’s male population has traits imbedded in their DNA that makes them want to screw anything that moves. Having said that, the female mentality comes into question. I mean with all these “asshole” attributes rooted inside of us, why do you still go out with us? Is it the physical desire of intimacy? Or is it that, even though the odds are minor, you´re still hoping that you’ll one-day bump into the guy

who truly will sweep you off your feet? But nevertheless, let’s try to even the odds out a little; after all, nice guys finish last right? Nice guys do indeed finish last. I’m talking about the guys who work on their long-term relationships to end up with the girl of their dreams. The nice guys who fight through their relationships as if they where marathons and not sprints. Men who would wake up at four in the morning just to answer her phone call. I’m talking about the men who play a game – a game all women play: A tactical game where you play defense, while all the other men play offense; in a strategic battlefield where the only way to capture the flag is through utter subtlety and compassion. So theoretically speaking, if you only acquire a little bit of the “nice guy” traits, you would become less of a dick. Here are some pointers that might just get you in check, try to keep up. Let me hit you up with some facts; 60% of human communication is non-verbal, it’s body

language! Another 30 % is your tone. That means that 90% of all your communication aint coming out of your mouth. But don’t get your hopes up just yet, just because you do less talking doesn’t mean it gets easier. You see, ever since Jersey Shore was aired (which in my opinion was a social catastrophe), respectable beautiful women turn you down gracelessly even though you’re sending all the right signals. As a matter of fact, they thrive from turning guys like you and me down, for good and for bad. But what do you expect? Of course she´s going to turn you down, she doesn’t know you – yet! Luckily the fact is, even the most beautiful woman doesn’t know what she wants until she sees it. You cannot use what you do not have. That means that if you don’t have Ryan Gosling’s body, don’t put on a tight shirt, it won’t fit you… If you don’t have that “inner blackness” in you, don’t hit her up with some slang you don’t know the definition of, that shit can get you killed. Remember, she may not want the whole truth, but she does want the real you. She may

not want to see it all at once, but she does want to see it. So if you’re shy, be shy. If you’re outgoing, be outgoing – not all women fall for the whole bad boy thing. The trick is to introduce “You”, in very small doses. Because, let’s be honest, she doesn’t want to hear about your messed up habits on the first date. You singing “Yeah” by Usher every time you hit the shower can wait…a long time. You watching the OC every Saturday night will prevail…eventually. Even the smallest details that contrast you from an asshole are essential. Trust me, I grew up amongst aunts, god knows how many times I’ve been slapped for not holding the door open for them. So you pay the bill, you make her laugh and you sure as hell open the door for her, unless you want to get slapped, which in that case, I got you covered. But here comes the important part - read and comprehend! You do not get laid on the first date (or the second and third for that matter) – get that shit out of your head! It may be hard to keep it in your pants, but that just might be the difference between “Oh my god, he was so sweet, I’m

by ibrahim naji

definitely calling him again” and “What a pig, I can’t believe I went out with him”. I guess what I’m trying to say is that, as men in a modern society with norms established by an overdose of sexual liberty; we have to start acting like men. Keeping a notebook with all your “lucky strikes” hidden in your left pocket is not going to cut it anymore. Why? Because behind every great man is a great woman, one great woman.

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raha moharrak

THE SAUDI WHO CONQUERED THE EVEREST

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Raha Moharrak “Find your Everest and conquer it!”

ou realize how limitless the potential and determination of a woman are when you meet someone like Raha Moharrak, a Saudi stubborn enough to challenge the taboos against her gender and climb the Kilimanjaro, the Everest, travel to Antarctica and much more! We took the time to meet with Raha in Dubai where she just arrived, coming from a training camp in Peru over the summer! As a woman who kicks ass, Raha didn’t lack the personality or the traits to live to her own standards, and surely her mosquito bites all over where quite revealing of what she goes through every time to live up her dream and overcome every challenge she comes across. Raha doesn’t strike you as the usual Saudi woman we all depict as being held prisoner in her house, or covering herself from head to toe. As we approached her in Dubai Mall, she was strikingly stylish and gorgeous, high heels and stunning hair, with an elegant composure and a great sense of humor! Raha is the epitome of what we all want to be: someone who follows his or her dream regardless of the hurdles this might pose, regardless of what people around us think, and regardless of the

size of the goal we want to achieve! Raha joined the advertising and marketing sector after finishing university, before realizing that paperwork or staring at a computer most of the day didn’t give her the satisfaction she was after. “I wanted to change, tried to find an escape, until someone suggested the Kilimanjaro!” says Raha. At first, climbing the Kilimanjaro is not the first thing one would think of to clear up his mind and experience some change, but for the Saudi woman, Kilimanjaro was the least of her worries at that time. In a conservative society were women are not expected to have great aspirations, Raha had no intention to fit the conventional profile of her female counterparts. “I am healthy, ready, why can’t I? Why all these restrictions?” exclaims Raha. Thankfully, regardless of the skepticism faced from her society, Raha found support and motivation in her family, although not on her first shot! “Having the idea is one thing, telling your father is another. When I told my father about my plans to climb the Kilimanjaro, he seemed puzzled, asking me why I wanted to live in a tent for a week and climb 5885 meters of rock! His first answer was No, asking me to leave such crazy plans until after I get married.” Raha does not give up easily, and so she went on drafting a long email explaining to her father why he should let her go conquer the Kilimanjaro, an email answered three days later by an amazing “You’re crazy, I love you, Go for it”. That short answer opened new doors for Raha, who went on trying everything,

from Space Camp to the Arctic, Peru and United States training camps. “It just clicked, there was this revelation, it was what I wanted to do. I never felt more alive!” Pushing her luck further, Raha played all in when she asked her dad to give her as present, not a Porsche 911 mind you, but the permission to climb the Everest! This time, the father didn’t play along as easy, fearing for the life of his daughter and requesting her to forget all that nonsense. “A No is an invitation to try harder, not an obstacle”, and so Raha went on buying equipment, attending practices and getting in shape for the big challenge she was so eager to overcome. When parents see such a determination and motivation to achieve something, there is no room for refusal, that’s why Raha’s parents gave in, on one condition though: that she never puts her goal before her life! This is something we should all learn from! Many are those who dream of immense wealth, incredible pleasures and risky fun, and in so many cases trade easily their life, their health and their existence for something as mundane as material fulfillment. You cannot drive a Bugatti if you’re dead, and you cannot enjoy the company of a supermodel if you just broke your legs trying to impress her on that ramp; your life and your health are your first priorities, everything else is secondary!

Let your parents be your greatest supporters! “Any parents in general would have had a hard time raising me, but god graced me with a loving father and a loving mother who were open to all my projects!” says Raha before continuing: “So many people have dreams, aspirations, but few have the family support to take the next step. Perceive your parents as a constructive challenge, make their No mean an invitation. They say No, say Why. Don’t be rude to them, just ask for reasons and discuss with them their decisions. It is important to have a discussion and a conversation, otherwise, your family will become a major obstacle in reaching and unleashing your potential”.

Complacency is your enemy, so treat it that way One major challenge in the Gulf countries is the abundance of wealth, and what that entails in terms of complacency, excessive expenditure and the lack of

Do to m you Rah eet u want Gu a M p wi t l o tha f Elite harra h k? t p o wi l l s ma info sible! ke M soo o n! re

entrepreneurial and adventurous spirit. Raha exclaims: ”What is so enriching in going to Rome or Paris every weekend? What’s the value in that? Many people have the means to achieve the impossible, but many still lack the determination, aspiration and sense of achievement to bring about a change. You don’t sit out to change the world; you get up and go out to live your dream! I always had this love for curiosity, something many of the youth lack nowadays. They are used to their comfort zones, they don’t push themselves anymore, and they end up falling in a typical routine. Instead of doing the same thing every summer, change it up, pick up a sport! You have too much free time, spend it less on TV and more on learning new stuff. People don’t realize how much these small things can change your life!” You are what you constantly do, so pick wisely and make your routine a recipe for success!

Let your actions speak for you! “You shouldn’t preach too much, instead, send a message through your actions and accomplishments, be an example for others, and inspiration people can learn from. To do so you have to go through difficult moments, bear pain, because nothing in life comes easy, otherwise it is not appreciated. Find your own Everest and conquer it! If your dream is to master a sport, do it! If you goal is to write a book, do it! Have an ambition and work your ass off to achieve it!” Says Raha, and judging from her achievements, being a woman is not an excuse to sit back and do nothing!

“Many girls in the Gulf region rely on marriage to find happiness. My take on it: If you’re not happy, marriage won’t change that. You have to be satisfied with who you are, or work towards it. Being a woman is not a factor in the pursuit of happiness. Why are we perceived to be the weaker sex? I don’t get it… We’re all born with the same capabilities and the same anatomy (almost) and the same brain, so why do women feel inferior to men?”. Raha continues: “Fight for your dreams, because they won’t come to you in a silver plate. It’s not enough to have a dream, you have to have the conviction to follow it and achieve it! Be aggressive in demanding you right to succeed, and don’t give up!” “Life is a book, and those who don’t travel are still stuck in the first page” Many of the great people out there have something in common: they traveled around and saw much of this world, so is traveling an important factor that shaped Raha’s success story? “Life is like a beautiful painting, but it’s in black and white. Traveling adds color to that painting, gives it new perspectives. It changes your perception of everything, food, clothing, cultures, religions, style and fashion. Travel broadens your mind, makes it multilayered, turns it into a sponge and thus makes your ability to absorb new things possible.” Travel is Raha’s favorite pass time; everyday she wakes up with a new crazy

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adventure in mind. She wants to take flying lessons and go to Australia and Alaska to finish up the last 2 major mountains left in her to do list. “I might just wake up one day and shock everyone” And shocking everyone she did, even before coming up with her next crazy idea! A Saudi woman disrupting the fabrics of her society and the taboos it is built on didn’t go without notice, so Raha had her deal of heat and criticism! “I expected criticism, I respect their opinion, but I don’t understand it. It is sad that some people can’t see beyond their narrow mindedness.” As the saying goes, Haters gonna hate, and Raha is no exception!

To finish up, here are Raha’s 5 recommendations for our readers: o Believe in yourself and your dream o Have courage to follow your goals o Make your parents your source of support o Have a thick skin to handle criticism o Have faith in something, because faith keeps you going.

Derek is a royalty stylist, celebrity networker, consultant for world’s prime jewelry and haute couture stores, philanthropist and popular figure in the Gulf’s most elite circles. More on Derek in Gulf Elite’s 3rd Issue!

by mohamed amine belarbi

Dana Aghabi, Abu Dhabi, first year student at UWC-USA

UWC is looking for applicants from UAE, Qatar, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia and Kuwait. If you are aged between 15 - 16, study in one of these countries and want to follow in Dana’s footsteps, to find out more visit www.uae.uwc.org or e-mail info@uae.uwc.org

The United World Colleges (International) is a company registered in England and Wales and limited by guarantee. Company Number 908758. Registered Charity No. 313690

“I applied to UWC because I wanted something that would challenge me academically, socially and physically. To me UWC is the ideal world every student my age should be living in – the sense of community and the cultural diversity, it is a representation of our generation.”

lessons LIFE LESSONS: AN ARTISTS’ TAKE

Putting life in perspective

eople usually spend most of their time trying to reach for success. But what they rarely realize is that success is not an end per se. It necessarily entails other responsibilities that are often disregarded. You’ll probably ask yourself: “What will it take for me to be successful?” But most people don’t reflect further and wonder: “Now that I’ve reached my goal, what should I be doing next?” Youssou Ndour, a famous Senegalese singer and businessman, has found his answers to those questions. Looking at his life, there are three main lessons that each one of us could be inspired to follow.

a time when it’ll be too late to go sky-diving. Youssou Ndour “understood” this at a very young age. It’s not easy at all to disregard your parents’ orders when you are a kid (or an adult for that matter) in Senegal. If your parents forbid you from doing something, in most cases, that’s it. But Youssou Ndour did not quit singing; on the contrary, he kept giving small performances throughout Dakar and gradually gained local fame. He could have given up his passion on the sole basis that his father did not consider singing as a viable career option, but he refused to yield to parental pressures and, looking at how it turned out for him, he was right.

If you have a passion in life, don’t hes- Once you are successful in your field, itate to pursue it try and do something different Some people might try to discourage you from pursuing your passion, and usually, they think that they are helping you to be more realistic about your future. While in a few cases they could be right, you shouldn’t let anyone dictate your life but yourself. You may end up miserable with your decisions and resent those who pushed you away from your dreams. Now this can happen at any time in your life. Some of my relatives would probably think I was crazy if I studied literature or theater in college because of many “wrong” reasons (usually cultural). Is there anything wrong with those subjects though? Absolutely not! No one knows what is best for you better than yourself. More importantly, take advantage of your youth to do things YOU want to do, not things you have to do. There will be

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To improve is to change; to be perfect is to change often. – Winston Churchill There is nothing more boring and dangerous than routines. Never get too comfortable in life, always keep an eye out for new opportunities that may surface, and grab them! Whatever you are doing, there is always going to be someone younger and better, and he’s going for your spot. So diversifying your skills and assets is a must, especially in today’s world where you cannot succeed if you think of yourself as a “one-job man”. This is even more necessary in show business: one cannot possibly be a successful singer or sportsman his whole life. Take advantage of your success and use it to build even more successful ventures. It is the safest way to remain relevant.

Youssou Ndour’s career as a singer is an undeniable local and international success, receiving numerous awards (including a Grammy Award) and recognitions. He is considered as a major African artist of his generation and as one the most influential people in the continent. However, he did not rest on its laurels. He used his new status to acquire more sustainable sources of revenue. Today, he is a major media mogul in Senegal, being the owner of a daily newspaper, a radio station and a television channel which are all extremely successful; making him one of the richest musicians in Africa.

“Love thy neighbor as thyself” “From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded” We live in a system where people can be very successful and live a rather comfortable life. Good for them! That being said, we also live in a system where a lot of people don’t have a natural gift or the chance of getting an education and making something of themselves. I strongly believe in the principle that; those who have a moral obligation, due to financial or academic resources, need to assist those who are not as fortunate. Because remember, “With great power comes great responsibility”. It is safe to say that Youssou Ndour could just retire, lay back and enjoy the rest of his life, which a lot of people would do if they were in his shoes. But he used his success and influence to serve humanitarian causes. He has a long lasting commitment with the UNICEF and has also established his own foundation to provide help to disadvantaged African children. He has even uplifted the economy in Senegal by investing his fortune, creating numerous jobs. But his latest and most notable action is his recent involvement in politics. In 2012, he announced that he would be running for presidency (which got him on the cover of TIME Magazine).

by abdoulaye ndiyae

He may not be the most known inspirational individual, but now that you got him on your radar, learn from his valuable life lessons. If you have a passion for something, pursue it! You don’t want to wake up in your mid fifties with the desire of still wanting to become a football player, the ship would have sailed by then. If you want something; you go get it, period. With that being said, you want to be able to expand and break your inner boundaries of desire. Don’t get satisfied with what you’ve got; always try to reach a new optimum level, a level where new skills and professions can be acquired. Finally, you may be a big shot, successful and have a Swiss-bank account, but at the end of the day, people will not remember you by what you drove or how much money you had, they will remember you by what you did to help the little guys.

M=success STARTING FROM THE BOTTOM

Even royals can be self-made

round every corner you meet people who claim they are the real deal, who tell you how amazing their life story is, how they started from a McDonald’s shift and made their fortune our of hard work and genius, how from a penniless job seeker they turned in their first million and whatnot. You see this pattern over and over again in TV, Social Media, self-help books and audiotapes on success and wealth, but at the end of the day they all sound fake, repetitive and too idealistic to be real. If you are fed up with these tales and want to hear about someone who not only made billions out of creative genius, but also managed to have such an influence as to twist policies and make heads of state stop by to lick his sandal, then Prince Al Waleed Bin Talal is your man! Now wait, Prince Al Waleed? Isn’t he a rich Saudi royal who made him money from the oil wells his father left for him? Might be true for a lot of royals and princely figures, but Prince Al Waleed is unlike others. The guy, whose parents where a Saudi prince and the daughter of the a Lebanese prime minister, was far from being a pampered douchebag driving his Lamborghini around; on the contrary, Prince Talal would escape his palace and hang out in poor districts and sleep in unlocked cars. The early urge to explore the real tough life took him to the military high school where discipline is a must. Thanks to these early escapades, the prince today might be flying up top, but he still keeps a firm foot on the ground. This is a great asset to have as a businessman and an influential figure. Money can get to your brain, power gulf elite magazine

might suck you in, and if you ever give in, say goodbye to being realistic and down to earth. Why? Because your entourage and lifestyle will make you an arrogant a**hole who will either go mad or bankrupt.

Education is wealth Prince Al Waleed, however rich and powerful, gives a strong message to the youth of today: Money ain’t nothing if you’re not smart enough to keep it flowing, and if you want to be smart, there is only one way to go about it: College! Prince Talal is a Menlo College and Syracuse University graduate with honors. A man, lawyers and employees can’t screw, because the guy knows his shit. Education, regardless of how controversial it is in facilitating your success, not only defends you against being seen as a fool, but also upholds your reputation when pricks try to claim that you grew up with a silver spoon up your ass. Education is wealth; so don’t underestimate it just because it doesn’t show up on your bank balance as a bunch of zeros.

Value Investing One thing to learn from Prince Talal that can change your life is his business mindset and philosophy, a philosophy shared by visionaries like Warren Buffet and co, a philosophy that made him his Billion $ in Citigroup when everyone thought he was a novice not knowing a damn thing about finance: If you’re

by mohamed amine belarbi going to invest, go for the struggling companies, put millions on the table, get a big piece of the pie and turn the company around. To put it simply, this is called Value Investing, and the good news is that it is not only applicable in the investment and finance world, but also works fine as a lifestyle, that is if you want to make success your best friend! Value Investing works for everything; so listen carefully if you want to use it to your advantage: Don’t be like everyone who follows trends and does the same shit his peers do. Don’t be mister everyone and no one, avoid falling in the lamb mentality and don’t gaze at where the crowd is heading. If you want to be the matchless successful guy who everyone looks up to, then you’ll have to do things differently. In Investment it may be looking for a struggling company you have faith in and bringing it back to the spotlight, but in life it can be an opportunity not many are willing to grab. It can be a lifestyle everyone stays away from, or it can be a job only crazy people would take up. You have to be willing to spend a part of your life like nobody won’t so that you can live most of your life like nobody can’t! Spending extra hours on that project, traveling to the Middle East regardless of how different and unfamiliar it is, taking up language courses in summer instead of enjoying a nice vacation in Monte Carlo, investing in a dream no body wants to believe in, doing things differently and not caring about people’s criticism: this my friend, is value investing in life! Never judge an opportunity by how rewarding it is now, think beyond your nose and look up years ahead to see how valuable something is for you in the future. A startup is in the red and just sucks in money without return, but you know it is the next big thing and will make you millions if you stick with it longer? Then go for it and sacrifice what you have now for what you can have in the future. Prince Talal embodies this philosophy, and that’s why he is such a powerful and rich per-

sonality (Richest and most powerful figure in the Arab World, and 26th richest dude walking on earth). Whether in Business or Politics, he moves in fast and big, takes messy corporations or governments by surprise and works his magic!

Build a strong network What is more important than your 20-26 Billion dollars? Your network! Prince Talal is by far the greatest networker moving around, setting dinners in his palace for heads of states, celebrities, religious figures and military icons. His involvement in Politics, Business and philanthropy makes him a “must go to” whenever we’re talking big projects or large scale ventures. The Prince received hundreds of honorary medals, state recognitions and prizes for his pioneering vision and involvements in saving economies from collapsing, mediating between conflicting parties and leading world humanitarian efforts thanks to his numerous charities. Your network is your net worth, and this is some of most celebrated yet least practiced concept. You don’t have to get Bill Gates and the Pope in the same table to be called a networker, but you can start working up your portfolio of contacts now so that in few years time, you can place a few calls, send some emails

or ask a few favors to get anything you want! When youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re in trouble, there will be someone to save your ass. When you want to get that potential investor of yours pampered when he visits Dubai, you can send a text to your friend with the spectacular pent house to ask a favor: Next thing you know you just got that million dollars in seed funding! Networks are crucial for your success, so invest in them accordingly!

Pay it forward! Making money is one thing, leaving a legacy is another! You might be the richest person on earth, but people will forget about you once you go bankrupt or hit the grave. There is nothing more frustrating than spending a lifetime working hard and making big bucks than being sent down the history drain once there is no more money to pay the checks. If you want to be a successful and wealthy figure, then buy paragraphs in the book of history rather than a new gold plated Lamborghini. Prince Talal, like

most of his peers who look down at us from the top of their success temple, understood the importance of having their names associated with something greater than their balance. Do you remember Rockefeller? Slightly because of the conspiracy theories right? But Bill Gates, Prince Talal and others are not people anymore, but icons! Whether it is the fight against Polio or interfaith dialogue, their philanthropic work has engraved their names forever, not only thanks to the millions in donations, but also thanks to their spirit and vision to pay forward for what they have had the chance to get in life. Success is not a personal achievement as Obama points so often, but the cumulative and collaborative work of many. Enjoy life, work hard, play hard, and all the crazy shit you ever dreamt of, but donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t forget to share a piece of the pie with everyone else, because that will make you standout from all the billionaire douchebags who everyone grew up to hate!

real deal THE GULF’S EIGHT WONDERS

The place of all places

rue story, I tried convincing my crazy ex-girlfriend to get her ass down to Dubai with me. She asked me why? What could there possibly be in Dubai that does not exist in Europe? I was speechless; I wasn’t about to persuade someone into flying to Dubai – because it doesn’t need persuading! Long story short, now I’m single. Because last time I checked Sweden didn’t have a 12.3 billion dollar Palm shaped Island where David Beckham and Ashley Cole had properties on. Paris didn’t have a seven star hotel that accommodates visitors with their own Rolls Royce’s. Berlin didn’t build the worlds tallest building that climbs up to 830 meters and Copenhagen sure as hell hasn’t established a mans’ dream world – Ferrari World. If you’re still a little doubtful, give me five minutes of your time, if you’re not on the next flight to Dubai by next week, you can call me crazy.

Burj Al Arab – The Worlds’ Only Seven-Star Hotel Dubai is all about going big - The worlds’ only seven-star hotel, at a height of 320 meters is located in the heart of Dubai and presenting you with a spectacular view of Dubai’s beautiful coast. A surreal place that offers luxurious suites with floor-to-floor windows, a true visual delight that seduces your eyes when the sun sets over the coast, and a perfect place to think of if your next move is to propose to her! And if that doesn’t cut it, you can always use your 24hour butler who’s there to service and satisfy all your needs, well unless you are a devious crazy sadist, then I am not so sure. gulf elite magazine

Dubai Mall – Every woman’s dream Gucci, Louis Vuitton, Armani, Fendi – these are just five out of the 1200 stores in the worlds’ largest mall – everything a woman desires. Now while your girl is shopping like crazy, you can always hit the indoor Ice Rink with your boys, sneak into Victoria’s Secret boutique, or take the kids to the worlds’ largest Candy Store – Candyliciouse. By now you should’ve understood that this is not your ordinary mall. But if you’re still doubtful – Dubai Mall has its annual elite fashion exhibition presented by Vogue, which gifts you with gorgeous models and iconic names such as: Dolce & Gabbana, Versace, Valentino, Chanel or Dior.

Ferrari World – A mans’ ultimate toy Ferrari – a mans’ favorite toy. The ultimate brand that makes every man sleepless at night thinking about those sexy curves, those dark sensual colors and that astonishing ass that just makes you speechless. Who needs a woman when you have a Ferrari? Ferrari World is definitely a place you should have on your bucket list – a world that allows you to get up close and personal with every car ever produced by Ferrari from the Ferrari 125 S to the Ferrari La Ferrari – presenting you with 60 years of magnificent cars’ history.

Masdar City – Todays’ Tomorrow The world’s populations are going crazy about the current climatic catastrophe that’s

endangering millions of species and establishing an unsustainable future, but fear not, Masdar is here! Masdar City, located in Abu Dhabi, is one of the world most sustainable urbanized cities. An enlightening place for entrepreneurs and businesses to study the art of renewable energy and sustainable technologies. A Zero waste, Zero carbon and a fossil fuel free city that aims for the highest quality of life for the lowest environmental impact. The ultimate place to visit if you’re an environmentalist freak.

The Palm Island – Arab definition of creativity Sounds unbelievable doesn’t it? Honestly, only Arabs are crazy enough to pull this off. Stretching 6 km into the Arabian Gulf lays the most spectacular creation the world has ever seen. A construction that is so vast, it can be seen from space. A place built only from sand and rocks and has one of the Gulfs’ most amazing accommodations that attract world celebrities like David Beckham and Brad Pitt. A spectacular manmade island that has the coast swirling around every million-dollar accommodation, grand enough to give you a reason to wake up every morning.

Burj Khalifa – Dubai’s Eiffel Tower A beautiful unique silver stained tower stretching up to a height of 831 meters making it the world’s tallest building. It’s a fortress that lifts the worlds’ head proudly skyward, surpassing all limits and expectations. A tower that rises elegantly from the deserts’ extractions, honoring and glorifying the city with a proud uplifting monument. Located in the heart of Dubai, with a spectacular view going miles into the horizon. Surrounded by hotels, shopping designations and entertainment options, this is definitely a place you have to visit to proudly say you’ve been on top of the world.

by ibrahim naji

Atlantis, The Palm – Amusement and Tranquility It’s a thing of beauty. A resort located in Dubai’s reclaimed artificial island, The Palm, that accommodates visitors from around the world with five-star service in the 1,500 suites with private balconies covering a spectacular view over the Persian Gulf. If you think this is just another fancy hotel with sky-high prices, you’re right! But then again the 110 acres five-star resort includes unbelievable attractions, enough to satisfy your woman when taking her to the Ossiano, a “world of mesmerizing tranquility created by the captivating ocean life of the Ambassador Lagoon”. And if the kids start complaining, you can always take them to the 42 acres water park with seven water slides and a 2.3 km river where you can kick back on a comfortable floating aqua-couch which drifts you away, allowing you to enjoy the sun at its best.

Emirates Palace – A little above the usual Yet again, they’re Arabs, what do you expect? The ultimate Abu Dhabi landmark, a luxurious hotel that serves almost 400 incredible suites furnished in gold and marble, which might be a little too much, but worth every penny when you find out that it’s set in over 100 hectares of beautiful green landscaped garden that also offers an area of 1.3 km of exclusive beaches, two swimming pools, tennis courts, cricket courts, a rugby pitch and its very own football arena. If you still don’t have that urge or that desire to get your ass down to Dubai, get in line behind my ex-girlfriend and shoot yourself. It is truly a surreal place, which serves all your needs and dreams. Whether it’s dining on top of the world or doing all your crazy shopping, the Gulf is the place to be. Back in the days, the US might have been the “land of opportunities” but now; the Gulf is the real deal!

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