Emirates Man - June 2022

LOOK SMART, LIVE SMARTER

Issam Kazim CEO – Dubai Economy and Tourism THE SUMMER ESCAPE ISSUE

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EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Obaid Humaid Al Tayer MANAGING PARTNER AND GROUP EDITOR Ian Fairservice EDITOR/ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER Amy Sessions amy.sessions@motivate.ae SENIOR ART DIRECTOR Olga Petroff DIGITAL EDITOR Olivia Morris JUNIOR DIGITAL STYLE EDITOR Sarah Joseph GENERAL MANAGER PRODUCTION Sunil Kumar PRODUCTION MANAGER Binu Purandaran PRODUCTION SUPERVISOR Venita Pinto CHIEF COMMERCIAL OFFICER Anthony Milne GROUP DIRECTOR Andrew Wingrove GROUP SALES MANAGER Chaitali Khimji chaitali.khimji@motivate.ae SENIOR SALES MANAGER Anna Chipala anna.chipala@motivate.ae GROUP MARKETING MANAGER Joelle Albeaino WEB DEVELOPER Firoz Kaladi CONTRIBUTORS Andrew Wingrove, Varun Godinho, David Ndichu, Guido Duken

HEAD OFFICE Media One Tower, Dubai Media City, PO Box 2331, Dubai, UAE, Tel: (+971) 4 4273000, Fax: (+971) 4 4282261, E-mail: motivate@motivate.ae DUBAI MEDIA CITY SD 2-94, 2nd Floor, Building 2, Dubai, UAE Tel: (+971) 4 390 3550 Fax: (+971) 4 390 4845 ABU DHABI PO Box 43072, UAE, Tel: (+971) 2 6772005, Fax: (+971) 2 6770124, E-mail: motivate-adh@motivate.ae LONDON Acre House, 11/15 William Road, London NW1 3ER, UK, E-mail: motivateuk@motivate.ae

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A N AT ION MO UR N S ITS

VISIONARY LEADER REMEMBERING THE LIFE AND LEGACY OF S H E I K H K H A L I F A B I N Z AY E D A L N A H YA N

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Editor’s Letter Welcome to Emirates Man – The Summer 26 showcases 20 stellar timepieces from this Escape Issue. year’s Watches and Wonders.

This is your guide to being in the know.

We have exclusive interviews with AleFrom grooming to tech we’ll ensure you’re xandre Assouline, Chief of Operations, Brand ahead of the curve when it comes to the & Strategy at Assouline in Quality & Quantity latest gadgets. If you’re into watches, our on page 86 and Christopher Manessis, Chief resident watch geeks will deliver all the detail Investment Officer at Moonchain Capital you need to make the right who delivers A Beginner’s Guide investment, we interview the to NFTs on page 84.

LOOK If you’re looking to get guys making moves on a global summer fit, Mark Carroll and local scale and we’ll tell you SMART, and Andreas L. Borgmann, where the coolest places are to LIVE Founders of Kcal, will arm you hangout. Welcome to the club.

SMARTER. For the cover we are with all the nutrition knowledge honoured to welcome Issam you need in You Are What You Kazim, CEO of Dubai Corporation for Eat on page 78 and Saul Phillips will ensure Tourism and Commerce Marketing and with you’re feeling flexible and looking trim whom we discuss the growth of the emirate through the latest men’s-only Yoga class in as a global travel hub, the success of Expo Better Call Saul on page 80.

The coolest kit you can buy is curated 2020, the MICHELIN Guide coming to in The Boys Toys on page 14, the essentials Dubai and how the city has become a global for a modern man’s beauty regime in Well powerhouse for tourism in The Creation of Groomed on page 18 and we take note from a Global Powerhouse on page 20. Kazim is the best of Italian chic, Amalfi style in The an incredible example of how power and Edit on page 24. kindness can co-exist.

Style and substance are intrinsically Watch obsessives will enjoy the latest linked, Emirates Man delivers both. installment from The Watch Addict on page Look smart, live smarter.

16 while The Custodians of Time on page

Amy Sessions EDITOR / ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER

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CONTENTS THE SUMMER ESCAPE ISSUE

The Monitor

p.12 Monitor News p.14 The Boys Toys – The best travel gadgets for summer

p.16 The Watch Addict – MB&F M.A.D.1 Red p.18 Well Groomed – The best SPF products

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Fashion & Watches

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p.24 The Edit – The best of Italian chic, Amalfi style p.26 The Custodians of Time – 20 stellar timepieces p.48 Travel Buddy – Louis Vuitton’s Aerogram men’s leather goods collection

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p.20 The Creation of a Global Powerhouse – Exclusive interview with Issam Kazim, CEO of Dubai Tourism

p.52 Poetry in Motion – Interview with Jean Bienayme of Van Cleef & Arpels

p.64 The Upgrade – Bicester Village; luxury level service set in the peace of the Oxfordshire countryside

p.56 Championing Future Consciousness – Prada & adidas for SS22

p.66 Form & Function – Renowned architect Zaha Hadid strikes a balance between surrealist shapes and functional forms

p.60 Summer Adventure – Paul Smith provides a breath of fresh air for SS22

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Fitness & Grooming

p.70 High Summer Scents – An edit of zesty fragrances p.72 The Invisible Details – Interview with Co-Founder of AESOP p.76 Grooming on the Go – Travel skincare essentials p.78 You Are What You Eat – Interview with the Founders of KCal p.80 Better Call Saul – Everything to know about Saul Phillips’ new men’s class for Yoga

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Lifestyle

p.82 The Pad – The coolest finds to add to the mancave p.84 A Beginner’s Guide to NFTs p.86 Quality & Quantity – Interview with Alexandre Assouline p.88 The Finer Details – INTI Dubai encompasses dining at its finest

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p.92 The Connoisseur’s Choice – Elevated tablewear comes to the region

p.98 Good Game – Interview with Co-Founders of The Matcha Club

p.94 Viking Style – Interview with Magnus Ericsson, founder of Viking Bageri

p.100 Canary Club – The latest addition to Joey Ghazal’s restaurant empire

p.96 Clear Vision – How Mayabay is set to make its mark on Dubai

p.102 The Wanderlust – Luxe resorts set amongst clear sapphire seas

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The Summer Refresh

T H E H E R O B U YS

The latest launches, new openings and hero buys C O M P I L E D BY: S A R A H J O S E P H

BR 03-92 Diver Limited Edition Automatic 42mm Bronze and Leather Watch Dhs16,268 Bell & Ross available at MR PORTER

Cotton-Blend Terry Polo Shirt Dhs375 Howlin’

C L E A R F R E Q U E N CY Bang & Olufsen’s new edition of Beoplay Portal is the ultimate sound solution for an upgraded gaming experience. With the combination of aesthetics and seamless connectivity, this ultimate allin-one device is designed for life. Elite Gaming Headset Beoplay Portal Dhs2,660 Bang & Olufsen Cotton-Blend Terry Shorts Dhs375 Howlin’

T H R E E TO OW N

EarPods Holder Dhs1,080 Balenciaga available at OUNASS

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Billie Titanium and Acetate Sunglasses Dhs2,211 Mr Leight available at MR PORTER

Instax Mini 40 Black Dhs459 Fujifilm

Palm 2 Metallic Leather Sneakers Dhs1,477 Palm Angels

THE MONITOR – NEWS

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A P P L E A I R TAG

The most annoying part of travel is the fear of losing stuff. So, make friends with the Apple AirTag. Attach it to whatever, and Apples Find My network – hundreds of

millions of iPhone, iPad, and Mac devices worldwide – helps track down your lost item. AirTag sends out a Bluetooth signal that can be detected by nearby devices and then sends the location of your AirTag to the

cloud, where you can see it on a map. AirTag can last for more than a year on a standard battery you can easily replace. Your AirTag is water-resistant, so tag it to whatever gear you want. Dhs439 (4-pack) Apple

SUMMER BOYS TOYS Make the best of summer with our guide to the best travel/holiday gadgets out there WORDS: DAVID NDICHU

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STYLING: AMY SESSIONS

THE MONITOR

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G A R M I N I N ST I N CT 2S SOLAR

If your adventures involve the great outdoors this summer, you need the Garmin Instinct 2S Solar. This rugged smartwatch can keep up with all your escapades with up to 51 days of battery life in smartwatch mode with solar charging. It also comes with built-in sports apps to track your health and fitness. Link the Instinct with your phone via the Garmin Connect App for notifications. It maps your journey, letting you navigate the same route back to your starting point. Dhs1,650 Garmin

T H E K I N D L E PA P E R W H I T E S I G N AT U R E E D I T I O N

Keep up with the summer releases on your excursions with the Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition. It has all the features you have come to love from Kindle, plus wireless charging, auto-adjusting front light, and a

bigger 32 GB storage. The 6.8” display has a 300 PPI glare-free screen that reads like real paper, even in bright sunlight. And this one keeps going – a single charge now lasts up to 10 weeks. Pair with an Audible subscription and Bluetooth headphones or speakers to listen to your story. Dhs559 Kindle

W I T H I N G S B O DY + S M A R T S CA L E

Keep track of your calories on holiday with the Withings Body+ smart scale. Withings call this the Body Composition Wi-Fi Scale as it does a full body composition analysis and monitors weight, body fat and water percentage, plus muscle and bone mass.

Data from every weigh-in appears in the Health Mate app automatically via Wi-Fi. It is multi-user friendly, so you and your other half can both independently keep track of progress. Dhs370 Withings

WI-FI ROOMBA S9+ S E L F- E M P T Y I N G R O B OT VAC U U M Despite all efforts to seal all openings before you head away, dust somehow sneaks in.

The last thing you need is to come back to a filthy house, and that’s where Wi-Fi Connected Roomba Self-Emptying Robot Vacuum comes in, quite literally. This bad boy comes with its own enclosed bag system,

which automatically empties its own bin for up to 60 days. Roomba says this is their most powerful Wi-Fi robot vacuum yet, and we want to believe them. This robot apparently delivers 40x power-lifting suction and comes with 30 per cent wider dual multisurface rubber brushes. Dhs3,700 iRobot

THE MONITOR

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THE MONITOR

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T H E WATC H A D D I CT

MB&F M.A.D.1 Red The world has indeed gone MAD WORDS: ANDREW WINGROVE

Watches are now considered a better investment than gold, property and shares – second only to crypto, according to several analysts. What is going on, where did all of these new collectors come from and who are those who have driven up the prices of my favourite brands?

To be honest, I used to like the investment stat, and have used it to my own benefit when explaining to my wife another reason for buying a new timepiece. But now, as demand continues to soar, some of those brands have now priced me out. So, like many, I have cast my eyes elsewhere in the market.

Revolution’s recent amazing collaboration with Zenith created a chance for us mere mortals to jump the retail waiting list and grab some Covergirl Lightweight history. Similarly, Bamford (the serial partner) has just launched two sell out watches – a Snoopy watch with the Hodinkee team, and followed that a week later with the allBritish affair of the Bremont S500 Bamford Special Edition with an ultra-cool sandwich/California dial that oozes blue lume.

Partnerships, one-off collections and maybe just the crazy idea of producing an affordable watch for your friends might be the solution. Whilst creating an entirely new brand in order to thank all of your friends doesn’t sound like the soundest of strategies, one man threw caution to the wind (not for the first time) and dipped his toe into Lake Geneva to see what would happen.

In June last year, Max Büsser and the team at MB&F presented a timepiece called “M.A.D.1”. It was billed as a more accessible timepiece that they created under a different brand, M.A.D.Editions. With a limited quantity they very kindly made the watch available to “The Friends”, meaning the suppliers who helped them along their journey in the creation of their MB&F Ma-

chines; and to the members of “The Tribe”, the owners of MB&F machines: the patrons who have made their adventure possible.

Such was the ‘mind-blowing’ reaction to M.A.D.1 that they soon realised they had created a problem for themselves and a brand-new brand. With thousands of people begging them for the M.A.D.1 they decided to do a second one. The second edition M.A.D.1 RED had a similar reaction to the first and was immediately snapped up by the many fans who had taken the time to contact them regarding the first edition.

The M.A.D.1 Red is on the same platform as the original with the lateral time display for hours and minutes. The upside down modified Miyota movement is powered by the triple-blade winding rotor in titanium and tungsten. The Batman Blue

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is out and replaced by Cherry Red, with a slightly slimmer bezel and a more traditional round crown.

In addition to that, and to make it as fair as possible, an allocation of the run was also available through a lottery – which probably delivered the brand the most amazing database that they can now work with for future MAD Editions… #genius!

The watch is very cool and the best value talking piece in the world right now. I look forward to seeing and supporting a brand that is committed to providing something unique, affordable and available. My suggestion would be to write to them, and you will be on their radar for future MAD Editions.

The price of the M.A.D.1 RED is CHF2,900 (excluding VAT)

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Right from top: Super Soin Solaire Body Cream SPF30, 200ml Dhs544 Sisley; Anthelios Invisible Fluid SPF50+ Sun Cream 50ml Dhs117 La RochePosay; Protective Facial Lotion SPF25, 50ml Dhs180 Aesop

WELL GROOMED

We’ve curated the best products with SPF to save you time this summer.

You’re welcome.

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Formulated to provide broad-spectrum protection, Aesop’s ‘Protective Facial’ lotion is enriched with ProVitamin B5 and Vitamin E to help retain moisture and fight harmful free radicals. Antioxidant-rich Green Tea works to soothe your complexion, too.

IMAGES: GETTY AND SUPPLIED

WORDS & STYLING: AMY SESSIONS

THE MONITOR

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The Grey Men’s Skincare’s ‘Daily Face Protect’ offers broad-spectrum protection from harmful UVA and UVB rays. Vitis Vinifera Extract helps to reduce the effects of UV stress, while Hyaluronic Acid improves moisture retention, leaving a shine and residue-free finish. The ultra light formula forms a thin, water-resistant shield, allowing skin to breathe whilst preventing premature photo-ageing and discoloration.

Pro-Collagen Marine Cream SPF30, 50ml Dhs363 Elemis

Left from top: Daily Face Protect SPF50, 50ml Dhs219 The Grey Men’s Skincare; Natural Hydrating Sunscreen SPF30, 50ml Dhs127 Grown Alchemist; SPF30 Lotion, 118ml Dhs131 Hampton Sun; Below right: Organic Set + Protect Micro Mist SPF30, 59ml Dhs142 Soleil Toujours

Soleil Toujours’ ‘Organic Set + Protect Micro Mist’ not only shields skin from harmful UV rays, but is designed to nourish and mattify the complexion. Formulated with EcoSunComplex®, an antioxidant-rich cocktail of Red Algae, Vitamin C and E and Bisabolol, it comes in an easy spray bottle that spritzes a fine mist, so you can reapply throughout the day without the worry of any oily residue.

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WORDS: OLIVIA MORRIS

THE CREATION OF A GLOBAL POWERHOUSE Issam Kazim, CEO of Dubai Corporation for Tourism and Commerce Marketing, discusses the growth of the emirate as a global travel hub, the success of Expo 2020, the MICHELIN Guide coming to Dubai and how the city has become a global powerhouse for tourism

A global spotlight really has been on Dubai in the last few years which is exciting. What has it been like to see the growth of the emirate as a global powerhouse for tourism? The growth in Dubai’s tourism sector has been nothing short of remarkable but it mirrors the achievement of our entire city, a small trading port that transformed into a thriving global metropolis over the past few decades. Today, Dubai is recognised as a global hub for business and banking, tourism and technology, and a futuristic city where anything is possible.

Having set its sights on becoming the most visited destination in the world, Dubai’s tourism industry closed a successful 2019 before the boom was disrupted by the global pandemic that broke out a few months later. Yet, in spite of the tough times that followed, Dubai kept its position as a leading destination intact, thanks to the strategic measures that were swiftly imple-

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mented under the guidance of His Highness, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, enabling the city to safely navigate and accelerate out of the unprecedented challenge. Since reopening the city to international tourists in 2020, Dubai has never looked back and continued to build on the momentum year after year leading to the hugely successful Expo 2020.

With Dubai continuing to lead global tourism recovery, awareness of Dubai around the world has increased at an extraordinary pace in the past few years and its international standing further elevated.

Indeed, a decade or so ago, the average tourist would not have heard of this part of the world but now Dubai has entered the consciousness of travellers on every continent. Evidence of this growing popularity and momentum is reflected in the 7.28 million visitors who visited Dubai in 2021, rep-

resenting a 32 per cent YOY growth and the 3.97 million global travellers who arrived in the city in the first quarter of 2022, a massive 214 per cent YoY visitation growth.

Adding another feather to its cap, Dubai received a resounding endorsement from international travellers when it was chosen as the No.1 global destination in Tripadvisor Travellers’ Choice Awards 2022. Inspired by a forward-thinking leadership, the performance of our tourism sector has reinforced tourism’s role as a key driver of economic growth and reflects the resilience of Dubai in overcoming the odds, its successful diversified market strategy, the strong public-private partnerships and the sustained attractiveness of Dubai’s diverse proposition. The rapid pace of development across Dubai’s tourism ecosystem is underpinned by the capacity of both the government and private sectors in Dubai to work together as one. Hence, the strength and stability of our

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national health and safety standards and best practices led to the city receiving the ‘Safe Travels’ stamp from the World Travel and Tourism Council. Besides, the focus on health and safety saw the UAE being ranked among the top three nations globally in Bloomberg's Covid Resilience Ranking.

The UAE is also the single most vaccinated nation in the world, with over 97 per cent of the total population fully vaccinated so far, leading to increased confidence in Dubai among domestic and international tourists.

The successful citywide management of the pandemic under the guidance of Dubai’s Supreme Committee of Crisis and Disaster Management saw the gradual reopening of sectors. In collaboration with the Department of Economy and Tourism and Dubai Municipality, the city also launched the Dubai Assured stamp, a compliance programme to certify hotels and retail establishments, F&B outlets and attractions that have implemented all public health and safety protocols. These initiatives allowed us to open for domestic tourism in May of 2020, and for international tourists in July 2020, enabling Dubai to lead the global restart of tourism. Since then, Dubai has gone from strength to strength and continues to welcome a steady stream of international leisure and business travellers. In tandem with our efforts to position Dubai as one of the world’s safest destinations, we also launched a series of digital activations to ensure that Dubai retained its global appeal and to encourage international travellers to visit the city. It is important to recognise that our entire city – stakeholders and partners from aviation, hospitality, travel, retail, entertainment centres and attractions – has been resilient and determined in overcoming the odds. Dubai has a lot to thank its stakeholders and partners for their patience, solidarity and continuous support throughout this challenging period.

Expo 2020 Dubai was a huge global success. What was it like seeing such an iconic mega-event succeed amidst difficult times?

One of the underlying promises of Expo 2020 Dubai was to deliver a truly international platform for the wider MEASA region, and to allow for the most inclusive participation of people from every corner of the globe. Expo 2020 achieved this in spectacular fashion, drawing the participation of 192 nations and in excess of 24 million visits by residents and visitors from around the world. One of the first cities to restart the leisure and business events sectors and international MICE industry, Dubai also

IMAGE: MARK MATHEW

“The growth in Dubai’s tourism sector has been nothing short of remarkable but it mirrors the achievement of our entire city, a small trading port that transformed into a thriving global metropolis over the past few decades.”

tourism sector has always largely depended on this rare model of collaboration, paving the way for the city to become a renowned global destination.

How have you ensured Dubai is staying ahead of the curve when it comes to tourism?

First and foremost, we have to be thankful for the continued support of our visionary leadership as we continually strive to achieve the goal of making Dubai the world’s most visited and re-visited city. Even as our tourism strategy continues to evolve, some key elements have remained unchanged and continue to play a pivotal role in ensuring that Dubai remains at the forefront of the world’s leading business and leisure destinations.

The city’s utmost priority to ensure the health and safety of residents and visitors has positioned Dubai as a safe destination.

Dubai’s ability to evolve, adapt and innovate while staying focused on a diversified market strategy that ensures there is no overreliance on any single market have also been critical in maintaining Dubai’s leading position. As Dubai continues to gain traction as the preferred destination of global travellers, the continuous cooperation extended by stakeholders and partners in aligning with initiatives and collectively showcasing Dubai as a must-visit destination is another major factor why Dubai is able to stay ahead of the curve. Just as Dubai’s destination offering has continued to evolve so has our approach towards marketing it internationally. Our year-round roster of global campaigns and marketing activities including the ongoing celebrity-driven Dubai Presents campaign has helped keep the city top-ofmind and highlight that Dubai remains safe, open and accessible.

Dubai saw a huge influx of visitors to the emirate in the midst of a time of struggle for the tourism industry. How would you say Dubai has weathered the storm of the pandemic and how did it combat the effects of it? It is without question that of all sectors, tourism and hospitality were the hardest hit and the longest affected. However, with the resolute support of our decisive leadership that inspired us to look at ways of transforming challenges into opportunities. Dubai has been able to demonstrate a high level of resilience and foresight. Dubai was one of the first cities to close and go into a lockdown mode, then became one of the first to open and stay open. Dubai’s approach from the start of the pandemic has been one of preparedness, agility and consistency. Dubai ’s efforts to implement stringent hygiene and safety protocols and align itself with inter-

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showcased its capability in hosting major events with an exceptional Expo 2020.

As with all major events the city hosts throughout the year, Dubai stepped up to the exciting challenge to shine a spotlight on the city during Expo 2020, highlighting its advanced infrastructure and showcasing the city’s diverse leisure and business offering, as well as its generosity and Arabian hospitality. Expo 2020, which was held during a pivotal period for global tourism, has indeed ushered in an incredible new era for our tourism industry amidst global challenges, and setting a momentous milestone in Dubai’s history – becoming the first World Expo to be held in this region and the first global mega event open to the public since the start of the pandemic.

It has had a huge impact on accelerating tourism recovery, as well as opening up numerous investment opportunities and providing a major boost to businesses and entrepreneurs. Expo 2020 has also resulted in the development of a new modern metropolis, District 2020, that will be a new destination for business and leisure travellers. Delivering one of the most memorable, immersive and engaging events ever to take place in Dubai, the successful Expo 2020 highlighted Dubai’s position as a leading international city for trade, investment and tourism, while leaving a lasting legacy for the UAE and MEASA region.

Now, following Expo 2020, we have MICHELIN arriving in Dubai. How do you see this contributing to the hospitality sector in the emirate and the wider Middle East? From humble home-grown gems to street food offerings in a vibrant setting to MICHELIN -star chef helmed restaurants; Dubai has long been a leader in culinary excellence.

We are really honoured that Dubai has been included in the MICHELIN Guide, one of the most authoritative sources for culinary experiences in international destinations.

Our continuous collaboration with domestic and international stakeholders and partners provides a fantastic opportunity for us to promote the diversity, creativity and multi-cultural nature of Dubai’s culinary offering. This is also recognition of our city’s emergence as a global gastronomy hub, as we position Dubai as the best city to live in and work. The launch of MICHELIN Guide Dubai will provide an opportunity for the city’s vibrant gastronomy scene, especially its fine dining offering created by international chefs, to be highlighted on a global scale. We anticipate an influx of celebrity chefs and global fine dining brands to estab-

lish a presence in the fast-evolving gastronomy sector in Dubai. These enhancements will of course help showcase the diversity of our hospitality sector and the culinary experiences that await guests at these hotel properties while providing a boost to gastro-tourism. It will also allow for exceptional cuisine from across the Middle East to be globally celebrated at all levels – from fine dining to home-grown restaurants.

What has been the feedback since it was announced that MICHELIN was coming to Dubai? There has been a huge buzz generated around the announcement that MICHELIN Guide Dubai will be launched in June. It is an extremely important addition to the hospitality sector, both for tourists, residents and industry professionals alike, which will have a hugely positive impact and help further brighten up the ever-growing gastronomy scene in Dubai.

What results do you hope to see from MICHELIN coming to Dubai? As a great number of our visitors are foodies, this guide will shine a light on the fine dining brands that are open in Dubai, while reaffirming the diversity of the culinary scene in Dubai, from fine-dining to street food, reflecting the cultures and flavours of the more than 200 nationalities living in the city. It is also a recognition of our talented Chefs and a great reward to them for choosing Dubai as a home and a place of business to express their creativity. Naturally, it would be great for the MICHELIN Guide Dubai to generate healthy competition between the city’s most revered dining destinations, and encourage each eatery to expand, re-invent and redevelop their approach to hospitality. Of course, we also expect the guide to encourage even more foodies and tourists to experience and immerse themselves in all of the excellent food Dubai has to offer. Dubai was recently recognised as the No. 4 destination for ‘Food Lovers’ in the Tripadvisor Travellers Choice Awards 2022, and following the announcement by MICHELIN we expect this reputation to grow even further as Dubai’s restaurants and chefs deliver on Dubai’s gourmet promise.

It’s already been a hugely successful few years for Dubai’s tourism industry. What’s next? Our goal is to continue to build on the gains of 2021, the momentum of Expo 2020, and the success that Dubai has achieved so far in 2022. Our focus will be to drive and support growth through our diverse destination offering, across all our tourism pillars from cultural to culinary experiences. Our immediate focus is to leverage the upcoming

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summer season to accelerate further momentum across the tourism ecosystem. We also look forward to the opening of new global attractions and world class infrastructure, as well as leverage our year-round calendar of leisure and business events to attract more visitors. New initiatives will be launched to strengthen relationships with the travel trade and explore new channels to source new visitors, as well as drive repeat visitation. We will continue to collaborate with city stakeholders and over 3,000 global partners, to ensure we are all aligned in positioning the city as a must-visit destination and that every visitor is able to safely explore, experience and enjoy our diverse offering.

Another growth area is domestic tourism, which clearly played a pivotal role in driving Dubai’s tourism economy in 2020 and 2021 and is continuing to do so in 2022. Our gastronomy goal for 2022 is to continue to drive growth across the hospitality and F&B sector based on four pillars – diversity, value for money, authenticity, and experiential.

A key priority of Dubai is to ensure that visitors, entrepreneurs and investors are provided the best incentives and opportunities, encouraging talents and tourists to take advantage of the various initiatives that have been launched to support tourism growth including new visa categories and programmes like the Golden Visa, Five Year Multi Entry Visa and programmes such as the Retire in Dubai programme and Virtual working programme. Ultimately, our goal is to make Dubai the most sought-after destination and promote the city as a global liveability hub.

During the past year, we have welcomed a more diversified visitor profile – from global professionals, to remote workers, to ‘bleisure’ travellers, to multi-generational families and international millennials, alongside our core traveller segment. We will place further emphasis on these segments and also continue developing the high value domestic market. As the next few years are also going to be extremely challenging with almost all destinations ready to welcome tourists back, it will be our ability to provide seamless and safe experiences to visitors that will be paramount. Together with our partners we want to make Dubai the city of the future. This will be largely achieved through the Dubai 2040 Urban Master Plan, which aims to expand Dubai’s offering and place a reimagined focus on enhancing the quality of life for residents and visitors to the city, while further consolidating Dubai’s reputation as a global destination for business, investment and tourism.

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THE EDIT

WORDS & STYLING: AMY SESSIONS

Original Wayfarer Acetate Sunglasses Dhs604 Ray- Ban

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Linen Cotton-Blend Shirt Dhs229 Zara

Linen Cotton bermuda Shorts Dhs169 Zara

Esplar leather trainers Dhs378 Veja available at MATCHESFASHION

FAS H I O N

5/30/22 10:54 AM

THIS PAGE: SANDRO; OPPOSITE: ERMENEGILDO ZEGNA

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Pacha Wide-Leg Linen Drawstring Trousers Dhs773 Vilebrequin

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FAS H I O N

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Kristian Cotton Sandals Dhs355 CASTAÑER

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THE CUSTO D OF TIME EM_0622_P26-47_Watches and Wonders.indd 26

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O DIANS These are the 20 stellar timepieces that caught our attention at this year’s high-profile Watches and Wonders in Geneva

WORDS: ANDREW WINGROVE & VAR UN GODINHO

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5/30/22 11:22 AM

CARTIER

TANK LOUIS CARTIER There’s a share of military history riding on this piece. The design (and the name itself) of the original Cartier Tank were inspired by actual tanks which were popular on the battlefield back in 1917 when the watch first debuted. The specific tank that it was inspired by is believed to be the Renaut FT which was the first production tank to boast of its armament within a fully rotating turret. Skip forward to 2022 and there’s still that familiar design. An electrochemical engraving technique was used on the anthracite grey dial and a manual-winding 1917 MC movement with a 38-hour power reserve was deployed under that dial. This is Cartier bravely showing up on the frontline of avant-garde watchmaking.

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WATC H E S

5/30/22 11:22 AM

PATEK PHILIPPE

ANNUAL CALENDAR REF 5205R It’s the dress watch that will undoubtedly stop every other dress watch in the room dead in its tracks. The 5205 is a reference we first saw from the hallowed halls of Patek back in 2010, and this year’s edition features a breathtaking 40mm rose gold case coupled with a deep olive green dial that neatly displays the day-date-month in the upper half of the dial across three apertures and a moon phase indication at 6 o’clock. Guaranteed, you’ll spend an unhealthy amount of time gawking alternatively at the hand-finished concave bezel and the caliber 324 automatic winding movement – an artisanal triumph.

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5/30/22 11:22 AM

BAUME & MERCIER

RIVIERA BAUMATIC 10702 Baume & Mercier is known for its relaxed luxury vibe and you find that in abundance with the new Riviera Baumatic 10702. A stainless steel 42mm piece, there’s an onpoint smoky gray sapphire dial case framed perfectly by the dodecagonal bezel. The Baumatic caliber meanwhile which stays accurate to between -4-+6 seconds each day offers a five-day power reserve and has a magnetic resistance of 1500 Gauss.

It builds on the entire sports stainless steel watch frenzy we’ve seen at Watches and Wonders – though it makes sure to cut through the clutter and emerge in a league of its own.

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WATC H E S

5/30/22 11:22 AM

PARMIGIANI FLEURIER

TONDA PF GMT This year’s Tonda PF GMT Rattrapante is beautifully simplistic in its design and function. The push button setting on the GMT function is clever and adds an extremely useful function without interfering with the look and feel of the dial.

Particularly appealing, is the fact that when you are done with the second timezone (as happens when one gets home) you can simply press the pusher at 8’o clock and the rhodium-placed hand moves on top of the rose gold hand… genius.

WATC H E S

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LAURENT FERRIER

SPORT AUTO BLUE The good news is that the Sport Auto has launched as part of their main collection (not limited). The bad news is the watch is already sold out for 2022 so get onto their website now and click on the “Inquire” button. The brand’s first attempt at a sports watch (ignoring their 2019 Grand Sport Tourbillion) is scarily good, making its stainless steel case smaller and using their own automatic

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270.01 calibre movement will make the watch far more accessible and affordable. With its beautifully rounded curves and ‘sport-chic bodywork’ as well as a domed sapphire, the watch is everything you could wish for whilst still staying true to the brand’s aesthetics.

Get your order in now as the 12 months wait for the next grail watch is nothing compared to what we have become accustomed to.

WATC H E S

5/30/22 11:22 AM

A. LANGE & SÖHNE

ODYSSEUS IN TITANIUM Lange, a German watchmaking brand that had a new lease of life in the early Nineties thanks to Walter Lange and Günter Blümlein, has this year showcased a titanium version of its Odysseus. The Odysseus first debuted in 2019 and was the brand’s first-ever steel sports watch. It was followed by a white gold version and this year it’s got the grade 5 titanium treatment.

The choice of metal is interesting as titanium is 43 per cent lighter compared to steel. A watch where craftsmanship shines through, the ice blue multi-layer dial adds a level of depth to the offering that is bound to be a dealmaker for the 250 people who are lucky enough to secure this limited edition. The 4Hz L155.1 Datomatic calibre has a total of 312 components, with 99 of them devoted to the date mechanism alone.

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5/30/22 11:22 AM

PANERAI

SUBMERSIBLE QUARANTAQUATTRO LUNA ROSSA With news that Panerai will resume its role as the official sponsor of the Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli Team on the occasion of the 37th America’s Cup, it came as no surprise that they would continue the tradition and honour the partnership with a new time piece.

If there was an award for the best-looking blue dial at this year’s W&W, the Luna Rossa would be shortlisted. Boasting a 44mm steel

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case that is engineered to withstand the rigours of ocean racing it will also look cool when you are wearing jeans or sitting by the pool in your shorts. The sun-brushed blue dial is a thing of beauty as the white Super-LumiNova hour markers float on the surface. The small seconds subdial with a red seconds hand adds contrast to the dial. This is further complemented by the dark blue bi-material strap accented with the

red and white Luna Rossa logo and a second in the same ocean-inspired colour and composed of recycled rubber. The watch features a patented crown protection device, rubberised crown and rotating unidirectional bezel. It has an improved date window at 3 o’clock with a Panerai caliber P.900, an automatically winding movement that has a three-day power reserve and is water resistant to 300m.

WATC H E S

5/30/22 11:22 AM

J A E G E R - L E C O U LT R E

MASTER GRANDE TRADITION CALIBER 948 The Vallée de Joux watchmaker has spent nearly 190 years perfecting its craft. The result of those tens of decades focused on a singular pursuit to create outstanding timekeepers is reinforced by way of this worldtimer tourbillon whose caliber 948 comprises of 388 components. JLC’s Atelier des Métiers Rares division played a pivotal role in the creation of this timepiece. Intricate enamelling is used to showcase the world

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map, as viewed from the North Pole, which sublimely floats above the dial. The outline of the continents are cut from white gold and the timepiece indicates the time across 24 time zones – there are only a handful of countries across the world where this watch won’t indicate the local time. The Earth and the flying tourbillion fly across the circumference of the dial completing a rotation every 24 hours – pure visual art.

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IWC

PILOT ’S WATCH CHRONOGRAPH 41 TOP GUN CERATANIUM This year, IWC revamped its aviation-inspired family of watches. The standout piece was this Pilot’s Watch Chronograph 41 Top Gun Ceratanium, which showcased the watchmaker’s strength in material innovation. Titanium is used in watchmaking due to it being lightweight while ceramic is useful for being scratch resistant. IWC has blended the two in a well-guarded manufacturing process to end up with a material called Ceratanium. That material has been used across the watch including in its case, pusher and crown. A discreet timepiece that also features a 12-hour chronograph, it has a black dial as well as a darkened crystal on the caseback through which you can view the robust automatic-winding calibre 69385. Maverick, indeed.

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WATC H E S

5/30/22 11:22 AM

HUBLOT

CLASSIC FUSION ORLINSKI BRACELET French artist Richard Orlinski’s work is well recognised within the UAE – not least by way of the Wild Kong installation you’ll find in The Dubai Mall. Hublot has been teaming up with the artist for the last five years (the watchmaker’s Hublot loves Art programme has seen it collaborate with world-renowned artists such as Takashi Murakami, Shepard Fairey and Maxime Plescia-Buchi, among others.) Hublot’s collaboration with Orlinski this year focuses on a collection of four watches with a new bracelet design that features the artist’s signature angular visual cues.

Its polished titanium case encloses a HUB1100 self-winding calibre. It includes options with black and white ceramic dials, and another two versions that feature a pave set diamond design. Hublot’s latest Orlinski collaboration is another chest-thumping win for the watchmaker.

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CHOPARD

A L P I N E E A G L E F LY I N G T O U R B I L L O N It was in 2019 at the Dubai Watch Week where Chopard proved to be a showstopper when it showcased its brand-new Alpine Eagle collection that used a proprietary alloy called Lucent Steel A223 that was made of partially recycled stainless steel. This year’s timepiece not only features a stunning flying tourbillon at 6 o’clock, but is also the first Alpine Eagle to be Hallmark of Geneva-certified. As a result, each individual link in the integrated bracelet is painstakingly bevelled. It has a dial with a texture that represents the iris of an eagle. All of this is backed up with a chronometer-certified in-house L.U.C 96.24-L automatic winding movement with 65 hours of power reserve. Three years ago the eagle landed – now it’s soaring to new heights.

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WATC H E S

5/30/22 11:22 AM

MONTBLANC

GEOSPHERE CHRONOGRAPH 0 OXYGEN LE290 Nimsdai Purja is an extreme altitude mountaineer who has summited the world’s 14 highest peaks taller than 26,000 feet in just seven months – the previous record, for comparison, stood at eight years. Having spent months in brutal weather conditions at altitudes where oxygen is rare and survival is the primary goal, it makes him a perfect ambassador for the latest Geosphere Chronograph 0 Oxygen LE290. Oxygen is the enemy of watchmaking and so Montblanc has built this piece such that each comes with a certificate that attests to it being encased with zero oxygen within it. Its all-new automatic winding calibre MB 29.27 powers the chronograph, date and world time complication. It’s also limited to 290 pieces – a reference to the 29,031 feet that Nimsdai climbed to reach the summit of Mount Everest without supplemental oxygen last month, with this ticker strapped to his wrist.

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PIAGET

A LT I P L A N O U LT I M AT E CONCEPT Piaget has mastered the art of ultrathin watchmaking, with 2017 marking a turning point for the brand when it debuted its Altiplano Ultimate Concept (AUC). This year’s one-off AUC tribute piece pays homage to that original and demonstrates how watchmaking can be reengineered at its very core. Conventionally, a watch comprises of four layers – a bezel and crystal, a dial with the hands, the movement and finally the caseback behind it. To achieve its 2mm dimensions though, the AUC combines the bridges, dial, and hands on one layer and the caseback, movement, main plate, and bezel on the other layer thereby reducing the watch’s construction to just two layers. The February 7, 2017, inscription on the dial refers to the exact date that the AUC was born, while the watchmaker’s GPS coordinates of its La Côte-auxFées manufacture has been inscribed on its ratchet wheel. A time and place worth bearing in mind.

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WATC H E S

5/30/22 11:23 AM

REBELLION

R E -V O LT C H R O N O C A R B O N C O L O U R E D The Re-Volt Chrono carries a muscular rectangular case made up of multi coloured camouflage carbon colour options with their Arctic Storm, Mars Valley and Toxic Storm references. The ergonomics of the Re-Volt Chrono is designed like the cockpit of a racing car in order to facilitate its use. The hour and minute hands, coated with luminescent materials, move on the sunnycomb-patterned dial like

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that of a supercar grille. Time can be measured using push-pieces in the shape of an accelerator pedal. The results can be read on the counter housed at 3 o’clock, resembling a stylish tachometer, and thanks to the central second hand. A small second placed at 9 o’clock balances the staging of this ultra-graphic dashboard. All this time, information is powered by a robust Swiss Made automatic calibre.

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RESSENCE

TYPE 8 We fully understand the marketing spiel of Wear the Future when looking at the Ressence Type 8, or any Ressence for that matter. So, we will not even attempt to explain the mechanism or how it works as no matter how many times they tell us, it still seems like some wizardry is at hand.

The Type 8 is incredibly clean in appearance, one does not need to add the obvious adjectives of original, contemporary and innovative as this applies to all of them. That said the Type 8 has gone the extra mile in both clarity and simplicity. This may also help explain the new entry-level price for the brand as Ressence look to add a wider audience to their futuristic timepieces. Crafted entirely from Grade 5 titanium, the 42.9mm case is extremely lightweight at just 42 grams including the strap. The tapered case has a two-tone finish (polished & satin), with lugs hidden behind the round case body.

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WATC H E S

5/30/22 11:23 AM

CZAPEK

ANTARCTIQUE S Following in the trend of beautiful sports watches from independent brands, we were delighted to try the new Czapek Antarctique S – an elegant new 38.5mm case size featuring the Czapek’s signature ‘Stairway to Eternity’ pattern presented in Glacier Blue and Salmon. Equally impressive was the ‘Frozen Star’ dial edition which is made from the very rare Osmium, which when crystalised provides the dial with a unique bluishgrey sparkle providing an amazing contrast with the matt and polished finish of the SS case and bracelet.

WATC H E S

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VACHERON CONSTANTIN

HISTORIQUES REF 222 Vacheron’s archives are brimming with watches that have become benchmark references for the industry as a whole. One such example is the Ref 222 which celebrates its 45th anniversary this year. If you were to put the 1977 and 2022 versions side by side, you’d be hard pressed to tell the difference – the hexagonal-link integrated bracelet,

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fluted bezel and Vacheron Constantin Maltese Cross at the bottom right corner of the case are all present in the latest reincarnation of the 222. What you don’t see below the 37mm yellow gold case is a new automatic Hallmark of Geneva certified-caliber 2455/2 that operates at 28,000vph and has a 40-hour power reserve.

WATC H E S

5/30/22 11:23 AM

HERMÈS

H08 – BLUE TITANIUM We know that we are supposed to write about the newly released Arceau Le temps Voyageur, as this was presented to us beautifully at this year’s Watches & Wonders and was the only watch we had images and a press pack for. The Arceau watch is a good-looking watch and features a travelling time mechanism with a disc type display of 24 time zones. Added to that, the watch features a fictional horse world map following the design of a Hermès scarf. However, when approaching the desk

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to try on their new masterpiece we were immediately drawn to the very cool looking latest edition of the H08 which has now made us a new fan of the brand. Gone is our watch snobbery towards fashion brands as many of them now combine their traditional beautiful design with serious complications.

The latest H08 continues the cushion shaped case but has a sportier feel about it with a blue rubber strap and titanium buckle. The dial is blue titanium with a grained

surface, wherein the white Arabic numbers stand out beautifully and are provided with further contrast with the orange minute track that runs inside the numbers. The date (which we could honestly do without) sits at 4.30 and the black second, minute and hour hands provide further contrast for this watch which sits very well on the wrist. The watch is powered by the Hermès Manufacture H1837 automatic movement and is retailing at approximately Dhs30,000.

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ROLEX

AIR-KING Yes, we’ve heard about the Rolex GMT-Master II left-handed model, and yes, it was certainly one of the highlights at Watches and Wonders.

But, praise for the single highest-selling Swiss luxury watchmaker in the world need not stop there. Consider then the new Air-King Ref 126900 which was also launched at this year’s exhibition alongside the GMT. The new Air-King features an all-important addition of crown guards which give the 40mm timepiece a simultaneously sports and dress watch appeal. The applied numerals are now covered with Chromalight which increases legibility on the dial. This chronometer-certified timepiece also has a power reserve of 70 hours. Rolex, like its logo, wears the crown as far as Swiss watchmaking goes – and the Air-King only further solidifies its unassailable standing.

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WATC H E S

5/30/22 11:23 AM

ZENITH

CHRONOMASTER SPORT Zenith is fast becoming the brand to go to. They are currently producing the watches that the market demands and do not seem at this stage to have any problems with their supply chain. So, we are sure that people with a sports stainless steel craving and an appreciation for the amazing El Primero chrono movement will be delighted to see an extension to the Chonomaster Sport product line that launched last year. The SS model saw a slight variation in the ceramic colouring to match its 3 x sub dials. They also introduced precious metals to the collection. The one that really caught our attention was their two-toned edition with its gold bezel, gold plated hands and silver-toned sunray-patterned dial with three different-coloured counters – further complemented with a bracelet and buckle of stainless steel and rose gold bracelet with a double folding clasp.

WATC H E S

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TRAVEL

Blending the heritage of travel with the modernity of a distinctly urban craftsmanship and nomadism, values held dear to the House

BUDDY

look, Louis Vuitton’s Aerogram men’s leather goods collection embodies WORDS: AMY SESSIONS

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FAS H I O N

5/30/22 11:32 AM

ALL AVAILABLE AT LOUIS VUITTON

FAS H I O N

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Poetry in motion French luxury jewellery and watch company Van Cleef & Arpels debuted stunning models at the recently concluded Watches and Wonders. We speak to Jean Bienayme, international marketing and communication director at Van Cleef & Arpels about the direction that the maison is headed WORDS: ANDREW WINGROVE

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WATC H E S

5/30/22 1:53 PM

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Tell us about some of your highlights at Watches and Wonders this year. On one hand, we have the automatons – the Rêveries de Berylline automaton and the Fontaine aux Oiseaux automaton are major highlights this year. On the other hand, our highlights also include the Heures Florales watch with the flowers that open to tell the time. It’s a new poetic complication with a completely new module that we have developed internally, which is a big achievement for the maison.

Give us an overview of your presence across the Middle East market and how much does this region contribute to Van Cleef’s overall business? A lot. It’s a region that includes several countries, and we are now developing teams in more countries on the ground, for instance in Saudi Arabia. We operate there with a partner. Now we also have a team there. We started three years ago and this is very important because it helps us really to develop the business and build the brand’s image. The entire region contributes significantly to our business. And during the pandemic, the clients within the region didn’t travel a lot, and it was during that time that our business developed quite significantly within the region.

Van Cleef has been an active supporter of the Saudi Arabian creative arts scene. It recently renewed its partnership for the “21, 39 Jeddah Arts” event too. How invested is Van Cleef in Saudi in general? Saudi Arabia is very important to us. In fact, we’re going to be sharing some information later this year that will further illustrate the investment we plan for the country in the future. We have a continuing partnership with Jeddah Arts. Jeddah Arts is important because [the major cities in Saudi are] Jeddah and Riyadh. We also recently announced that we are opening a new boutique in Khobar and we just launched online too, so we’re going into e-commerce.

Last year, the “Transformation of Gold” exhibition was held at the Dubai Opera boutique.

What are your plans this year in the UAE? It’s

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WATC H E S

5/30/22 1:53 PM

always a matter of transmitting our values through special exhibitions like the one we had in Dubai Opera last year. We regularly have exhibitions within our boutiques to transmit knowledge about our high jewellery. In Dubai, at the end of January this year, we launched our high jewellery collection titled ‘Sous les Étoiles’.

Several Van Cleef pieces regularly come up at auctions worldwide. Do you work with auction houses to authenticate these pieces? They approach us sometimes for authentication.

We have our patrimony department that can trace the products in the archives. We have really detailed archives because the Van Cleef & Arpels family kept detailed drawings, and mockups of some pieces too within the archives, so we can rely on it to certify specific pieces. We have our teams dedicated to certification and authentication, and they work closely with these auction houses.

The pandemic has seen a shift in overall consumption patterns and attitudes towards luxury. How has Van Cleef responded? For

us, the Covid pandemic meant that we had to evolve to online sales, build our e-commerce platforms and develop our digital platforms.

When we were developing our e-commerce, the idea for us isn’t only about a channel to sell, but also one that would present the [story of the] maison. We don’t use our digital channels only to increase our sales, but we use it to help people know our maison better.

We’re looking to build a long-term business [strategy]. And if you want to be long-term, you have to really develop your image. So on our side, we had to develop a lot of the content specifically for our digital platforms.

Alongside developing our online presence, our physical network is integral to the overall experience of the brand. People who come to our boutiques have high expectations, so we’re working constantly at [upgrading our] physical boutiques too. The Dubai Mall boutique will be renovated in the coming months.

Markets like China have become increasingly domestic-focused, while the Ukrainian crisis has impacted certain markets in Europe.

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How is Van Cleef adapting to these shifts across its international markets? I think our mission is to offer beauty and enchantment.

Even with the situation globally, we still pursue our mission. We’ve always had some Russian clients in the Middle East. We are welcoming clients wherever they are, and we hope to offer them the same experience [that they would find at home]. Our other markets, for example the US, is really booming.

Tell us about this year’s Lady Arpels Ballerine Enchantée. This is the perfect example of Van Cleef & Arpels’ love for dance. The inspiration came from the dancer Anna Pavlova who was comparing herself to a butterfly. The movement is on-demand and you have the wings that indicate the time using the rattrapante function. We are all about craftsmanship and so we have plique-à-jour enamelling technique. The most difficult part was finding the right colour for the dial. We now work with lead-free enamel. We didn’t want to compromise at any level and so it was a real challenge to find the light pink enamel dial.

How is Van Cleef furthering product innovation within the maison? So product innovation [is evident] with the new Heures Florales watch. It has a completely new module. You can read the hours by counting the number of open flowers. It took us four-five years to develop this project. Some of our craftsmen have been in the maison for 30-40 years.

They have great technique, and they too often innovate by combining, for example, white gold and rose gold which sounds easy, but it is very hard to do. It is really about innovation at the service of telling a story. We work with external experts as well – for example, we didn’t know how to blow the glass for the Planetarium, so we approached an expert living on an island in the west of France. He said that he could help us but that he only blows glass of 34 cm. But we said that we required 60cm. And so we worked together and pushed the boundaries of each other.

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CHAMPIONING

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FUTURE

CONSCIOUSNESS EM_0622_P56-59_Lookbook PradaxAdidas.indd 57

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WORDS: AMY SESSIONS

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Prada blends it’s expert craftsmanship with adidas’ lineage of sportswear innovation for SS22

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WORDS: AMY SESSIONS

SUMMER

ADVENTURE Paul Smith provides a breath of fresh air for SS22 with bold brights that conjure an explorative spirit

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ALL AVAILABLE AT PAUL SMITH

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WORDS: AMY SESSIONS

The Upgrade

IMAGES: SUPPLIED

Luxury level service and key brands all set in the peace of the Oxfordshire countryside. If you’re London-bound, Bicester Village is your secret weapon for sourcing elusive past season pieces at a fraction of the retail price, just an hour away from the city

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5/30/22 12:08 PM

T

he Bicester Collection offers all-encompassing curated luxury shopping experiences, bespoke dining offers and tailored guest services, less than an hour away from some of Europe’s most visited big cities. Bicester Village is the flagship of The Bicester Collection, set in the heart of the Oxfordshire countryside and a must-visit for past season pieces you’ve missed, and a VIP appointment curated to save you time sourcing the perfect pieces.

THE HERO BRANDS Bicester Village is home to a wide number of luxury brands, we suggest aiming for Balmain, Off White, Ermenegildo Zegna, Jil Sander, Soho Home, Isabel Marant, Elemis, 111 Skin, New Balance and Bang & Olufsen.

THE SMART APPROACH Book a personal shopping consultation in the newly renovated personal shopping suites. The suites are private spaces that allow for discreet, bespoke, and personalized interaction during the personal shopping experience and are available as a service free of charge to all guests.

If you’d like to upgrade your experience to the most superlative level, available by invitation only, is the luxury Apartment in Bicester Village. The Apartment is a private space to unwind, enjoy refreshments, revel in purchases, or take part in a personal shopping consultation. Five-star hospitality, courtesy of expert teams comes as standard, but it’s where these services meet style that the concept really comes together. The spaces in The Apartment capture the magic of the surrounding region, taking influences from local culture in the form of colour, flowers, art and interiors. The Hands-free Shopping allows you to shop till you drop & relax while the team collects and packs all your purchases ready for you to collect at the end of the day.

THE EPICUREAN Soho House & Co’s farmshop restaurant and cafe serves local British and seasonal food for breakfast, lunch and dinner. The menu focuses on rustic British food, from old-fashioned classics to hearty farmhouse fare. If you prefer pasta, visit the newly opened La Tua Pasta who make their fresh pasta nightly in the outskirts of London, before being delivered to your plate.

THE STAY If you feel like one day isn’t enough or you’d like to sleep on your new investment decisions overnight, the nearby The Old Parsonage Hotel is ideal. Oxford’s 17th century Old Parsonage combines original charm and character with all the luxury, amenities and technology available to an independently owned 5-star hotel. Best known by locals and visitors alike for its eclectic country house charm, chic modern interiors and striking 20th century portraits, the Old Parsonage is a luxury home-from-home with impeccable hospitality.

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THE STOP OFF Just a stone’s throw away is Soho Farmhouse – worth a stop for dinner before you head back to London.

THE TRAVEL Less than an hour from London, the Village is easy to reach by car and rail, with a regular direct train service that runs from London Marylebone to Bicester Village Station.

With Arabic signage, prayer room and a great selection of halal cuisine, Bicester Village is always ready to welcome all visitors from the Middle East and beyond.

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FORM & FUNCTION

WORDS: AMY SESSIONS EM_0622_P66-69_Lookbook Zaha Hadid.indd 67

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BRITISH-IRAQI ARCHITECT, ARTIST AND DESIGNER DAME ZAHA HADID STRIKES A BALANCE BETWEEN SURREALIST SHAPES AND FUNCTIONAL FORMS, ALL THREADED WITH HADID’S CURIOUS SPIRIT AND CONTEMPORARY EYE

ALL AVAILABLE AT MATCHESFASHION

C O M P I L E D BY: S A R A H J O S E P H

HIGH SUMMER SCENTS An edit of zesty fragrances that call to your wanderlust this summer

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Bergamote 22 Eau de Parfum 100ml Dhs1,155 Le Labo available on ounass.ae

Cologne Cédrat 100ml Dhs918 Matiere Premiere

Illusione 90ml Dhs420 Bottega Veneta

Aqua Celestia Cologne Forte Eau de Parfum 70ml Dhs849 Maison Francis Kurkdjian

Gentleman Eau De Toilette 100ml for Dhs452 Givenchy

De Los Santos Eau de Parfum 100ml Dhs990 Byredo

Sahrienne Le Vestiaire 125ml Dhs1,100 Yves Saint Laurent

Rose Hubris 100ml Dhs1,337 Ex Nihilo

Colonia C.L.U.B Eau De Cologne 100ml Dhs600 Acqua Di Parma

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The Invisible Details

Suzanne Santos, Co-Founder & Chief Customer Officer of AESOP has a meticulous eye for detail and an incredible sense of what it takes to build a global brand, subtly

WORDS: AMY SESSIONS

What do the first 30 minutes of your day look like, your morning routine? My day almost always begins with a long walk, before which I like to prepare my skin to face the day. The skin on the face is more delicate than that of the rest of the body and it is exposed to our environs constantly. For both these reasons, we need to treat it with care and respect; and the breadth of Aesop’s cleansing range is testament to the importance we place upon this simple everyday act. A gentle but disciplined approach helps to purify the skin and maintain its natural balance.

We have just had summer in Australia, which is very dry and hot. To support my skin in these conditions I would use something like Amazing Face Cleanser, a product with long history in our range which is suitably effective in lifting and removing excess sebum and surface impurities. I would then tone, moisturize and apply Protective Facial Lotion SPF25 to support my skin in the sun.

What is at the heart of AESOP, the DNA? Our approach to skin care has always been fiercely independent. We take meticulous care to create formulations of premium efficacy and sensory pleasure through solid science. We will never stray from focusing on products that are formulated with our customers’ needs in mind. Above all, our stores and counters are the embodiment of our philosophy, and our approach to retail service.

Architecturally speaking, no two Aesop spaces are ever the same, but when a customer enters any door around the world, they encounter the familiar: the products on our shelves, the knowledge, gracious hospitality and service extended by our consultants, and an aesthetic anchored not only to our sensibility but also to local culture, traditions and materials.

Staying afloat in today’s consumer society is about staying true to your values. We have found our voice by operating outside of industry norms and honing the simple pleasures of honest communication, exceptional customer service and products that are backed by science.

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Tell us how your past experiences led you to Co-Found your own brand? I grew up with a family that paid attention to a good diet with a focus on whole food and a healthy lifestyle. Thereafter I studied sociology at university and then travelled outside Australia. Finally, I became a parent. All these experiences combined with an engaged life contributed to the beginning of Aesop. Being engaged in the community and enjoying the pleasure of conversations also assisted the creation of a customer focused brand. We also began in a world where much of what defined cosmetics was poorly formulated and executed, so a creative approach was eagerly embraced by the first customers.

How did you know you were ready to make the leap and launch your own brand? Aesop was established with an anticonformist approach. When we first began 35 years ago, very few beauty companies were using essential oils, however our founder Dennis understood these botanical ingredients and the remarkable ways they could support the skin. He initially pioneered the use of essential oils in formulations to treat colour-damaged hair, and from this work grew a modest hair and body care range. By 1991, we were ready to start developing exceptional skin care products.

The sink demonstration has long been at the core of the Aesop experience. Back when we started, we had very limited access to sinks, so I used bowls and replenished them with fresh water for each customer. Aesop was different, because the experience wasn’t just about explaining the benefits of each product – it was about the need to feel and smell the aroma of our products. Working with the imagination, and nourishing the totality of the senses, was the best way for people to understand us. These demonstrations deeply resonated with our customers; that is why the sink remains the pivotal being of Aesop to this day.

Have you had any mentors along the way and if so, what has been the best advice they have imparted to you? Pursuing skincare alone without supporting it with great decisions around food and lifestyle is nothing more than a waste of time.

The results of cutting corners with your physical and mental health will catch up quickly. Feeling fantastic, is visible and tangibly supports your skin. I don’t remember from whom this came, however I grew up in a home where food mattered as did exercise and reading. The foundation of my life was led this way, as was the self-responsibility that promoted.

How do the creative and commercial sides of the business work together and do you feel particularly drawn to one side of the business? A creative sensibility underpins all that we do at Aesop – not only our collaborations with artists, artisans and architects, but also our approach to hosting and the formulation of our products. We believe that good design improves lives and implement this ethos in every aspect of the company, from product packaging to interior architecture.

The creative and the commercial at Aesop are therefore intertwined. Overall, this approach underscores our commitment to a balanced approach to life – one that regards creative pursuits and intellectual curiosity as integral to a life well-lived.

The brand is known as much for its ingredients as it’s aesthetic.

Was combining the power of both a key strategy from the outset? In a way, our ingredients and ‘aesthetic’ feed into each other. The amber bottles we use, reminiscent of a 20th century pharmacy, were no longer widely used in the industry when we first started the business. Our primary intention has always been to ensure the quality of the contents; the vessels must be functional, minimalist and humble. We are attentive to aesthetics, but the amber bottles’ main purpose is to protect our products from light, therefore making them last longer.

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IMAGES: SUPPLIED

When it comes to ingredients, the strength of our approach relies on combining the best that plants and science have to offer, mixing generous doses of botanical extracts with laboratory-made ingredients. Beyond the quality of our formulations, we also take great pride in the skilled, knowledgeable and gracious hosting extended by our consultants to an ever more diverse audience across the globe.

How important is honing in on the finer details to building a business? Honing in on the details is the most important thing you can do as a business – this is how you find out what matters most to you, how you find your voice and how you stay true to yourself. Though there have been many attempts to imitate our approach, none can match the formulations, sensibility and attention to detail that distinguish what we do – or our unique approach to hosting our customers, or the calibre of the service we provide to them. Our dedication to detail is what defines us.

How do you implement such detail when it comes to customer experience? The experience within any Aesop store, and our relationship with our customers, is never a simply transactional one: it is also educational, prescriptive and sensorial.

We host our customers in calm, warm, comforting spaces that look, feel and smell good – each store a restorative haven of visual harmony where they can sit and have some tea if they wish, and receive informed service from consultants of the highest calibre and knowledge. We have a meaningful conversation with each of our customers to understand their concerns, skin type, environment and preferred textures. We invite them to explore the formulations with us: demonstrating each product at the sink, allowing customers to experience how it feels on their skin, has become the ritualistic hallmark of the Aesop consultation.

What has been the biggest challenge since launching the brand and how did you overcome it? We have always strived to deliver exceptional service to our customers, though the COVID-19 pandemic posed a great challenge to our approach.

While we could no longer see each other or host our customers in store, the events of the last two years also created opportunities for us to connect with our customers through new avenues. During this time, we began to offer Live Assistance and Virtual Consultations via our website, as well as Click & Collect and Call & Collect services as a safer way for our customers to experience our retail locations, while maintaining our commitment to impeccable service. This offering will only expand in the future, allowing our customers to engage with us in whichever way is most convenient and agreeable to them, ultimately strengthening our bond. Meanwhile internally at Aesop, despite the challenges, we have worked in incredible unity and harmony. We were always a harmonious group of individuals across 26 countries and numerous languages. The design to hold each other tight has absolutely been the home of innovation for us during this period, and it’s been the safety net that’s held us all together.

How has social media affected the business and which platform has been most useful? As a brand that focusses on the needs of our customer, social media is another medium for us to connect with them and serve them. It is our digital language and gives us the opportunity to share our values on an ongoing basis and grow a community that shares those values. Social Media has not necessarily ‘affected’ our business, it is simply part of our business and has become another medium through which we can communicate our authentic self. Through social media, the story of anything happening in one store can be told globally, such as ongoing sustainability efforts: support of underrepresented voices with Radiomatique, and passion

“Staying afloat in today’s consumer society is about staying true to your values.”

for design with store photography. All platforms serve a purpose as long as we feel we are connecting to a customer. We have taken time to cultivate a presence globally and communicate in multiple languages across all platforms.

Do you see any buying trends globally in terms of products and if so which? A long-term approach to supporting skin health has always been at the heart of Aesop. With the pandemic, however, I noticed a real change in people’s understanding of this mentality. Before, people would perform their skin care rituals as quickly as possible, without giving much thought to the ingredients they applied and where they came from. The various lockdowns endured around the globe, for many people offered a pause, and we now look at the products in our bathroom cabinets with much greater consideration. We now give further thought to the purpose behind each product, as well as its ingredients. As part of this, I think people are now much more open minded to the idea that that tending to the health of the skin is an ongoing endeavour, rather than a case of quick fixes or ‘end results’. We invite our customers to embrace a process and approach of continuous – but gentle – care and support, giving ongoing attention to their skin and understanding its individual needs. This attentiveness requires time and space, but there is so much joy to be found in shutting out the noise and really connecting with our skin as it passes through the seasons, if only for a few moments each day.

Which are your personal favourite products and why? For me, a key product that exemplifies Aesop’s innovation and respect for ingredients is Sublime Replenishing Night Masque, which was designed as an alternative to sheet masques, without the waste. It’s a richly hydrating facial treat for skin in need, boosted with Vitamins B, C, E and F to even, nourish and replenish. Sublime is extra special because this is Aesop’s first product that incorporates Vitamin F, which is an essential vitamin. This means it is a substance the body cannot produce itself and must be obtained through dietary sources or topical application.

How do you implement the finer details into your own life?

Thoughtfully, the finest qualities in life are the most well considered of simple pleasures. Self-care whether physical, intellectual, or emotional defines real attention. Making decisions to favour early morning exercise, focusing on reading as a daily pleasure and the giving of yourself to others truly rewards. The joy of homecooked food, made of love, feeds the soul, as does stopping to smell flowers, walking on beaches, and seeking the vision of nature whenever you can. By clinging to quality in whatever decisions I make, this has enhanced the joy of living.

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C O M P I L E D BY: S A R A H J O S E P H

GROOMING ON-THE-GO The skincare essentials for long-haul flights and life in the fast lane

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Multi Balm 15ml for Dhs75 Apothem Labs; Deodorant Roll-On 50ml for Dhs96 Grown Alchemist; Cedar and Citrus Lip Salve Dhs54 Aesop; Shaving Cream 150ml for Dhs137 Captain Fawcett; Research Cleansing Concentrate 125ml for Dhs501 Tom Ford Beauty available at OUNASS; Shaver Lifeproof plus Lithium Dhs425 Wahl available on cultbeauty.com; Rinse-Free Hand Wash 45ml for Dhs95 Diptyque; Croc-Effect Leather Wash Bag Dhs1,971 Saint Laurent available on MR PORTER; After-Shave Balm 120ml for Dhs145 Le Labo

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WORDS: SARAH JOSEPH

You Are What You Eat

Mark Carroll and Andreas L. Borgmann, founders of Dubai-based Kcal, on creating a brand that champions clean eating and conscious wellbeing

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What do the first 30 minutes of your day look like? AB: I spend the first hour of my day creating a to-do list, going through my emails, taking notes and setting priorities of what needs to be achieved that day, how it’s done and who’s involved. I am always in the office early to plan my day before I get pulled into conversations and meetings requiring my attention.

MC: The first 30 to 60 minutes of my workday is all about catching up on the events of the previous evening. Since I have a nowork-after-6pm rule, the first thing I do in the office is to check my emails while I have my breakfast (Kcal, of course), reply to messages, and get on with my meetings and schedule for the day. I believe in a strong work-life balance; anyone that needs my time after 6pm, will find a way to reach me that’s not email or messages.

What inspired you to start Kcal? MC: One evening in 2010, we finished training at the gym and were thinking about restaurants where we’d get healthy, high-quality nutrition that will add to our workout and enhance our lifestyle. After perusing the options, we noticed a lot of restaurant menus didn’t feature healthy food, or at least, food we would feel good about eating. We talked about the idea of opening a restaurant that served healthy food and was completely transparent about the nutritional value of each menu item. With no experience in the F&B industry, this was no small feat. We did our research, chalked out a plan and realised this idea as Kcal in 2010.

AB: Soon after the success of our first restaurant, we launched Kcal Meal Plans targeted at busy individuals that wanted to eat healthy meals but didn’t have the time to plan their weekly meals or calculate the nutritional value of their food. When we sold our first meal plan, there was no turning back. We added Fuel-Up by Kcal to the Kcal World brand umbrella in 2015 to serve fitness enthusiasts with macro-focused meal prep and high-quality supplements that would help take their training to the next level. Today, we deliver thousands of meal plan bags to happy Kcal-ers and Fuel-ers all over the UAE and yet, a decade later, it feels like we’ve only just begun.

Where does your love for clean and conscious eating come from? MC: I believe that you’ll only look and feel as good as you want to if you fuel your body with the right nutrition. If you want your body to run as efficiently as a rocket, for instance, you have to complement it with quality rocket fuel, and that’s where Kcal comes in. Just like highquality relationships enhance your life, quality food enhances your health and wellbeing. I stay away from eating processed food because we all know how it affects your body and mind in the long run. To me, it’s

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all about feeling good on the inside while looking great each day, so food has a big part to play in helping me live my best life.

AB: Healthy eating has always been a big part of my upbringing. As a child, I’d spend a lot of time playing sports and being active, and I derived my confidence from my athletic achievements. Over time, the thought behind clean and conscious eating developed into taking care of myself, feeling good on the inside and being able to live a healthy, well-balanced life. It’s more about the positive mental state healthy living puts me in. My routine has been consistent over the years. I exercise six days a week for two hours daily, where I spend time recapping my day, listening to music and fielding calls. To me, eating healthy and exercising go hand-in-hand – this combination, in addition to generally living my best life, is what keeps me going every day.

Each meal is prepared by experts. What key aspects are considered for each client before creating a meal plan? AB: In terms of the nutritional value of our restaurant and meal plan menus, we work with our team of nutritionists and chefs to ensure only the very best is served to our audience. Ever since we started the company, we’ve only eaten Kcal food to understand our food quality and how we can continue to improve our menu while maintaining consistency.

We consider a Kcal-er’s overall health when building a meal plan to suit their goals and lifestyle and ensure we don’t use any nasties such as food colouring and processed items.

MC: We develop our recipes in line with the Kcal DNA, which is reminiscent of a Palaeolithic approach to nutrition – less carbs, more greens, good sources of protein and no processed ingredients. When you add it all up, the meal on your plate is a good mix of vitamins, minerals and fibre that will satiate your appetite and keep you healthy. We keep these key ideas in mind when looking for and developing recipes as well. To me, balanced nutrition is key. Since everyone is different, we work closely with our clients to understand their nutrition needs and map out their journey to help them achieve their goals in a sustainable manner.

How does a balanced diet affect the clarity of your mind? What feedback have you received about this from clients? AB: A balanced diet is about building your plate with all the important macronutrients, carbohydrates, proteins, vitamins and some degree of fibre. You can’t have clarity of mind by eliminating a food group altogether, because the right balance of these macros help keep the momentum going, and for each person, these macros differ. When you change your food habits, you need to ensure that the changes are sustainable, going from one extreme to the other will result in a ter-

rible case of yo-yo dieting. When you start eating more balanced, nutrition-rich foods, you’ll start feeling better, your thought process will be positive, and you’ll start looking younger. As an example, if you have a high-carb diet, your blood sugar level will spike and dip quickly, causing changes in serotonin that are responsible for regulating your mood and energy levels.

MC: A lot of our clients have been loyal for years. One of the biggest compliments we get from them is that their meal plans make them feel great mentally. To me, eating clean food is equivalent to adding super-fuel to your body that charges and energises you for the rest of the day. Increased energy means you’ll be in a happier, more productive state of mind throughout the day. Similarly, if you regularly eat junk or processed food, your body will go into a carb hangover state, making you lethargic, sleepy and moody. What’s important to remember is eating clean food isn’t just about weight loss or muscle gain, it’s about improving and maintaining a higher quality of life and mental wellbeing, and at Kcal, we go beyond traditional nutrition to help our clientele achieve this.

What piece of advice would you give to your younger self? AB: I think I’d tell myself to start with audiobooks at an earlier age. I be-

“I believe that you’ll only look and feel as good as you want to if you fuel your body with the right nutrition.” gan listening to audiobooks in my mid-20s because I always found reading to be a challenge. I believe that reading helps open your mind up to various possibilities and fuels your brain to think ahead. If I’d done that when I was younger, I’d have a better understanding of the world and people around me.

Focusing on self-development at an early age helps you build a better relationship with yourself and those around you. Today’s world is all about social media and filters, as people are afraid to be real, even with themselves. Everyone’s worried about what others think of them, which is why there are so many people facing mental health and social anxiety issues. I think if you want to live a happier, more fulfilled life, you need to focus on developing your emotional intelligence.

It’s a real asset that’ll help you maintain a more positive mindset and attitude towards yourself and life around you.

MC: If I had to pick one piece of advice, it’d be to take a deep dive into and focus on my mental health. I’ve discovered the importance of mental wellbeing over the last

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few years, and it’s something that I’m very focused on and passionate about. I’ve realised that we only ever talk about mental health when we’re going through a tough situation, and it’s very difficult to find a solution when you’re in the throes of trauma or challenges. It’s like learning how to fight when you’re in the middle of a showdown. Rather than reacting to a situation or a challenge, I think I’d teach myself to be more mentally equipped to anticipate a challenge and, maybe, prepare for it so I’m not taken by surprise, sort of like a business contingency plan. You should always have one. I also firmly believe in being vocal about mental health and breaking the stigma that surrounds it. If you need help, you shouldn’t be afraid to ask. We have a very transparent chain of command at Kcal and our doors are always open to all members of our team, should they have grievances or something they’d like to share.

Mental health is just as important as physical health, and it’s about time we cultivate a better relationship with ourselves.

How do you maintain clarity in your life and work practice? AB: Nutrition and exercise help me strike that balance in leading a healthier life. In terms of nutrition, I eat only Kcal and in terms of exercise, I make it a

point to work out every day. Being physically active helps keep my head clear and releases endorphins so I’m in a more positive state of mind. Since I’m extremely passionate about my work, I find it quite hard to keep work out of my family life. If there is something that needs my attention, I prefer to address it and move on with the day rather than let it sit until I get into the office, but that doesn’t work for me. Working on finding a solution to an issue relaxes me, even though it seems crazy, but it is what it is. I can’t just switch off today and come back tomorrow.

MC: A healthy work-life balance is key to living a more fulfilled life. Once I’m out of the office at 6pm, I switch off from work. I get home every evening to spend uninterrupted time with my family or hit the gym and ensure that I keep my phone away from me, so I’m not tempted to look at emails or messages. Apart from that, I think sleep is one of the most underrated tools to recharge your body. To me, it’s on par with the food.

Resting enough and well is a big part of being able to live a well-balanced life.

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plus during the all-important Dad race at school sports days. As the men do not warm up and despite their lack of regular fitness, they feel that they have still got what it takes to do a sprint at 100 per cent.

My issue these days, despite my weekly attempts to maintain fitness are getting out of bed and trying not to put my back out whilst pulling on my socks. So tight are my lower back, hip flexors and hamstrings that I almost need to do a 10 minute warm up

WORDS: ANDREW WINGROVE

Better Call Saul

Targeting the development of mobility and strength to help optimize performance in your chosen sports, Saul Phillips has created a new men’s class for Yoga allowing you to join the ranks of “broga” athletes who use their practice to stay healthy, supple and superhuman

routine in order to function properly. We spend so much of our time sitting down at work and lying down in our sleep that our body has forgotten how to function the way it was designed.

I was recently asked to participate in a men’s yoga class or stretching as I call it. I know that this is something I should probably do along with the likes of Pilates but for some reason it just doesn’t quite sit right with me and I don’t see myself in a lycra outfit with a roll mat under my arm.

The yoga class was set in a new trendy spot in the middle of Al Quoz called Matcha, a peaceful oasis in the heart of the industrial AlQuoz.

I checked in at reception, got myself a mat and ever so shyly stepped into the unknown. Saul immediately greeted me with enthusiasm and all other guys who arrived.

The class was made up of newbies like me all the way to some guy in cool karate style trousers doing handstands for fun!

Saul talked us proficiently through the various movements throughout the class and guided our positioning to ensure each move was practiced correctly for maximum effect. Amazingly, you can really feel the difference when you do these moves correctly as the the relevant muscles really burn, something I was not expecting.

Towards the end of the class we were all encouraged to attempt various ways of standing on our heads. We all gave it a crack, but I joked to myself that it is simply not happening having tried and failed. Saul asked me to try again and then asked me to stop and showed me exactly what I had been doing wrong. He pointed out that by simply aligning the hips the legs will follow.

So straight back down and up the legs went and with great surprise and pride I did it!

I left the class thinking job done with no real intention of returning. That night I slept amazingly as I hadn’t realised quite how hard the body had worked. The next morning, I noticed as I rolled out of bed that my back was not rigid, my hip flexors were actually working, and I was able to walk without fear of pulling a muscle. So, whilst I am not quite ready to invest in my own yoga pants or mat just yet, I am happy to go again and feel that the men’s class provides a lot less distraction and embarrassment. This tailor made space for men provides an environment that will encourage me and others to go again. My advice would be to give it a go as whatever other form of exercise you do, this can only help with the all-important body maintenance.

If you are putting your back out whilst pulling on your socks ‘You Better Call Saul’!

For more information contact: @saulphillips

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IMAGES: SUPPLIED

I have always been fairly sporty, having played team sports in my youth which transitioned into various attempts of Running, CrossFit and Triathlons. Now I have reached the stage of some form of old man body maintenance in the gym. The competitive Dad is still in there, but very much reigned in now to avoid the inevitable injury that comes all too easily these days.

An interesting fact for you, most cruciate ligament injuries occur in men aged 40

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THE PAD

The coolest finds to add to the mancave WORDS & STYLING: AMY SESSIONS

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The LOMBARDY bookends

The minimal Lomardy bookends are made for book lovers and décor enthusiasts alike.

This pair of transparent Olive Green bookends are as beautiful as they are purposeful.

Comes in a pair of two and one tree will be planted for every item sold (via onetreeplanted.org) Dhs1,028 available at lafsharstudio.com

Pietro Chiesa, Fontana coffee table Dhs4,165 available at finnishdesignshop.com

The CALDER coffee table

With a focus on symmetry, the CALDER Coffee Table is a mix of modern molded materials ideal for today’s contemporary living rooms. Both the clear acrylic top and base legs are substantially thick. The resin legs come in different colour options for a customized look to match your space.

One tree will be planted for every item sold (via onetreeplanted.org) Dhs4,499 available at lafsharstudio.com

Perspex Magazine Rack Dhs174 available at jukiamsterdam.com

The TACCIA lamp

Designed by Achille and Pier Giacomo Castiglioni this table lamp provides both indirect and reflected light creating the ideal ambience anytime.

Taccia – small Dhs4,720 Flos available at one52.ae

STORK Barstool Dhs485 Marina Home

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A Beginner’s Guide to NFTs Christopher Manessis, Chief Investment Officer at Moonchain Capital, has a few tips for those who are eager to break into the NFT market, what to look for and where to start

IMAGES: GETTY AND SUPPLIED

WORDS: VAR UN GODINHO

Can you explain to us the basics of what an NFT is? An NFT is a token or cryptoasset secured by a blockchain with unique traits or characteristics that distinguish themselves from each other. In most cases, NFTs are tokens with images, videos, and other metadata attached to them.

What advice would you offer to anyone wanting to begin investing into the NFT market and what are the pitfalls to watch out for?

Like any investment, always do your own research and fully understand what you are investing in before doing so. Do not buy an NFT because an influencer or person told you to. If you are buying an NFT for its artistic properties, buy the NFT because you love the art, so you enjoy it regardless of its return on investment. NFT marketplaces are far less liquid than traditional crypto markets so trading NFTs for quick profit is ill-advised. In most cases, spending time in the community chats of an NFT will give you great insight into the quality of the project. Don’t invest anything you are not prepared to completely lose. Investing in NFTs can be highly lucrative, but its important newcomers are aware of the risks.

Is there a right time ever to cash out, and how do you inform this choice? This entirely de-

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pends on your financial situation. If you have invested in an NFT that has returned life-changing money, then it’s wise to take some profit and improve your living conditions. That said, if you don’t need the money, be patient, get involved with the community and stay for the long run. Selling too early is just as detrimental as selling too late.

Which platforms best inform your investments in this space and are there any individuals we should be listening to or following? Twitter is the go-to place for all things crypto; you get breaking news, opinions, research, and so much more. I also spend a great deal of time on Discord in community channels of the NFT projects I invest in. It’s always good to see what the community is thinking and how transparent and communicative the team is. For new entrants into the NFT space, I would definitely recommend the following accounts on Twitter: @CozomoMedici, @Vince_Van_Dough, @SOLBigBrain, @Bardstocks, @goldkittywagmi.

Gaming-related projects have a wide appeal – will this remain consistent do you think?

Yes, I think so. Primarily because gaming is fun and easy to understand. We have also only scratched the surface with crypto gaming and are starting to see really cool concepts being launched. Move to earn is extremely interesting and uses crypto and gamification to incentivize users to walk more and be fitter. We are also seeing the first AAA standard games being developed and launching in Q4 of this year, like Aurory and Nyan Heroes. I strongly believe pioneers like these games will showcase to the gaming community that crypto games can be fun to play and rewarding at the same time.

Can we invest in NFTs if we don’t own crypto and if not, where should we be setting up a beginner’s wallet? Yes, of course, there are a few NFT platforms like Niftify, Opensea, and Coinbase that provide credit card gateways to make it easy to purchase NFTs. But most of the liquidity and trading of NFTs today is denominated in ETH and SOL so setting up a crypto wallet and needing crypto becomes necessary at a certain point. For individuals looking to invest seriously into NFTs, I would recommend using two wallets, one hot wallet for minting and connecting to marketplaces and a second cold wallet that only interacts with the hot wallet for storing your NFT collection. Using Coinbase and Metamask both work well for ETH hot wallets, and Phantom for a Solana hot wallet. Then I recommend using Ledger for a cold wallet.

Moonchain Capital focuses on NFTs, NFT platforms, and gaming. How have you seen this market grow over the last year and where do you predict it will go next? We have seen exponential growth in NFT activity over the past 24 months and I believe we are

still very early. NFTs have so many utilities beyond membership, artistic, and speculative. NFTs have a wide range of commercial and industrial utilities such as title deeds in land registry systems, fraud-proof ticketing, and provenance tracking. We believe every business one day, big and small, will utilize NFTs as part of their operations, to drive revenue, and engage with their users. We are also very bullish on crypto video games and expect this segment of the industry to onboard hundreds of millions of users.

In partnership with DIFC-licenced investment house, Audacia Capital, you are launching a crypto/web3/metaverse themed fund to enable investors to get broad exposure to this incredibly exciting space. Can you expand on this at this stage? I can’t comment much on

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this at the moment, but it is incredibly exciting. Yes, our goal is to set up a regulated structure that will enable investors to get broad exposure to games, NFTs, NFT infrastructure, and the open-metaverse. Until the structure is fully launched and compliant, we have been inviting select investors to tag alongside our investments – one recently being Niftify, an NFT as a platform service enabling anyone to create and sell NFTs on their domain – like a Shopify for NFTs. What has been your best NFT investment to date? I was lucky enough to get into a few great NFT projects that have provided an excellent return. These NFTS have all been SOL based NFTs usually linked to the games I have invested in, but notably Aurory, Nyan Heroes, and Genopets have all done exceptionally well. It’s important to highlight that I have had some disastrous NFT investments, but I like the art, so I still enjoy owning them.

Disclaimer: Nothing mentioned here should be taken as solicitation to trade or a recommendation of a specific trade

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WORDS: AMY SESSIONS

Quality & Quantity

IMAGES: SUPPLIED

Founded on the French idea of savoir vivre (‘knowing how to live’) by Prosper & Martine Assouline, Assouline produces books in collaboration with the world’s foremost designers, photographers, artists and architects.

As beautifully presented as they are thought-provoking, they’re the perfect addition to any coffee table. We spoke to Alexandre Assouline, Chief of Operations, Brand & Strategy to find out how to drive Assouline to the next stage and what the secret to maintaining superlative quality is

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What do the first 30 mins of your day look like – your morning routine? I wake up at 6:30 and prepare my suit for the day and train on an elliptical machine for 30 minutes every morning. I like to take the subway to our office in uptown. I arrive at the office early to connect with our teams in Europe and Asia.

Can you define the DNA of Assouline and has it remained the same since the outset? Assouline is a luxury brand about culture and we focus on coffee table books on art, design, architecture, most recently travel. We’re developing organically by expanding into a lot of new product categories while still maintaining the original focus.

What made you decide to join the family business and were you interested in this from a young age? I’ve been lucky enough to have been surrounded by an immense appreciation for culture at a very young age – it’s something that my parents engrained in me. From identifying the beauty in art, history, to lifestyles from all around the world, it was quite clear that I was developing a passion for it. It is because of this influence that I was driven to join the family business and strive to contribute to it long-term. I came back to Assouline full time

in 2016 where my parents offered me a leading role, in which I have been able to test myself professionally in helping to develop the brand.

How does your role drive the business forward and what have been the clear goals to date? My role is at the centre of the business where I lead the departments to achieve a cohesive strategy to develop our company’s goals and distributions worldwide. I oversee operations, brand, and strategy. The goal is to place ourselves as the leading luxury publishing house and a lifestyle brand.

What have been the biggest challenges to date and how did you overcome them? Today, mostly the shortage of paper worldwide, but we are in an important growth and development period for the brand. The growing pains are always a bit challenging but looking at the big picture, it’s challenges that you learn from that makes the business grow and strengthen.

Which Assouline books are on your personal coffee table? Paris Chic – I have this book displayed on my coffee table, it is opened on a page where you can see a picture of my brother, my mother and myself featured in the book. I also have our Assouline branded objects and candles on my coffee table as well.

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The brand is perfect for gifting – which book would you recommend that would be well received by anyone? From what I’ve heard, the Formula 1 book that we launched last year has been an incredible gift. Personally, my favourites remain the Travel Collection, where we recently launched Dubai Wonder and Greek Islands.

Have you had any mentors to date and what knowledge did they impart? I’ve had many to date that have helped me immensely in distinct periods of time throughout my career. One notable mention is when I first started running the digital department, Prosper taught me the ropes and I’m incredibly grateful for his help and knowledge. I have replicated this knowledge when mentoring other department heads that I have overseen throughout my journey at Assouline.

How do you maintain clarity in your life and work practice? The line is always blurred when you work in a family business, especially when all your direct family are involved.

But I have to say, it’s thrilling to always talk about ideas, solving problems and developing a beautiful brand together that is designed to impact and inspire so many people.

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The Finer Details

Located at the newly opened Dubai EDITION Hotel, INTI is a fine-dining restaurant specialising in an authentic Nikkei experience, combining Peruvian and Japanese cuisine. From the venue to the interiors, the ambiance and the food, every aspect of INTI encompasses dining at its finest. The restaurant’s Head of Operations, Jean Marc Petrus, tells us what sets this concept apart from the crowd

WORDS: OLIVIA MORRIS

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Talk us through your career. I have been part of the opening teams for two fivestar hotels, both the Park Hyatt Johannesburg and the One and Only Royal Mirage as well as internationally renowned standalone brands including Zuma, Coya, Lima, Mamo-Michelangelo, Nammos and homegrown concepts – Play restaurant, Twiggy by La Cantine and recently INTI Dubai, a Nikkei restaurant at Dubai EDITION Hotel. Throughout the years, I’ve been tried and tested in a range of skills, a pastry chef, bar manager, nightclub manager, general manager and head of operations in standalone venues.

What initially inspired you to enter the hospitality realm? Both my parents come from this industry, so I have grown up around hospitality. I took a gap year after school, working in hotel bars trying to find my place in life. I am a people person, with a genuine love to make those around me feel appreciated. What I found was an industry where my personality was valued and where entertaining people and being able to make them feel welcome was considered a strength.

The job became a career, made me happy and I kept on going, never looking back.

What eventually brought you to Dubai?

Patrick John, the then Corporate Chef for Sun International, found me, a young Pastry Chef on the Comoros islands near Madagascar and brought me to open the One and Only Royal Mirage in 1999, and I never left. I was fortunate to be mentored by some of the industry greats, all of whom had been in Dubai over the last few years, guiding me and giving me an unparalleled professional benchmark to reach and maintain.

You’re now the Head of Operations for INTI which opened earlier this year. Talk us through the concept. INTI is a rooftop Nikkei restaurant with a lounge and bar that combines elements of Peruvian and Japanese food with distinct techniques to create something wonderful. We also feature what some would define as “the best view in town”, overlooking the Downtown area from the roof of the EDITION Hotel.

A private lounge that can be turned into a private late-night venue should the atmosphere of the night require it. We are elegant, sophisticated yet homely at the same time, a place that envelopes you with good energy and genuine hospitality.

It really seems like every fine and intimate detail of this concept has been thought of – from the interiors to the menu, to the service, to the setting. Would you agree and how do you feel INTI differs from other concepts in Dubai and the wider MENA region? We truly have a remarkable space with “postcard” views, sublime sunsets, and an outdoor terrace unrivalled in Downtown. Our guests from Dubai, the immediate region and abroad make the restaurant a destination to come and spend time absorbing the feeling, enjoy the dining and being part of the energy that defines INTI. In a city where a lot of money is spent on venue design and the perfect location, we wanted to set ourselves apart and add to the experience by focusing on the human touch, through every interaction so that the experience that each guest lives is memorable and makes our venue feel like your second home. We welcome back friends and make new friends all

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“We are elegant, sophisticated yet homely at the same time, a place that envelopes you with good energy and genuine hospitality.”

the time. We did not want to reinvent the wheel, we just focused on details and nonstop training to build confidence on the part of our team.

What sets the concept of INTI apart? Our team of unique individuals who all believe in the product, who live and breathe the INTI story is our differentiating factor. Our unwavering focus is and always will be our core value, we are all about the people. I believe success comes from surrounding oneself with a team that drives you to excel and at the same time is better than you in certain talents and aspects, to create a balanced team that feels comfortable sharing ideas.

This type of team can make mistakes but also learns from those mistakes and supports each other to rebuild and drive forward each time. I have two of the most talented humans that have been integral in the development of

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INTI. Bringing such talent together can only create magic. Chef Marques Tones, the master behind our culinary journey, has spent a long time in the city with many international brands and has now taken his own direction in creating a menu that can show off his individuality and unique style. Rupesh Shetty, a longtime Dubai restauranteur, takes attention to detail to the next level and his genuine hospitality is an asset to our brand. The three of us have been long-time builders in our trade in the city and we bring to the table many years of experience and guests trust us.

Can you go into more depth behind the architecture and interiors of INTI? Designed by the visionary talent of Lázaro Rosa Violán, the restaurant boasts stylish signature panels, a multi-layered seating arrangement both indoor and outdoor, highlighting the theatricality at the heart of contemporary

dining. With unrivalled views of Downtown Dubai’s impressive skyline, INTI takes Peruvian artistic influences on to new heights.

Lázaro is a self-proclaimed “creator of atmosphere” and he has outdone himself yet again in our space.

In your opinion, what are the hero dishes at INTI? Some highlights that truly express our Nikkei menu: Prawn and black cod gyoza with chilly ponzu; Aubergine Tempura and ginger soy; Scallop Tiradito, wasabi and shiso leaf; Confit Duck, basil miso and chipotle; Josper roasted Lobster with red yuzu-koshu; Cauliflower steak, ocopa and aji panca.

What sets the F&B industry in Dubai apart from the rest of the world? In the last 20 years that I have been part of this growth in F&B, we have progressed to being leaders. We used to import concepts, now we export concepts. F&B in this city is a show,

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IMAGES: SUPPLIED

its live theatre, Hollywood, Bollywood, and Broadway all rolled into one. The people of Dubai make the biggest difference, going out to restaurants, the people of our city make an effort. For us dining out is an affair, it’s a time to get dressed, to feel the part. We live for the moment and take every minute of the experience as a memory to be cherished. We have the topmost influential F&B brands in the world in Dubai and the competition to succeed and excel had driven us all to up our game and constantly look to change and always try to be better. I have seen international brands arrive in Dubai only to be reinvented and tweaked to become better in their countries of origin.

What are the hurdles you’ve experienced throughout your career? We should never forget that people work for people; this makes the biggest impact on me and my

career as well as who I decide to work with.

Respect is mutual. F&B is a passion; it is a labour of love and dedication. Finding people who share your views and vision on the operation or the brand and allow you to be the best you can be is always hard to find.

What have been the milestones? Leaving the comfort of my home country to explore wider horizons abroad set me up to meet the right people and join the right brands and helped propel me further. Joining One and Only Royal Mirage in 1999 was a springboard onto the international platform and set me on a path to success. The fortunate step into the world of stand-alone venues cannot have been better than opening Zuma and being part of the most continuous multi award-winning venues in this city. The place I am today is largely due to my time in Zuma and the groundwork I learned while

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working there. I have been fortunate to be part of numerous award-winning venues in this city and over the years, attending award ceremonies and watching the same venues continue to win and excel with young talent keeping the passion alive feeds me. The years of effort and dedication to the F&B industry in Dubai culminated in my winning of the “Restaurant General Manager of the Year” award in 2021 and was a feather in my cap that made the last few years of hard work worth it.

What are your hopes for INTI in 2022? For INTI to be recognized as a leader in homegrown concepts and keep making splendid memories and experiences for our guests, building loyalty, and growing our everexpanding network. Most importantly is nurturing the development of the INTI team and helping guide them to future successes.

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The Connoisseur’s Choice

For those in the know, Zalto craft the finest crystal, lead-free, and handblown glasses. A nod to superlative matters of taste when it comes to dining, we spoke to Frederik Runge Svendsen and Jacob Runge Svendsen Founders of Zaltify UAE, the father and son team bringing elevated table wear to the region

WORDS: AMY SESSIONS

What do the first 30 mins of your day look likeyour morning routine? Normally we both start the day with a quick check of the day’s agenda and answer a few emails if needed. We both live near JBR (Jumeirah Beach Residence) so very often we go for a morning walk and a beach swim and enjoy having the beach, almost to ourselves.

What was the catalyst to launching Zaltify UAE in the region and how did you know it was the right moment? My best friends are responsible for Zalto in Europe and when we announced we were moving to Dubai, we all agreed that Zalto was the perfect match for the UAE market. Zalto EU had already received interest from UAE, so we knew the timing was right How have your previous roles supported the success of building the business in the region? My father and I own a trading company in Denmark which he started 23 years ago. So, we are both very experienced in purchase, sales and running a business. We also have a great team in Denmark helping us to build the ecommerce side of the business and drive marketing.

How do you divide and conquer as a family team?

Jacob is structure and detail oriented and never leaves any loose ends. This is very useful when entering a new market because you can’t miss anything. I’m more focused on sales and have the direct contact to the BTB segment in the UAE, so I’m visiting restaurants and hotels to showcase samples and negotiate prices much of the time.

Zalto exemplifies quality – was this approach to product the key focus from the outset and how do you ensure you match that when it comes to client retention? Quality has always been the

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key factor for Zalto. We have the glasses flown to Dubai to ensure none of them break and the warehouse we use in Dubai is experienced in handling this standard of glass with great care.

We have only experienced one occasion where a glass was broken! It’s vital that our customers receive their new Zalto glasses with the same service level and standard of quality.

What have been the biggest challenges to date and how did you overcome them? Always when entering a new market there will be challenges. We believe the best way to overcome them is by working closely together to ensure nothing is missed.

The brand is perfect for gifting – which piece would you recommend that would be well received by anyone? All our clients (and guests at home) are really impressed with our coupe crystal water glasses.

Have you had any mentors to date and what knowledge did they impart? My father and I have been working together for 8 years and I would say he has been a great mentor for me during that time. We have always been very close, so we listen to each other’s advice in both work and personal life How do you maintain clarity in your life and work practice? In the Nordic countries we are very focused on work life balance. You have to invest time to run a good business but long working hours do not do the trick alone. High efficiency and focus are key factors, yet motivation is also key and so you need to be happy and have fun in what you are doing. We both believe that an active lifestyle and sport is one the most important factors in keeping your mind performing at its best.

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Viking Style Magnus Ericsson, founder of Viking Bageri on the journey behind creating signature French baguettes crafted to perfection

What do the first 30 minutes of your day look like, your morning routine? I have two routines depending on my day’s work.

The first is for my role as an executive for a hospital group. I wake up, take a shower, shave, carry on with some simple exercises, get dressed in my formal attire and head to work. As I’ve never learned to appreciate coffee, I prefer getting a few more minutes of sleep in. On the other hand, if I’m doing a shift at the bakery, my alarm goes off at 2:30am and then it’s a matter of convincing myself that it’s not a dream. I then get fully dressed in my baking attire and then drive on an empty Sheikha Zayed road down to our bakery in Dubai Marina.

What inspired you to start Viking Bageri and how did you know it was the right time? At first, I had no intention at all to start a business. During the first lockdown in 2020, I had the combination of a very stressful situation at work and being confined to the vicinity of my house, hence, I started baking baguettes. The target was to prove that it is possible to bake better bread than the baguettes I could find in the existing outlets. My obsession grew stronger and stronger every week, and shortly my wife asked what we were going to do with all the bread as I would bake 10-15 baguettes every Friday. I didn’t care that much, I just wanted to keep fine-tuning the recipe, trying new

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WORDS: SARAH JOSEPH

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quantities, proofing and working with other types of flour. However, my wife knew better and within a short span of time, she started gifting the bread to our neighbours. Shortly after, our neighbours wanted to pay for the bread and they also wanted to order bread.

My wife and kids had the opportunity to go home to Sweden for some well-earned vacation that summer, and since I wasn’t able to leave the country due to work, I made a pledge to bake every night. So, after coming home from work, I baked 12-15 baguettes, and then made doughs for the next day. At this time, the number of followers on Instagram had started to increase as well, and people out in Dubai asked to order the bread. I had the idea that the first-time people tried the bread would be free of charge, so I sent baguettes all over Dubai with Careem Box. When my family arrived back in Dubai, I told my wife that my obsession had kind of taken proportions I never had anticipated, and around that time, I was also invited to be on the Helen Farmer show on the radio. My wife understood better than I what had to be done, she set up the website with an ordering system, and we also started to do our homework on licensing and company structure. But there’s more to it, we are a small tight-knit team, it’s me, my wife Maria and our neighbour and friend Jen, together we formed Viking Bageri, and we’re constantly working to develop it even more.

Where did your baking skills come from? I would say that my baking skills are partly inherited from my father, who used to bake every weekend when I grew up. Although he never baked baguettes, I was used to seeing him redirect his time to other hobbies. With the baguettes, I’ve done probably 60-70 different versions of the recipe I use, changing one quantity at a time and keeping track of the result on Microsoft Excel.

You grew up in the Nordic region. What influence has this had on your brand? A lot as many restaurants and bakeries in Sweden have a firm focus on quality over quantity, and we’ve tried to do the same here. The fact that I started this whole journey with the ambition to bake the best baguette in Dubai has also helped us to keep quality as the focal point, rather than expanding

at the expense of quality, which else might have been the case. We also try to keep the flavours simple, and we thoroughly test and bake all the new versions before we introduce them to our most trusted fanbase, and if all those steps are passed, we release them to all customers. Another important detail that we have from our Nordic way of thinking is that we don’t use additives or any preservatives. That’s why the bread is always best served fresh. A lot of focus has been given to our brand as well, where we try to stay true to the Nordic design ideas of simple, yet functional design. We work a lot with natural raw materials, and a colour palette with calm and soothing colours, all of this thanks to our branding mastermind Jen. Last but not least, while it may not be a Nordic influence as such, we focus a lot on sustainability. The delivery bags we use are made of cassava root, and we also have a linen tote bag that we offer to our customers. We have only one planet, and we need to take care of it the best we can.

Where do you see the brand in five years and what is your approach to partnerships with other brands – what values do you look to align with? Of course, I would like to expand the brand as we firmly believe that Viking Bageri only has delicious bread, but an offering that would be successful in other parts of the Middle East as well. Here in the UAE, obviously, Abu Dhabi and Sharjah are pinned on the map where we would like to be able to offer our bread. I could also see that a logical next step would be to open a physical shop, where people could come and buy the bread. We really appreciate the physical meeting, and while our current delivery model makes it convenient for people to get the bread to their doorstep, it also keeps us from interacting with our customers in the way that we would want. When it comes to partnerships, we currently have one partnership with Freedom Pizza, that is selling our Garlic & Herbs Baguette, and Dark Chocolate & Sea Salt Baguette, and we also have one partnership with the Truffle House, together with which we have our Truffle Baguette. When we look into potential partnerships, we always approach it the same way – do we like the brand? Do they offer something that we would buy

ourselves? Is the quality at par (or above) with what we offer? If the answers to these questions are yes, then it’s most probably a brand that we would like to be affiliated with, and we can go on with the next step.

But if not all of them are clear yes, then we prefer taking a step back and continuing to do what we do.

What have been the biggest challenges to date and how did you overcome them? In the beginning, we had too many orders coming in, and we couldn’t keep up, the waiting list was over seven weeks long at one time. When new customers tried to order the bread, they contacted us thinking that something was wrong, because seriously, who is prepared to wait for almost two months to buy some bread? At that stage, we understood that we had to expand, and we started leasing space in a bakery in which we could expand the capacity to triple what we could before. To be honest, we have had great help from our loyal customers as well, when we needed to find space in a bakery, it was one of our customers who found the lady owning the bakery, and when we were looking to introduce new flavours, we reached out to our followers, who then came with suggestions that we tried. It’s a beautiful community of like-minded individuals who all share the passion and love for our baguettes.

Have you had any mentors on your journey and if so, what advice did they impart?

The entire foodie community in Dubai has manned up and helped in every way possible, but one that I would like to send a special thanks to is Tom Arnel. In the very early days, he was not only my library of knowledge but also an inspiration and advocate for what we were doing. Now, with a couple of years behind us, I’m tapping into the knowledge of people that have done a similar journey as us, through geniuses like Akmal Anuar, Neha Mishra and Hattem Mattar, they have all been extremely generous with sharing their knowledge and contacts with us. I also feel that it’s important to do the same for other people starting up now, so anytime I’m contacted by anyone for advice, I try to meet them, and really devote my time to helping them with anything I can. We need to support each other because there are not a lot of us out there.

“Another important detail that we have from our Nordic way of thinking is that we don’t use additives or any preservatives.

That’s why the bread is always best served fresh.”

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Clear Vision

One of the most exclusive haunts in Monaco, Mayabay, has officially arrived in Dubai. With a clear vision for making its mark in the region, Head Chef Shane MacNeill discusses with us bringing a new luxury concept to the emirate WORDS: OLIVIA MORRIS

Talk us through your career. I have been working in professional and Michelin star restaurants since 1997. After completing a Diploma in Hospitality Management at Worcester College of Technology, London looked like the most logical choice. The first high-end restaurant was with the Nobu Group, and it seemed that Asian cuisine was where it was going to continue until today.

After leaving Park Lane and taking the first head chef position in the group at Ubon by Nobu the seeds had been sown, it was quite daunting but turned out to be a great experience. With the closure of the restaurant looming the group moved the scope to Nobu Paris, Armani/Nobu in Milan followed by St. Moritz with a pre-season pop up in the Baur au Lac Hotel in Zurich, Mykonos and finally Matsuhisa Athens.

The eleven years with Nobu had been a giant learning curve working closely with Nobuyuki Matsuhisa himself on some of the openings, In Milan Gorgio Armani was at the restaurant several times per week which proved to be essential to the business due to his professionalism, strong work ethic, and a genuinely caring attitude towards his staff members. Mark Edwards, the Nobu group executive was a pure inspiration as he was the head chef from the very beginning at Nobu Park Lane, he also organised twelve months with Jean Georges at Vong in Knightsbridge as part of a year out to learn different types of cuisine. Mark is a knowledgeable professional and a master of his craft. Cipriani restaurants headed by Giuseppe Cipriani was an opportunity to create a menu and work on more openings from Abu Dhabi to Ibiza, London, Monte Carlo and finally Miami over a four-year period.

Throughout this period, the Cipriani family were incredibly hands-on with all projects and professional with a fine eye for detail.

This also helped me to familiarise myself with Italian products and cooking tech-

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niques. In 2015, the Bulldozer group brought Novikov restaurant to Dubai, it is dedicated to serving world-class food in a stylish environment. With an impeccable record and history revolving around fresh products there are very few restaurants in my opinion that are like this here. In 2018 I began work and opened Novikov in Doha, Qatar. As well as cooking and training, I also managed the kitchen design, tableware order, selected suppliers, assisted HR and chose the kitchen team. Novikov Doha is the first Novikov restaurant for the group operating without an alcohol license and all recipes had to be adjusted to the market, which was successfully completed. I completed the opening of Shanghai Me restaurant in Dubai, UAE in July 2019 finishing in October 2021.

In December 2021 I started the Mayabay project in Jumeirah Al Naseem with Orange Hospitality under the founder Omar Saideh which will open in May 2022.

What eventually brought you to Dubai? Having done a tour of the hottest dining spots internationally, in 2010 I found myself with the distinguished Cipriani restaurants over a four-year period, going from Abu Dhabi to Ibiza, London and Miami.

You’re now the Head Chef at Mayabay, which has just arrived in Dubai. What’s it been like launching a new concept in Dubai and bringing such an iconic brand from overseas? For me, it is a very important time to venture into this project with Orange Hospitality. I feel blessed to have learned so much from my peers and the owner Omar. I have worked with many iconic brands before and each opening of course has a place in our memories. For me though, restaurants have the same formula, and we should always follow the basic principles, quite simply we must go to great lengths to create a home away from home, and to provide the highest quality of food and service meaning no less than 100 per cent satisfaction for the guest. I feel incredibly fortunate to work with all of my team, they have shown immense spirit and great attention to detail in a hard-working environment. The team brings the restaurant to life!

Talk us through the concept of Mayabay.

Well, absolutely the most beautiful restaurant I have been lucky enough to be a part of that’s for sure. The attention to detail makes the venue itself quite simply beautiful.

First opened in 2005 in Monte Carlo, Mayabay quickly gained its reputation as one of the most famous restaurants in Monaco. Mayabay Dubai will present an extensive menu of Asian favourites – from

“The attention to detail makes the venue itself quite simply beautiful.”

dim sums to Japanese tempura and sushi, Thai curries and salads and other more contemporary takes on the classics. Guests can also expect to enjoy special vegetarian and vegan-friendly options on the menu, as well as MayaMoki, Mayabay’s signature mochi line. Following in the footsteps of Mayabay Monaco and being Orange Hospitality’s fifth restaurant opening, Mayabay Dubai is set to quickly become a household name in Dubai’s thriving F&B scene.

How do you think the venue will differ from others in Dubai? Mayabay is set to leave an impact on Dubai’s gastronomic scene – with a particular highlight on Thai and Japanese cuisines. With a myriad of Asian restaurants opening in the city, Mayabay stands out with a menu deeply rooted in Asian traditions. This, combined with the restaurant’s seamless ambience, unique bar programme, and buzzing atmosphere complete with an exciting live entertainment programme, Mayabay would be an excit-

ing new addition to Jumeirah Al Naseem’s Turtle lagoon and its nightlife scene.

What are the hero dishes at Mayabay? Some of our hero dishes include Maya Crispy Duck, because of the complexity of the whole process to prepare, the care and attention required and the history of the dish.

Our Thai curries are also standout dishes because the homemade pastes have been developed for the Dubai market without losing their characteristics and retaining their authenticity. The spring rolls simply for their flavour value and their crispy yet airy textures with sauces packed full of flavour.

What sets the F&B industry in Dubai apart from the rest of the world? I am fortunate enough to have been part of the Dubai F&B industry from 2008 with a very short visit for consultancy. There has been incredible growth since then of course but I would say that there are certain parallels that have been incredibly well developed to assist with the growth. The geographical location lends a hand in this, along with the diversity in ethnic backgrounds meaning it is rich in culture. The government authorities host festivities throughout the year attracting international people and organisations, and the world-class designed hotels are the most stunning on the planet. I could not imagine living anywhere else and experiencing what Dubai does.

What are your hopes for Mayabay in 2022?

Awards for the group and the team. I believe Orange Hospitality is making groundbreaking moves within the F&B industry.

“Guests can also expect to enjoy special vegetarian and vegan-friendly options on the menu, as well as MayaMoki, Mayabay’s signature mochi line.”

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What was the catalyst for launching and how did each of your previous backgrounds and roles support this? OM: Basically, we are a group of friends who played a lot of padel together, but we were tired of never being able to find available courts and all of a sudden, we had an idea of opening our own club, but again, we wanted to do something different.

We wanted to add that social side and create a real community and a place to hang out. Our backgrounds are all different and this worked in our favour, as Paul and I have a design background, Lucas has a financial one and Waleed works in urban planning.

WORDS: SARAH JOSEPH

Good Game

Co-Founders of The Matcha Club, Paul Vittecoq, Lucas Basset-Chercot, Waleed Alamir and Othmane Mekouar on bringing a boutique padel community to Dubai What do the first 30 minutes of your day look like, your morning routine? OM: I usually start my day with a good workout, a bike ride or a HIIT session. Following that, I check the news and make myself a little juice and then eventually leave for the day’s work.

I then arrive at The Matcha Club around 9am, walk around and then go upstairs to our offices where the team is.

We love the branding and feel of The Matcha Club – did you all feel aligned on this concept from the outset or did you seek external in-

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put? OM: Yes totally, we all wanted to do something different and original, not just a random padel club. As we had our own Design and Build Studio, 6inch, it helped us to be on track and align things in order.

From start to finish, we handled all the construction and design, as we wanted to build our own project, making it exactly what we imagined. The other co-founders Lucas and Waleed had obviously the same vision as us, and together we were able to implement this project that was so dear to our hearts.

You have solar heated showers and recycled wood. Was sustainability an important aspect of this venue? OM: Yes, sustainability is a very important aspect for us, we were all agreed on that. We are striving to become an even more conscious club and are constantly taking steps to live up to our ambitions.

Moreover, we have a partnership with adidas which is a brand that strongly supports sustainability.

The food is also Japanese inspired – can you expand on how you focused the menu?

OM: The menu is designed to fuse elements of both French and Japanese cuisine in a healthy and unique way. Japan and France both have strong culinary cultures that essentially share the same values and beliefs when it comes to cooking. Incorporating fresh produce, the elegant, rich flavours of the French cuisine merged with the diverse flavours of Japanese cuisine creating a refreshing fusion. The combination of the two cuisines allows our customers to explore a variety of contrasting flavours and textures and gives us the opportunity to add a fresh palette of flavours to the Dubai dining scene.

What does integrity mean to you? OM: For us, integrity is a set of values that must be respected even when no one is watching.

Principles around honesty, trust and doing what you say and saying what you do, are all part of integrity. It also refers to a person’s ability to live up to his or her commitments and principles, despite pressures to the contrary. As a moral concept, we associate integrity with honesty.

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“For us, integrity is a set of values that must be respected even when no one is watching.”

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WORDS: AMY SESSIONS

CANARY CLUB

Taking inspiration from the West Coast, Joey Ghazal’s latest addition to his restaurant empire is Canary Club in Dubai – a laid-back mix of Mexican vibe and California cool

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W H AT TO PAC K

Canary Club blends the iconic style and flavour of West Coast destinations like Malibu, Palm Springs, Cabo and Acapulco. Designed by Joey and Eddie Ghazal, of Fighterbrands, the interiors are ‘70s revival with rattan additions, macramé and of course canary yellow. Canary Club boasts a blend of Californian diner, Mexicatessen, Robata with a hint of Polyne-

sian tiki bar. Take a journey through the West Coast with a menu that features a range of rolls, ceviche, taco-makis, robatas, healthy bowls, grilled fish, retro classics and more.

If you’re feeling like you need a change of scene or simply want to try something new – this will be your new favourite hangout.

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Previous pages: Naladhu Private Island Maldives – Maldives; Left: Waldorf Astoria Maldives Ithaafushi – Maldives; Right: Naladhu Private Island Maldives – Maldives; The St. Regis Bora Bora Resort – Bora Bora, French Polynesia

HERMITAGE BAY RESORT – ANTIGUA Nestled in a quiet corner of the Caribbean island of Antigua, five-star resort Hermitage Bay embodies the natural beauty of the region. Surrounded by lush greenery, white sandy beaches and clear blue waters, this luxury resort is like no other in the region. Hermitage Bay aims to “soothe the soul” of its guests and in a setting like this, you’ll experience the true meaning of what it is to “escape from it all”. hermitagebay.com NALADHU PRIVATE ISLAND MALDIVES – MALDIVES One of the most exclusive resorts you’ll find in the Maldives is Naladhu Private Island. With just 20 private villas, seclusion

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and relaxation is what embody a stay at this resort. While each individual accommodation has its own private pool, you’ll most likely find yourself exploring the blue azure waters which surround the private resort. Naladhu also takes the meaning of bespoke to a whole new level with its no-menu dining concept, where a one-of-a-kind menu is created specifically to your preferences and needs. naladhu.com/en WALDORF ASTORIA MALDIVES ITHAAFUSHI – MALDIVES Escape to the tropical playground of the Maldives at this exclusive resort. Having first opened in 2019, the Waldorf Astoria Maldives Ithaafushi takes luxury to a

new level. This sprawling resort is now one of the biggest and most impressive in the Maldives. Surrounded by crystal-clear waters, the resort features an incredible 11 dining concepts – the most of any resort in the country – and also has its very own private island, which is an impressive 344,445-sq ft and can be booked out in its entirety for those seeking ultra seclusion. waldorfastoriamaldives.com THE ST. REGIS BORA BORA RESORT – BORA BORA, FRENCH POLYNESIA Tucked away on a secluded island in French Polynesia, The St. Regis Bora Bora embodies the epitome of tropical paradise. Surrounded by nothing but sapphire blue waters, it’s a haven you’ll never want to leave once you arrive. To experience the true ‘wow-factor’ of the resort, opt for one of the luxurious over-water villas where you’ll see nothing but the blue ocean for miles on end. Each bungalow even features glass viewing panels in the floor throughout where you’ll be able to catch glimpses of your temporary neighbours – the tropical fish – swimming by. marriott.com/en-us/hotels/ bobxr-the-st-regis-bora-boraresort/overview/

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LE TAHA’A ISLAND RESORT & SPA – TAHA’A, FRENCH POLYNESIA Le Taha’a Island Resort & Spa is an undisturbed resort located in the tropical islands of French Polynesia. Honouring the traditions of the region, the resort embodies authentic Polynesian architecture and interior design.

Engulfed by the azure waters of the Pacific Ocean, each accommodation option ensures guests experience the surrounding seas to their maximum. The standout, however, has to be the overwater villas where you’ll experience barefoot luxury at its finest, taking in the refreshing surroundings of the crystal-clear waters. letahaa.com

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