Jumeirah Magazine - April 2018

M

A

G

A

Z

I

N

Mission to Mars Space innovation in the UAE

Start Your Engines A guide to the Bahrain Grand Prix

Sensational Spas

Signature treatments around the world with Jumeirah

ALIA

AL NEYADI The emirates’ own lead ballerina

E

8880 B S6 SQT D / 7042 B S6 SQT BAG Movement: Mechanical Caliber: 1740DT CS MARINER / 1740 RS 9080 SC Power Reserve: 7 days Movement: Automatic Indicators: Hours, minutes and Indicators: Hours, minutes, seconds seconds at 6 o’clock and dateAvailable at 6 o’clock Material: in steel, White/Rose Gold Case: Available in steel, gold and platinum and Platinum Diamonds: 317 pcs, 4.58 cts / 74 pcs 5.42 cts Dial: Marine symbols - Wind Rose Dial: and Skeleton Compass Strap: Alligator Strap: Alligator or Rubber

Senator Chronograph

Glashütte Original Boutique ”The Dubai Mall“ Financial Centre Street ⋅ 00971 04 3 39 87 62 ⋅ glashuettedm@rivoligroup.com

COOP_SE-CHRONO-PD_225x300mm.indd 1

28.02.2018 12:07:55

Image: Van Cleef & Arpels

APRIL 2018

Jumeirah Magazine Jumeirah Corporate Office, Al Sufouh Rd, PO Box 73137, Dubai, UAE, Tel: +971 4 366 5000, Fax: +971 4 366 5001.

Website: www.jumeirah.com Jumeirah is a trading name of Jumeirah International LLC. A Limited Liability company.

Registration Number 57869.

Share Capital Dhs 300,000 fully paid up.

Jumeirah International LLC its affiliates, parent companies and subsidiaries (“Jumeirah Group”) and the publishers regret that they cannot accept liability for errors or omissions contained in this publication for whatever reason, however caused.

The opinions and views contained in this publication are not necessarily those of Jumeirah Group or of the publishers.

Readers are advised to solicit advice before acting on the information contained in this publication which is provided for general use and may not be appropriate for the readers’ particular circumstances. Jumeirah Group and the publishers take no responsibilty for the goods and services advertised. All materials are protected by copyright. All rights are reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any material form (Including photocopying or storage in any medium by electronic means) without the written permission of the copyright owner, except as may be permitted by applicable laws.

Editor-in-Chief

Obaid Humaid Al Tayer Managing Partner & Group Editor

lan Fairservice Editorial Director

Gina Johnson Senior Editorial Assistant

Cecilia D’Souza Senior Art Director

Olga Petroff Art Directors

Clarkwin Cruz, T Prasadan

CONTENTS

Contributors

Rachel Silvestri, Gareth Rees, Polly Phillips. Aoife Stuart Madge, Damien Reid General Manager – Production

S Sunil Kumar Production Manager

R Murali Krishnan

14

Production Supervisor

Venita Pinto Chief Commercial Officer

This Month 14 City watch Discover the exciting events, news and previews happening this month

Anthony Milne Publishing Director

Carlos Pedroza Group Sales Manager

Ziad Saleh ziad@motivate.ae

Featured

For Jumeirah

Charlie Taylor, Claire Hill

22 En pointe Meet the UAE’s first ballerina and ambassador for Van Cleef and Arpels 28 Simplicity is the greatest complication Director of Bulgari watches explains its timeless philosophy

Head Office: Media One Tower, Dubai Media City, PO Box 2331, Dubai UAE, Tel: +971 4 427 3000, E-mail: motivate@motivate.ae

32 Keeping a lookout Check out Mediterranean summer style, courtesy of Taylor Morris eyewear

Dubai Media City: Office 508, 5th Floor, Building 8, Dubai, UAE, Tel: +971 4 390 3550, Fax: +971 4 390 4845 Abu Dhabi: PO Box 43072, UAE, Tel: +971 2 677 2005, Fax: +971 2 677 0124, E-mail: editor-wo@motivate.ae London: Acre House, 11/15 William Road, London NW1 3ER, UK, E-mail: motivateuk@motivate.ae Printed by Emirates Printing Press, Dubai

22

34 Ready for take-off The UAE’s Mission to Mars plans to land on the red planet and build a colony

APRIL 2018

CONTENTS 50

Lifestyle 40 Riding high An insight into the world-famous Godolphin equestrian stables 46 My life in animation We speak to celebrated animator and director Tom Cook 50 A guide to buying affordable art Follow award-winning curator Zaahirah Muthy’s top tips to build your collection 54 Zabeel House Mini by Jumeirah Zabeel House MINI by Jumeirah Al Seef offers maximum style with minimum fuss

Travel 60 Springtime in Frankfurt All you need to know about the popular Dippemess folk festival 64 Spa time Signature pampering spa treatments at Jumeirah properties 70 Bahrain Grand Prix A preview to one of the most awaited Formula One races of the season 74 Breakfast like a king Take your pick of breakfast offerings at Jumeirah properties around the world 80 Featured spaces The Palm Lounge, Jumeirah Royal Saray Bahrain

74

82 The high life Dhow and Anchor, Jumeirah Beach Hotel, Dubai

CITY WATCH

Key dates for your diary

DUBAI

Ice, Ice, Baby April 4 to 7 Disney On Ice – Passport to Adventure returns to the World Trade Centre arena. The family-friendly show consists of routines on the ice rink featuring iconic Disney characters such as Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse and Goofy, as well as characters from Disney hits such as Frozen, Peter Pan, The Lion King and The Little Mermaid. A special pre-show performance features characters from Zootropolis.

Disney On Ice – Passport to Adventure, Dubai World Trade Centre arena, Dubai. disneyonice.com

Creative Force April 11 to 13 The annual -Ing Creative Festival returns this month, relocating from Alserkal Avenue to its new home in Dubai Design District (d3).

The three-day festival’s mission is to connect, entertain and inspire Dubai’s creative community with a schedule of talks and workshops from leading minds from the creative industry. Former speakers include Andrew Gordon, directing animator for Pixar, Benson Shum, animator for Disney, Hector Ouilhet, head of design for Google and Ingrid Chou, associate creative director for New York’s Museum of Modern Art. Last year’s edition attracted 2,500 people to Alserkal Avenue, where the star turn was taken by Dan Goods, visual strategist for Nasa’s jet propulsion laboratory.

This year’s line-up of speakers includes Seb Lester, a typographer and calligrapher who has worked with major brands including Apple, Intel, Nasa, Nike and the New York Times, Eric Eriksson, product designer for Instagram, Tron Mai, head of story for DreamWorks Studios, Jessica Walsh, designer and art director for Sagmeister and Walsh and Mitch Sinclair, design director for Ideo.

Workshop titles include documenting design and Google prototyping with Joel Beukelman, senior interaction designer for Google, making animation believable with Tony Bonilla, animator for Walt Disney Animation Studios and Al Wissam calligraphy style with Arabic calligrapher Wissam Shawkat.

There is also a Cceative market featuring more than 50 international artists and live music.

-Ing Creative Festival, Dubai Design District, Dubai. See ingcreatives.com for more details

Superstar DJs April 5 to 27 Following performances from British drum and bass band Rudimental and veteran British trance DJ Judge Jules last month, Zero Gravity beach bar and restaurant in Dubai promises an even more impressive line-up this month.

First up is Grammy award-winning German DJ Paul van Dyk on April 5. The DJ released his eighth studio album, From Then On, in 2017. Hot on Van Dyk’s heels comes Chase and Status on April 6. The British drum and bass duo released their fourth studio album, Tribe, featuring collaborations with Craig David and Shy FX, last year. Australian house DJ and trumpeter

returns to headline, supported by British DJ duos Gorgon City and Krafty Kuts and A Skillz.

LOST AND FOUND

Zero Gravity beach festival takes place at Zero Gravity, Dubai. See 0-gravity.ae for more details

Madinat Theatre presents Little Blue Monster’s

Timmy Trumpet will perform with British house and techno DJ duo OC and Verde on April 20.

To top off a bumper month comes the Zero Gravity beach festival. British DJ Fatboy Slim

production of bestselling children’s author Oliver Jeffers’ award-winning picture book Lost and Found, the tale of a boy’s mission to return a penguin to its home. We spoke to actor Simon Sanchez, who plays the boy.

What is your background?

I’ve worked in children’s theatre for nearly 20 years now and for Little Blue Monster for 10 of those.

What do you love most about Lost and Found?

I think it’s a beautiful story and I like the way that the boy never gives up and uses his imagination to find a solution to his unusual problem. The story lets you enjoy the blossoming friendship between the boy and the penguin.

What makes Oliver Jeffers’ books so popular with children and parents?

I think he creates a world we’d like to visit and characters we’d like to meet and no matter how wonderfully fantastical the adventure may be, it’s always rooted in a truthful

Pop Stars

emotion that makes you feel, think and smile.

April 27

Lost and Found for the stage?

British pop act Steps perform at Dubai Opera. Steps were one of the most popular British pop acts of the 1990s, with 14 singles in the top 10 of the the UK singles’ chart between 1998 and 2001, including chart-toppers Heartbeat/Tragedy and Stomp. Steps released Tears on the Dancefloor, their first album in five years, last year.

Steps, Dubai Opera, Dubai. dubaiopera.com

What challenges did you face translating I think the main challenge is making sure that those who already know the story leave the theatre loving it even more than when they arrived and beyond that, everything else is an opportunity to tell a wonderful story in the most imaginative and engaging way you can.

What can audiences expect from the performance in Dubai?

We have very catchy songs, a great set, beautiful puppets, larger than life characters and of course some brilliant audience interaction moments. So there will be lots of laughter, fun, smiles and, most of all, a story they’ll be a part of – after all, we can’t perform without them.

DUBAI/ABU DHABI

Love Story

Artist Talks

April 19 to 21

April 18

Moscow City Ballet performs Romeo and

Abu Dhabi Art Hub hosts Pioneering Modernism: Ibrahim El-Salahi in conversation this month.

Juliet at Dubai Opera. Russian composer Sergei Prokofiev’s ballet, based on William Shakespeare’s classic tragedy, was first performed in 1938.

Sudanese painter Ibrahim El Salahi is considered one of the most important contemporary African artists and a pioneer of modernist art in his home country. Steeped in the history, styles and techniques of the European tradition, having studied at the Slade School of Fine Art in London in the 1950s, El Salahi returned to Sudan and set about forging a distinct

Romeo and Juliet, Dubai Opera, Dubai.

artistic identity for the country, which had only gained independence in 1956. He founded

dubaiopera.com

the Khartoum School with fellow painters Ahmed Shibrain and Kamala Ishag in 1960 and developed his own distinct style of painting, incorporating Arabic calligraphy into his work using the hurufiyya style, in which Arabic words or letters are transformed into pictures. In 2013, he was the first African artist to be honoured with a major retrospective in the Tate Modern in London.

El Salahi will discuss this life and work with Maisa Al Qassimi, programmes manager for Guggenheim Abu Dhabi.

Pioneering Modernism: Ibrahim El-Salahi in conversation takes place in Abu Dhabi Art Hub, Abu Dhabi. See abudhabievents.ae for more details

Martial Art April 16 to 28 Zayed Sports City’s Mubadala arena hosts the

Furry Friends April 13

10th Abu Dhabi World Professional Jiu-Jitsu

Abu Dhabi Pet Festival comes to Du arena.

Championship. The event, held under the

The annual event, which features dog and cat

patronage of Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed,

shows, demonstrations by Abu Dhabi police

the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, sees fighters

dog squad, a petting zoo and educational

from 100 countries competing for a portion

activities, as well as children’s entertainment,

of the $1 million price fund.

food trucks and market stalls, aims to

Abu Dhabi World Professional Jiu-Jitsu

promote animal welfare in the UAE.

Championship, Mubadala arena, Abu Dhabi.

Abu Dhabi Pet Festival, Du arena, Abu

events.uaejjf.org

Dhabi. petfestival.ae

THE WORLD

Final Leg April 14 Track cycling’s Six Day Series reaches its climax in Mallorca’s Palma Arena. Following six-day qualifying events in London, Berlin and Copenhagen, the top 12 men’s and women’s teams compete for the championship title in the one-night Six Day Series Final.

Six Day Series Final, Palma Arena, Mallorca. sixday.com

Night Race April 6 to 8 Bahrain International Circuit hosts the Bahrain Grand Prix. When it was first held in 2004, the Bahrain Grand Prix was the first to be held in the Middle East and has since been joined

by Abu Dhabi. Famous for taking place at night under floodlights, it is the second of 21 races on the Formula One world championship calendar this year.

Bahrain Grand Prix, Bahrain International Circuit, Bahrain. bahraingp.com

Just Capital April 22 Since its inception in 1981, the London Marathon has become one of the world’s most prestigious marathons – one of the six world marathon majors – and a British institution.

The race attracts some the world’s best long distance runners, with global records having been set on four occasions. It is also a major

Until April 29

charity fundraising event, which has raised

Southbank Centre presents Abba: Super Troupers. A personal tour guide and the voice

more than $1.2 billion since it first began.

of Pulp frontman Jarvis Cocker guide visitors through nine rooms celebrating the music

London Marathon, various locations, London. virginmoneylondonmarathon.com

18

Thank you for the Music of the legendary 1970s Swedish pop act.

Abba: Super Troupers, Southbank Centre, London. southbankcentre.co.uk

Super Heroes Until September 9 Following a successful run in Paris, DC Exhibition: Dawn of Super Heroes comes to London’s O2 arena. The exhibition celebrates the history of iconic comic book publisher DC Comics, creator of Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman and The Joker and features hundreds of comic pages, preparatory sketches and costumes, models and props used in DC films.

DC Exhibition: Dawn of Super Heroes, The O2, London. theo2.co.uk

Wild Fashion April 21 to January 27, 2019 The V&A presents Fashioned From Nature.

The exhibition, curated by the museum’s textiles and fashion curator Edwina Ehrman, explores the relationship between fashion and nature, from the 17th century to present day.

Fashioned From Nature, V&A, London. vam.ac.uk

Race Day April 13 to 15 Shanghai International Circuit hosts the Chinese Grand Prix. The Hermann Tilke-designed circuit has hosted the race since its inception in 2004. The Chinese Grand Prix is the third race on the Formula One calendar in 2018.

Chinese Grand Prix, Shanghai International Circuit, Shanghai. formula1.com

Ways of Seeing Until May 27 Rockbund Art Museum and Italy’s Fondazione Sandretto Re Rebaudengo present the show Walking On The Fade Out Lines. The exhibition explores ways and angles of seeing with works from 23 artists, selected from the Sandretto Re Rebaudengo collection, as well as works from Shanghai artists Song Tao and Zhang Ruyi.

Walking On The Fade Out Lines, Rockbund Art Museum, Shanghai. rockbundartmuseum.org

FEATURED 22 En pointe

The UAE's lead ballerina will take to the stage for the Abu Dhabi Classics finale

28 Simplicity is the greatest complication

Meet the design director behind Bulgari's latest stunning watch collection

32 All eyes on you

Getty Images

The sunglasses designers to the stars are opening up shop in Mallorca

Words: Gareth Reese

FEATURED: ALIA AL NEYADI

ONE OF A KIND When another successful season of Abu Dhabi Classics ends this month, Emirati ballerina Alia Al Neyadi will join dancers from the celebrated Bolshoi Theatre on stage, marking the first time a UAE national has danced with an international company. Gareth Rees spoke to Al Neyadi about her lifelong mission to establish a love of ballet in the UAE

Image courtesy of Van Cleef and Arpels

FEATURED: ALIA AL NEYADI

T

he birth of ballet in the UAE can be traced back to 1988.

Abdulla Ali Salem Al Neyadi, a 24-year-old resident of Al Ain, was driving around town, killing time, when he spotted a young blonde woman walking with a group of friends. It was a rare sight so he stopped and introduced himself.

The intriguing stranger was Svetlana Igor Tchernavtseva, a 23-yearold Ukrainian ballerina on tour with the Moscow State Art and Cultural University (Ukraine was then part of the Soviet Union). Al Neyadi didn’t know the first thing about ballet so Tchernavtseva invited him to a performance.

Afterwards, he asked her to dinner. Tchernavtseva said she would only go if she could bring the whole company but undeterred, Al Neyadi made a reservation for 20 people at a local restaurant. When the tour ended two months later, the ballerina remained in the UAE and the pair got married.

Less than a decade later, the couple were living in New Orleans with their two young daughters, Katherine and Alia. Al Neyadi was studying for a degree in engineering and his wife was teaching ballet. Alia, their youngest daughter, who had been born in the United States, first started work on achieving a good line when she was just three years old. “I remember attending my mother’s classes before I could even walk,” says the younger Al Neyadi, now 24 years old and the first and only Emirati ballerina to lead a ballet troupe.

“Then when I was three, I decided to get up and do some moves. Since then I haven’t stopped.”

Two years later, the family returned to Abu Dhabi and her mother started teaching ballet at the now defunct Abu Dhabi Cultural Foundation. “When I was five, my mother started teaching me, my sister and a few of our friends – there were five of us,” recalls Al Neyadi.

Mrs Al Neyadi struggled to persuade the committee at the Abu Dhabi Cultural Foundation and the wider Emirati community, who had little knowledge of ballet, that it was worth pursuing. “My mother was always trying to persuade people that the cultural sector in the UAE would grow,” says Al Neyadi.

“She was right. Now we have so much happening.”

People associate the UAE with luxury, power and oil. They think of UAE society as very reserved. When they saw us perform, one word came to their minds: progress

With support from her students and their parents, the government and her father, who Al Neyadi describes as “very progressive, very accepting of a lot of different ideas”, Mrs Al Neyadi’s Fantasia Ballet company was a success.

In 2008, when the young ballerina was 14, Fantasia Ballet was invited to the International Festival of Arts in Crimea, a talent contest in which young performers from 140 countries competed. The company placed second.

People were “intrigued” to see a ballet company from the UAE perform, says Al Neyadi. “People associate the UAE with luxury, power and oil,” she adds.

“They think of [UAE society] as very reserved. When they saw us perform, one word came to their minds: progress.”

Fantasia Ballet returned to the International Festival of Arts in 2009 and has also represented the UAE at competitions and events in Ukraine, New Orleans and Bulgaria. In Ukraine, a teacher from the Bolshoi ballet complemented Mrs Al Neyadi on the high standard of Fantasia Ballet’s performance. “My mother has training from both the Bolshoi Ballet and the Mariinsky Ballet and she trains us based on the training she received, so she was very pleased to hear that,” says Al Neyadi.

Fantasia Ballet is still going strong. “We now have around 80 girls,” says Al Neyadi. But despite its success, Al Neyadi, like her mother, has struggled to persuade some people that ballet is of benefit to Emirati culture and compatible with being a Muslim. She has inherited her mother’s sense of purpose and for the past year she has worked as an events programmer for the Abu Dhabi Department of Culture and Tourism, responsible for promoting the performing arts.

FEATURED: ALIA AL NEYADI

My mother was always trying to persuade people the cultural sector in the UAE would grow. And she was right. Now we have so much happening

Al Neyadi is now in a position where she can see how people react to cultural events and she says there is still work to be done. “With an event like Abu Dhabi Art, for example, some people still ask why we need it; why do we need to have an exhibition of paintings we don’t understand? It is a new language for the UAE. It takes time but the commitment from government to promote culture, to compete on an international standard, will help us make these forms of art normal.”

This month, Al Neyadi will perform in the Emirates Palace with Ivan Vasiliev and Maria Vinogradova from the Bolshoi Theatre in the Donetsk Opera and Ballet Theatre’s production of Le Corsaire (The Pirate).

“It’s a love story with pirates so it’s an exciting one,” says Al Neyadi of the final event of Abu Dhabi Classics’ 2017-2018 season. “This is the first time a ballet performance will have a patron, Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed, the President’s brother. This wouldn’t have happened before. Things are progressing.”

WHERE TO STAY?

JUMEIRAH AT ETIHAD TOWERS If you are visiting Abu Dhabi, stay in Jumeirah At Etihad Towers.

With 362 elegant rooms and suites, all offering stunning views of the Arabian Gulf, the multi-award winning luxury property boasts a private beach, three swimming pools, Talise Spa, high-end shopping in the Avenue at Etihad Towers and 12 bars and restaurants.

Visit jumeirah.com for more details

It will be her first performance following a seven-month break from ballet due to work commitments but she is unfazed. “I still train daily to stay fit,” she says. “We have had many ballets in the UAE but never one where an Emirati performer has joined [an international company]. Nobody has ever done this before so it’s very exciting.”

Most ballerinas hang up their silk slippers in their prime. Mrs Al Neyadi stopped dancing when she was in her mid-twenties. Will Al Neyadi follow in her mother’s perfectly pointed footsteps?

“I haven’t completed my mission yet so I can’t step down,” she says. “When I have secured a future for ballet in the UAE, I will.”

Donetsk Opera and Ballet Theatre with Ivan Vasiliev and Maria Vinogradova from the Bolshoi Theatre and the first Emirati ballerina, Alia Al Neyadi, will perform Le Corsaire at Emirates Palace on April 20. See abudhabimusic.ae for more details

SIMPLICITY IS THE GREATEST COMPLICATION

Words: Carlos Pedroza

Fabrizio Buonamassa, director of Bulgari Watches Design Centre, explains his timeless philosophy

Bulgari's Octo Finissimo Tourbillion, now available in Skeleton version

FEATURED: BULGARI WATCHES

Bulgari Serpenti Misteriosi watch

Y

ou can tell that Fabrizio Buonamassa is an Italian designer from afar. He has that renaissance flair and effortless elegance that Italians are so well known for. He represents the “sprezzatura” concept (it roughly translates as studied nonchalance) that make Italians so proud and has embedded it in his creations as senior director of design for Bulgari watches.

Sprezzatura was coined in 1528 by the Italian author Baldassarre Castiglione.

In his book The Courtier he states: “I found a universal rule which appears to govern human actions or words, more than any other: namely, to steer away from affectation at all costs, as if it were a rough and dangerous reef, and (to use perhaps a novel word for it) to practise in all things a certain sprezzatura which suppresses all artifice and makes whatever one says or does seem uncontrived and effortless.”

Buonamassa has translated the Italian design culture into the world of Swiss watchmaking. Before joining Bulgari, he designed cars for Fiat, that powerhouse of Italian carmakers that has given so much to the industry. In Bulgari, he works with hand-drawn sketches and, while not a micro mechanics expert, he respects the engineering side of watchmaking and has learned to mix both worlds into superb timepieces. With a flawless working relationship with Jean-Cristophe Babin, Bulgari’s chief executive, the road is clear for this artist to keep doing wonderful designs for the wrist.

You won the Grand Prix de Horlogerie de Geneve in 2017 in two categories We are very proud of this achievement. There were more than six years of research and development for those projects. For us, the Octo collection is a really important family. It is the ambassador for our male watches and Finissimo is one of the Octo iterations. It has been a great success. It was amazing to win in Geneva for the male assortment with an ultra-thin tourbillon and the automatic. And we are very proud of our price range; they are very affordable watches for their level of complexity and quality.

It has all the characteristics to become a true icon Honestly, we are starting to hear people and critics saying exactly that and we are grateful. We put a lot of effort into all of our pillars: Lucea, Serpenti and Octo. This particular watch had to be different from others. It had to be Italian in style and essence. Even the results of the minute repeater were great. It’s the oldest grand complication of the Swiss watchmaking industry and to be able to blend the historical complication with a contemporary style and use titanium as a raw material – it was all exciting. In every aspect of the watch, all the finishing of the material, we stand by the principle of less is more.

Octo Finissimo Automatic

Leonardo da Vinci once said that simplicity is the greatest complication and this is the approach for all Octo Finissimo executions. They are very simple watches, very easy to wear. We don’t need tourbillons or automatic watches or minute repeaters in our life but these pieces are different. There has to be a balance between the needs of the market, the needs of the brands and the needs of the client.

When you see an Octo Finissimo, you can say: I understand this watch, I don't need explanations.

The object explains itself, through the materials, the case and the features

Serpenti Tubogas watch

Are you involved in the movement design?

No. We start with an idea, with a concept we want to achieve and then we are able to understand what we can do from the watch master. In Bulgari, we are able to manufacture dials, movement, bracelets and we want to do it in an Italian way, with certain proportions and certain opulence. But with the Finissimo it is different. It’s done from a concept that in Italy we call sprezzatura. It is when you have to do something very difficult but in a very easy and elegant way.

The Octo Finissimo is sprezzatura in terms of watchmaking. This is a little bit the Italian way, to be absolutely elegant, to mix something that apparently doesn’t make sense together but it works. This is the story of the Tubogas, the Serpenti, the Octo. This is the story behind the Bulgari Bulgari watch even. My role is to continue the evolution of these iconic pillars. The vintage approach or the copy-paste approach is not part of our DNA. Was the idea of the micro rotor something you wanted to have prior to the movement development or was it the watchmaker’s idea?

No, it was the watchmaker. A normal oscillating mass would have increased the thickness so we decided to have a micro rotor, which is more difficult to do but is a platinum micro rotor that works very well. The power reserve is enough for a weekend. I don’t go deep into technical features because honestly I’m not interested in this. We are not driven by performance. It is a beautiful and unique movement for the watchmaking industry but when you see the watch, it has a distinctive look: the wow factor in colour, finishing, weight.

Ten or 15 years ago a watch had to have a certain weight, had to look like a luxury product. Today there’s a different trend and environment. Today

we are able to recognise the value of lightness. Thanks to the materials, to the science on the dial, we made the thinnest watch in the world and all the components in the watch have to tell you: I am thin. This is important because all the elements, from a design perspective, from an aesthetic perspective, speak the same language.

We have seen some trends in the last few years. One is vintageretro, another is sapphire, even in cases and some kind of sartorial intervention on dials and straps.

We have global clients buying all over the world and you have social networks to share things. And this is my personal point of view: I upload a photo on Instagram to say I’m in Dubai today. Who cares? It is just to say I’m different because I’m in Dubai. I would say the biggest trend is custommade. Everybody wants to be part of the creative process and be different from others. This could be interesting but also dangerous. Bulgari doesn’t follow this kind of macro trends. It’s important to have a look but you have to follow and develop new trends that fit with your brand. It’s a great achievement to be able to say that we produced the thinnest watch in the world but we need time to be consistent with our pillars. We will do special editions but not as a priority.

What if a client asks for a fully bespoke watch?

Of course, it is possible. We have a long tradition of bespoke from the high jewellery collection. If the style of the client goes well with the style of the brand, we can evaluate the request.

FEATURED: BULGARI WATCHES Fabrizio Buonamassa

Octo Finissimo Automatic

The Made in Italy seal has evolved. The sartorial Italian tradition has evolved. Does this translate to Bulgari watches?

Everybody wants to have the best tailor and the best of everything. I think the real elegance is something a little bit different. Today you can see Italian gentleman with very short trousers and strange colours and this is not sprezzatura, it is not elegance, it is flashy. For me, this is not the point.

Italian style is something very difficult to explain because it’s a unique mix.

The Made in Italy tag is very important for us and the true Made in Italy, when you see a jacket made by Caraceni or Rubinacci, has a very long history.

Even very simple things like handmade pasta is the result of centuries of savoir faire. Italian design is so famous because Italian architects and designers were able to mix things that apparently don’t make sense. Once again, the case of the Tubogas: only Bulgari is able to transform a gas pipe into a luxury item.

When you see a Ferrari GTO it is just the sensuality of the technicity, just as Achille Castiglioni is able to say with one lamp: this is the light to read a book. All Italian design is like this. When you see the Octo Finissimo, you see this continuity. It’s not ‘‘form follows function’’.

The Italians are able to convey with very simple things a different style to something that can appear very technical. Once again, the best example is la sprezzatura. Even the marble stone has an Italian tradition from Michelangelo, Carrara, the great constructions from the renaissance. This is Italian design.

Very pure, simple objects that make an innovation. Just one. In my case, it is the new way of working on complicated watches. This is what I’m proud of. Before the Octo Finissimo maybe you had just one choice, maybe just one shape. Now we are proud to offer the chance to wear a complicated watch just as a sports watch. When you see an Octo Finissimo, you can say: I understand this watch, I don’t need explanations. The object explains itself, through the materials, the case and the features.

You must know that we don’t have a word to say design in Italian. We use the English term, because project (projeto) for us is too short, too dry. Design for us is a mix of different things. It’s mechanical, it is from the heart, it is shape, beauty, a way to use an object, it conveys the value of our history, it is innovation, psychology and economics to better understand where the money goes, what the client needs and their tastes. Projeto is just a link in between points; this is a constraint. Design is a whole different process and we don’t have an Italian word for it. This is really strange. Projeto is not comprehensive, it’s just a part of our work.

KEEPING A LOOKOUT IN PORT SOLLER Sunglasses butlers and a new luxury boutique in Mallorca? They can only be inspired by eyewear designer to the stars, Taylor Morris

J

umeirah Port Soller Hotel and Spa welcomes an exciting new addition to its shopping portfolio this season – the first international outpost for popular sunglasses label Taylor Morris.

Founded by British society darlings Hugo Taylor and Charlie Morris in 2012, the retro designer eyewear brand, known for blending British sartorial elegance with timeless Hollywood glamour, is a perfect fit for the laidback luxury of the Jumeirah Port Soller Hotel and Spa. “Port Soller has an unpretentious beauty and a timeless style. Add this to the romance of Mallorca and I can think of no better place for Taylor Morris to be,” says Taylor.

Words: Polly Philips

“The hotel is the perfect spot for our first international retail store,” adds Morris, citing the breakfasts and the views from the infinity pool as the things that keep him coming back to the Port Soller property.

That and the new Taylor Morris boutique – which, if all goes to plan, could be the first of many. The label is definitely rocketing in popularity. It’s a favourite of royalty (“I was very excited as we found some great frames for a senior member of the Abu Dhabi royal family – she was delighted as were we,” confides Taylor), while singer Rita Ora has also been pictured in Taylor Morris frames. Model sisters Cara and Poppy Delevigne are also well-known supporters of the label, which was born when childhood best friends Taylor and Morris realised quite how many expensive sunglasses they’d lost between them in hotel pools, bars and the sea. Spotting a gap in the market, the brand was born.

“When I last counted, I had at least 40 frames at home,” says Taylor, who houses his collection in a custom-made wardrobe, although he’s rarely at home. The latest collection is called Nomad in honour of their travels.

“The collection is a reflection of our lifestyles,” says Taylor, who adds they spent their lives chasing the sun. “We always seem to be on the move.”

But the opening of the boutique in Jumeirah’s Port Soller hotel in Mallorca could see them staying in place for a little while. It’s a proud moment for the pair and to celebrate the collaboration, they’ve curated a handpicked edit of must-have items, including espradilles, hand-woven bags and sarongs, all locally made, to make up the ultimate beach bag, which will be sold alongside their sunglasses.

Citing Clinique suncare products, a sarong, National Geographic and a camera as their own beach bag must-haves, Morris adds that he would throw in “another pair of sunglasses in case I lose some swimming”.

A selection of the luxury frames will also be stocked in the Talise spa shop and Taylor and Morris have constructed their very own wooden cabana by the infinity pool, to make sure guests don’t have to stray too far from their sunloungers to find their perfect pair of frames. Sunglasses butlers will also be on hand at certain times of the day offering a sunglasses cleaning service and menus. Now that’s what we call first class.

FASHION: ACCESSORIES

MISSION TO MARS

Words: Polly Philips

The UAE has joined the space race

A computer-generated view of Mars

INNOVATION: SPACE AND ASTRONOMY

E

XTREME temperatures (although in Mars’ case, extreme cold rather than heat), wide expanses of space and every conceivable surface coated in thick, red dust – as sandstorms whip across the large swathes of desert across the UAE and temperatures soar, it is easy to understand the Emirates’ fascination with Earth’s neighbour. Like many who came of age during the space race (the United Arab Emirates was founded on the same day the Mars 3 probe achieved the first soft landing on the red planet in 1971), the UAE has retained a preoccupation with space. In fact, proudly displayed in Al Ain Museum is a fragment of moon rock. Given to the country by then US president Richard Nixon, after the safe return of the final Apollo mission from the moon, the rock has been cherished for decades as a statement of the UAE’s intent to get to space while the UAE’s founding father Sheikh Zayed is known to have had extensive talks about the possibilities of venturing into space shortly after the country was founded.

Now, almost 50 years on, the UAE is preparing to send a mission to the red planet, with the Hope Mars probe set to orbit in 2020 will reach the planet by 2021, in time to coincide with the nation’s 50th anniversary. The rocket will blast off during the brief launch window when Earth and Mars’ orbits are most closely aligned in July 2020 and if it succeeds, the UAE will be the first Gulf nation to land on Mars.

The people of the UAE will break new barriers.

Nothing can stand in the way of those who believe nothing is impossible – Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai

The night sky dazzling wtih stars visible from Jumeirah Port Soller Hotel and Spa, Mallorca

36

The project is “on time, on schedule” according to project manager Omran Sharaf. More importantly, it’s just the first step. The UAE hopes to build a colony on Mars by 2117, less than a century from now. Plans are surging ahead.

Since the UAE Space Agency was set up in 2014, it has signed cooperation agreements with about 20 countries, including the US, Russia and China.

The agency is a member of several international space organisations and will be hosting the 71st International Astronautical Congress in Dubai in 2020. Meanwhile, the UAE has invested more than $5.5 million in space technology, with investment growing by 10 per cent year on year. So how does a country that didn’t even have a space agency five years ago become a world leader in space exploration?

An agency so credible it has plans to send its own satellite, KhalifaSat – developed by an all-Arab engineering team in Dubai – into space by the end of this year. The UAE has launched satellites before (one in 2009 and 2013) but KhalifaSat will be the first developed without the assistance of overseas partners.

“Our leadership believes that space is the key to our future,” says Dr Mohammed Al Ahbabi, director general of the UAE Space Agency. “We have become a recognised and credible space agency.”

Space is certainly something that the UAE’s residents want to get into. After an open invitation from the government, more than 3,000 people (between the ages of 17 and 67) applied to join space school. From the 3,000 who

“We want to create our own missions and develop our own satellites,” says Salem Al Marri, assistant director general for science and technology at the Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre (MRSC) in Dubai. “These days it’s easy for us [to recruit local engineers]. We have more inquiries than positions available.”

INNOVATION: SPACE AND ASTRONOMY

Mars simulation mission in training

applied to the astronaut programme, four will be selected and trained – most likely by either NASA or the European Space Agency – for two to four years.

“We will look at sending all four over the next 10 to 15 years to the International Space Station and beyond on scientific missions that are linked to our scientific objectives,” says Al Marri. “We want to inspire the next generation of Emiratis and get more people to go into science fields.”

The programme is an integral part of the UAE’s mission to become a hub for the space sector in the region and a global leader in space exploration within the next 50 years. Support for it comes straight from the top.

“The people of the UAE will break new barriers; nothing can stand in the way of those who believe nothing is impossible,” Sheikh Mohammed tweeted on the day his space centre announced the programme. The single tweet, which went out to his nine million followers, invited citizens to aspire to reach for the stars – and they did not let him down.

Observatory suite, Jumeirah Port Soller Hotel and Spa, Mallorca

Satellite view over a crater

FLY ME TO THE MOON If stargazing is your thing, why not investigate some of the unique experiences at our Jumeirah properties? Jumeirah’s Al Qasr hotel in Dubai has the perfect private beach for scoping the skies over an intimate four course dinner, laid out in a luxurious white tent with nothing but the sound of the waves lapping at the shore to distract you from the stars spread out above.

At Jumeirah Port Soller Hotel and Spa, Mallorca, you can dine under the stars with a customised menu, surrounded by the rugged mountainous landscape at sunset. If that is not starry enough for you, the hotel also offers stargazing experiences with its own in-house astronomer, who will be able to map out the constellations for you.

For those who prefer a little more privacy, the hotel also has its own observatory suite. With an in-house telescope and remote clifftop location, it’s the perfect spot to gaze at the night skies. Guests will also be able to enjoy celestial views from the suite’s private jacuzzi, which provides the perfect way to relax in comfort and luxury while exploring just what might be written in the stars for you.

LIFESTYLE 40 The will to win

We take a tour of the world recordbreaking Godolphin stables

50 A guide to affordable art A Dubai fair, where you can start your art collection for as little as $140

54 Zabeel House MINI by Jumeirah Al Seef A must for the curious and cultureminded traveller in you

THE WILL TO WIN For fans of equestrian sport the name Godolphin is synonymous with success. But what is life like at the heart of the world’s biggest thoroughbred breeding and horseracing team? Jumeirah caught up with three principal jockeys to talk heritage, adrenaline and winners

I

f the name Godolphin doesn’t sound particularly Arabian, that’s because it’s not. It was, however, the name of an Arabian stallion, one of the three that went from the Middle East to Europe in the late 1600s and early 1700s and sired what we now know as thoroughbreds – in fact, every living thoroughbred can trace its lineage to this original trio.

Words: Rachel Silvestri

The Godolphin Arabian was named after his English owner Francis Godolphin, a Cornish nobleman instrumental in the improvement of racehorses. And now the name continues in noble hands, with the international stable created

by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai.

With bases in the horseracing hubs of Dubai, Newmarket, Sydney and Melbourne and horses in training even further afield in France, Ireland and the US, Godolphin is truly the most international horseracing operation in the world. And for the jockeys who are a part of it, working for Godolphin is a dream come true.

CULTURE: THE WORLD OF GODOLPHIN

Mickael Barzalona riding in the Godolphin blue

Neck and neck at Meydan's hallowed turf

“Receiving a phone call to come and have a meeting with Godolphin about potentially signing a contract to join the team was a massive achievement,” says James Doyle, an English jockey who has been surrounded by horses and racing since childhood. “To join Godolphin seemed surreal at the time. Growing up as a young boy, all I ever wanted to be was a jockey, dreaming about putting on the royal blue silks of Godolphin and seeing Sheikh Mohammed. The day it came true was pretty surreal.”

Doyle credits Godolphin and being in Dubai with the biggest successes of his career: “Dubai is very special to me. It’s where my riding career really took off. I was lucky enough to win the G1 Dubai Duty Free in 2012 on a horse called Cityscape. Dubai has really taken my career to a new level. It was a springboard to greater things and I’d like to say probably a contributing factor to climbing the ranks to end up where I am now. I am lucky and privileged to be part of Godolphin.”

Fellow rider William Buick, a professional jockey since 2006, joined Godolphin in 2015 and shares Doyle’s fond sentiments when it comes to the city: “Dubai is very special for many reasons but it is particularly special for me because it has become a second home. I’ve been coming here for more than 10 years now and I’ve had great success here, been fortunate to ride some great horses and experience some great races.

“I was lucky enough to ride for Godolphin before I joined them officially,” continues Buick. “I had ridden some nice winners for them but when I joined Godolphin officially, it changed because it’s not one stable, it’s a global operation with a lot of people involved, a lot of horses and of course Sheikh Mohammed and his family at the head. As a jockey or an athlete,

you say you have to be an all-rounder and I think from a personal point of view, in this job I’ve really matured as a person because of the commitments and responsibility. Godolphin is a worldwide brand, not just a stable and it represents Dubai.”

Godolphin has had massive success in recent years, with wins coming in thick and fast. Training duties in Dubai and the UK are managed by Saeed bin Suroor and Charlie Appleby while James Cummings heads the Australian operation and Godolphin’s dream team have certainly pulled in the victories.

With more than 4,500 races won worldwide since Godolphin’s inception in 1992, the operation has gone from strength to strength, with 2017 the stable’s second most successful year to date with 607 wins – only surpassed by 2015’s massive 650.

One of the most exciting events in Godolphin’s history came in 2016, when Sheikh Mohammed announced the merging of the then racing stable Godolphin with his breeding empire Darley – named after another of racing’s founding stallions. This merger brought all of his equestrian operations under one roof and began a new era for Godolphin.

“Riding winners and producing good horses is the main objective. When Sheikh Mohammed comes to the races, we aim to produce good horses for him and they’re part of his own breeding programme,” says Buick. “For the sheikh to see his own colours represented in the world’s best races – that is the main objective and I get great satisfaction from that. Also, the day-to-day activities are very special, including going into the stable in the mornings when it’s quieter and the weather is fresh. You can see the future in the mornings and it’s the unknown that excites you because you know anything could happen.”

CULTURE: THE WORLD OF GODOLPHIN James Doyle, Mickael Barzalona and Wiliiam Buick

With some of the most advanced stabling facilities in the world, Godolphin horses live the good life

Dubai is home to the Godolphin operation and its jockeys know the emirate well

Sweet success?

At Godolphin, it's assured

For Sheikh Mohammed to see his own colours represented in the world's best races – that is the main objective and I get great satisfaction from that

So amidst all the bustle and glory, what are the moments that mean the most to Godolphin’s jockeys?

“Last season springs to mind,” says Buick, “when Ribchester won the G1 Queen Anne Stakes at Royal Ascot. That was a really special race on a special horse. He was awesome that day and Sheikh Mohammed was there with his family and friends so it was just a wonderful day.”

Mickael Barzalona, Godolphin’s principal rider in France, also has happy memories of a big win that took place just last year at the Del Mar racetrack in California.

“I would say the G1 Breeders’ Cup Turf win with Talismanic was a great moment,” says Barzalona. “Now I am older, I feel I appreciate my wins more and I appreciate what it’s like to win a big race. Talismanic is such a nice horse; he always really deserves to win his races.”

So how does racing around the world compare to the sparkling facilities of the Meydan racetrack, home to the world-famous Dubai World Cup and Godolphin’s home turf?

“It’s very different because in Dubai it’s only a short season,” says Barzalona.

“For example, at Meydan’s Dubai World Cup Carnival you have a minimum rating. The quality of horse has to be high so there is a concentration of nice horses to ride for two-and-a-half months. I would say it’s one of the biggest meetings in the world. Also, the turf is very fair.”

Just how fair? Doyle is even more enthusiastic about Dubai’s racecourse.

“Meydan is beautiful. The turf track for me is the best in the world,” he enthuses. “It’s very flat, very fair, you are able to make the run in and come from the back.”

But it’s not just about Meydan. For Godolphin’s international jockeys, competing worldwide is par for the course, bringing its own challenges.

CULTURE: THE WORLD OF GODOLPHIN The thoroughbreds ride out

Deep care and understanding of the Godolphin horses is central to their training programme

“I think we have to adapt because we compete all over the world,” says Buick.

“We have to adapt and horse and jockey have to become one entity and try to get around any difficult tracks. But English racecourses are renowned for being different, unique and challenging and I would say Epsom [in Surrey in the UK] is a very challenging track for horse and rider sometimes.”

The jockeys have their own techniques for dealing with such tricky differences – but it all boils down to that pre-race tete-a-tete with the trainer.

“The moments before we go to jump on the horse are very important because 80 per cent of the time we haven’t ridden the horse before,” says Barzalona.

“We say that a horse is like a car; there is one way to drive it but sometimes it is good to have instructions. That part is incredibly useful and essential to race success.”

Of that, Godolphin has plenty – and the organisation shares that success by making contributions to the quality of equestrian life with its own charitable and benevolent programmes. The Godolphin stud and stable staff awards honour the people who graft to make the stable’s magic happen. Godolphin Lifetime Care places retired horses in happy new homes, whether to continue competing in dressage and polo or simply to spend their days as a ‘‘happy hacker’’ for an amateur rider. Masar Godolphin provides a route for young UAE nationals to experience the world of thoroughbred training and breeding while Godolphin Kids works with children to deepen their understanding of equestrianism.

Sheikh Mohammed’s personal generosity hit the headlines last year after making a charitable contribution to save a Cornish village hall from closure.

The name of the locale? Godolphin Cross, the original seat of the family that the 18th century stallion was named for. The villagers were thrilled, not only to have had their wish fulfilled but that it should have happened in association with their world-famous racing organisation namesake. After all, the name of their village may be ancient but it was the skill and passion of Sheikh Mohammed and his elite team of equestrian breeders, trainers and jockeys that preserved its legacy.

CULTURE: COMIC CON DUBAI

MY LIFE IN ANIMATION Having started his career at Hanna-Barbera Studios in 1978, Tom Cook has worked on classic shows such as ScoobyDoo, The Flintstones, Tarzan, Flash Gordon, He-Man and the Masters of the Universe, Ghostbusters, The Simpsons and King of the Hill. He has also worked on Disney’s The Prince and the Pauper featuring Mickey Mouse. We spoke to the animator and director ahead of the Middle East Film and Comic Con this month

Artist Morgan Britt Butler working on a poster

Characters at MEFCC

Animator and Director Tom Cook

Learn to draw well and observe how things move in the real world and then try to animate the character and see if you can make it look as real as possible

CULTURE: COMIC CON DUBAI

Where did you grow up and what were you like as a child?

I grew up in Huntington on Long Island, New York, which was a nice, rural town with a very family orientated community. I was a very shy kid, which is why I identified with Peter Parker and Spiderman so much.

What inspired your love of animation?

When I was about eight years old, Huckleberry Hound, Yogi Bear and Quick Draw McGraw were the first Hanna-Barbera cartoons and I watched them all the time on TV. Bugs, Daffy Duck and the Warner Brothers cartoons were also running all the time and I loved them as well. I also saw the Walt Disney movies Peter Pan and Sleeping Beauty in the cinema.

Which comic books first inspired you?

I was always a comic book fan. I read Batman and Superman but then in the early 1960s, Marvel Comics came on the scene. Spiderman and Fantastic Four were the comics I loved the best and that inspired me to start to draw.

I collected every Marvel comic that was printed from 1960 until 1995.

Which comic book artists inspired you?

It was the writing of Stan Lee and the art of Steve Ditko on Spiderman and Jack Kirby on Fantastic Four and many of the other Marvel characters that were my heroes. I was very fortunate to work with Jack on Thundarr the Barbarian and I met Steve Ditko a year ago and got to tell him how he inspired me.

What was the first original character you created?

I created a hero named The Glider. His costume had wings under his arms similar to the Falcon but I came up with the idea first. I actually sent Marvel drawings of my characters when I was a young boy and I always got a letter back thanking me and including a pin-up of Spiderman or the Fantastic Four. Being a fan of Marvel was like being a member of a club, which made me feel like a part of the comic world.

What advice would you offer a young would-be animator?

Learn to draw well and observe how things move in the real world and then try to animate the character and see if you can make it look as real as possible.

You worked for Hanna-Barbera Studios in the late 1970s. How did you get that gig?

I was a transit bus driver in Los Angeles and I took a college class in comic book art and the teacher, Don Rico, worked as a storyboard artist at HannaBarbera. He liked my portfolio and told me he wanted to recommend me to a class at Hanna-Barbera that would train me in animation. Three weeks later, I was hired as an assistant animator – something I had never even dreamed of before. I couldn’t believe I was actually working on classics like

Challenge of the Super Friends, Scooby-Doo and The Flintstones because that was a dream that was impossible – and yet, there I was.

You worked with the late, great Jack Kirby. What was he like?

I didn’t realise that Jack was even working at Hanna-Barbera when I saw him walking on a bridge between two buildings [one day]. I went to introduce myself to him and we talked for about 15 minutes and he actually gave me his address and phone number. It is always nice to meet your heroes and have them be nicer than you thought possible. Jack was among the nicest I have ever met.

You are a star in the world of animation. What is the most bizarre thing a fan has ever done?

I was in Los Angeles for a show and fans had the opportunity to purchase a ticket to have dinner with me. A young man purchased the ticket and came all the way from Mexico City to have dinner with me. It was very humbling to know how much this fan wanted to meet me and I made sure he had a terrific time. I remind my wife how lucky she is since she can have dinner with me every night at no charge.

You have achieved a lot in your career. What do you have left to achieve?

I am retired now so I really don’t have any goals other than coming to comic cons and meeting these great fans.

You appear at a lot of conventions. Do you enjoy the experience?

I don’t have to do any cons. I like doing them because it gives me the chance to meet the fans and it gives the fans a chance to meet me in the same way that I wanted to meet my heroes when I was young. I wish they had had cons when I was little. It is very rewarding knowing I had a hand in the childhoods of so many in the same way the cartoons I loved influenced me.

You are appearing at MEFCC. What are you expecting from the convention?

I have never been to Dubai and I have heard so many great things about it so I can’t wait. I am expecting to have a great time meeting all of the fans.

Middle East Film and Comic Con takes place in Dubai World Trade Centre, Dubai from April 5 to 7. mefcc.com Stay at one of the Jumeirah properties and let us spoil you while in town for MEFCC. Jumeirah Living World Trade Centre Residence and Jumeirah Emirates Towers are just a couple of minutes away while Burj Al Arab Jumeirah, Madinat Jumeirah and Jumeirah Zabeel Saray are just 15 minutes away. Jumeirah.com

A GUIDE TO BUYING

Words: Gareth Reese

AFFORDABLE ART

CULTURE: WORLD ART DUBAI

This month the fourth edition of World Art Dubai will offer both established and novice art collectors the opportunity to buy affordable art. Curator and artist Zaahirah Muthy provides her top tips for those looking to start an art collection

F

or a lot of people without a background in the arts, visiting an art gallery can be a daunting prospect, never mind purchasing art or starting an art collection, but for UAE-based Mauritian artist Zaahirah Muthy, curator of World Art Dubai, the annual affordable art fair that takes place in Dubai World Trade Centre this month, buying art is not something to be feared – and it doesn’t require a degree in art history.

World Art Dubai’s tagline is ‘‘live it, love it, buy it’’ and it aims to bring together emerging artists and fledgling collectors. “World Art Dubai is an affordable art fair,” says Muthy. “It’s about providing access to emerging local and international artists, providing the opportunity for them to showcase their work to collectors.”

Visitors are encouraged to interact with the artists directly. “It’s very important for the artists to connect with collectors,” says Muthy. “If you just exhibit an artwork, the collector doesn’t get the opportunity to know the person behind it.”

This year’s event will feature sections dedicated to digital art and photography, Japanese and Indian pavilions and a range of installations celebrating the Year of Zayed, commemorating the founder of the UAE. Muthy has worked with a small team to collate 4,000 artworks and the fair will host 300 artists and galleries from five continents. The artworks are all priced between $100 to $20,000, and the art for every wall section features work by more than 50 artists, priced between about $140 and just over $800.

Here are Muthy’s five tips for making the most of World Art Dubai:

1. Take your time It’s a three-day fair. Some people come on the first day and walk around looking at the art, on the second day they bring their wife or somebody else who is close to them to look at the pieces they are considering buying, then on the third day they will buy something. There are other people who will see a piece they like on the first day and just buy it. Each collector is different but I would advise a new collector to take their time.

2. Get to know the artist I would encourage collectors to make an effort to get to know the artist before they buy their art. The more you know about an artist’s story the more you will appreciate their work. If you like an artwork it is your responsibility to dig for information. Profiles of all the artists are available on the World Art Dubai website and we provide a comfortable environment in which the artist and the collector can enter into a dialogue. Have a cup of coffee and a conversation. If you hang an artwork on your wall you will see it every day, so it has to be something special. It’s also important to build relationships with the galleries that represent your favourite artists.

3. Ask questions It is important to find out as much as possible about the artwork you are thinking of buying. So ask the artist questions. When was it produced? What materials did you use? What techniques did you use? What is the concept behind it? Where can I see your other work? When is your next show? What is your latest project? What is your artistic vision? You can also ask us, the organisers of World Art Dubai, for advice on issues that might influence your decision such as current market trends.

CULTURE: WORLD ART DUBAI

4. Do not negotiate

5. Make it personal

Globally there is not much negotiation but it does sometimes happen here in the UAE. Negotiating shows you don’t value the artist or his or her work so you should always respect the artist or the gallery’s price. If you really love an artwork but you can’t afford it, speak to the artist or the gallery; payment plans are sometimes possible. An art collector who is buying an artist’s work is showing them respect and the artist should always acknowledge this and do what he or she can to facilitate the buying process.

People change. Our tastes change. Maybe this year I like blue but next year I might like orange. Choosing what artwork to buy is personal. It depends on the collector and also on the environment in which they are going to place the artwork. Speaking from an artist’s perspective, it is always positive when a collector supports an artist and is interested in seeing the evolution of an artist’s work. For a collector, it can be amazing to see an artist’s work develop over time.

World Art Dubai takes place at Dubai World Trade Centre from April 18 to 21. Visit worldartdubai.com for more information

Words: Claire Hill

XXXXXX: XXXXXX

Zabeel House MINI by Jumeirah Al Seef

S

et along the banks of Dubai Creek, Zabeel House MINI by Jumeirah has opened its doors to the curious traveller.

Located in Al Seef, the area offers a wonderful combination of Emirati heritage and homegrown concepts to explore. Discover the charming walkways, marina, boulevard and dine by the promenade dotted with cafes and restaurants.

Created in response to the growing travel trend for exploration and enrichment through travel experiences, Zabeel House by Jumeirah™ is an exciting second brand from Jumeirah Group which focuses on ‘Upscale-Casual.’

The new brand will offer two hotel experiences which have been creatively designed with Insta-worthy quirks, relaxed restaurants and rooftop pools. The second hotel Zabeel House by Jumeirah Al Seef is taking bookings from 15 May onwards.

Zabeel House MINI by Jumeirah Al Seef offers maximum attitude and minimal frills: this is for the explorer who wants to get out and about but have somewhere welcoming and lively to escape to.

The 150 perfectly formed Pocket rooms offer adventurous design with colours that pop. Each bedroom ceiling contains a map of Dubai inspiring exploration. A courtyard space has been designed for pop-up events and outdoor film, there are two street-food inspired restaurants, easy public transport links to Downtown Dubai, local parks and beaches.

Rates start from AED 350 (Summer) and AED 495 (Winter) plus taxes per night.

AB U ABU DHADHABI BI

BAHR BAHR AIN AIN

DUBAI DUBAI

FR ANKFURT FR ANKFURT

KUWAIT KUWAIT

JUMEIRAH JUMEIRAHROYAL ROYALSARAY SARAY UNV UNV E I LIN E I L IN GG AN A ENWE W AWVE A VE OFOLU F LXUUXRUYRIN Y IN B ABHARHARI N A IN

jumeirah.com/royalsaray jumeirah.com/royalsaray

LONDON LONDON

MALDIVE MALDIVE S S

MALLORCA MALLORCA

SHANGHAI SHANGHAI

MahallatiJewellery

MahallatiJewellery

Mrs.Mahallati

TRAVEL 64 Spa time

From hammams to honey-infused treatments, the very best in relaxation

74 Breakfast like a king

Begin your day the decadent way at Jumeirah properties around the world

82 Featured spaces

The Palm Lounge at Jumeirah Royal Saray Bahrain

TRAVEL: DIPPEMESS FRANKFURT

DISCOVER FRANKFURT IN THE SPRING Forget Paris. Frankfurt is fast becoming the go-to European city to escape to during the season of renewal, thanks to the increasingly popular Dippemess folk festival

Dippemess spring festival

P

The pottery wares

robably most famous for its Frankfurter sausages, the German city of Frankfurt is now earning its place on the global tourist map for another very special reason: the Dippemess Spring Fair, the largest folk festival in the Rhine-Main region.

Although this traditional fair dates back to the 14th century – when potters would come to the city to sell their wares – the event now attracts 2.5 million visitors to the biannual festival (a similar fair is held every autumn).

Along with a traditional pottery market, you can expect a large arts and crafts market, fairground booths, high-tech rides, speciality culinary stalls (including the Frankfurter Sausage Festival) and more, lining the Festplatz on the Ratsweg for what is now Germany’s most popular Easter event. The entertainment on offer runs the gamut, from thrill-seeking rides (we’re talking rollercoasters, auto-scooters, bumper cars, ghost trains and a looping carousel) to family-friendly activities such as cotton candy, shooting galleries, raffles and more. It’s the perfect excuse to book a European spring break.

Beyond the market, there is much more to discover in this charming German city. The largest city in the German state of Hessen, this bustling financial centre is a hidden gem, often overlooked in favour of Berlin or Munich. But look a little closer and you’ll soon fall for its understated charm.

For starters, the dazzling skyline has earned the city the nickname Mainhattan – owing to the fact that the banks of the river Main, which splices the city, is dotted with imposing skyscrapers from some of the world’s leading architects.

In fact, the stunning skyline has made the city a popular filming location.

Juxtaposed between the gleaming skyscrapers, you’ll find cosy Ebbelwei pubs and traditional bakeries, as well as history and culture aplenty.

In fact, the city is well renowned among art lovers (you’ll find nine galleries on the south bank alone). Must-visit spots include the impressive Opera House as well as countless museums and art galleries (our pick is the Modern Art Gallery or the Staedel Museum) and the stunning Palm Garden. These lush botanical gardens boast plants from all over the world, as well as a tropical underwater scene in the tropicarium.

It’s a compact city that is easy to navigate on foot with the help of Google maps while a short bus or train ride will connect you to major sites and events, including the Spring Dippemess, the Palm Garden and the zoo. The enormity of the Dippemess festival means it’s now migrated outside the city centre to Frankfurt’s main fairground at Ratsweg, which is easily accessible by public transport (just jump on the subway or U-bahn in the direction of Enkheim, deboarding at Eissporthalle/Festplatz). Alternatively, buses and trams all stop at Eissporthalle/Festplatz. Or you can take the opportunity to explore the city by boat with a river cruise along the Main.

Despite its origins as a financial hub, there a cool, cosmopolitan vibe in the city, and you’ll find a mix of accents (only one in three Frankfurters holds a German passport). But this is a city on the move: the Bahnhofsviertel area around the train station is a now a hip hub of restaurants, galleries and clubs while the banks of the Main come alive in the spring and summer with locals flocking to cycle, skate and stroll with the city skyline as a backdrop.

Much of the old city that was destroyed in the Second World War is being rebuilt in period fashion and new skyscrapers are popping up in between as well. Now, thanks to Brexit, Frankfurt is set to become an even more popular European destination. Our advice? Get there before everybody else does.

People enjoying themselves at the festival

TRAVEL: DIPPEMESS FRANKFURT

Thrill rides at the festival Jumeirah Frankfurt

WHERE TO STAY?

JUMEIRAH FRANKFURT

This dazzling 25-storey hotel is one of the most luxurious in the city and in the perfect location to indulge your inner shopaholic. It’s right next to the MyZeil shopping mall and within walking distance from Goethestrasse, a street lined with high-end designer stores, including Bally, Bulgari, Burberry and Prada.

The all-glass building is as cutting edge as the imposing skyscraper silhouette would suggest: the opulent rooms feature body heat and motion sensors (not to mention supersized bathtubs) while the lift features touchscreen controls.

The floor-to-ceiling windows offer views of Mainhattan’s twinkling city lights.

Foodies will be in their element with a choice of dining options that include Max on One, a striking wood-and-glass setting offering an international grill; El Rayyan, a stunning Lebanese restaurant boasting an array of mezze and mains and the sleek Ember Bar and Lounge.

Indulge in some springtime rejuvenation at the inhouse Talise Spa, which boasts saunas, relaxation areas and five treatment rooms. A body treatment using honey sourced from the 40,000 bees living on the hotel’s rooftop is a must-try. www.jumeirah.com/Frankfurt/Frankfurt-Hotel

Words: Sophia Serin

TRAVEL: SPA PAMPERING

SPA TIME Redirect your routine and take some time out to change the way you look and feel about life

Talise at Vittaveli Maldives Few spas in the world can offer open rooms with views like this one. With waves the soundtrack to your treatment, this Maldivian oasis will have you relaxed and rejuvenated in no time. If experiencing this fantasy island with your partner, the Talise Spa VIP overwater treatment room is just the ticket.

With an oversized bath, private water balcony and side by side beds, it is the ultimate in couples' treatments. The spa also houses an overwater fitness centre, offers yoga classes and in-villa bath therapies for ultimate privacy.

Other plus points are the 100 per cent pure coconut oil which is made by the spa team (on the island) and used in a selection of treatments in the spa.

65

Talise Spa, Burj Al Arab Jumeirah The holder of a best luxury hotel spa award, with endless ocean views nestled 150m above the Arabian Gulf, is the star of spas. The duplex spa houses separate ladies’ and gents’ relaxation areas, infinity pool, steam and plunge pools and it also doubles as a sports centre with squash court and fitness centre with aerobic facilities.

Heading up the team of 52 staff which keep the spa moving at a gentle yet impressive pace is Neil Hewerdine, director of leisure and wellbeing.

Having been in the spa business for more than 20 years and decorated with an assortment of awards himself, Hewerdine says the key to a successful spa is a two-part technique: “Ultimately it’s a true team effort than needs to run seamlessly, resulting in an unforgettable experience for our guests.”

He adds: “It's now more important than ever for us to listen to our guests on what they are looking for to enable us to evolve and become innovative with our offerings. From this we can constantly introduce new experiences.”

With an incomparable spa menu, the most requested treatments are the new longevity journeys. The Sail, the Wave, the Atrium are made up of combinations of massage, scrubs and envelopments – steeped in traditions, “each telling a different story and linking to the iconic beauty of Burj Al Arab Jumeirah,” says Hewerdine. The universal concern for clients is to relax and de-stress, he says, but guests are now more open than ever to explore new, prolonged, alterative enhancements to achieve these concerns.

TRAVEL: SPA PAMPERING

Operating out of one of the world’s most opulent offices, Hewerdine is compelled on a daily basis to strive for success with his clients and the spa. “Spas are one of the youngest yet fastest-growing industries in hospitality. This is incredibly motivating on its own. Being part of history-making and having the opportunity to contribute to people’s overall happiness and wellbeing is certainly a major factor for me personally. We are dealing with emotions and reaching people on a far deeper level than what may be believed and seeing how this is going to develop and compliment the overall hotel and guest experience is very exciting. As with any industry, it is prudent to be passionate about your chosen profession. Hospitality is a vocation that I, for one, am incredibly privileged to have found a perfect match.”

Talise Spa, Jumeirah Port Soller Overlooking a clifftop across the Tramuntana valley, the Talise Spa at Jumeirah Port Soller Hotel and Spa is a slice of Balearic heaven on earth. The nature, hikes and swimming make this spa destination one for those in need of a retreat within the most stunning of sceneries.

The day spa rituals, which range from breakfast and massage to sunset champagne and chocolate (with a body exfoliation and aromatic massage thrown in), are our idea of a holiday with benefits. In addition to the calming spa, the Talise at Jumeirah Port Soller also features a gym with cutting edge equipment and facilities, so you can have a run on the treadmill in between your relaxation times.

67

TRAVEL: SPA PAMPERING

Talise Ottoman Spa, Jumeirah Zabeel Saray With no less than 42 treatment rooms, steam, sauna and snow rooms, the Talise Ottoman Spa in Jumeirah Zabeel Saray is a dream destination in Dubai.

With a Turkish hammam at the heart of the spa and with several variations of this speciality treatment, you need to allocate (at least) a day to experience this spa in all its glory. “Our spa is unique and we offer bespoke signature treatments that one would rarely find anywhere else. For example, our royal Ottoman hammam is prominent among our clientele. Therefore, while the rest might come up with new treatments, we offer ancient healing through our traditional Turkish spa baths,” says Marko Andric, manager of the Talise Ottoman Spa in Jumeirah Zabeel Saray. “Once considered a daily escape dating back to the Ottoman era, our hammam, with its beautifully ornate heated room and marble stone for guests to lie on, is a place to rediscover and escape stress and anxiety. The steaming room allows for one to sweat and thus opening the pores of the skin. This authentic hammam ritual is

ideal for deep relaxation and rejuvenation as the natural essential oils work and dead cells are cleansed away.” With the most popular treatment being the royal Ottoman hammam, Andric also explains that clients can tailor bespoke treatments to suit their needs. “We customise our treatments based on the client. While some might want a gentle massage, another might prefer otherwise. We share a consultation form with clients that has to be filled out prior to a treatment. Based on this, we understand our client’s requirement better and talk them through our treatments and the process.”

The 8,200 square metre spa also houses a 59-metre infinity pool, two thalassotherapy pools and couples’ spa, with spa packages allowing guests to enjoy complimentary lunch and access to the hotel's private beach.

Go to jumeirah.com for information and bookings

Guests staying at Jumeirah Hotels in Dubai, have unlimited complimentary daily access to Wild Wadi WaterparkTM with 25% off on retail and restaurants.

For more information, visit wildwadi.com or call us on +971 4 348 4444

BAHRAIN GRAND PRIX PREVIEW When it comes to Formula One, we’re spoilt for choice in the Middle East, which hosts two outstanding races that bookend the racing calendar

TRAVEL: BAHRAIN GRAND PRIX

W

hile Abu Dhabi gets the nod for hosting the final race each year, Bahrain is one of the first in the season and cemented its place in the calendar with a reputation as one of the most important early races.

Bahrain is usually one of the last “fly-away” races before the championship settles into its European calendar and in the gruelling April humidity and dusty conditions, it’s a true test of car, driver and crew.

With the exception of last year, when Ferrari’s Sebastian Vettel took victory, the Gulf Air Bahrain Formula One Grand Prix has proven to be a solid barometer of the championship winner, with nine of the past 13 victors in Sakhir going on to be crowned world champion later that season.

Bahrain welcomed Formula One to the Middle East in 2004 as the culmination of a multi-million dollar project which started two years earlier to build a 5.4km circuit, 30 kilometres south west of Manama in Sakhir.

To celebrate its 10th anniversary, the desert oasis race shifted to a nighttime slot and transformed it into a glittering event, perfect for families and revellers with concerts starting straight after the race. Such was the success that it has remained an ‘‘under lights’’ Grand Prix ever since.

Without the constraints of tradition which sometimes holds the European races back from experimenting, Bahrain was free to try new ways to turn it into a tourism spectacle involving the whole country. The capital of Manama embraces the race with special package deals through hotels and restaurants while race sponsor and the national airline of Bahrain, Gulf Air, provides a special Grand Prix visa.

Sebastian Vettel of Germany on track

Available to GCC citizens, residents and nationalities of 113 countries, the GP visa is the only one of its kind in the world and allows for multiple entries over the two weeks surrounding the race, free of charge.

Words: Damien Reid

Last year, 33,000 spectators filled the stands to watch Vettel win in his Ferrari from the duelling Mercedes pair of Lewis Hamilton and Valtteri Bottas but an extra 70,000 fans flooded the circuit for the after-race concert from Latin pop superstar Enrique Iglesias immediately after the track activities wrapped up for the night.

Swedish driver Marcus Ericsson in practice

Sebestian Vettel celebrates his win

On track, the wide open spaces, large run-off areas and wide track entice drivers into some of the season’s best battles with the likes of Fernando Alonso (three-time winner) and Jenson Button (2009’s winner) going on record claiming it to be one of their all-time favourite circuits.

The winners list reads like a who’s who of modern-day F1 with Michael Schumacher, Fernando Alonso, Button, Vettel and Hamilton having all triumphed in Bahrain en route to winning their world titles.

Aside from the heat, Bahrain is one of the toughest races of the year as it’s the longest at 308kms over 57 laps, which just falls within the two-hour cutoff limit set by the governing body, the FIA, but it also suffers from a lack of grip, due to sand that drifts across the track.

Line-up during the Bahrain Grand Prix

TRAVEL: BAHRAIN GRAND PRIX

Sebastian Vettel of Germany and Ferrari celebrate their win

This means lots of slip and slide action from the drivers and is despite the best efforts of the track curators, who go as far as gluing down the sand around the track to reduce grit from flying onto the track.

It’s just another unique element which drivers don’t experience anywhere else in the world and one that keeps their razor-sharp reflexes on notice.

For this year’s race, the action kicks off with practice on Friday April 6 at 2pm, while final practice is on Saturday at 3pm before the all-important qualifying session at dusk from 6pm. The lights go out to signal the start of the 2018 Gulf Air Bahrain Formula One Grand Prix at precisely 6.10pm on Sunday April 8.

A pit lane walk is included for all three-day ticket holders on the Thursday afternoon while multiple Grammy award-winner Carlos Santana headlines the off-track entertainment with a free concert on Friday night.

Located just 10km from the airport, the recently opened Jumeirah Royal Saray is Jumeirah Group’s first hotel in the kingdom, offering its renowned five-star hospitality in a beachfront haven in downtown Manama. For the Grand Prix, the hotel offers a choice of single or double rooms and suites as well as free wifi and parking for the duration of the stay, along with a complimentary buffet breakfast for two and free access to a private beach

73

BREAKFAST LIKE A KING

Words by Rachel Silvestri

So goes the old adage, which has proven a great way to stay healthy throughout the ages. With these incredible spreads at Jumeirah hotels around the world, you can truly dine like royalty and make the first meal of the day the heartiest and best – all in local style

Healthy breakfast at Sahn Eddar, Burj Al Arab Jumeirah

TRAVEL: THE BIG BREAKFAST

Treats galore for breakfast at Jumeirah at Etihad Towers, Abu Dhabi

Dubai

Abu Dhabi

FRESH APPROACH Just because you find yourself in one of the world’s most luxurious hotels, that doesn’t mean breakfast has to be an indulgent and calorific affair – quite the opposite with Burj Al Arab Jumeirah’s morning energizer breakfast ain Sahn Eddar.

THE CHOICE IS YOURS If variety is the spice of life, then breakfast at Rosewater is red-hot. A mind-boggling array of delectable treats awaits, from both international and local cuisines. Eggs done your way, cereals, waffles and pancakes, hot western and Asian breakfast favourites, nuts and dried fruits, pastries, cakes, salads, cheeses, fruits… the list goes on and on, each more delicious than the next.

This healthy three-course spread begins with raw and vegan salads packed with superfoods, followed by protein-rich mains and naturally sweet fruit and seed concoctions. Freshly blended juices will take your energy levels higher – although maybe not quite as high as the soaring atrium that rises above the plush comforts of Sahn Eddar.

If you want to be completely amazed by your surroundings as well as by what’s on your plate, this invigorating breakfast has it all.

Sahn Eddar, Burj Al Arab Jumeirah

The highlight has to be the wide range of Arabian mezze and hot dishes – get started with hummus, moutabel, labneh and shanklish, set off perfectly with marinated olives and pickles. Then treat yourself to classic foul medammes, mouthwatering shakshouka, baleleet and grilled halloumi cheese. An at-table pastry service is offered each morning, giving you even more options for a breakfast that’s a true feast.

Rosewater, Jumeirah at Etihad Towers

76

Bedouin backstage

Maldivian breakfast at Jumeirah Vittaveli

TRAVEL: THE BIG BREAKFAST

Finishing touches for breakfast setting at the Rib Room, Jumeirah Carlton Tower

London LOCAL KNOWLEDGE Would you like to take a culinary tour of the British Isles without ever leaving your luxuriously upholstered seat at The Rib Room? Thanks to a rich menu of locally sourced products, breakfast can be a journey for the tastebuds. Kick off with smoked Loch Fyne kipper from Scotland, grilled to juicy perfection. Or perhaps you’d prefer Finnan haddie – that’s Scottish smoked haddock to the rest of us – in your kedgeree, a popular Victorian breakfast of creamy curried fish, rice and eggs, based on the Indian dish of khichdi. If it’s a traditional English breakfast you’re after – and let’s face it, where better to get one than at this historic eatery – then you can expect cured meats from Suffolk and Ireland, along with all the traditional trimmings. For something lighter, smoked salmon and scrambled eggs gives a touch of finesse, while traditional British cheeses and hearty Scottish porridge seal the deal on a breakfast of champions. With such fine fuel you’ll be able to maintain your stiff upper lip, whatever the London weather.

The Rib Room, Jumeirah Carlton Tower

The Rib Room menu

Maldives SUGAR AND SPICE Open the door of your paradise villa, pad down the white sand to Samsara beach and take a seat on the terrace for one of the most revitalising breakfasts possible. On this paradise island, you can feast on rich smoked tuna, soft grated coconut flesh and a squeeze of sharp lime mingle with an energising blast of local Maldivian chilli to make mashuni.

This blend of local ingredients, served with warm, flaky roshi flatbread, is the traditional Maldivian breakfast and will certainly kickstart your day. But if morning spice isn’t really your pace, treat yourself to a sweet smoothie or classic eggs Benedict, or go all-out castaway, stay in your villa and choose from the hugely varied in-villa dining breakfast menu. After all, when paradise is on your doorstep, you’ll need your energy for a day of snorkelling, diving or simply sitting in the shade and deciding what to have for lunch. Bliss.

Samsara, Jumeirah Vittaveli

Eggs cooked any which way

TRAVEL: THE BIG BREAKFAST Feast on delights for the eyes and palate at Jumeirah Port Soller Hotel and Spa, Mallorca

An irresistible Shanghianese delicacy

xxxxxxx xxxxxxx xxxxxxxx

Jumeirah Port Soller's mouthwatering Mallorcan selections

Mallorca RISE AND SHINE There can be no better way to begin a beautiful day on the sunshine isle of Mallorca than with a few local specialities. Known for its citrus fruits and olives, the Soller Valley is also home to Jumeirah Port Soller Hotel and Spa and each morning at the resort’s signature restaurant – Cap Roig – the very best of Mallorcan cuisine is on offer. Visit Cap Roig’s Mallorquin corner, bedecked in traditional tiles and provincial decor, to sample the daily locally sourced specials. You could try sobrasada – Mallorcan cured sausage – or ensaimadas, the light and subtly sweet coiled pastries that are famed throughout this region. Pa amb oli – bread with tomato and olive oil, a typical Mallorcan breakfast – is made with olive oil from Soller, native ramallet tomatoes and pa moreno, a variety of bread found only on this island.

Simple, fresh and as local as it gets. Meanwhile, Cap Roig’s plentiful glutenfree selection means that all diets can be catered for. And from May onwards, children will have yet another reason to look forward to breakfast time: a special kids’ buffet laid out in a pirate ship display will put breakfast treats at a child-friendly height and allow little ones to choose their own feast – all washed down with a glass of that famed Soller orange juice. Balearic perfection.

Cap Roig, Jumeirah Port Soller Hotel and Spa

Shanghai OODLES OF NOODLES Breakfast in Shanghai is a hearty and carby affair, with many locals munching fluffy mantou buns, dumplings and jianbing egg pancakes from their favourite street vendor as they rush through the crowded streets to work or school. But at the Jumeirah Himalayas Hotel, things go at a more sedate pace, allowing you the time to appreciate the artistry of a truly Shanghainese breakfast. Baozi, deliciously light, filled dumplings, are made to a local recipe and served alongside satisfying congee, warm soy milk and traditional Chinese churro-style pastries. Or you can try a steaming bowl of long Shanghainese noodles, scattered with sharp scallions – just try to slurp each noodle up in one piece, as it’s said that eating your noodles whole will ensure a long life – or, at the very least, a long and active morning before hunger pangs set in.

Arte Cafe and Lounge, Jumeirah Himalayas Hotel

Words: Meryl D'souza

TRAVEL: BAHRAIN

FEATURED SPACES THE PALM LOUNGE Earlier this year, the Jumeirah Group marked its first foray into the Kingdom of Bahrain with the majestic Jumeirah Royal Saray. Located on a private beach in the northern coastal Seef district, each of the 174 guestrooms of the new hotel pays homage to the Bahraini pearl diving industry.

The Jumeirah Royal Saray’s breathtaking lounge is home to the Palm Lounge restaurant, which overlooks the turquoise blue waters of the Arabian Gulf – a sight so showstoppingly beautiful, you wouldn’t need to use any filters before sharing on your social media.

The exquisite restaurant offers breakfast and light snacks during the day as well as afternoon tea and evening bites.

Whatever you do, don’t miss out on the avant-garde coffee, prepared by baristas flown in from Colombia. The restaurant’s masterful culinary team is headed by executive chef Mathew Goodlet. Goodlet, who boasts more than 10 years of professional cooking and kitchen management experience, focuses on fresh local provenance. “We have a great relationship with Peninsula farm. I am in love with their goats' cheese and locally grown tomatoes and vegetables.

The quality is amazing and it is so great to see these products being produced here in Bahrain,” says the maverick chef, who stresses that the restaurant serves up unpretentious food based on quality local and imported ingredients. “We get lots of guests looking for healthy options these days, which we have lots of options to cater for, utilising local produce and superfoods. Be sure to try our quinoa salad with pomegranate and chef Remi’s selection of homemade millefeuilles.”

With all the emphasis on fresh food, great taste and excellent service its not hard to understand why guests call it the best pastry in Bahrain.

The Palm Lounge in Jumeirah Royal Saray Bahrain is open from 1am to 11.30pm. Call +973 7770 70700 or email jrsb.info@jumeirah.com to book a table

THE HIGH LIFE:

Words: Meryl D'souza

Dhow and Anchor, Jumeirah Beach Hotel, Dubai

THE LOWDOWN: D&A, otherwise known as the Dhow and Anchor, has

with all the trimmings, to the best fish and chips in Dubai. Make sure

continued to remain a Dubai institution in spite of the many other hotels

you get there with an empty stomach. The menu is a carnivore’s delight,

that keep cropping up in the city. In fact, it’s been one of the busiest sports-

offering everything from a wagyu beef burger, to slow-cooked Angus beef

bar-meets-gastropub ever since it first opened just over two decades ago

cheek, to corn-fed chicken, to Lancashire hot pie. You might feel the need

in 1997.

to make multiple visits because everything is so tempting.

THE ATMOSPHERE: The award-winning British gastropub embraces its

INSIDER’S TIP: By all means, be sure to hit the sports bar late in the

sports bar culture with an array of TVs and a fully fitted beverage counter

evening but if you really want to make the most of those stunning views, we

that offers some of the best drinks in town.

recommend the weekend breakfast. Should you be there in the wee hours of the morning, order the poached egg gratin and watch your Instagram

For those not willing to partake in the local sports bar vibe, D&A also

followers count soar.

boasts a large outdoor terrace that caters to all your al fresco dining needs and is complimented with mesmerising views of the Burj Al Arab Jumeirah.

BOOKING DETAILS: Dhow and Anchor, Jumeirah Beach Hotel

THE FOOD: As you can imagine, D&A offers everything from hearty roasts

restaurants@jumeirah.com to book a table.

is open daily from 12pm to 2am. Call +971 4 432 3232 or email

THE DUBAI MALL 04 339 8972 HARRYWINSTON.COM

Ad_Jumeirah_PremierDiamondSecRR_225x300mm.indd 1

© 2017 Harry Winston SA

Harry Winston Premier Diamond Second

12.03.2018 14:17:27