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Equity Magazine August 2017 Issue

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AUGUST <strong>2017</strong> | ISSUE 03<br />

TRAVEL<br />

WELLNESS<br />

RETREATS<br />

FOR A HEALTHY<br />

MIND AND BODY<br />

THE TRUE COST<br />

UNCOVERING THE<br />

BUSINESS OF CEO<br />

COMPENSATIONS<br />

LILY<br />

COLLINS<br />

ON CONTROVERSY<br />

AND HOLLYWOOD


Extraordinary is in the detail.<br />

To explore one of the world’s most detailed landscape photographs go to BentleyMotors.com/Explore.<br />

Please contact us on 800-BENTLEY [800 236 8539]<br />

or visit us at www.uae.bentleymotors.com for more information<br />

2<br />

EQUITY<br />

The name ‘Bentley’ and the ‘B’ in wings device are registered trademarks. © <strong>2017</strong> Bentley Motors Limited.


Be Extraordinary.<br />

1<br />

EQUITY


2<br />

EQUITY


3<br />

EQUITY


insideEQUITY<br />

12<br />

mind<br />

12<br />

A BUYERS'S GUIDE TO<br />

OFFSHORE INVESTMENT<br />

Reasons why you should invest<br />

in international properties<br />

21 30<br />

14<br />

17<br />

21<br />

24<br />

30<br />

32<br />

THE REVOLUTION OF<br />

THEMATIC INVESTING<br />

Alternate investments to<br />

diversify your portfolio<br />

WHO YOU GOING TO CALL?<br />

HOWARD LEEDHAM<br />

Explore this war veteran's<br />

journey<br />

MONEY MEN<br />

Get a peek into the business<br />

behind a CEO's compensation<br />

REFLECTIVE ENCOUNTERS<br />

Lily Collins discusses her latest<br />

Netflix movies<br />

A SKILL FOR LIFE<br />

Need a hobby? Try these<br />

SUPPORT LOCAL<br />

A chat with the startup founder<br />

of Apotheca Beauty, Nora Al<br />

Ramadhan<br />

40<br />

body<br />

37<br />

TRENDING NOW<br />

The latest in summer fashion<br />

straight from the runway<br />

38<br />

40<br />

42<br />

THE CHECKLIST<br />

Add these items to your summer<br />

wardrobe for a stylish upgrade<br />

SHOP TALK<br />

Your next shopping haul sorted<br />

INDULGE YOURSELF<br />

Make an appointment for the<br />

latest treaments on the market<br />

4<br />

EQUITY


AUGUST <strong>2017</strong><br />

45<br />

soul<br />

55<br />

45<br />

ON OUR RADAR<br />

The latest statement pieces to<br />

buy or covet<br />

55<br />

WEEKEND DINING<br />

Two venues worth talking<br />

business matters over<br />

65<br />

58<br />

61<br />

65<br />

68<br />

70<br />

72<br />

ON THE MENU<br />

Take a seat and indulge at these<br />

fine restaurants around the UAE<br />

WELLNESS RETREATS<br />

Memorable mind and soul<br />

rejuvenating experiences<br />

JETSETTER JOURNEYS<br />

Travel inspiration for your next<br />

big holiday<br />

STAY OF THE MONTH<br />

Explore Al Wadi Desert,<br />

Ras Al Khaimah<br />

TANGIER BEAUTY<br />

Explore this Villa from Christie's<br />

GET TO KNOW...<br />

ANITA WILLIAMS<br />

A peek into her life<br />

On the cover<br />

LILY COLLINS<br />

Read her interview on page 24<br />

The publication may not be<br />

reproduced, stored in a retrieval<br />

system, or transmitted in any<br />

form or by any means electronic,<br />

photocopying, recording or<br />

otherwise, without the permission<br />

of <strong>Equity</strong> Media. Where opinion<br />

is expressed it is that of the<br />

author and does not necessarily<br />

reflect the editorial views of<br />

the publishers of<br />

EQUITY-Always invest in yourself.<br />

All information in<br />

EQUITY-Always invest in yourself<br />

is checked and verified to the best<br />

of the publisher’s ability, however<br />

the publisher cannot be held<br />

responsible for any mistakes or<br />

omissions enclosed in<br />

the publication in content,<br />

advertising or graphics.<br />

5<br />

EQUITY


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EQUITY


From the EDITOR<br />

Just a month to go before the next long Eid<br />

break, that was quick, wasn’t it? Speaking of<br />

time flying by, this month we spoke to Howard<br />

Leedham about his past and transition from war<br />

veteran to finance expert (p17). On the topic of<br />

finance, the latest acquisitions (read our Business<br />

section on equity.media) and current stock market<br />

status has investors exploring new avenues for<br />

alternate investments (p12-15).<br />

Netflix movies are becoming all the more interesting, with controversial<br />

topics raising awareness amongst society. Lily Collins speaks to us<br />

about her past, present and future in Hollywood, following the success of<br />

her most recent Netflix movie To The Bone (p24). Gizmo-lovers and<br />

car enthusiasts, we have a treat for you, turn to page 48 for the latest in<br />

aerial vehicles and page 53 to feast your eyes on the Mercedes-Maybach<br />

G650, such a beauty!<br />

If you’re looking to escape this month, before September kicks in, in full<br />

swing, do so either with a staycation in the middle of the desert (p68) or<br />

recoup with a wellness break (p61). Need to impress a friend, visiting<br />

family member or business partner, look to page 56 for inspiration on<br />

dining spots that are worth relishing a meal at.<br />

Happy reading<br />

Nicola<br />

Nicola Monteath<br />

EDITOR'S PICK<br />

I’m in love with the Mercedes-<br />

Maybach G650. The adorable yellow<br />

and blue back brings to mind<br />

images of minions, while the tough<br />

front is just pure beauty. Can’t wait<br />

to see it on the roads in the UAE.<br />

This flirty ruffled<br />

Martin Grant<br />

Shirt Dress at<br />

modaoperandi.<br />

com is one that<br />

can easily be<br />

worn from day<br />

to night.<br />

Follow us:<br />

equitymedia.uae equitymedia.uae equitymedia.uae equitymedia.uae<br />

EQUITY - Always invest in yourself<br />

EDITOR NICOLA MONTEATH - nicola@equity.media<br />

DIGITAL EDITOR VARUN GODINHO<br />

CONTENT MANAGER OLIVE SEVILLA<br />

ART DIRECTOR ODILAINE MEJORADA<br />

SALES advertising@equity.media<br />

WWW.EQUITY.MEDIA<br />

PRINTED BY United Printing & Publishing<br />

is a proud member of<br />

Bulgari’s Octo Finissimo Tourbillon<br />

Monete for men seems like a piece<br />

dug out from a hidden treasure, with<br />

modern characteristics coming<br />

through from the stunning rose gold<br />

and intricate dial. Another timepiece<br />

to add to my ever-growing wish list.<br />

7<br />

EQUITY


CALENDAR<br />

MARK YOUR CALENDAR<br />

Jetsetters, don’t forget to add these dates to your diary<br />

1<br />

ENGLISH NATIONAL BALLET: ROMEO AND JULIET<br />

WHERE: South Bank Centre, London<br />

WHEN: <strong>August</strong> 1-5<br />

Watch the eternal story of Romeo and Juliet unfold<br />

in this opera created by the English National Ballet<br />

in 1977 to celebrate the Queen’s Silver Jubilee as it<br />

comes to the Southbank Centre Royal Festival Hall<br />

this summer. Sit back and be dazzled with Nureyev's<br />

passionate choreography and Prokofiev's<br />

exhilarating score performed live by English<br />

National Ballet Philharmonic.<br />

WA! WONDER<br />

JAPAN EXPERIENCE<br />

2<br />

WHERE: Stellar Ball, The Prince<br />

3<br />

INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE<br />

ON CORPORATE GOVERNANCE<br />

& BUSINESS ETHICS<br />

WHERE: Village Hotel Albert Court, Singapore<br />

WHEN: <strong>August</strong> 3-5<br />

Hotel, Tokyo<br />

WHEN: <strong>August</strong> 1 - September 30<br />

An Argentinian Cirque Du Soleil style<br />

group called the Fuerza Bruta<br />

(meaning “brute force”) is about to<br />

stun Japan with their Japanese inspired<br />

“WA!” show. It has captivated<br />

audiences in over 30 countries and<br />

with all tickets being standing-only, it is<br />

sure to be an interesting watch.<br />

Global Business Research Journals (GBRJ)<br />

and SDMIMD invite researchers, scholars,<br />

economists, accounting and finance<br />

professionals from across the globe to<br />

submit their abstracts/full papers/case<br />

studies at the upcoming conference which<br />

focuses on ethical and governance practices to be followed not only by the corporate sector but<br />

anyone involved in business and services activities with the motive of earning profit. After all,<br />

profit should not be the only outcome of the business.<br />

4<br />

MASTER ILLUSIONIST – AHMED EL BAYED<br />

TAKE OFF WORLD TOUR<br />

WHERE: Al Raha Beach Theatre, Abu Dhabi<br />

WHEN: <strong>August</strong> 3-5<br />

If you are a fan of Criss Angel or Houdini-like artists, this<br />

is for you. Master Arab Illusionist Ahmed El Bayed has<br />

stunned audiences around the world with his unique<br />

tricks, and has developed quite the following. Come and<br />

watch his show in Abu Dhabi to experience it yourself.<br />

This is one the little ones will be amazed with too.<br />

8<br />

EQUITY


CALENDAR<br />

LES FÊTES DE GENÈVE <strong>2017</strong><br />

WHERE: The banks of Lake Geneva<br />

WHEN: <strong>August</strong> 3-13<br />

Get ready to yodel your way through the Swiss Alps, literally! The<br />

Les Fetes de Geneve is an annual 10-day festival held in the early<br />

days of <strong>August</strong>. There will be singers, music concerts and shows,<br />

food stalls, games for kids and amusement rides, with the fair lit up<br />

by their famous fireworks display. Attendees range up to 2 million a<br />

year and many rooms get sold out for the time of festival - so be<br />

sure to book early if you want to stay at Geneva's Hotel President<br />

Wilson.<br />

5<br />

WHERE: Ayia Napa, Cyprus<br />

6<br />

LIVING COLOR MUSIC FESTIVAL<br />

WHEN: <strong>August</strong> 5-6<br />

As being the fabled birthplace of Aphrodite, the Greek goddess of<br />

love, it should come as no surprise that the colourful and vibrant<br />

Living Color Music & Arts Festival will be held in Cyprus. Watch<br />

talents like Dmitri Vegas & Like Mike, Nicky Romero and Nervo<br />

make you bust a few moves. International audiences have to purchase<br />

tickets online and provide ID ticket info at the entrance.<br />

7 8<br />

HANS ZIMMER LIVE<br />

WHERE: Shrine Auditorium, Los Angeles<br />

WHEN:<strong>August</strong> 11<br />

Let’s face it; any movie without an impressive score is<br />

soon forgotten. And when Hans Zimmer is the score<br />

provider, you know what you are going to hear will be<br />

otherworldly. The prolific film composer plays through<br />

his silver screen hits backed by a sizable orchestra and<br />

featured soloists during his live shows.<br />

FESTIVAL OF FOLK ARTS<br />

WHERE: Buda Castle, Budapest, Hungary<br />

WHEN:<strong>August</strong> 17-20<br />

This festival celebrates Hungary’s birthday on <strong>August</strong> 20th.<br />

The fete is set on the open air courts of the Buda Palace, with<br />

breathtaking views making you feel ou have stepped into the<br />

medivial era, with cobblestoned yards, street food, live craft<br />

shows and Hungarian Folk dance shows. The entry fee is the<br />

same as the entry to the Budapest History Museum.<br />

9<br />

SWEDISH HOUSE OF FINANCE FINTECH CONFERENCE<br />

WHERE: Swedish House of Finance, Stockholm<br />

WHEN: <strong>August</strong> 22-23<br />

This year’s conference at the Swedish House of Finance revolves around FinTech and deals with the ever increasing and<br />

ever-changing use of technological solutions in the financial world. This two-day conference brings together representatives<br />

from the finance industry, regulators, and leading academic scholars. The first day will feature key- note presentations and<br />

panel discussions, aimed primarily towards a non-academic audience, while the second day is built around presentations of<br />

research papers with comments by invited guest.<br />

LA PERLE BY DRAGONE OPENING NIGHT<br />

WHERE: La Perle Theatre, Al Habtoor City, Dubai<br />

WHEN: <strong>August</strong> 31<br />

Dubai finally gets it very own Franco Dragone production called La<br />

Perle, or “The Pearl” as Dubai is fondly referred to as the Pearl of the<br />

Gulf. The one-of-a-kind venue houses a state-of-the-art aqua theatre<br />

with 130 cast and crew, and a 1,300 seat theatre purpose-built to host<br />

Dubai’s first permanent show. With only 14 rows around the aqua-stage,<br />

each seat offers an engrossing perspective as the action unfolds.<br />

10<br />

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EQUITY


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mind<br />

Explore alternatives to investment,<br />

and discover why the international<br />

real estate market is still a hot topic.<br />

Take a look at powerful women<br />

entrepreneurs and the lovely Lily<br />

Collins, in an interview about<br />

controversial discussions and her<br />

love for Hollywood<br />

11<br />

EQUITY


SPONSORED<br />

A BUYER’S GUIDE TO<br />

OFFSHORE INVESTMENT<br />

Richard Bradstock, Head of IP Global Middle East discusses<br />

the perils of investing in property<br />

Purchasing property is seen to be a prudent<br />

investment as it can provide an individual with a<br />

solid income, increase their net worth and enable<br />

portfolio and geographical diversification.<br />

Property is often characterised as a stable and reliable<br />

asset, when compared to more volatile alternatives like<br />

stocks and shares. Finally, owning property can also bring<br />

with it a sense of pride and security, being a tangible,<br />

physical asset to pass on to future generations.<br />

IP Global recently conducted a survey with respected<br />

polling company YouGov, exploring the property trends<br />

within the UAE market. We found that 33 per cent of UAE<br />

residents plan to invest in property in their home country<br />

rather than stocks, shares or bonds (21 per cent) while 13<br />

per cent have plans to invest in property overseas in the<br />

next year. Reviewing the results of the YouGov study from<br />

a global perspective, residents of the UAE had the highest<br />

percentage of people planning to invest in property abroad<br />

12<br />

EQUITY


SPONSORED<br />

Words by Richard Bradstock, Head of IP Global, Middle East<br />

in the next 12 months, compared to Hong Kong, Singapore,<br />

China and the UK.<br />

The YouGov study clearly highlighted a strong appetite<br />

for offshore property investment. However, choosing the<br />

right market for your investment is key. At IP Global our<br />

approach involves extensive research and due diligence<br />

that can be best summarised by the ‘PIE’ acronym;<br />

understanding each market’s population, infrastructure<br />

and economy before making our recommendations to<br />

clients. The simple reason for this is that as a location’s<br />

population grows so does demand for dwellings, driving<br />

property prices upward. Additionally, a government’s<br />

approach to regeneration and improvement to transport<br />

infrastructure often correlates with rising population<br />

density, further increasing an asset’s value. Finally, a stable<br />

and robust economy with diverse industries and growing<br />

employment levels makes for a perfect investment<br />

opportunity. However, before purchasing property<br />

further, due diligence is required. Investors should<br />

consider how easily you can extract your profit; researching<br />

the income, capital gains and inheritance tax implications<br />

of investing in foreign markets. Another important factor<br />

to investigate is the process of obtaining mortgage finance<br />

in international markets. For example, properties in Berlin<br />

are now extremely popular because, in comparison to<br />

British properties, they do not undergo capital gains tax<br />

after ten years.<br />

Although a market may make an attractive investment,<br />

when purchasing overseas properties, it is important to<br />

understand the entire purchase process, including the legal<br />

and tax implications for foreign investors. Variables such<br />

as how and when to apply for a mortgage should be<br />

considered as the procedure changes significantly as per<br />

each country’s jurisdiction which can present a challenge<br />

in unfamiliar markets. A trusted mortgage advisor to guide<br />

you through the process is often an invaluable partner. As<br />

a foreign investor, it is also important to consider the<br />

exchange rate and how currency fluctuations might affect<br />

the investment in the medium-to-long term. Currently, the<br />

strengthening US Dollar, combined with a post-Brexit<br />

world, makes it cheaper for investors to buy properties<br />

abroad residing in countries like the UAE, which is pegged<br />

to the US Dollar. Once the purchasing logistics have been<br />

confirmed, potential investors also need to conduct their<br />

due diligence on their partners on the ground, assessing<br />

the credentials of all involved, from the developer to<br />

agents and lettings, to the property management teams.<br />

Additionally, they must understand the local rental market<br />

to ensure there is strong demand and future saleability<br />

prospects. Again, choose your partners wisely – ensure<br />

you are working with advisors that have a strong track<br />

record of success.<br />

Choosing a buy-to-let property can enable investors to<br />

repay their mortgage via the proceeds of their rental income.<br />

We have seen customer buying behaviour change in the last<br />

decade, as due to recent world events investors are becoming<br />

more cautious. Now our clients do not tend to buy trophy<br />

properties outright, but use their budget instead buy multiple<br />

properties in numerous locations – using mortgage as<br />

leverage to maximise their returns and enable their money to<br />

go further. On the other hand, many clients do possess the<br />

total cost of purchase. Yet we would continue to promote the<br />

strategic advantages of leveraging (borrowing money). By<br />

using leverage to finance their investment, investors with a<br />

large amount could not only buy more than one property but<br />

buy types of property that they could not otherwise afford.<br />

For example, a recent analysis of IP Global’s London<br />

property portfolio found the return on property investment<br />

was magnified 2.7 times on average using this strategy.<br />

Once investors have bought their property it is<br />

important to constantly asses the value and progression of<br />

your portfolio and if necessary re-evaluate your strategy<br />

whilst simultaneously managing tenants and property<br />

upkeep. The majority of UAE residents come to the region<br />

on a contract basis and so when the time is right, we advise<br />

our clients to plan their exit strategy. By purchasing<br />

overseas this gives you more freedom but, overall, we<br />

recommend a seven-to-ten year minimum hold on an<br />

investment property. To the majority of investors, the<br />

legal, mental and financial implications of purchasing<br />

overseas properties can be quite daunting. Therefore,<br />

most rely on companies like IP Global, which has both<br />

local and global expertise in research, consulting, working<br />

with solicitors and facilitating the purchase and<br />

conveyancing, arranging mortgages, lettings and managing<br />

the property as well as advising on the optimal time for<br />

reselling.<br />

Ultimately, the advantage of acquiring offshore property is<br />

that it provides continuous reliable returns through capital<br />

growth and rental yields, whilst giving investors a passive<br />

income with minimal active management. Individuals<br />

wanting to drive their net worth, property is the most reliable<br />

asset and with the existing opportunity to monopolise on the<br />

strengthened US Dollar, the time to buy is now.<br />

13<br />

EQUITY


FINANCE<br />

THE REVOLUTION OF<br />

THEMATIC INVESTING<br />

How thematic investing has grown to become the next<br />

disruptive innovation in the investing industry<br />

By Itsparipassu<br />

Prior to 1976, it was not possible for<br />

investors to replicate the performance of<br />

an index. Every stock that formed a part of<br />

the index had to be bought individually<br />

and fractional stock buying was not possible. Back<br />

then, active mutual funds dominated the investing<br />

world, where fund managers hand-picked stocks they<br />

expected to perform the best. However, consistently<br />

beating developed market indices was an extremely<br />

hard feat for them. Almost 80 per cent of active funds<br />

failed to sustainably beat their benchmark indices.<br />

The reason for this was usually the fees charged by<br />

the mutual funds. Managing an active fund costs<br />

money – hiring a team of research analysts, building<br />

research infrastructure, paying transaction costs for<br />

buying and selling etc., ate away any excess returns<br />

that the funds tried to generate. The famous John<br />

Bogle (founder of Vanguard Group) pioneered index<br />

investing when he launched Vanguard 500 (a lowcost<br />

mutual fund that mirrored the S&P 500) in 1976.<br />

His philosophy - “If you can’t beat 'em, join 'em” –<br />

kick-started the revolution of index investing. Index<br />

performance trackers such as Index funds and ETFs<br />

took over the reins and ushered in the era of low-cost<br />

passive investing. Investors were able to track the<br />

performance of major market indices by paying as<br />

low as 20 to 40 bps per instrument.<br />

With technological advancement, such passive<br />

index investment tools became available to all kinds<br />

of investors on every investing platform. Vanguard,<br />

iShares (by Blackrock), and many more prominent<br />

players dominated the market and provided easy<br />

access to these low-cost strategies. Once the<br />

revolution took over in a sustainable manner, index<br />

funds that tracked major sector indices started<br />

entering the investing world. For instance, an investor<br />

who was bullish on the U.S. market and specifically<br />

the U.S. Oil & Gas industry could take exposure to 2<br />

index funds – one that tracked the S&P 500 and the<br />

other that tracked an index of major U.S. Oil & Gas<br />

companies. Eventually, passive investing became<br />

possible across various regions, as well as, sectors.<br />

Today, we live in a world that is going through a<br />

paradigm shifting regime. In intervals of less than six<br />

months, technological innovations are responsible<br />

for turning obsolete the most familiar facets of our<br />

lives. People are adapting quicker to transformation<br />

and have learned to anticipate the unexpected.<br />

Analysts are spending hours, days and weeks in trying<br />

to predict the next mega trend in the coming decades.<br />

Will renewable energy take over, robotics be the next<br />

leading industry or will big data analytics become a<br />

necessary tool for corporates to survive? Similarly, are<br />

flying cars set to receive billions of dollars’ worth of<br />

investments? A vast majority of the new generation<br />

investors are excited to jump in on these mega trends.<br />

Most millennials have not only grown to distrust<br />

large financial institutions with traditional offerings,<br />

but also thrilled to see new offerings by technological<br />

corporations, embracing the wave of digital investing<br />

in long-run mega trends. Naturally, where there is a<br />

demand for an untapped space, it gets met by frontrunning<br />

innovators. An example of one such inspired<br />

individual is Hardeep Walia, Founder of Motif<br />

Investing. A few years ago, Walia was trying to invest<br />

a trend at the moment, mobile internet. He was<br />

advised by his peers to buy Apple’s stock. However,<br />

he wanted a broad exposure to the entire ecosystem -<br />

chip manufacturers, cell phone towers and operators.<br />

At that time, no index existed for such a specific part<br />

of the technology space and hence, there were no<br />

funds or ETFs that tracked it. Buying single stocks of<br />

various companies would lead to a massive<br />

transactional cost so that wasn’t a prudent choice.<br />

Recognising a gap in the investing industry, he put<br />

together a team that created a concept-based<br />

investing tool. The platform creates intelligently<br />

weighted and diversified baskets of up to 30 stocks or<br />

ETFs called ‘motifs’ that can be bought into for a<br />

little less than $10 (Buying 30 stocks individually can<br />

make the investor incur around $300 purely as<br />

commissions). The motifs can be used to track<br />

trends, such as the robotics revolution, or trading<br />

strategies, such as ‘buy the dip’ and many more<br />

creative thematic investments. It is possible to even<br />

own fractions of shares in these motifs, something<br />

that is not possible in traditional stock investing.<br />

Over 150 investment styles have been created<br />

in-house and investors can directly buy these or even<br />

create investment styles of their own.<br />

Similarly, PureFunds is another corporation that<br />

is continuing to revolutionise thematic investing.<br />

14<br />

EQUITY


FINANCE<br />

CEO of PureFunds, Andrew Chanin, realised that<br />

people wanted to invest, were not covered by<br />

ETFs yet. PureFunds licenses indexes that are<br />

created by International Securities Exchange, LLC<br />

(ISE). ISE creates indices for specific new themes,<br />

such as cybersecurity, big data, fintech, drones,<br />

gaming etc. and PureFunds launches low-cost<br />

ETFs, that track these indices, into the<br />

marketplace. Just like PureFunds and Motif,<br />

several focused tools are penetrating the investing<br />

world today. Strategies now exist that allow<br />

investors to get exposure to any concept they wish<br />

to buy into, be it technological mega trends,<br />

innovative real estate investing or even trading<br />

strategies they believe have the potential to beat<br />

traditional benchmarks.<br />

Today, such companies that are at the forefront of<br />

innovative thematic investing are seeing massive<br />

inflows into their strategies, which is proof that<br />

investors are looking for alternative ways and means<br />

to invest in the world that is their future. These firms<br />

have disrupted traditional banking and conventional<br />

investments and are innovating in line with the<br />

desires of the new generation investors. Costeffectiveness,<br />

unprecedented access, user-friendly<br />

trading tools and, above all, concept driven<br />

methodologies, have helped these firms in<br />

revolutionising thematic investing. Numerous<br />

competitors are recognising this trend and moving<br />

away from traditional strategies. Thus, an increase in<br />

competition will only serve to improve the experience<br />

for investors. That said, many UHNWIs continue to<br />

be unaware of these new generation investing tools<br />

that are easily available to them. The main reason<br />

being that conventional banking and wealth<br />

management continue to propagate affluent active<br />

funds and traditional investment strategies. It is<br />

imperative that financial advisors lead the progress<br />

and introduce modern age investing tools, such as<br />

these, to their clients, lest they be left behind in<br />

strategies turning obsolete by the day.<br />

itsparipassu.wordpress.com<br />

These firms have disrupted<br />

traditional banking and<br />

conventional investments and<br />

are innovating in line with the<br />

desires of the new generation<br />

investors<br />

15<br />

EQUITY


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16<br />

EQUITY


ENTREPRENEUR<br />

WHO<br />

YOU<br />

GOING TO<br />

CALL?<br />

HOWARD<br />

LEEDHAM<br />

The former UK Navy Commando Pilot,<br />

Clearance Diver and Special Forces Officer<br />

Howard Leedham MBE, takes us<br />

through his journey<br />

Words by Nicola Monteath<br />

PHOTOGRAPH BY ODILAINE MEJORADA<br />

There’s something stimulating about interviewing a man<br />

from the finance world, exploring his past ventures and<br />

what brought him to this side of the world. Especially if<br />

that past involves tales of war and leading a force of<br />

soldiers to raid Taliban camps and hunt down victims in Pakistan.<br />

Howard Leedham isn’t exactly your run-of-the-mill finance expert.<br />

He didn’t graduate from an Ivy League, or even in economics or<br />

finance as a matter of fact. However, his journey has led him to<br />

become the Chairman of Dubai-based hedge fund firm Dalma<br />

Capital and most recently, a partner at Consilium. Upon meeting<br />

Howard, I could sense a sort of mystery, one where you get the vibe<br />

that much has happened in this gentleman’s life. He’s calm, almost as<br />

though everything in the past is a distant memory, with the excitement<br />

of his latest venture, Consilium, taking over. Thankfully, this makes<br />

our interview a breezy chat that goes on longer than I anticipated.<br />

17 17<br />

EQUITY


ENTREPRENEUR<br />

Howard began his career at the age of 18 as a diver, due to<br />

not being able to afford training. “I joined the Navy, became<br />

a clearance driver and was in bomb disposal and the<br />

clearance diving team for four years. I soon realised that<br />

divers don’t have much work and decided to become a pilot.<br />

I passed all the tests and went into flight training to pursue<br />

my career as a commando pilot. That was my first real brush<br />

with the men from the Special Forces,” he tells us. Soon<br />

after, Howard found himself joining the Special Forces,<br />

serving three tours thereafter. His love for flying never<br />

weaned throughout and Howard found himself between<br />

flying and at the Gulf War with the US Marines. As with<br />

to run his firm and told me he could teach me everything I<br />

needed to know about convertible bonds in six months.”<br />

Howard is the go-getter, take-up-a-challege type of<br />

individual. That said, life had other plans for him and he had<br />

to refuse the offer, as this came immediately after 9/11. The<br />

reason why was as terrifying as exciting, with Howard being<br />

commissioned by the US Government for a year-long<br />

mission in Pakistan. Kindly enough, the gentleman with the<br />

offer said, “serve us the courtesy of living through the next<br />

year, we’ll serve you the courtesy of offering you the job<br />

when you’re back.”<br />

“To me there are two types of adventures. One, which<br />

most army men, there comes a time when you feel you need<br />

to spend more time with the family and so Howard left the<br />

Navy to settle in the US, where he got the opportunity to get<br />

into business aviation in Maryland. “They had all the right<br />

certification but not the size of business I needed. I decided<br />

to advertise management of business jets in the business<br />

journal and lo and behold, it took off.” Opportunities came<br />

along, and one such offer altered the course of Howard’s<br />

life. “The CEO of a hedge funds company offered me a job<br />

people are aware of and the other that happens when you<br />

reach your destination. You know it’s an adventure when<br />

you’re on ground but it’s an adventure you may not want to<br />

experience ever again,” he tells us. That’s exactly how<br />

Howard felt when he was commissioned. “I rounded up<br />

militia and off we went for our mission,” he says. The<br />

conversation went off record for a few minutes, where we<br />

discovered his near-death experiences and stories that can’t<br />

be disclosed. But from the sounds of it, the risk Howard<br />

18<br />

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ENTREPRENEUR<br />

took gave him a story to write home about. And years later,<br />

for the public too. After much persuasion from comrades,<br />

he released his first non-fiction book, Ask Forgiveness, Not<br />

Permission, revealing gritty details of his tenure in Pakistan.<br />

Fast forward a year and Howard saw himself joining the<br />

gentleman who offered him the position. “I used to pass<br />

through the UAE when going to Pakistan and always<br />

thought ‘Wow, this place is like a gold rush.’ When I got<br />

back, I joined the company and pressed them into setting<br />

up here,” he tell us. After two-and-a-half years Howard<br />

left the company, and assisted with the launch of several<br />

other hedge fund firms before joining Dalma Capital.<br />

“What I learned about the financial industry is that you<br />

need two sorts of people, in my opinion. Those who focus<br />

specifically on what they need to do, like Portfolio<br />

Managers, and those who I term as generalists, who run<br />

the company – they know the strategies, the know-how,<br />

but they don’t make the investments.”<br />

While he still has a foot at Dalma Capital, his heart and<br />

soul are wholly at Consilium. “I like to build things and<br />

make a difference. Trying to make a difference is very<br />

difficult with hedge funds where around – a random<br />

throwaway figure – but probably 90 per cent of the assets<br />

are managed by 10 per cent of the company, and yes,<br />

To me there are two types of<br />

adventures. One, which people are<br />

aware of and the other that happens<br />

when you reach your destination. You<br />

know it’s an adventure when you’re on<br />

ground but it’s an adventure you may<br />

not want to experience ever again<br />

there’s something for you there but trying to make a<br />

difference isn’t easy. That’s one of my frustrations of the<br />

finance sector,” says Howard.<br />

Judging by his past, Howard relishes the thrill of being on<br />

his feet at all times, especially for work. Two to three years<br />

ago, he was invited to a lunch in London by a man who<br />

served with him in the Special Forces, now his business<br />

partner, Simon Fordham OBE. “Him and another<br />

gentleman said they were going to roll security companies<br />

into one, offering risk management and crisis response.<br />

They had a great solution to create a global footprint and to<br />

deal with only the things we specialised in. I thought this<br />

was a great idea and out of that Consilium was born.”<br />

“For me, I feel like I’m building something here and<br />

making a difference. We do crisis response wherein we deal<br />

with kidnap and ransom negotiation. We are retained by<br />

numerous insurance companies, so if there is a kidnap the<br />

company calls us and we react immediately. Two to three<br />

months ago we had a case where three people were<br />

kidnapped. It was a three-week process and we got them<br />

out. It’s an amazing feeling when as a company, you go<br />

through this and get the job done,” says Howard. The<br />

company specialises in various other services, including<br />

specialist consulting and advisory. If either government<br />

cooperates or individuals think they are going to have a<br />

problem, or do, then their team is called in. “One of our<br />

team members always know the answers, we’re a great<br />

brunch. One of the members was a Former Colonel in the<br />

UK, while the other is a forensic accountant, we are all part<br />

of the brotherhood. We also have a cyber security team and<br />

it has really started to take off as people are becoming more<br />

and more aware,” he says.<br />

Besides concentrating on the global footprint, they are<br />

also focusing on specialised services that will roll out in<br />

Q4. At the moment, Consilium is based in London, Lagos,<br />

Abu Dhabi and Milan, with an affiliate in New York.<br />

“We’re setting up West Africa, and that’s more boots-onthe-ground<br />

operations. In Abu Dhabi, we were the first<br />

security company to set up at the Global Market, while in<br />

Dubai, we have a corporate membership with Capital<br />

Club.” The company also looks after HNWI families when<br />

they travel abroad.<br />

Through the eyes of a layman, Howard is a brawny army<br />

man. But as we chat about life, visits to unfortunate<br />

countries and his humanitarian efforts, we discover he is<br />

soulful too. “I tried to launch a charity that would airlift aid<br />

to countries that require it and almost got there, everything<br />

was good. But, 9/11 happened,” he tells us. “My view is this<br />

is going on all around the world and we live in a privileged<br />

environment. If something happens to us, we know<br />

someone will come and risk their lives to save us. What I’ve<br />

seen is that in unfortunate places, if a person gets ill or the<br />

building collapses, they know that nobody is going to come<br />

and they have minimum hope of survival. So, the concept<br />

of trying to put something together was that at the back of<br />

mind they know someone will get there,” he tells us.<br />

While it is on the back burner, Howard has much to be<br />

excited about. As we delve into his book, we learn that the<br />

movie pilot was created with the film going into production<br />

at just about any time. I began to imagine the blockbuster,<br />

the feeling of having once interviewed the protagonist, but<br />

began to wonder, who would play the lead? “Anyone but<br />

Tom Cruise,” he laughs and reveals, as we go on into a<br />

discussion about our background and life in the UAE.<br />

19<br />

EQUITY


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BUSINESS<br />

MONEY<br />

MEN<br />

V<br />

The CEO decides how much you get paid, but who decides his pay? Enter<br />

the secretive and complex world of the executive compensation consultant<br />

Words by Varun Godinho<br />

Warren Buffett and his chief<br />

lieutenant Charlie Munger are<br />

united in their overt distaste for<br />

executive compensation<br />

consultants – professionals appointed by the<br />

boards of some of the world’s biggest companies<br />

to determine the compensation-and-benefits<br />

packages of its top bosses. At the annual Berkshire<br />

Hathaway annual meeting in May this year, Buffett<br />

said, "If the board hires a compensation consultant<br />

after I go, I will come back – mad," while Munger<br />

added, “I have avoided all my life compensation<br />

consultants. I hardly can find the words to express<br />

my contempt."<br />

But is the business of compensation<br />

consultants getting an undeserved bad rap?<br />

“There is always a risk of us having an inflationary<br />

pressure on compensation. But the more<br />

balanced view is that we act as a controller and<br />

brake on executive pay. We’re very aware of what<br />

the market rate for a job is and the HR<br />

professionals inside the institutions that we deal<br />

with need third-party validation of what they are<br />

doing. In many instances, I find myself arguing<br />

for compensation to go down rather than up.<br />

That’s the bit of the discussion that Mr. Buffett<br />

might miss because he only receives the headlines<br />

where the numbers are going the other way,” says<br />

Dubai-based Martin McGuigan, Partner at Aon<br />

Hewitt Middle East, who also heads up the<br />

McLagan division at Aon that specifically deals<br />

with compensation within the financial services<br />

sector in the MENA region.<br />

Globally, Aon Hewitt is one of the biggest<br />

players in the industry – reportedly, over 70 per<br />

cent of the Fortune 500 and FTSE 100<br />

companies in America and the UK have<br />

contracted its services to determine the pay of<br />

its upper-crust management.<br />

Contrary to what you believe, these<br />

consultants aren’t the empowered sharks that<br />

dole out packages worth tens of million on a<br />

whim to slick CEOs. McGuigan explains its<br />

business model. Most organisations have what<br />

is known as an internal nomination and<br />

remuneration committee (NRC). The NRC is<br />

tasked with finding executive-level candidates –<br />

often accepting names pitched by headhunters<br />

– vetting and interviewing them and, most<br />

importantly, will act as the penultimate authority<br />

on determining the quantum of pay.<br />

To help them reach that decision though, the<br />

NRC cannot rely on headhunters who are<br />

motivated by securing a higher pay for their<br />

candidate because they are paid a percentage of<br />

the final package. Instead, they turn to thirdparty<br />

neutral external bodies like the Aon<br />

Hewitt to gather market intelligence on what<br />

21<br />

EQUITY


BUSINESS<br />

executives within the candidates’ peer group are<br />

being offered and to advise on a fair<br />

compensation package. Does he think that<br />

compensation packages are far higher today<br />

than they should justifiably be? “If a CEO is<br />

going to make you a billion dollars and you want<br />

to pay him 50 million, shareholders will say,<br />

‘That’s fine. We’re going to make 950 million.’<br />

There is no limit to how much it should be or<br />

could be, but the control should be in the design<br />

of the incentives that ensures that shareholders<br />

are taken care of first, and that the employees<br />

are always paid after the shareholders,” says<br />

McGuigan.<br />

In the wake of 2008 crisis, reports of millions<br />

being disbursed among the senior management<br />

of freshly-bailed out financial institutions<br />

caused shareholders to rile against the system<br />

that allowed these excesses. As McGuigan<br />

explains, 2008 led to the creation of governmentbacked<br />

financial legislation and checks-andbalances<br />

to prevent the abuse of the system,<br />

though they’ve fallen short of entirely remedying<br />

the matter. “The way compensation packages<br />

are set up is that one-third is guaranteed pay,<br />

one-third annual bonus, and one-third are longterm<br />

incentives like equity. It’s the bonus and<br />

incentives that are directly correlated to the<br />

performance of the organisation they lead, and<br />

that component was previously entirely at the<br />

discretion of the shareholders. However, in<br />

Europe you now have CRD IV regulatory<br />

authority that mandates that the bonus of those<br />

in the financial services sector in the European<br />

Union, can be a maximum of 100 per cent of<br />

their fixed component. That didn’t bring total<br />

MARTIN MCGUIGAN, PARTNER AT AON HEWITT MIDDLE EAST<br />

If a CEO is going to make you a billion<br />

dollars and you want to pay him 50<br />

million, shareholders will say, ‘That’s<br />

fine. We’re going to make 950 million.’<br />

There is no limit to how much it should<br />

be or could be, but the control should be<br />

in the design of the incentives<br />

compensation levels down. It was, in fact, bad<br />

for shareholders because the guaranteed<br />

component of the compensation was increased<br />

so that they [the executives] would be eligible<br />

for 100 per cent bonus of a bigger number.”<br />

That took away the uncertainty of having<br />

these men and women work harder to secure<br />

larger bonuses. The higher fixed component,<br />

says McGuigan, also had an adverse knock-on<br />

effect on end-of-service benefits, pension, and<br />

national insurance, among other things.<br />

In countries like America, regulation has had a<br />

better impact and now beginning to stick. “In the<br />

States, the same regulatory pressure was applied<br />

via Dodd Frank, a consumer protection act put in<br />

place by the US legislative institutions, in 2009. It<br />

capped compensation for senior executives and<br />

bank professionals and spelt out exactly how the<br />

risk and reward mechanisms should be linked.<br />

They made a very strong linkage on how people<br />

were incentivised and the risks they took which<br />

were previously responsible for the collapse of its<br />

financial institutions.”<br />

Everything isn’t always above board though,<br />

and there is a more sinister side to the<br />

compensation consulting business. To navigate,<br />

sometimes circumvent, these international<br />

regulatory mechanisms, often companies will<br />

appoint compensation consultants to sit on<br />

their board and NRC councils. “You can’t<br />

design [the compensation and benefits] plan and<br />

then sit on the same boards and say, ‘What a<br />

great plan that is.’ Believe it or not, five or six<br />

years ago, you could have done both.”<br />

“So now we’ve seen many [compensation<br />

consulting] companies split the design and<br />

consulting part from the regulatory advisory<br />

part so that they can work both sides of the<br />

22<br />

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BUSINESS<br />

fence, but under two completely different<br />

company structures. Those employees are very<br />

clearly divided by Chinese walls internally.”<br />

The compensation consulting industry isn’t a<br />

one-size-fits all operation. The packages structured<br />

are varied across financial markets worldwide. In<br />

the West, executives are gung-ho on equity as their<br />

long-term incentives. In the Middle East, where<br />

many large corporations are family or state-owned,<br />

cash is still king. “In the Middle East, 95 per cent<br />

of the deals are cash based and this won’t change<br />

in the foreseeable future. Historically, we’ve had a<br />

transient population in the region. So when you<br />

bring talent in, they are interested in a cash deal<br />

because they are able to up<br />

sticks and leave with no<br />

encumbrances to taking the<br />

money with them.”<br />

While the matter of<br />

executive pay in the Middle<br />

East isn’t very closely<br />

regulated or as structured as<br />

it is in the West, things are<br />

changing even it’s still a case<br />

of the cart leading the horse.<br />

“There are many well-run<br />

forward-thinking<br />

companies who are<br />

divesting responsibilities<br />

outside of its family<br />

members to professionals.<br />

To secure the contract of<br />

these talented individuals, they [the companies]<br />

will revamp and reinvigorate their internal<br />

perspective on pay and use proper executive<br />

compensation metrics and techniques. It is<br />

happening, but slowly.”<br />

The executive compensation business is here<br />

to stay. As McGuigan saliently points out,<br />

companies will always require third-party<br />

validation and intelligence on the prevailing<br />

market conditions during the hiring process.<br />

“Shareholders will always demand an expert<br />

point of view on the reasonableness of what is<br />

being put in front of them.” If McGuigan is<br />

right, Buffett might never be able to rest easy.<br />

23<br />

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CELEBRITY<br />

REFLECTIVE<br />

ENCOUNTERS<br />

Lily Collins chats with Christopher Hooton about her humble beginnings,<br />

latest Netflix movies and fascination with old-school Hollywood<br />

Lily Collins has had a busy year, appearing in<br />

Warren Beatty’s Howard Hughes biopic Rules<br />

Don’t Apply, Netflix’s biggest feature film yet,<br />

Okja and starring in one of its latest indie films,<br />

To the Bone (streaming now - the story of a girl dealing with<br />

anorexia. I caught up with her on a warm Tuesday afternoon<br />

at the Corinthia Hotel in London.<br />

There’s common ground here, you studied journalism<br />

right?<br />

Yeah I went to USC. Broadcast Journalism and<br />

Communications.<br />

I’ve always ultimately wanted to be directing and I’m<br />

trying to segue into that - with you, was it the case that<br />

you studied journalism and did a little after college, but<br />

the hope was always to go into acting?<br />

Yeah, I always knew that I wanted to act. But I was always<br />

super intrigued about asking questions and seeing human<br />

nature and human response and knew it would better inform<br />

me as an actor. And then, taking that on camera, I could<br />

better understand my angles, what it was to edit, how edits<br />

happen and how to take direction. There are so many facets<br />

of the industry I think can be applied to other areas you<br />

wouldn’t necessarily associate them with. So having those<br />

skills is really important because a lot of people in the field<br />

you end up in haven’t necessarily had the type of experience<br />

you’ve had. It can give you an interesting perspective I think.<br />

You’ve done some wild stuff in journalism, I read that<br />

you covered the 2008 presidential election for<br />

Nickelodeon!<br />

[Laughs] Yeah! It was really fun - I got to do the ’kids pick the<br />

president’ campaign which - I was 18 at the time so it was my<br />

first time voting, I had a lot of questions myself, so I got to go<br />

out in the field and ask questions for the kids but also for<br />

myself, which was interesting. I got to be there for the<br />

inauguration and all the parties afterward and the conventions<br />

too, it was crazy.<br />

You know that Nickelodeon kids' president poll has<br />

only been wrong like twice! It’s a more accurate<br />

predictor than many broadsheet polls.<br />

No way, that’s so funny!<br />

24<br />

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CELEBRITY<br />

IMAGES BY SHUTTERSTOCK | WORDS BY CHRISTOPHER HOOTON | THE INTERVIEW PEOPLE<br />

25<br />

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CELEBRITY<br />

So with To The Bone, you had personal experience of<br />

anorexia, right? When you were approached about it<br />

were you immediately like ’yes, I want to draw on it’ or<br />

was there a wariness and you weren’t sure whether you<br />

wanted to make that part of your life something to put<br />

on the screen?<br />

So I was sent the script by my team who didn’t know my<br />

association with it [anorexia] at all - they just thought it was an<br />

amazing opportunity for an actor. I’d ironically just written a<br />

chapter in my book about my experience with eating disorder a<br />

week before, so I was already reliving it by reading journals<br />

from that time period. It was like the world in a kismet situation<br />

saying ’this is something that maybe you need to expand upon,<br />

something you can may bring to more people - start a larger<br />

conversation.’ Before I read the script I was hesitant to step<br />

back into those shoes when I’d gone so far away from them but<br />

I also figured it’s about telling a larger story, so I gave it a shot<br />

and when I did it hit me in the gut - the writing was so spot on;<br />

I could really relate to some of the experiences in it. It was witty<br />

and had this dark humour that I think only someone who’d<br />

gone through it could write. It was semi-autobiographical for<br />

Marti [Noxon, the writer-director] so that made total sense,<br />

and when I finished it I called up right away and was like ’I have<br />

to meet with somebody about this.’ I met with Marti who had<br />

no idea about my connection with it whatsoever; we started<br />

talking, had a little bit of a lovefest and I explained to her my<br />

association with it and what I could relate to. And that was it<br />

really, I went home and expressed to my team my hopes of her<br />

liking me and she expressed her hopes of me liking her and it<br />

was kind of like a marriage from there.<br />

A film like that needs the humour doesn’t it, otherwise it<br />

can get a bit morbid.<br />

Yeah, it’s already a dark subject matter so you want to make<br />

sure you have lightness in there. Also, there’s a real truth to<br />

dark humour being used as a deflection from issues, especially<br />

with this kind of topic, you don’t want to address the elephant<br />

in the room, you just want to deflect, deflect, deflect. I<br />

personally used dark humour or in general in that way and so<br />

did Marti. My character, Ellen, is very sarcastic and fun and<br />

witty - she’s a bright young women who got a lot of darkness<br />

in there.<br />

And the scenes where you looked very emaciated, I’m<br />

guessing some it was body doubles, some of it was VFX?<br />

So some of it was me, some was a young woman who was in<br />

recovery, and they kind of molded the two of us together.<br />

The shot at the end is obviously not me that’s CGI, but it’s a<br />

dream sequence so you can kind of allow that.<br />

You obviously had to stay really thin for the role as well,<br />

was it weird having to go back to the kind of behaviour<br />

you’d put behind you, in terms of really worrying about<br />

what you eat?<br />

It was, but what was weird about it was someone else telling<br />

me what I could and couldn’t eat. It wasn’t about the<br />

satisfaction of me controlling it, it was actually being held<br />

accountable by a professional. And I started to go like, 'well<br />

maybe I want to eat that,’ and I had to remind myself it’s for a<br />

greater purpose. So, I wanted to eat, whereas before it would<br />

have been me telling myself I didn’t. It was interesting being<br />

held accountable throughout the process; I had a lot of<br />

people supporting me to help me through it. But also, I feel<br />

proud of the fact that, because of the regimen and<br />

supplements I was on as well as constantly eating throughout<br />

the day, I never forgot my lines, I was never late and never<br />

skipped out on work or was ever overly tired, and I had a<br />

great time shooting. I think a lot of what propelled me<br />

forward was that I was so passionate about the story and<br />

determined to get through it, make it to the end and have that<br />

feeling of pride. I knew the greater purpose of the story was<br />

much bigger than myself and that there was potential for<br />

change after this movie or at least a conversation starting<br />

about the subject matter, so I didn’t want to mess it up.<br />

Obviously, it was a little bit of pressure, but sometimes<br />

pressure can be good.<br />

So what is the healthy way they recommend actors to get<br />

down to a small size for roles?<br />

There really isn’t a recommended way. I know other actors<br />

who would literally eat a piece of fruit a day and smoke a lot<br />

and drink a lot of coffee, and that was totally not the vibe I<br />

wanted - I don’t even smoke - so I don’t condone that and, I<br />

reminded myself they’d hired me as an actor, not for the<br />

potential of what my body could look like. And so, it was just<br />

about limiting certain food groups, having smaller portions,<br />

lots of water and just the basics really. But always having<br />

supplements with every meal as well to make sure your body<br />

is functioning properly.<br />

I know one obviously draws on one’s own life with every<br />

role to an extent, but did this movie feel different<br />

because it was something so close to you, did it feel<br />

easier to tap into the emotion when you were in the<br />

scene?<br />

It definitely was a dissimilar type of experience for me and,<br />

watching it back, I can spot the moments where I’m actually<br />

having revelations of my own in the movie as myself, because<br />

the way Marti wrote the script is so accurate and there are<br />

things I’d never been open to talking about or ever really<br />

spoken to a professional about. The therapists in the house<br />

talking about why people stay in disorder or what we like<br />

about it, for instance, was so spot-on and creepily similar to<br />

my mindset at the time that I was just in awe that someone<br />

understood me, and that’s what Ellen’s going through in that<br />

moment, you know, someone’s caught me out’.<br />

I really was so present in this movie that I allowed myself to<br />

have those moments of clarity and they just happened to be<br />

captured on film. Like the scene in the bathroom where my<br />

step mom makes me step on the scales, take my clothes off<br />

and she takes pictures of me and asks me if I think they’re<br />

beautiful, I didn’t know that Kerry Preston, the actress,<br />

was actually going to use the iPhone and take a photo - I<br />

thought she’d turn it around and there’d be a blank screen -<br />

but she took a photo of me and it shook me in that moment<br />

because I was faced with something that I just hadn’t seen in<br />

myself. When you’re in disorder you don’t see yourself the<br />

way that everyone else does really, it’s distorted, so that was a<br />

real moment that shook me as Ellen but also as Lily. To<br />

the Bone provided me a lot of those ’aha’ moments.<br />

26<br />

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CELEBRITY<br />

27<br />

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CELEBRITY<br />

I think in order to start conversations about them you have to take<br />

the taboo out of it, you have to put it out into the universe in some way<br />

Did you see the whole furor about Netflix’s 13 Reasons<br />

Why?<br />

I know that there was controversy surrounding it, but I think<br />

when you take any subject matter that is so relevant today<br />

people are really afraid to talk about, or don’t know how to talk<br />

about, there’s always going to be negative attention because it’s<br />

uncomfortable. With 13 Reasons Why, that’s something they set<br />

out to do from the start, this [To The Bone] was something that<br />

we’re indebted to Sundance in that they acquired and wanted<br />

to distribute it. In both situations I think it’s to be applauded<br />

that they’re taking risks on subject matter like that, because I<br />

think in order to start conversations about them you have to<br />

take the taboo out of it, and in order to do that you have to put<br />

it out into the universe in some way, and entertainment is a<br />

perfect platform for young people to pay attention. I think<br />

Netflix is really bringing change because conversations turn<br />

into change. There’s going to be negative attention with<br />

anything that people consider uncomfortable.<br />

It was weird to me because it seemed like everyone was<br />

coming from a liberal standpoint, but what they were<br />

asking for was essentially censorship, for the approach<br />

to be ’let’s just not talk about suicide and pretend it’s not<br />

happening’.<br />

Yeah, not talking about it’s not going to help. I wrote a book<br />

last year and the whole point of it was for readers not to feel<br />

alone, and in order to not feel alone you need to be able to<br />

share experiences with people, and that comes from opening<br />

yourself up and talking about what can be quite terrifying.<br />

The idea that you’re not alone also promotes the idea that<br />

asking for help is not a weakness, it’s a strength, and I think<br />

so often we consider needing help as meaning we can’t handle<br />

things ourselves, when really we’re just seeking out someone<br />

else to understand us, and I think these shows and this movie<br />

is a way of doing that.<br />

I’m always interested to ask actors how they feel about<br />

social media, because with so many industries now it’s<br />

become an accepted part of things and is just expected<br />

that people use it. I was talking to Alicia Vikander a few<br />

weeks ago and she was saying how she prefers just not<br />

to have it at all; I know you’re on Twitter and other<br />

mediums, how do you deal with social media and how<br />

much do you engage with it?<br />

It’s interesting, I was pretty against social media at the very<br />

beginning, because I love old Hollywood actors and actresses -<br />

the mystery around them. A real mystery and like, studios kept<br />

them secret. I was talking to Sir Michael Parkinson recently on<br />

his radio show and he was saying how it started at the very<br />

beginning of people being allowed to even go on talk shows.<br />

They didn’t come with publicists, they’d never done it before<br />

and there was almost no censorship because they just wanted<br />

to share things. And now it’s interesting because you can more<br />

easily control what you put out there and what you don’t. The<br />

journalist in me always loved relating and socialising and<br />

connecting with people, but there came a point where I needed<br />

to make a decision to stop that being my focus and really focus<br />

on acting - an audience are only really going to believe me as a<br />

character to an extent if they don’t know me as Lily that well.<br />

Instagram was the first place I went to because I could<br />

express my love of photos and I thought well, photos speak<br />

for themselves and I can just add a little caption, but it created<br />

this positive environment for young women supporting each<br />

other that I wasn’t expecting and it was that interaction that<br />

inspired me to write my book because they were all telling me<br />

their insecurities and their experiences assuming I couldn’t<br />

relate because I was an actor, whereas that was the furthest<br />

from the truth, I had just never really been open about it<br />

before. I wrote my book to basically say, ’wait a second, I<br />

actually can relate completely to you and I wanted my voice<br />

to be unfiltered, which is the title of the book, and also the<br />

photos in it to be unfiltered.<br />

It’s difficult, I really enjoy social media - certain forms of it -<br />

because I get to connect with young people around the world<br />

and really use my voice in a way that hopefully encourages others<br />

to as well, but also you do risk opening yourself up too much. I<br />

think if you can get a grasp on a balance, then that’s a really good<br />

thing, it’s healthy. It’s not easy, but I think I’m finding that<br />

balance and grateful for the interactions I’ve had on social media.<br />

That said, I don’t like, check it all the time, I’m not constantly<br />

tweeting and updating everything - Instagram’s the one I feel like<br />

I really curate because I love photography and visual art.<br />

Instagram’s weirdly my favourite one too, even though<br />

on the surface it seems all about façade.<br />

Exactly, it’s a lot of fast-paced opinions and that’s great that<br />

people are using their voice but, personally, I think photos for<br />

me say more.<br />

I haven’t heard much about The Last Tycoon in a while,<br />

is that still happening?<br />

Yes! I shot the first season like a month ago and it comes out<br />

this summer. I’m hoping people like it and that we go to a<br />

second season which would be amazing. It’s fun; it’s the<br />

golden era of Hollywood and we get to really dive deep and<br />

go dark in it as well.<br />

I can tell old school Hollywood is obviously in your<br />

interest what with Rules Don’t Apply as well.<br />

I know! I’ve really got the period stuff covered I guess, that’s<br />

why it’s been fun to do To The Bone and Okja and go outside of<br />

the box people might put me in, because that’s the last thing<br />

I’d ever want as an actor. I want to keep switching it up, to<br />

surprise them but also mainly to keep myself guessing.<br />

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FOUNDING MEMBER OF THE QUALITY FLEURIER CERTIFICATION AND PARTNER OF THE FONDATION DE LA HAUTE HORLOGERIE<br />

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AHMED SEDDIQI & SONS, DUBAI I AL MANARA, ABU DHABI I AL AWADI, SULTANATE OF OMAN<br />

ASIA JEWELLERS, BAHRAIN I ATAMIAN, LEBANON I BEHBEHANI, KUWAIT I BLUE SALON, QATAR<br />

29<br />

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EDUCATION<br />

A SKILL FOR LIFE<br />

When you feel like you’re at a junction in your life where you have a bit of<br />

spare time on your hands, or need to pick up a hobby, it may be time to learn a<br />

lifelong skill. Whether you want to channel Gordon Ramsay or Mario Testino,<br />

we have the best courses for you to tackle<br />

HONE YOUR CULINARY SKILLS<br />

The course: Beginner’s Cookery<br />

Venue: International Centre for Culinary Arts Dubai (ICCA)<br />

Destination: Dubai, UAE<br />

Dates: September 4, November 1, and December 13, <strong>2017</strong>. Classes are available in two cycles during the week:<br />

Sunday and Wednesday from 9.30am to 12.30pm, and on a Saturday from 9.30am to 4.30pm.<br />

Fees: Dhs17,500 (For UAE citizens and residents) and Dhs25,500 (For International students).<br />

If you are guilty of binge watching Chef’s Table on Netflix, indulging at Michelin-star restaurants across the globe and have a<br />

state-of-the-art kitchen with a slight passion for cooking and baking over the weekends – even if it’s just mashed avocado<br />

on toast or brownies, this may be the course for you. Rated as one of the top ten culinary training institutes around the<br />

world and internationally recognised by the City and Guilds, London, this culinary school guarantees you will leave knowing<br />

the difference between an éclair and a choux pastry. ICCA Dubai’s accredited Amateur Program in Culinary Techniques in<br />

Cookery or Patisserie provides hands-on skills and knowledge to help create exemplary culinary creations. The training<br />

incorporates classical culinary arts techniques, while teaching you how to prepare and store food correctly. A therapeutic<br />

way of spending quality time with yourself, family or friends. The skills you gain can act as an ice-breaker in your future and<br />

who knows? Maybe next time instead of ordering in, you can impress guests with dishes cooked up by yours truly.<br />

The course: Diploma in Cookery and Patisserie<br />

Dates: <strong>August</strong> 26, October 22, and December 3, <strong>2017</strong><br />

Duration: The Diploma is available full-time as a three months program or on a part time basis over the course of<br />

twelve months. The student intakes for the full-time regular program are held every six weeks, while the weekend<br />

program on Saturdays runs in a cycle and admissions for the same are open through the year.<br />

Fees: Dhs52,630 (For UAE citizens and residents) and Dhs 80,650 (For International Students)<br />

So, you know your wok from your skillet and can differentiate between Korean and Russian icing piping, how do<br />

you up the stakes? The ICCA provides two professional courses in the forms of diplomas for Professional Cookery<br />

and Patisserie. The course is precisely detailed and accredited by City & Guilds London and was awarded<br />

“Recognition of Quality Culinary Education” by the World Association of Chefs Societies (WACS). It spans over<br />

620 hours of guided learning by certified trainers (chefs). When you have the best in the business nurturing your<br />

skills, you cannot go wrong.<br />

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EDUCATION<br />

DESIGNING FROM SCRATCH<br />

The course: Interior Design for Professionals<br />

Venue: Instituto Marangoni<br />

Destination: Milan, Italy<br />

Start Dates: 7 October - 19 November <strong>2017</strong>. The Executive<br />

Short Course<br />

spans over four weekends<br />

Fees: Dhs13,300<br />

If you enjoy collaborating with an interior expert or designing your home<br />

and shopping for accessories and artsy pieces at treasure troves, this may be<br />

one for you. Textures, colours, structures and worn-out pieces of bits and<br />

bobs might inspire you, making you feel as though you can transform a spare room or a friend’s attic. Cement your desires with<br />

a qualification. Founded by the famed Giulio Marangoni, The Instituto Marangoni offers an executive short course for those<br />

familiar with the rigours of interior design. The course will guide participants through the latest trends in the contemporary<br />

interior design sector presented during Salone del Mobile (the international reference point for the furnishing and design<br />

sector, often setting the benchmark worldwide) by developing a style capable of defining decor with originality. Whatever<br />

artistic abilities the participants have is fine-tuned and honed into stellar skills at the Institute.<br />

THE PERFECT PICTURE<br />

The course: Digital Photography Workshop Overview<br />

Venue: New York Film Academy<br />

Destination: New York City, USA<br />

Dates: September 11 - October 7, <strong>2017</strong><br />

Fees: Dhs15,000<br />

Ever get that feeling of being a photographer whenever you hold<br />

a sophisticated camera with a lens so powerful, you can see the<br />

moon at daytime? Your wish may come true. The New York<br />

Film Academy provides a digital photography workshop where<br />

students are immersed in the art and craft of still photography<br />

and introduced to the tools necessary to capture great images<br />

and refine them through digital imaging. Students are further taught the artistic and aesthetic element of their work<br />

through various photography techniques. No experience is required to enrol in the program and it is mandatory for<br />

students to bring their own camera with manual exposure control. If this hobby turns out well for you, you could<br />

perhaps exhibit your work someday.<br />

LEARN TO SURF<br />

The course: Surf Development Course<br />

Venue: Mojo Surf<br />

Destination: Sydney, Brisbane, or Baron Bay, Australia<br />

Dates: Available all year round for one month, five<br />

days per week<br />

Fees: Dhs11,600<br />

Australia brings to mind a land of sun and surf, with<br />

miles of endless sandy beaches and breathtaking<br />

scenery. The sunny coast down under and shimmering<br />

waters beckon keen surfers and water enthusiasts. The<br />

courses here are the ultimate learn-to -surf experiences.<br />

At the camp, you will focus on improving your technical<br />

skills, awareness, physical fitness and basically learn to<br />

live and breathe like a surfer. You will also be challenged<br />

and coached through various levels of development.<br />

There are quite a few packages to choose from but as a<br />

novice, this is the best, followed by the other complex<br />

courses, if you are up for the challenge.<br />

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LOCAL STAR<br />

#SUPPORTLOCAL<br />

Discover this entrepreneur’s journey<br />

Kuwaiti-national Nora Al<br />

Ramadhan, Co-Founder<br />

and General Manager of<br />

Apotheca Beauty was<br />

born and raised in her home country<br />

with her sisters, who are now her<br />

partners. Having grown up in a<br />

household primarily dominated by<br />

women and an inspirational, healthconscious<br />

mother, it was only natural<br />

for her up-bringing and career to be<br />

sparked by her love of beauty. Her<br />

career didn’t begin within the beauty<br />

industry though, she spent six years in<br />

the US, acquired her B.A. in Finance<br />

from the University of Southern<br />

California, and set foot into a career on<br />

Wall Street in New York.<br />

Tell us about your company?<br />

Apotheca was formed by three sisters,<br />

all of us equally fixated with finding<br />

the perfect solutions to our everchanging<br />

beauty needs. We exclusively<br />

distribute a curated selection of beauty<br />

brands, each of which excel in their<br />

category of beauty. We have been<br />

customers of these products ourselves<br />

and have collectively experimented<br />

with nearly every treatment and<br />

regime. Everything from the look to<br />

quality of the products is taken care of.<br />

We then analyse the potential of the<br />

brand by confirming there is a gap for<br />

it in the home market. It’s important<br />

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LOCAL STAR<br />

to us we keep our portfolio small and tight, so we are able to<br />

dedicate ourselves to the commitment each brand needs, as<br />

opposed to bringing anything and everything.<br />

What field were you in before you launched your brands?<br />

Before launching Apotheca, I was working in investment<br />

banking in New York. Having majored in finance, the natural<br />

move was to spend time in the financial hub of the world and<br />

learn all that I could. In doing so, I became fascinated with<br />

studying retail companies – analysing the steps each took to<br />

evolve and innovate in their industry.<br />

How long has it been operating?<br />

Apotheca has been operating for a little more than four years<br />

and has been growing strong ever since. We have a lot of plans<br />

coming up, including the launch of our e-commerce site later<br />

this year, in addition to the regional launch of new brands. We<br />

are constantly busy and deriving new ways to get the products<br />

that we love into the hands of our customers. Prior to launching<br />

Apotheca, we studied the market and noticed a serious niche,<br />

young beauty brands. While there was a demand for such<br />

specialty brands, the market still seemed to lack diversity in<br />

beauty. From there, Apotheca was born.<br />

What have been your major challenges till date?<br />

There are a range of challenges – such as legal processes and<br />

registrations can take a lot of time, and be difficult to<br />

complete particularly when we enter new countries. It has<br />

often been challenging to be taken seriously in male<br />

dominated societies. Also, hiring is always difficult, and<br />

finding quality staff can be a challenge. Probably the largest<br />

challenge, though, is educating the market on the importance<br />

of skin-care being equal to that of cosmetics.<br />

Where do you see your brand in five years?<br />

We plan to continue to expand our brands into new territories<br />

and retail partners. Our goal is always to ensure the growth of<br />

our brands is in line with their philosophy. We are also very<br />

fortunate that our brands continue to launch new and exciting<br />

products that we can then bring to the region.<br />

33<br />

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THE CASE FOR SHORT-TERM PHILANTHROPY<br />

IS JEFF BEZOS RIGHT ABOUT HERE-AND-NOW PHILANTHROPY?<br />

V&A MUSEUM’S INCREDIBLE<br />

MAKEOVER<br />

The Victoria and Albert Museum gets a $70<br />

million revamp<br />

AUDEMARS PIGUET<br />

X HOTEL BYBLOS<br />

The Swiss watchmaker<br />

pays tribute to the<br />

iconic Hotel Byblos<br />

celebrating its 50th<br />

anniversary this year<br />

MICHAEL KORS<br />

BUYS<br />

JIMMY CHOO<br />

BALLOON-POWERED SPACE<br />

VOYAGES IN 2018?<br />

Your next holiday destination: Near-space<br />

The $1.2 billion deal<br />

is a significant fillip<br />

for the American<br />

fashion major<br />

Follow us on social media<br />

34<br />

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EQUITYMEDIAUAE


ody<br />

Discover the latest trending<br />

colours, collections and<br />

timepieces to add to your<br />

wardrobe. Spa treatments<br />

are aplenty in this city, but<br />

here are two apt for the<br />

season and weather<br />

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36<br />

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TRENDING NOW:<br />

FASHION<br />

The depth of this hue of yellow makes it a transitional colour for the season to come. The less intimidating<br />

deeper shade of yellow offers a cheerfulness to outfits, making it easier to wear from office to late<br />

night soirees. On the runway, Preen and Chloe showcased the trend in romantic silhouettes, with<br />

subtle pleats, neat structured shapes and ruffles, for a sophisticated feminine take. To wear it, without<br />

being over-the-top, carry a mustard yellow bag to accesorise with a statement piece, or pair the top<br />

with white trousers for a classic elegant day-time look. We love the sleek Galvan Lace-Trimmed velvet<br />

slip dress (seen here) for impromptu gatherings. Layer it with a flowy sheer kaftan, a denim jacket ot<br />

wear it on its own, with a pair of vibrant earrings that gracefully brush your shoulders.<br />

TALITHA<br />

MASAI<br />

EMBROIDERED<br />

COTTON TOP,<br />

Dhs 2,190 at<br />

Boutique 1<br />

MARTIN GRANT RUFFLED<br />

SHIRT DRESS, Dhs3,819<br />

at modaperandi.com<br />

Sylvie stud messenger bag at<br />

MICHAEL KORS<br />

GALVAN LACE<br />

TRIMMED VELVET<br />

SLIP DRESS,<br />

Dhs9,165 at<br />

modaperandi.com<br />

Handbag,<br />

Dhs4,145 at<br />

MULBERRY<br />

37<br />

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TRENDS<br />

The<br />

CHECKLIST<br />

Chic picks to keep you vogueish this summer<br />

SUMMERY TEXTURES<br />

Movement and an airy vibe come across in Halston<br />

Heritage’s latest collection, with a palette of soft blush,<br />

almond and sultry whites. Light ribbed cashmere tanks, a<br />

white trouser suit, and satin gowns allow for effortless<br />

dressing, while a sleek printed red midi and black gown<br />

showcases understated elegance for evening wear.<br />

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TRENDS<br />

MICRO TREND:<br />

OVERSIZED EARRINGS<br />

More is definitely more with large circular<br />

earrings that are bang on trend for seasons<br />

to come. Don a pair of statement earrings,<br />

such as this bohochic pair from Olivia Dar,<br />

for a bold look that puts jewellery at the<br />

forefront. We love the hand-beaded details<br />

and tassels on this shoulder grazing piece.<br />

Available at sauce concepts stores.<br />

LUST-WORTHY<br />

Shoes are stealing the limelight<br />

at Fall Winter collections. And<br />

while we just aren’t there yet in<br />

terms of weather, we are in<br />

mindset. Take your pick: Above,<br />

Dhs2,250 at Mulberry, and on<br />

the left, Penelope Arty<br />

collection, Dhs7,660<br />

at Longchamp<br />

GOLD AND COLLAGEN – THE PERFECT MATCH<br />

Jetlagged skin reveals ageing, dehydrated skin and a lack of<br />

radiance, and let’s face it, it isn’t a look adored by any. This<br />

month we’re unwinding with the Gold Collagen Hydrogel<br />

Mask, that immediately cools and when reaches body<br />

temperature, allows the active ingredients to penetrate<br />

through the skin. The beauty saviour contains hyaluronic acid<br />

to plump skin while keeping it moisturised, pearl extracts to<br />

aid inflammation and wound healing, botanical complex<br />

including houttuynia cordata leaf and green tea leaf extract<br />

to protect against climatic conditions, and glycerine for that<br />

perfect glow. Available at Boots and Gold-collagen.com<br />

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IN STYLE<br />

HOP<br />

talk<br />

The stores to visit for<br />

Syour next shopping haul<br />

SCANDINAVIAN<br />

ORIGINS<br />

If you’re a fan of By Malene Birger, Acne<br />

Studios and Scandinavian brands that<br />

have achieved perfection with structure,<br />

textures and cuts, then look no further<br />

than Twisted Roots by Emirati/<br />

Danish designer Latifa Al Gurg. The<br />

contemporary womenswear label’s<br />

latest collection, The Savannah, features<br />

khaki, camel, nude and ivory hues,<br />

stemming inspiration from the African<br />

Safari. Shop for delicate silk camisoles,<br />

button-down shirts, sleeveless cardigans<br />

and belted safari style jackets for a<br />

neutral tone summer wardrobe.<br />

The brand is available at Robinsons,<br />

BeYou, Ush Boutique and House of Fraser<br />

MIXING OLD WITH NEW<br />

Mulberry’s Fall/Winter ’17 collection takes us<br />

right back to the 70s, with equestrian and country<br />

looks making a comeback, to form a stimulating<br />

collection fusing the aristocratic with urban, and<br />

countryside with city-life. The result, a distinct<br />

combination of patterns, elements and fabrics<br />

making you reminisce clothing spotted at a vintage<br />

store, except, with a stylish upgrade this time<br />

around. Sturdy tweeds, Edwardian embroideries,<br />

dainty lace and elongated hemlines are<br />

showcased in blouses, jackets and pieces that can<br />

be thrown on to form a sophisticated fluid<br />

ensemble. The autumn winter palette features<br />

caramel, oxblood, ginger, rich Mulberry green,<br />

rust and a bright buttercup yellow, along with<br />

pastel tones. Accessories are nothing short<br />

of exemplary with signature quilting and<br />

bijoux charms showcased in handbags,<br />

while smaller leather bags are evocative of<br />

hat-boxes and antique luggage.<br />

BUG’S LIFE<br />

Your teen may want to borrow<br />

your Momento Fendi Bugs<br />

timepiece from time to time<br />

and we wholly understand why.<br />

With playful elements and a jolt<br />

of vivacity, the iconic eyes set<br />

with two diamonds on a silverwhite<br />

or black dial and intricate<br />

details lends an endearing charm<br />

to just about any outfit.<br />

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WELLNESS<br />

INDULGE<br />

YOURSELF<br />

Tried-and-tested experiences of the month<br />

SHINE SPA<br />

The treatment: Elemis high performace skin<br />

energizer facial<br />

Verdict: Connected to Sheraton Grand Hotel Mall of the<br />

Emirates, the spa is a great escape for when you’re lingering<br />

around the mall while little ones are at play, or when you’re in<br />

need of a pick-me-up. We were in dire need of a thorough<br />

cleanse, and the added pore minimisation, cell regeneration<br />

and pigment reduction didn’t hurt. Elemis products are used<br />

for all treatments, offering natural ingredients sans harmful<br />

chemicals, that leaves skin hydrated and cleansed. A run-down<br />

of the treatment was given to let us know what we opted in<br />

for. A quick cleanse, inhalation of floral aromas, and an<br />

invigorating, good-for-the-skin type of exfoliant was scrubbed<br />

on to our face, gently peeling off dead skin cells. Steam and<br />

extraction followed, to decongest pores, with the therapist<br />

really getting into every white-and black-head possible – the<br />

pricks are oddly pleasurable. A fruity-scented papaya enzyme<br />

was then slathered on to reduce discolouration, after which<br />

we felt a hot towel touch the surface of our skin to wipe away<br />

the dried mask. We’re a bit squeamish of people touching our<br />

feet, if not during a massage, but when asked if we’d like a foot<br />

rub, we didn’t oppose. To end our facial, the therapist applied<br />

a serum and moisturizer before immediately handing us a<br />

mirror. Staring back was fresh glowing skin, albeit with a few<br />

red bumps from the extraction that later wore off. We’re now<br />

gracing a no-make up face with a dollop of sunscreen smeared<br />

on before we head outdoors.<br />

Need to know: Dhs525, call +971 4 377 2380.<br />

NATURAL ELEMENTS SPA, LE MERIDIEN HOTEL & CONFERENCE CENTRE<br />

The treatment: Ku Nye Massage “For Head-to-toe healing” By ILA<br />

Verdict: Tying in perfectly with our wellness breaks (p61), we figured a similar treatment is something that needs to be<br />

undergone every month or so, to perform at optimal levels. With that in mind, we drove down to this hotel in Garhoud for<br />

the head-to-toe healing massage. Upon entering, sounds of flowing water put us at ease. We instantly changed up and<br />

headed to the Breeze treatment room where our feet were washed and the treatment began. The back, neck and shoulders<br />

were massaged with medium to hard pressure in long strokes to ease out knots. The therapist spent around 40-45 minutes<br />

on the back, neck and shoulders, pressing down joints along the back with a combination of oils that help detox while<br />

promoting blood flow and circulation. Legs, feet and arms are massaged in the same way, followed by a chest and upper back<br />

massage. The scalp was rubbed vigorously, waking us up from our nap with a 'Thank you' that soon followed. Ending with a<br />

cup of ginger tea is always blissful and on we went home, which took a mere 30 minutes to reach the end of Al Khail road.<br />

Need to know: The 90-minute treatment is available for Dhs680, call +971 4 217 0000.<br />

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soul<br />

Take a trip to a luxury<br />

wellness retreat to give your<br />

mind, body and soul the rest<br />

and relaxation it requires.<br />

For an escape in the city,<br />

head to the gorgeous desert<br />

hotel (p68) or on a culinary<br />

journey at these talk-of-thetown<br />

hotspots (p55).<br />

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THE ETERNAL MOVEMENT<br />

Ulysse Nardin, from the movement of the sea to the perpetual<br />

innovation of Haute Horlogerie. For over 170 years, the<br />

powerful movement of the ocean has inspired Ulysse Nardin<br />

in its singular quest: to push back the limits of mechanical<br />

watchmaking, time and time again.<br />

Marine Regatta<br />

Chronograph<br />

Countdown timer<br />

Silicium technology<br />

ulysse-nardin.com<br />

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ULYSSE NARDIN BOUTIQUES: The Dubai Mall +971 44341421, Mall of the Emirates +971 43950577, Beirut Souks +961 1992092<br />

Abu Dhabi: Al Manara International Jewellery Amman: Time Center Bahrain: Asia Jewellers Cairo: BTC Exclusive Doha: Ali Bin Ali<br />

Jeddah: First Jewelry Kuwait: Morad Yousuf Behbehani Muscat: Le Carat Riyadh: First Jewelry


COLLECTOR'S PIECES<br />

ON OUR RADAR<br />

Striking statement pieces<br />

JEWELLERY<br />

Tiffany & Co.<br />

CHAIN WRAP NECKLACE<br />

IN 18K YELLOW GOLD<br />

The iconic blue box puts a smile on a face almost immediately. The launch of Tiffany HardWear collection by Tiffany &<br />

Co. is no different, offering powerful pieces that make a statement. Drawing its name from the urban soul of New York<br />

City, the collection exudes a rebelliousness that fuses high fashion with street style. Inspiration stems from a unisex<br />

bracelet created in 1971, to now boast a collection including earrings, rings, necklaces and pendants that easily injects<br />

sophistication to a couture ensemble and edginess to a denim or leather jacket. The industrialism of the city is<br />

encapsulated within the metal-intensive design, with the signature gauge links reflecting clean, simple shapes of<br />

functional hardware.<br />

CHAIN WRAP NECKLACE IN 18K YELLOW GOLD, DHS48,600 AT TIFFANY & CO.<br />

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COLLECTOR'S PIECES<br />

PERFUME<br />

Thomas Kosmala<br />

WHITE OUD<br />

Oud is the type of scent your either absolutely love or despise. Its strong notes waft through the air long after it has been<br />

sprayed or placed onto skin. Thomas Kosmala’s White Oud is hard not to love, with floral accords including white rose,<br />

jasmine and gardenia, fused with musky oud. A gift apt for any occasion.<br />

THOMAS KOSMALA IS AVAILABLE FOR DHS2,500 AT HOUSE OF FRASER, PLETHORA, ATELIER PERFUMERY,<br />

ROBINSONS DEPARTMENT STORE, AND OBSLIFESTYLE.COM<br />

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COLLECTOR'S PIECES<br />

FURNITURE<br />

Jaime Hayon<br />

THE RUG COMPANY<br />

Born in Madrid in 1974, Spanish artist-designer Jamie Hayon is known for his extraordinary artisan skills and intrinsic creativity.<br />

His work being regularly showcased at world renowned design museums such as London’s Design Museum, Rotterdam’s Vivid<br />

Gallery, the Germany’s Vitra Museum and Basel Art fair, has captured the eye of reputable art collectors. The latest collaboration<br />

with the Rug Company encapsulates Hayon’s creative energy, reflecting his ingenuity and affection for unconventional design.<br />

Our favourite, the ‘Silhouette’ reflects Hayon’s offbeat design, extremely fine knots to exhibit detailed drawing lines and shading,<br />

wool silhouettes layed above the piles exquisitely unravelling the floral and whimsical design, all handmade by weavers on<br />

Kathmandu whose skills are passed down through generations. Definitely a stunning piece to add to your collection.<br />

PRICE DHS52,830. VISIT THE THERUGCOMPANY.COM/INT/DESIGNERS/JAIME-HAYON<br />

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COLLECTOR'S PIECES<br />

GADGETS<br />

AeroMobil<br />

FLYING CAR<br />

Wishful thinking that your car could miraculously grow a set of wings and soar above the traffic is now a reality thanks<br />

to Slovakian firm Aeromobil. This six-metre long, two-seater car-airplane hybrid isn’t the figment of a Hollywood<br />

producer’s imagination – it’s a fully-operational prototype. Only 500 units will be produced in the first phase of its<br />

production, bookings for which are now open, followed by deliveries that will commence from 2020. In car-mode, this<br />

vehicle powered by a 2-litre turbocharged hybrid engine with electric motors has a top speed of 160kph with a range<br />

of 700km. Flick a button, and the wings that are nine-metres across will take three minutes to deploy. It will transform<br />

this machine into an airplane with an air cruising speed of 360kph and a range of 750km, rated to fly at altitudes of up<br />

to 10,000ft. And yes, you’ll need both a driver’s license and a pilot’s license to operate one.<br />

$1.5 MILLION (DHS 5.5 MILLION) AT AEROMOBIL.COM<br />

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COLLECTOR'S PIECES<br />

Elite Innovations<br />

X1 EVEREST<br />

If you’ve rounded up the crew for a game of pool at your home, the bog-standard green felt-surface isn’t going to earn<br />

any fistbumps. What you really need is this X1 Everest pool table by Aussie firm Elite Innovations which is the world’s<br />

first pool table with a transparent playing surface. The 8x4 table has a trippy LED lighting scheme that makes it look as<br />

much a part of the living room as it does the game room in your mansion. Each one is shipped with a set of custom<br />

balls, chrome cue ball, a bridge stick and a custom triangle. Elite is equipped to produce only four of these tables each<br />

year, and the custom build takes six months to complete.<br />

$85,500 (DHS 314,000) AT ELITEINNOVATIONS.COM.AU<br />

Grand Prix Audio<br />

PARABOLICA<br />

There is a strong case to be made for a direct-drive<br />

turntable. Not only are they the most popular turntable<br />

setup in the market, they’re also what DJs prefer to use<br />

when performing. Colorado-headquartered Grand<br />

Prix Audio has now unveiled this F1-inspired carbon<br />

fibre turntable called the Parabolica. How advanced is<br />

it? There are up to 150,000 measurements during each<br />

revolution, and that information is fed into an inbuilt<br />

supercomputer that controls the rotor. Get behind the<br />

deck, and even amateurs will look like they know how<br />

to spin a track and work a crowd.<br />

$20,000 (DHS 73,500) AT GRANDPRIXAUDIO.COM<br />

LG<br />

SIGNATURE OLED TV W<br />

This 77-inch 4K TV measures in at just under 3mm thick –<br />

look at it from the side, and it’ll disappear. That’s a good<br />

reason they’re dubbing this device as “picture-on-wall” and<br />

“wallpaper design”. Connectivity isn’t a collateral for the<br />

engineers who built this TV – it features in-built WiFi, HDMI<br />

and audio ports too. For the full home-theatre experience,<br />

this TV also boasts of the Dolby Vision HDR and a Dolby<br />

Atmos-sound optimised technology to project off the<br />

soundbar beneath it. We’re guessing you’re already thinking<br />

of Dunkirk as the first movie you’d want to watch on this TV?<br />

$24,500 (DHS 89,999) AT LG.COM<br />

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COLLECTOR'S PIECES<br />

TIMEPIECE<br />

Bulgari<br />

Octo Finissimo Tourbillon Monete<br />

FOR HIM<br />

Bulgari has made winning a habit. In 2014, it unveiled the world’s thinnest automatic flying tourbillon, the Octo Finissimo<br />

Tourbillon, and followed that up in 2015 with the world’s thinnest minute repeater, the Octo Finissimo Minute Repeater.<br />

Then, earlier this year, it broke out the world’s thinnest automatic watch, the Octo Finissimo Automatique. If you spot the<br />

pattern, you’ll notice that not only is Bulgari becoming a powerhouse in the luxury mechanical watchmaking space, but<br />

that the Octo Finissimo is also the crown collection reserved for its finest novelties.<br />

Which is why we were suitably stoked when Bulgari recently announced an addition to the collection, this new Octo<br />

Finissimo Tourbillon Monete. It packs a skeletonised version of the BLV268 movement, the world’s thinnest tourbillon<br />

movement. But the reason you’ll pay top dollar for this wristwatch is the cover, hinged to the bezel at 9 o’clock, that<br />

features an image of Emperor Constantine <strong>August</strong>us on the outside and a very rare and mega expensive 4th-century<br />

Roman coin on the inside. This is a unique timepiece and Bulgari is offering up just one Monete for sale.<br />

$472,000 (DHS 1.7MILLION) AT BULGARI.COM<br />

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COLLECTOR'S PIECES<br />

TIMEPIECE<br />

Breguet<br />

Tradition Dame Ref 7038<br />

FOR HER<br />

Breguet does bold and elegant in a combination that entertains, charms and mesmerises in equal proportions. The<br />

French-Swiss watchmaker was founded by Parisian Abraham-Louis Breguet in 1775 and has spent nearly two-and-ahalf<br />

centuries refining its craft to a level where its watchmaking prowess is unmatched in the world of haute horlogerie,<br />

barring a handful of top-shelf watchmaking exceptions.<br />

This Tradition Dame Ref 7038 has a 37mm rose gold case and a bezel set with 68 brilliant-cut diamonds. A selfwinding<br />

movement with a 58-hour power reserve occupies a large part of the real estate on the openworked dial. You<br />

can tell the time off the mother of pearl sub dial at 12 o’clock that features those distinctive Breguet hands.<br />

Marie Antoinette was one of Breguet’s earliest royal customers around the time of the genesis of the brand. This<br />

Dame Ref 7038 is what you’d expect a 21st-century royal to rock.<br />

$38,000 (DHS 140,000) AT BREGUET.COM<br />

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COLLECTOR'S PIECE<br />

AUTOMOBILE<br />

THE BEAST<br />

The new Mercedes-Maybach G650 Landaulet is dialled all the way up to attack mode<br />

Words by Varun Godinho<br />

A pall of gloom descended on petrolheads around the<br />

world on that bleak day in November 2011 when Daimler’s<br />

CEO Dieter Zetsche announced that the iconic Maybach<br />

would be euthanised. This was the car that hip hop royalty,<br />

actual royalty and heads of state from around the world<br />

loved and owned. The Maybach badge was to Mercedes-<br />

Benz what Bentley is to the Volkswagen Group or Rolls-<br />

Royce to BMW – flagship statements of gratuitous luxury.<br />

The universe has its way of mending itself though.<br />

Forward to 2014, and Daimler had a change of heart. The<br />

Maybach was reborn, christened now as the Mercedes-<br />

Maybach (hyphen not optional). The Mercedes-Maybach<br />

S600, S500 and Pullman that were subsequently released<br />

under the new partnership showed that even though the<br />

brand was consigned to the cold storage for three years, it<br />

hadn’t lost its mojo.<br />

Then at the Geneva Motor Show this year, Mercedes-<br />

Maybach pulled the covers off its first-ever SUV with<br />

Maybach signage on it – the G650 Landaulet.<br />

So how did it come up with this steroid-addled machine?<br />

Simple. It started off with a portal axle chassis of the 4X4 2 ,<br />

threw in a meaty G65 AMG twin-turbo V12 and added the<br />

first-class rear seats from an S-Class into the mix to create<br />

a blend of a highly-capable off-road vehicle that is also one<br />

of the most luxurious SUVs within its segment.<br />

With a ground clearance of 17.7 inches, even if you<br />

pointed this in the direction of errant cabbies who think of<br />

driving as a contact sport, you’re more likely to drive over<br />

them, rather than into them – well, almost.<br />

Like with any G-Class, the driver’s seat is the best seat<br />

in the house. Still, that’s not where you want to be if you<br />

are prone to bouts of road rage. The V12 6-litre biturbo<br />

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COLLECTOR'S PIECE<br />

If the driver’s seat is the most coveted in the<br />

G650 Landaulet, the rear seats come in at a<br />

close second. The two “first class” massageenabled<br />

rear seats can recline nearly flat. The<br />

folding tables stow in the centre console and<br />

the thermal cup holders can keep your soy latte<br />

warm during the drive. Robbe & Berking silver<br />

champagne flutes are tucked away in another<br />

compartment and each rear passenger has their<br />

own independent 10-inch infotainment screens.<br />

A glass partition separates the front seats<br />

from the rear. Need privacy? Flick a switch, and<br />

it’ll go from transparent to opaque. If you want<br />

to be admired by the hoi polloi instead – not an<br />

entirely irrational urge considering you are<br />

riding in one of the world’s most expensive<br />

SUVs – you can electronically retract the fabric<br />

roof that covers the rear passenger area.<br />

There are only 99 units of the G650 Landaulet<br />

on sale, with customer deliveries beginning this<br />

month, at a jaw-slacking price of over $740,000<br />

each. The Maybach is alive.<br />

produces significant bite – 630hp and 737lb ft<br />

of torque that begins to kick in as low as<br />

2,300rpm. It’ll hit the 60mph mark from a<br />

standstill in under six seconds and can keep<br />

accelerating until it gets to its top speed of<br />

150mph.<br />

The automatic gearbox has a seven-speed<br />

torque converter and the four-wheel drive<br />

system features three separate differential locks.<br />

In plainspeak, this SUV can scale a hill with the<br />

sure footedness of a mountain goat, ford a river<br />

with the grace of an Olympic synchronised<br />

swimming team and completely destroy a sand<br />

dune in a scene straight out of Mad Max.<br />

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Wealth has its challenges.<br />

We will help you protect,<br />

grow and pass it on.<br />

Experts in advising the<br />

wealthy located in<br />

Abu Dhabi, Dubai,<br />

London and 10 other<br />

offices around the globe.<br />

Murray North<br />

Partner, Private Client<br />

London<br />

E: murray.north@blplaw.com<br />

T: +44 (0)20 3400 4545<br />

Ibrahim Elsadig<br />

Partner, Head of Corporate (UAE)<br />

Dubai<br />

E: ibrahim.elsadig@blplaw.com<br />

T: +971 (0)4 511 9718<br />

www.blplaw.com<br />

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GASTRONOMY<br />

WEEKEND DINING<br />

Impress your business partner at these two authentic dinner hotspots<br />

TASTE OF INDIA<br />

1<br />

KHYBER<br />

Culinary enthusiasts who have travelled<br />

to Mumbai, or natives from the state,<br />

may be familiar with this restaurant and<br />

its offerings. Set on the 15th floor of<br />

Dukes Dubai, the Indian eatery that’s<br />

well-loved amongst celebrities including<br />

Sir Paul McCartney and Brad Pitt, back in<br />

Mumbai, offers stunning views of the<br />

Palm Jumeirah from a bird’s eye view – it<br />

can be seen by the naked eye or through<br />

the rustic telescope kept in every nook<br />

and corner of the restaurant. The menu,<br />

we were told, offers signature dishes and<br />

classics that have stood the test of time,<br />

making a mark for the brand over the<br />

years. Sharing-style dishes are served,<br />

and we began with a bite into a tender<br />

shrimp with a beautiful charred flaky<br />

crust, tandoori broccoli, and a mild spicy<br />

chicken tikka packed with flavour that<br />

were all eaten with chutney and pungent<br />

lotus root pickle. The lamb raan has<br />

always been spoken off with rave<br />

reviews, with the Mumbai outlet often<br />

selling out the dish within a few hours of<br />

opening. The lamb leg is marinated with<br />

spices and highly recommended<br />

eaten on its own, as each strand of<br />

meat melts gorgeously upon touching<br />

your tongue. What’s an Indian<br />

restaurant without a great curry?<br />

Khyber impresses with prawns masala<br />

in a spicy red semi-gravy and thick and<br />

indulgent dal makhani (black lentils<br />

with cream, butter and tomato<br />

puree) devoured with freshly baked<br />

naan. The highlights, however, were<br />

the robust Nihari with depth and<br />

smoky bone-sucking meat, and<br />

creamy paneer korma – a dish Sir<br />

Paul McCartney sneakily requested<br />

the recipe for. The slightly sweet<br />

vegetarian dish comprises homemade<br />

cheese and cashew sauce and is quite<br />

heavy, although, hard to resist.<br />

Desserts play a significant role within<br />

India’s dining culture, so you can’t head<br />

out until and unless you round off the<br />

meal with gajar ka halwa (carrot halwa<br />

with almonds and sweetened milk)<br />

and kulfi (homemade ice cream),<br />

followed by a cup of hot Masala chai.<br />

Need to know: Open for dinner<br />

service, call +971 4 393 9456.<br />

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GASTRONOMY<br />

BRITISH CLASSICS<br />

2<br />

MARINA SOCIAL<br />

Training with top chefs including Ferran Adrià at elBulli<br />

and Marco Pierre White, and launching Gordon Ramsay’s<br />

Maze in London, gives you an overall understanding of<br />

the Food and Beverage business. Jason Atherton gained<br />

plenty of experiences from these culinary stars, launching<br />

his own restaurant group, The Social Company and<br />

picking up a Michelin star and accolades for his flagship<br />

outlet Pollen Street Social soon after. The brand has<br />

since been operational in Hong Kong and Shanghai, with<br />

the next natural step being the Middle East, and where<br />

better to launch than in Dubai? The InterContinental<br />

Dubai Marina is home to the Social Room, an elongated<br />

dimly-bit bar with perfect fruity and classic cocktails, with<br />

the sprawling dining outlet Marina Social set towards the<br />

other side. Atherton’s creativity comes through with the<br />

starters featuring substantial portions of goat’s cheese<br />

churros with truffle honey and a chunky succulent beef<br />

tartare with egg yolk jam, mixed tableside, and served<br />

with a dollop of horseradish cream. Up next, we dug into<br />

shredded chicken dumplings with crisp chicken skin, sunk<br />

under a moreish seductive foam with white onion and<br />

tarrago, to enhance the aromas and flavours. Chunky<br />

cloud-like pieces of potato gnocchi were served with<br />

mushrooms and a full-bodied wild garlic puree that<br />

gradually creeps up. The Munchies tasting menu followed<br />

on with a tear-apart slow-cooked BBQ veal short rib<br />

accompanied by mashed potato, perfectly done<br />

Yorkshire pudding and honey glazed carrots that offered<br />

a bite with nutty texture from the crumble atop. The<br />

delicate juicy duck breast is best enjoyed as one big<br />

morsel with the baked kohlrabi and truffle creamed<br />

savoy cabbage beneath it. New dishes have been added<br />

to the menu showcasing seabass with coco beans and<br />

green asparagus with a two-hour slow cooked egg.<br />

Desserts feature a chocolate coated banofee-style bar<br />

and gelati accompanied with a fun guess-the-flavour<br />

game. The mango, banana – tastes like pudding –<br />

lemongrass and parsnip were our favourites. A dessert<br />

trolley rolls around as you are about to depart, to create<br />

a complimentary box filled with jelly, brownies, tiramisu<br />

macarons and marshmallow, to take home. It’s a lovely<br />

little touch that makes the meal even more memorable.<br />

Need to know: Tasting menus range from Dhs325+ with<br />

grape pairing available. An a la carte menu is also<br />

available. Call +971 4 446 6664.<br />

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A World of Sophisticated Beauty<br />

Armani Hotel Dubai brings to life the “Stay with Armani” philosophy<br />

delivering a genuine home approach and a unique lifestyle experience<br />

where every need and desire is fulfilled for each guest individually.<br />

www.armanihoteldubai.com<br />

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HOTSPOTS<br />

ON THE<br />

Culinary offerings and flavours to try in the country<br />

MENU<br />

BEST OF ASIA<br />

Cho Gao has opened its doors at<br />

InterContinental Abu Dhabi, offering<br />

lunch, dinner and a casual lounge spot<br />

with signature dishes from Indonesia,<br />

Japan, Vietnam and Thailand to<br />

impress. The waterfront dining spot<br />

overlooks the marina and here you<br />

can breathe in the dizzying aromas of<br />

spices while feasting on Thai roasted<br />

duck red curry with pineapple, grape<br />

and basil, Chinese black pepper beef,<br />

Vietnamese banana blossom salad<br />

with chicken and plenty more.<br />

Open for lunch and dinner,<br />

call +971 2 616 6166<br />

FIT FOR TWO<br />

When date night rolls<br />

around, or if you and your<br />

dining partners are<br />

carnivores, hotfoot to<br />

folly by Nick & Scott for<br />

their weeknight dinner.<br />

The sharing dish of<br />

Australian grass-fed beef<br />

arrives over a charcoal<br />

grill, cooked to the guest’s<br />

liking, with hand cut chips,<br />

béarnaise sauce, button<br />

mushroom compote and<br />

vine tomato chutney. The meal is accompanied by a bottle of grape.<br />

The offer is available on Wednesdays for Dhs350, call +971 4 430 8535<br />

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HOTSPOTS<br />

SPICE IT UP<br />

Burger & Lobster have added a piquant twist to their menu with the launch<br />

of the lobster tikka. The crustacean is marinated in garam masala, coriander<br />

and coconut milk, and slow-cooked to become a juicy succulent dish served<br />

with cumin rice and brioche. Call +971 4 514 8838.<br />

BELGIAN SPECIALTIES<br />

The upscale Le Petit Belge at Pullman<br />

JLT is the place to head to for a couple<br />

of hops – a wide selection of fruity<br />

varieties are available – grape and<br />

comforting pub nosh. We highly<br />

recommend the Salad maison with a<br />

mixture of asparagus, beetroot, dried<br />

tomato, honey dressing and crunchy<br />

crushed hazelnut, beef carpaccio with<br />

cheese shavings and mushroom with<br />

truffle crostini to begin with, followed<br />

by a pot of mussels, steak and creamy<br />

vegetable casserole. End with a twist<br />

on the apple crumble and decadent<br />

chocolate mousse.<br />

Call +971 4 242 7794<br />

AFTERNOON DELIGHT<br />

Grab a couple of ladies and head to Brunello at Kempinski for the quintessential<br />

British tradition of afternoon tea, coupled with a soothing massage, at the Cinq Modes<br />

Spa. You can either begin with the treatment, or with scrumptious cakes, baked<br />

scones, pastries and a selection of brewed teas from the Ronnefeldt loose lead<br />

collection. The 30-minute massage, pool and beach access and afternoon tea are<br />

available from 3-6pm, at Dhs1,040 per person. Call +971 4 444 2501.<br />

EQUESTRIAN VIBES<br />

Horse-lovers can now enjoy an<br />

espresso at the first horsethemed<br />

café, Stable Caffe, at The<br />

Walk, Al Seef Resort & Spa by<br />

Andalus. Savour Italian specialities,<br />

gourmet burgers and a range of<br />

nutritious juices while basking in<br />

the cosy ambience. A great spot<br />

for relaxed business meetings or<br />

catch-up with friends.<br />

Call 800-ANDALUS (2632587)<br />

/ +971 2 307 6 207.<br />

EASY LIKE A<br />

FRIDAY MORNING<br />

Wake up and head to Address<br />

Montgomerie for a relaxed breakfast<br />

with the family. The menu comprises<br />

healthy offerings such as<br />

Granolalicious parfait, French brioche<br />

toast, burritos, sandwiches, made-toorder<br />

omelettes and plenty more.<br />

Every Friday and Saturday,<br />

call +971 4 363 1275<br />

NEW ADDITIONS<br />

Bocca, Hilton Abu Dhabi, has long been favoured for its Nonna-style comfort food, and we can now look forward to<br />

plenty more Italian specialties with the focus on simple premium ingredients. Relish tuna or beef carpaccio, slow-cooked<br />

octopus with marinated potatoes, and seared scallops with beans puree. For mains, try a pizza made from scratch at the<br />

live dough station, or opt for corn-fed baby chicken, grilled rack of lamb and pan-fried sea bream fillet. Leave space for<br />

marinated summer peach, banana panna cotta or coconut semifreddo. Call +971 2 692 4247.<br />

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setting extraordinary records in the marketing, designing<br />

and selling of the most important residential properties.<br />

WWW.LUXHABITAT.AE<br />

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TRAVEL<br />

WELLNESS<br />

RETREATS<br />

Awaken your senses at a luxury retreat<br />

Summer is nearly halfway done but the wanderlust bug that refuses to disperse is pestering us for adventures. Instead of a<br />

city-break for your next getaway, opt for a wellness trip to recoup and rejuvenate. We’ve picked the five outstanding<br />

retreats to treat yourself to.<br />

THE GODDESS SANCTUARY<br />

Where: Anantara Layan Phuket Resort, Thailand<br />

When: October 27-31<br />

Leading nutritionist, body coach and the UK’s Goddess of<br />

wellness Mel Wells invites women to take part in The Goddess<br />

Sanctuary, a four-day retreat offering a luxurious private haven<br />

set amidst the lush oasis of northern Phuket. It’s one that<br />

encourages emotional, physical and nutritional restoration and<br />

relief for women who want to set themselves free of diets and<br />

fall in love with their bodies. The Health and Eating Psychology<br />

Coach assists women through the transformation of their<br />

mindset, making peace with food. Carefully selected for its<br />

location, Anantara Layan Phuket Resort will aid in bringing to<br />

life self-love, encouraging people to celebrate themselves and<br />

each other in a safe and luxurious environment. For a bit of<br />

activity, Thai Boxing (Muay Thai), paddle boarding on the<br />

Andaman sea, exploring bustling local wet markets, cooking<br />

classes, spa treatments, yoga sessions and lounging setups by<br />

the infinity pool, will keep you active. Gather a few girlfriends<br />

and pack your bags for Thailand!<br />

Need to know: The Goddess Sanctuary retreat starts at Dhs<br />

9,400++ per night, visit phuketlayan.anantara.com/Mel-Wells-<br />

Goddess-Sanctuary-<strong>2017</strong><br />

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TRAVEL<br />

WELLNESS TREEHOUSES<br />

BY BODYISM AT AMILLA FUSHI<br />

Where: Maldives<br />

When: Depending on Amilla Fushi for Wellness<br />

Treehouse’s availability<br />

The very mention of the Maldives evokes days by the beach, a<br />

walk along the sandy beaches and trips to the spa. Located 30<br />

minutes by seaplane from Male International Airport, Amilla<br />

Fushi offers a choice of 59 island homes and eight beach<br />

residences nestled among lush tree tops, flanked by the warm<br />

waves of the Indian Ocean. An exclusive collaboration between<br />

this luxury Maldives resort and global healthy living phenomenon<br />

Bodyism has borne fruit to a spectacular program called<br />

Wellness Treehouse by Bodyism. Imagine one-bedroom ‘spa<br />

nests’ with dedicated treatment suites, high in the treetops<br />

where guests can enjoy a unique wellness experience by the<br />

Specialists. Guests can form their own program from the Javvu<br />

Spa treatments and several Bodyism classes, all aimed to<br />

energise and revive the mind whilst creating a foundation for<br />

balance and health. Add to that an array of restaurants and<br />

healthy eating options, and this resort is a win-win for everyone.<br />

Need to know: Dhs 3,900 to Dhs 4,600 ++ per night, visit<br />

amilla.mv/wellness-tree-house<br />

SHA WELLNESS CLINIC<br />

Where: Alicante, Spain<br />

When: Dates depending on available wellness programs and treatments<br />

Spain may already be on your travel list, so why not make a quick stop<br />

at the SHA Wellness Clinic? The pioneering clinic brings in guests from<br />

all across the globe, and with the launch of a new Mind & Body unit, you<br />

can head there for a wellness break just about anytime. The energy<br />

balance treatment, is apt for those who are either stuck at a point in<br />

their life and need direction, or those looking for new avenues to<br />

explore. It helps free energy blockages on a physical, emotional, mental<br />

and spiritual level; while the stress management session features an<br />

assessment carried out with a thorough diagnosis of stress and its<br />

related problems. Activities such as energy healing, nature walks and a<br />

bevy of holistic experiences are newly-launched features the latest unit<br />

includes. You can also partake in Chikung, which stands for Chinese<br />

therapeutic art where “Chi” signifies vital energy and “Kung” for<br />

movement. Like the graceful Tai Chi, it focuses on serene, gentle<br />

movements to achieve a healthy balance between the mind and body.<br />

If Spain’s beaches, nightlife, breathtaking scenery and the La Liga weren’t<br />

enough of a temptation to visit the country, this surely tops the cake.<br />

Need to know: The stress management session is priced at Dhs 14,000<br />

for seven days, shawellnessclinic.com<br />

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TRAVEL<br />

LIGHT RAGAZ PACKAGE<br />

AT GRAND RESORT BAD RAGAZ<br />

Where: Bad Ragaz, Switzerland<br />

When: July 18-September 30<br />

Arguably Europe’s leading wellness and medical health<br />

hotspot, this Swiss retreat is supplied by healing thermal<br />

waters from the Tamina Gorge, which rumor has it, was home<br />

to dragons. Resort officials have joined forces with local<br />

tourism offices and municipal authorities to create a light show<br />

celebrating the folklore of the gorge’s coloured past in a<br />

spectacular light show called Light Ragaz. Strategically placed<br />

to make the best use of the healing waters, the resort offers<br />

guests a range of services from pampering massages to<br />

therapeutic spa treatments. A medical centre with over 70<br />

doctors and therapists are available at the resort, with the<br />

thermal waters forming the basis of a number of treatments<br />

and therapies such as the 36.5° wellness package which gives<br />

you Access to the 36.5° Thermal Spa and the legendary<br />

Helena pool, throughout your stay as well as bathing<br />

experiences in the popular Tamina Therme. Guests looking to<br />

experience the multisensory spectacle of Light Ragaz, the<br />

resort has put together a special package which includes two<br />

nights, a wellbeing package, four-course dinner and an<br />

admission to the Tamina gorge.<br />

Need to know: The Light Ragaz package starts at<br />

Dhs 1,300 ++ per night, visit resortragaz.ch<br />

THE SUCIMURNI RETREAT AT TANJONG<br />

JARA RESORT<br />

Where: Terengganu, Malaysia<br />

When: October 27-29<br />

For a country that boasts it is truly Asia, the Tanjong Jara<br />

Resort is a pure reflection of that saying. Located along<br />

Malaysia’s pristine east coast, the stunning resort is<br />

reminiscent of tropical rainforest and architecture brimming<br />

with the grandeur of 17th-century Malay palaces – it won<br />

the prestigious Aga Khan Award for Architecture. The word<br />

“Sucimurni” is an ancient Malay way of life that embraces<br />

tranquility and purity through wholesome living, need we say<br />

more? The Sucimurni Retreat will be led by Malaysia’s most<br />

recognised yoga teacher, founder and instructor of Upward<br />

Yoga studio, Ninie Ahmad. The unique wellness experience<br />

aims to provide guests with a refuge from the pressures of<br />

daily life. The highlight of this retreat is the Zendoodling<br />

session (Zen and doodles). This freeform art-practice has<br />

been dubbed as “finger yoga” by some, as it enables<br />

practitioners to enter a calm, meditative state through the<br />

drawing of shapes. Additionally, guests will also partake in the<br />

resort’s signature Sucimurni Exercise – a series of stretches<br />

inspired by the main animal chakras, led by the resort’s very<br />

own Captain Mokh and yoga. Looks like we will be stretching<br />

ourselves to a new us thanks to this retreat.<br />

Need to know: The Sucimurni Retreat starts at Dhs 800++<br />

per night, visit tanjongjararesort.com<br />

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For Advertising: advertising@equity.media


TRAVEL TALES<br />

JETSETTER JOURNEYS<br />

Explore the latest in experiences, tours and culinary breaks<br />

ISLAND POP-UP<br />

Baros Maldives have launched their latest destination dining venue,<br />

offering a tranquil experience under the stars, on a white sandy<br />

beach. Sandbank, the pop-up restaurant, is the place to propose,<br />

enjoy a memorable romantic dinner and feast on contemporary<br />

Maldivian and Mediterranean dishes including tandoor seafood<br />

platter, mixed grills and grape from the spectacular cellar. It’s an<br />

experience worth whisking away your loved one to.<br />

Visit baros.com<br />

MONTE-CARLO NIGHTS<br />

Jimmy’z is no stranger to Monte-Carlo’s<br />

regulars. The iconic club has re-opened its<br />

doors making it the destination to rub<br />

shoulders with celebrities or dance the<br />

night away. You could also relax back at<br />

the all-new Summer Bar, set down on a<br />

lagoon, which features unrivalled sea views.<br />

The club also boasts a private space<br />

devised by fashion designer Philipp Plein,<br />

boasting thousands of Swarovski crystals<br />

that inject a glitterati touch to the venue.<br />

Visit jimmyzmontecarlo.com<br />

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TRAVEL TALES<br />

IT’S BACK!<br />

Sunny Lisbon’s renowned Sky Bar at Tivoli Avenida Liberdade Lisbon has<br />

reopened its doors on the top floor of the hotel, offering panoramic views over<br />

the city’s hills and the Serra da Arrábida mountains. Guests can visit the newly<br />

designed VIP lounge, that now boasts a private suite for business meetings and<br />

intimate gatherings. Savour truffle white fish ceviche, dried tomato, wakame and<br />

tiger’s milk, tartare taco with confit egg and plenty of sushi combinations.<br />

minorhotels.com<br />

MEETING HOTSPOT<br />

On your next trip to Jeddah, visit or stay<br />

at the Assila Hotel, a Rocco Forte<br />

Hotel known for its prime location,<br />

rooms boasting views of the Red Sea<br />

and gastronomic offerings. The newlyopened<br />

Pampas has been the talk of the<br />

city, with Argentinean style grilled meats,<br />

Patagonian octopus and empanadas<br />

served with Llajua sauce being some of<br />

the highlights on the menu.<br />

Visit roccofortehotels.com<br />

FROMAGE WITH A TWIST<br />

Tucked away in the Provençal hills is<br />

the stunning Hotel Crillon le Brave<br />

where guests can try some of the<br />

finest cheese available in Provence.<br />

The selection curated by resident<br />

Maître fromagère Claudine Vigier, is<br />

sourced from her local cheese shop<br />

in Carpentras and features a wide<br />

selection for cheese-lovers. Think<br />

fourme des dentelles affiné au<br />

Beaumes de Venise (blue cheese<br />

flavoured with muscat de Beaumes<br />

de Venise), le dartagnant affiné au marc de Châteauneuf du Pape (cow milk, ripened<br />

with Châteauneuf du Pape wine), the secret de Provence ripened with Ventoux<br />

truffles, and the Tournesol with raisins, infused with bourbon. Visit crillonlebrave.com<br />

YOUTH IN A BOTTLE<br />

If you’re the kind of person willing<br />

to spend on creams and serums<br />

and literally anything to remain<br />

youthful, but won’t resort to<br />

invasive treatments, the<br />

SpectraMed’s personalised biomolecular<br />

formula is something to<br />

look into on your next trip to<br />

Switzerland. Guests at Beau-Rivage<br />

can now ‘bank their youth’ thanks<br />

to this innovative service, which<br />

bottles a formula containing your<br />

bio-molecules (DNA amongst<br />

them) that are taken from saliva.<br />

The extraction and formulation<br />

process creates a bespoke product<br />

that can be preserved for 20 years<br />

and aids in preventing further skin<br />

aging, from the time the DNA has<br />

been extracted. The serum-like<br />

formula is then stored in a<br />

personalised box with the client’s<br />

name on it, and can be used either<br />

as a skin insurance or according to<br />

the client’s needs. The biomolecular<br />

formula takes ten to<br />

fourteen days to be produced, so<br />

you have plenty of time to savour<br />

cheese fondue and shop your next<br />

timepiece while in the country. The<br />

product can be purchased in yearly<br />

doses at CHF 6,000 (approximately<br />

Dhs22,980) per year; and can be<br />

re-ordered two months before the<br />

year is up, retrieved from the Swiss<br />

laboratory bio-bank and sent via<br />

express transporter to the client<br />

anywhere in the world. You can<br />

also opt for a one-time payment of<br />

CHF 10,000 to store bio molecules<br />

in a Swiss secured bio-bank to<br />

guarantee their bio-molecules<br />

supply for 20 years.<br />

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HOTEL REVIEW<br />

STAY OF<br />

THE MONTH<br />

Al Wadi Desert, Ras Al Khaimah,<br />

a Ritz-Carlton partner hotel<br />

OVERVIEW<br />

The meandering pathway to this hotel in<br />

Ras Al Khaimah gives you the chills,<br />

especially if you make your way up and<br />

down-hill with a drop-top Rolls Royce<br />

Dawn. Nestled amongst dunes, Al Wadi<br />

Desert is merely an hour away from<br />

Dubai and doesn’t need an introduction.<br />

The palatial hotel, formerly known as<br />

Banyan Tree Al Wadi, has long been<br />

known for its Arabesque décor, age-old<br />

activities and the renowned Rainforest.<br />

Rolling up to the hotel, you may come<br />

across an Arabian Onyx, but fear not,<br />

they’re harmless just as long as you keep<br />

your distance.<br />

ACCOMODATION<br />

As you enter your villa, you will notice<br />

it is segregated down the centre, with the<br />

washroom almost taking up half of the<br />

villa, a walk-in closet in front, and a<br />

mashrabiya beyond which the plush bed,<br />

a TV lounge area and outdoor terrace<br />

with pool beckons. Lanterns hang from<br />

the silk draped ceiling over the bed and<br />

are prevalent all over the villa, offering a<br />

subtle glow during the evening. Neutral<br />

hues and a Bedouin-inspired theme make<br />

it an uplifting retreat from the modernday<br />

staycation offerings. We highly<br />

recommend a hot bath with the provided<br />

Asprey bath salts, before sinking into bed.<br />

ACTIVITIES<br />

There’s plenty on offer at this desert<br />

getaway, with everything from<br />

archery to a nature trail where you<br />

can explore birds within the<br />

landscape. We opted for the falcon<br />

watching show, a must-see if you<br />

haven’t experienced them in their<br />

natural habitat. Once the show is<br />

over, click a picture with the gorgeous<br />

owl and falcon.<br />

For years, Banyan Tree Al Wadi has<br />

been known for its Rainforest, a spa<br />

experience comparable to none other.<br />

While we imagined it to be an area<br />

with rainforest showers, we found<br />

ourselves quite far from wrong. Here<br />

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HOTEL REVIEW<br />

Need to know:<br />

The villas are available<br />

from Dhs1,700 +10%<br />

service charge<br />

per night, while<br />

The Rainforest is<br />

Dhs200+ per person.<br />

Visit ritzcarlton.com/<br />

en/hotels/uae/<br />

al-wadi-desert.<br />

you can embark on a journey through a<br />

Crystal Maze set-up, where you follow<br />

the path through 12 stops to<br />

experience the various climates of a<br />

rainforest. It begins with a pebble walk<br />

under water after which you enter an<br />

herb and flower infusion steam room,<br />

fresh showers, a brine salt cave, bucket<br />

shower, sauna, ice igloo and a tension<br />

release thunder storm shower. Each<br />

station offers either hot or cold<br />

temperatures to stimulate blood<br />

circulation, clear the nasal passage,<br />

detoxify the body, improve skin tone<br />

and clarity, target cellulite-prone areas<br />

and leave your body and skin cleansed,<br />

brighter and refreshed instantly. End<br />

the 60-minute experience at the vitality<br />

pool, complete with hydra jets, at<br />

various stations, to soothe upper and<br />

lower body pain. We loved the<br />

waterfall that gushes out of a large<br />

faucet right onto your shoulder and<br />

neck, to instantly rid pain and signs of<br />

fatigue caused from sitting at a desk.<br />

GASTRONOMIC OFFERINGS<br />

For a secluded desert getaway, the<br />

hotel offers plenty in terms of culinary<br />

options, including destination dining<br />

experiences. One we would have<br />

loved to try was The Wadi Tower,<br />

where you enjoy a meal under the<br />

stars. However, since the<br />

temperatures don’t permit alfresco<br />

experiences, we opted for Samar<br />

Lounge instead, where we relished<br />

coconut curry with prawns, butter<br />

chicken and an assortment of naans<br />

and steamed rice. Portion sizes from<br />

the sides could do with a little<br />

improvement here, especially since<br />

Indian cuisine is all about sharing, so<br />

you may need to order extra sides to<br />

complement the aromatic and<br />

mouthwatering curries.<br />

Next morning, grab the push-bike<br />

kept outside your villa and make your<br />

way down to Al Waha for a buffet<br />

breakfast. Request the divine eggs<br />

benedict from the live cooking station<br />

and indulge in a nutritious morning<br />

meal alongside a mango smoothie or<br />

fresh juice, fresh fruit, wide variety of<br />

bread and pastries – including gluten<br />

free options – and sweet selections<br />

such as waffle and pancakes. Asian<br />

spring rolls, noodles, Arabic spreads,<br />

pickles and the usual suspects (hash<br />

brown, beans and sausages) are<br />

available too.<br />

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REAL ESTATE<br />

Breathtaking views of the Mediterranean coast<br />

and Spain are on the horizon from the gorgeous<br />

Villa Putman, which stands majestically on the cliffs<br />

of Tangier, Morocco. Built in the Thirties and<br />

renovated by the late grand French dame of<br />

interiors, Andrée Putman, in 2001, Villa Putman is<br />

a sanctuary, celebrating the marriage of east-west<br />

design with tasteful décor.<br />

Spread over 6,700 square feet, the six-level villa is<br />

a lofty space comprising a maze of steps, terraces,<br />

decks, mezzanines and courtyards, all with a coastal<br />

panorama from every room. The four bedrooms of<br />

the property are elegantly positioned to catch early<br />

morning sunrays while the living space and terraces<br />

are intertwined seamlessly with just the right<br />

amount of natural light and shade. An abundance of<br />

light is made prominent with floor-to-ceiling<br />

windows and are interspersed with Piet Mondrian<br />

influences, with the entrance hall typical of Putman’s<br />

approach to design – sharp, crisp lines with a<br />

monumental staircase leading up to the first floor,<br />

acting as the spine to the house. Boasting six<br />

bathrooms, a sauna, gym, terraces with sunbeds<br />

and a 25-metre swimming pool with an outdoor<br />

salon, the villa is the ultimate retreat for those who<br />

want to kick back and recoup while enjoying the<br />

Mediterranean sunset.<br />

Previously purchased by French public<br />

intellectual and philosopher Bernard- Henri Lévy,<br />

16 years ago, the house showcases his<br />

globetrotting adventures with interiors<br />

incorporating materials such as limestone, metal,<br />

wood and glass. With boulders protruding from<br />

walls, floors of rough Sicilian stone, and dark<br />

TANGIER<br />

BEAUTY<br />

A peek into Andrée Putman’s architectural<br />

masterpiece perched on the cliffs of Tangier<br />

Words by Olive Sevilla<br />

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REAL ESTATE<br />

Canadian timber with a Moroccan dome topped roof<br />

terrace, it seems as though his vision came through. It isn’t all<br />

about the materials and décor though, to complement the<br />

estate, artwork of well-known faces adorns the walls. These<br />

include Elizabeth Taylor, Jean Cocteau, Frida Kahlo and<br />

Diego Rivera amongst many others. Rare books are stacked<br />

in the art nouveau glass display cases, with Bernard- Henri<br />

Lévy himself writing some of his best work in the villa.<br />

The city of Tangier bears the hallmarks of being a hybrid of<br />

two continents and has long been a hotspot luring artists and<br />

intellectuals seeking peace and inspiration. It remains a blissfully<br />

mysterious coastline city, the tranquil sister of Casablanca,<br />

inviting people to a mix of hillside homes, scented souks and<br />

gardens. North Africa with mystery; the city is destined to be a<br />

spot to watch out for and invest in, as FDI gear to pump funds<br />

into its economy and ambitious projects lined up to reinvent<br />

this port city into the ‘Moroccan Saint-Tropez’.<br />

THE PRICE<br />

DHS 26 MILLION<br />

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION<br />

visit www.christiesrealestate.com<br />

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ENTREPRENEUR<br />

THIS SUMMER I’M…<br />

heading home to Cork, Ireland for my<br />

sons’ graduation. It's a great time to<br />

be amongst family and friends. I’ll<br />

also be visiting Lebanon, a planned<br />

visit to Beirut and Byblos to view<br />

possible opportunities to perform<br />

there post summer.<br />

IF YOU COULD FLY<br />

AWAY FOR A MEAL<br />

I'd visit Chez Zakia Restaurant in<br />

Byblos, Lebanon. I had the most<br />

delicious freshly caught fish and local<br />

grape I have ever experienced.<br />

ON MY BOOKSHELF<br />

Biographies and autobiographies is<br />

something I tend to gravitate towards; it<br />

is very hard to pinpoint which particular<br />

one is my favourite because all of them<br />

are quite a fascinating read. I learn a lot<br />

from other people’s experiences; Frida<br />

by Frida Kahlo is one I can never read<br />

enough of – she was a mesmerising<br />

character with a colourful lifestyle.<br />

GET TO KNOW…<br />

ANITA<br />

WILLIAMS<br />

Resident performer at Music Hall<br />

Dubai, Zabeel Saray Hotel,<br />

Palm Jumeirah and jazz, swing,<br />

theatre and cabaret artist<br />

MORNING ROUTINE<br />

I am an early bird and usually wake up at<br />

6.30am with a strong espresso. I then head to<br />

the beach for my morning swim, which I must<br />

say is the best part of my day.<br />

PREVIOUS CAREER<br />

I focused on TV and radio presenting when I<br />

had my two children. Working as a fashion<br />

stylist for a TV show gave me a new exposure<br />

and an opportunity to maintain my creativity<br />

during this time. I returned to pursue music<br />

full time when the boys were old enough. I am<br />

now working to launch my online store - I<br />

design vintage hats and scarves which will<br />

soon be available for purchase.<br />

MUSICAL INSPIRATION<br />

My love for good old school jazz singers like<br />

Billie Holiday, Judy Garland, Gershwin Benny<br />

Goodman and Ernest Hemmingway is what I<br />

listen to for inspiration. I am a big fan of vintage<br />

and everything from that era of the Twenties,<br />

Thirties and Forties is also a big inspiration.<br />

DUBAI HOTSPOTS<br />

I love the old souks in Deira, Satwa<br />

and Bur Dubai, such a dynamic<br />

experience. That buzz is so unique.<br />

Dubai Design District has a great<br />

range of pop up shopping experiences<br />

too. For food, I have a passion for<br />

Indian cuisine, with one of my<br />

favourites being Indigo by Vineet at<br />

Grosvenor House Hotel.<br />

THE BEST DHS1,000<br />

EVER SPENT<br />

My Sure 55s vintage microphone, worth<br />

every penny.<br />

WHAT DOES INVESTING<br />

IN YOURSELF MEAN TO<br />

YOU?<br />

Working towards self-development;<br />

acquiring and learning new skills for<br />

instance is a priority. At the moment I<br />

have registered for Arabic classes to<br />

help me communicate better with the<br />

local community. I would love to<br />

collaborate with an Arabic artist.<br />

NOTEWORTHY ADVICE<br />

Stay focused and<br />

don’t waste time on<br />

the small stuff. Use<br />

your gift to your<br />

best potential<br />

ONE THING PEOPLE<br />

DON’T KNOW ABOUT<br />

YOU?<br />

I am a home bird; I love nothing more<br />

than having my home filled with<br />

laughter – having my sons, their friends<br />

and all our friends. We love to cook and<br />

eat Irish dinners with jazz playing in the<br />

background. That’s who I am.<br />

72<br />

EQUITY


73<br />

EQUITY


CAN’T SPOT<br />

THE THREAT?<br />

We can.<br />

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