Jumeirah | May 2018

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Bling it on

The ultimate guide to buying a diamond ring

One love

How Muslims worldwide will be marking Ramadan

Princess and the pea

Feast like a king, sleep like a queen in Jumeirah's royal suites

PRINCE HARRY & MEGHAN MARKLE Celebrate with our royal wedding special issue

TIME IS YO U R G R E AT E S T TREASURE

Our newest watch has been crafted with its own details to treasure. Just like you, it reflects not only today, but an individual spirit for a unique life ahead.

TRÉSOR COLLECTION

Available at: OMEGA Boutiques: Dubai: BurJuman • Deira City Centre • Dubai Mall • Dubai Festival City • Mall of Emirates • Mirdif City Centre • Sahara Center • Wafi Abu Dhabi: Marina Mall • Yas Mall.

And available at Rivoli stores across UAE. Toll Free: 800-RIVOLI

Haute Joaillerie, place Vendôme since 1906

DUBAI: The Dubai Mall - Mall of the Emirates ABU DHABI: The Galleria Al Maryah Island 800-VAN-CLEEF (800-826-25333) ABU DHABI: Etihad Towers +971 2 681 1919 www.vancleefarpels.com

Frivole collection Between the Finger Ring, yellow gold and diamonds.

SERPENT BOHÈME

FIRST JEWELER OF THE PLACE VENDÔME In 1893, Frédéric Boucheron is the first of the great contemporary jewelers to open a Boutique on the Place Vendôme

Image: Getty Images

MAY 2018

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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 Director

Clarkwin Cruz Contributors

Rachel Silvestri, Gareth Rees, Polly Phillips, Aoife Stuart Madge, Jennifer Gibson General Manager – Production

S Sunil Kumar Production Manager

R Murali Krishnan

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Production Supervisor

Venita Pinto

CONTENTS

Chief Commercial Officer

Anthony Milne Publishing Director

Carlos Pedroza Group Sales Manager

Ziad Saleh ziad@motivate.ae

This Month

For Jumeirah

Charlie Taylor, Claire Hill

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

Featured

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

22 A real life princess bride As Prince Harry and Meghan Markle wed, what will life hold for the royal couple?

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 2 657 3490, Fax: +971 2 657 3489, 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

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28 Bling it on Diamond specialist Neil Duttson on how to buy the perfect engagement ring

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MAY 2018

CONTENTS

Lifestyle 34 Pioneering in a post-truth world Hear what news veterans have to say on UN World Press Freedom Day 38 In full bloom Celebrate a summer of love with flower shows in Chelsea and Belgravia

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42 One love How Muslims around the world celebrate the holy month of Ramadan

Travel 50 Suite dreams Feast like a king, sleep like a queen in some of Jumeirah’s finest suites 58 London for families Summer in the city when you have little ones in tow just got better 62 Ramadan delights The best places to enjoy iftar and suhoor in the holy month with friends and family 68 A royal feast The sumptuous roast in Jumeirah Carlton Tower’s The Rib Room is a royal banquet 75 Insiders’ guide to...the London summer Hear top tips on how to make the most of the British capital from its residents 80 Featured spaces The Terrace at Jumeirah Lowndes Hotel, London

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82 The high life Max on One Grillroom, Jumeirah Frankfurt

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CITY WATCH

Key dates for your diary

DUBAI

Magic and Monsters From May 1 and 11 The Illusionists, the biggest-selling magic show ever to appear on Broadway, returns to Dubai for a week-long run at Madinat Theatre this month.

The latest incarnation of the long-running show, dubbed “magic’s Cirque du Soleil” by British newspaper The Times, has been described as “the best the UAE has seen” by its UAE-based promoters, the Alchemy Project.

The show promises stunning acts of grand illusion, levitation, mind-reading and disappearance from seven star performers, including magicians Paul Dabek and Jamie Raven, illusionist Darcy Lake, escapist Krendl, stuntman Ben Blaque, ventriloquist Raymond Crowe and manipulation artist Florian Sainvet.

Comedy Central May 4 and 11

Following The Illusionists, Madinat Theatre will present the stage version of Monstersaurus, Claire Freedman’s children’s book about a child inventor called Monty, on May 10 and 11.

The Illusionists takes place from May 1 to 7 in Madinat Theatre, Madinat Jumeirah, Dubai,

Two of India’s foremost comedians will

followed by Monstersaurus on May 10 and 11.

perform in the auditorium in Dubai College

See madinatjumeirah.etixdubai.com for more details

this month.

First up on May 4 is stand-up and YouTuber Atul Khatri. Khatri, 50, a successful computer engineer and director of Mumbai-based IT and business consulting firm Kaytek Computer Services Private Limited, didn’t start performing until his early forties but has become a star in his home country since winning the first edition of Indian TV show CEO’s Got Talent in 2014. Named in CNN-News18’s list of 20 Indian stand-up comedians to watch out for in 2014, Khatri is a member of Indian comedy collective East India Comedy and has performed at Hong Kong International Comedy Festival, Utrecht International Comedy Festival, Melbourne International Comedy Festival, the Comedy Store and the Canvas Laugh Club.

Following Khatri on May 11 is Amit Tandon, aka “the married guy”, who has made a name for himself both in Indian and beyond with a standup routine built around middle-

May 2 to 5

class family life in India. The Huffington Post

Spamalot, the musical inspired by the 1975 film Monty

named Tandon one of the top 10 Indian

Python and the Holy Grail, comes to Dubai Opera. It

stand-up comedy acts of 2016. The Dubai gig

was written by Eric Idle, one of the six members of

is part of a world tour that also incorporates

the original British comedy troupe, with a score by

North America and the UK.

John DuPrez. The original Broadway production of

Atul Khatri performs on May 4 and Amit Tandon on May 11 in the auditorium, Dubai College, Dubai. See dubai.platinumlist.net for more details

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Holy Grail

Spamalot, featuring the Pythons’ hilarious take on the tale of King Arthur’s search for the Holy Grail, won three Tony awards in 2005.

Spamalot, Dubai Opera, Dubai. dubaiopera.com

Have a Nice Day May 11 The Stereophonics return to Dubai Media City Amphitheatre, the scene of their successful debut Dubai performance in 2015. This time the Welsh alt rockers stop off on their world tour, having released their tenth studio album called Scream Above the Sounds last year, two decades after the release of their hit debut LP Word Gets Around.

Stereophonics, Dubai Media City Amphitheatre, Dubai. stereophonics.com

Summer Sports May 17 to September 18 Dubai Sport World returns to Dubai World Trade Centre this month.

Organised by Dubai World Trade Centre and Dubai Sports Council, the annual indoor summer sports venue aims to offer sports lovers the chance to continue playing their sport of choice throughout the summer months, providing 25,000 square metres of airconditioned space to escape the ever-increasing outdoor temperatures.

Whether you’re looking to hire a court or a pitch, enter a tournament or sign your children up for one of the sports academies, Dubai Sports World has you covered.

Saudi Art

Sports on offer include football, cricket, table tennis, rugby, tennis, basketball, running,

Until June 28

badminton, volleyball, padel tennis and gymnastics. There is also a gym, coffeeshops, restaurants, medical facilities and plenty of parking.

Tabari Artspace presents Beyond The Grid, an exhibition of the work of Saudi Arabian

Dubai Sports World takes place in Dubai World Trade Centre, Dubai.

artist Lulwah Al Homoud. Al Homoud is

See dubaisportsworld.ae for more details

based in London but her work is influenced by traditional Islamic art. Beyond The Grid features more than 50 new and existing abstract artworks.

Carnival Atmosphere

Beyond The Grid, Tabari Artspace, Dubai. tabariartspace.com

May 10 Markus Schulz mans the decks at Zero Gravity’s regular carnival-inspired night Helter Skelter. The German-American trance DJ and producer, one of the biggest DJs in North America, is best known for his radio show Global DJ Broadcast and his collaboration with Dutch trance DJ and producer Ferry Corsten under the moniker New World Punx.

Markus Schulz, Zero Gravity, Dubai.

0-gravity.ae

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ABU DHABI/FRANKFURT

Music to Watch Movies By May 2 and 3 Louvre Abu Dhabi presents Love and Revenge, a multi-media collaboration between Lebanese hip-hop artist Rayess Bek (real name Wael Koudaih) and Lebanese visual artist La Mirza. Love and Revenge is a celebration of the golden age of Egyptian cinema from the 1940s through the 1950s and 1960s and features Arabic electro pop music and extracts from popular films.

Love and Revenge, Louvre Abu Dhabi, Abu Dhabi. louvreabudhabi.ae

A SPRING FLING WITH JUMEIRAH Nils Levent Gruen, head chef in Jumeirah Frankfurt’s Max on One Grillroom, explains the concept of the Jumeirah Spring Kitchen Party, the latest edition of the hotel’s longrunning series of food-based events.

What is the Jumeirah Spring Kitchen Party?

Our series of kitchen parties started shortly after the grand opening of Jumeirah Frankfurt in 2011. The Jumeirah Spring Kitchen Party is about experiencing food in a totally fresh, friendly and

Theatre Premiere

inviting atmosphere.

May 10 to 12

finger food. We then introduce all the chefs

The Middle East premiere of the play Noura by Iraqi-American actor and playwright Heather Raffo takes place in the Red Theatre in NYU Abu Dhabi’s arts centre. The story of Iraqi immigrants living in New York had its world premiere in the Shakespeare Theatre in Washington DC earlier this year. It is directed by NYU Abu Dhabi’s associate arts professor of theatre Joanna Settle.

Noura, Red Theatre, NYU Abu Dhabi. nyuad.nyu.edu

The evening starts with champagne and and winemakers to our guests. The guests can enjoy delicious food at 10 different live stations with matching wines. Everything will be prepared right in front of the guests´ eyes. Right after the culinary experience it is party time. With a DJ, refreshing cocktails and a vibrant party atmosphere, it becomes an unforgettable evening. We introduced this format in June last year. This will be the third kitchen party in this new style and we are planning to organise similar events twice a year.

Why is it important to celebrate spring in Frankfurt?

When spring comes to Frankfurt, the days get longer and the temperature rises. The city comes to life. Frankfurt is a really green city and the parks and the riverbank start to come into bloom at this time of year, as you can see from our windows. Our unique location provides the perfect city centre spot to celebrate the start of spring.

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THE WORLD

Bahrain Tradition Until May 5 The annual Bahrain Heritage Festival takes place in Arad Fort, a 15th century fort in Arad, a town on Bahrain’s Muharraq Island. The theme for the 26th edition of the festival, which features exhibitions, workshops and traditional Bahraini crafts, food and music, is Memory of Muhrraq.

Bahrain Heritage Festival, Arad Fort, Bahrain. culture.gov.bh/en

Venomous Creatures Until May 13 The Natural History Museum’s Venom: Killer and Cure exhibition provides a glimpse into the lives some of the most venomous creatures on the planet. Exhibition highlights include a live tarantula and the head of a gaboon viper, the viper species boasting the biggest

Big Draw May 16 to August 12 Frank Auerbach and Lucian Freud, both born

venomous fangs in existence. “Venom pervades the natural and human world everywhere on Earth and not always in the way you might expect,” says Dr Ronald Jenner, a researcher in the museum’s life sciences department. Not one for the fainthearted or easily scared.

Venom: Killer and Cure, Natural History Museum, London. nhm.ac.uk

in Berlin and escaping to the United Kingdom to escape the Nazis, are two of the most important figurative painters of the 20th century. This month the Staedel Museum’s department of prints and drawings presents Frank Auerbach and Lucian Freud: Faces, an exhibition comprising 40 prints and drawings by the two artists.

Frank Auerbach and Lucian Freud, Staedel Museum, Frankfurt. staedelmuseum.de/en

International Art Until May 19 Marlborough Fine Art presents Migrations, an exhibition of new work by the South-African born, now US-based, painter and poet Peter Sacks. Sacks’ mixed media works, which explore the themes of forced migration, conflict, displacement and diaspora, incorporate materials salvaged from the US, India, Spain, Normandy and Africa, including fishing nets, quilting, garments and burlap.

Migrations, Marlborough Fine Art, London. marlboroughlondon.com

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Flower Power May 21 to 26 Chelsea In Bloom celebrates its 13th edition. The annual floral art competition, produced by the property investment and management company Cadogan Group and the Royal Horticultural Society, will see the streets of London’s Chelsea neighbourhood decorated with floral displays. This year’s theme, inspired by the unlikely combination of the royal wedding and the cultural revolution of the 1960s and 1970s, is Summer of Love. Keep an eye out for Jumeirah Carlton Tower’s display.

Chelsea In Bloom, Chelsea, London. chelseainbloom.co.uk

Track and Field May 12 The International Association of Athletics Federations’ global circuit of one-day track and field meetings stops off in Shanghai.

Shanghai Diamond League welcomes a lineup of star athletes, including six who won gold medals in the 2016 Rio Olympics.

Shanghai Diamond League, Shanghai Stadium, Shanghai. shanghai.diamondleague.com

Kuwait Culture Events throughout May If you are staying in the Jumeirah Messilah Beach Hotel and Spa, which is currently celebrating its fifth year of operation, make sure you visit the new Sheikh Abdullah Al Salem Cultural Centre. Opened in March, the new art institute houses the Natural History Museum, Science and Technology Museum, Arabic Islamic Science Museum and Space Museum, as well as a fine arts centre and a theatre.

Sheikh Abdullah Al Salem Cultural Centre, Kuwait. ascckw.com

Monkey Business Until June 3 The Vanguard Gallery presents LucyLucy, an exhibition of paintings by Chinese artist Ye Linghan, inspired by Origins of Us, a 2011 BBC documentary exploring human evolution, presented by British academic and broadcaster Alice Roberts. The exhibition is named after Lucy, the oldest hominin ever discovered.

LucyLucy, Vanguard Gallery, Shanghai. vanguardgallery.com

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FEATURED 22 A real life princess bride

As Prince Harry and Meghan Markle prepare to wed, what will the big day hold?

28 Bling it on

Image: Getty

Diamond specialist Neil Duttson on how to buy the perfect engagement ring

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Words: Rachel Silvestri

FEATURED: ROYAL WEDDING

THE REAL LIFE PRINCESS BRIDE With Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s nuptials just around the corner, we take a look at what we can expect from the wedding of the year, as well as remembering the tradition, pomp and ceremony of British royal marriages of the past

W

hat is the word that comes up time and again for brides planning their weddings? Princess.

Who wouldn’t want to feel like royalty on the biggest day of their lives? Whether it’s a princess dress, princess-cut diamond or simply being treated like a princess, the term conjures the ultimate in decadence, magic and romance.

Yet while it might remain a fantasy or aspiration for most, for a select few, a wedding will turn them literally into a princess – or, at least, close enough.

On Saturday May 19, American actress Meghan Markle will walk down the aisle of St George’s Chapel in the grounds of Windsor Castle to marry Prince Henry of Wales – more commonly known as Prince Harry, Britain's cheeky, fun-loving prince – and will emerge as royalty.

Prince Harry and Megan Markle announce their engagement

Although her official title will be Her Royal Highness, Princess Henry of Wales, she will not be known officially as Princess Meghan as such titles are reserved for those born into royalty. But after the wedding, Queen Elizabeth II is expected to bestow the titles the Duke and Duchess of Sussex on the pair, just as Kate Middleton became the Duchess of Cambridge when she married Prince William. Even Princess Diana was never recognised as such by the royal family, although it was the name by which she became beloved.

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The happy couple after their engagement

The wedding could have taken place at the grand Westminster Abbey, where Harry’s elder brother Prince William wed the Duchess of Cambridge in 2011, but the couple have decided on the more understated St George’s Chapel.

Prince Edward married Sophie, Countess of Wessex, in the chapel, which has been popular with other members of the royal family.

“As with all members of the royal family, Windsor is a very special place for Prince Harry and he and Ms Markle have regularly spent time there over the last year-and-a-half,” read a statement released by Kensington Palace on November 28 last year.

“They are grateful to the Queen for granting permission for the use of the chapel.”

Lips are tight and speculation rife when it comes to the royal wedding’s finer points, but perhaps the most hotly-anticipated detail is which designer will be responsible for Ms Markle’s dress. Erdem, Victoria Beckham and Burberry have all been suggested while Alexander McQueen remains a contender, thanks to the runaway success of the Duchess of Cambridge’s incredible lace gown for her 2011 wedding. Ralph and Russo designed the dress that Meghan wore for her engagement pictures, putting the brand in the running, while designer Misha Nonoo, who is rumoured to have been the couple’s matchmaker, has also had her name mentioned.

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Prince William and Kate Middleton on their wedding day

FEATURED: ROYAL WEDDING

Windsor Castle

ROYAL STANDARD

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle on a visit to Edinburgh

Westminister Abbey

Since the wedding of Prince Charles and Lady Diana Spencer in 1981, royal nuptials have become quite the spectator sport, with an estimated global audience of two billion tuning in for Will and Kate’s 2011 marriage in Westminster Abbey. While Prince Charles and Diana were married in St Paul’s Cathedral, the imposing abbey has been the most popular wedding venue, with Princess Anne and Captain Mark Phillips marrying there in 1973 and Prince Andrew tying the knot there with Sarah Ferguson in 1986.

With all the speculation surrounding who will design Ms Markle’s wedding dress, it is worth remembering that royal brides of old would often choose a tried and tested designer. When the Queen married in 1947, she bought the ivory silk for her dress with rationing coupons – times were still tough in post-war Britain – then handed it over to designer Norman Hartnell, who also made her aunt Princess Alice’s gown in 1935. Hartnell was also responsible for arguably the most stylish royal wedding dress of all time, Princess Margaret’s elegant and captivating ballgown-style dress for her 1960 marriage to photographer Antony Armstrong-Jones. While it’s unlikely that Ms Markle will choose to follow Kate’s lead with Alexander McQueen, if she did it would certainly hark back to the royal traditions of using British fashion houses.

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Captivating Windsor Castle

The ring is obviously yellow gold because that's Meghan's favourite. The main stone itself I sourced from Botswana and the little diamonds either side are from my mother's jewellery collection, to make sure she's with us on this crazy journey

Of course, Ms Markle’s gorgeous yellow gold engagement ring will make an appearance, featuring two diamonds from the late Princess Diana’s collection as well as a large centre diamond from Botswana, where the couple spent time early in their relationship.

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wedding bouquet will feature myrtle as per royal tradition and we can almost certainly expect to see Prince Harry’s niece and nephew, Princess Charlotte and Prince George, taking a role in the bridal party.

“The ring is obviously yellow gold because that’s [Meghan’s] favourite. The main stone itself I sourced from Botswana and the little diamonds either side are from my mother’s jewellery collection, to make sure that she’s with us on this crazy journey together,” Prince Harry said during an interview with the BBC, their first as a couple.

There will be a reception for about 600 guests at Windsor Castle following the ceremony, which will feature lunch hosted by the Queen. The wedding cake, bucking the royal tradition for fruitcake, will be a lemon elderflower confection created by pastry chef Claire Ptak. Then, as shared by Kensington Palace, “later that evening, around 200 guests are being invited to the reception at Frogmore House given by the Prince of Wales”

As for the other details which have been confirmed, the couple will ride a carriage through Windsor immediately after their wedding ceremony, the

So will this be the type of raucous party many Prince Harry fans have come to know and love him for? We will just have to wait for the big day.

FEATURED: ROYAL WEDDING

FIT FOR A QUEEN Jumeirah Carlton Tower, London

If you’d like to immerse yourself in the royal treatment, Jumeirah Carlton Tower is just the place for you. A stone’s throw from Buckingham and Kensington Palaces, the hotel is home to a magnificent royal suite, bedecked in regal purple and gold. A spacious 155 square metres in the centre of the city, the suite features a freestanding bar, butler service, a Bang and Olufsen audio visual system, modern kitchen and a 10-seater dining table. Eat, sleep and entertain in majestic style.

Grosvenor House Suites, London

There’s another Jumeirah property in London that has a very royal connection – just before Ms Markle met Prince Harry in 2016, she gave an exclusive interview to Jumeirah magazine, singing the praises of Grosvenor House Suites

by Jumeirah Living, where she was staying at the time while in London.

“I can give you the most honest answer: it’s my favourite property I’ve ever stayed at,” gushed the future duchess. “I’m very fortunate that I have the luxury of staying at so many amazing places but the service and being able to come somewhere where it feels like home, where every need is anticipated, it’s all fantastic. I really love it here and I’m happy to be staying.

The couple on a visit to Northern Ireland

I’m even happy that I don’t have to fib.”

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Words: Aoife Stuart-Madge; Images: Sam Churchill Photography

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OTHERWISE ENGAGED It’s a decision that will last a lifetime – but choosing an engagement ring can be fraught with pitfalls. Top jeweller and diamond dealer Neil Duttson guides us through the ups and downs of shopping for a sparkler, as well as taking a look at Meghan Markle’s unique rocks

FEATURE: JEWELLERY

Neil Duttson

W

hen the news was announced on November 27 last year, the whole world sat up and took note – Prince Harry and Meghan Markle were engaged to be married.

Ms Markle had wrapped filming on her seventh and final season of hit drama series Suits, removals vans had been spotted outside her Toronto apartment and her numerous appearances around London all implied that an engagement might be imminent so the news of their betrothal wasn’t a total surprise. So what were avid royal-watchers most excited about when the engagement pictures taken in Kensington Palace’s Sunken Garden were released? Why, the ring, of course.

“It certainly gets my seal of approval,” says diamond expert, jeweller and owner of diamond company DuttsonRocks, Neil Duttson.

Prince Harry reportedly designed the yellow gold ring himself, with a trio of diamonds taking the lead – two small outside stones from his mother Princess Diana’s collection and a large centre stone from Botswana, where the couple spent the early days of their budding romance.

“I do like this ring and all it encompasses,” says Duttson. “It’s known as a trilogy, which represents the past, present and future. I love the fact Prince Harry has used diamonds that belonged to his mother and a centre stone from a country that he feels a deep connection to. All the diamonds hold memories for him and these memories have been set into a ring that will never be far away from him.”

Harry is said to have surprised Markle with the sparkler by getting down on one knee as the couple cooked a chicken dinner in their kitchen. But what advice does Duttson have for prospective fiances who might not be quite so sure of their (ring) choice?

“Having been on both sides of the sourcing and designing process, I find that the element of surprise is the best formula. However, it really can help some men to involve their potential fiances, especially if they have no clue.

A good “get out of jail free card” is to get down on bended knee with just the stone and then introduce the fiancee to me and together we can design her dream ring.”

That seems a smart way to hedge your bets – dazzle her with a diamond with none of the design doubts. But where to begin when sourcing a stone?

Ms Markle’s Botswanan sparkler has a well-documented background. But when it comes to purchasing stones from a dealer, it’s more important than ever before to know the diamond’s origins to avoid buying the products of conflict and human rights abuses.

“In this era of the diamond industry, there is no excuse for any dealer or broker not to have done their due diligence,” says Duttson. “It is extremely important to me to have as much traceability and certification as possible, which is why we at DuttsonRocks have only used three suppliers since [we began] trading.”

So how did Duttson find his way into the elite business of diamond dealing?

“I always wanted to do a job that involved travel as it’s a huge love of mine and what better why to do that than becoming an international diamond dealer who only deals with private clients,” he says. “I knew no one in the industry and took myself off to Antwerp to study diamonds.

Tiffany rings

“I am still very passionate about travel; however rare coloured diamonds are the now the obsession of my working life. DuttsonRocks either owns or sources diamonds and makes jewellery for private clients. The jewellery is made in our workshops in London, where we employ some of the most talented artisans within the industry. I am personally involved in every single meeting and handover, whether in the UK or overseas. Our design process involves the client every step of the way and our coloured diamond advice as a store of wealth for clients or their children is informative and factual.”

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A good 'get out of jail free card' is to get down on bended knee with just the stone and then introduce the fiancee to me and together we can design her dream ring

And with his world now revolving around the most exclusive of stones, what are Duttson's top tips for choosing the perfect diamond and setting for an engagement ring? Unsurprisingly, he has a few.

“Advice will vary for everyone due to different tastes. However, my thoughts are as follows – try and establish your future fiancee's tastes and choose or have made a ring that will complement her style. If she wears jewellery from the 1920s or 1930s era then perhaps look at diamond cuts such as square emerald cut or emerald cut, either on their own or with baguettes. Take some time to research on your own or pull in one of her trusted best friends to help. She may have subtly left magazines open at a particular page or dropped hints when walking together so use these hints to guide you.

Harry Winston

DIAMOND GEEZERS

“I see all sorts of mistakes being made. However, I am here to help with advice and instead of pointing out mistakes, I prefer to advise on improvement,” he adds. “The cut, polish and symmetry of a diamond is hugely important to the lustre of the stone. The lustre is the fire we see sparkling away on the finger. Another point is the fluorescence of a diamond, which often devalues the stone. The proportions of the table on the crown of the diamond are very

Neil Duttson isn’t the first man to make his mark on the precious stone market – these big names all exude sparkle Harry Winston – the 1930s brand’s eponymous founder was breathily mentioned by Marilyn Monroe in the classic comedy Diamonds are a Girl’s Best Friend. The ultimate in viral marketing?

Harry Winston Inc.’s continuing success as a market leader would suggest so.

Tiffany & Co – founded by Charles Lewis Tiffany and John B Young in 1837, this Manhattan jeweller has grown to be one of the world’s greatest commercial jewellery successes, with many women dreaming of unwrapping that turquoise Tiffany box.

Van Cleef & Arpels – when Alfred van Cleef and Salomon Arpels founded their high-end jewellery company in Paris in 1896, little did they know they would go on to patent one of fine jewellery’s most enduring secrets – the mystery setting. But with whimsical design and a flair for the dramatic, it’s no mystery as to why this brand’s success endures.

Graff Diamonds – this London-based brand was founded in 1960 and is still family-run. Founder and chairman Laurence Graff handed over the reins to his son Francois, who takes the role of company CEO.

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Bulgari

FEATURE: JEWELLERY

important. These are all characteristics that are important to the diamond and if not correct, these are some of the reasons that a diamond is cheap.

The setting of the stone or stones is also important and I often see some beautiful stones let down by inappropriate settings.

Speaking of fashion – can we expect the future duchess’s engagement ring to spawn a new trend of its own?

“I believe in simplicity when designing a ring or vintage. For example, a single round stone, square emerald cut or emerald cut with tapers are all timeless. I love the pre-1925 look and the 1930s style are both eras I take inspiration from. Timelessness is important, I believe.”

“The trilogy will always have its place, whether the diamonds are all matching in size or different sizes and I believe Meghan’s sparkler will definitely have some influence on ring trends going forward,” says Duttson. “I have seen a few strong trends over the years and currently it’s for a 1920s-style tight halo design. This is a centre stone surrounded by smaller diamonds. These diamonds can be pink, yellow, blue or white.”

He adds Ms Markle's yellow gold rock “has recently come back into fashion I am noticing, both for men and for women”.

So with all this advice under your belt, what are you waiting for? Get that chicken roasting and get down on one knee – it certainly worked for Prince Harry.

ROYAL CONNECTIONS Duttson and Meghan Markle have something in common other than a love of haute joaillerie – they are both huge fans of London property Grosvenor House Suites by Jumeirah Living.

And Duttson loves the property so much that he chose it as the location for his latest campaign video shoot: “I was introduced to a lovely lady called Alison who works for the Jumeirah group by a good friend of mine, Hugo Taylor, who has worked with her with his sunglasses business.

Hugo had already suggested that I make an informative video for social media and thought that the Grosvenor House Suites was the perfect fit for the story. It was. It’s an absolutely stunning and incredibly well-designed property. I am honoured to have been given the opportunity to film our video there. I am a massive fan of the Jumeirah group and love their hotels. My wife and I stayed in a Jumeirah hotel for the early part of our honeymoon so the brand is very special to us.”

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MahallatiJewellery

MahallatiJewellery

Mrs.Mahallati

LIFESTYLE 38 In full bloom

London's Chelsea and Belgravia are a riot of colour with stunning flower shows

42 One Love

Image: Getty

How Muslims around the world will be celebrating Ramadan this year

PIONEERING IN A POST-TRUTH WORLD As the UN marks World Press Freedom Day, Jumeirah meets the voices, veteran and new, hitting back at the modern day complaint that all news is fake news

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n the world of war reporting, there are few names bigger than Kate Adie. The 72-year-old British journalist spent much of her 34-year career on the frontline of conflicts from Sri Lanka to Iraq, the formerYugoslavia to Tiananmen Square, turning in era-defining reports that saw her rise to the position of chief news reporter within the BBC. Today, while she continues to host the corporation’s flagship From Our Own Correspondent, largely from the comfort of a well-equipped radio studio, she is also an author and an outspoken critic of many of the ways journalism has changed in a modern-era of budget cutting, internet research and citizen journalism.

Words: Jennifer Gibson

In Dubai recently for the 2018 Emirates Airline Festival of Literature, Adie hosted a small group masterclass entitled Journalism in a Post-Truth World, during which she gave an at times scathing assessment of the ways in which journalists are being increasingly sidelined in international reporting, with fewer organisations ensuring their own boots on the ground during conflict coverage.

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“It’s essential to be as close to the story as possible. But these days, 90 per cent of the difficult footage, particularly in conflict areas, shown on TV news around the world is done by agency camera crews, often with no reporter there. Local agency camera crews do have the advantage of knowing the language, knowing the territory, and knowing the area, yes – but there’s no reporter present and there’s no full verification of the bigger picture.”

This, she says, coupled with the increasing use of ‘citizen journalism’ and the sourcing of pictures and video online, aids those who want to present much of the modern reporting output as fake news, and allows forces with a vested interest to manipulate the news agenda. Indeed, she found herself at the centre of this modern malaise when historic footage of her and her crew was spliced into a feature purporting to contain the latest footage from Syria.

“A couple of years ago, at a time when Aleppo was under attack, Sky News in Britain ran a piece of footage in the middle of the night that had popped up on social media purporting to be the latest pictures from Syria. It was a scene of crumbled buildings, very shaky figures darting in the background, great chunks of masonry falling down, and in the background, a vehicle shunted through the rubble. This was being watched in the BBC newsroom by my producer who called Sky and said: ‘That piece that’s just in from Aleppo. I hate to tell you, but it’s me and Kate Adie in Sarajevo in 1992.’ There was nothing identifiable except that vehicle, but my producer knew exactly where it was because he had been in it. That was someone else’s pictures of us in 1992.” The footage was removed immediately, but it is a striking example of the ways in which even the biggest news organisations can be misled when footage emerges online, without the verification of old.

INNOVATION: FREEDOM OF PRESS

Katie Adie

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Souad Mekhennet

Another voice fighting for the importance of frontline reporting from a stage at March’s Literature festival was Souad Mekhennet, a veteran reporter for The Washington Post who was born and educated in Germany and has spent her career attempting to balance the Western and Muslim sides of her upbringing, providing a mediating voice between the two.

Her unique perspective has granted her frontline access to the often faceless leaders behind many modern conflicts and acts of terror, as described in her memoir I Was Told to Come Alone.

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years. So it is alarming if President Trump, the leader of the “free world,” is [denouncing the modern media]. I don’t think he might be aware, but when he calls the media ‘fake news, it’s a term that some [terrorists] also used for us.”

But with all this modern discussion about the veracity of our news media, how are viewers and readers supposed to ensure the picture they receive of the wider world is accurate? It’s all about exposing ourselves to as many ideas as possible, says His Excellency Omar Saif Ghobash, the UAE Ambassador to France and author of Letters to a Young Muslim.

She writes: “I was told to come alone. I was not to carry any identification, and would have to leave my cell phone, audio recorder, watch, and purse at my hotel…”, and it has been critically acclaimed as one of the most nuanced, honest and culturally astute descriptions of modern conflict available to readers globally.

Taking to the stage alongside the former British Ambassador to Lebanon, Thomas Fletcher, in a session focussed on ‘digital diplomacy’, Ghobash guided a young audience member who questioned what he should be reading to gain a broader understanding of world affairs.

“I grew up in an environment where we looked at what we had and have in common with people, and not what is dividing us,” Mekhennet has explained. “This is also what the United States used to be about for many

“We all need to read the massively different narratives that are coming out,” Ghobash explained. “In Western society, The Financial Times and The Guardian will give you the capitalist and anti-capitalist view of what’s going on. Then

INNOVATION: FREEDOM OF PRESS

Why should we be waiting for others to translate our views? We're the ones who have to intervene in these foreign debates. It’s important to get our voices in the languages that are hugely universal – HE Omar Saif Ghobash

Media press conference

you have to start reading about the west and non-west view as well, because that dynamic is very important.”

Speaking afterwards, Ghobash admitted that the Middle East needs to be doing more to ensure a nuanced picture of the region appears more readily in the international media, and that the voices being heard are true to the locality and less open to interpretation. “Why should we be waiting for others to translate our views? We’re the ones who have to intervene in these foreign debates.

WHERE TO STAY IN DUBAI Jumeirah Creekside Hotel

“A few years ago I noticed that the majority of comment on the Middle East was coming from non-Middle Eastern commentators, who portray themselves as experts and would have an influence on foreign policy making. Which is an astonishing thing. Is it effective to have translations coming out of the region? Maybe, over the course of a huge amount of time. But right now it’s more important to get our voices in the languages that are hugely universal – French, Russian, Chinese and of course English.”

Close to all of the literature events action Jumeirah Burj Al Arab Unrivalled luxury for those riding the crest of an international bestseller Madinat Jumeirah Resort For those looking to combine literary and city exploring

The Emirates Airline Festival of Literature returns in March 2019

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Words: Aoife Stuart-Madge; Images: Royal Horticultural Society

IN BLOOM

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CULTURE: FLOWER FESTIVAL

As royal wedding fever kicks off the ‘summer of love’ in London, the Chelsea Flower Festival is embracing all things retro with a ’60s and ’70s-inspired floral celebration

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ith the eyes of the world fixed on the British capital for the May wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, London is coming alive with colour, energy and culture.

There is no place this is more evident than at the Chelsea Flower Festival.

The Chelsea Flower Show first opened in May 1913 and now every spring, more than 500 exhibitors descend on the gardens of the Royal Hospital Chelsea to showcase their greenfingered creations, beautiful botanicals and blooms. However, it’s not just about the flowerbeds; it’s the A-list visitors too.

It’s the perfect event to inspire your spring/summer wardrobe, not least because of the awe-inspiring street style that could rival that seen at London Fashion Week. The guest list each year reads like a who’s who of London society, with everyone from the Duchess of Cambridge to Joan Collins wandering among the floral displays.

The event marks the start of the British summer social calendar so there is no better time to plan a city break to London. Outside the flower show, you can take in picnics in nearby Hyde Park or Regent’s Park, take a stroll around one of London’s world-renowned museums or galleries (don’t miss Frida Kahlo: Making her Self Up at the Victoria and Albert Museum), or enjoy meandering along the River Thames, passing iconic sights like Tower Bridge, the London Eye and the Houses of Parliament.

However, even if you don’t manage to secure a coveted ticket to the famous RHS Flower Show, there is plenty of opportunity to soak up the carnival atmosphere for free. Take Chelsea in Bloom, a free spectacular flower show in the royal borough, during which more than 50 hotels, restaurants and businesses will create unique window and storefront displays guided by this year’s theme of ‘‘summer of love’’.

Inspired by the royal wedding and the cultural revolution of the ’60s and ’70s, the royal borough – including the famous King’s Road – will be awash with vibrant colours and breathtaking flora (not to mention numerous Instagram opportunities).

If your idea of a perfect shopping afternoon is flitting between the likes of LK Bennett, Cartier and Bulgari, imagine doing so surrounded by giant Alice in Wonderland-style floral displays.

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BELGRAVIA IN BLOOM When Chelsea is in bloom, so is Belgravia. Visit Frida’s Belgravia in Bloom– a series of installations, floral displays and events in Belgravia inspired by the exhibition Frida Kahlo: Making Her Self Up at the Victoria and Albert Museum in South Kensington. The weeklong event from May 19 to 26 will also mark the official opening of Frida’s Parlour, an interactive Frida Kahlo-inspired installation hosting a series of creative workshops – from Frida-inspired floral headdress-making sessions to self portrait classes. Jumeirah Lowndes Hotel will be adapting the floral theme with gusto again this year with everything from the hotel’s entrance to the cupcakes at afternoon tea paying homage to the festival.

For more details see www.grosvenorlondon.com

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CULTURE: FLOWER FESTIVAL

A ROSY VIEW

Jumeirah Carlton Hotel Where better to stay to get an up-close look at the floral displays (and to soak up royal wedding fever) than at Jumeirah Carlton Tower? Experience the luxury of the Jumeirah brand in the heart of Belgravia, within easy walking distance of Harrods, Harvey Nichols and Kensington Palace.

Jumeirah Carlton Tower: +44 (0)20 7235 1234; JCTreservations@jumeirah.com

Jumeirah Lowndes Hotel Tucked away near Belgravia Square, this chic and compact hotel is ideal for those who want undisturbed luxury close to social and shopping hubs. It’s also the perfect base to explore the Frida Kahlo-inspired celebration of Belgravia in Bloom (see boxout).

Jumeirah Lowndes Hotel: +44 (0)20 7858 7171; JLHevents@jumeirah.com

This year’s theme is particularly apt for one entrant: Jumeirah Carlton Towers. The Knightsbridge Hotel scooped a gold award at last year’s festival and hopes to emulate that success this year with a display paying homage to the hotel’s 1960s heritage.

The Carlton Tower opened in 1961 as London’s first tower hotel and was the place to see and be seen in the neighbourhood, with everyone from Mary Quant to Tennessee Williams spotted there. This year’s theme will see the hotel commemorate that legacy.

Grosvenor House Suites by Jumeirah Living Luxury serviced apartments in the heart of Mayfair, overlooking Hyde Park and within walking distance of Harrods and Selfridges. From here, you

The world-class alternative floral art show has gone from strength to strength since its inception 13 years ago and this year promises to be bigger and brighter than ever with Chelsea’s best retailers, restaurants and hotels transforming famous streets including Sloane Street, Sloane Square, King’s Road, Duke of York Square and Pavilion Road from May 21 to 26.

can capitalise on the fun of both the Chelsea in Bloom and Belgravia in Bloom festivals.

Grosvenor House Suites by Jumeirah Living: +44 (0)20 7518 4444; GHSreservations@jumeirah.com

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PEOPLE: MY RAMADAN

ONE LOVE

Words: Rachel Silvestri

In countries around the world, Muslims are preparing to observe the holy month of Ramadan.

But aside from the basic requirements of fasting, charity and prayer, there are a multitude of ways to mark this special time.

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PEOPLE: MY RAMADAN

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s the sun sets during the Holy Month of Ramadan, a gentle hush settles over homes, towns and cities the world over. Sunset signifies the breaking of the fast, with families sitting down to iftar – the first food and drink consumed since sunrise.

Ramadan commemorates the revelation of the first chapters of the Quran to the Prophet Mohammed and able-bodied Muslims use this month to pray, fast and learn more about their religion as well as spend time with friends and family.

But as Islam and Muslims have spread over the globe, throughout countries and cultures, Ramadan has taken on different rhythms and customs depending on where it is observed.

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SHANGHAI “Ramadan for me is a month of self-control but also challenges,” says Mohamed Ikbal Majeri, a 39-year-old Tunisian national living in Shanghai.

“For example, here we don’t work half-days like some Muslim countries do.

And adding the fact that Ramadan has been happening in summer, when Shanghai is incredibly hot and humid, the challenge to maintain the fast can be difficult sometimes. But after the first week, the body gets used to it and I can handle it until the end of the month.”

Majeri, a research and development manager for a technology company, has been living in China for more than 11 years, so is well used to observing the holy month far from his original home.

“Ramadan for me is a month full of blessings,” he smiles. “Ramadan in Shanghai is different in so many ways. Unlike Beijing, for example,

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the choice of food here is more western-orientated. Also, especially at work, people come to check on me to see if I am doing ok and they try to refrain from eating next to me if they know I am fasting. It shows the degree of both curiosity and respect the Chinese can show toward Muslim residents.”

China has its own Muslim minority population, mostly from the northern Xinjiang region of China and Majeri sometimes visits restaurants in Shanghai offering cuisine from the province. But for him, nothing can compare to a true taste of home.

“Nothing beats spending Ramadan back in Tunisia where I do treasure family reunions and dinners together. The food in Tunisia is the best of the best and I cannot find any food that can compete with it,” he says.

PEOPLE: MY RAMADAN

Dubai Police have cannon ready at Fort Island, Madinat Jumeirah to announce Ramadan

DUBAI The emirate of Dubai has many colourful Ramadan traditions – in fact, two weeks before Ramadan begins, Emirati children take to their neighbourhood streets for the sweet treats that come with hag al laila. Knocking on neighbours’ doors and saying “atoona hag al laila” – meaning “give us sweets for tonight” – this event is a fun way for children to learn about sharing and giving while also serving as a reminder of Ramadan’s approach.

“For me, I think it’s the best month of the year,” says Fatma Alshaibani, an Emirati national who works as an innovation manager for a private company in Dubai. “I’m mostly looking forward to more time for family gathering, when we can stay up late talking and chatting with family members.”

Indeed, in the UAE, Ramadan is very much a family affair.

Ramadan in London is just amazing.

The atmosphere is so welcoming and friendly. Friends from work try and fast with you to show their support and shops stay open late

“Each country has its own way of spending the month of Ramadan but for us it’s mostly about family gatherings every day,” says Alshaibani. “We visit families and friends instead of going to the shopping malls. We like to cook Emirati dishes such as thareed, harees, luqaimat and sambusa with cheese, meat or chicken. We also share iftar with our neighborhood. And we prefer cooking at home instead of ordering takeaway food.”

Dubai has a very special feeling throughout The Holy Month – whether it’s the hustle and bustle of the Ramadan night market, the boom of the cannons that announce the setting of the sun or simply the kindness and hospitality of friends and neighbours inviting you to share a bite with them, it has to be experienced to be appreciated.

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PEOPLE: MY RAMADAN

LONDON In one of the world’s most multicultural cities, Ramadan is a time of togetherness. Filis Mohamed was born in Somalia but left the country at nine months old due to war and instability. The 23-year-old has lived in London ever since and works as a teaching assistant at a primary school in the city.

“I love London. I can’t imagine living anywhere else,” says Mohamed. “I grew up in a lovely area and went to school, college and university here.”

So how is the atmosphere in the UK’s biggest city during Ramadan?

“Ramadan in London is just amazing. The atmosphere is so welcoming and friendly,” she says. “Some dessert shops stay open later than usual because they know that after prayer, everyone is roaming the streets. Friends from work try and fast with you to show their support and butchers’ shops and big supermarkets have amazing deals.

“One of my favourite things about Ramadan is cooking with my family, making traditional foods and desserts. Although it is tiring, it is also rewarding.

Some of our neighbours are also Muslim so we always make an extra dish and give it to them and they do the same.

“It is a lovely feeling sharing a religion with so many people from different ethnic backgrounds and trying their traditional foods and exchanging recipes.

I genuinely believe London as a whole embraces Ramadan. Shops sell foods that are associated with the holy month and they have deals so everyone can afford to buy these special Ramadan foods. You can find things like samosas, spring rolls, dates, baklava and many more in most shops.”

But even as an enthusiastic Londoner, Filis does have one Ramadan wish to fulfil – travel.

“Ramadan in London is one of my favourites but if there was anywhere else I could spend Ramadan, it would be my home country of Somalia,” says Mohamed. “I would love to spend it with my grandfather and experience Ramadan back home.”

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The fast is traditionally opened with dates

And as for common misconceptions, she is ready to explain just how Ramadan works to those who may not have experienced it before.

“I understand that some people still think it’s not right to “starve” children but that’s not what Ramadan is,” says Mohamed. “You are not required to fast until you hit puberty. You are also not required to fast if you are ill or pregnant. My mother used to allow me to fast half a day when I was younger and I was not allowed to fast completely until I was 14. Another thing some people need to understand is that we fast to reflect on how lucky we are and how thankful we should be because in some countries people go every day without eating. We need to remember that and thank God for all that he has given us. Ramadan also opens everyone’s eyes and allows them to see how much food is wasted and encourages us to make less food and be grateful.

Muslims also pay charity in the month of Ramadan because fasting shows us the struggle families go through every day and that softens the heart and makes you appreciate all that you have.”

Tel: (+971) 4 337 7000 Email: ahmad@ahmadkurdi.com www.ahmadkurdi.com https://www/facebook.com/ahmadkurdifinejewellery | https://www.instagram.com/ahmadkurdifinejewellery

TRAVEL 50 Suite dreams

Feast like a king, sleep like a queen, in Jumeirah's sumptuous royal suites

62 Ramadan delights

Image: Getty

A round-up of the best iftars and suhoors to break your fast this Ramadan

TRAVEL: ROYAL SUITES

SUITE DREAMS

Words: Polly Philips

Sleep like a king (or queen) in our pick of Jumeirah’s finest royal suites

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TRAVEL: ROYAL SUITES

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e all know that a good night’s sleep can cure anything from stress to lack of concentration, excess weight gain or even a loss of creativity.

Some people actually believe sleeping well will help them live longer. Whether or not that’s true, as the director at a top New York sleep clinic, Raymonde Jean, put it: “If you sleep better, you certainly live better.”

And there’s no easier way to live better than by sleeping like a king or queen on hand-picked pillows, wrapped in sheets with a thread count of your choosing, the sounds of the Arabian Gulf lapping at the shore outside your

window, while you recline in a suite with 24-hour butler service, complete with its own bar, restaurant or kitchen area, set away from the hubbub of other holidaymakers with a team of staff to take care of your every need and ensure the exclusivity and privacy you’re looking for. It sounds like the stuff sweet dreams are made of but all of Jumeirah’s royal suites offer a truly palatial experience, allowing their residents to relax in generous, luxury spaces that really are fit for royalty. Each resort and destination comes with its own unique take on the more luxurious of trappings but every single one of the opulent suites has this in common: attention to the tiniest detail, combined with sumptuous style, designed to make sure that everyone who stays in them leaves feeling as pampered as a princess.

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TRAVEL: ROYAL SUITES

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TRAVEL: ROYAL SUITES

Private pools to relax in Taking a dip in your own private pool or feeling the sand between your toes on Madinat Jumeirah’s two-kilometre private beach are just two of the majestic experiences available for those who stay in the Royal Malakiya villas in Jumeirah Dar Al Masyaf. The word malakiya translates as royal in Arabic and the title epitomises the luxury that these delightful villas have to offer.

Each comes with its own leafy courtyard and private plunge pool, situated just steps away from the beach, allowing residents to go from the pool to the beach without seeing a single other soul, if that is what they wish. Any other requests are at the command of 24-hour butlers, who make it their mission to ensure their guests want for nothing.

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Breakfast, lunch and dinner like a king They say the key to a healthy lifestyle is to ‘breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince and dine like a pauper – but at Jumeirah Vittaveli in the Maldives, there’s no excuse not to have a royal experience at every meal. Set on the far end of Jumeirah’s private island, the royal residence comes with its own restaurant, dedicated entirely to preparing dishes which can be flown in or made to order by the suite’s personal chef, all designed to delight its occupants.

The enormous 3,500 square metre residence is well suited to accommodate a royal family as it comes with five bedrooms, two private plunge pools and its own dedicated gym, bar and spa. Guests also have access to their own private lagoon, where a lounge area and dining pavilion have been specially conceived to allow picturesque views. The suite also comes with access to its own yacht, should residents wish to explore the exotic surrounds of their luxurious island hideaway.

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TRAVEL: ROYAL SUITES

The highest quality pillow fight What’s a holiday without a little fun before bedtime – and that’s where the Burj Al Arab’s extensive pillow menu and sheet collection comes in. Guests can indulge in the ultimate pillow fights as they choose between 14 types of different pillow, a selection of high quality sheets with varying Egyptian cotton thread counts and an ultra-deluxe king-sized bed that can be customised to suit individual posture preferences. Not that there’s that much time to sleep in this state-of-the-art suite. Set over two levels, the Burj Al Arab’s royal two-bedroomed suite comes with its own lounge, library and cinema room, not to mention two private jacuzzis and its own in-house private elevator.

With bars set on both levels, in-suite check-in and check-out services and the world’s largest brigade of suite-specific butlers, available 24 hours a day, there’s really no reason to ever leave.

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LONDON FOR FAMILIES We reveal the city’s best options for family fun in the sun in the British capital this summer

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Words: Aoife Stuart-Madge; Images: Getty / Londonandpartners

ravelling with kids can be tricky, so it pays to pick a destination with oodles of fun and adventure for little ones of all ages (nobody wants to hear those dreaded words ‘I’m bored’, right?). Step forward, London. From the London Zoo to Madam Tussauds waxwork museum, it’s the perfect summer getaway for children and grown-ups alike. Here’s our pick of the best family-friendly activities in the city.

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TRAVEL: LONDON FOR FAMILIES

British Museum

THE MUSEUMS Most of the major museums have trails, activities and apps for children – and best of all the majority of them are free to enter. Top picks include the Natural History Museum, the Museum of London and the Science Museum (don’t miss the Wonderlab with its array of irresistible buttons, pulleys and experiments).

THE OUTDOOR ENTERTAINMENT On the Southbank, head - with a change of clothes - to the Appearing Rooms fountains where little ones will be thrilled getting soaked by the jets. Meander further along the Southbank and you’ll find street entertainers, skateboarders and even sand artists on the tiny beach at Gabriel’s Wharf. If you fancy a more substantial dip than a splash in the fountains, Tooting Bec Lido is the largest fresh water swimming pool in the UK and its heated – bonus!

Prince Edward Theatre

THE WEST END SHOWS London’s West End is famed for its fantastic theatre shows and there is plenty to entertain the whole family this summer from Disney’s Aladdin at the Prince Edward Theatre to Harry Potter and the Cursed Child at the Palace Theatre. For something a little different, check out The Dark Room for Kids at The Belly. You and your family are stuck in a live-action video game and have to figure out your escape.

THE PARKS There is a wealth of green spaces in the capital in which to tire out little legs with a run around. Kew Gardens is a must-visit with playgrounds trails and treetop walks aplenty – not to mention an LED light display of humming bees. Meanwhile Richmond Park is a whopping green oasis that is three times the size of New York’s Central Park and is home to wild deer.

Watching the ducks in Richmond

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The Jumeirah bear is included in the summer family fun package

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TRAVEL: LONDON FOR FAMILIES

WHERE TO STAY Treat the kids with a bespoke box of toys to use during their stay at Jumeirah Lowndes Hotel. Each personalised toy box will be filled with a hand-picked, age-appropriate selection of the latest toys, crafts, books and games courtesy of London-based Toy Box Club. The hotel is within walking distance of Hyde Park and the West End. The kids are well catered for in the Lowndes Bar and Kitchen where renowned head chef Martin Gabler whips up relaxed fare in a friendly neighbourhood setting in the heart of Belgravia. Little ones can enjoy stone baked pizza, hot dogs, burgers and fish fingers, while mum and dad will love dining al fresco in the brand new open-air terrace.

What’s more, the hotel’s Book and Brunch Sundays combine a delicious new brunch menu with bottomless tea or coffee, fresh juice and a brand new novel to get stuck into whilst you indulge. With each title carefully chosen by local independent bookstore, Belgravia Books, and a different book available each month, Sunday brunch in Belgravia has never been more satisfying! There is even a limited edition ‘Children’s Book and Brunch’ menu. The books selected for children include Beatrix Potter’s topical literary classic, Peter Rabbit alongside a delicious brunch menu and a glass of fresh orange juice.

To book, contact the events team on: Jumeirah Lowndes Hotel: +44 (0)20 7858 7171; JLHevents@jumeirah.com Meanwhile at Jumeirah Carlton Tower in Belgravia, you can also treat the kids with a bespoke box of toys to use during their stay plus exclusive children’s amenities with this ultimate family retreat. This hotel boasts stunning views of the London skyline, access to private gardens and tennis courts and one of London’s most exclusive health clubs, The Peak Health Club & Spa. Located on Sloane Street opposite the private Cadogan Place Gardens, this luxury hotel near Hyde Park is tucked away in an exclusive family-friendly area.

Welcoming you at Jumeirah Lowndes Hotel

Hyde Park, the museums of South Kensington, including the Victoria and Albert Museum, and the city’s finest luxury shopping are all within easy walking distance – not to mention the world-famous Harrods and Harvey Nichols department stores.

The Family Fun Package includes: One night accommodation with full English breakfast; Toy Box for children to use throughout their stay; Jumeirah bear and VIP children’s turn down amenity ; Complimentary access to The Peak Health Club & Spa including 20 metre swimming pool and Complimentary Wifi.

To book this exclusive package, contact the reservation team on +44 (0)20 7235 1234; JCTreservations@jumeirah.com Alternatively, spend your summer at Grosvenor House Suites by Jumeirah Living where you can enjoy the comfort and privacy of a private residence, as well as additional benefits to keep the children happy all summer! With a central location on Park Lane in the heart of Mayfair, this property is ideally positioned for all the city’s sights. Children of all ages are welcomed with a personalised toy box, and children’s packs, full of activities and puzzles to keep little ones entertained throughout their stay. The children’s packs also feature a selection of toys and gifts for an extra special stay. What’s more, children can order from the special children’s menu in both the Atrium and In Room Dining.

The Peak Health Club and Spa

For more information or reservations, please contact +44 (0)20 7518 4444; GHSreservations@jumeirah.com

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Moroccan sweets in the Burj Al Arab Jumeirah

RAMADAN DELIGHTS

Words: Aoife Stuart-Madge

There’s nothing like catching up with family and friends over some special dishes during the holy month. Here’s our guide on where to enjoy the best of Ramadan fare.

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amadan is nearly upon us, and with it comes a veritable feast of delicious iftars and suhours where you can choose to break your fast. The speciality dishes eaten during Ramadan are often reserved just for the holy month and each region has their own unique take on festive banquets (in the UAE, dates and laban serve as entrees to a wealth of Emirati specialities; while in Kuwait, harees – crushed wheat with shredded mutton – are the local delicacy). But with so many great restaurants to celebrate this special time, it can be difficult to decide where to break fast. Thankfully, we’ve done our research and complied a shortlist of the best iftars, suhours and Ramadan treats in the Middle East.

GOURMET: IFTAR AND SUHOOR Ramadan decorations

Moroccan fare at Burj Al Arab Jumeirah

Burj Al Arab Jumeirah, Dubai Where: There is nowhere quite as iconic as the famous Burj Al Arab to break fast this Ramadan. Whether you choose to dine in the world’s highest atrium lobby or on the renowned terrace, the iftar and suhour venues are open from sunset to 1am, Showcasing the best of Arabic cuisine alongside international specialities (Californian fusion with sea views, anyone?).

Taste The Traditional: The two iftar buffets (one in the Al Iwan atrium and one in the spectacular Al Falak ballroom) are packed with the tastiest traditional flavours including creations by the Tamarind man and treats from the Turkish ice cream trolley.

Must-Try: What better way to wash down your feast than with a bottle of the Burj’s famous Gold Emotion – apple juice flaked with gold? A special drink for a truly special meal.

Book It: Call +971 4 301 7600 or email: BAArestaurants@jumeirah.com

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Iftar with famly at Lalezar

Jumeirah Zabeel Saray, Palm Jumeirah, Dubai Where: There is a choice of three superb Iftar venues: take in crystal chandeliers, gilded columns and stunning sea views in the grand Imperium; marvel at the high ceilings, dark wood carvings and al fresco views of Al Nafoorah or kick-back in the Ottoman-inspired majestic Lalezar.

Taste The Traditional: Depending on which venue you choose, you can enjoy your ifatr with an international, Turkish or Lebanese twist. Feast on mini kofte and boregi (cheese wrapped in filo pastry) in Lalezar and harees (barley wheat with shredded lamb) and lamb kibbeh in Al Nafoorah. Follow with Arabic desserts like qatayef dough parcels, cheese kunafa (sweetened pastry) and umm ali, a rich, creamy version of bread and butter pudding.

Must-Try: Moulokhiya in Al Nafoorah is a delicacy which takes hours to prepare. Boneless chicken is slow-cooked with green leaves, garlic and onion.

Book It: Iftar served from sunset–8.30pm. Call +971 4 453 0444, email JZSrestaurants@jumeirah.com or see jumeirah.com/jzsramadan

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Mouhalabiyah, Jumeirah Zabeel Saray

GOURMET: IFTAR AND SUHOOR

Salt, Jumeirah Messilah Beach Hotel and Spa

Jumeirah Messilah Beach Hotel And Spa, Kuwait Where: The Badriah ballroom is the largest ballroom in Kuwait so you can expect a memorable evening in this iconic venue which has been transformed into a glittering tent for the holy month.

Al Majlis, Madinat Jumeirah, Dubai Where: There is nothing that epitomises the magic of the holy month quite like the spectacular tent in the Madinat Arena. Designed to bring families together, it seats a whopping 1,000 people and is elegantly designed with Arabian accents.

Taste The Traditional: At the Arabic mix grill counter you can feast on kebab, Kheshkhash (seeded chicken) and Lamb Harees while Kuwaiti specialities such as Arayes (meat stuffed pitas) and Shrimp Majboos (basmati rice and shrimp flavoured with onions, garlic, tomatoes, coriander and cloves) are among the not-to-be-missed treats.

Taste The Traditional: Choose from classic dishes such as cold and hot mezze, vegetable and meat casseroles and lamb ouzi (a whole roasted lamb served on a mound of rice) while the stand-out dessert is the melt-in-themouth chocolate truffles finished with Moroccan tea and Turkish coffee.

Must-Try: The warm chocolate shawarma has to be seen to be believed. Shavings from a rotating block of chocolate - rather like the savoury kebab version - are then folded into a crepe, drizzled with honey and dished up with ice cream.

Must-Try: Al Majlis’ version of harees is made with veal and the umm ali is particularly memorable. There are live cooking stations and shisha is available after iftar.

Book It: Call +965 222 69666 or email Jumeirahrestaurant@jumeirah.com

Book It: Call +971 4 432 3232 or email restaurants@jumeirah.com

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GOURMET: IFTAR AND SUHOOR

Jumeirah at Etihad Towers

Dates served in Jumeirah at Etihad Towers

Risotto, Jumeirah at Etihad Towers

Jumeirah At Eithad Towers, Abu Dhabi Where: Old meets new in the exquisite fine dining setting of Li Beirut, which gives a modern twist to Lebanese fare. Sip on karkadi, sweetened hibiscus juice, before feasting.

Taste The Traditional: There is, of course, lamb harees but you will also find mahashi mushakala, marrow and aubergine stuffed with rice, vine leaves and minced lamb and dajaj bil batata, roasted chicken with garlic, potato and lemon.

Must-Try: Baked kunafa osmalia is given a special twist with a smothering of caramel honey sauce. Wash it down with qamar al deen, a drink made from dried apricots and especially popular during Ramadan.

Book It: Call +971 2 811 5666 or email JADrestaurants@jumeirah.com

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All you need is a full day of fun with thrilling rides combined with delicious dining experience of our gourmet meals, join us at Wild Wadi Waterpark™ in a perfect location between Burj Al Arab Jumeirah and Jumeirah Beach Hotel.

Buy your ticket online today on wildwadi.com or call us on +971 4 348 4444

GOURMET: PERFECT ROASTS

A ROYAL FEAST

Words: Rachel Silvestri

Featuring prime cutst from royal warrant holder Donald Russell, Jumeirah Carlton Tower’s sumptuous Sunday roast in The Rib Room might well be a taster of what the royal family will be tucking into on Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s big day. Well, if it’s good enough for royalty…

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GOURMET: PERFECT ROASTS

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I

Jumeirah executive chef Simon Young

mmediately following Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s wedding reception, 600 guests will be treated to what is sure to be a very special lunch, hosted by his grandmother, Queen Elizabeth II.

As with all aspects of the upcoming royal wedding, information is scarce – but there is sure to be a juicy cut of meat featuring somewhere and few will know more about what tickles Her Majesty’s fancy than the Queen's supplier of meat and poultry, Donald Russell. This traditional butcher from Aberdeenshire, Scotland, has a long relationship with the palace, supplying the royal households with succulent morsels for more than three decades.

‘Here at Donald Russell, we’re very proud of our own royal connection,” says Robert McFarlane, director of sales and business development at Donald Russell. “We have held our royal warrant continuously since 1984, when we were appointed official warrant holders to the Queen. We have been supplying the royal households for more than 30 years, which we regard as a testament to the quality of our meat. We have also worked for many years with The Rib Room, supplying our hand-selected, traditionally dry-aged ribs of grass-fed British beef, delivered directly from our butchery in Inverurie to Jumeirah Carlton Tower in London several times a week.”

It’s this beef that makes its way onto the plates of the Sunday roasts that The Rib Room is so renowned for. A traditional meal that can warm the cockles of British hearts at a mere mention, at The Rib Room it is award-winning

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GOURMET: PERFECT ROASTS

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When sourcing meat I look for good marbling and the ageing process.

Donald Russel beef is grass fed as opposed to grain fed which gives it a deep, complex flavour

executive chef of Jumeirah Carlton Tower, Simon Young, who has the last word in what makes the perfect roast.

“Quality and provenance of ingredients” are the most important points when it comes to making a truly special Sunday meal, says Young, adding what sets The Rib Room apart is “without a doubt, the cooking process of the beef and the fact that the meat is hanged for 28 days.

“The meat complements all of the accompanying ingredients – there is nothing better than mopping up all of the cooking juices with roast potatoes and Yorkshire puddings. When sourcing meat I look for good marbling and the ageing process and the fact that Donald Russell beef is grass-fed as opposed to grain-fed gives it a deep, complex flavour.”

Sunday roast lunch at The Rib Room isn’t a simple, kitchen table-style affair – all the stops are pulled out, with three courses, tea or coffee and petits fours.

Choosing from a wide variety of starters, you can kick off with a classic Rib Room prawn cocktail, Loch Fyne smoked salmon or even – for the full beef experience – glazed short rib of beef, crispy bone marrow, celeriac puree and baby watercress.

And then it’s on to the mains – free range meat cuts, pan-fried Cornish halibut and slow-roasted leg of lamb are all on the menu but for the traditional experience, nothing can replace beef as the meat of British choice.

Roast rib of Aberdeen Angus from Donald Russell with Yorkshire pudding, winter vegetables and beef dripping roast potatoes is a showcase of the best of British fare. So how did Donald Russell come to supply The Rib Room – its location in Belgravia making it a close neighbour of Buckingham Palace – with royal-standard beef?

“We were introduced to Donald Russell about six years ago by a friend of mine who is the royal chef,” reveals Young. And if he had his chance to cater the royal wedding lunch, what would he go for? His answer is simple and to the point.

“Beef Wellington,” he says, without a moment's hesitation. And there’s scarcely any dish that could be more classically British than that – except perhaps a Rib Room Sunday roast.

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GOURMET: PERFECT ROASTS

NOBLE NIBBLES It’s not just beef Wellington that took its name from British high society. Try these aristocratic treats for a taste of decadence Sandwich: The humble sandwich might not seem sophisticated but this versatile dish took its name from the fourth Earl of Sandwich, who is reputed to have requested in 1762 that meat be served between slices of bread so he could eat with one hand while continuing to play cards. He certainly wasn’t the first person to eat two slices of bread with a filling but he popularised this humble snack enough to have it named after him.

Victoria sponge: This sweet, light sponge cake, moistened with a filling of raspberry jam and cream, was created to celebrate the invention of baking powder – and Queen Victoria was said to enjoy a slice with her afternoon tea. A delightful cake named after a queen of impeccable taste.

Coronation chicken: This mixture of cooked chicken, herbs and spices in a mayonnaise sauce was first served at the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II in 1953. A firm favourite in salads and sandwiches, additional ingredients such as raisins and flaked almonds can also be added to this bright yellow concoction.

Battenberg cake: The family of Prince Philip, the husband of Queen Elizabeth II, may have changed their names to the more anglicised Mountbatten after the First World War but their original name lives on in the colourful, chequered Battenberg cake. This sponge, marzipan and apricot jam confection was served at the wedding of the Duke of Edinburgh’s grandparents in 1884 and remains a British teatime favourite to this day.

Earl Grey tea: A delicate blend of black teas flavoured with bergamot oil, this refreshing brew has been around since the 1800s, when it was named after then British prime minister Charles Grey, the second Earl Grey. The combination was designed to get the best out of the hard water at the Grey family seat, Howick Hall.

Its popularity led to the family allowing tea purveyor Twinings to market the blend. The company still produces it for the family today.

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TRAVEL: LONDON

THE INSIDERS GUIDE TO…

THE LONDON SUMMER

View of London from the observatory of The Shard

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PETER SEARLE

Guest relations manager, Jumeirah Carlton Tower

I have lived in London for almost three years now. I initially moved from Ireland to carry out a work placement in Jumeirah Carlton Tower as part of my university degree. Subsequently I was offered a permanent role and have been here since.

You can never be bored in London. There is always something to do. I have worked for Jumeirah Carlton Tower for nearly three years. I love the atmosphere throughout the hotel, both back of house and front of house. There is a great sense of camaraderie among colleagues and guests alike, which really makes every day a very pleasant experience from start to finish. London is a fantastic city during the summer. It’s really vibrant and there is so much to do.

When the sun is out and the evenings are long, there is a unique vibe all around the city. In the evenings the place is buzzing and everybody loves to get out and enjoy the sun so it is a nice place to be.

For me, the top five things to do in London in the summer are: attend one of the many music festivals or concerts that happen during the summer in London; if you’re lucky and can get hold of a ticket, head to Wimbledon, an amazing experience; go to an outdoor screening of a movie at Somerset House or Southbank; head down to one of London’s farmers markets such as Greenwich Market – they are always rustic and have a fun atmosphere; spend a day in Camden soaking up the alternative scene.

The views from Jumeirah Carlton Tower are amazing. On a bright sunny day, the views over the city can stretch for miles. We also have a beautiful private park area, Cadogan Place Gardens, right in front of the hotel, which is a perfect spot to catch some sun – this is exclusive to local residents and guests.

If I had to choose my favourite neighbourhood in London, it would be a choice between Clapham and Camden Town, two very vibrant places.

My favourite British dish to eat in London in the summer is fish and chips. It’s a little bit more difficult to choose my favourite thing to do as there are so many things to choose from, all of which have their benefits in different ways. But if I had to choose, I would say that I love meeting up with friends and just chilling in the sunshine in one of the parks around London. I love going for a stroll along the River Thames.

If you’re willing to venture out of the city a little, there is an amazing pedestrian walk which will take you along the river all the way as far as Richmond, a great district to have a look around. You’ll pass by Kew Gardens too, which is a must-see. People will mention the bad weather but it is not that bad. In fact, it can be quite refreshing. This year I am hoping to head to the Royal Ascot racecourse, which is just outside London.

Words: Gareth Rees

Jumeirah Carlton Tower and Cadogan Gardens

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TRAVEL: LONDON

Jumeirah Lowndes Hotel

SIMON ROMANSKI

Concierge, Jumeirah Lowndes Hotel

I have lived in London for more than 10 years. I love the fact London is such a cosmopolitan city. I’ve worked for Jumeirah Lowndes Hotel for eight years.

For me, my colleagues make this place. There are so many interesting and genuinely nice people here.

London is a vibrant city with attractions to satisfy all kind of tourists, whatever the weather. But in summer, I find everyone has a bigger smile on their face than normal. There are lots of open-air theatre shows in places like Regent's Park, and open-air cinemas in Holland Park, London Fields and the rooftop cinema in Stratford. You can also enjoy concerts, among them British Summertime in Hyde Park. There are diverse events in various locations from Clapham Common to Alexandra Palace, Greenwich Park, which is good for family picnics, London Zoo and cruising on the Thames or Regent's Canal is lovely.

During the summer, I love spending time in riverside bars in Southbank, St Katherine’s Dock and Chelsea Harbour. Here in Jumeirah Lowndes Hotel, we have four bespoke Belgravia bicycles that are available for hotel guests to borrow during their stay – perfect for a summer cycle around Chelsea. My favourite thing to do in summer is just that, to cycle around the city. I live close to Greenwich and I am very fond of it. However, I love how the whole of Chelsea unites during Chelsea Flower Show in May when the area is blooming.

My favourite meal in London in the summer is fish and chips, washed down with a few pints of cold beer. I like to go to Leicester Square for the atmosphere and Chinatown for the food. People tend to think there are only big attractions to visit in central London when actually, places like Windsor, Legoland and Stonehenge aren’t too far away and can be visited in a day trip.

I am most looking forward to the royal wedding as there is so much buzz around the topic already. Buckingham Palace will open its doors to visitors, which will be amazing.

If you have just 24 hours in London, start off with a morning run or stroll in Hyde Park, followed by a book and brunch experience in Lowndes Bar and Kitchen and then go and see a musical in the evening.

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TRAVEL: LONDON

View from Jumeirah Carlton Tower

DANIEL BETHEL

Concierge, Jumeirah Carlton Tower

I was born in London and I am very proud to be a Londoner. The range of things to do in the city is tremendous. Everything from art and theatre through to sports and nightlife is all accessible within London’s 611 square miles. It doesn’t matter what your passion is, it can be indulged in London.

I started working for Jumeirah Carlton Tower in October 1998 as a page boy so I am approaching my 20th year. As a concierge, people feel they can talk to you freely and as recognised Clefs D’Or members, our guests know we have a reputation for discretion. Therefore I have had the unique opportunity to get to know some guests very well and have seen families grow and generations of new guests arrive. It’s a thrilling feeling to be a small part of a guest’s story.

London comes alive in the summer. Outdoor parks become playground for all ages. St James’s Park is fantastic in the summer; the flowers are so bright and beautiful. During the summer you can walk around and discover the city on foot. You will see things on a walk that you would never notice from a taxi.

My top tip is keep your head up in London. You will be surprised about what you see. With such a culturally diverse city, it is all about the way the cultures combine to share that makes the London experience.

Things to do this summer? Roger Walters, Eric Clapton and Michael Buble are all playing in Hyde Park in July. Even if you’re not a sports fan, I would suggest attending a Wimbledon match at the All England Club for the Tennis Grand Slam. The traditions that surround the championships encapsulate everything that is great about the British culture. The Athletics World Cup will take place at the London Stadium in July and if we as a city can produce an atmosphere anywhere near the one created for the 2012 Olympics then it will be a very impressive event indeed.

There’s nothing quite like the decadent afternoon tea scene in London. I particularly like our Symphony afternoon tea, which is handcrafted by top pastry chef Lyece Major. What’s more, while you’re in Chinoiserie enjoying your tea, you’ll be serenaded by the resident harpist. All our guests have access to the private gardens opposite the hotel in Cadogan Place.

The larger 8.5-hectare south garden used to be the London Botanic Garden and today features a striking sculpture by David Wynn OBE alongside 300year old mulberries. In the centre is the Hans Sloane garden, created for the 2005 Chelsea Flower Show.

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There is something very special about walking around this serene area amid the hustle and bustle of Knightsbridge. I love the fact everyone seems happy and more sociable in London in the summer. Londoners are sun worshippers because the weather is so temperamental.

When it comes to my favourite British food to eat during the summer, I would start with asparagus tartlets with goat’s cheese. For main, I’d have a pan-fried cod fillet and my dream dessert is a traditional Eton Mess. The Rib Room Bar and Restaurant does the best Eton Mess in London. I also really enjoy music and live performances.

As Londoners, we are fortunate to have a thriving music scene. I enjoy having a cocktail or two in The Rib Room’s Terrace. This year, we’re partnering with champagne brand Laurent-Perrier to create a champagne-themed summer terrace and I can’t wait to sit and unwind with a glass of Grande Siècle.

If you have just 24 hours in London, invest in a blue badge tour guide to show you around. They are fantastically knowledgeable and can arrange your day to get the most out of it. For me, the must-see attraction would be the Tower of London. The history is phenomenal. Top tip: to get the best possible tour of the tower, you must take the yeoman warder tour departing every hour. Yeoman warders are better known as the Beefeaters who guard the tower. Not only are they passionate about the history of the area, they are also very entertaining.

I would also suggest a visit to St Paul's Cathedral, Westminster Abbey and Big Ben, the London Eye and Buckingham Palace. If you are a fan of the royal family, I would head to Kensington Palace as the building has a much longer history with its members than Buckingham Palace and currently houses many living members, such as the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, otherwise known as Prince William and Kate Middleton.

FEATURED

SPACES THE TERRACE AT JUMEIRAH LOWNDES HOTEL, LONDON

The Terrace in Jumeirah Lowndes Hotel is one of London’s best-kept secrets. Not a lot of Londoners would know how to find it and precious few visitors would discover the hidden courtyard in the Halkin Arcade in Belgravia by themselves. Although part of the luxury hotel’s property, The Terrace is accessible through a couple of side alleys and features a more modest and intimate setting than other Jumeirah restaurants. Open only during the summer months, the al fresco restaurant in Belgravia serves up dishes that would suit most palates, from European to Middle Eastern.

Hailed as one of London’s top three al fresco restaurants, service at The Terrace is relaxed, with staff welcoming regulars and newcomers as old friends. The perfect setting to unwind after a hard day’s work, The Terrace’s casual atmosphere lends the perfect ambience as you sip on a cocktail and nibble from sharing platters in the sunshine or enjoy a selection of international food freshly grilled on the barbecue. Don’t be surprised if you can't hold back from a little taste of everything.

After all, the meat cuts come courtesy of head chef Martin Gabler, who was runner-up in the British BBQ Championships in June 2012 for a reason.

Words: Meryl D'souza

The Terrace is open from 12pm to 10pm from Monday to Saturday and from 12pm to 7pm on Sunday. Call +44 20 7858 7223 or email jlhdining@jumeirah. com to book a table

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TRAVEL: LONDON

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THE HIGH LIFE:

Max on One Grillroom, Jumeirah Frankfurt

THE LOWDOWN: Designed by Japan’s Super Potato team, Max on One

Grillroom. The menu is inspired by new variations of classic dishes. Guests

Grillroom is located on the first floor of the Jumeirah Frankfurt hotel.

can combine grilled meat and fish with their own choice of sauces and

Simply oozing urban chic, the striking wood-and-glass space serves an

side dishes.

international array of grilled dishes that keep customers coming back for more.

INSIDER’S TIP: Undoubtedly, the highlight of the restaurant is head chef

Words: Meryl D'souza

Nils-Levent Gruen and his team working their magic in an open show

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ATMOSPHERE: The creative, modern restaurant is an urban hotspot,

kitchen as they whip up new flavours on traditional dishes. The chef’s table,

defined by its wooden finishes, warm lighting and urban interiors. The

a special barbecue where guests sit at a high table next to the kitchen,

overall experience here is casual and relaxed.

where they can watch and talk to the chefs as their food is being prepared, is also an experience to behold.

Located right in the heart of the city, it is amazing how the hotel manages to teleport its patrons away from the commotion just outside.

BOOKING DETAILS: Max on One Grillroom is open from 6.30am to 11pm from Monday to Friday and 7am to 1pm on Saturdays and Sundays.

FOOD: From European grilled delights to Middle Eastern delicacies, exotic

Call +49 (0)69 297 237 198 or email JFMaxonOne@jumeirah.com

cocktails to scrumptious nibbles, there is plenty to enjoy at Max on One

for more information.