14 years of Love, September 2019, Identity Magazine by Identity Magazine

September 2019 - 20LE www.identity-mag.com

14 years

of love a conversation with a Self-Proclaimed Joker

Eyad N as s ar

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Identity Letter from the editor

28 eyad nassar

a conversation with a Self-Proclaimed Joker

ur baby is turning fourteen!! Can you believe the very first edition of Identity magazine saw the light some 14 years ago? Neither can we! Times have changed A LOT since then, but our publication has only continued to grow steady and swim against the tide, or rather Tsunami, of some major political, economic and social changes that our beloved Egypt has witnessed. For the very special occasion of our 14th anniversary, our editorial team wanted to reminisce with our most faithful readers over our most special covers from the past as well as movies, books, and world events that turned 14 too! Hope you enjoy our little trip down memory lane as you too recall what it was like when you were only 14. Many many more happy repeats Identity magazine Rola Kamel

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Identity Magazine was founded in 2005 by Rola Kamel to enhance every aspect of a woman’s lifestyle, helping our female readers to discover and improve their own identities. Published by Beezarre Publishing Ltd. Themistokli Dervi, 6 Papyros Building, 4th Floor, Flat/Office D5 – P.c 1066, Nicosia, Cyprus. The subscription rate is 240 L.E./year (12 issues) through Al Ahram, Tel: 02-27703190 Distribution by Al Ahram Website: qpix solutions Contact us at: 26A Montazah St., Zamalek, Cairo-Egypt. Tel: 02-27361187 Mobile: 0122-9401071 email: sendus@identity-mag.com www.identity-mag.com

4 September 2019

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Identity Masthead

Identity September 2019

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Founder & Managing Editor Rola Kamel Editor-in-Chief Nawal Ismail Art director Alia El Abd Copy-Editor Amina El Fayoumy Senior Staff Writer Amina Moustapha Staff Writers Aya Aboshady Nanise Mohamed Relationship Expert Marwa Rakha Food Writer Soha Darwish Senior Graphic Designer Alia El Abd Marketing & Advertising Manager Riham Yehia Business Developer Raghda El-Sayed Digital Marketing Manager Youssef Ali Social Media Specialist Shady Hani Video Editor Ahmed Mostafa Identity Magazine Distributor Ashraf Fouad 6 September 2019

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Identity Contents

21 8 The Lust List 10 Egyptian Movies That turned 14 12 2005: A Year Of Our Making

14 Make-Up Trends We Could Do 16 18 20 22 24 28

Without Throwback Hair Accessories We Love Now Anniversary Night Out - Beauty Looks Anniversary Night Out Play It “Young” With These Outfits Fashion Combacks From The Early 2000s A Conversation With The Self Proclaimed Joker : Eyad Nassar

8 out & about

56 58 60 64 36 Identity’s Favourite Covers 38 Emotional Abuse: A Path For

Recovery 40 Things To Tell Your 14 Year Old 42 44 46

48 50 54

Self Life Challenges With Social Media Jogging in Cairo: All You Need To Know The Joy of Cooking: An Interview With Food Writer & Menu Consultant Soha Darwish Books That’ll Hit You Right in The Nostalgia Getaways Travel Guide: England

8 September 2019

getaways

Advertorial Snaps Press Releases Horoscopes

Identity Turning 14

The Lust List

Zara - Lace Jumpsuit V-neck playsuit with thin straps. Featuring front button fastening and a long dress-style overlay with an open hem…who can say no to that?

Chloe - SMALL ABY LOCK BAG Fall won’t be the same without this Aby Lock chain bag in embossed croco effect on calfskin.

Vans - Old Skool Vans has always been a street favorite, and the Old Skool will look cool today, tomorrow, and basically forever.

Bath & Body Works -ROSE Keep your beauty routine on trend with this new oh-so rosy fragrance!

5 Jean Paul Gaultier scandal Pleasure your senses with the Jean Paul Gaultier Scandal; it’s addictive, alluring and most definitely scandalous.

10 September 2019

Identity Turning 14

Egyptian Movies that Turned 14 by Aya Aboshady

Because it’s been exactly fourteen years since our magazine came out to the world, we decided to celebrate this special occasion with our readers and remind you all of the Egyptian movies that were released in 2005 and are now turning 14 in 2019! 1. Abo Ali This movie is hands down one of the best Egyptian Rom-Coms ever! Starring Kareem Abdel Aziz and Mona Zaki and directed by Ahmed Nader Galal; Abo Ali revolves around two people who met at a completely wrong time but their destinies collide as they were on the run and fell in love. 2. Zaki Chan Who could ever forget the perfect comedy duo Ahmed Helmy and Hassan Hosny? Zaki Chan was and still is an iconic movie in the comedy genre. Directed by Wael Hassan; Yasmine Abdel Aziz and Ahmed Helmy embark on a funny journey where the latter is a wannabe bodyguard for a rich family. 3. Harb Atalia Do you remember when this movie basically defined all action movies combined with mystery for us? Directed by Ahmed Saleh and starring Ahmed ElSakka, Nelly Kareem, Khaled Abo El-Naga and Khaled Saleh; “Harb Atalia” is a movie that revolves around a Mafia gang and an ancient expensive necklace, with lots of plot twists! 12 September 2019

4. Hareem Kareem We had to add another iconic Rom-Com to the 2005 list! Fourteen years ago, one of Mostafa Amar’s best movies was released. Directed by Ali Idris and starring Yasmine Abdel Aziz, Dalia El-Beheiry, Basma, and Ola Ghanem; “Hareem Kareem” is about a love story that faces so many obstacles. And in order for the guy to get the girl back, he embarks on one hell of a journey that comes with unfortunate circumstances. 5. Ya Ana Ya Khalti It was very hard not to include a Mohamed Heneidy movie in our list! The comedy actor was basically hijacking the early 2000s. Directed by Saeed Hamed and starring Donia Samir Ghanem, Lotfi Labeeb, Nabil Eissa and Alaa Morsy; “Ya Ana Ya Khalti” was a turning point in the genre! It revolves around a guy who impersonates an old witch to win the love of his life! 6. Ouija Remember when “Ouija” was our Egyptian equivalent for a horror movie? We’re not going to lie but it actually still scares us a bit to this day! Directed by Khaled Youssef and starring Hani Salama, Sherif Mounir, Hend Sabry and Menna Shalaby; “Ouija” revolves around a haunted board game that ends up killing a troubled group of friends.

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Identity Turning 14

2005: a year of our making by Nanise Mohamed

Time passes without notice. We just live life day to day feeling more or less the same. The only wakeup call we get is when we look back at our lives and ….Baaam. It’s been 14 years since these things happened and yes, they will make you feel nostalgic. Here are some interesting facts that will have you contemplating how time is slipping away from us. So, let’s take a trip down memory lane and remember together the biggest events that took place in 2005. From the social media breakout to our favorite childhood of 92. Around the same year, the renowned American movies; here’s a list that you’ll definitely relate to whether you’ve been in your teen or early adult playwright, Arthur Miller died at the age of 89. Who didn’t read his classics All My Sons or The Crucible in years! high school?

Pop Culture In 2005, The King of Pop, Michael Jackson, was accused of child abuse. The boy claimed that the incident took place at Michael’s Neverland ranch. Millions of his die-hard fans from all around the world were shocked! Who wouldn’t be? Also, sites like Facebook and My Space expanded to include high school students and our timelines were never the same gain. Cinema & TV It was the year of science fiction and fantasy at the box office. Between Star Wars, the Chronicles of Narnia and Harry Potter; movie theatres were jampacked! On TV, Lost, Grey’s Anatomy and Desperate Housewives had us all at home each and every weekend. Remember the time when life was that simple? In Memoriam The same year witnessed the loss of a number of international figures. Rosa Parks, the American activist and “the mother of civil rights” who also paved the way for feminism as we know it today, died at the age 14 September 2019

Celebrity Gossip 2005 was full of jaw-dropping moments. But the biggest moment of them all was when America’s sweetheart, Jennifer Anniston broke up with Brad Pit. Although it wasn’t long until the latter paired up with his Mr. and Mrs. Smith co-star! Music Jam “Candy Shop” by 50 Cent, “Don’t Cha” by the Pussycat Dolls and “My Humps” by the Black Eyed Peas were the JAM in 2005. Don’t deny it, we know you danced to these songs all summer back then. Coined Terms This one’s for the nerds out there, 2005 included a number of new coined terms. “Blogging” and “Sexting” are two of them. We mainly still use both in 2019, don’t we?

This wouldn’t really strike us as a surprise but, you’re probably feeling ancient by now, right? We are not saying things were better in 2005, but they were definitely interesting!

Identity Turning 14

Nude Glossy Lips Okay, hear us out on this! Nowadays, we’re all obsessed with nudes. From nude nails to nude matte lips and even dresses; we’re going all in! However, back in 2005, the ‘it’ look that actually stayed trendy for quite some time was having really nude but really glossy lips! It was like people didn’t even recognize the matte ones, for some reason! And the problem is that creating that look often took away all the attention from anything else because of how bright the lips were. So, we’re sad to say that like the rest of the looks fourteen years ago; that one was a bit scary!

Make-up Trends We Could Do Without

by Aya Aboshady

We’re in 2019 which - thankfully - means we’re in the era of glamorous and stunning makeup! From Huda Beauty to every other beauty blogger on YouTube; women now know how to create outstanding makeup looks. But back in 2005, fourteen years ago, things were unpleasantly different - to say the least - But in the moment, at that time, they were pretty cool and trendy!

Aggressive Blusher

The No Eyebrows-Eyebrows

Even though some people still do that nowadays, but it’s often a malfunction or accidental over-brushing. That being said, in the early 2000s, applying too much pink blusher was unfortunately very trendy. It’s like women couldn’t get out of their houses without having the reddest cheeks in the world, for some unknown reason. Well, thank God that is no longer the case!

No Makeup-Makeup? More like no EyebrowsEyebrows! Remember back in 2005, when everybody thought they looked pretty with basically no eyebrows whatsoever on their faces? It’s very cringy to look back at the pictures now! Almost every female celebrity used to pull off that look and people would do the same because it was trendy! Thank God those days are over, and we now have natural brows, brow gel and microblading to be grateful to!

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Over-lined Lips

Yes, in 2019, some beauty bloggers and vloggers are still doing this! They use lip liner to make their lips look a bit thicker and bigger, but they often do it in a pretty subtle way! The difference between now and then is that in 2005, they used different strange colors to draw on their already-thin lips, just for the sake of drawing and mixing light colors with dark ones. Weird! But, well, it’s gone. So, hurray!

White/Silver Eyeshadow

The Orange Tan and Aggressive Contour

We really don’t understand what the deal was with everyone creating those scary eye-looks! But of course, because it was all in the moment, no one ever noticed. Like white and silver eye shadows, for example. We don’t exactly remember who invented that look. But we know very well that, again, every woman basically wore it like she didn’t have strange watercolors on her eyes!

Like blush, women used to take applying makeup products on their faces with a brush to a whole other level. If you look at the early 2000s pictures, you’d find that getting a tan meant turning orange. Contouring also basically meant drawing with red crayons in a vertical direction on the cheekbones. Thankfully, we have bronzer now!

Identity Turning 14

Zigzag Hair Comb

Throwback Hair Accessories We Love Now

That’s right, our little toothy friend is back. The retro zigzag headband was spotted A LOT on this summer’s runways. It’ll give you a nice yet firm pullback anytime you don’t want to feel like curtains are coming down your face.

by Nanise Mohamed

If you still remember the early 2000’s fashion, you must know about those flashy hair accessories all too well. While some of them we tend to forget, others are making a huge comeback now that we can’t just overlook. So, get ready to revisit some of the hottest hair trends of the 2000s!

Bobby Pins Our favorite childhood remedy for fly-away and frizz is now in fashion. However, just so you don’t look like a 12 year old, make sure you opt for those pearly embellished metallic ones for a killer look!

Snap Clips Everyone thought this trend had died hard in the mid2000s. Little did we know, it made a comeback in 2019 with full on force. If you have never been a fan of the snap clips, think again!

Scrunchie All apologies to those who hate them, but scrunchies are making a trendy comeback and we think of it as a blast from the past! They are healthy for your hair, easy to rock and super affordable.

Bandanas

Hair Bands They were on the brink of extinction, but fortunately they are back (It’s about time!) The gods of the 80s had a short revive in the early 2000s and are finally back in fashion today. 18 September 2019

We are super excited about this one. The bandana is your best friend on bad hair days, which let’s face it, is a lot! Dig in your teenage closet and get your classic bandana out because it’s making a huge comeback.

Hair Extensions We love it, we hate it, and we can’t get enough of it. Cons? Well, it’s fake. However, it will give you that lavish ombre look you’ve always wanted without actually damaging your hair.

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1. Benefit’s foundation will provide a firm base for this colourful look.

Anniversary Night Out Beauty Looks By Joanna Neve

Get ready to impress your partner with these stunning makeup styles. Romantic, playful or sexy, these 3 looks will have you covered for any night out – just take your pick! The hard work of finding the right products has been done for you, so get ready to go shopping and give these looks a go. Something a little different is just what an anniversary celebration needs!

2. After wearing NARS’s Orgasm Liquid Highlighter, you’ll never want to go back to powder highlighters again! 3. Avoid shiny looking skin and apply Urban Decay’s De-Slick Mattifying Powder. 4. Huda Beauty’s Sapphire Obsessions Palette has all the perfect blue-green shades to rock this stunning 90s look.. 5. Finish this energetic look with Lancôme Monsieur’s Big Mascara.

1. To achieve this look why not try out Clinique’s Dramatically Different Hydrating Jelly. It will make your skin feel smooth, strong and healthy.

Bright and Playful

6. MAC’s pineapple scented Setting Spray will help to keep everything in place all night long.

2. Revolution’s Conceal and Define Foundation will help hide any wrinkles or patches of skin you want to cover, creating an effortlessly flawless look.

1. Apply some powerful foundation like the Studio Skin 15 hour Wear Hydrating Foundation by Smashbox.

3. With Revolution’s Pro Loose Finishing Powder, you can also say goodbye to cakey and sticky makeup! 4. A touch of Bobbi Brown’s Rosy Glow Highlighting Powder on your cheekbones will help to create beautiful, radiant looking skin.

2. Nude By Nature’s contour set will help to sculpt, define and highlight in all the right places!

Light and Romantic

3. The Skin Deep Eye Shadow Palette by NARS is great for a smokey eye look, and their shimmery rosy gold shade ‘Icon’ can be used to lighten below the eyebrows.

5. Charlotte Tilbury’s eye shadow palettes never fail to impress. The Bigger Brighter Eyes Palette has all the right tones for this Kate Winslet look.

4. NARS’ Climax Mascara in Explicit Black is bold, beautiful, and will help you unleash your flirty.

6. Stand-out from the crowd with Rimmel’s Wonderluxe Mascara or go all-out with a pair of fake lashes. 7. Finish this romantic look with some shiny lip-gloss. 20 September 2019

Bold, Sexy and Sultry

5. Dior’s signature Diorifique Lipstick in the shade R.Ochre will be sure to impress your partner too! September 2019 21

Identity Turning 14

Anniversary Night Out By Joanna Neve

It’s your anniversary and you decide to go out for the night… but what to wear? Whether this is your first anniversary together or one of many, you’ll still want to look and feel your best. From some of our favourite brands, we’ve sourced an outfit for almost every night out. Just add some makeup and enjoy every moment!

An Open-air cinema Get ready to snuggle up and sit out under the stars in this beautiful outfit by Bershka. I’m not sure what will be more dazzling – your glittery shirt or the starry heavens above you! Just add a white bag and let your hair loose. Your partner will feel like the luckiest person in the world to have you by their side!

The Cairo Opera House This is an outfit which just screams out old Hollywood glam. Modest, but slightly revealing at the same time you’ll definitely stand out from the crowd wearing this! Raise a glass to celebrate your anniversary and look forward to a future of many more together.

A romantic felucca ride at sunset

A rooftop city-view restaurant

Perfect for a more casual night out, this outfit will suit a range of playful activities like a romantic sunset felucca for two! Pair the outfit with subtle 90s inspired hairclips and a vibrant bag – you’ll be good to go! From top to toe, just one trip to Zara and you can buy the whole set.

Radiating an emerald romantic look, this outfit is absolutely stunning! Be prepared to wow your partner and celebrate into the early hours. Just add some animal print heels and matching accessories. Don’t have any? Get your partner to pay, it is your anniversary after all!

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Identity Turning 14

Superheroes aren’t just for children

Play It “Young” With These Outfits By Joanna Neve

Superheroes and comics were all the rage when we were growing up, so take a trip to Pull and Bear for this stunning Wonder Woman inspired look. Choose out a pair of ripped jeans and add 90s inspired jewellery – you’ll feel like a teenager again in no time! Dress-up the outfit by slipping on some light pink or purple heels, the result is a look which crosses between teen and adult wardrobes.

As we grow older, life can become so serious and plain. With all the old 80s and 90s fashion back in, let’s return to some of the more playful outfits of the past to unleash the inner child within us! From superheroes, to glitter, neon and even classic childhood dungarees, we couldn’t be happier that old is back. Put down your work, let your hair loose and try on one of these playful outfits…

Dungaree your way to a youthful look Dungarees have always been a classic outfit for children, which is why we were so excited when H&M extended their range for adults. They’re comfy, stretchy and breathable - perfect for trampolining in! A fluffy jacket, black hat and brown accessories will help to do-up this somewhat simple look. Before you know it, ALL your friends will want to buy a dungaree too! Change the undershirt each time and you’ll have endless combinations of new outfits… Pink is a girl’s best friend This outfit is inspired by what your mother probably wore when she was growing up. Glitter, sequins, pearls and all things pink – it’s certainly an adventurous and childhood-inspired look! Just add a bright pink handbag, 80s inspired square toe shoes and pearl jewellery to finish the look. The pink and sparkly style will certainly make you feel energetic and youthful again. What are you waiting for? Head down to Zara and buy the whole set!

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2. Fabrics

Identity Turning 14

Fashion Comebacks from the Early 2000s!

Silk

The subtle and statement fabric was not only spotted on runways this season, but was also utilized by celebrities, fashion bloggers and influencers. Although this style has disappeared for nearly a decade now, it seems like it is rapidly crawling back into our lives!

by Nanise Mohamed

1. Accessories Tinted Shades

The latest trend to make its way back into our hearts is none other than those mid 2000s tinted shades! It is not a trend we wanted, but it’s definitely the trend we needed. But, will it stand the test of time? We shall see.

Fanny Packs

Metallic

We are actually hyped up about this one. Not only is metallic palette making a comeback in makeup and nails, but it’s expanding to include fashion as well. Implement an item of the retro style and accessorize it wisely for a trendy look.

This one telltale from the past strikes us as most shocking. This fashion piece has risen from the ashes of our teenhood years like no other. It is now a must-have luxury you shouldn’t miss out on!

Leather

Chunky Sneakers

What’s most interesting about this trend is that for years this item was seen as hideous, to the point where everyone called them “Dad Shoes”. Now, all of a sudden, they are cool! Top brands are now competing to design the coolest chunks; so it looks like ugly is now sexy. 26 September 2019

Remember that punk-like Madonna style from the early 2000s? Well, it’s pretty similar. Leather outfits are making a grand comeback and it is here to give you that stunner flair you always wanted for a night out.

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Identity Turning 14

4. PRINTS

3. Denim

Animal Print

Animal prints are not everyone’s go to look, and we can understand why. However, it is making a huge comeback this year with more edge and coolness to it. Put your favorite leopard item from your teen years into use again for a fun fresh look.

Flare Jeans

It is about time skinny jeans are replaced with a cooler, comfier and stylish cut. Don’t you think? So, Flare jeans are back baby!! To be honest, we think it is the most flattering jeans cut to showcase the perfect angles of all types of bodies.

Logomania

It seems like only yesterday when everyone was wearing the in-your-face statement trend. Newsflash, it has been almost 14 years since we have bid this trend goodbye. Now, it’s coming back with full on force.

Cargo Pants

Finally, pants with pockets big enough to hold our phones. Obviously, this isn’t the first time for cargo pants to make a hit; they were THE BOMB back in the 90s and early 2000s. It is safe to say, this is our favorite fashion comeback so far.

tie-dye Embroidery jeans

If you haven’t noticed this trend, then it’s time you take a long look around. Embroidered items are everywhere now, IT’S CRAZY! The fact that you can add any item of your liking to your favorite jeans makes it even more appealing. 28 September 2019

This psychedelic babe from the 60s is back and here to stay, apparently. 2019 is toning down the grooviness of the style and putting a tad of maturity to it. Worry not, you can enjoy the cool print without actually looking like you just came back from Woodstock!

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Identity Turning 14

A C o n ver sation with a S e l f - P ro cla ime d Joker :

E yad N as sa r interview by Raghda El Sayed

Photographer: Mohsen othman, outfits: d store, hairstylist: Alsagheer hair salon, location: Code 30 September 2019

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With an extremely diverse portfolio under his belt as well as an ambiguous background, Eyad Nassar has always been a seemingly intimidating man of mystery who is hard to crack. Ironically, he was far from the person most people would imagine him to be. He was a cheerful, happy-go-lucky man, who could easily be one of the nicest people we met. We got to have coffee with the man himself and talk about his history, know his opinion about the industry and moving to Egypt, method acting, his sanity, and his very exciting coming project! With this being our anniversary issue, we had to be meticulous with who we choose as our cover story. Lucky for us this year, it was a no brainer to pick Eyad Nassar. With five movies released and an upcoming series, 2019 was definitely his year. That is not the only reason we chose Nassar, however. Nassar has a reason to celebrate the 14th anniversary for himself as well. “14 years ago, I started working on Sons of AlRasheed: Alameen And Almamon back in Jordan, the show which I decided to move to Egypt after working on. We started production in 2004, released in 2005, and in 2006 I was in Egypt!” Nassar gained his peak success in Jordan after this show, yet he chose to leave it all behind and start over in Egypt. We had to ask, why move to a new country when you could have enjoyed your success back in Jordan. “While there are numerous clichés that could be said about why I wanted to take this step, let us stick with the fact that any Arab actor has a goal to make it to Egypt because that is how you gain mainstream attention. Egyptians will not feel its significance since this is their home and they do not have alternatives, but Arabs do. It is not, however, about making it to Egypt, because this is easy. It is about staying relevant in Egypt. That’s the tricky part!” The move at this time for Nassar proved that he is a risk-taker. He could have easily come to Egypt and receive no success, and if he returns to Jordan afterward, he would be irrelevant. “Many Arab actors when they move to Egypt, they don’t want to compromise their success and want to

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start here with the same roles they would have back home. In most of these cases, they fail, no matter how big their name is in their country. I think it is because they did not give themselves the time to learn about the Egyptian character. While Egyptians might seem easy to portray because we are very familiar with them through TV, but the reality of it, you have to live in Egypt to get it. I do not mean just the accent, but I mean the essence and spirit of the Egyptian character. You have to experience it firsthand to be able to portray it and be believable.” Nassar didn’t get his first role in Egypt until a year after he moved. “I was lucky enough to give myself the space to learn everything before taking on my first Egyptian role. In my case, it was great to start from scratch, just like Hend Sabry did. I believe she played it best with her move to Egypt. She left a huge success back in Tunisia and came here to experience Egypt before accepting any role; she is now the most believable actress in the Arab world. Many even forget that she’s not Egyptian.” Now Eyad finally made it to Egypt, when did he feel like he actually made it? “I believe people started noticing me after AlGama’a series in 2010, four years after I moved. I had numerous other milestones throughout my career in Egypt, including Moga Harra, Haza Al Masa’a, and Afrah el Koba. I believe my career in TV made people take notice of me and I developed an audience. I believe, however, that I actually made it only this year with my movies and the choices of characters I made. I think I now finally found my place.”

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“

I h ad a go al , and I w ant e d t o b e the j oke r o f Eg y pti an mov i e s . I do no t w an t p e o pl e t o know w hat c h ar a cter they are going t o get fro m me.

kids alone. She suffered the most this last period. The real challenge, however, is what’s coming next!” While saying this, Nassar went from being cheerful and bubbly to almost looking stressed. What is happening, and what could even be more stressful than before?

“

“I’m currently working on a new series called Shanzelize Stories where I will be playing not one, but five characters. With previous roles, I had looks that change, different environments, different cast; I had many things to help me with my character. This time, it’ll be just me. No clutches to help me with the different characters, only my acting. This truly is the ultimate challenge!

“I had a goal, and I wanted to be the joker of Egyptian movies. I do not want people to know what character they are going to get from me.”

With that said, I don’t think I was ever excited over any project more than this one. It is a huge production, the biggest, I think, for an off-season series. I think it could be a game-changer for the TV industry. Our director, Morcos Adel, is also an upcoming talent and I truly believe he has an amazing future ahead of him.”

This movie season Nassar was almost in every successful movie, with a completely different character, and all of them were supporting roles when he could have easily had the main role.

Throughout our conversation, Nassar mentioned that he is a method actor. With all those roles he has been taking on. I had to ask the question everyone wanted to ask method actors, but will not want to ask. How is he not insane yet? Especially given that he plays multiple roles in a short span of time. Luckily, he was not offended by our question and laughed it off by asking “Who told you I’m not insane?” “It’s not easy to be a method actor, and it’s particularly difficult to have many roles in a short period of time. It is very challenging and demanding, and it does mess with your mental health. It is worse, however, for those around me. It was bad for my friends and family, especially my wife.

Shanzelize Stories will be set in the 50s, and focusing on the social life in Egypt during that era. According to Nassar, the show can potentially have a second season or even spin-offs. We were out of coffee, and I had to let him go and get ready for the photo-shoot. Our conversation did not feel like an interview but felt more like someone talking about his passion. His humbleness and affirmation that he is not doing this for fame, but to actually change the industry were inspiring, to say the least. He did admit that his career truly only started this year, and we’re sure we will be seeing unbelievable things from him in the near future!

When you’re a method actor, you detach from reality. She had to deal with this and to handle the

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Identity Turning 14

Identity’s Favorite Covers

DECEMBER 2018 - 20 L.E., VOLUME 13, ISSUE 12 WWW.IDENTITY-MAG.COM

10 XMAS

JULY 2019 - 20 L.E., VOLUME 14, ISSUE 4 WWW.IDENTITY-MAG.COM

In honor of our 14th anniversary, we bring you Identity’s most memorable covers featuring stars, celebrities, singers, designers, photographers, chefs, a mother of a cancer survivor…Let’s us take you back down our memory lane with our favorite covers

the 90s

ARE BACK ON THE BEACH

Free Hair For A Free SUMMER

SEPTEMBER 2018 - 20 L.E., VOLUME 13, ISSUE 9

Your Summer 2019 Sahel Guide

OCTOBER 2018 - 20 L.E., VOLUME 13, ISSUE 10 WWW.IDENTITY-MAG.COM

NY’S EVE OUTFIT GUIDE

Accessories

GLAMOROUS Makeup & Hair Ideas see page 10 to rock your New Year party look

How To Make An Entrance For Summer Parties?

SUMMER MAKEUP TRENDS

MUST VISIT EUROPEAN CHRISTMAS MARKETS

HOST THE PERFECT BARBECUE PARTY

MUST HAVE’S

The comeback of cowboy boots

XMAS Gifts On a Budget

MARCH 2019 - 20 L.E., VOLUME 14, ISSUE 3 WWW.IDENTITY-MAG.COM

Everything Under the Sun

Spring

TRAVEL GETAWAYS

Egyptian Sportswomen Breaking The Mould

ALPHA WOMEN... BETA MEN

INSPIRING SUPERMOM Entrepreneurs

The Mom’s Guide To Stay In Shape

the ANNIVERSARY

YOUR SEASONAL CLOSET:

Winter Wardrobe Essentials

Party in Style

2019 WWW.IDENTITY-MAG.COM

GAMES FOR YOUR PARTY

RADWA MOUSSA-YOUSSEF

SUPER TRENDY MotherDaughter Duos

TOP 10 MAMA’S CLOSET

The Power of A Mother’s Love

NOVEMBER 2018 - 20 L.E., VOLUME 13, ISSUE 11 WWW.IDENTITY-MAG.COM

Women of Wonder

10 successful women to inspire you

The Duo

WHO SHAPED THE FUTURE OF EGYPTIAN COMEDY

APRIL 2019 - 20 L.E., VOLUME 14, ISSUE 4 WWW.IDENTITY-MAG.COM

TOP 9

MINDBLOWING FRAGRANCE FOR HIM The New Rules of Men’s Formal Attire

BEST DRESSED MEN OF ALL TIMES

MOHAMED FA R R AG WHEN TALENT STEALS THE SHOW

38 September 2019

JANUARY 2019 - 20 L.E., VOLUME 14, ISSUE 1 WWW.IDENTITY-MAG.COM

The Most Stylish New Shades & Watches For Men

Cracking The Code of Men’s Feelings

THE PROMISES ALL MEN BREAK

MEN COOK TOO:

ONE POT RECIPES FOR HIM

WINTER SIZZLE

2019 FASHION

EXPLORE BALI ON A BUDGET

Best Boutiques in Town

Making Your New Year’s Resolution Stick

THE BOLD & BEAUTIFUL

BASMA

best

HONEYMOON DESTINATIONS THE ULTIMATE WEDDING-DAY CHECKLIST

TRENDS

CAIRO SHOPPING

JUNE 2019 - 20 L.E., VOLUME 14, ISSUE 3 WWW.IDENTITY-MAG.COM

Dos & Don’ts of Workplace Make up

Everything You’ll Need

THE ‘IT’

Comfy Fashion: Look Cozy-Chic

BREAKING THROUGH THE ILLUSION OF SUCCESS

bridal trends OF 2019 A Star on The Rise:

MALAK BADAWI September 2019 39

Identity Turning 14

What is emotional abuse? And can a person be unaware that they are being emotionally mistreated in a relationship? Emotional abuse is the most subtle type of abusive relationships. Most people, when they hear the word “abusive”, physical violence is the first thing that comes to their mind. Another form of recognizable abuse is verbal abuse because it is easier to spot when compared to emotional abuse. Emotional abuse is usually sugarcoated with “your best interest in mind”. The abuser is someone who constantly makes you feel guilty one way or the other, sorry for things you did, said, or did not do or say, threatened by being abandoned or ending up alone and lonely, insecure about your potential and capabilities, haunted by self-doubt, and more. The worst thing about being in an emotionally abusive relationship is that, most of the time, you do not know! You feel that something is wrong, but you blame yourself for it! You feel sad and melancholic most of the time, but you never think that your partner is causing it. Here are some famous scenarios of emotional abuse: Your partner asks you to do something, you do not want to do it, but your partner hints that if you refuse, he/she will be upset, will not have sex with you, or will leave you. You are afraid to voice your honest opinion about something or someone, because you do not want to “upset” your partner.

Emotional Abuse: A Path for Recovery by Marwa Rakha

Feeling insulted and wounded. Never measuring up. Walking on eggshells. If these statements describe your relationship, it is likely you are being emotionally abused. Emotional abuse may be hard to recognize, because it can be subtle, and abusers often blame their victims. They may act like they have no idea why you are upset. Over time, the abuser will chip away at your self-esteem, causing you to feel guilty, doubt yourself, and distrust your perceptions. Other aspects of the relationship may work well. The abuser may be loving between abusive episodes, so that you deny or forget them. Relationships that suffer from this disease are quite common; we reached out to our Relationship Expert, Marwa Rakha, to learn how we can deal with such behavior. 40 September 2019

Your partner discourages you whenever you want to pursue your dreams, attempt a new project, or learn something new. Your partner implies, using stories and anecdotes, that you are not good enough for him/her.

the unconditional love they deserve. They were subject to continuous scrutiny and criticism, probably bullying and sarcasm, and, in many cases, they might have been subjected to verbal and physical abuse. Their understanding of love is flawed. Their sense of self-worth is damaged. Their ability to thrive in relationships is limited. As they grow into adulthood, they either continue playing the role of the abuse victim, or they become abusive themselves. Healing and recovery is a long journey and they would need professional help to stop hurting others or themselves.

How can one confront and deal with abuse? “Stand your ground!” This is the first step after realizing that you are in a relationship with an emotionally abusive partner. Do not let the “games” get to your mind. Learn to recognize emotional blackmail. Stop yourself from getting on a guilt-trip when you know you are not at fault. Remind yourself that you deserve unconditional love. Learn to say “no” to the things you do not want to do. Surround yourself by many people who truly love and respect you.

Can an abuser change? Should you give them a second chance, or is it healthier to just walk away? An abusive partner uses guilt, threats, emotional blackmail, passive aggression, and many other unhealthy mind games to make you succumb to his/ her wishes and desires. You are not the first, nor the only, victim of that abusive person, and the abuse will never stop on its own. It is not about you, or what you do, or don’t do. It is not about a particular situation or event. It is a style of life! It is character! It is going to go on forever unless the abuser seeks help. It is easy to advise you to walk away – which is the best thing you can do. But in real life, the abuser might be your wife, or husband, or even one of your parents! Sometimes it is not possible to end the relationship.

Your relationship is following a “hot then cold” pattern. You only feel loved and appreciated when you give in to your partner’s wishes.

When someone abuses their partner in a relationship, does it mean they don’t love them, or is it simply a need to control and dominate regardless of their love?

The second-best scenario is insisting that the abuser talks to a therapist and starts sessions. In the meanwhile, you need therapy yourself to regain your balance and self-confidence. The last option, if none of the above works, is to “stand your ground”, as I advised you earlier! Just protect yourself from the blows of emotional abuse.

Most emotional abusers are victims of abuse themselves; as infants and children, they were denied September 2019 41

Identity Turning 14

You are not the only person in the world who feels this way, whatever “this way” is that you’re feeling. See if you can connect with some others so you can support each other. You are not the center of the universe, the sooner you realize that, the happier you will be.

Things To Tell Your 14 Year Old Self

Best friends aren’t just the people you hang out with, they are the people who make you feel good about yourself, who love you just the way you are. You are terrific just as you are. But that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t work on your rough edges and areas of ignorance and inexperience.

by Amina Moustapha

There is a reason why there are over 50 Hollywood movies revolving around time traveling; from Back To The Future released in 1985, to Avengers: Endgame recently released this year! The power of traveling through time has a magic of its own. Imagine going back into your past to change mistakes you had committed, or taking a trip to the future to figure out what destiny is holding for you… Life wouldn’t be the same! Though as they say, yesterday is history and tomorrow is a mystery…But how about we forget all about how the clock functions, and the fact that time only moves in one direction? Let’s assume we have Doctor Strange’s Time Stone, or Hermione Granger’s Time Turner, and we get to travel back in time to change something in our history in order to solve our mystery…To what point in our lives will we go? Fourteen is that age where you’re not sure if you should still be labelled a child or not. Everything is confusing. It is a critical age full of awkwardness and self-consciousness. What if we stop there, and leave some notes to our past selves? Some words from the wise, maybe those advices could have changed the course of our lives. Here it goes… Dear Fourteen Year Old Self, Now is the time to establish good habits for life in all aspects of your life; they might take a lot of hard work to form, but it’s worth the effort and missed television. Tell your parents and grandparents you love them. Be emotionally generous. Get started with healthy eating and exercise young, 42 September 2019

If you are alone, you won’t always be, unless you don’t make any effort to change that. Make the effort.

so you don’t spend half your life worrying about weight, blood pressure, heart attacks and all sorts of health-related problems.

Your parents truly love you and want the best for you. Listen to them. Trust them. Love them. Honor them.

There are some narcissistic and bitter people in the world who will make your life a misery and who are embedded in their own version of reality that they’ll never change. Should you have the misfortune to encounter such a person, don’t hang around any longer than you absolutely need to.

Try not to be so gullible. Trust, but verify. Do something artistic. In fact, try lots of different things in different media. There is something meaningful and life giving about creating a thing of beauty. Don’t ruminate on how others have hurt you. Feel your feelings, but let them slip away. Move on.

Stop watching so much TV. Read more.

Forgive. Forgive. And forgive again. You may never forget, but for your own sake, forgive. And try to forget.

There’s so much you don’t know, but you have such a great opportunity to keep learning. Never, ever stop learning. Never ever stop asking questions about how the world works. Make “Why?” your favorite one. Avoid closed-minded people who tend to be negative. Don’t stress out all the time. It will eventually take its toll on you in various forms. Stop eating fast food. Stand up for yourself once in a while. If you didn’t love yourself, who will?

And don’t forget to forgive yourself. You will have your share of mistakes. Be prepared for your life to change. Realize that the relationship you thought will last forever might end. Don’t let that paralyze you with fear.

Technology is cool and can help you do fun and interesting things. But keep it in perspective; don’t let it consume you. Life in the real world is far more meaningful and important. And fun.

No one has the right to tell you can’t do something great in your life. Don’t allow them to justify their mediocre lives by destroying your dreams.

Don’t be afraid to tell someone you love them, as long as you really do. And I hope you do.

It may not be easy to stand up and speak out for what’s significant to you, but you will be amazed how empowering, and important, it can be.

Most of all…live so that someday you won’t have to wish you could tell your younger self anything. With love, Your Future Self. September 2019 43

Identity Turning 14

Life Challenges with Social Media by Amina Moustapha

An anniversary is a time to celebrate the present, but most importantly it’s a chance to reflect upon the past. Most strikingly, Identity was founded just 1 year and 7 months after Facebook. Twitter, Instagram and Snapchat didn’t even exist! So what’s the difference between life ‘before’ and ‘after’ social media? A lot has changed in 14 years…

behind a computer screen, making posts on social media to say what game they will be live on and when.

Life Before Social Media

We lived entirely in the moment and took photos to share with close friends and family, not to achieve ‘likes’ on social media. It was an incredible goldenage when we did things simply because we wanted to, not because sharing things would make others think a certain way about us.

It’s very hard to try and imagine a life ‘before’ social media, as it’s such a huge part of our lives today. Looking back, it seems as though we were living in the Neolithic era, as Stone Age farmers who shared everything by word of mouth. There was no fast, live-streamed news like there is today and you certainly couldn’t have watched the sights of the Notre-Dame burning live in Paris through social media outlets.

Privacy Crucially, we lived much more private lives back then. A graduate never feared that an employer might bring up a poorly-judged tweet they made 8 years ago, and jokes were kept within small circles of friends. This was the time when nothing ever went viral, and missing dogs were searched for by walking the streets and putting up posters – not by sharing a missing post on Facebook.

Friends and Relationships In many ways we were living much smaller scale lives. Our ‘friends’ were physical people we knew around us, not profiles we accepted or rejected and most of us met our romantic partners in real life unplanned situations. There was no way to check if people were ‘single’ or ‘in a relationship’ on Facebook, a guy or a girl would simply go up to someone they were interested in and start a conversation.

Life After Social Media

Body Image Back then we compared ourselves to the nearest and dearest we chose to have around us, not the entire world. There was less pressure to be ‘picture perfect’ so to speak, and we had only one face, our real one – not an online virtual persona and physical manifestation. Free-spirited Lifestyle This was a beautiful time of love letters and door knocking. Children could really be ‘children’. The third-generation often reminisce their childhood and the days spent outside building dens and being in the open. The youth of today are instead stuck 44 September 2019

While our memories of a life ‘before’ social media seem somewhat nostalgic and idealistic, there are so many positives in the ways our lives have changed since.

Knowing Everything About Everyone Platforms like Facebook have been really amazing in helping us to keep in contact with friends and families across long distances. In a slightly creepy way, we are now able to lurk in the background of people’s lives. We can see photos and videos from a childhood friend’s wedding day, despite not talking to that ‘friend’ for 10 years, and are able to know everything about the details of other people’s lives. We now get tagged in photos, memes and videos constantly – it’s like your friends are with you wherever you go, always checking in. You can be at the supermarket buying your dinner and yet know exactly where everyone else is through functions like the Snapchat map, which was slightly problematic in its tracking abilities.

Global Movements and Trolls Like most things, the social media revolution has both its upsides and downsides. Connecting everyone across the world on a joint platform is able to unite people from small communities and subcultures, and push global movements like #BlackLivesMatter and #MeToo. At the same time, it can be so frustrating to have to deal with everyone’s opinions all the time. Trolls are now commonplace, and in large numbers they can push annoying or upsetting viewpoints that do nothing but alienate people and question their self-confidence. The News Revolution The founder of Facebook Mark Zuckerberg stated that in 2004 when he created the platform, he did it to make the world more ‘open’ and ‘connected’ – a social mission. By looking at the present, it’s evident that this is true. Facebook alone has 2 billion active monthly users, a staggering 1/3rd of the world’s population! It’s this web of networks that has revolutionised how we get our news. The Cracks Begging to Show The binary between a life ‘before’ and ‘after’ social media is not very clear cut though. In recent years, if you look close enough, you can spot the beginning

of a turn away from the social media lifestyle. When Kylie Jenner tweeted that she never uses Snapchat anymore and called it ‘sad’, the company’s shares dropped by 8%. This highlights just how fragile social media platforms are, and how they can be easily dropped for the next new thing. In the music world some artists have also begun to reject the use of phones at their concerts - even Beyoncé has called out audience members before. Some artists have taken it a step further, banning all phones and thus social media at their events by using the new Yondr pouch, which guests seal their phones in for the night. At one concert in the UK, Grime artist Skepta declared that for one night only, the audience are not their Instagram or twitter name. He shouted, ‘you’re yourself, right here, together with everybody, now.’ If we’ve learnt anything from looking at the past 14 years of Identity, it’s that we need to remain firmly in the present. Appreciate our friends (the real ones) and live life without the anxiety of a certain social media image. Doing this can bring together the good parts of both life ‘before’ and ‘after’ social media.

Identity Turning 14

Jogging in Cairo: All You Need To Know

route, as you can walk through different streets all around Cairo American College (CAC) and stop whenever you feel like it.

by Amina Moustapha

4. All Around Arkan – 6th of October For the 6th of October residents, don’t worry we got your back. Running all around Arkan early in the morning is how you should start your day. You’ll be able to run 5.5kms while enjoying the weather and right after that, you could grab a drink or treat yourself from any restaurant or café. You could also be part of October Runners, and enjoy being part of a marathon for a change.

Running is one of the tricks that people use not only to stay in shape but also to relieve their stress and escape from reality for a while. However, many people feel reluctant and demotivated to even start taking those tiny first steps of living a healthy life because of the immense feelings of boredom associated with the treadmill.

5. Child Park - Nasr City Most people would tell you that it is almost impossible to find a decent place for running in Nasr City, but this spot has been known to be a great running spot for decades. Hadiqet el Tefl is located in Makram Ebeid, which is the most decent place in Nasr City. You would find people of different age groups running and jogging all around the park early in the morning; which makes it even easier to have a jogging buddy. You are in full control of the number of kilometers you run as it depends on the number of laps.

In order to maintain running as part of your daily routine, you need to have a strong connection with your running environment and select a specific running route that would keep you committed and motivated. We decided to give you the push you needed and make your life a bit easier by introducing you to the different routes that would make you fall in love with running while discovering Cairo’s hidden beauty.

6. Compounds Right after jogging you can grab a bite and enjoy the sunlight in the club. One downside is that you need to be a member in either clubs otherwise you won’t be permitted to enter.

1. The Amazing Streets of Zamalek Zamalek is known to be one of the safest and cleanest areas in Cairo, where many of Egypt’s upper class and expats reside. Wake up early in the morning and enjoy an early jog in Abu el Feda Street before the traffic and noise hit. You will get the chance to run by the Nile and enjoy its view while feeling the fresh morning breeze across your face leaving you energized for the whole day. A good route would be starting from what used to be Sequoia restaurant all the way till you reach El Ahly club and then all the way back, it is almost a 6KM run.

46 September 2019

3. Degla- EL Maadi 2. Running Track Surrounding Gezira Club Zamalek This Track is located in Zamalek, right next to both El Gezira Club and Markaz Shabab El Gezira. What makes this track special is the fact that you can go running while having your dogs with you, and that is what makes it a great social spot for dog owners. The track is almost 2kms, which is a good range for different fitness levels.

One of the amazing things about Maadi is the greenery; it’s like trees grow on trees there. Wake up early in the morning to enjoy the sunlight and the breeze, while walking through the different parks of Degla, El Maadi. This area is identified as the most affluent place to live in Maadi, so the safety and the cleanliness of the streets are a given. You’ll find a whole community of sports enthusiasts and dog lovers, either walking their dogs or even having their own planned spinning classes, which is really encouraging. You don’t need to stick to a certain

Living in a compound gives you full access to mesmerizing scenery of parks and lakes. In addition, your safety is taken care of as there are security men working all day long to keep you safe. If you are lucky enough to be one of the few Egyptians residing in compounds, then you don’t even need to leave. Call your neighbor and pick a time that suits you both. Go run by the lake, park or even across the streets and make the most out of it.

We really encourage you to pick a running route that is close to your home, so that you wouldn’t have a good enough reason to be lazy. Finally, if you are one of the avid joggers and want to be part of a running marathon, we urge you to check The Tri Factory’s training program and register in their yearly competition at Sahl Hashish.

September 2019 47

Identity Turning 14

this comes very naturally. Cooking for me is almost a meditation practice which helps me to clear my thoughts and distress. Did London’s culinary art affect your style in cooking?

The Joy of Cooking: An Interview with Food Writer & Menu Consultant Soha Darwish by Amina Moustapha

On our 14th anniversary, Identity is celebrating one of its phenomenal writers, Soha Darwish. Darwish has always taken up challenges. Her move to the UK fifteen years ago engaged her fully in family life. Harbouring a passion for food, Soha continued to nurture her family along with her most cherished pastime, cooking. While writing down recipes, another pleasurable hobby emerged; it was food writing and creating menus, which later on urged her to obtain a diploma in food journalism. Darwish collaborated successfully with branding companies on several F&B projects including menu revamps and copywriting, as well as content writing for social media and websites, and also she joined the Identity family. We sat down with Soha to hear all about her career and how she went after her dreams.

with reputable branding companies and restaurants on several F&B projects including menu developing and copywriting, as well as content writing for social media and websites. Then came the journalism part which gives me great pleasure, as I feel most connected with my readers showing and sharing sides of my personality.

Take us through your journey, how did your career kick off?

What is your favorite cuisine? How many different types of cuisines can you cook?

Having lived in London, a gastronomy city renowned for its culinary arts, for 10 years prior to my move to the UAE, has definitely served the aspiring cook in me well. But unexpectedly, another pleasurable hobby has emerged from writing down my recipes - food writing and creating menus, surprising myself with a rich vocabulary for describing flavours, textures and aromas. After that, a persistent urge has arisen to pursue a career in this path, which has driven me to obtain a diploma in food journalism from the UK. Afterwards, I collaborated successfully

This is a tough one! I enjoy many cuisines but if I must narrow it down, I would say Japanese (not only sushi) and Italian. I love the clean fresh flavours of the Japanese cuisine with its highly meticulous standards and techniques. Also, good authentic Italian food simply puts a smile on my face with its lush ingredients and home cooking style.

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To be honest, I can comfortably cook any dish I like in any cuisine. That doesn’t sound very humble, does it? But if you’re passionate about food and cooking

It did, big time! On TV there, programs are either about properties or food. I was mesmerised by the various cuisines, food knowledge and language used in describing flavours and textures; it was like music to my ears. I just fell in love with the vocabulary the likes of Nigella Lawson, Antonio Carluccio and Rick Stein used. In addition to, London’s unique dining scene, accessibility to diverse cuisines and its great wealth of ingredients; all helped my cooking style to evolve over the years. Give us examples of projects you worked on and what are your current ones? I consider myself fortunate to start my career with collaborating with the reputable Branding agency ‘Brandbees’ on several projects in Egypt e.g Fresh Food Market and Battaw restaurant. After that, I undertook more menu projects in the UAE and Lebanon. I’m currently working with Sodic on developing and writing the menus for all food outlets in their new impressive sports club ‘Club S’; it’s a huge honour to be part of this big project, exciting! In addition to my journalism work, where I regularly contribute to Identity magazine plus freelancing in other magazines in the UAE like Fig Jam and Yalla Abu Dhabi. What’s the importance of a good menu? I’ve always believed that reading through a good menu should be equally exciting as savouring the chef’s signature dishes. However, we often find the menu disappointing and not in line with the efforts spent in either the interiors or executing those dishes. It may be the design, lack of accuracy in food description or linguistic mistakes; all of which could really compromise the menu. With a good menu in hand, diners can visualise their food choices enabling them to get an idea of what to expect leading to less turned back dishes to the kitchen, hence happy customers and staff. Should a chef have educational backgrounds from culinary schools and institutions, or can they just depend on their talent and knowledge?

times and the dining scene is thriving. So, in order to keep up they need to learn and grasp a lot of techniques and evolving concepts. Therefore, culinary schools and institution are also essential and crucial to stand out. Is there a chef you admire the most? I’m more of a traditionalist, so I highly admire and respect the renowned Alain & Michel Jr. Roux, who were trained by their famous father and uncle Michel and Albert Roux; founders of the world-renowned Le Gavroche restaurant. I had the pleasure to dine at Alain’s Three Michelin starred restaurant ‘The Waterside Inn’ in Berkshire, England and indulge on his signature menu. I also had the honor of meeting him at the end of our unforgettable meal when he comes out to greet his guests - what an experience! What do you do to stay on current trends? I always keep a list with new restaurants coming up and the existing ones with good reviews where I live or in countries I plan to visit. Also, I have to say that the UAE is a very attractive place for world famous restaurants to venture out here and I’m really privileged to be in this exciting part of the world. Watching good food shows and programs is also really important, like The Chef’s Table, Street Food and Master Chef UK. What’s the biggest dream you want to achieve in your career? My biggest dream is to connect and reach as many food lovers as I can; this is my ultimate goal. I started with my food articles then my blog on Facebook: A Food Writer and Menu Consultant and Instagram @soha_darwish_foodwriter_menus, where I share my published articles/recipes, menu projects and interesting food knowledge/tips. I also would like to be able to do that visually through TV shows in which I can share my original recipes and talk about cooking and food from a cultural perspective. Finally, maybe at some point write a cookbook sharing my career journey, food knowledge and recipes. There is still so much more to accomplish but I’m happy with the steps I managed to take while looking after my family and nurturing them.

We thank Soha for such an inspiring interview and we wish her all the best in her career.

Talent and passion are the foundations of a good chef, but I believe we are living in highly competitive September 2019 49

Identity Turning 14

Books That’ll Hit You Right in the Nostalgia by Sandy Hossam

Books were never just for entertainment purposes; they are a lot more than that. They provide us with incomparable pleasure. Reading is dreaming with open eyes, and books are our tool to escape reality, to visualize a world that only exists in our heads, that we can travel to as we flip through the pages. And so, as our magazine is celebrating its 14th anniversary we thought we’d spread some nostalgic feelings and share with you the book list below that will make you feel fourteen all over again. Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone by J.K. Rowling One of the sagas that opened the door of fantasy to young adolescents was Harry Potter. Written by British author, J. K. Rowling, Harry Potter revolves around young wizards who go to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry to learn all about magic. The first release of the books series was “Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone”, which found a huge success selling more than 500 million copies worldwide and getting translated into 80 languages! For that, we had extra more releases from the author. These books attracted a lot of young readers and were categorized as modern young adult literature. Afterwards, the novels were turned into films that were a major success in the history of fantasy movies!

The Man of The Impossible by Nabil Farouk Now we are talking about real nostalgia! Ragol Al-Mostaheel is a series of action Egyptian books written by Nabil Farouk. It all started when the Modern Arab Association wanted sci-fi books. That’s when the author started submitting various novels, including this one. The hero of the novel is called, Adham Sabry. This character is a highly trained commando and an ethical one that always faces seemingly impossible missions. The love story between Adham and Mona, his military colleague who gets married to his rival, is what spices things up and makes it an even more popular book due to the mixing of different genres together. The 160 published Ragol Al-Mostaheel novels only prove how successful the series really was! 50 September 2019

The Lord of The Rings by J. R. R. Tolkien Our 14-year-old library wouldn’t be complete without these books! The Lord of The Rings is a fantasy novel, written by English author, J. R. R. Tolkien. The story is a sequel to Tolkien’s 1937 fantasy novel The Hobbit. The books were one of the best-selling novels ever written, with more than 130 million copies. The novel revolves around Dark Lord Sauron who had one ring to rule the other rings of power as the ultimate weapon in his campaign to conquer and rule all of Middle-earth. In 2003, it was entitled to be Britain’s best novel of all time. The novels were later made into films, which were even more successful.

Murder on The Orient Express by Agatha Christie Our childhood wouldn’t be the same without this detective novel. Agatha Christie, best-known for her crime books, is the international readers’ all-time favorite, especially young readers. The hint of mystery, confusion and how she manages to tie all the twists together makes her one of the greatest crime writers of all time. Murder on the Orient Express stole young readers’ hearts when it first hit the bookshelves, and it was our first look at Belgian detective, Hercule Poirot, one of Christie’s most famous and long-running characters. Christie’s books were translated into many languages, more than any writer’s ever did, as well sold more than a billion copies.

Around the World in 200 Days by Anis Mansour Stuck in the minds of adults and loved by younger generations, Anis Mansour is an Egyptian beloved writer that started out as a journalist before turning into an unbelievably popular author. He wrote 170 books that were translated into French, Dutch and Russian. It was clear from his various critical, religious and philosophical articles that he had a witty attractive style. One of his best-selling novels that had a place in every Egyptian childhood was Hawl Al-Alam fi 200 Youm, which documented his actual journey around the world exposing different cultures and meeting the Dalai Lama. We hope you appreciated our trip down memory lane. Grab one of these books and enjoy some nostalgia, and if you haven’t read any of them yet, you’re in for a treat. September 2019 51

Identity Travel

Getaways Soma bay

ISLAND PEAK – NEPAL 18 Days/17 Nights Departure: Upon request Starting from: $2,660 For more information visit: www.wildguanaba.com

PRICE INCLUDES • Price based on 4 pax • Consultation on every aspect of preparation, including physical and mental • English speaking guides & porters to carry all personal gear and group equipment • Trekking permit • Meals as mentioned in the itinerary (Breakfast = B, Lunch = L, Dinner = D) • All public transport to and from destination

4 days/3 nights Honeymooners Package Departure: Upon request Starting from: EGP 10000 per couple For more information visit: www.travelchoiceegypt.com

Package Includes • Three nights stay in double room based on “Pay 2 nights & get 3rd night free” in five star hotel • Soft all inclusive meal basis • Fresh Juice welcome drink (Upon Arrival) • Free upgrade to the deluxe room sea view or Junior suite (subject to hotel availability) • Honeymoon room decoration.

Sahl hasheesh MOUNT TOUBKAL, MOROCCO 6 days/5 nights Departure: Upon request Starting from: $808 For more information visit: www.wildguanaba.com 52 September 2019

Package Includes • Price based on 4 pax • Meals as mentioned in the itinerary (Breakfast = B, Lunch = L, Dinner = D) • All transport to and from destination in a private car (Non A/C Car) • All accommodation • Experienced English-speaking local guide • All city national park admission and entrance fees • Mules, muleteers, and/or porters

4 days/3 nights Departure: Upon request Starting from: EGP 11790 per couple For more information visit: www.travelchoiceegypt.com

Package Includes • Luxury accommodation for 3 nights per couple in a suite • Lavish breakfast in the restaurant • Round trip airport transfers by Mercedes Benz • Honeymoon turndown (Including a romantic bath) twice during the stay • One candle light dinner for two in the restaurant once per stay (Food ONLY) • Honeymoon cake • 15 % discount on any food & soft beverages consumed in the restaurant • 15 % discount on any spa treatment, 25 % on couple massage. September 2019 53

kenya 6 Days / 5 Nights Starting from: EGP 23,900 Dates: Upon request For more information visit: www.travcoholidays.travel

bucharest Package Includes • Roundtrip economy airfare on EgyptAir regular flights, including taxes • 1 night in Nairobi on bed and breakfast basis in a standard room at Boulevard Hotel • 4 nights of a full board safari, all the properties are based on standard rooms • Transportation by a non-air conditioned, private, and custom designed safari minivan vehicle with a popup roof for maximum game viewing comfort with a professional English speaking driver/guide.

Phuket & Kuala Lumpur 8 Days / 7 Nights Starting from: EGP 19,900 Dates: Upon request For more information visit: www.travcoholidays.travel

54 September 2019

Package Includes • Roundtrip economy airfare on board regular flights, including taxes • 4 nights accommodation in Phuket including breakfast and taxes • 3 nights accommodation in Kuala Lumpur including breakfast and taxes • Airport transfers in each city.

6 Days / 5 Nights Starting from: EGP 13,900 Dates: Upon request For more information visit: www.travcoholidays.travel

Package Includes • Roundtrip economy airfare on regular flights, including taxes. • 5 nights accommodation at a bed and breakfast hotel of your choice. • Airport transfers in Bucharest.

Athens - greece 5 Nights 6 Days Starting from: EGP 7,510 Departure: Upon request For more information visit: egyptexpresstvl.com

Package Includes • Round-trip economy airfare on Aegean Airlines regular flights, including taxes. • 5 nights accommodation including breakfast & hotel taxes.

September 2019 55

TOP LONDON ATTRACTIONS AND SIGHTS

Travel Guide:

London is one of the most famous cities on Earth, known for its red buses, post boxes and black-cabs. If cities are your thing, then here’s the top things to do and see during your stay:

by Joanna Neve

1. Walk along the iconic Westminster Bridge to hear Big Ben chime alongside the Houses of Parliament and cross over to take a spin on the London Eye, a giant wheel with panoramic views of the city. In the same location you can enter the London Dungeons, but be prepared for a scary tour through London’s not so pleasant history. Then take a tour-boat along the Thames or speed through by speed-boat. 2. Take part in the Harry Potter Studio Tour to see the creation of one of our favourite novel and film series. 3. Spend a day at the Tower of London and take a peek at the stunning Crown Jewels. 4. Go to Madame Tussauds waxwork museum to see some of our favourite celebrities in life-size waxwork. 5. Head to the Tate Modern art gallery to experience the best of the UK’s contemporary art-scene. 6. Go shopping on Oxford Street and Bond Street, with stores ranging from high-street brands to highend designers like a multi-story Tiffany jeweller on Bond Street. 7. Watch the Queen’s changing of the guard parade outside Buckingham Palace and take a walk through St. James’s Park, the royal gardens with an array of urban wildlife. 8. Spend a night-out in the bohemian style Covent Garden area of London teeming with cocktail bars,

England

luxury markets and street music. 9. Have a romantic stroll or family day out at the famous London Zoo. OUTSIDE OF LONDON As you travel through British villages, towns and cities listen out for the changing sounds of the English language – within just a few miles the dialects can change! For Countryside and Nature Lovers • The Lake District National Park is a must visit for stunning landscapes. Teeming with lakes, waterfalls and mountain roads; it’s probably England’s most picturesque location! • Head to the Cotswolds to experience the tranquillity of rural British country life; a location of stunning views, little museums and country pubs. For Heritage and History Admirers • Spend a day in Cambridge, the location of one of

the world’s oldest and most renowned universities. This city is home to a beautiful Cathedral, riverside restaurants, Europe’s first eco-friendly mosque and the river Cam, which you can punt down by boat! • The city of Bath is home to historic Roman baths (hence the name) and is a fabulous location for some pampering and a spa day. It’s a historic spot which is often missed off by tourists and is definitely worth a visit.

british Cuisine Best Time to visit Talking about the weather (or how bad it is) is a very British custom. All year round prepare for rain and make sure to carry an umbrella – it rains a massive 156 days a year! In winter months (November-January), it can get very cold ranging from 0-9°C particularly in mountainous and coastal areas, so pack lots of layers and be prepared for the small chance of snow. In summer months (June-August), temperatures are higher and tend to range between 15-25°C, with cooler evenings. Visa A Standard Visitor Visa for tourists is valid for up to 6 months and allows multiple entries. It costs £95. Apply on the www.gov.uk website up to 3 months before travel and receive a decision within 3 weeks. Ensure your passport is valid for the full-length of your trip with at least one blank page. You will then need to book an appointment at one of Egypt’s Visa Application Centres (Alexandria/Cairo) where you will have fingerprints and a photograph taken. Some basic documents, which are listed online during application, are also required.

Transportation • Public transport in the UK is very good. Rail networks and bus services run efficiently across the whole country, with buses linking most rural areas. Tickets can be easily booked via the National Rail website. • The capital London has world-famous tube networks. Alternatively take a London blackcab (taxi), bus or uber. • Rural islands are easily accessible by ferry networks dependent on the weather.

• Make sure to book in for a traditional Afternoon Tea during

your holiday. Cakes, scones and sandwiches will come stacked on a large stand alongside bottomless tea and coffee. • A Full English Breakfast is an absolute must try on your travels. The dish usually comes with scrambled eggs, fried eggs, baked beans, mushrooms, tomatoes, and a fried slice of bread, black pudding, sausages, bacon, hash browns and toast! • Try a traditional Sunday Roast at the weekend which includes meat, vegetables, roast potatoes, Yorkshire puddings and gravy – you can’t visit without trying it! • Other British dishes to try include fish and chips which is often freshly caught and eaten on a Friday. Halal meat is easy to find in British cities, with some restaurants only serving halal. In rural areas it is very hard to find, but England is known for having lots of amazing vegetarian dishes and alternatives everywhere you go! September 2019 57

Identity out&about

Cairo Marriott Hotel

Receives Travel + Leisure Magazine World’s Best Award This year the Cairo Marriott Hotel has been selected to be one of the top 10 performers among all hotels participating in Travel + Leisure Magazine annual survey “World’s Best Award”. The Cairo Marriott Hotel & Omar Khayyam Casino always strives to provide guests with the best hospitality service by exceeding guests expectations and personalizing their experience. Every year the magazine announces a survey where readers can vote and evaluate their travel experiences around the Middle East & Africa based on facilities provided, location, food, service and overall experience. The survey has classified entries as hotels, resorts, cities, islands, cruise ships, spas, airlines, and more. Early July the results were announced showing the Cairo Marriott Hotel ranking number 10 in the MEA region based on readers’ reviews with a total score of 86.75%. The hotel was one of the only two hotels in Egypt to be given the award this year. 58 September 2019

With the hotel prime location in the heart of Cairo, 14 extensive dining destinations, 1064 modern guest rooms offering luxurious bedding and its palatial architecture and rich gardens, guests are bound to be treated like royalty. It is worth mentioning that the Cairo Marriott Hotel & Omar Khayyam Casino is one of the historical hotels owned by Egyptian General Company for Tourism & Hotels (EGOTH) and managed by Marriott International since 1982. The Palace was originally built by Khedive Ismail – ruler of Egypt- in 1869 to host Empress Eugenie during her visit to Egypt to celebrate the Suez Canal inauguration. The Cairo Marriott Hotel hosts are always happy to welcome guests at the Palace ensuring to provide guest with a brilliant travel experience. Save more when you book direct through CairoMarriottHotel.com to enjoy a one-of-a-kind authentic travel experience in the heart of the city.

Happily Ever After Begins at

Hilton Cairo Zamalek Weddings are magical in every way, with so many details to be remembered and cherished. It is how couples celebrate their love story with their nearest and dearest and write the first pages of a new chapter ahead. While you dream of making this day exceptional in every way, Hilton Cairo Zamalek knows that it takes artistry, creativity, great resources and a professional team to bring your dream to reality. With its splendid location overlooking the breathtaking view of the Nile, spellbinding ballrooms and outdoor venues, as well as world-class services and hospitality; the ultimate wedding experience is guaranteed. Our venues are tailor-made to turn your wedding into utmost splendor. Whether you dream of an intimate indoor wedding or grandeur by the pool; we’ll make your special day truly remarkable. Light Up the sparks of romance under the starlit sky with the picturesque view at our pool deck overlooking the Nile, a venue that accommodates up to 180 guests. we’ll make sure to brighten up the night with magical sparks of romance. For more intimate and smaller weddings, our indoor ballroom will impress you and your guests with a panoramic view of the Nile accommodating 70 of your dearest guests.

We incorporate all the details in the wedding packages to make your special day outstanding. Our Executive Chef will be delighted to help you in creating your own menu, or just select one of our preset special sumptuous menus that are sure to delight starting at EGP 415.00 per person including service charge and taxes. At Hilton Cairo Zamalek, we understand that planning is the most important step to make your wedding remarkable. We keep a keen eye on every aspect and remain committed to impeccable execution. Our team will create the right aura for you to tie the knot while magic fills the air. Whatever your dream is, at Hilton Cairo Zamalek we guarantee to add a mesmerizing flair to your wedding day. So get your vows ready for a happily ever after and leave the rest to us! For reservation please call us on 01001604031

September 2019 59

Identity out&about Review

GB Ghabbour Auto celebrates the local production of Chery “Arrizo 5” GB Ghabbour Auto, the leading passenger car importer, assembler, and distributor in the Middle East and North Africa, has celebrated the production of Chery “Arrizo 5” through its manufacturing plant in Abu Rawash industrial zone. The local assembly of Chery “Arrizo 5” is part of the company’s expansion plans in the Egyptian auto sector and its commitment to support the Egyptian customer looking to acquire a high-quality car at an affordable price and unparalleled after-sales services.

THE GREAT AMERICAN BURGER At

The Nile Ritz - Carlton, Cairo There is nothing better than having an ice-cold beverage and a massive juicy American burger with signature recipes from all around the states. Ritz Bar will offer burger lovers unique flavors and textures of gourmet hamburger styles, full of vibrant ingredients, photo–friendly presentations and flavored side dishes, in an intimate venue. Ritz Bar vision is to delight the guests with the finest burgers and a variety of great tasting burgers that are cooked over an open fire. The guests can expect to find menu innovation that reflects the special taste and the unique ingredients of the states. Burgers are good but burgers with a story are even better, The Great American burger experience will take you through a trip across America where burger diversity abounds. Every month is dedicated

60 September 2019

to a specific regional burger, from the all American burger launching in September to the classic New York–style pub burger, and from the fried onion burger of Kentucky to the tortilla burger of Louisiana. The Recipes feature regional burgers from: California, Florida, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Hawaii, South Carolina, Tennessee and Texas. What could be more worth exciting than patties in buns? Beef, chicken, veggie, smothered in melted cheese, dripping with burger sauce, topped with tangy pickles and sautéed onions - it’s hard to beat a burger. It’s a fast-food classic that has been elevated to new heights with The Nile Ritz-Carlton chefs putting their spins on the burger.

Samih Sawiris sets the building blocks for the Gouna Conference and Culture Center Samih Sawiris, Chairman of Orascom Development Holding sets the building blocks for Gouna Conference and Culture Center. The scale of ancient Egyptian architecture was a guiding factor in the conceptualization of the scheme, with the purpose of making it the most spectacular and memorable culture center. The conference center will be the second phase of the cultural complex that includes a concert hall, a plaza, and monumental colonnades.

All What you wish for and more At Safir Hotel Cairo Celebrate your wedding with elegance at Safir Hotel Cairo. As it’s the perfect venue for weddings. The hotel presents a wide array of packages specially tailored to suit all tastes with competitive prices. Also the hotel offers various choices of rooms, suites and ballrooms. And the most important; a team of gifted Chefs who are ready to dazzle your guests with spectacular buffets combine a tempt presentation and superb taste. Wedding Planners who will pleasantly help you in all details starting from the Kosha, flowers, ballroom décor.

Dine high at Grand Nile Tower Grand Nile Tower is home to Cairo’s finest food and beverage outlets, offering authentic cuisine for every taste. The most spectacular restaurant in all of Cairo, the Revolving Restaurant provides diners with a staggering panoramic view of the Nile River, the Pyramids and the ancient cosmopolitan city of Cairo while they savor culinary delights from an international gourmet menu, prepared in the restaurant’s show kitchen.

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Identity out&about

For the first time in Egypt Etisalat Misr sponsors Cirque du Soleil Philip Morris and Egyptian Customs Authority join forces to train Customs officials in combating illicit trade across local ports In line with the Egyptian government’s direction to effectively combat illicit trade and smuggling, most common in tobacco products, Philip Morris and the Egyptian Customs Authority joined forces to launch a specialized technical program aimed at training Customs officials in Cairo, Alexandria and Port Said.

Amany Hassan appointed as Public Relations & eCommerce Manager at Hilton Pyramids Golf. Amany brings over 10 years of Commercial sector & eCommerce experience in hospitality industry at Hilton chain where she has proven to be instrumental in driving business up and particularly building a strong base from the online digital marketing .

ALDAU Development Marks 2019 With Its First Major Corporate Rebranding

Friday Brunch at Sofitel El Gezirah Sofitel Cairo El Gezirah invites you to experience a specially created lavish brunch overlooking the Nile at Casa Mia restaurant every Friday from 2pm till 6pm. Casa Mia Brunch is a unique Méchoui Brunch with live cooking stations including Oriental, International specialties & live entertainment. Experience Casa Mia brunch every Friday with your family & friends and enjoy the spectacular scenery of the Nile.

62 September 2019

ALDAU Development, a leading hotel, real estate and retail developer, underwent its first major corporate rebranding, aligning its three divisions under one umbrella with a remarkable vision. Currently ALDAU Development portfolio includes many business units consisting of hotels, F&B outlets, residential complexes and retail projects. The major changes includes stretching ALDAU Development into two major divisions: Hospitality and Real Estate, showcasing its unique contributions to each sectors and yet reflecting the core values of the master brand. Hence, the slogan was introduced to create a strong brand promise for ALDAU Development as the Best in Class Properties.

Sheerly Divine Weddings at Steigenberger Hotel El Tahrir Located at the heart of Cairo city Downtown, Steigenberger El Tahrir Hotel’s illustrious ballroom is the prime choice for planning a spectacular wedding, with its exquisite décor and attractive wedding packages. Diamond Ballroom is the optimum venue for your special day. The state-of-the-art equipment caters to a wide range of entertainment needs, allowing you to celebrate your day in style. The wedding packages offer superb banquet options, serving the finest food and beverages prepared on-sight by a team of highly qualified chefs.

Hilton Cairo Zamalek Residences Wins Problem Resolution contest – Exceed & Meet Expectation Hilton Cairo Zamalek Residences wins Q2 “Problem Resolution contest – Exceed & Meet Expectation” for the Europe, Middle East and Africa region! This award has been received due to Hilton Cairo Zamalek team focused efforts on exceeding guests’ expectations, which is the true meaning of Hospitality.

Sharmoofers Celebrates Summer at Cairo Festival City Mall In celebration of the summer season, Cairo festival City Mall hosted the acclaimed music band, Sharmoofers. Known for their eclectic beats and contemporary lyrics, the awardwinning band is notoriously popular amidst the youth. The band performed a number of their most known songs while the crowd sang and danced in unison. With that in mind, the concert took place at the Village Theatre, which ensured visibility to the entire audience due to its unique open design

CIB AND I-EVENTS Bring CIB Egyptian Squash Open and CIB PSA Women’s World Championship back to the iconic Pyramids of Giza THE WOMEN’S WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP PRIZE MONEY INCREASED TO $430,000 CIB and IEvents are bringing CIB PSA Women’s World Championship and CIB Egyptian Squash Open back to the iconic Pyramids of Giza, for the next three consecutive years.

For the first time in Egypt, Etisalat Misr sponsors Cirque du Soleil in its formidable show to Cairo, at the Big Top - Hyde Park at the 5th Settlement, from September 19th to October 6th 2019. The spectacle will be organized by Alchemy Project Entertainment, the leading entertainment & events management company in the region.

IKEA unveils its 2020 Catalogue Adopting “Fresh Start” The Swedish Home Furnishing Retailer - IKEA has launched its highly anticipated 2020 Catalogue, at a press event that was held in Cairo Festival City store. The event was attended by IKEA’s management team along with media attendees, lifestyle influencers and Egypt’s rising interior designers.

El Mawardia Experience at Sheraton Cairo Hotel & Casino As part of the heritage of the iconic Sheraton Cairo Hotel & Casino, the hotel offers nightly entertainment in several locations to amuse their valuable guests. El Mawardia, one of the seven restaurants of the Hotel located on the ground floor, is a place that enchants hotel guests and outside visitors alike.

Schneider Electric is Founding Member of ISA Global Cybersecurity Alliance

First Edition of ZED Club’s Cup Opening Ceremony Kicks Off: Exclusive details around championship revealed The first edition of the ZED Club’s Cup football tournament has kicked off on Sunday, August 25 at the newly launched ZED Park, under the auspices of the Ministry of Youth and Sports. The tournament, brought to life by Naguib Sawiris’ Ora Developers, is set to witness a fierce competition between the U13 teams of some of the world’s biggest football clubs, who have gathered in Egypt for the first time in history.

September 2019 63

events management company in the region.

Deezer Introduces New Dark Mode for Android Users Hilton and Alshaya Group partner on Master Development Agreement for 70 Hampton by Hilton Hotels

New deal supports Hampton by Hilton expansion in nine countries across the Middle East, North Africa, Turkey and Russia Hilton (NYSE: HLT) and Alshaya Group, a leading international franchise operator, announced a significant development of their ongoing relationship with the exclusive signing of a master development agreement to rapidly launch and develop 70 Hampton by Hilton hotels in 9 countries, with the majority of these in the Middle East, North Africa, Turkey and Russia.

Steigenberger Hotel El Lessan, Reviving the Glory of Ras El Bar Steigenberger Hotels and Resorts is adding a new piece to their list of creations, this time at a fashion and beauty icon city during sixties and seventies in Egypt, Ras El Bar, unveiling its Steigenberger Hotel El Lessan. The hotel is the first 5 star hotel in the area, promising its guests a royal accommodation with 153 rooms and suites beautifully viewing the Nile and the sea, and elegantly furnished with state-ofthe-art amenities.

64 September 2019

Never Miss A Game at Live Sports Bar Hilton Celebrates a New Cairo Regional Office Hilton’s Vice President of Operations for Egypt & North Africa, Mohab Ghali, recently welcomed Rudi Jagersbacher, Hilton’s President for Middle East, Africa & Turkey, to cut the ribbon of the company’s new Cairo Regional Office. Located in Cairo Festival City (CFC) in New Cairo, the new corporate office continues to serve as a regional hub for Hilton’s operations in Egypt and North Africa.

Le Meridien Cairo Airport Debuts Au Soleil, A Summer Soiree Programme Paris-born Le Méridien Hotels & Resorts allows guests to savour endless summers and unlock urban hotspots and exotic resort destinations Au Soleil with its global programme Au Soleil, a Summer Soirée, that brings the playful glamour of European summers to life at more than 100 hotels around the world. Inspired by the brand’s European heritage and the allure of the Côte d’Azur, the global series of events invites guests to sip, sway and savour the journey of travel through all senses.

Live Sports Bar is an entertainment, dining and drinking venue, the premier bar East of Cairo located at Le Meridien Cairo Airport hotel, serving the largest variety of beer, wines and spirits with great music and sport. Large plasma screens are located at strategic points to entertain those who like to see a football, rugby or cricket game, while seating with low tables invites those who want to sip a cocktail in a more intimate atmosphere.

Rixos Hotels signs milestone deal to operate its largest all-inclusive resort on Egypt’s Red Sea Riviera Rixos Hotels has marked a major milestone in its Middle East expansion strategy after signing an agreement to manage its largest all-inclusive luxury resort in the world on Egypt’s Red Sea Riviera. Since Accor acquired a 50% stake in the company, it has identified opportunities including partnering with the Eastern Company for Investment and Touristic Development to takeover and renovate an existing beachfront property. Scheduled for completion in 2020.

Exquisite Italian Dining at Marriott Mena House, Cairo Set within elegant, intimate seating arrangements, and breathtaking views of the landscaped gardens, Alfredo restaurant offers a unique dining experience of Italian authentic cuisine. Guests can now enjoy the delicious dishes while being entertained with live guitarist performance during dinner time. Whether it is a pizza or a more elaborated dish that you are craving for, any occasion at Alfredo restaurant is meant to be an exquisite gastronomic experience embraced by an elegant atmosphere.

Celebrating the Indian Independence Day at Ramses Hilton On the occasion of the 73rd Indian Independence Day a special celebration was held at the “Maharaja” Indian Signature Restaurant at Ramses Hilton. Our Indian chefs have created a special menu with the best spices from the orient in a contemporary atmosphere and served the typical authentic Indian specialties in addition to a vegetarian menu.

Deezer, the global music streaming service, is giving Android users the option to activate its new ‘dark mode.’ The most sought-after feature from our fans around the world gives users the freedom to switch from their normal light music player to a dark grey background.

Emirates NBD Egypt Rewards the Heroic Courage of Local Man, Jihad Youssef for Rescuing Three Children from a Residential Fire As part of ENBD Egypt’s CSR program to support and encourage positive change in the community, the bank has chosen to honor Jihad Youssef for his bravery in rescuing a family and their three children from a residential fire in the district of El Zawaya El Hamra. Youssef selflessly scaled the building by climbing the pipes and rescued the family.

Etisalat Misr sponsors Cirque du Soleil For the first time in Egypt, Etisalat Misr sponsors Cirque du Soleil in its formidable show to Cairo, at the Big Top - Hyde Park at the 5th Settlement, from September 19th to October 6th 2019. The spectacle will be organized by Alchemy Project Entertainment, the leading entertainment &

Uber launches Check Your Ride reminder across the MENA region, as part of its continued commitment to safety Uber is rolling out Check Your Ride in-app reminders and push notifications to all riders across the Middle East and North Africa where it operates, following the launch in the United States in April. Uber has made significant steps to improve safety in recent years by making it a top priority and putting it at the heart of everything the company does, as part of its continued commitment to safety,

Plastic Use and Boost Hydration with the GROHE Blue Home Water System The bottled water market globally is rapidly growing with approximate 600 million households consuming bottled water in 2018. Yet with the current discussion on CO2 emissions and plastic pollution impacting the health of our planet, the need to reduce the use of bottled water, in particular that which is served in single-use plastic bottles, has never been more pressing.

September 2019 65

Identity Signs

Virgo August 23 – September 22

Strengths: Loyal, analytical, hardworking, kind & practical. Weaknesses: Shy, too critical of themselves and others, natural born worriers & judgmental.

Career: Virgos love to work, especially if working has to do with projects. They are also more likely to be leaders, as they love motivating others.

Most compatible with at work: Taurus, Cancer.

Virgo Same efficiency means amazing results! Both signs enjoy working with a colleague who will provide intellectual stimulations. A very nice match.

Work Compatibility Aries Aries believe that their chosen way is only the best, while Virgos think that exploring a variety of techniques is a must. Worst match. Taurus Both Taurus and Virgos are practical. Taurus has an eye for beauty, Virgo has an eye for detail. This can make an impressive result. A brilliant match. Gemini: Ruled by intellectual mercury just like a Virgo, Virgos tend to enjoy practical application of the facts while Geminis enjoy gathering these facts. Good match. Cancer Virgos appreciate the thoughtful attitude of Cancers regarding work, and Cancers admire how Virgos pay attention to detail. Excellent match. Leo Two complete opposites. Leos like working on the big pictures and luxuries, while Virgos prefer working on small details and simplicities. Nice match.

66 September 2019

Libra Virgos are realistic, while Libras are idealistic. Both can work amazingly on projects that are practical and creative. Not a bad match. Scorpio Both signs can be entrusted with serious responsibilities, as Scorpios love researching while Virgos love analyzing. A very good match. Sagittarius The never alike. Virgos are sticklers for detail and deadlines, while Sagittarius love to focus on long-range plans and are so not mindful of time. Terrible match. Capricorn Both signs’ differences balance each other well. Capricorn can make reliable and predictable work partners if they handled the Virgos’ nitpicking. Lovely match. Aquarius Both signs are analytical. However, Virgos look for practical ways to apply your observations while Aquarius tend to pursue knowledge and learn. An okay match. Pisces Pisces are so dreamy, while Virgos prefer to do things step-by-step. Virgos love tangible projects while Pisces prefer to deal with hard to catch concepts. A very bad match.

Play it school backpacks • stationery lunch boxes • tech • fashion

City Stars Tel.202 2480 2240 Mall of Arabia Tel. 01 128 487777 Cairo Festival City Tel. 01 125 857777 Mall of Egypt 01 125 857777

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