SignJan12-Oman

RACING HEARTS

JENSON BUTTON

JANUARY 2012

THE GOOD LIFE GUIDE

TRENDS FORECAST 2012 INTROPIA WOMAN OF MIDEAST

NADINE LABAKI

A DASH OF PRADA

THE HYUNDAI GENESIS

Interactive Land Rover MENA

MUSCAT: Tel 99333620 (Souyahar), 92271311 (Ahmed), 95219689 (Jeevan), 96781530 (Dayanand) SOHAR: Tel 95200765 (Abbas), 95359381 (Shantanu), SALALAH: Tel 95045533 (Tabook), 95754411 (Murali)

CONTENTS 8

FRONT RUNNER JENSON BUTTON

58

56 PASSIONS NIZAR SAID ALSHANFARI BLOCK YOUR DATES INTERNATIONAL EVENTS GUIDE

ART SHEIKHA LULU M AL-SABAH

PEOPLE WISHLIST 2012

CELEBRITY EMMANUELLE CHRIQUI

15

60 FASHION NADINE LABAKI 68 INTERVIEW JEREMY BURBANKS 80 TECHNOLOGY BEST GADGETS 2012 92 RETROSPECTIVE GIANNA QUARANTA

44

6

PLUS MORE........

EDIT NOTE VOL1 - ISSUE 5 COVER IMAGE TAG Heuer ambassador Jenson Button sports the new TAG Heuer Formula 1 chronograph timepiece EDITOR IN CHIEF FATMA AL ARAIMI GROUP EDITOR MAYANK SINGH ASSISTANT EDITOR DEEPA RAJAN

MAKE A WISH…

CORRESPONDENT MYSSAA AL HINAIAH EXPERTS Travel - BRUCE STEWART, ANNE COLBY Fashion - NATASHA LUNN, NADIA FOUZI Finance & Investments - K. L PRASAD ART Senior Art Director SANDESH S. RANGNEKAR Senior Designer ALIYA AL- WAHAIBI Senior Photographer RAJESH RAJAN PRODUCTION Production Head GOVINDRAJ RAMESH ADVERTISING & MARKETING Advertising Manager

“When you wish upon a star; Makes no difference who you are; Anything your heart desires will come to you...” These words sung by Louis Armstrong have always been a great source of hope and inspiration to us at Team Signature.

Year 2012 is all about new beginnings and hope amid gloom. For our very first issue of the new year, Signature's crystal ball offers you a glimpse of what the future could hold. We also asked a few prominent personalities to put together their wishlist for 2012. So, keeping in with the spirit of the theme, here go Signature’s top 5 wishes for the coming year!

1) Celebrity covers: Anyone for Johnny Depp? Signature is. We are definitely hoping for the gorgeous actor and other stars to grace our covers this year (Hope floats, ey?)

2) Global readership: We wish that Signature goes global (Step 1 should assure that!) We want every single person in the world to be reading and quoting us!

3) World Peace: While we know that this might be a bit too much to ask for, we still hope and pray for peace, prosperity and stability across the globe.

CHANDNI MANIAR Asst. Advertising Manager JISHA VELLUVAN CORPORATE Chief Executive - SANDEEP SEHGAL Executive Vice President - ALPANA ROY Vice President - RAVI RAMAN Senior Business Support Executive

4) Captain Planet: We are sincerely hoping he’s around in 2012 to help us tackle climate change. But, we do plan to get ourselves superhero suits and get to saving our Earth. We plan to go green, do you?

5) A Full Inbox: Here’s one flood we’d actually like to get caught in this year: A deluge of mails from you, our readers. Feel free to talk back at signature@umsoman.com. Bouquets and Brickbats welcome (Although, we’d love you to love us!)

RADHA KUMAR Business Support Executive ZUWAINA SAID AL RASHDI UNITED MEDIA SERVICES LLC Signature is published monthly and released in the first week of every month. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced without the written permission of the publisher. The publisher does not accept responsibility for any loss occasioned to any person or organisation acting or refraining as a result of material in this publication. Signature accepts no responsibility for advertising content.

Correspondence should be addressed to SIGNATURE UNITED MEDIA SERVICES LLC, PO Box 3305, Ruwi, PC 112, Muscat, Sultanate of Oman, Mobile +968 99849242 Fax +968 24707939

e-mail: signature@umsoman.com/ reachsignature@gmail.com/ www.umsoman.com

WISH YOU ALL A VERY HAPPY NEW YEAR. WE LOOK FORWARD TO A FABULOUS 2012 WITH YOU….

BLOCK YOUR DATES

2012 MARCH

JANUARY

BASELWORLD

INTERNATIONAL CONSUMER ELECTRONICS SHOW

FEBRUARY PARIS FASHION WEEK

When: Jan. 10 –13 Where: Las Vegas Convention Center, USA While not open to the public, the International Consumer Electronics Show (CES) is a major technology-related trade show that will host previews of most new products we can expect to see in 2012.

When: Feb. 28 – Mar. 8 Where: Paris, France Paris Fashion Week is a famous fashion week held semi-annually in Paris and is part of the Big 4 fashion weeks internationally.

When: Mar. 8-15 Where: Basel, Switzerland Covering an area of 160,000 m2 and attracting over 94,000 visitors every year, Baselworld is the premium watch and jewellery show of the year.

JUNE

APRIL

GOODWOOD FESTIVAL OF SPEED

WORLD SHAKESPEARE FESTIVAL

MAY

THE OLYMPIC TORCH RELAY

When: Apr. 23 – Sept. 9 Where: London, England The World Shakespeare Festival, produced by the Royal Shakespeare Company, will celebrate how the world performs, teaches and engages with Shakespeare.

When: From May 18 (for 70 Days) Where: London, England Around 8,000 inspirational people across the UK will carry the Olympic Flame during the Torch Relay prior to the games themselves.

When: June 28 – July 1 Where: Goodwood House, West Sussex, England The world’s greatest celebration of car culture event will be even bigger for 2012 with a record number of Formula One Drivers and Teams, classic vehicles, planes and bikes galore in attendance.

JULY

SEPTEMBER

2012 LONDON OLYMPICS

PARIS MOTOR SHOW

AUGUST

NOTTING HILL CARNIVAL When: July 27 – Aug. 12 Where: London, England, United Kingdom The summer Olympics makes a return to London in 2012, making it the first city to officially host the games three times, having previously done so in 1908 and in 1948.

When: Aug. 26-27 Where: Notting Hill, London Said to be Europe's largest street carnival, it has a largely Caribbean flavour. Costume parades, music, hundreds of vendors sell food and crafts from all over the world.

OCTOBER

When: Sept. 27-28 Where: Paris Expo - Porte de Versailles, Paris, France Almost as popular as the Geneva Motor Show, the Paris Motor Show is another that no auto enthusiast would want to miss.

DECEMBER

MELBOURNE FESTIVAL

ART BASEL MIAMI

NOVEMBER

FORMULA 1 GRANDE PRÊMIO DO BRASIL

When: Oct. 10-27 Where: Melbourne, Australia Said to be is one of Australia's leading international arts festivals, it has an outstanding reputation for presenting unique international and Australian events in the fields of dance, theatre, music, visual arts, multimedia, free events.

When: Nov. 23 - 25 Where: São Paulo, Brazil The last F1 race of the 2012 calendar will take place in Brazil this year. We can’t wait.

When: Dec. 6 - 9, Where: Miami Beach, Florida, US This is the 11th edition with more than than 260 leading galleries from North America, Europe, Latin America, Asia and Africa taking take part, showcasing works by more than 2,000 artists of the 20th and 21st centuries.

TORQUE ABOUT ABILITY!

Jenson Button is wearing the TAG Heuer Carrera Chronograph timepiece

FRONT RUNNER

12-3-2: THE NUMBERS BEHIND JENSON BUTTON’S STANDOUT YEAR. BUT, THE FORMER WORLD CHAMPION AND TAG HEUER BRAND AMBASSADOR THINKS HIS BEST IS YET TO COME. A SIGNATURE EXCLUSIVE

8

H

e says he is “a pretty good guy”. Not that we are arguing, but we think Jenson Button is just being modest. Look at it from a man’s perspective, everyone wants to be him.

Look at it from a woman’s perspective, everyone wants him. We’d say he’s fated to be famous, only he would counter us and say that he does not believe in fate; at least, he hopes that “it doesn’t exist”.

As with many Formula 1 drivers Jenson began in karting as a child, gradually moving his way up through various car championships.

According to Jenson (He was named after his father's friend Erling Jensen, changing the ‘e’ to an ‘o’ to differentiate it from Jensen Motors) it was his father who influenced him to join the sport. “My father was big in to motorsport and used to race in Rally Cross himself. I also watched Formula 1 and enjoyed seeing Alain and Ayrton racing for McLaren.”

Jenson became the youngest ever European Super A Champion at age 17. After equally strong showing in the British Formula 3 series, by 2000 his acceptance into the exclusive Formula 1 family seemed almost inevitable.

He signed for his first F1 team, Williams, and embarked on a career that saw him gain plaudits for his style, but critics for his perceived playboy lifestyle.

After a succession of team changes he achieved his first race victory in F1 during the 2006 Hungarian Grand Prix, where he overcame a grid penalty and heavy rain to claim a dramatic win. He would not win another race until 2009, this time driving the newly formed Brawn GP, where he blew away the field for the first half of the season, aided some say with innovative car designs that the other teams couldn't match. A tougher second half of 2009 saw the championship become much closer, with teammate Rubens Barrichello and the two Red Bull cars fighting all the way. Jenson prevailed in the penultimate race in Brazil, where a 5th place finish saw him gain enough points to become World Champion. After 169 F1 races, Button had finally achieved his dream.

The life of a racing superstar did not come easy though. Jenson says he had to fight to get where he is now. “I think that every driver who gets in to F1 has had to fight for it. It’s not easy to get to F1 as you are racing against the best drivers in the world. Every driver has had good times and every driver has had tough times getting to F1.”

Jenson is wearing the TAG Heuer Monaco 24 racing calibre 36 chronograph.

FRONT RUNNER A move to McLaren in 2010 saw Button team up with fellow Briton and 2008 F1 World Champion Lewis Hamilton. The 'dream team' had a tough year, often failing to compete with the emerging dominance of the Red Bull Racing team and their up and coming superstar Sebastian Vettel.

Two race wins saw him finish the season down in 5th place.

Obvious comparisons rose with that of the ProstSenna team (both drove for McLaren) but Jenson does not believe there are too many similarities.

“I don’t think there are too many similarities between us as drivers, no. I think Alain and Ayrton were two very different personalities, from two very different parts of the world.

Both Lewis and myself are British, we have similar backgrounds in racing and we are very motivated to work together to improve the car and the team.

“Of course, when I was growing up, I used to look at the way Alain drove – he was very smooth and light on his machinery, and those were qualities that I wanted to take on for myself. It just seemed like the best way to go racing: to get the car to do the work, and leave you with the capacity to focus on the racing, and managing the race. Naturally, it’s very flattering to be compared to two greats of Formula 1, especially two childhood heroes, but I think the similarities between us are quite small.”

Year 2010 also saw Jenson become a brand in his own right with the well-known Timepiece manufacturer TAG Heuer signing him as their brand ambassador alongside names such as Maria Sharapova and Leonardo DiCaprio.

Says Jenson, “I knew about TAG Heuer and its ambassadors before I came to McLaren. It’s great to be a member of such a group of talented and passionate individuals. I have always liked TAG Heuer timepieces and I owned one or two of their pieces even before I had joined Vodafone McLaren Mercedes.”

Jenson is wearing the TAG Heuer Carrera Heritage Calibre 6 Rose coloured dial timepiece.

Jenson’s association with TAG can easily be considered as a natural progression of his love for watches. Says Jenson, “I do have a number of watches that I have purchased or been given in my time as Formula 1 driver. They are all very different but each have a special meaning to me. When I won my World Championship last year I wanted to celebrate with my engineers and trackside support team so I selected a TAG Heuer Monaco LS for each of them and had them engraved to remember my 2009 World Championship. I wear mine frequently and as a true motorsport watch. It suits my personality very well.”

FRONT RUNNER

12

Hardly a surprise then for a man whose success or failure can be measured in fractions of a second, Jenson believes, “Time is very important. For us qualifying the car for the race is all about getting the car around a lap as quickly as possible and being quicker than everybody else – this is all down to time. I want to be racing for the shortest time possible before the chequered flag as this means you are in front of everybody else.”

No stranger to pressure, the time came soon enough for Jenson to prove his worth to McLaren in 2011, after being beaten by his teammate the year before. In many ways, this has proved to be his finest year of racing in F1, in a season that was again dominated by the technical mastery of Red Bull Racing and Sebastian Vettel he nevertheless managed to finish the season in 2nd place, with three wins and a total of 12 podium (12-3-2) finishes making him the first teammate ever to finish ahead of Lewis Hamilton in a championship.

Talking of the pressure ahead of the race, Jenson says “I always run through the same programme. I have a physio Mikey who ensures that nobody disrupts my preparation. I always eat and have a massage at the same time and I always follow the same process so that I can concentrate on the important thing which is getting ready for the race.”

Such is his love for competition that even when he is away from the track, his favourite pastime is still racing. He adds, “I do love doing Triathlons. I train for Formula 1 and I feel like I am fit enough for Formula 1 so I do a little extra training for Triathlon. I like being competitive.”Some may call it an addiction, but Jenson does not think addiction is the right word to use.

“The reason I love motor racing is that feeling of knowing that you are in control of a machine that in reality you shouldn’t be able to control.”

Ask him about his most challenging moment, he says, “I think it was fighting to win a championship. You think that when you find yourself in a quick car it is going to be easy but it’s not. It’s very stressful mentally, very draining because things don’t always go your own way when you are fighting for the championship.”

Jenson Button (MBE) – 2009 World Champion (with Brawn GP) Born: January 19, 1980 in Frome, Somerset, UK Currently drives for: Vodafone McLaren Mercedes His 'best win'…

The 2011 Canadian Grand Prix saw Button achieve what he termed the 'best win' of his career, in which an incident packed race saw the McLaren driver make five pit-stops, survive being crashed into by his teammate Lewis Hamilton, and make the last of his 34 race passes on Red Bull's Sebastian Vettel during the closing stages of the final lap.

Home is…

“Australia is a place that I love.

Everybody speaks English but as it is at the start of the season it is a great way of starting the year and a beautiful circuit in Albert Park. You are also on the coast so you can enjoy doing sports or lying in the sun. I also love Japan, I love the country and my girlfriend is Japanese. I have a lot of respect for Japanese people and it is another place that I feel at home. Two places I really feel at home are Silverstone and Monaco, but those are the obvious ones.”

His biggest luxury…

“Probably my motor home that I take to European races. I could stay in hotels but I feel so at home in my motor home.”

The coming year promises to be an interesting one for Jenson, who after agreeing to a multimillion pound contract extension with McLaren, cemented his position in the team by obtaining the number 3 for the 2012 season, ahead of his teammate. The fight is not over yet. Says Jenson, “I once thought that winning the world championship would be enough for me but I have found that it is not. I want to go out there and challenge and fight to retain my title. I can’t see a finish line for myself yet.”

The TAG Heuer range is available at Al Qurum Jewellery outlets across the city

LISTEN

PLAYLIST MUSTS UPLOAD YOUR IPOD WITH THESE….

AEROSMITH ‘The Bad Boys from Boston’ and ‘America's Greatest Rock and Roll Band ever’ will be out with their next album in May. The forthcoming record will be Aerosmith's first collection of original material since 2001's Just Push Play.

Follow them with the NME Awards Tour 2012 – ticket. The Northern Irish band will be headlining the tour and hit the road with Metronomy, Tribes and Azealia Banks, kicking off at O2 Academy Glasgow on February 8.

LEONARD COHEN

DAWES

Cohen, 77, will soon add a new collection of songs to his six-decades-old career. Due out in January is Old Ideas, Cohen's first new studio album in eight years.

Dawes are known for successfully managing to capture the magic of the classic Laurel Canyon sound, whilst adding a fresh young twist to it. They will be touring Europe for the first time in February/March 2012.

MADONNA

AZEALIA BANKS

The ‘Material Girl’ will be back with her next album – the first since 2008's Hard Candy – in spring this year. As reported by Billboard, this will be Madonna's first album since parting ways with Warner Bros. in favour of a deal with Live Nation.

The sweet singing New York electro-rap-singer Azealia Banks is among the acts the acts named in the BBC's yearly list of artists tipped to break through in 2012. Follow her on NME Awards Tour 2012.

NELLY FURTADO According to the singer’s Twitter feed, Lifestyle, originally planned for 2011, will finally be out this year. Her last album ‘Mi Plan’ released in 2009.

RUSH The new Nick Raskulinecz produced record, Clockwork Angels is the band’s twentieth studio effort and if Rush's lead singer Geddy Lee is to be believed it will be out in Spring this year.

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TWO DOOR CINEMA CLUB

FOXX ON FIRE The Melbourne-formed, but currently UK-based, quartet have already gained a solid reputation as one of the scene’s most incendiary live propositions. With untold miles and a new EP under their collective belts, Foxx On Fire will be touring Australia in 2012 for a national tour.

Lianne La Havas This 22 year-old the South Londoner has been making music since she was handed a keyboard by her multiinstrumentalist father at the tender age of 7. She has recently made it to the BBC's Sound of 2012 list. Watch out for her debut album set to come out this year.

PEOPLE

WISHLIST 2012 Someone once said “Wishing is good for us. Daydreams, fantasies, castles in the air, and aspirations all drive us forward, impel us to make things happen. They also tell us a lot about ourselves. Our wishes come straight from our core, and they are loaded with vital in.” Indeed, if one does not have the ability to wish and hope, what does one have to look forward to? Life is all about living a dream, is it not?

Signature decided to ask a few Oman-based personalities what they wished for the coming year. Here are their answers…

PEOPLE

AFAF & AIDA AL FARSI DESIGNERS, DIBAJ

WE WISH‌

Our beautiful Oman and the Middle East region continues to be stable and prosperous Greater exposure and expansion of Dibaj Oman Good blessings and health to our family and friends That God give us strength, and the ability to be content and grateful for what we have Travel more often as there is always inspiration in one corner or the other in this vast world

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DAVID CRICKMORE CEO, AMOUAGE

I WISH‌

Amouage finds sites to open another 6 international shops in 2012 and continues to expand its international presence

The new Amouage Factory and Visitor Centre is finally finished to our satisfaction and is fully up and running The world economies become more stable, especially in the USA, the UK and the Eurozone Private sector businesses in Oman become as well considered as the public sector when government decisions are taken regarding labour issues Far less public holidays in Oman, which are extremely disruptive and negatively impact upon the profitability of all private sector businesses

PEOPLE

HANI MIRZA & JANNAT MOOSA

MANAGING DIRECTOR & MARKETING DIRECTOR, BIN MIRZA INTERNATIONAL

WE WISH‌

To double the number of existing outlets, to reach out to larger audiences so they can experience the Bin Mirza International (BMI) hospitality To empower and foster young Omani talent in becoming leaders at our BMI outlets, as a result increasing our Omanisation rates To continue to revolutionise the food and beverage industry in Oman by introducing new and innovative concepts to diversify local palettes To pave the road for our children to follow in our footsteps To achieve 100 per cent customer satisfaction for all BMI outlets 18

HRITIK KHIMJI DIRECTOR, KHMIJI RAMDAS

I WISH‌

More positive news to be broadcasted across the media!

To encourage and see business men and women balance more between office and social work Continued opportunities for Omanis to succeed in taking the country forward The iPhone 5 to be released England to win the Euro 2012 Football Championship

PEOPLE

HUSSAIN AHMED MOHSIN DIRECTOR, AHMED MOHSIN TRADING

I WISH‌

His Majesty Sultan Qaboos Bin Said great health and continued prosperity Omani people a safe cohesive existence in their country For greater success and advancement for our company For more time to indulge in giving back to society For those who read this to have their 5 wishes come true

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LAMYA BINT SINAN AL KIYUMI, ZIANA QAISER & NASHIA BINT YAHYA NASIB FOUNDERS, MOMMY&ME

WE WISH‌

For all children to be buckled up with seat belts or in car seats, especially given the disturbing rate of road accidents in the country More bookstores and a comprehensive children's library to encourage our young readers.

More public parks, playgrounds and museums We wish that we can provide our kids with the means to identify their strengths and weaknesses and live life to the fullest For more mothers in Oman to follow their dreams. We did, and are now dreaming for a bigger and better Mommy & Me Exhibition in 2012!

PEOPLE

MICHAEL LENARDUZZI CEO, THE WAVE, MUSCAT

NATURALLY IN MY CAPACITY AS CEO OF THE WAVE, MUSCAT MY ASPIRATION FOR THE COMING YEAR CENTERS ON THE DEVELOPMENT'S ACHIEVEMENTS AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS. IN ADDITION TO GOOD HEALTH, PEACE AND PROSPERITY IN THIS WONDERFUL COUNTRY I NOW CALL HOME,

I WISH…

The Wave, Muscat remains on track to become a world renowned lifestyle destination Our 400-berth Marina becomes the epicenter of The Wave, Muscat and the capital’s social scene, with increased boat traffic from around the region The opening of the PGA Links style golf course designed by Greg Norman becomes recognised as one of the top 100 golf destinations in the world The Golf Academy at The Wave, Muscat is brimming with Omani youth excited to be learning a new and wonderful sport To see The Wave, Muscat community continue to grow and develop, fostering new friendships and relations

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MISHA DAUD

WHAT DO I WISH FOR IN 2012? MY TOP FIVE? WELL THEY CAN VARY ALTHOUGH TWO NEVER CHANGE! AND IF I CAN BE A LITTLE TONGUE IN CHEEK AND A LITTLE SERIOUS HERE THEY ARE....

I WISH‌

My family's health - that is an everyday wish and prayer for me. It is the most precious thing we can have. If we do not take care, cherish and nurture that, no matter what else we have it means nothing World Peace or rather stability! I know! I know! this is not a pageant but for me the balance of the world equilibrium is scary at the moment and I really wish that 2012 proves to be a healthier year for the world in general I wouldn't be a girl if I didn't have at least 30 pairs of shoes that I have my eyes on.... especially the new Jimmy Choo icon collection and a Zanotti black snake sandal that makes any ones legs look endless!

I saw it on the runway and swooned! The Stella McCartney collection for SS2012 was a triumph and the navy and white dress had my name all over it! She just keeps getting better and it seems all the fashion editors agree....

Last but not least a trip to a spa! Every year I say I'm going but life just seems to keep me too busy and yet here it goes on that list again! One day.....

Having said and shared my wishes I know I am blessed and am constantly grateful for what I have.

A wise person once said it’s not about having what you want but wanting what you have. Satisfaction is happiness

PEOPLE

MUNA AL SHANFARI

COMPLIANCE OFFICER, SARSIN ALPEN

I WISH‌

Health, happiness and prosperity for my family and myself My daughter does well and excels in her final year of IB Pursue a post graduate degree More time to travel and pursue personal hobbies with family and friends, and to complete a long list of books that I would like to read in 2012 That the global economic and political problems facing the world at the moment are resolved or improved in 2012 and the world will seriously address the issue of increase in world population and its burden on the world’s resources and sustainable growth

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WISAM J. AL-SAID

CORPORATE AFFAIRS MANAGER, OMAN OIL MARKETING COMPANY (OMANOIL)

I WISH‌

To spend more time with loved ones To maintain a healthy lifestyle To donate more and give to the needy

To implement all the professional plans and projects set for 2012 That I can plan a holiday abroad with my husband and son

PEOPLE

YVONNE MEDHURST

BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT MANAGER, WOMEN’S GUILD IN OMAN

I WISH…

My husband, John, to play off a low handicap of about 3 or 4 at Golf A cure for Aids. It’s such a dreadful disease and has ruined so many lives and families around the world Something to be done about enforcing the seatbelt rule in Oman. I can’t understand why parents buckle themselves, yet their young charges are left unbuckled; it is a tragedy waiting to happen. I also wish people would stop parking in spaces reserved for the physically challenged. People know they can get away with doing so because no one seems to check them and the penalty needs to be increased For the weather to stay like it is right now.

That’s a BIG wish!

To have raised enough money from the Women’s Guild in Oman Crystal Ball to help enrich the lives of the children at the Autism Center and gifting them the much needed equipment

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YVONNE WELLING

MARKETING MANAGER, PORSCHE CENTRE OMAN (SATA LLC)

I WISH‌

The new Porsche 911, the 991 Cabriolet A Patek Philippe watch for my wonderful husband Health and happiness for all my friends and family A scratch golf handicap More hours in the day to be able to read Signature from cover to cover

PEOPLE

QAIS AL KHONJI

OWNER, QAIS UNITED ENTERPRISES TRADING

I WISH‌

To grow the business and take it to a higher level.

If the first step (above) is achieved then definitely the 2nd step would be to diversify the business and get into new products, ventures and business lines To gain more education by taking intensive courses in areas of my interest For peace and stability in the region, specially after the Arab Spring of 2011 Travel more to new destinations, as its one of my hobbies and it’s a great learning tool 28

EVENT

WOMEN OF

SUBSTANCE The Al Mar’a Excellence Awards recognised and honoured exemplary women achievers

T

he Al Mar’a Excellence Awards, the first-ofits-kind in the Sultanate honoured women achievers across different fields at a glittering event at The Amphitheatre, Shangri-La’s Barr Al Jissah Resort & Spa on December 5.

The event was held under the auspices of Her Highness Sayyida Dr. Muna bint Fahd Al Said, Assistant ViceChancellor for External Co-Operation, Sultan Qaboos University. A number of other dignitaries and the who’s who of Muscat were also present at the event.

The Al Mar’a Excellence Awards were presented across 12 categories; namely: Corporate Leadership, Fashion Design, Performing Arts, Fine Arts, Educational Services, Entrepreneurship and Innovation, Health Services, Science and Industry, Technology, Sports, Petroleum Services and Social Responsibility. Apart from these, two women were the recipients of the prestigious Woman of the Year and Most Promising Woman of the Year Awards. Special Awards were given

to four women who have made significant contributions in the fields they have chosen to be in.

The Awards were judged on the basis of nominations received which were then reviewed by a panel of esteemed judges and the final ranking process was appraised by Ernst & Young. The Awards judged women on the basis of criteria like innovation and creativity, the impact their contributions have had in society, leadership abilities and the goals achieved.

The red carpet event also featured some dazzling entertainment choreographed by Emmanuel Castis, a talented international vocalist with many music awards to his credit.

The Al Mar’a Excellence Awards was a wonderful platform that not only felicitated woman achievers; but also revealed the passion and inspiration of women who have aspired to attain great accomplishments in their chosen fields and have gone that ‘extra mile’ to turn their dreams into reality.

The Al Mar’a Excellence Awards 2011 is an Al Mar’a Initiative. Strategic Partners: Mercedes-Benz (Zawawi Trading Company, the authorised general distributor for Mercedes-Benz in Oman), BankDhofar and Nawras. Support partners: Taageer Finance Company SAOG, Areej Vegetable Oils (AVOD) and Givenchy. Assessment Partner: Ernst & Young. Media Partners: Times of Oman, Al Shabiba, H! and Al Youm Al Sabe. Radio Partners: Al Wisal FM and Merge 104.8 FM. Printing Partner: Ruwi Modern Printers. Travel Partner: Travel City.

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LIST OF WINNERS CORPORATE LEADERSHIP Ayisha Al Mawali FASHION DESIGN Anisa Al Zadjali Khadija Al Lamki PERFORMING ARTS Jokha Al Naabi Ilham Al Toqi FINE ARTS Budoor Al Riyami Alia Al Farsi EDUCATIONAL SERVICES H.E. Dr. Madiha Al Shaibani ENTREPRENEURSHIP AND INNOVATION Etab Al Zadjali Zainab Al Lawati HEALTH SERVICES Dr. Adhra Al Mawali SCIENCE AND INDUSTRY Nisreen Jaffer Bushra Al Abdwuani

TECHNOLOGY Seema Al Kabi Mariam Al Alawi SPORTS Fatma Al Nabhani Muna Al Shanfari PETROLEUM SERVICES Abla Al Riyami Maliha Al Abri SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY Yuthar Al Rawahi Mariam Al Zadjali WOMAN OF THE YEAR Lujaina Mohsin Darwish MOST PROMISING WOMAN OF THE YEAR Hana Syed

SPECIAL AWARDS Khawla Khalifa Al Amri Sheila Jamal Dr. Fatma O. Ali Mrunal Khimji

UNVEILED The Al Mar’a Excellence Awards also saw the unveiling of the new look of Al Mar’a English edition which will now be called The Woman. It will continue in the same mould of Al Mar’a, though in a contemporary, peppy and spirited avatar. It will reflect all what a woman stands for, in pages of what they like, what they aspire to be and what inspires them to be the best. The Woman is a symbol of a woman’s dreams, hopes and ambitions… and will of course; revel in the different shades a woman stands for. A woman’s guide to everything she wants from life.

TRENDS 2012

CARS

F

or centuries the world’s royalties and plutocrats have been enjoying a different level of luxury. A near unachievable standard tailor made to suit their desires and infatuations. Be it palaces, castles or gardens, carriages stables or chandeliers, each item had a name and it was that of its owners.

Royals have never been strangers to personalised luxury. However, for a few years now, the ultra-luxury market has seen a growing trend in the demand for personalisation programmes. Many individualisation schemes are being adopted by a great number of luxury manufacturers in order to better suit the specific demands of their wealthy and discerning clients. Helping those with particular taste and demands achieve their desires in the vast seas of mass markets.

Trends in the stratosphere of individualisation are sporadic, as the process itself is the trend.

Every individual that demands custom work has his own ideas and tastes, some might ask for something as simple and personal as a family crest, others might want the colours and materials to be identical to what they have in their home or office. Individualisation studios in charge of coordinating these individual tastes are becoming more and more adaptive to the most eccentric of requests, resulting in some exquisite pieces of contemporary design.

Personalisation programmes in the upper realms of the luxury market vary from yachts to private jets, homes and what is parked in the garage. The latter subject has recently found a spike in the diversity of the customisation programmes available.

One of the pioneers in this department is

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INDIVIDUALISED LUXURY IT IS ALL ABOUT ‘LAYING THE YOU IN YOURS’, SAYS JAMES CRICHTON, REGIONAL DIRECTOR MIDDLE EAST FOR ROLLS-ROYCE MOTOR CARS AS HE TALKS ABOUT ‘BESPOKE’ IN CARS… Rolls-Royce Motor Cars; the luxury automotive manufacturer has been at the forefront of the customisation business for over a century. In the early days, the Rolls-Royce Motor Cars used to be delivered to buyers with custom coach-built body work to suit the vehicle’s purpose and its client’s affinities towards luxury and refinement.

However, the trend in individualising vehicle body work is a thing of the past that Rolls-Royce Motor Cars persevered with through the Bespoke programme.

The Bespoke programme has the highest global uptake from the Middle East, a region where individuality and luxury are mutually inclusive concepts. In 2010, every Rolls-Royce Phantom sold in the area was a Bespoke model. In fact, the region has such articulated and outstanding levels of luxury and refinement that it has made a profound impact on how Rolls-Royce’s craftsmen approach design.

When it comes to the process of design, every Bespoke journey is personal; trends are largely as diverse as the customers themselves. Desire is a cornerstone of the relationship between Rolls-Royce and the owner; this is why designers spend considerable amounts of time with each individual client to discover what they really want from the finished products. Together they define the aesthetics of the vehicle both inside and out.

From the outside, the overall design of the car is dictated by Rolls-Royce’s stately design but the colour and decorative trim are only limited to a customer’s imagination. Over 40,000 shades can be achieved by the Bespoke programme and that’s only the exterior.

Once inside, the palette of colour choices is as diverse but complemented by an almost

infinite choice of wood veneers and other exquisite material. Mother of pearl inlays on the dashboard and ancillaries, camel skin for the rugs or seats, marine wood similar to what the client might have on his/her very own yacht or private jet. Gold or platinum inserts, almost anything a customer desires can be achieved

by Rolls-Royce’s craftsmen at the state of art Goodwood factory Bespoke shop; Where the finished design will be seamlessly weaved into the functionality of the vehicle reflecting the owner’s personal sense of artistry.

In the past, Rolls Royce’s Bespoke team has worked on very personal projects, guiding customers through the process of incorporating not just taste but also capturing heritage into their Phantom. Weaving a nostalgic memory of a grandfather's tale of pearl diving in his 1920s childhood told in a 1960s autumn countryside.

This setting will find its way to today's family picnic starting on a Bespoke silk rug with a picnic basket reflecting the spirit from these early times. Bespoke is not just limited to the car itself either, it also goes a long way to satiate desires for luggage sets and other items that are related to the Phantom and the trips it will take its passengers on.

Late last year, Rolls-Royce Motor Cars developed a special Phantom collection exclusively for the Middle East with six individual cars. This particular Bespoke Collection drew heavily from the colours of the region. The beautiful warm sunsets and vast sand dunes inspired a finish of Arizona Sun as an element of a top two-tone finish. Hand knotted silk rugs finished in a geometric pattern sitting atop Moccasin carpet with an iconic silver inlay dhow sail design to the door cappings and fascia panel.

Another recent, dramatic example of a special Bespoke model is ‘Arabesque'. Commissioned

especially for The Prince's School of Traditional Arts in London; this special Phantom Drophead Coupé is the automotive expression of the school's mission which is to keep the traditional arts of all the world's great cultures alive and provide them with a modern day relevance.

Currently, the Bespoke programme has welcomed the Ghost into its studios in order to preserve the dynamic model’s recent engineering innovations. Design and personification remain high on the agenda, but the Bespoke options are tailored to both

encapsulate the Ghost’s main dynamic attributes with the owners persona.

Above all, the only element which can highlight and marry the artistry and individuality of any Bespoke project is refinement. Car companies can offer bespoke customers with the highest Quality of automotive precision and engineering integrity in the industry today. However, when it comes to the way it’s designed; the choice is as ever, yours.

The author is the Regional Director Middle East for Rolls-Royce Motor Cars and was with BMW for 14 years. He began his career with BMW in 1996. In 2007, Crichton was appointed as Director of Sales and Marketing for BMW Group before taking up his current position at the helm of the Rolls-Royce Motor Cars Middle East office.

LISTS 2012

CARS Toyota GT-86 The wait is finally over. The final production version of Toyota’s latest sports car concept has finally been revealed. The car, now officially named the GT 86, made its world debut at the Tokyo motor show on November 30. The compact 2+2 model is one of the most keenly awaited new cars of the coming year. It is based on a new platform and drivetrain, both of which have been co-developed with Subaru, whose counterpart of the car has been named the BRZ. Power is generated from a four-cylinder "boxer" unit that generates 197bhp at 7,000rpm and maximum torque of 205Nm at 6,600rpm, and will drive the rear wheels through either a six-speed manual or six-speed automatic transmission. This vehicle could very well bring back the glory days Toyota enjoyed with the Supra and Celica in its line-up.

Cadillac XTS The XTS is the newest addition to the Cadillac’s luxury sedan lineup and is expected to arrive in showrooms in the spring of 2012 as the most technologically advanced production car in the brand's history. Larger than the CTS, the new XTS delivers the space, elegance and dramatic presence that are Cadillac signatures, but with entirely new and technically advanced methods. It also marks the debut of CUE, a comprehensive in-vehicle experience that merges intuitive design with auto industryfirst controls and commands for information and media data. Positioned directly above the centerpiece CTS family in Cadillac's revamped lineup, the new XTS features a 3.6L direct injection engine and advanced all-wheel drive system, marking a shift to more-efficient performance in a spacious luxury sedan.

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HOT

Aston Martin DBS Carbon Edition As if the DBS wasn’t a hot enough car already, Aston Martin has decided to take it up a notch for those select few that desire it. Following on from the success of the DBS Carbon Black, introduced in 2009, the DBS Carbon Edition will be available in two new colours including Flame Orange and Ceramic Grey together with the existing Carbon Black. A first for Aston Martin is the option to specify a satin lacquer paint finish, creating a silk-like texture.

The DBS Carbon Edition will also feature 10-spoke gloss black diamond turned wheels with a reversed diamond turned or full gloss black finish as an option.

Complementing the wheels, black brake callipers will be delivered as standard with yellow, orange, red or grey as an option. Harmonising with the exterior finish is a warm black grille, carbon fibre mirror heads, carbon rear lamp in-fills and smoked rear lights creating a DBS specification like never before. The first of these stunners are expected to reach their proud owner’s hands sometime early 2012.

WHEELS PRESENTING OUR PICKS…

Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 We love the Camaro and we love convertibles and this one is both. Better still, it is the brand's most-powerful convertible ever. Like the coupe, the Camaro ZL1 convertible features a supercharged 6.2L "LSA" engine, SAErated at 580 horsepower (432 kW) and 556 lb.-ft. of torque (754 Nm). That's enough to exceed the output of 2+2 convertibles of many performance icons. The Camaro ZL1 convertible's power is complemented by advanced powertrain and chassis technologies designed to deliver exceptional performance on the road or track. In fact, it's the same balance of acceleration, handling and ride quality that enabled a Camaro ZL1 coupe recently to lap the Nürburgring's Nordschleife course in 7:41.27 minutes.

LISTS 2012

CARS Chrysler 300C SRT8 The success of the modern Chrysler 300 launched in 2005 can be attributed to its broad appeal. People of all ages, incomes, and lifestyles were attracted to the sedan's dramatic styling, power and performance.

The 2011 model year brought the introduction of the all-new Chrysler 300, 300 Limited and 300C. For 2012, the Chrysler brand is expanding the appeal of its flagship 300 sedan even further by launching a few ‘all-new’ models. The king of this lineup is the 2012 Chrysler 300 SRT8. It adds high-performance hardware to the elegant proportions and head turning design of the 2011 Chrysler 300C to provide the ultimate combination of unmistakably bold American style, luxury and performance. With an estimated 465 horsepower and 465 lb.-ft. of torque, the 300 SRT8 should fit suit anyone seeking heart pounding, adrenaline filled excitement, but don't want to sacrifice comfort and innovative features to get it.

Porsche 911 Carrera The Porsche 911 is timeless, which is why every new generation of the icon is an event. This is the latest generation of the iconic coupe that has been acclaimed as one of the world's benchmark sports cars since its launch in 1963. True to the 911 tradition, unmistakable silhouette still catches the eye while incorporating new, exciting contours and precisely designed details. The rear-mounted, flat six cylinder engine is an equally symbolic component of the 911 identity. The 911 Carrera is powered by a new 3.4-litre engine developing 350 hp, and the Carrera S features a 400 hp version of the familiar 3.8-litre. These new engines offer performance improvements for both models. The 3.4-litre Carrera with PDK accelerates from 0-62mph in 4.6 sec, 0.1 sec quicker than the prior model.

Pressing the Sport Plus button on the optional Sport Chrono Pack cuts that to 4.4 sec. The 3.8-litre Carrera S with PDK can accelerate from 0- 62 mph in 4.3 sec (Sport Plus 4.1 sec), 0.2 sec quicker than its predecessor. What more could a car nut really want.

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LISTS 2012

CARS MINI Cooper Coupe With the first two-seater in its lineup, MINI not only breathes new life into its successful racing history but also provides a shot in the arm for the super-compact sports car class. The selection of engines, chassis set-up, weight distribution and aerodynamic properties of the MINI Coupe are all focused on delivering optimum performance.

As a result, the new car radiates the brand's hallmark go-kart feeling with a whole new depth of intensity and achieves the best performance statistics ever recorded by a volume-produced MINI. In short – it is the fastest-accelerating MINI ever, has the highest top speed and looks great too.

Tesla Model S The Model S seats five adults and two children. It comes with three battery pack options, 160, 230 or 300 mile range.

It can be recharged using any conventional outlet and is capable of a fast charge of 45 minutes. With no internal combustion engine or transmission tunnel, the interior of the car has class-leading cargo space, including a trunk under the hood. The centerpiece of the interior is a 17-inch touchscreen with wireless connectivity for streaming radio, web browsing and navigation. While we may not see the Model S anytime soon in Oman, or any Tesla vehicle for that matter; there is one simple reason we have included this vehicle in the list – it shows us once and for all that electric sedans don’t always have to be boring, in fact they can be downright amazing.

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Lamborghini Gallardo LP550-2 Spyder Automobili Lamborghini is expanding the most successful model line ever built under the sign of the bull with a very special car – the new Gallardo LP 550-2 Spyder combines the open spyder body style with purist rear Wheel Drive.

This version brings together that stunning level of open-air driving fun that can come only from a super sports car with a folding roof and an unbelievably agile and spontaneous handling.

The most important technical characteristics of the Lamborghini LP 550-2 Spyder are already recognizable from the model designation – LP stands for Longitudinale/Posteriore, for the mid-engine built longitudinally in front of the rear axle. 550 refers to the power output in hp, and the 2 stands for the drive to the rear wheels.

At Lamborghini, the word spyder means “the ultimate synthesis of a fascinating, powerfully expressive super sports car design, the ultimate open-air thrill and sheer pleasure for all the senses,” we couldn’t have said it better ourselves.

Lexus GS 450h The GS 450h will be the world's first premium performance sedan to be equipped with a V6 Atkinson cycle gas engine and two-motor hybrid system, in a front engine rear-wheel drive vehicle. It is equipped with a second generation Lexus Hybrid Drive system and has a total system power output of 338 hp. The GS 450h will accelerate effortlessly from 0-60 mph in 5.6 seconds. Conversely, fuel consumption is expected to be improved by more than 30 percent.

In fact the GS 450h is targeting certification as a Super-Ultra Low Emissions Vehicle II (SULEV II). The new GS hybrid also features a Drive Mode selector. In addition to the Normal mode, the driver can customize the driving experience using Eco, Sport S, Sport S+ and EV modes.

FEATURE

THE BULL’S PEN

The Lamborghini Museum: The name alone makes people dream of supercars and street ready race cars.

We head for the Lamborghini Museum in Italy to find out more about the legendary brand

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ven if one is not an autophile, hearing the word ‘Lamborghini’ has the same effect on one’s ears like hearing music. One feels pleasantly provoked and a ‘slide show’ of exotic supercars starts playing in one’s mind. Why? Simply because this Italian car maker has been manufacturing some of the most sought after luxury sports cars on earth for half a century.

The Lamborghini factory is located in the village of Sant’Agata Bolognese, about 21 miles from Bologna and has been in operation ever since its ‘birth’ in 1963. However, since Automobili Lamborghini SpA became the property of Audi AG in 1998, a lot of investment has been channelled in renovation of the original Lamborghini factory into the modern facility it has now become.

The Lamborghini Museum The Lamborghini museum is located at the same venue from 2001 and was opened as a sign of Automobili Lamborghini's commitment to celebrate the new millennium and a newer breed of super cars. It houses a stunning display of these supercars, right from classics to racing as well as concept cars.

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Four-Wheeled Exotica The Museum has a stunning display of cars spread over two levels. We experience a ‘meaningful silence’ at the museum as the cars stand alongside, giving us an unspoken and yet impressive testimony of their proud heritage.

Most of the cars here do not show any signs of aging, an evidence of the fact that they have been pampered to the maximum. However, it is also good to know that many of them have been on road at some point in their lives before arriving at the museum. Some of the cars on display are from a private collection belonging to the founder of Lamborghini. On the first floor one will observe cars of different generations lined up alongside each other. The second floor houses the race cars manufactured by Lamborghini during the 80s and 90s as well as concept cars.

One is also treated to a glimpse of the factory floor through a window; you can always contact the factory though, for an actual guided tour of the manufacturing facility itself. Among the cars on display are the 1963 350GT (It is the 1st production car built by the company’s founder Ferruccio Lamborghini), a Yellow Miura (It may be worth noting that the 350 GT and 400 GT 2+2 made the Lamborghini name popular throughout the world; however it was Miura the company’s first high performance two-seater,

that made it a legend), the 1st Countach ever built (This was a worthy successor to the Miura and together with ‘Espada’, kept the company alive through troublesome times – a true super hero indeed!) and the 1989 Larousse F1, 1990 Lotus F1 & 1991 Lambo F1 One might ask, ‘Was there a Lamborghini F1 team in the 1990s that I am not aware of?’ Well actually Lamborghini was an engine supplier in Formula One between the 1989 and 1993 Formula One seasons. It supplied engines to Larrousse, Lotus, and Minardi teams. The company of course saw themselves as a supplier and not a backer of any of these teams. Also on display are the 25th Anniversary Countach and the Diablo Roadster of 1992 and an array of truly exotic cars.

Like every other museum, this one doesn’t lead you directly into a gift or memorabilia shop on the way out. You might have to enter the factory building where you will be directed to the corner where it is located. That way, you can wrap up your visit by buying some befitting memorabilia.

The Lamborghini museum is well worth a visit and if you are keen on a factory tour it is a good idea to contact them in advance for a guided exploration of the entire facility, assembly and the restoration workshop – all of which are not to be missed!

FEATURE

LOOK WHO'S

WEARING A PRADA!

HYUNDAI’S GENESIS PRADA BLENDS HIGH QUALITY AUTOMOBILE ENGINEERING WITH ELEGANCE AND PANACHE, SAYS MAYANK SINGH WHO WAS PART OF THE GLITTERING LAUNCH EVENT IN DUBAI…

How does one describe an association between the fastest growing international automobile brand and one of the world’s best luxury brands – a perfect fit, match made in heaven or luxury on wheels – well, it may be apt to use all of these epithets. Hyundai Motor Company, recently announced the launch of the limited edition Genesis Prada in the Middle East. The Genesis Prada, based on the 2012 Genesis sedan and featuring Hyundai's award-winning Tau 4.6 MPI engine was unveiled to over 100 VIP guests, company executives and media colleagues at an exclusive event held at the Park Hyatt hotel in Dubai recently.

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Genesis Prada is characterised by a special design that combines Prada’s sophisticated innovation, attention to detail and uncompromised quality approach with Hyundai's advanced technology and expertise in car manufacturing. The collaboration is the result of the Genesis Prada concept, which was introduced at the Seoul Motor Show in 2009.

“The Middle East is a very strategically important market for Hyundai, having been here for over 28 years,” said Mike Lee, Marketing Manager, Hyundai Middle East regional headquarters. “The fact that this is

– Black Nero, Blue Baltico and Brown Moro – that are applied with a three-layer coat technology with stereoscopic gold pearl.

Dark chrome is applied to the radiator grille, emblem and door handles to reflect the unique palladium-coated buckles on Prada's bags. The innovations introduced by Prada include also 19-inch alloy wheels and an outer antenna with a wedge shape. For the interior, the dashboard and the upholstery have also been revised and artisan-crafted in "saffiano" leather – Prada's signature top quality leather – to obtain a luxurious and sophisticated finish.

only the second market globally to receive this limited edition vehicle underlines our commitment to the market. Joining forces with Prada, a world-renowned fashion house, lends a distinct air of luxury to the Genesis Prada and underscores the importance of this award winning vehicle for Hyundai.”

The joint project is the result of both companies' approach to create a highly unique version of the Genesis model, addressed to the most sophisticated clientele.

In particular, the project reflects Hyundai’s new marketing direction – ‘New Thinking.

New Possibilities.’ – that aims to provide customers with new experiences and values beyond their expectations. This matches the brand image of Prada that is also a fine balance of tradition and innovation.

Explaining the design cues that make the Genesis Prada a distinguished vehicle, Francesco Longanesi Cattani, Director of External Relations, Prada said: “We felt it important to make Genesis Prada owners not only see, but also feel the difference when inside the car. From the outside-in, the car looks in a class of its own, with special paint and badges. The interior also gets special treatment, with signature Prada Saffiano leather used to give it an air of luxury and sophistication.”

TRACING ROOTS Genesis Prada is based on the 2012 Genesis, which was launched in February 2011. The car, which won the prestigious 2009 North

American Car of the Year award, is powered

by Hyundai's Tau V8 engine, which has been chosen as one of Ward's 10 Best Engines for three consecutive years since 2009. The 2012 Genesis's Tau 4.6 MPI engine produces 366ps at 6,500rpm, and 44.8kg/m of torque at 3,500rpm mated to an eight-speed automatic transmission that allows drivers to enjoy the car’s power and driving dynamics to their fullest extent.

Genesis Prada comes in three special colours

Genesis Prada will be produced by customised personal orders, while the limited Genesis Prada badge and GP500 emblem will emphasise the exclusivity of the car, limited to a production run of just 1,200 units globally. Hyundai, together with Prada, will carry out exclusive VIP marketing activities to provide customers with ultimate satisfaction and convenience. Initially offered in limited numbers in the Korean market, this is the first time that the Hyundai Genesis Prada is being exported to the Middle East, and will be followed by other Asian countries in the near future.

For more details contact OTE Group, which is the exclusive dealer for Hyundai range of vehicles in Oman

CELEBRITY

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‘ENTOURAGE’ OF SUCCESS SHE’S BEAUTIFUL, GROUNDED AND TALENTED. ACTRESS EMMANUELLE CHRIQUI IS THE QUINTESSENTIAL BEAUTY WITH BRAINS WHO IS APT TO LEAD YOUNG HOLLYWOOD INTO A NEW ERA OF SUCCESS, SAYS DEEPA RAJAN

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he’s been the Most Desirable Woman in the World (AskMen.com 2010 poll); has appeared on similar lists for FHM (Top Sexiest Women in the World, 2008), Maxim (Hot 100 List, 2007) and Stuff (102 Sexiest Women in the World, 2002). All titles and nomenclatures aside, Canadian-born Emmanuelle Chriqui (pronounced "shriek-y," not "creaky") is one of those rare Hollywood women who are more than just a pretty face, minus the silicon.

Born in Montreal and raised in Toronto, Emmanuelle began acting on stage at 7 and at age 10, she landed her first TV gig when she let a cheeseburger dance on her shirt for a McDonald's commercial. After graduating from high school, she moved to Vancouver where she waited tables and chased acting roles in Hollywood North. It was not a bed of roses for this gorgeous Canadian, who despite being cast in Steven Spielberg's robot opus, Artificial Intelligence: A.I., and Todd Solondz's Storytelling, did not see fame until much later. In both cases, her scenes were deleted.

She soon landed roles in New Line Cinema's Detroit Rock City, Paramount/Nickelodeon's Snow Day and the cult favourite 100 Girls. It was Miramax's On the Line, however, that provided this drop-dead gorgeous actress with her first leading role in a studio film. Her other film roles included Wrong Turn, In the Mix, Rick, Waiting, The Crow: Wicked Prayer and Tortured. On the small screen, she had recurring roles on both The O.C. and HBO's Unscripted, a series from George Clooney and Steven Soderbergh.

Following her first two TV projects in 2005, Emmanuelle landed what would be her most popular television role as Sloan McQuewick, the sultry on-screen companion of Eric Murphy, on Entourage.

Since then she has gone on to become a heartthrob to millions and has starred alongside Adam Sandler in Columbia Pictures' comedy You Don't Mess with the Zohan, Adrien Brody in Cadillac Records and Steve Buscemi in the independent film Saint John of Las Vegas. She was also seen in Director Sebastian Gutierrez's Elektra Luxx the comedy follow-up to Women In Trouble both in which Emmanuelle starred alongside Carla Gugino. Most recently, she also starred alongside Rupert Friend in Renny Harlin’s 5 Days of War. She also guest-starred on the Showtime series The Borgias, a period drama starring Jeremy Irons and

CELEBRITY in fall 2011, Emmanuelle made her debut on the New York stage at the Westside Theatre in Love, Loss and What I Wore, an Off-Broadway play written by Nora Ephron and Delia Ephron.

That’s not all. She is also a much sought after voice-over artist and has leant her voice to Cartoon Network’s reimagining of the popular 80’s cartoon Thundercats as Cheetara and is recording for Tron: Uprising.

Multi-faceted and talented, Emmanuelle is also involved in several philanthropic efforts. She, along with Robin Wright, Emile Hirsch and Joel Madden, has helped to launch raisehopeforcongo.org with respected humanitarian John Prendergast. In addition, she is on the Young Hollywood Board for the Environmental Media Association as well as continuing her active role as a spokeswoman for Colon Cancer Canada. In fact, she is so passionate about the cause that we are told she chooses to drive the eco-friendly Toyota Prius.

Actress, voice-over artist, philanthropist, environmentalist, Emmanuelle is all that and more. In an exclusive interview with Signature this heavenly beauty and brand ambassador for Baume & Mercier talks about her sexsymbol status, her career and her wishes for the new year…

When did you decide to become an actress and why?

“I decided to become an actress when I was 7 years old because I had my first taste of the theatre at a local theatre company in Canada.

It was the most amazing experience and I became addicted after that.”

How would you define yourself as an actress?

Who would you say is your inspiration?

“I’d like to define myself as un-definable. I would like to think that I’m a versatile actress and there is not just one thing that I do. My inspirations are Charlize Theron, Penelope Cruz, Cate Blanchett and Kate Winslet. All these actresses are unafraid to take incredible risks and that’s really inspiring to me and something I would really love to achieve in my career.”

What artistic and technical differences have you encountered while working for television and film?

“The biggest difference between television and film is that the small screen moves much more quickly. In my case, in cable television, things were very different than network television. Entourage felt like you

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to you?

“The concept of time has always been very intriguing to me. I find that time is a bit of a mystery. When you’re young, time moves so slowly and as you get older, time moves so quickly. I definitely like to try to live each day to the fullest and not take any moments for granted.”

In May 2010, you topped the AskMen.com Most Desirable Women of 2010 list… Do you ever feel pressure to look a certain way? How do you handle it?

“I don’t necessarily feel a pressure to look a certain way. I think that being an actor, we are the product that we’re selling. It’s more my responsibility to take care of myself because the two go hand-in-hand. I really believe in aging gracefully and overall my ultimate philosophy is to take care of myself.”

You are also doing voice-over work. How did you get involved with the Tron: Uprising (animated series), and what do you enjoy the most about it?

“I really made a point of getting into voiceover work because I truly enjoy it, and Tron: Uprising was a great opportunity to do this. I love that it’s another creative outlet other than television, film and theatre. Using my voice is what matters in this case rather than focusing on the physical, which is really liberating.”

QUICK TAKES

In you weren’t an actress, who would you like to be?

“If I weren’t an actress, I would be a humanitarian. I’d like to think no matter what my job is, I’d be able to do work in a capacity that gives back. I also love alternative health, it’s very fascinating to me.”

If you have to choose your Entourage who would it be…

“If I had an Entourage, it would include my family, my best friends, my boyfriend, publicist and my manager.”

were shooting a film very quickly. It was a really cinematic television show and in the TV world, in that way, we were incredibly spoiled.

On a film set, especially a studio film, you get the opportunity to really explore the scene and take more time with it. I definitely enjoy both mediums.”

How is your partnership with Baume & Mercier?

How would you describe your contribution into

the brand-building process?

“I’m a big fan of Baume & Mercier. We mutually admire each other in this very organic relationship. It is a company that really encompasses what I aspire to be which is classic, elegant and versatile.”

Being an ambassador of a brand at the fore front of the watchmaking industry, could you tell us what does the concept of ‘time’ mean

Your wishlist 2012 “My wish list for 2012 is for my friends and family to be healthy, living a beautiful life and achieving their goals and dreams. That’s number one on my list. I would also like to travel to the Congo to continue my work with Raise Hope For Congo and Cambodia, to visit the legendary Somaly Mam, whom I very much admire.”

Baume & Mercier range is available at Al Qurum Jewellery outlets across the city

TRENDS 2012

WATCHES

“Continuing on from last year, red gold is an important trend this year. The material is very elegant, and its warm tones embody a more contemporary spirit than the previously wider seen yellow gold. This goes in line with a return of the “retro style” and reinterpretation of historical pieces with larger cases, more sophisticated movements and new materials – yet maintaining the beautiful spirit of the older times. For Baume & Mercier, the use of red gold has a particular meaning and reflects the warm feeling of “seaside living”, our brand environment, into the design of our new watches. It recalls the color of the sand and the stylish teakwood decks of the

CHANGING TIMES THE DAWN OF ANOTHER YEAR BRINGS WITH IT NEW BEGINNINGS FOR INDUSTRIES THE WORLD OVER. FOR BAUME & MERCIER, ITS NEW WATCHES ARE LAUNCHED AT THE RENOWNED AND VERY PRESTIGIOUS SALON INTERNATIONAL DE HAUTE HORLOGERIE (SIHH) TAKING PLACE FROM JANUARY 16 – 20. TO MARK THE NEW YEAR, ALAIN ZIMMERMANN TALKS ABOUT 2012 TRENDS AND WHAT THE FAMED SWISS MAISON D’HORLOGERIE HAS IN STORE FOR WATCH ENTHUSIASTS OUT THERE…

Hamptons houses. Compared to last year, automatic movements for women will take a more prominent position in the market, as opposed to the standard quartz movement usually found in women’s watches. Ladies are becoming more and more concerned with what is inside their watch, and not only the outer case; they are becoming more interested in movements. This was not much of a surprise to me… We have been paying attention to this fact for a few years. We launched the first Linea Automatic in 2011, and have more automatic pieces to come. We expect to see an overall considerable increase in automatic watches for women this year.

In a society where products are becoming universal, individuals need more personalization. This is also the case for watches. On our pieces, we offer the opportunity to engrave messages on the sundeck décor of the caseback, would it be the date of a birth, an anniversary or the name of a loved one. On the other hand, ladies are particularly excited about our interchangeable strap signature on the Linea. This watch is trans-generational and self-expressive, and offers women the independence to create their own style. The straps are easily changed without any tools, and offer the option of making the watch your own.

The author is the CEO – Baume & Mercier. He began his career with L’Oréal and has since gained considerable experience of the luxury industry spanning more than two decades.

Zimmermann has handled various managerial responsibilities in the fields of sales, marketing and communications – both within the Richemont Group (Cartier, IWC), as well as for the leading Swiss Private Banking Group, Julius Bär Bank.

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READY TO TEE-OFF ON THE GREENS The 8th edition of OER CEO Golf, the most awaited corporate event in the country, is happening on January 12, 2012, at the Muscat Hills Golf and Country Club

It’s that time of the year, when you need to carry your networking skills along with your glove and golf club. And this will happen on January 12 at the OER CEO Golf 2012, the much sought after business-cum-leisure premium networking event, which is brought to you by Oman Economic Review, the Sultanate’s number one business magazine.

The event offers revitalisation for Oman’s corporate heavy weights, giving them an opportunity to network and compete on the greens. The event will host the top echelons of corporate Oman at the country’s most exciting greens of Muscat Hills Golf & Country Club.

OER CEO Golf has become the biggest and most memorable event in Oman’s corporate calendar with golfers and golfers to be enthusiasts taking part in this not-to-be-missed action-packed day.

There are few events that can boast of such variety and all-round entertainment.

High profile business leaders, top CEOs and managers will network over a game of 18-hole golf. While golfers vie to win, beginners get an expert initiation to the game and participate in a competition for winning the crowning glory – a Rolex watch.

OER CEO Golf 2012 is being presented by Nawras Business Solutions while the associate presenter is INFINITI. The official timekeeper of the event is ROLEX from Khimji’s Watches. Samsung is the prize partner. Publicity partners are Times of Oman and Al Shabiba while media sponsors include Hi and Al Youm Al Sab’e. The category partners of the event are AXA; Oman Printers & Stationers; OUA; Infoline; Aggreko; and Travel City Travel Point.

Exciting day It’s going to be non-stop entertainment the whole day with the Golf Day beginning at 7.00am and ending at 2.00pm while the evening entertainment function will be held between 6.30pm to 10.30pm.

The most exhilarating time for Golfers at the OER CEO 2012 will begin when they compete with their fellow golfers for the thrilling new format known as the 18-hole Texas Scramble golf.

Generally, the Scramble is one of the primary forms of tournament play for golf associations, charity events and the like. A scramble is usually played with 4-person teams, but 2-person scrambles are popular, too. In a scramble, each player tees off on each hole. The best of the tee shots is selected and all players play their second shots from that spot. The best of the second shots is determined, then all play their third shots from that spot, and so on until the ball is holed. Trick-shot specialist Michael Scholz will be on hand to display his magical skills with the ball and the swing.

Apart from the high powered business networking while swinging the golf club, an elegant red carpet evening has been arranged complete with world-class entertainment, socialising, fine dining, a glittering awards ceremony and loads of exciting entertainment and prize giving.

The highlight of the evening’s entertainment will be Daniela Maxova, renowned international illusionist.

For the golfers to be, a special programme has been arranged apart from the golf clinic.

Leadership consultant, John Mitchell, will deliver a talk on ‘Driving Change from the fairway to the boardroom’.

AU NATUREL

THE REAL TREND IS THE PRODUCE ITSELF, SAYS MICHELIN STAR CHEF JEAN BAPTISTE NATALI

TRENDS 2012

FOOD

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riting remarks on culinary trends a week after leading the culinary team at Six Senses Zighy Bay is a bit like meeting up with friends after discovering chanterelles in the forest; you don’t want to divulge the secrets of your location, and keep the chanterelles all to yourself. Of course, even if you are selfless and divulge the details, there is no guarantee the same patch will still be in bloom. Culinary experiences, much like fashion, wax and wane as new chefs emerge with their own techniques. By the time you learn the fashionable technique, it may no longer be as desirable.

The key to culinary trends as a budding chef is to find your own passion, no matter how simple the method. For 2012, there are no more trends such as molecular gastronomy. The real trend now, for me, is the produce itself. The produce paired with the seasonal rhythm of nature as a support to those who are passionate about taste and aesthetics in order to get away from the fast and artificial trends.

Consumers are more aware now on how food is grown, harvested, transported and prepared.

Transparency in the food industry is becoming ever more important; buyers are demanding to know what chemicals and processing methods may have altered the natural flavour of the produce. We want to know what we are putting into the soil and into our body. Organic is ideal, but at least everything needs to be grown in its own natural cycle. Let nature alone to provide beautiful, crisp and flavourful ingredients.

I love working with an awkwardly shaped aubergine or a lumpy potato! It takes the luxury out of cooking when everything is artificial and uniform.

Seasons are very important to fruits and vegetables, and will also influence the recipes restaurants and chefs will identify as innovative throughout the year. We won’t manipulate the seasons, and if we want to feature something out of cycle, it is a great new challenge to find an appropriate substitute. This is something easier in areas like Europe, but can get muddled in the Middle East where one can buy watermelon year-round. It’s refreshing to see more and more hypermarkets paying more attention to the natural growth process of fruits and vegetables.

This trend of depending heavily on natural and cyclical produce is handed down from the budding Nordic chefs. We’re used to hearing about Chefs from USA, France and Spain, but look on the radar from Scandinavia! I’ve had the pleasure to experience the drought

of green ingredients in the depth of winter only to discover a multitude of new, local techniques tried and true, but forgotten behind the convenience of take out service and year round comfort foods. Sometimes the greatest challenge is the one we’ve faced all along.

What’s great about this tasty planet of ours is that there are always fresh ingredients.

We worked on this while I was at Zighy Bay, the chefs seeking to know secrets of my international success. Meanwhile, I was keen to play with the organic and locally grown produce from the resort’s 2,500sqm organic garden. Imagine playing with fields of basils, coriander and parsleys where the fragrances were so fresh the challenge became how to tame the intense natural flavours. We injected ingredients from the garden into every dish served at the Celestial Event in November at the mountain-top restaurant ‘Sense on the Edge’. No dish looked alike, the chefs and I often harvesting herbs and vegetables so that no one looked alike. Playing with our food; the culinary joys of life!

It’s cold now in France, and when I am protecting my potted herbs from unforgiving cold drafts, I’ll dream back to the sandy terrain and verdant basil of Zighy Bay.

The writer has learnt from celebrity chefs such as Christian Willer of Daniel Boulud in New York, Hotel La Mamounia, Marrakech and the Connaught Hotel London. Jean Baptiste wanted to fly on his own, which he finally did in 2001 returning to his father’s restaurant. One year later he was awarded his first Michelin star, which he has since retained along with the much coveted title of ‘Young European Talent’.

“(Golf is) a passion, an obsession, a romance…”

Bob Ryan, Sportswriter

Intensity meets inspiration on the greens.

By invitation only.

2012 JAN 12 I MUSCAT HILLS Business meets golf.

On 12 January 2012, Nawras presents the 8th Edition of OER CEO Golf. The event will host the top echelon of corporate Oman at one of the country’s most exciting golf courses. Out on the greens at Muscat Hills Golf and Country Club, high profile business leaders will network over a game of 18-hole golf. While golfers vie for the win, beginners get an expert initiation to the game.

Golf meets excitement.

It’s not just high-powered business networking. The highlight will include an elegant red carpet evening complete with world-class entertainment, socialising, fine dining, a glittering awards ceremony and loads more exclusive excitement.

For enquiries please contact: AHMED 99356490

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WATCH

COMING SOON… …BOOK YOUR SEATS NOW

The Descendants

Snow White And The Huntsman

We cannot think of beginning the year without watching a George Clooney flick. Slated to release late January, this Alexander Payne-directed film is already creating serious Oscar hype!

Kristen Stewart, Chris Hemsworth and Charlize Theron team up for this actionpacked version of the fairytale set to release in June. It would be good to see Kristen Stewart be something more than pale vampire feed!

Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance

The Dark Knight Rises

The year 2012 is the year of sequels. February sees the return of Nicolas Cage as the spirit of vengeance with this sequel to 2007’s Ghost Rider.

The Pirates! In an Adventure with Scientists

Har Har Me Maties! This March join the fearless pirate captain, voiced by Hugh Grant, join forces with Charles Darwin to get us some pirate action.

American Reunion

Thirteen years on from the original American Pie, its stars return for their high school reunion.

April’s never going to be the same again!

Dark Shadows

No matter what the money purse says, a Tim Burton-Johnny Depp collaboration is a treat to watch. May brings yet another gothic horror thriller from the Burton-Depp team.

This July release of Christopher Nolan's Batman series sees Christian Bale (for the last time) back as the bat with Michael Caine and Morgan Freeman returning to duty as his faithful cohorts.

Anna Karenina

Joe Wright teams up again with Keira Knightley for his take on Tolstoy's classic novel (set for a August release) about a woman trapped in a loveless marriage.

Gambit

Remake of the 60s Michael Caine comedy scripted by the great Coen brothers, it has Colin Firth starring as an art curator. Firth’s always has been our man, so we know why we are eagerly waiting for this September release.

Skyfall

Yay! Bond is back in October! Daniel Craig's third turn as 007 has him battling the sexiest villain ever, Javier Bardem. We are rooting for Bardem here!

RALLYING TO THE CAUSE

PASSIONS

Every inch a successful businessman, Nizar Said Al-Shanfari would rather be tinkering in his garage with his cars, says Deepa Rajan

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W

hen we ‘cleverly’ (or so we thought!) asked Nizar Said Al-Shanfari to describe his passion for cars and racing in three words, little did we know we were going to be totally outfoxed!

Almost instantaneous, his answer was, “I can describe it in one word – Crazy. People look at a car and say ‘nice car’, but they don’t understand the mechanics behind it. It’s different for me; I look at it inside out, marvel at every screw and fitting; that’s how deep I am with cars.

“When you are young you pick up a hobby.

For me, because my father had an automobile business, I was always around garages, playing with car parts and observing the machines. I started liking it and never looked back. Some people collect stamps, some play football, but for me it has always been and continues to be cars.”

Nizar studied Business Administration in the United States of America, where he also practiced racing as a hobby. “I have tried extreme sports like motorcycling, wadi bashing, dune buggy racing, because Oman is country that has everything you need to enjoy the sport.

While I was in the US, I did some drag racing but it was not what I wanted to do. The thrill of it is over in five seconds. Today, I enjoy watching drag races, but it’s just not me.”

Reminiscing about his first race, he says, “One of the first rallies was in Oman in late eighties, when I was in high school. It really did not go that well. The car was just not good enough. I put it together here and I had no experience. But everyone has to start somewhere and there is a learning curve.”

In 1996, he finished his studies and returned to Oman to assume racing as his profession. What was once a hobby became a profession and it culminated in his forming his own team, despite no support from any government organisation.

“I have faced many challenges, I practice an individual sport and such sports do not receive government or private support as is the case with team sports like football,” says Nizar.

Support or not, driven by pure passion, Nizar went on to compete in many international races and championships, eventually bagging his first international win in 1999, at the FIA’s (Fédération internationale d’automobile) ‘Middle East Championship for Rallies’ in Jordan, where he finished first in his category and second overall. “The feeling of winning on

an international platform for the first time is out of this world. Things change after that because everything you have done in the past has been in preparation for that. From that moment on everything flowed.

"I started winning almost every race, unless of course I made a mistake or crashed the car.”

Nizar went on to win his second race in 2000 after which he chose to focus on desert rallies, including four times in the Abu Dhabi Desert Rally.

According to Nizar, rallies are a different ballgame altogether; the logistics, the team and many other factors come together to make it possible. “It all has to come together. Without a good car I am nothing. Even if I have a good car, without my efficient mechanics I am nothing.

Once everything is there and I get into the car but I don’t think correctly, let’s say I don’t sleep or eat right; it affects me because when you behind the wheel of a race car, you have to make split-second decisions. Everything has to be in perfect harmony for it to work well.”

the government create programmes where this energy can be better utilised. Involved them in motorsports; it will not only give them a creative medium to take charge of their lives, but also teach them to be more responsible, become better drivers and help reduce the accident rates, which are a cause for major concern in our country right now.”

So what is his advice to the younger generation that does really want to take up motorsports as a profession? Nizar says, “Think pragmatically.

If you do want to become a professional racer, make sure you train yourself well. More importantly, have a proper monetary plan in place. Don’t waste your own money, make sure that you have somebody supporting you first.”

He adds, “It is very important to know where your passions lie. Racing for the thrill of it as a sport is very different from driving like a maniac and endangering other people’s lives.” We cannot not help but agree with Nizar’s words of wisdom. Add some of his exuberant, infectious ‘crazy’ into your lives and the roadmap to life becomes a tad bit easier to navigate!

A spine injury kept Nizar away from his passion for a long time, but it was not long before he was out racing. He returned in the April of 2011 to participate in Abu Dhabi Desert Rally, again on his own terms and efforts.

"Good sponsors are hard to come by," he says and adds, “I wish the Ministry of Tourism and the Ministry of Sports would take the same interest in motorsports they take have taken in the Tour of Oman (cycling) rally. It is not just about the cycling; it brings in customers, tourists and puts Oman as a country on the global map.

The same goes for Motorsports. Think about it, how many people, aside from the drivers, will come in; the teams, the media and TV coverage, the team sponsors. With these come hotel bookings, restaurant customers, visas and more.

There is a lot of money waiting to be made. And best of all, rallies take place outside the city, so the most basic of all problems, possible traffic congestion is all ruled out.”

Nizar is very clear that for Oman to really progress in the motorsports world people have to change and open up their minds and understand the entertainment and monetary values that an event of such a calibre can bring into the nation.

He feels not enough is being done to channel the energy that the nation’s youth possess.

“The youth of today is either hanging out in malls or cruising in the streets. Why doesn’t

A Car for all seasons “The Mitsubishi Evolution because it has all the performance one needs and is a well-built car.”

A Car for 2012 “I am looking forward to the new GMC HD. It’s not really expensive, but it suits my needs well.”

TRENDS 2012

ART

GLOBAL CANVAS

Her Highness Sheikha Lulu M Al-Sabah answers questions on the art scene this year..

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WHERE DO YOU SEE THE REGIONAL ARTS SCENE IN 2012 ON THE GLOBAL ART MAP? "I see the regional art scene going from strength to strength despite the current global financial crisis. I feel that arts appreciation is on the rise and the Middle East will eventually have a better arts infrastructure to support its artists.

In 2012, there will be an increasing number of global exhibitions and auctions that feature the works of Middle Eastern artists. The spotlight is on the Middle East and in time, our nascent art market will soon become part of the mainstream."

CAN WE ENVISION AN ‘URBAN TERRAIN AS CANVAS’ FOR THE REGION A LA BANKSY? "Absolutely. The Arab Spring had instigated a change in consciousness throughout the region, beginning with the hope for change, which spread very quickly. There is an increase in the use of graffiti to express ideas. This was evident from the writings on the street walls of Tunis and Cairo. Street art has already begun in the Middle East. Soon one artist will shine through and become the ‘Middle East Banksy.’ " HOTSPOTS FOR ART FAIRS IN 2012 Regional platform: Dubai Global platform: Hong Kong CONTEMPORARY ARTISTS TO WATCH OUT FOR IN 2012? WHY? Regional platform: Tala Mandani and Wael Shawky for their exceptional works, sought after by serious collectors.

Global platform: Cornelia Parker and Nobuko Tsuchiya for eliciting a different way of thinking.

MEDIUMS THAT YOU THINK WILL FLOURISH AND WHY? Regional platform: Mixed-media because artists are pushing boundaries and their own comfort zones.

Global platform: Oil on canvas. There will be a return to the essentials that conjure sustainability.

The writer is the founding Partner of JAMM, an independent strategic art advisory service, and is primarily responsible for all charitable and artist talent functions of the business.

RETROSPECTIVE

ARTISTIC GENIUS Oscar-winning Set Designer Gianna Quaranta answers Deepa Rajan’s questions on his illustrious career, passions, and Royal Opera House Muscat in a Signature exclusive

A

n Oscar-winning Set Designer for the 1986 film, Room with a View by James Ivory, Gianni Quaranta has enjoyed a long and esteemed career as a director, set designer, costume designer and creative designer in the worlds of cinema and theatre.

Graduating with honours in Set Design from the Academy of Fine Arts of Brera, in Milan, he began as an assistant to renowned set designers and quickly followed suit by designing sets for theatrical performances by big names such as Jean Mercuri, J. Jacques Karpo, Goez Friedrich, Sonja Frisell, Lorenzo Salveti, Marco Gagliardo and Franco Zeffirelli.

In 1995, he was awarded the “Cesar” – the most important prize in French cinema – for Best Set Design in the film Farinelli, directed by Gerard Corbiau. Among his many accolades he received two English “Bafta Awards” for his set renditions in the films La Traviata and Room with a View. He directed film projects, among which was Maruzzella, winner of first prize at the “Festival of the courts of Sabaudia” and The Gift of the Magi.

Such are his achievements that we would have to pen a book to describe the artistic genius that is Gianni. No wonder then, his passion for his art earned him the title of ‘Commander of the Italian Republic’. This legendary creator was in Oman recently to present the world premiere of Carmen, an entirely new production of Georges Bizet’s masterpiece, directed and designed by him. The production was commissioned by Royal Opera House Muscat and marks the first ever recreation of Bizet’s masterpiece in the region, which premiered in Paris in 1875.

In an interview with Signature, the maestro talks about his preferred mediums, Carmen et al

YOUR CAREER AS A DIRECTOR, SET AND COSTUME DESIGNER HAS LASTED FOR OVER 40 YEARS. DO YOU HAVE A PREFERENCE REGARDING THE MEDIUM YOU MOST ENJOY WORKING FOR? “I like each medium: in fact, each is complementary and useful to the other. Just like on a film set, I take care of the stage setting, the scenery and the costumes in order to have a global harmonious vision for the opera. I think that this can help the audience enter into the true spirit of the director’s interpretation of the work.”

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ARE THE COSTUMES THAT YOU DESIGN MERELY REPRESENTATIVE OF THE PERIOD IN WHICH THE PIECES ARE SET OR ARE THEY USED AS AN EXTENSION OF EACH CHARACTER’S PERSONALITY? “Both! I like to respect the period when the opera is set in, but of course costumes are also extremely important to understand the personality of the characters: every small detail, even the accessories play a role in giving us a better understanding of the nuances of each character’s soul.”

MANY OF THE INSTITUTIONS YOU HAVE WORKED WITH OVER THE PAST DECADES HAVE AN ARTISTIC HISTORY AND CULTURAL EXPRESSIVENESS MANY GENERATIONS OLD. COULD THE ROYAL OPERA HOUSE MUSCAT CREATE SUCH A LEGACY? HOW? “Surely, the right way is to build the employee pool and fill it up with professional staff, be WHAT ARTISTIC AND TECHNICAL DIFFERENCES HAVE YOU ENCOUNTERED WHILE WORKING FOR THE STAGE AND FILM? DO YOU HAVE MORE CREATIVE FREEDOM ON THE STAGE? “Shortly, I can say that emotionally an opera is like a ‘soufflé’ which rises day by day until the première. On the other hand, when you are making a film, the enthusiasm of the people involved in the process, dampens as the film progress, because a movie needs much more time to be completed. In fact, in some cases it goes on for years.

“I do not think it is possible to compare these two different fields distinctly. What I can say is that working in each has helped improved my work in the other. Into the opera, I am able to bring my cinematic experience, or vice versa.

In the theater, for example, this allows me to be all the more creative with artistic and technical solutions that perhaps may not have been possible without my knowledge of cinema.”

HOW HAS SET DESIGN AND PRODUCTION ON STAGE, TELEVISION AND FILM EVOLVED OVER YOUR CAREER? “The most important evolution on the stage has been the shifting from bi-dimensional scenery to a three-dimensional one. There is also this need to experiment with new styles of stage layouts.

In cinema and television, the most significant change I have seen is the role of light usage that has become more and more important while emphasising the space and the drama of the situations.”

it an artistic one or a technical one. Once the foundation is set, one can involve big artists, who can support them in all their needs. This is something that even well-known theatres such as the MET in New York or the Staatsoper in Vienna, among many others, have done for long time.”

WHAT UNIQUE CHALLENGES DID YOU ENCOUNTER WHEN DESIGNING CARMEN’S SET FOR THE ROYAL OPERA HOUSE MUSCAT? “When I started designing the scenery for Carmen at the Royal Opera House Muscat, I had to keep in mind that I was working in a wonderful new theatre, and that this inaugural season represented an historical occasion for Oman. So, in my own style, I tried to create a set that is at the same time classic and grand in scale, but also new and original. For example, I know of no other Carmen where the 4th act is located in an arena, as I have created for the Royal Opera House Muscat. I found the Royal Opera House Muscat to be a majestic venue and hence tried to design an equally majestic set.”

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE OPERA/BALLET AND FAVORITE VENUE? WHY? One of the operas I like the most is Tosca, for its wonderful arias and melodies. I really like to work for great theatres, because of the technical possibilities available, especially for scenery.

Sets are influential and have an impact on the direction, as the stage setting must consider and take advantage of the three dimensional environment. So, when I design the set, I am always thinking about the other aspects as well.

The set and the direction go hand in hand.”

CULTURAL HUES

Prof. Dr. Issam El-Mallah Adviser and Director of Programming & Events - Royal Opera House, Muscat on the Opera House’s journey so far and in the future ON 2011 SEASON FAVOURITES… “I really cannot pick one performance.

To me, they are all my children, who are phenomenal in their own right. I would, however, say that the opening performance of the season was something that holds a special place in my heart. Not just because it was something as magnificent as Turandot with names like Franco Zeffirelli and Placido Domingo attached to it, but also because it heralded an exciting era for Oman’s cultural history. It is humbling to be a part of such a monumental occasion, something that will be talked about for years to come.”

ON THE 2012 SEASON “I can promise you some really exciting times for the coming season. “You will definitely see a lot of genres not only from the Western world, but also from the Arab world. The Royal Opera House Muscat’s objective is to promote awareness among the local people by bringing them in and educating them about various cultures.

It is also important that we keep in mind the needs of our people. After all, we should not only bring the world to Oman, but also to take Oman to the world.

Therefore, we will have operas, ballets and concertos by leading names in the Western music world, but at the same time we will also have performances from Arabic artists, including performances by Omani artists.

“What we would like to present to the nation is a palette of cultural hues that not only focus on high quality entertainment, but also respect cultural sensibilities and act as an educational medium for the society.”

EVENT

OMAN DEBATE 2011 THROWS LIGHT ON NEW CHALLENGES

T

he who's who of the Sultanate's public sector corporate Oman debated about the way ahead for Oman’s economy at Oman Debate 2011, the most prestigious economic forum in the country, which was held on December 14, 2011 at Oman Auditorium, Al Bustan Palace Ritz Carlton Hotel. A slew of riveting topics such as Omanisation, job creation, revamping education system in the country to meet the requirements of a changing business landscape and economic trends came up for deliberation during the debate.

The stimulating forum organised by Oman Economic Review in cooperation with the Capital Market Authority (CMA) and anchored by renowned television host Tim Sebastian, the founder and chairman of ‘The Doha Debates’ and former BBC Hard Talk presenter, was attended by top-level officials of both public and private

sectors, including heads of institutions, policymakers and corporate captains.

The strategic partners of the debate were BankSohar, Audi from Zubair Automotive, Nawras and Ominvest. The partners were Taageer Finance Company, Genetco-Canon and Glorei while the support partners were Al Habib and Sharq Sohar. The media partners were Times of Oman and Al Shabiba newspapers while the official call centre was Spanco.

HE Darwish Ismail Al Balushi, Minister Responsible for Financial Affairs, who was the chief guest of the event, praised Oman Economic Review for organizing the national debate and annually recognising the efforts of the corporate world through its Top 20 awards.

He emphasized the role of private sector in transforming Oman to a modern and diversified economy. “A key element for a vibrant economy is a thriving private sector and Oman’s eighth five-year plan offered tremendous opportunities

for the private sector to experience sustained growth,” said HE Darwish.

An august body of panelists representing both the government and the various business sectors cutting across the industry shared their views and incisive questions about several pertinent issues including lack of crystal clear vision in education policies, apathy of bureaucracy that hampers growth of private sector and the inability of capital intensive industries in creating employment opportunities for Omani youths.

The panelists of the debate were HE Dr Salem bin Nasser Al Ismaily, Chairman, Public Authority for Investment Promotion & Export Development; HE Ahmed Al Dheeb, Undersecretary, Ministry of Commerce and Industry; Hani Al Zubair, Executive Chairman, Zubair Automotive Group; Hussain Jawad, Chairman, W J Towell; Adil Taqi, CEO, Muriya Tourism Company; Hatem Al Shanfari,

debate include bureaucracy, red-tapism and lack of transparency, which hinder private sector development.

The OER Top 20 trophies for year 2010 were presented to the largest listed companies on the Muscat Securities Market at the event, celebrating corporate excellence. The OER Top 20 companies are Oman Telecommunications Company, Galfar Engineering & Contracting, BankMuscat, Shell Oman Marketing Company, Renaissance Services, Al Maha Petroleum Products Marketing Co,Oman Oil Marketing Company, Oman Cables Industry, Nawras, Oman Holdings International, National Bank of Oman, BankDhofar, Areej Vegetable Oils & Derivatives, Raysut Cement Company, Al Jazeera Steel Products Company, Bank Sohar, Dhofar Power Company, OMINVEST, Al Hassan Engineering Company and Salalah Port Services Company.

Faculty Member at the Department of Economics and Finance, Sultan Qaboos University; Dr Mohamed Abdulaziz Kalmoor, CEO, Bank Sohar; Ross Cormack, CEO, Nawras; Faisal Al Lawati, Executive Director, Genetco; and Dr Brian Buckley, General Manager & CEO, Oman LNG. HE Ahmed stressed the importance of increasing the quality of education to progress and compete with countries that are trying their level best to provide best education to their citizens. “We have to go quick to match with the changes (in education) happening across the world,� he said responding to a question raised by a participant attending the panel discussion. The participants were of the view that Oman has to allocate more funds as well as move fast in bringing in a paradigm shift in the quality of education.

HE Dr Salem opined that huge investments for setting up capital intensive industries did not result in providing employment opportunities for a large number of Omani youths. Capital intensive industries generally need highly skilled people, he said.

Adil Taqi said that the government has to play an

active role of a catalyst because about 40,000 to 50,000 Omani youths enter the job market every year. Hani Al Zubair said that the private sector has limitations in view of lack of availability in getting right people for certain job categories.

Other topics that came up for discussion in the

LOOK SHARP Toby Bateman, Buying Director of MR PORTER.COM, identifies the must-haves for all you fashion-conscious men out there…

Richard James linen blend trousers

TRENDS 2012

HIS

Valextra leather ipad case

Biggest trends in 2012?

For SS12 we see safari influences and tribal prints. Underlying colour palettes of grey and navy are lifted by white and bright blue.

Key textures and fabrics Natural fibres are key – cottons and linens as well as handcraft working on shoes and accessories.

In Vogue cuts Jil Sander graphic print shirt

Suits and jackets are still cut slim and slightly short. Two-button is still the best shape and double breasted is very important.

Toby Bateman

Hottest Colours Desert tones, whites and bright blues.

Must-Have Accessories The tote and the iPad case.

Designers to watch out for in 2012 We are launching with two new Japanese brands for SS12 – Kolor and Beams+. Michael Bastian and Billy Reid are both strong designers from America and we are launching both in SS12 as well.

Five big investment pieces for 2012

Lanvin double breasted taffeta jacket

A double breasted summer jacket, a pair of white trousers, a printed shirt, a good pair of loafers and a leather iPad case.

Ralph Lauren classic leather tote bag

Paul Smith tasselled loafers

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TRENDS 2012

HERS

THE STYLE NETWORK Who better than the six lovely women at THEOUTNET.COM to help you feel the pulse of the sartorial trends ahead…

Eve Thomas, Fashion Editor, THEOUTNET.COM

Stephanie Phair, Director, THEOUTNET.COM BIGGEST TRENDS IN 2012?

There were lots of references to the early ‘60s on the runways at Proenza Schouler, Richard Nicoll and Jonathan Saunders, so I think this will be one of the biggest trends for 2012. Look out for shifts, tunic tops, block-colour separates, rounded shoulders, and gingham prints.

A BIG INVESTMENT PIECE FOR 2012 Cropped pants are an early 60s shape that have become a classic wardrobe staple making them a great investment for 2012.

MUST-HAVE ACCESSORIES FOR 2012 Catseye sunglasses are perfect for injecting glamour into your summer wardrobe. We’ve seen them emerge on all the big name runways such as Alexander Wang and also on the ever-stylish Alexa Chung.

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BIGGEST TRENDS IN 2012?

The beautiful fashions of the Jazz Age are making a comeback as seen at Alberta Ferretti, Roberto Cavalli and Marc Jacobs. Baz Luhrmann’s adaptation of 'The Great Gatsby' will undoubtedly affect our sartorial choices in 2012 - movies and popular television shows always have a strong influence on fashion.

A BIG INVESTMENT PIECE FOR 2012 The little black dress is always a key investment but make it current by investing in one with a drop-waist.

IN VOGUE CUTS FOR 2012 It’s all about the roaring 20s, which means masculine cuts that don’t emphasize the hips or waist but are still clean-cut and elegant. Tubular silhouette dresses and The Cloche (domed or bell-shaped) hat are other shapes to look out for. Think Art Deco when it comes to jewellery so anything geometric and angular will work.

Jane Gorley, Art Director, THEOUTNET.COM Shira Suveyke, Buying Director, THEOUTNET.COM BIGGEST TRENDS IN 2012?

For 2012 it’s all about cool sherbets and candy-floss colors as seen at 3.1 Phillip Lim, Diane Von Furstenberg and Tibi.

A BIG INVESTMENT PIECE FOR 2012 Tailored separates are a great buy because they will become one of the hardest working pieces in your wardrobe. You can style a well constructed blazer with anything from off duty denim to a summer dress. Buy one in a pastel shade to instantly update your look.

BIGGEST TRENDS WE WILL SEE IN 2012?

Sports luxe dominated the runways once again. For 2012, monochrome sliced through collections taking sporting influences to more sophisticated places.

KEY TEXTURES AND FABRICS FOR 2012 Perforated, mesh and sheer fabrics – and not forgetting Perspex shoes!

HOTTEST COLOURS FOR 2012 A base palette of optic white paired with navy and black for a clean, crisp look.

HOTTEST COLOURS FOR 2012 When it comes to color for 2012 think soft and muted. Pale blues, yellows, and greens are the hottest colors to look out for.

Ceanne Fernandes-Wong, Marketing Manager, THEOUTNET.COM

Emily London, Fashion Writer, THEOUTNET.COM WHAT DO YOU THINK ARE THE BIGGEST TRENDS WE WILL SEE IN 2012?

Floral prints are always in bloom on the spring runways but for 2012 they are bigger, bolder and brighter.

KEY TEXTURES AND FABRICS FOR 2012 It’s all about embossed or embellished fabrics like brocades, jacquards and Broderie Anglaise as seem in London at Christopher Kane and Erdem.

MUST-HAVE ACCESSORIES FOR 2012 Lucite accessories have seen a huge resurgence recently. The pieces are eclectic but easy to wear and make quite the style statement.

BIGGEST TRENDS IN 2012?

For me, 2012 is all about Africa!

Animal prints as predicted are part of this trend but Spring/ Summer sees the addition of tribal patterns with a twist to add an injection of newness.

A BIG INVESTMENT PIECE FOR 2012 A parka – just as the trench has become a wardrobe essential, so too will the parka!

At Burberry Prorsum they were adorned with beading, woven leather sleeves and raffia.

This 2012 wardrobe must-have will look great styled with anything٫ HOTTEST COLOURS FOR 2012 After last season's focus on silver, 2012 sees the return to glamorous gold paired with a palette of desert hues and khakis.

FASHION

LEBANESE ACTRESS AND FILM DIRECTOR NADINE LABAKI WAS RECENTLY CROWNED THE MIDDLE EAST AUTUMN WINTER 2011-12 ‘INTROPIA WOMAN’ BY HOSS INTROPIA, THE INTERNATIONAL FASHION BRAND

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SHE’S GOT THE LOOK

AD

She

is one of the most popular directors in the Arabic Music video industry. But there’s more to Nadine Labaki. She has directed many award winning TV commercials in the recent years. After exploring her acting potential in the movie, Bosta and still restless with a creative urge to do much more with her talent and tryst with

FASHION

acting, Nadine escalated her career by cowriting, directing and starring in her debut feature-film, Caramel, which became an international sensation at film festivals and went onto achieve box office success.

Caramel garnered Labaki much acclaim as both a director and actress and putting her on the international map of the movie world. Nadine’s latest directorial venture titled, Where do we go now? has won much international acclaim, including the People’s Choice Award at the 36th Annual Toronto International Film Festival.

An exotic and natural beauty, Nadine embodies a successful and inspirational

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woman rooted in the brand’s identity. She was chosen to be the Brand Ambassador for Hoss Intropia in the Middle East for her beauty, style, individuality and for our love of her movies that deal with the power of women in the society today.

Hoss Intropia’s Autumn Winter 2011-12 collection contrasts the ornamental and baroque with nature. Leafy prints in jewel tones sit alongside lace and sheer organza.

Eveningwear has a bigger presence, with silk and tweed overcoats layered over tuxedo separates. Accessories are making a big statement, with bold and beaded neckpieces, bracelets and hats being key to the look.

TRENDS 2012

MAKE-UP

SMOKIN’ HOT Gary Cooper paints an outlook for Spring/ Summer 2012

SUN-KISSED GLOW The warmer seasons bring with them warm, luminous faces with just a hint of colour. With either the focus on soft eyes, sheer Pastel Colours and well-defined brows, and a good bronzer (Guerlain, Terracotta) of course!

Perfect for that Sun-Kissed Glow.

METALLIC & MORE Metallic and sparkling eye shadows in lighter shades paired with soft pink, coral or nude shades on the lips. There will also be bright, vibrant colour, but toned-down versions of neon shades, which are evident in the Guerlain Summer collection 2012.

SMOKES&MIRRORS ‘Smokey’ eyes will return (not that they really went out of fashion!) But eyes will be lined with pastel shades of green, lavender, silver and baby blues. A Closer look at the Makeup trends for eyes reveals that 2012 is a softer more 'Barely there' look. Smokey look with (Metallic) bronzes, browns and all the pinks of the Colour spectrum is the way to go, but do update the look with the some pastel eyeliner shades.

THE GUERLAIN 2012 GUIDE The ‘Les Roses et Le Noir’ is an enchanting collection where the Colour Black is re-invented with the new intensity and the Colour Pink, which is so evident at this time, unfurls its delicateness. The Spring collection is sophisticated, seductive and elegant. It includes an Iridescent Pink ‘Meteorites Powder’ and four shades of lipsticks from soft shades like ‘Rose Innocent’ to more daring shades like ‘Rose Barbare’, a fuchsia shade. And not forgetting the ‘Kiss Kiss’ glosses from a light frosted pink to more daring pink shades like ‘Rose in Bloom’.

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Also in this collection are the Ecrin 6 colour eye palette called ‘66 Boulevard du montparnasse’ that offers six tailor-made harmonies of pink; ideal for a 'Smokey Eye' with the liner being an Intense Plum that updates and gives this look a current twist.

And not to forget the Ecrin 4 colour eye palette called ‘Le Roses’ or the ‘freshness’ of captivating blues in the ‘Les Aqua’ eye palette that is bang on trend for 2012 with its dazzling array of 'iridescent’ Petrol Blue, Matt Navy, Velvet Satin Turqoise and an Ice Blue.

The Guerlain Summer 2012 collection was inspired by the Italian Designer Emilio Pucci that includes a Terrocotta powder and blusher in Coral, Fuchsia Pink and a bronzing shade, which is a work of art in itself, and so on trend. A new shade of mascara in ‘Indigo Blue’ and to outline the eyes a blue kajal (kohl) called ‘Blu Acqua’.

For the lips we have three new glossy vibrant Terracotta colours in sunny Coral, and a most surprising Indigo blue, match your nails with a nail polish in a Neon Blue called Riviera and a Fuchsia Pink.

The collection is stylish, sophisticated two words associated with the DNA of Guerlain, but with some wonderful surprises.

The writer is the Regional Make-Up Artist for Guerlain and member of the International Art Team

TRENDS 2012

JEWELLERY

DAZZLE AWAY Lighter, stylish gold jewellery designs will be ‘on trend’ this year, says Raj Sahai

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ike fashion, jewellery trends are very seasonal, so they change often. Over summer, bright, bold colours integrated into jewellery is always a popular choice, while at the same time, Islam-inspired symbolism in jewellery is popular during Ramadan and Eid. The fluctuating price of gold over the past 12 months, however, has triggered the emergence of several other interesting jewellery trends. For instance, more people are now considering gold jewellery as a good, solid investment, even for smaller purchases. There is also more pressure on jewellers to be innovative when it comes to offering customers the same value for money.

Primarily, jewellers should ensure that they have relevant products that suit the consumer tastes, needs and budgets. Overall, however, gold jewellery is witnessing a big resurgence in line with the growing consumer interest in the metal.

In general, we expect the trends in gold jewellery in 2012 to be characterised by more designs and broader product lines. We also see ladies layering their jewellery – so long chains over short chains, etc. For some time, we have also witnessed a strong demand for subtle, discreet jewellery that can be worn every day compared to the loud, bold jewellery styles popular in the past years.

In line with this, we are also noticing a new preference for jewellery that is light weight, trendy and stylish with a wide variety of colours. We have seen that there is a preference

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for colour in jewellery designs – a trend that is increasing across the world. This is a consumer evolution, whereby more and more consumers want to customise their individual fashion and need jewellery pieces to match.

Over the recent period, we have also witnessed an interesting trend whereby our customers are getting younger, with many young ladies purchasing gold rather than less expensive jewellery accessories. This prompted us to re-launch our most popular brand – Farfasha – which created the “generation gold” when it was first launched in 2005/2006. We have relaunched Farfasha with more than 160 designs, using special laser technology to enable the production of lightweight pieces with finely crafted designs. We are confident that Farfasha will once again set the gold jewellery trends for young consumers across the Middle East.

We look forward to unveiling a lot of exciting new collections in 2012 across the Middle East to ‘wow’ our customers. Damas always aims to create special designs for important occasions that customers look forward to.

A Jewellery Wardrobe At the end of the day, jewellery is a very personal preference, so it depends on the

woman’s choice. Our advice is to create a jewellery wardrobe step by step. Start by buying small pieces of good quality and beautiful gold and diamond jewellery – like pendants and earrings. Then, later when you have more to spend, start to buy more embellished and heavier products. Remember to go trendy and fashionable. All men and women know that Gold is a popular “anytime” gift, as it appreciates in value, it is culturally acceptable, and it is also a surrogate currency. Gold also has strong emotional and sentimental significance that cannot be replicated

The author is Director – Retail, Damas Jewellery and has more than 18 years of experience in the retail industry, specialising in the jewellery, watch and luxury product segments. Raj began working with Damas in 1997 as a Shop Manager.

In his current role he manages over 200 stores distributed throughout the GCC region.

courtesy: Basel World

newest movement. Combining the gemstone with an antic shaded metal hits the heart and market. Black and white diamonds became the most desired in terms of colour in 2012, showing their elegance in all kinds of pieces.

OF PEARLS & PLATINIUM Look for a new wave of excitement in the jewellery world, says Eszter Fáykiss

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appy and Brilliant New Year to all jewel lovers! The year 2012 brings new excitement in the fashion and jewellery industries. Most of the leading jewellery houses have revealed their spring collections. Without elaborating on the complex business aspects of this world, let’s see where the main jewellery trends are heading to in the new year.

The Australian Jewellery Magazine describes the key directions as, “fantasy”, “studio” or “nouvelle vague”. The fantasy trend embraces the shapes and motives of flora and fauna and all the colours of spring blossoms, just like the Blossom-collier from Bvlgari or the Peacock bracelet from Chopard.

The studio line brings back to the 50s by using simple, polished pieces with an emphasis on a neutral colour palette. It is also starts a new era of irreproducible vintage jewellery design.

The French origin nouvelle vague (new wave) not only describes a style in film making,

Mouawad, a leading jewellery house in the Middle East, has been creating jewels for more than 120 years and their family has an incredible expertise in diamonds – just think of the 1001 Nights Diamond Purse which incorporates 4,517 of them. “Mouawad creates jewellery from the highest quality materials. Beyond diamonds, our jewels are traditionally encrusted with rubies, sapphires and emeralds,” says Costa El Hreich, regional deputy general manager of Mouawad. “In 2012, we are going to surprise our customers with exquisite jewellery collections and with the launch of new lines specially developed for men and for brides. This year, we are also launching new boutique collections that combine the quality Mouawad is renowned for with a more accessible price range.”

Complementing the ready-to-wear jewellery market, there is a visible renaissance of custommade jewellery masterpieces. Small European traditional jewellery houses are sparing no time and efforts to craft unique and unrepeatable pieces. They have more and more clients from all over the world queuing up at their doorstep.

Ladies and gentlemen, keep your fingers on the trends throughout the year on the world’s leading jewellery exhibitions in Basel, London, Mumbai and New York

but is at the same time a visual style and an atmosphere. If you were to follow Catherine Deneuve or Jeanne Moreau, at least when it is quant aux bijoux, (about the jewellery), choose statement diamond jewellery and a smart design.

There is a clear indication that pearl keeps on being on the “must have” accessory for women in the upcoming season. Very simple, yet creative work what we love this year. The natural simplicity and value will dominate.

Cuddling up against the black-and-white runway trends of 2012, pearls in various shades may just be the perfect items to complement.

Pearl-specialised jewellery houses, such as Mikimoto (e.g: Pearls in Motion) and Schoeffel (Swing collection) have come out with special B&W editions in their collections, but you should not refuse the chocolate brown, champagne gold or even the pink beauties.

On the diamond front, platinum settings are the

The writer is a Certified Diamond Grader from HRD Antwerp and has a passion for all things that sparkle. She also has more than 8 years of marketing, communication and event experience in various industries, mainly energy and IT sector and jewellery business, in different regions; Europe, Australia and Middle East.

TRENDS 2012

JEWELLERY

FOCUS

THE OLD CURIOSITY SHOP

Sortirio & Family

With 125 years of rich heritage behind it, Bulgari one of the leading brands in the luxury accessories business; here is the story of how it all began

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Ingrid Bergman on the set of "The Visit", wearing Bulgari jewels, 1964.

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hen compiling a list of leading luxury brands, be it jewellery, watches, handbags, fragrances or anything along the same lines, one name will always be present somewhere near the top – Bulgari; usually written "BVLGARI" in the classical Latin alphabet (where V = English U). The brand’s success is largely due to an understanding that the evolution of style must follow changes in times, tastes and habits. The Bulgari style is, in fact, a balanced mix of classicism and modernity in a continuous search for innovative design and materials, with a special attention towards colour combinations. This style and thinking has evolved over the past 125 years to attain the levels we expect of the brand today.

The Bulgaris themselves descend from an ancient family of Greek silversmiths whose activity began in a small village of Epirus, where Sotirio, the founder of the family, made precious objects in silver. In 1879, Sotirio immigrated to Italy and after a few months spent in Naples he finally moved to Rome. At the beginning, he sold his objects in front of the French Academy on the Pincio. Then a Greek merchant offered to let him display his objects in a corner of the window of his shop, placed at the beginning of via Sistina. Sotirio was successful; thanks to the original style of the ornaments he was selling. In 1884, Sotirio was able to open his first store in the same street.

In 1894, he moved to 28 via dei Condotti and later, in 1905, to via dei Condotti 10. At the time it was called the “Old Curiosity Shop” from the title of a Charles Dickens novel. This name was chosen in order to attract British and American tourists. It was in these years that Sotirio started to sell a selection of jewels and accessories for personal embellishment. As business in Rome during the summer months was quiet, Sotirio decided to capitalise on trade at summer

FOCUS Nicola and Beatrice Bvlgari

resorts. He settled for St. Moritz, where he was once again successful. In the succeeding years, other subsidiaries were opened and run

by Sotirio’s relatives. However, after a while, he realised the necessity of concentrating his business in one location in order to excel in the art of jewellery and silver making. He therefore focused on his Rome store.

The first decades of the 20th century were important for Sotirio’s sons, Giorgio and Costantino, who developed a passionate interest in precious stones and jewels and learnt the secrets of the trade, gradually taking over their father’s role. In 1934, two years after Sotirio’s death, the via dei Condotti store was enlarged and refurbished. The period following the Second World War marked an important turning point in Bulgari history. In fact, it is during this period that Bulgari moved away from the strict disciplines of the dominant French school to create its own style inspired by the Greek and Roman classicism, the Italian Renaissance, and the 19th century Roman school of goldsmiths.

The 1970s marked the beginning of the Group’s international expansion with the opening of its first overseas stores in New York followed soon after by Paris, Geneva and Monte Carlo. It was also in this decade that Bulgari introduced the Bulgari Bulgari, which was to become a successful watch classic. In 1984 the sons of Giorgio, Paolo Bulgari and Nicola Bulgari, became respectively Chairman and ViceChairman. Their nephew, Francesco Trapani, was nominated Chief Executive Officer.

The 1990’s represented another turning point.

Bulgari implemented the diversification strategy with the introduction of fragrances and accessories and gave further boost to its international expansion by having the Holding Company Bulgari S.p.A. listed on the Milan Stock Exchange and subsequently also traded on the IRS of the London Stock Exchange. After 2000, Bulgari’s vertical integration strategy continued with the acquisition of companies operating in the sectors of watchmaking and leather goods and the accessories business got a further boost with the opening of fully dedicated stores. Today the Bulgari creations, renowned for the distinctive, bold and contemporary style, are highly appreciated by an international clientele fond of high quality.

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Sotirio Bulgari Tourbillon Quantième Perpétuel

Bulgari High Jewellery Collection

THE JEWELS Besides the jewels of extraordinary importance and value, as the pieces of the Bulgari High Jewellery Collection, the contemporary Italian jeweller proposes different jewellery lines – Parentesi, Tubogas, Spiga, Monete Antiche and Piramide, just to mention a few – all characterised by distinguished designs. The B.zero1 line launched in 1999 embodies the perfect fusion between tradition and innovation. Lucea, Allegra, Optical and the more recent Sapphire Flower, Cabochon and Cicladi represent a special tribute to the world of contemporary feminine elegance. Astrale is a collection of precious and glittering icicles. In 2005, the Astrale collection was enriched with the addition of new jewels with coloured stones set on yellow gold. Finally the Rosette Collection, launched in April 2006, is a delicate and essential jewellery line that is named after the cut of the stones set on each jewel. Aside from these, there is also the Vintage Collection which consists of approximately 150 creations from the 1920s to 1990s, including necklaces, bracelets, rings, brooches, earrings, watches, precious objects and evening bags.

THE WATCHES Bulgari has been producing finely crafted jewelled watches in platinum and diamonds since 1920. During the Art Déco period in the 1930's, lapel watches also began to be produced. In the 1940’s watches were created with softer shapes in yellow gold and diamonds, but without geometrical motifs. The 1950s and 1960s are characterised by the original triple-coiled gold snake wristwatch decorated with diamonds that soon became a Bulgari bestseller. In the 1970s the Group made its debut in the fine watchmaking sector, by introducing collections of watches to complement the creation and production of its jewels and silverware. In the early 1980's, Bulgari Time was founded in Neuchâtel, Switzerland for the creation and production of all Bulgari watch lines. In June 2000, the Bulgari Group acquired 100 per cent of Gérald Genta S.A., Daniel Roth S.A., Swiss leaders in highend watch making, and Manufacture de Haute Horlogerie S.A., the owner of the related manufacturing facilities. Today, Bulgari watches make up approximately 29 per cent of the company's total turnover. The collections themselves are quite extensive in design and style and comprises of the following lines: Bulgari-Bulgari, Sotirio-Bulgari, Assioma D, Astrale, B.Zero1, Daniel Roth, Rettangolo, Ergon, Gérald Genta, Serpenti and Diagono.

PEARL SPEAK

INTERVIEW

Jeremy Burbanks, European and Middle East Sales Manager – Mikimoto, was recently in town. Signature caught up with him at Khimji’s Watches showroom 80

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ikimoto, whose founder Koichi Mikimoto succeeded in creating the world's first cultured pearls in 1893, opened its first store in Ginza in 1899.

Since then, the company has been known for its pearl jewellery, often favoured by royal families and celebrities. A 16-inch Mikimoto pearl necklace was given to film star Marilyn Monroe by her husband and baseball star Joe DiMaggio on their honeymoon in 1954. Since then it changed a few hands to finally come back to the place it was created and is safely ensconced in the company’s museum.

It is said that to wear a Mikimoto is to reflect the purity of the ocean ... the mystery of creation ... and to know you are adorned with the finest cultured pearls in the world. Mikimoto personifies Japan’s reputation for quality goods and now this gorgeous ambassador of cultured pearls has its own special counter at the Khimji’s Watches showroom located in Shatti Al Qurum.

To celebrate the momentous occasion, Mikimoto European and Middle East Sales Manager, Jeremy Burbanks joined the Khimji family in introducing the illustrious brand to Oman.

Jeremy, who is from a family of jewellers in London, has been with Mikimoto for 18 years and says, “It is a great company to work for and unique too. Why is it unique? Being a trained jeweller, I can safely say that when you think of luxury retail, 99 per cent of it comes from Europe, may be some from America. But when it comes to the Far East it is only Mikimoto.”

SIGNATURE SPOKE WITH JEREMY AFTER THE LAUNCH. HERE ARE THE EXCERPTS..

have shops in the UAE and we are planning a new one in Abu Dhabi in 2013. Qatar is an important market for us as the royal family there is a huge supporter. Oman is the latest one.”

Mikimoto in Oman “When I came to Oman a few years ago, there was no store here that was really up to our standards. It was only when Khimji’s Watches opened that we felt here was a store that was built to house a brand like Mikimoto. Moreover, we had a personal equation with the Khimji family that helped us make this decision to come to Oman. We sincerely believe that this is the best store in the GCC and one of its kind.

So, you say it was a natural progression to put Mikimoto in the store and make our relationship with the Khimji's formal.”

The brand ethos “Mikimoto is about 100 per cent quality. If you were to look at the quality pyramid that shows the grade of pearls, you will see that Mikimoto deals only with the top 5 per cent of the pyramid.

We are probably making things difficult for ourselves by limiting ourselves, but Mikimoto always has been about quality.”

Changing with Times “Our designs have always been cutting edge, be it pearl jewellery or any other jewellery that we create. In fact, someone recently was quoted as saying that Mikimoto is a jewellery company where pearl is the hero. For us the evolution process is constant and has always been about improving the quality of the pearl and its harvesting and creating clean lines and simple no-fuss patterns. I believe that the kind of jewellery made in Mikimoto cannot be made anywhere else simply because of the way it is created.”

Mikimoto in ME “We are pioneers, when you look at the brands.

We originally came to the region in the 60s, when the market was small. We had presence in Saudi Arabia and UAE, but then it all went quiet as the business in the region began focusing on specialised products. There was a time when everything luxurious (watches, jewellery, antiques, bags, clothes) was all under one roof, now it is more of an exclusive store that houses either watches or just jewellery. If one were to look at it in the new scenario, you can easily say we have been around for 12 years or so.

“It has been a great journey so far. People in this region have always been aware of Mikimoto as they are well-travelled. We are ‘pearls’ and people know us for that! Hence, we knew that we had a ready market for pearls that are of great iconic significance to the region. We already

Luxury is…

"People look at a piece of jewellery and say ‘it’s expensive.’ Of course, it is. If you want the highest quality you have to be willing to pay for it.”

“It has to be the Neo Vintage collection that involves a lot of creative process. Literally cutting-edge, the Neo Vintage collection poses a true challenge to its designers as the skills require to cut a pearl, in order to help it hold a diamond and its white gold setting demands tremendous precision guided by a steady hand.

It is the ultimate effort for quality. It really cannot get tougher than this.”

Pearls are forever…

“While they are not like diamonds, which are rough and can go on forever, pearls can last forever provided they are taken care of. For example: Many women spray perfume when they have their pearls on. This can damage the pearls, hence make sure you dab on your perfume way before you put on your pearls.

Moreover, pearls are strung in silk threads that may become weak with constant wear and tear. Make sure you restring them once a year. I feel that pearls are an emotional purchase that happens only once in a while. Once they are bought, they can be worn with almost anything and any occasion. So in that sense, they are forever.”

On Bespoke trends in ME “We have created many wedding pieces for royal families and it is natural that we have to conform to the Middle Eastern sensibilities and the family’s preferences. At the same time, we do add the Mikimoto touch to that piece of jewellery. You will often find the Cherry Blossom flower (Sakura) symbol used in our jewellery.

So you can say that our jewellery for the Middle East is definitely Arabic, but made in Japanese style. Now, looking at the above example, we do believe in creating bespoke pieces if is an important enough commission, but given the expanse of our markets, not everything can be personalised. We do create personalized pieces as and when we can.”

The favourite one

THE REAL DEAL “Rub the pearl on your tooth. If the surface is gritty then is the real thing. If it is smooth and feels likes plastic on the surface, then it is fake.”

“The best way to distinguish between a natural and cultural pearl is to get an x-ray done at your trusted jeweller’s.”

“Look at the pearl’s surface. Fewer imperfections denote a higher quality, more valuable pearl. The shape also matters. Of the many shapes available, perfectly round pearls are the rarest and most valuable.”

“Size does matter; the bigger the better and more expensive as well.”

“The lustre is the amount of light a pearl reflects.

The better the nacre quality of the pearl is, the more superior is its lustre. I’d go with the silver rosé colour.”

TRENDS 2012

DESIGN

SHAPES OF THE FUTURE André C. Meyerhans on what lies ahead in the world of design and decoration…

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The change of the year invites us to look forward and guess what the future might bring.

We shall be no different and also try to predict what could be, knowing well that neither events of the past are conclusive indicators for the future nor are coffee grounds and crystal balls. One word of caution before we begin though; if the life-cycle of the product comes close to a year or goes beyond that, then formulating trends for the coming year is obsolete. Changes happen in an evolutionary manner and, hence, over several product generations. The prognosis I formulate for 2012 relate to art, design and decoration. Similar tendencies will be applicable to architecture and urban design in a more abstract and academic form. But keep in mind that between the proposal and the built reality lie years!

will celebrate the heritage without being nostalgic. A peck of vintage will provide the necessary, human touch.

Native geometrics as well as contemporary derives of such patterns will find much application in decorative designs and art. While stylish finishes of modern-tech might merge with tribal-figurative shapes, handcrafted items and rural touch will certainly emerge stronger in interior design and decoration. Patina, the visible touch of time, will receive credit more than in the past. Also the idea of recycling will be revived, particularly in forms where the original use can be recognized and where items are re-used for different purposes.

Patriotic streams may lead to increased use of the national colour or allegiance to the flag.

Otherwise, more neutral colours and natural pigments will dominate the palates – like khaki, camel and sandstone. Darker reds and brighter yellow as well as indigo or turquoise are energising tones to match the base.

But first, what creates trends? Where do they emerge and how can they be spotted?

Everyday life is a stimulator to any design process. People react to incidents, ponder on their environment and express their minds on happenings. Curious reflections of our current commercial and social climate dominate trends this year. Significant in the last year were also political movements. These forces nurture motivations behind design intents and can be grouped in four categories: ‘legacy’, ‘development’, ‘security’ and ‘insight’.

References, context and relativity provide a better sense of control into an unknown future.

Development means the journey required to reach a goal or a destination and is one of the most relevant attributes in today’s time.

Processes are an imminent part of evolutions and include moments of enlightenment.

Real development requires openness to cues from the environment and accepting mindbending concepts. Proactive and fluid are other, relevant characteristics. There will be a significant move towards functionality and a self-sustaining lifestyle. The trend of ‘development’ will visualise in graphics, maze-like designs and abstractions of reality, meaning mappings or designs similar to sound waves. Crowdsourcing, the act of sourcing tasks traditionally performed by specific individuals to a group of people or community through an open call, and digital art will influence coming up designs too. Colours relating to this trend are modern neutrals: whites and light greys with selective contrasts of reds and oranges. Layered greens and pixilated colours will also be seen more in 2012.

Legacy is about our past, our heritage. It not only gives us comfort to preserve our history but also an identity. You need to know where you come from to know where you are going, says a Roman proverb. Many designs

Security refers to our vulnerability and the protection we need to feel safe in an uncertain time. It is a quest for structure and isolation mixed with longing. A discrete feminine note will provide an underlying, seductive flair to

a protective, hard shell. Iconic elements and designs with reference to pop art transfer this feeling well. Lacing works and grid-like structures will come up more frequently as they visualise well the fragile yet strong bipolarity; stainless steel and reflective surfaces evoke similar feelings. Blacks and grays with pink and purple undertones will be the trend colours of this segment. Metallic and pearlised surfaces will have a comeback too.

Insight speaks to our future. It is about enlightenment and being open to stretch our minds. Real freedom of thought and expression as well as a long-term attitude towards life signify the trend of insight. An interesting relationship between reality and discovery shapes the vision of the future beyond what we have seen. Mirror effects and creative use of acrylics, silhouettes, shadow art as well as contrasting works refer to this trend. Metallic and oxidised tones with smaller colour spots of golden yellow, grape purples and aquatic blues will be fashionable. More energizing colours will be cobalt blue and fuchsia.

But at the end, it is not so much about what 2012 will bring to you, but what you make out of 2012. In this regard, I wish your past inspires you to embark on a path that provides enlightenment and confidence to shape a great future. Happy 2012!

The author is a Swiss architect who lives and works in Dubai, UAE. His creations range from 250’000m2-urban plans and one-billion-USdollar mixed use developments to furniture-like objects, art and jewellery. André has also written for various trade magazines and held lectures in numerous institutions on architecture and design. He is also a regular guest critique at the Architectural Department of the American University in Sharjah. For more details you can visit www.acmeyerhans.com

TRENDS 2012

WELLNESS

HOLISTIC LIVING

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ith the percentage of men opting for spa treatments on rise, special treatments catering to their needs are going to be a key focus area. The other trend I see picking up steam are green ecological sustainable spas with natural, organic and regional/ local products. In fact, anticipating this, The Dolder Grand recently introduced Amala, 100 per cent natural skincare range.

Holistic and modern wellness programmes will see the inclusion elements of psychology, coaching,

Jann Hess picks the key trends in spa treatments‌ 84

nutrition and nature medicine.

Apart from all these, medical wellness will continue to become popular with more hotels offering packages that focus on medical treatments.

According to me, the top five spa and medical wellness destinations for 2012 include: The Dolder Grand, Zurich, Lanserhof, Lans Austria, Chiva Sum, Hua Hin, Thailand, Six Senses, Soneva Gili, Maldives, and Seasons Hotel George V Paris, France.

The author is Spa Director, The Dolder Grand, Zurich

WELLNESS

Dr. Rainer Arendt on the holistic way of living in 2012‌

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he spa culture is 3,500 years old, and it is becoming more sophisticated as years pass.

Indeed, we find now excellent, enchanting spa facilities in many different countries. And the best have rounded out, complemented their offers by onion-layers of medical and ‘anti-aging’ programmes. Some complementary

offers may be attractive and useful, but in many instances it is a fragmented approach and just about selling additional products.

We have to respect the spa customer as a whole individual, meeting his or her individual needs in a holistic way. This holistic spa concept brings evidence-based

medicine, state-of-the-art aesthetic surgery and dermatology, as well as traditional healing methods, mindfulness training, life and business coaching to the spa, providing the health-conscious guest with a sensitive system of diagnostics and therapies in order to maintain health over the longterm, develop personally, begin a new relationship with oneself, generate new meaning, discover new sources of personal energy.

Health and well-being begin in the mind. In 2012, the spa will become a transforming event, a journey to oneself.

The author is a MD, Lecturer in Internal Medicine, Cardiology, Life and Business Coaching. He is also a member of Aestetic Health Link, a partner of The Dolder Grand Medical Wellness.

LISTS 2012

DESTINATIONS ‘TOP OF THE WORLD’ HIGHWAY, CANADA-ALASKA This is by far our most favourite destination. Yukoners call it the 60 mile. To Alaskans it is the Taylor Highway, but to everyone who has driven this beautiful road, it is known as the ‘Top of the World Highway’. It is a 127km long highway, beginning at a junction with the Taylor Highway near Jack Wade, Alaska traveling east to its terminus at the ferry terminal in West Dawson, on the western banks of the Yukon River. The highway, in existence since at least 1955, is said to only open during the summer months. Travel at the ‘Top of the world!’

SONOMA, CALIFORNIA Sonoma can definitely be called one of America’s travel treasures. It is a historically significant city in Sonoma Valley, Sonoma County, California, USA, surrounding its historic town plaza, a remnant of the town's Mexican colonial past.

Once the capital of the short-lived California Republic, today it is not just a center of the state’s grappa industry, but also home of the nationally recognized Sonoma International Film Festival.

CHIAPAS, MEXICO Way down south, where it touches Guatemala, the Chiapas region is home to indigenous populations, some of which trace their roots back to ancient Mayan civilisations. You can have your fill of volcanoes, waterfalls, historical ruins, temples and shrines and you can zipline over a rainbow at the el Chiflón waterfalls. We all know that the Mayan calendar stops at 2012! Whether the world ends or not, what better way to celebrate the ‘occasion’ than spend it at the Mayan hotspot!

BAY OF BUNDY, NOVA SCOTIA You have to not go to any magical lands looking for Strange Tides. Just travel to Bay of Bundy to experience extraordinary tidal environment like none other. It is said that14 billion tonnes (14 cubic kilometres) of seawater flows into the Bay's Minas Basin twice daily, actually tilting the Nova Scotia countryside slightly under the immense load!

Walk the ocean floor, see 12 species of whales or visit the site of the highest recorded high to low tide range in the world at Burncoat Head Park. Either ways, you won’t be disappointed at all.

AZORES, PORTUGAL We knew we had hit the right spot, when a ‘Lonely Planet’ search did not throw up Azores. Chances are this chain of nine volcanic islands, which lies 930 miles off the coast of Lisbon, is yet to be touched by the tourist kind, hence, ironically making it a tourist destination. From the beaches of Praia da Vitoria to the bustling marina of Horta, to the bubbling volcanic ground ‘ovens’ of Furnas, these islands offer unparalleled, unusual adventures to discover.

OCHO RIOS, JAMAICA This was where Ursula Andress’ bikini moment was filmed for Dr No and is said to have spent her most memorable moments nearby on the lovely Laughing Waters beach. From shopping to snorkeling and from revelry to relaxation, Ocho Rios provides visitors with a resort atmosphere that rivals any in Jamaica. Bond fans can stay at spy's creator Ian Fleming’s villa (www.goldeneye.com), complete with its own private pool and barbecuing spots at secret coves within the grounds.

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HOVSGOL, MONGOLIA Unleash the wild in you, travel to Hovsgol.

The northernmost of Mongolia’s 21 provinces, shadowing Russia’s border and sharing the great Siberian taiga (subarctic coniferous forest), it has Lichens in bright greens and oranges colour 10,000-foot passes, sacred rivers that are rumoured to never freeze, and snow-tipped mountains that offer you a trail like none other.

CHONGQING, CHINA Everyone does the Great Wall of China.

Beijing and Shanghai are always teeming with tourists, conference pundits and what not! So we thought if one had to travel to China, why not choose a place that is the perfect combination of history and modernity. This 19th-century town that has undergone rapid modernisation, thanks, in part, to its position as a stop on the Three Gorges river tour. If not for the culture, travel here for the hot Sichuan cuisine and world-famous hotpot dishes.

CORSICA, FRANCE Corsica is very different from the idea one has of the Mediterranean islands. The tourist wealth of this ‘old-world charm’ place lies in its natural heritage; from its Laricio pine forests and emerald-green mountain lakes, to its fragrant maquis [scrub], cooling high mountain pastures and wine-growing lands. This ‘mountain in the sea’ is not just famous for its 120 peaks above an altitude of 2000m but also lays claim to fame for housing Napoleon’s birthplace.

This year is all about discovering the unknown. From the lesser known ruins of Mexico to the top of the world (literally), let your journey begin…

SIGNATURE PROPERTIES

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AQAR-RIMAL AN EXCEPTIONAL RESIDENCE Brothers Mohamed and Qaboos Al Khonji have been well respected names in the Omani business and real estate community for many years. So, when they re-launched their real estate business as “Aqar” earlier in 2010 they were committed to ensuring it started with an exceptional residential development.

That development is RIMAL – and with its mix of affordable studio, 1, 2, 3-bedroom apartments, 3 and 4 bedroom duplex and prime location in Muscat’s new ‘downtown’ area in Bousher, the 254 apartments on offer were 75 per cent sold within 2 weeks of its launch.

The two brothers who have spearheaded the development also believe its success shows renewed confidence in the wider real estate market in the Sultanate and RIMAL is almost sold out with just a handful of apartments remaining combined with a very healthy resale market.

The project has attracted a strong mix of young Omanis looking for an affordable and quality way to get on to the housing ladder for the first time and others looking for an excellent investment opportunity.

Sales agent Better Homes believes the success of RIMAL comes from a passion of local people to invest in their country combined with their view that it is one of the first projects for several years that has got everything right – the location, the price, amenities and payment plans.

Excavation work for the 3-storey underground parking and foundations for the complex, that will feature leisure facilities for men and women plus a number of retail outlets, is now 90 per cent complete at its location in the Bousher sand dunes. It will have two swimming pools, two health clubs, small shopping mall, restaurants and climate controlled corridors when completed.

Covering an area of 50,000 square metres it will be one of the largest residential complexes of its kind in the Muscat area and in Oman.

Through the success of RIMAL, Mohamed Al Khonji says: “We are seeing a change in the way that young Omanis want to live – open living spaces are now sought after whereas before

separate rooms were preferred for cooking, dining and relaxing. The people buying from RIMAL are long term investors or end-users – a big change when compared with the speculation that occurred during the property boom. We are confident that this project has changed the real estate market here in Oman and that we will see more and more projects just like RIMAL coming to the market. “With the success of Aqar's first major real estate project now well established, we are looking forward to announcing a significant new project in the first half of next year that we are confident will once again set new standards for innovation in the Muscat real estate market.

“Our many years of experience and expertise in the real estate market in Oman mean we are able to offer investors projects that they can have real confidence in.”

Both individual owners and investors have been helped with their decision to buy at RIMAL by financing schemes that have been created for the project with AQAR‘s banking partners for the development who are Oman Arab Bank and Bank Sohar.

Aqar has also recently announced the appointment of Singapore based interior design and landscaping company Amazing Life Interior & Design, who will be responsible for the final interior design in the apartment and garden landscaping among other responsibilities.

All of the apartments in the RIMAL complex come with a selection of white goods including an electric cooker, refrigerator and extractor hood, a washer/dryer, split air conditioning and fitted wardrobes as well as a selection of contemporary, high quality fixtures and fittings. Telephone, internet, cable and satellite connections all come as standard providing all new residents with everything they need to start their new life at RIMAL.

The last few apartments are on sale from Better Homes Oman located in Qurum City Centre. For all RIMAL enquiries please call +968 24 699 334 or visit www.betterhomes-oman.com

SIGNATURE HOMES

DORNBRACHT PURE INDULGENCE

Rain Sky M (Sieger Design/Product concept Schienbein + Pier) Pure nature. Everything here is done manually. The RAIN SKY M with its large-scale rain panel offers separate spray areas for head spray, body spray and rain curtain. Using the xTOOL control system, it is possible to select these three types of rain individually or in combination and regulate the temperature to the precise degree.

Two integrated light gaps provide additional atmospheric light – and in rain curtain mode even the water is illuminated.

For more details on the Dornbracht range contact Mustafa Altounjy at altounjy@amtoman.com

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1. COPERNICO sospensione (Design by C. de Bevilacqua, P. Dell’Elce; winner of Red Dot Design Award 2011) Material used: Anodised aluminium Colours: Metal grey, metal black Light emission: direct/indirect/ diffused

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2. Nessino Table Lamp (Design by Vico Magistretti)

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Material used: Body and diffuser in polycarbonate Colours: Various colours Light emission: Diffiused/direct/ upward coloured

3. Tolomeo Mega Floor Lamp with Arms (Design by Michele de Lucchi and Giancarlo Fassina) Material used: Polished aluminium, diffuser available in three sizes, in parchment paper or in silk-satin fabric on a plastic frame Colours: Polished aluminium/ ecru or polished aluminium/ aluminium grey Light emission: Direct/adjustable

For more details contact J. Raghuram, Manager – Lighting, Al Hassan Electricals at lighting@al-hassan.com

ARTEMIDE BEYOND LIGHTS

LISTS 2012

TECHNOLOGY

TECHNOPOLIS YEAR 2012 IS A GREAT ONE FOR ALL YOU TECHNOPHILES. WANT TO FIND OUT WHY? READ ON..

Sony PS Vita The original PSP (PlayStation Portable) may not have been the success story that Sony wished it to be, primarily due to the lack of a second analogue stick and a shortage of ‘must own’ titles. But they definitely seem to have learnt from their mistakes. The PS Vita system will feature a stunning OLED front touch screen and rear touch pad, dual analog sticks, motion sensors, and dual cameras. Furthermore, more than 80 games currently in production from first and third party studios including LittleBigPlanet, Wipeout 2048, Resistance: Burning Skies, Uncharted Golden Abyss, Ubisoft's Assassin's Creed, EA Sports' FIFA, Activision's Call of Duty, and many more, the PS Vita is poised to deliver gameplay experiences unmatched by any handheld or mobile device on the market.

Nintendo Wii U Until recently, the Wii was the best-selling home console on the market and with good reason. Its level of interactivity and ingenuity was unmatched. Nintendo aims to take it a step further with its successor in 2012 – the Wii U. As before the fun is not in the console itself but the controller and this time it comes with a 6.2-inch screen.

Adding a second screen to the living room creates a multitude of new video game experiences while offering a variety of options to customise your entertainment. Additionally, the new controller also features an accelerometer and a gyroscope, a rumble feature, an inwardfacing camera, a microphone and speakers. Adding these features to the Classic Controller button scheme – two analog Circle Pads, +Control Pad, A/B/X/Y buttons, L/R buttons and ZL/ZR buttons – will enable a breadth of game-play experiences while appealing to both casual and dedicated video game players.

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The image is of an iphone 4s, courtesy Apple

iPhone 5

Samsung Galaxy S II HD LTE The Samsung Galaxy S II was one of the best-selling phones this year, offering the best Android experience to date and thereby getting its own share of followers and even giving the iPhone 4 a run for its money. Come next year, Samsung will up the ante once more with the Galaxy S II HD. The new device boasts a 4.65inch Super AMOLED HD screen with 1280 x 720 resolution, which translates to about 316 pixels per inch. The new phone will be powered by a 1.5GHz dual-core processor and will feature 16GB of internal memory, an eight megapixel camera that supports 1080p HD video and the usual collection of WiFi, Bluetooth, GPS and NFC capabilities.

The iPhone has now become a household name with millions of dedicated followers.

So it comes as no surprise that the iPhone5 is one of the most anticipated devices of 2012. While not much is known of the phone till date and with the 4S just being revealed, it will be a while before we get our first glimpse of the next generation iPhone.

But it is coming alright, Jobs or not Jobs!

LISTS 2012

TECHNOLOGY Razer Blade The Razer Blade could quite possibly be the world’s first true gaming laptop. Unlike most regular gaming laptops that give you the feeling that you could be carrying an elephant around, the Blade features a full aluminum chassis measuring just 0.88 inches thin, less than half that of most current mobile gaming systems, and weighs only 6.97lbs, achieving a perfect balance between portability and performance. The latter comes courtesy of a fast Intel Core i7 processor and a high performance NVIDIA GeForce graphics processor. And best of all, it features an all-new revolutionary user interface. Called the Switchblade User Interface, it is Razer’s multi-award winning, highly intuitive interface technology. The interface is comprised of 10 dynamic adaptive tactile keys for easier access of in-game commands, and an LCD capable of two modes: one mode that displays in-game information when a mouse is in use; and another mode that functions as an ultra-sensitive, multi-touch panel designed for gaming on the go.

Nokia’s Windows based phones Nokia hasn’t been faring too well recently in the highend smart phone market where the Symbian software seems to be losing ground against the iPhone and Android giants. That said, Nokia has recently turned to Windows 7 as a solution. We have only just seen Nokia’s very first attempt at a Windows based phone, the Lumina 800, and it definitely got our attention. In fact we were so impressed, that we can’t wait to see what they will come up with next. Year 2012 looks like a much sweeter year for Nokia and Nokia lovers alike.

Cloud Ftp Sometimes the simplest ideas can be the most innovative and Sanho Corporations’ Kickstarted Project, called Cloud FTP, is the perfect example of this. It is a pocket size adapter that can turn any USB storage device into a wireless file server, sharing files with WiFi-enabled devices (e.g. iPad, iPhone, computer etc.). It can also automatically connect to the Internet to backup and synchronise USB data with popular online Cloud storage services like iCloud, Dropbox and box.net. Considering that the Cloud storage is the way of the future, this could very well be one of the best products of 2012.

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Unified 3D glasses technology It’s about time the big-brand television companies did something like this.

Sony, Samsung, Panasonic and 3D technology specialist Xpand 3D are finally moving forward with plans to create a single format for active shutter 3D glasses, with many more TV makers joining the standards licensing scheme. Once in place, this will allow us to own one single pair of magic glasses that work on our home 3D TVs, PC monitors, and can even be taken out to watch 3D films on cinema screens. We should see the final results sometime next year and we are really hoping it will live up to our expectations.

FXI Tech cotton candy Quite possibly the world's most portable computer, the Cotton Candy from FXI Tech is a truly groundbreaking piece of kit. It is a prototype USB stick equipped with an ARM Cortex-A9 (1.2GHz) CPU, an ARM Mali-400 MP (Quad-core) GPU, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, HDMI output and the Android operating system. It decodes MPEG-4, H.264 and other video formats and display HD graphics on any HDMI equipped screen. Content is then accessed through a secure FXI web portal and can be controlled via smartphones, keyboards, mice and other USB peripherals and it can be used with practically any display device. Will this be the future of portable computing? Only time will tell.

Ultrabooks With the inevitable release of the next Intel 22nm Ivy Bridge processor we have to prepare ourselves for a barrage of Ultrabook releases next year. HP and Asus have already confirmed a few of their releases, but we can expect no less that 50 new models to launch at CES 2012. So in case you love the size and portability of Mac Book Air style laptops, but are not much of an apple OS fan then you will definitely be on Cloud Nine come 2012.