Unique GCC - Issue 1

THE GCC’s Only DEDiCaTED PrivaTE JET luxury lifEsTylE MaGazinE

UNIQUE

GCC

2014 - issuE 1

CONTENTS 06

COMPENDIUM

12

VIVE LA LIBÉRÉ’

18

FUTURE PROOF

28

HEAVEN ON EARTH

34

BECAUSE HE’S WORTH IT

40

A KINGDOM FOR MY HORSE

46

LE ROUGE ET BLEU

52

A CROWNING GLORY

58

SAYING IT WITH FLOWERS

64

BACK TO THE FUTURE

70

ONE FOR THE OCEAN

76

A WINDOW ON THE WORLD

80

ISLAND LIFE DRAMAS

82

THE WORLD IS YOUR OYSTER

04 | UNIQUE GCC - info@uniquegcc.com - editor@uniquegcc.com

COMPENDIUM

Déjà vu - Hema Kaul Hema Kaul, the young fashion designer based in Dubai, recently won over audiences at the London and Dubai Fashion Week with her new 22-piece spring/summer 2014 collection. Comprised of fine silks, lace and other complex embellishments in pastels and under-stated metallic tones, Kaul’s Déjà Vu show was universally acclaimed by critics, her elegant feminine designs defining the brand placement, which was described as “high end designs catering to woman who have exquisite taste”.

With the label’s profile growing every day, Kaul launched her career in the fashion industry when she debuted at London Fashion Week in 2013 and has since been featured in Vogue, Glamour, Marie Claire and Grazia Magazine. www.hemakaul.com.

High society

The Pink star sells for $83m at auction

A luxury 170 horsepower speedboat once owned by Hollywood superstar Grace Kelly and Prince Rainier of Monaco is to be sold at auction. The classic 1958 Riva Tritone was a must have for world’s wealthiest on French Riviera in the 1950s and 60s, Brigitte Bardot, Richard Burton and Aristotle Onassis were all known to own one. This boat, known as VIA, had been maintained by an engineer from Riva Monaco Boat Service and, years later, it was gifted to him by the royal family.

At a Sotheby’s auction in Geneva in November the ‘Pink Star’ Diamond recorded the highest price ever paid for a gemstone. The flawless 59.60-carat oval-shaped pink diamond, the size of a plum, was sold to an anonymous buyer for a record breaking $83 million after an intense five-minute bidding war that far exceeded any expectations (its presale estimate was $61m). Applause erupted as Sotheby’s auctioneer, David Bennett, brought down the hammer as the theme song from the ‘Pink Panther’ played in the background. In all, four potential buyers were bidding on the stone, which was mounted on a ring.

The VIA needed to be restored and although honoured at their generosity, the engineer couldn’t afford the renovation costs and he sold the boat to an enthusiast. After undergoing a spectacular restoration, the VIA is to be sold at RM Auctions’ Monaco in May with an expected sale price of around £400,000.

Prince Rainier III ruled Monaco for 56 years, passing away in 2005 at the age of 81. His wife, Grace Kelly, one of the true iconic film stars of the 20th century, died in tragic circumstances in 1982 after crashing her car in Monaco.

06 | UNIQUE GCC

The stradivarius Pool - Cipriano landscape Design An extraordinary violin shaped swimming pool, designed in homage to an 18th century Stradivarius, was recently bestowed with three prestigious Gold NESPA’s at the US Pool Industry Awards. The violin ‘strings’ are illuminated by 5,760 strands of fibreoptics woven through glass tiles embedded in the pool floor and the lights are synchronised via a

computer controlled audio system that calibrates perfectly with any music being played. The violin’s ‘chin-rest’ is an overflow spa, while the pool is outfitted with a Riverflow Jet System, creating a 2000-gallon per minute current, allowing the pool occupants to swim, or kayak against the prevailing current. The homeowner is able to monitor and adjust flow rates, temperature and water chemistry via an iPhone.

UNIQUE GCC | 07

The Dassault falcon 5x - $45 million

The Brando, Tetiaroa

French aircraft manufacturer Dassault has launched its first innovative private jet concept in over ten years - the Dassault Falcon 5X. The plane is designed to handle especially deep descents, allowing it to land at more airports but it’s main highlight is that it’s the first private jet with a skylight - an industry first. Equipped with new Snecma Silvercrest engines that Dassault says make it more fuel efficient than

The Brando, a luxury resort on the stunning French Polynesian atoll of Tetiaroa in the South Pacific will open in July this year. The Oscar winning actor Marlon Brando bought the archipelago and turned it into his own private island paradise after discovering its beauty during the filming of ‘Mutiny on the Bounty’ in the 1960s. Located on one of a dozen small islands surrounding an idyllic threemile wide lagoon, the secluded piece of heaven is only a 20-minute private plane ride away from

Tahiti, 50km to the south. As part of its goal to be carbon neutral, half the resort will be powered by solar energy, while the balance will be produced using a biofuel thermal power station fuelled with coconut oil. Spa treatments, excursions and activities will be all-inclusive with prices starting at $2,463 per night for a one-bedroom bungalow to $7,390 per night for a three-bedroom villa sleeping up to six people. Bookings are now being taken.

At a predicted cost of $189,000, early mock-ups infer a thick metal wristband with sports car-like

08 | UNIQUE GCC

Meet The new Boss…

Al Jazeera Sport was rebranded beIN SPORTS after midnight on Tuesday the 31 December as Al Jazeera Media Network seeks to unite its worldwide sport channels under one banner ahead of the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil.

The ferrari smart Bracelet - $189,000 Christophe & Co partners with Pininfarina, known for designing Ferrari cars are in the process of developing a smart bracelet. The project is still in its infancy with £100,000 raised in angel funding but the Ferrari Bracelet will be your very own VIP wrist band with a brain. It will give you access to all the exclusive clubs including the Monte Carlo Beach Club in Abu Dhabi, the Home House in London and the Kee Club in Hong Kong. Once inside any of these desirable haunts you’ll be able to tap a button on the bracelet and your favourite soft drink will be sent to the front desk.

Tap another button and your round-the-clock “dedicated lifestyle manager” will be called on your phone.

competitors like Bombardier’s Global 5000 (by 35%) and Gulfstream’s G450 (by 30%), the Falcon 5X has room for 16 passengers. Flying at half capacity it can fly up to 5,200 nautical miles at Mach 0.8, which means that it can travel non-stop from New York to Moscow or from Sao Paulo to Chicago. If all goes to plan, Dassault will conduct the first test flights in 2015.

lines decorated in gems. It will also be packing Near Field Communication (NFC) and Bluetooth LE and will be powered by the kinetic energy of your own movements. It will also be modular in design, so all design and technology elements can be updated. Future plans are to add gesture recognition, virtual keys and wallet as well as smart home-controls.

“In a world where sports has the unique power to unite people, beIN SPORTS seeks to propel fans into a new age of sports programming by providing unmatched global sports coverage to its customers,” said Nasser Ghanim Al-Khelaifi, Chairman of beIN SPORTS. The new network will transform TVs into portals of unlimited immersive sporting action that speak to each fan in their own language, allowing events to live on long after the final whistle blows”.

The rebranding of Al Jazeera Network’s sports channels under one umbrella aims to provide viewers more opportunities to watch their favourite sports worldwide. beIN SPORTS broadcasts in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA), France, the United States, Indonesia, Hong Kong and the Philippines.

UNIQUE GCC | 09

VIVE LA LIBÉRÉ’ la PanTHèrE DE CarTiEr Think of Cartier, and what comes to mind?

Once dubbed ‘the jeweller of kings, and the king of jewellers, by no less than King Edward VII of England, no single piece epitomises the character, elegance and style of this prestigious Parisian jewellery house more than the emblematic Cartier Panther, the lithe and mysterious jungle cat that sums up the luxury of the brand, it’s jewels and fine watches.

This exotic and stylish icon has formed a part of Cartier’s premium collections since its original incarnation as the face of a 1914 wristwatch fashioned from onyx and emblazoned with glittering diamonds. But the panther motif was taken to new levels by Jeanne Toussaint, who rose from humble beginnings as a lacemaker’s daughter in Belgium to become Cartier’s Director of luxury jewellery, and a style icon in her own right to rival her friend and contemporary Coco Chanel, earning herself the sobriquet ‘La Panthère’ - The Panther.

The Flamingo Brooch

Like Chanel, Toussaint was fundamentally modern in outlook, style and lifestyle, living in a chic Parisian apartment littered with the animal skins that would earn her the famous nickname. Moving in highbrow and artistic circles, her flamboyant yet stylish outfits were legendary, from strings of pearls worn carelessly with Chinese costumes to silk pyjamas and turbans, her indomitable and exotic style helped establish her reputation as a free spirit and thoroughly modern woman.

By 1933 she had risen through the ranks at Cartier from apprentice to accessories designer and finally Directrice of Haute Joaillerie, a role she commanded for several decades. Her taste, ideas, and considerable influence helped shape the company’s design and artistic vision, helping cement its reputation as a purveyor of the finest goods.

Jeanne Toussaint modelling in 1920s.

The emblematic Cartier Panther - 1952

As well as her iconic cat designs, Toussaint’s love of nature and all things exotic introduced a number of beautiful motifs to Cartier’s jewellery, notably flamingos, parrots, ladybirds and lush, tropical flowers. She also introduced Mogul-style UNIQUE GCC | 13

jewels and semi-precious stones such as coral and lapis lazuli alongside the diamonds, sapphires and emeralds that were already associated with the brand.

But perhaps as much as the panther, one notable piece that Toussaint helped create, with esteemed designer Pierre Lemarchand, was the exquisite ‘L’oiseau libéré’ brooch, a stunning creation of platinum, diamonds, coral, lapis lazuli and the yellow-gold which Toussaint helped make fashionable. Portraying a bird in a cage, symbolizing the German occupation of France, this iconic design, produced in 1944, carried the white, blue and red of the French national flag, and was followed by an open cage version where the bird is free and singing.

This bold and courageous move was far more than a piece of jewellery, but rather represented freedom and liberation from German occupation. This audacious act caused Toussaint to be summoned by the German army in Paris and even imprisoned for a few days, until her friend Coco Chanel helped secure her release. But this was an action which demonstrated great bravery and defiance on Toussaint’s part, and helped cement her place in the nation’s heart. So revered and beloved by her adopted country was she, that in 1955 the French government awarded her the Grand Cross of the Legion of Honour for her services to jewellery and design.

crocodile-shaped necklace was created for Mexico’s most celebrated film star María Félix.

Using 1023 yellow diamonds and 1060 emeralds, this ruby-eyed piece is perhaps one of Toussaint’s most flamboyant.

Jeanne Toussaint’s legacy remains relevant to this day; as well as her jewels, Toussaint was known for her love of beautiful handbags. And now, Cartier has paid homage to their great designer with an exquisite collection of luxury leather goods, the Jeanne Toussaint Fine Leather Goods collection. Understated yet unmistakably Cartier, this collection is crafted from fine calfskin and contains more than a nod to Toussaint’s elegant style, with luxury clasps and hand finished details in a range of muted, classic colours.

Flamingo Brooch Illustration

It seemed that everything Toussaint touched really did turn to gold, as celebrities and aristocratic clients became devotees of her superb designs, notably, the Duchess of Windsor (Wallis Simpson), and the Princess Aga Khan (Actress Rita Hayworth - it’s a long story).

Onyx & Diamond Panther Bracelet

By 1948 the panther designs had become ever more sophisticated, with an astonishing threedimensional design of the animal languishing on a fabulous cabochon emerald, a piece commissioned by the Duchess, who built up a magnificent collection of Cartier pieces with the panther featuring prominently.

The Duchess of Windsor’s Crown Heart

Throughout the rest of their lives the Windsors documented their passionate love affair, exchanging opulent and deeply personal jewellery—many of these beautiful items were auctioned off in 2010, at Sotheby’s in London, some 24 years after the Duchess’s death (The Duke of Windsor had died in 1972). One particular item, a bespoke onyx and diamond panther bracelet with emerald eyes commissioned in 1952 sold at $1.27 million, more than five times its estimate, while the matching clip attained $933,000, more than seven times its estimated value. in a while crocodile In a life devoted to the creation of haute jewellery, Toussaint’s exotic, yet chic designs reached great heights even into the 1970s, when a spectacular

In 2014 Cartier again drew on its heritage and added a new fragrance to its seven scents, ‘La Panthère’, which needs no introduction as the signature of the brand. With delicate notes of gardenia to complement the velvety tones of musk, this perfume represents the true Cartier ideal of strong femininity, as epitomised by the woman who made such a strong mark on the brand.

Playfully described as ‘feral floral’ in Cartier’s advertising campaign, La Panthère evokes all the characteristics that Toussaint embodied, while retaining an old-world glamour and sophistication.

Much like Toussaint herself.

As Cartier’s Director of Image, Style and Heritage, Pierre Rainero has said, “The animal (the panther) symbolizes freedom, a combination of elegant femininity and the wild and dangerous.” Words which could equally be applied to the magnificent Toussaint herself.

By Corinna silk

“They say no man has ever given up more for the love of a woman”

L’oiseau libéré Brooch

14 | UNIQUE GCC

The Duke and Duchess of Windsor were the centre of one of the most melodramatic love stories of the 20th century. In the early 1930s, the Prince of Wales, as he was then titled, fell in love with international socialite Wallis Simpson—attracted by her sharp wit, imagination, and generosity, despite the fact that she was married to her second husband at the time. In 1936, less than a year after he became King Edward, he shocked the world by abdicating his throne, giving up his reign as King of Britain and Head of the Commonwealth for “the love of his life,” an American woman who’d been divorced twice. His brother, George VI, who became king, created the Duke of Windsor title for him.

The Cartier Crocodile Necklace

UNIQUE GCC | 15

FUTURE PROOF The Concept Concept 18 | UNIQUE GCC

The Mercedes-Benz AMG Vision Gran Turismo

“It is not in the stars to hold our destiny but in ourselves.”

William Shakespeare In a celebration of the new and the unique we take a look into the concept concept and find out what it is that defines a beautiful idea and transforms it into a reality.

A concept, a showpiece or a prototype is usually a one-off build, designed to showcase new styling or new technology, sometimes both. These concepts are often shown at trade shows to gauge customer reaction to new and radical designs whether they be trains, planes or automobiles. The reaction might well end up having a huge influence on whether or not a new concept will go to massproduction.

General Motors famed designer Harley Earl is generally credited with inventing the concept car, and did much to popularise it through its traveling Motorama shows of the 1950s.

In the case of many concept cars, they might never go directly into production at all. Some remain just that - beautifully rendered concepts on lying forever motionless on a computer screen. These days the concept car has to undergo numerous changes before a finalised design can ever go into manufacture. Much of it would be for reasons of safety, practicality, regulatory compliance and cost.

But anyway, let’s just dream a while. in a Perfect World Imagine living in a world where the constraints of what you can and can’t do with design are only limited to your imagination and not necessarily constrained by the day to day rules and regulations of bureaucracy, fuel efficiency and the mundanities of health and safety.

replicating production vehicles, the idea was to ask automobile manufacturers to each create their own Gran Turismo for Gran Turismo. It was christened the ‘Vision Grand Turismo Program’ and it stirred a zeitgeist within the automobile design community around the world.

It was a plan that excited the manufacturers too. 29 of them jumped at the chance of envisioning their own concept cars for the game. Mercedes-Benz went a few steps further than designing a virtual concept. They actually built a full-scale model and debuted it at the recent Los Angeles auto show in November. They named it the Mercedes-Benz AMG Vision Gran Turismo.

Beautifully designed, the Vision Gran Turismo is a grandchild of the Mercedes-Benz Silver Arrow race cars of the 1930s and makes you wish all modern cars were style to look like they’d been built seventy years ago (oh and let’s include the 1950s on that wish list while we’re dreaming because the grille recalls the 1952 300SL race car).

Not withstanding it’s classic proportions and features, Mercedes offered a car full of modern concepts and ideas like a diamond grille pocked with LEDs, door sills that emit a reddish glow and taillamp as a singular thin horizontal strip. Oh and did we mention the lack of a rear window?

Alas, the Mercedes-Benz AMG Vision Gran Turismo is only available to those with access to Gran Turismo 6 and a Sony PlayStation. But who knows, perhaps some of these features and stylings will turn up in the forthcoming real-life Mercedes GT AMG, the successor to the iconic SLS and the brand’s future halo offering.

That particular nirvana exists of course. It goes by the name of Gran Turismo, one of the most successful video games ever brought into the virtual world of computer generated automobiles, highways and city streets.

As the 15th anniversary of the hugely successful game approached, Polyphony Digital, the creators of Gran Turismo 6 wanted do something special to commemorate the occasion. Rather than

Gran Turismo‘s creator Kazunori Yamauchi

UNIQUE GCC | 21 Inside the Mercedes-Benz Gran Turismo

Time travel The future of commercial and private air travel is very bright – Outside of the late great Concorde, commercial air travel has remained relatively unchanged since the dawning of the jet age in the 1960s. However, smarter and faster technologies are driving the research into the next generation of supersonic aircraft, aiming to cut travel time in half. With commercial air travel expected to grow to five times its current size, the economic impact and time savings of a more efficient supersonic travel system are going to be significant to the global economy.

Lockheed Martin’s design would accommodate 80 passengers and have the ability to travel more than 5,000 nautical miles with sonic boom levels one hundred times quieter than Concorde.

Boom time One of the major hurdles of commercial supersonic air travel is the noise associated with it. At speeds greater than Mach 1, disturbances of air pressure around the airplane merge to form enormous shock waves resulting in sonic booms. If you’ve never heard a sonic boom, let’s just say it’s quite loud. And, that’s putting it lightly. Because of this, current air traffic regulations restrict supersonic planes from flying over land. For more than a decade, Lockheed Martin has been working to solve these problems.

Introducing Lockheed Martin’s N+2 concept, a trijet configuration; with one engine on the top of the aircraft and the other two located under each wing.

Revolutionary reductions in supersonic noise don’t come easy. A completely new propulsion system is being developed by Lockheed Martin with the NASA N+2 program. In developing the vehicle, a sub-scale wind tunnel model was built to test sonic boom characteristics in conjunction with the shape of the plane. Though it is not practical to completely eliminate noise, these advancements would result in a sonic boom that sounds much more like a distant thump rather than a sharp crack.

The aston Martin voyage 55’ Like so many yacht designers, Luiz de Basto, will confess to a passion for cars and car design.

Many of his contemporaries will talk about the design similarities between boats and cars but often find it more fascinating to talk about the differences. But recently, the Aston Martin owning Luiz, wondered what it might be like to bring the two worlds together in a creative exercise and design a 55’ high performance boat inspired by the beautiful lines of the Vantage, Rapide, DBS and Virage. He wanted the result to be not only an interesting interpretation of the famous car lines when in the water but be a fully functional boat, able to be built anytime upon request.

Although a little slower than Concorde’s Mach 2 cruise speed, the plane’s Mach 1.7 engineering is able to significantly simplify the problem of developing a propulsion system that’s compatible with low emissions, take-off and landing noise regulations.

After initial sketches Luiz found that the biggest challenge was how to best feature the classic Aston Martin icon, its radiator grille. Determined to maintain the signature element of the brand and constrained by the fact that by definition, boats don’t have radiators, the shape needed to be incorporated somehow.

We wont be flying in these aircraft any time soon, but Lockheed Martin are confident that the technology will be ready by 2025. slow is the new fast Or when is a concept a concept and when is just a pretty idea?

Introducing the Seymourpowell Aircruise Concept air balloon. Hailed in the national press as a new era in luxury travel and described as a combination of cruise ship and luxury 5-star hotel where promises of incredible flights to foreign climbs in huge, beautifully distorted solar powered Chinese lanterns turned out to be no more than a publicity stunt, a hoax conjured up by the design company themselves.

The Seymourpowell Aircruise Concept Air Balloon

In a world where ordinary cruise ships release 3 times as much greenhouse gas as a Boeing 747 per passenger and 36 times as much as the Eurostar, it’s no wonder that Aircruise was championed far and wide over its claims as an eco friendly alternative, with its zero emission claims.

Extensive interior design plans that allowed for huge internal spaces that proposed a bar and lounge zone, four duplex apartments and a penthouse went even further to duping the world’s media.

With a promised cruising speed of 100-150km per hour (without tail or headwind) it was estimated that the London to New York flight would take only 37-hours while those heading for Los Angeles from Shanghai could expect a 90-hour journey.

The entire concept presented an alternative take on the future, suggesting that slow might one day, become the new fast.

The Lockheed Martin’s N+2 concept

22 | UNIQUE GCC

On Aircruise, the very abundance of time and space defined the luxury experience. In a world where speed is an almost universal obsession, the idea of making a leisurely journey in comfort might be considered a welcome contrast. The Seymourpowell Aircruise air balloon was an enticing promised land where a world cruise was no longer limited to the oceans. And everyone wants to go to the promised land.

The Aston Martin Voyage 55’

Eventually, the designer, settled on shaping the windshield like the radiator and following many more sketches, the basic ideas were carefully translated to a computer, first just the profile but later into a virtual 3D model in the Aston Martin racing team colours of yellow/orange while the hull and deck were rendered in dark green with a white interior.

Other classic Aston Martin design elements appeared when the front engine ventilation exit became an oversized window providing natural light to the interior of the vessel and the optical headlights became the cleats and the turning lights became navigational lights.

The creative exercise could have gone in many directions and when it comes to yacht design concepts it’s easy to transcend the laws of physics and also of the market but Luiz says he tried to keep in mind one of the most appreciated qualities of the Aston Martin brand, a certain and special timeless feeling.

UNIQUE GCC | 23

ixiOn Windowless Jet Concept In a design studio just outside Paris, the Technicon Design team created a windowless jet proposal for the 2013 NBAA show to demonstrate their creative design capabilities and their digital modelling and visualisation capabilities.

“The ethos of the project was simple, to challenge current thinking, and propose something a little different, but not just a fantasy. It had to be credible and relevant, yet provoke discussion”.

Gareth Davies, Design Director at Technicon “I challenged the team to break out of conventional thinking with regards to a business jet exterior and interior. Whilst defining the concept sketches for the exterior, I asked the rest of the team to start thinking about interior concepts and what we could do differently.”

The team quickly settled on the controversial yet interesting idea of removing the windows from the cabin and using existing or very near future technology to display the exterior environment to the inside surfaces of the cabin via external cameras. Removing the windows allowed for weight reduction, simplified construction and opened up an enormous spectrum of possibilities for interior design. The Technicon designers wanted to couple this with amorphous solar panels powering the low voltage systems on board and thus offering a unique visual dynamic for the exterior.

“The planned user experience was greatly enhanced by directly engaging the passengers with the environment outside,” continued Davies “to the point of exhilaration by giving an unhindered panoramic view from the inside. Parallax barrier technology could allow the passengers to see different views at the same time on the same screen. A myriad of potential cabin moods and themes became possible by tailoring the images or ambiance that might be displayed, even by mimicking a more traditional interior if desired.” http://www. technicondesign.com/france The ‘IXION’, is a unique and truly elegant concept and like all of the other concepts we’ve been looking at, whether they remain on a computer screen, languish as a full size model in a far off museum or go into full production around the world, one thought remains constant. Every one of them is the result of a creative mind asking one simple question. What if?

By David lloyd

24 | UNIQUE GCC

UNIQUE GCC | 25

peace and one of the world’s great residences.

For the next twenty years, until his death in 1919, he enjoyed the happiest years of his life at Skibo entertaining the great and good of the day. The guest book reads like a “Who’s Who” with King Edward VII, the Rockerfellers, Rudyard Kipling, Edward Elgar, Paderewski, Helen Keller and Lloyd George all amongst those being regaled on a grand scale and enjoying pursuits such as riding, fishing, shooting, falconry, golf and tennis. Guests were also treated to a parading bagpiper to awake them in the morning and an organist to entertain them before and after dinner.

Sadly, after his death, Carnegie’s paradise became surplus to his descendants’ requirements and fell into decline. In 1990, Peter de Savary, the hotelier, property developer, yachtsman and business entrepreneur visited Skibo to view a painting which was featured as part of the contents for sale. Like Carnegie before him, de Savary was utterly enchanted by Skibo. Within a week, he had

not only bought the painting but also purchased the entire castle and estate of 7,000 acres for $16.8 million. Over the next three years, de Savary undertook restoration of Skibo at a cost of just over $50 million and established The Carnegie Club at Skibo Castle, a private members club limited by invitation. The aim of the club was to recreate the Skibo of Carnegie’s time by providing members with a unique and private refuge from a hectic world. Members would be treated as house-guests of a great sporting estate of the Edwardian era when food, accommodation, service and style were paramount.

More recently, Skibo has continued to emulate the celebrity visitors of yesteryear. Skibo was chosen as the venue for Madonna’s wedding to film director Guy Ritchie in 2000 while the Castle and beautiful woodland Lodge houses of the estate have been patronised by many film stars including Angelina Jolie, Jack Nicholson, Ashley Judd, Catherine Zeta Jones, Sir Sean Connery and Ewan McGregor.

Andrew Carnegie in 1913

HEAVEN ON EARTH skibo - Join the Club As fairy-tales go, the story of Andrew Carnegie takes some beating.

In 1848, the impoverished 13-year old son of a weaver fled the crippling poverty of his native Scotland with his family for the prospect of new beginnings and betterment in the United States of America.

In Carnegie’s case, this began with the unremitting grind of toil as a bobbin boy in a cotton factory.

By 1901, following the sale of his Pittsburgh-based Carnegie Steel Company to J.P. Morgan for $480 million (the equivalent of approximately $14 billion in today’s terms), the bobbin boy had become one of the richest men in the world.

Carnegie’s philanthropy and legacy is well known and widely documented but the return to his native land and quest to build the perfect summer home for his wife and newly arrived daughter is equally as fascinating. The resulting legacy remains a monument to exquisite taste and luxury and a romantic fairytale refuge that can still be enjoyed to this day by a select few.

28 | UNIQUE GCC

“Heaven on earth” was Carnegie’s description of Skibo - the Castle and estate he established in the Scottish Highlands and which is now the home of the Carnegie Club.

Following the birth of his only child Margaret in 1897, Carnegie appointed staff to undertake an extensive search to find a suitable Scottish residence possessing three stipulated requirements - a trout stream, a view of the sea and a waterfall.

Skibo, a run-down estate whose 10th Century Celtic and Nordic inhabitants believed it to be a gift from Gaelic fairies and christened it “Schythebolle” or “fairyland of peace”, met all these requirements.

Additionally and remarkably for the land of famed mist and rain, Skibo also benefitted from a microclimate that offered a high number of hours of sunshine, mild temperatures and an extraordinary low rainfall similar to that of the south coast of England. In 1898, Carnegie acquired the dilapidated pile for $143,000 and spent a further $3.36 million ($97 million today) creating a majestic one hundred room baronial home, turning Skibo into an oasis of

Skibo Great Hall

UNIQUE GCC | 29

In 2003, the club was sold to Ellis Short, the Londonbased, Irish-American businessman and owner of Premier League football club Sunderland, for $38.7 million. The new owner - happily for Skibo’s members and guests - committed to retaining both Carnegie’s and de Savary’s ethos and commitment to The Club.

With a world-class 18 hole golf course, an Olympicsized heated marble swimming pool situated within a fin de siècle conservatory, top drawer spa treatments, an all-weather tennis court, woodland walks, manicured gardens to die for, and over 200 staff to attend to your every whim, it’s easy to see the appeal of membership for all concerned.

The added frisson of sleeping in Mr or Mrs Carnegie’s bedrooms - entered with the assistance of the low door-handles that were a bespoke item throughout the Castle to assist the vertically challenged billionaire - and being able to pore over the estate records - receipt for a turn of the century fire engine anyone? - and other exclusive Carnegie memorabilia all adds to the dream-like experience of a stay at Skibo.

Of particular note, if you are a cigar aficionado, is the perfectly ventilated and regulated atmosphere of a

The Golf Club

Madonna & Guy Ritchie

Sean Connery

matchless walk-in humidor. Please note, that given Scotland’s anti smoking laws, one would of course have to take that Cohiba Behike outside and enjoy while strolling the banks of Loch Ospidale watching ospreys, otters and pine martens at play. Should this not be one of your vices, staff can arrange to have any requirements, culinary or otherwise, biked from Harrods to Heathrow and flown up within the day. A service no doubt facilitated by the fact that Mohamed Al-Fayed owns the nearby Balnagown Castle and estate.

While The Carnegie Club is a private residential Golf and Sporting Club with an international membership limited by invitation, the good news is that non-members may visit once - at a guest charge - to sample and enjoy the superb surroundings of the Castle and the leisure facilities of the Club and to have the opportunity to consider - and be considered - for membership.

Exclusivity is currently a much bandied about and abused term; here, in the heart of the Scottish Highlands, it remains alive, well and an attainable reality.

“Heaven on earth” indeed.

The Carnegie Club

By car, Skibo Castle is 45 minute drive north of Inverness from where there are direct flights to and from Amsterdam, Geneva, London, Manchester and Bristol. Alternatively, the journey from Inverness Airport by helicopter takes but ten minutes. Many visitors prefer the overnight rail sleeper from London to Inverness.

By ronnie Gurr

30 | UNIQUE GCC

UNIQUE GCC | 31

ASiAMONEY

#1

Most Reputable and Financially Stable Private Bank in Asia 2014

Stability. Reputation. Relevance.

Some things should never change.

ABN AMRO Private Banking is honoured to be voted by our clients as the #1Most Reputable and Financially Stable Private Bank in Asia. – Asiamoney Polls 2014

At ABN AMRO Private Banking, we believe that stability, reputation and relevance are timeless qualities for a sustainable client partnership that enables us to serve you well into the future.

Our constant quest is to provide you, our client and your next generations with meaningful and personal advice, whilst remaining independent, focused and committed, earning us the reputation as one of the most trusted private banks in Asia.

To arrange a personal meeting, please contact us at dushyant.bhatia@ae.abnamro.com

BECAUSE HE’S WORTH IT Burberry alligator Trench Coat - $133,000 The luxury British fashion house Burberry are renowned for the classic trench coat designed by founder Thomas Burberry. With set-in sleeves and a belted waist for a structured fit, this statement trench coat is crafted in a rich alligator leather with a striking high-shine finish.

flyboard - $9,200 With an instructor you’ll only need between 2 and 20 minutes to learn how to use a Flyboard.

The nozzles under your feet ensure 90% of the propulsion allowing movement which depends on how you tilt your feet, while the nozzles on the hands are used to ensure stabilisation in exactly the same way you might use ski poles. The Flyboard is a fantastic toy that can propel its operator 10 metres into the air.

Dubbed the fastest growing water based activity on earth, FlyBoarding has been described as the ultimate water sport for adrenaline fanatics.

FlyBoarding is simplicity in itself. Participants are strapped onto a board which is attached to a Jet Ski via a 65 foot hose which then propels water out of the FlyBoard causing it to shoot into the air.

Referencing the original Burberry trench coat, its heritage features include epaulettes, a double gun flap and a rain shield. Providing a polished vision of a quintessentially English style, the heritage brand is known for its sophisticated and distinguished approach to luxury fashion with its ultra-chic, but discreet designs.

Flyboards were recently demonstrated in Doha‘s Lusail Marina during November’s Qatar International Boat Show by Rashid Al Kawari, an expert Qatari Flyboard operator. He performed air-born loops and spins, and huge dives into the water as his board threw out high powered jets of white spray. “The Flyboard is very intuitive. It’s like learning to walk!” said Rashid.

The Hasselblad lunar limited Edition - $10,000

The $53 Million automobile

World renowned camera manufacturer Hasselblad, launched its Lunar range last year. The new cameras are inspired by the Hasselblad 500C used during NASA’s 1969 Apollo space program when Neil Armstrong first set foot on the Moon for all mankind.

Now the Swedish company has just announced the launch of a Limited Edition Lunar with only 200 pieces being made. Bursting with the very latest in capture technology and crafted in lightweight titanium, this model boasts a sumptuous, unique red Tuscan leather grip, a black leather shoulder strap and an exclusive PVD matte yellow gold top plate. The 24 megapixel Full HD Video camera comes with an 18-55mm lens and it’s wide range ISO allows you to shoot in almost any light.

Hasselblad has timed the launch of this latest edition to coincide with Chinese New Year on January 31st. Hasselblad CEO Ian Rawcliffe said, “We wanted to celebrate what, coincidentally, is also known as The Lunar New Year, with a unique and iconic limited edition camera which we believe will be revered as a true example of camera art by photo-connoisseurs and collectors around the world. Only 200 have been developed in our Italian-based design centre and the exclusive red and gold colours on the grip and body underpin the traditional Chinese belief that these shades represent good fortune and joy.

34 | UNIQUE GCC

In a previous life, this particular Ferrari 250 GTO had already won the 1963 Tour de France before being bought by the Connecticut-based car collector Paul Pappalardo in 1974. The value of classic cars, particularly 1950s and 1960s Ferraris, continues to grow, attracting new enthusiasts, speculators and investors every year.

When Pappalardo’s lovingly restored all-time classic went up for auction in November last year, it fetched $53 million, making it the most expensive car in the world. The previous world-record price stood at $35 million for another Ferrari 250, a car that had once been driven by former Formula One driver Sir Stirling Moss.

UNIQUE GCC | 35

roland iten, Bugatti Calibre Belt - $80,000 audeze lCD-xC headphones - $1799 - $2,900 The Californian High-end audio manufacturer Audeze has made its first venture into closedback headphones with this design, which blocks out ambient noise to offer a superior listening experience in loud surroundings. Fazor technology helps manage the flow of sound into the earpiece for enhanced phase response and imaging. Perfect for listening to your in-flight movie of choice or relaxing to some music without hearing the low drone of the jets engines outside.

The use of Bubinga wood for the shells is quite unique and the headbands are made from lambskin or micro-suede for those who don’t want to use animal products. There are no plastic parts and all units come with in their own leather carry case.

Available at audeze.com

Developed in a partnership with the Bugatti Automobile Company, Roland Iten has designed an exclusive mechanically performing belt buckle. The mechanism, named the R22 Mark I, could rival even the finest of watch movements. Iten’s Genevabased boutique uses Swiss watch-making equipment to craft its exquisite belt buckles.

The hand-made bridges, wheels, cogs, springs and pinions all interconnect to create mechanisms that allow the wearer to obtain the most precise fit. The buckle is crafted from 18 carat white and rose gold, titanium & stainless steel, with a sapphire crystal ‘hood’. The manufacture of the Bugatti Calibre is an amazing feat of engineering.

With a limited world-wide production of only 22 pieces being made, the makers are confident of selling every one.

Bugatti by Desvall shisha - $100,000

Döttling The Guardian - $17,735 The Guardian provides unique and stylish protection for up to six watches, jewellery, cash or important documents, with this, the world’s first high-security traveling safe. Its inner carbide cylinder is almost as hard as a diamond and will withstand any sledgehammer, drill or saw. Much of the protective technology is already used in bullet proof vests and police shields and helmets. The 36 | UNIQUE GCC

Guardian is practically immune to any impact and if it ever becomes lost or stolen the case also comes equipped with its own GPS transmitter, pinpointing its precise location. Its cap is similarly protected and has an integrated polished steel safety lock that can only be opened with a three-digit owner’s code.

World famous automotive brand Bugatti has teamed up with Swedish luxury hookah maker Desvall to create what might easily be one of the most expensive smoking contraptions ever made – the $100,000 hookah. This 150 limited edition Shisha pipe, hand made in Sweden by the finest craftsmen draws its inspiration from legendary Bugatti’s high- performance cars and their precision engineering. The hookah boasts a special carbon fibre casing, a solid titanium frame, and hand-sewn leather details.

Desvall have taken a break from making their usual gold-plated, diamond-studded pipes, and made one that will look right at home in the front seat of that new Bugatti. Desvall has looked to its own design roots, integrating their patented pivot technology which allows the hookah to rotate 360 degrees upon a stationary base, catering to a group of people.

UNIQUE GCC | 37

A KINGDOM FOR MY HORSE Dubai Gold Cup 2014

In his chairman’s message, Mohammed Al Habtoor said, “I am proud to say the Dubai Polo Gold Cup is well established and now running into its fifth year.

The ‘Dubai Open’ has earned itself a worldwide reputation thanks to the commitment from the patrons and teams that have participated over the years. This year we have a record number of ten teams – with some very well-known polo names participating yet again! It has been an honour to Chair such a prestigious tournament over the years and to watch it grow to what it is today. The Dubai Polo Gold Cup has achieved so much in such a short space of time. What started out as a 10-12 handicap game in 2010 is now the highest handicap tournament in the Middle East – with a 16 high goal handicap. But that’s not all… we are currently studying upping the stakes even further – to an 18 goal handicap next year! This will without a doubt increase competition even further.

This year, we not only welcome new teams into the Dubai Open, but we are pleased to welcome Her Highness Shaikha Maitha Bint Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum as patron of her own team. We also welcome His Highness Sheikh Falah Bin Zayed Al Nahyan as Patron of Ghantoot, two Desert Palm teams from the Al Barwardi family and we welcome Sultan Edrees patron of Edrees Polo.team.”

The sport Of Kings - for Beginners

“Playing polo is like trying to play golf during an earthquake.”

Sylvester Stallone

Founded in 2009, The Dubai Polo Gold Cup has earned its reputation as one of the most prestigious polo events on the international polo calendar. Held under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Maktoum Bin Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai, the event is set in the impressive surroundings of the Dubai Polo and Equestrian Club at the Arabian Ranches on the outskirts of Dubai. Every year the events blend of top-class sportsmanship and glamour attracts a great number of Gulf VIP’s including society figures, famous personalities and senior corporate executives.

Spectators are welcome to watch all the games and the Dubai Polo and Equestrian Club encourage visitors to bring friends and family to enjoy the glamour, passion and elegance of what they call the sport of Kings.

The full tournament series, in it’s fifth successful year, is the fourth-largest of its kind after Argentina, the US and the UK. Presenting the world’s best polo teams and players the first event begins on 40 | UNIQUE GCC

the 1st February with the McLaren Cup (February 1 - 15) and ends with the 19 day Bentley Emirates Dubai Polo Gold Cup (February 24 until March 14).

Played under the banner of the world renowned Hurlingham Polo Association (HPA), the Gold Cup is contested according to HPA rules and the provision of umpires is all managed under strict international supervision by the HPA. This season the 16 goal handicap is being introduced, making the Dubai Polo Gold Cup Series (Dubai Open) the highest handicapped tournament in the Middle East, Africa and Asia.

Polo is unquestionably one of the most exciting games on the planet. It would be difficult to imagine another sport that could combine the elegance and finesse of horse riding and the skills of a ball game with such breathtaking results.

The riding prowess of the player combined with the power of their steed come together as two teams of four fight it out for supremacy on the field of play. In Polo speed, dexterity and strategy are all part of the skill-set required for a game split into four sections known as chukkas!

“I always say that polo, for you to pursue a career, mainly any sport, you have to be born in the right place. If you’re born in Hawaii, you surf. If you’re born in Austria, you probably will ski. If you’re born in Argentina, you most likely ride horses and have a chance to play polo.”

Nacho Figueras - Argentinian polo player.

Frequently referred to as the Sport of Kings, the game continues to enjoy a strong following amongst royalty around the world. Whether it is played on the green fields of England, the rolling Pampas in UNIQUE GCC | 41

Argentina or under the blue skies of Dubai, the rich and famous are always in attendance, partly due to the financial resources required to play the game.

However, despite that reputation as an expensive elite sport, Polo is said to be played by more than 50 million people in 77 countries. As an example of its growing popularity, the game has recently been recognised as an Olympic sport by the International Olympic Committee after an absence of over 70 years.

Polo in the uaE There are four active polo clubs between the cities of Dubai and Abu Dhabi: The Dubai Polo & Equestrian Club is owned and run by Emaar Properties and boasts a one stick & ball field and two polo fields. Its stables contain as many as 150 polo ponies. The club hosts a number of major medium goal polo tournaments like La Martina Opening Cup, the Dubai Polo Series which includes the Dubai Silver Cup and the Dubai Gold Cups organized by Mohammed Al Habtoor, patron of the ‘Habtoor Polo Team’ and the British Polo Day, in Dubai. The club is also home to Rashid Al Habtoor’s ‘Al Mahra Polo Team’ and Dr. Abbar’s ‘Dr. A Polo Team’ and has 30 active polo members.

The Desert Palm Polo Club has been based in Dubai since 1994. It sits in an oasis of green fields and palm trees surrounded by the sandscapes of the

surrounding landscape. Owned by Ali Albawardy, It includes three polo fields and one stick & ball field.

It is located at the Desert Palm, a 5-star boutique spa hotel only ten minutes from Dubai city centre.

Each year, the club hosts three medium to high goal tournaments like the Cartier International Dubai Polo Challenge, the UAE Nations Cup, and the Sunset Polo International Cup as well as low goal tournaments for its polo members.

Desert Palm is home to a number of polo teams, including Sheikha Maitha bint Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum’s ‘UAE Polo Team’, Arm Zedan’s ‘Zedan Polo Team’ and Ali Albawardy’s ‘Dubai Polo Team’. Faris Al Yebhouni’s ‘Abu Dhabi Polo Team’ and Saeed Bin Drai’s ‘Bin Drain Polo Team’ also share the same location. saif Polo Club is a private club owned by Ahmed Al Guhair based in Khawaneej, Dubai. The club organized its first medium goals tournament in December 2012, the National Day Polo Cup. Ghantoot racing and Polo Club, a private club with 8 international standard fields based 40 minutes from Abu Dhabi city. It hosts several tournaments during the season such as the Pink Polo (in support of Breast Cancer), British Polo Day Abu Dhabi and the UAE President Cup. As well as breeding polo ponies, Ghantoot also has a breeding facility for purebred Arabian horses.

Previously 2010 Rashid Al Habtoor - Al Mahra Polo Team 2011 Faris Al Yabhouni - Abu Dhabi Polo Team 2012 Mohammed Al Habtoor - Habtoor Polo Team 2013 Ali Al Merri - Ghantoot Polo Team (Sheikh Falah Bin Zayed Al Nahyan - Patron) In last year’s final of the Dubai Polo Gold Cup Series, Ghantoot Polo Team defeated Habtoor Polo 14 v 6. The Ghantoot team featuring Ali Al Merri, Facundo Sola, Juan Zubiaurre and Pelayo Berazadi performed well from beginning to end and deserved their victory. Facundo Sola, the MVP of the tournament, scored 9 goals for his team and was also the top scorer of the entire tournament.

Habtoor Polo had played well, with patron Mohammed Al Habtoor and Captain Guillermo Cuitino playing a good game, but they just couldn´t hold back the excellent Ghantoot Polo Team. Pelayo Berazadi´s ‘El Pibe’ was awarded best playing pony of the final.

This year the winner has something extra to smile about. The WPT recently upped the ante – it announced the winner of the Dubai Gold Cup will win 50 points, instead of 40 previously. Finalists will be eligible for 25 points, instead of 20. The Dubai Gold Cup is now the highest tournament in terms of points inside the Challenge Cup category.

Let the games begin!

Ali Al Merri, Facundo Sola, Juan Zubiaurre & Pelayo Berazadi

Ghantoot Polo Team defeating Habtoor Polo in the final of last year’s event. Ghantoot won by 14 goals to 6.

42 | UNIQUE GCC

UNIQUE GCC | 43

LES ROUGE ET BLEU Nasser Ghanim Al-Khelaifi - Paris Saint-Germain The former general manager of Al Jazeera Sports, Nasser Ghanim Al-Khelaïfi is best known nowadays as the President of French football club Paris SaintGermain (PSG). The man who brought Brazilian legend Leonardo to the club as director of football, who brought David Beckham to Paris in a whirl of good publicity on a free transfer from LA Galaxy and the man who masterminded PSG’s return to UEFA Champions League Football and PSG’s first Ligue 1 championship in 20 years.

Under Khelaifi’s leadership, PSG have spent over $469 million in player transfer fees alone, with the likes of Swedish striker Zlatan Ibrahimović being bought from AC Milan for just under $27 million in 2012, Uruguayan Edison Cavani from Napoli for over $86 million last year, and Brazilian central defender, Thiago Silva another AC Milan purchase in 2012 for $56 million.

In football terms, PSG, or Les Rouge-et-Bleu as they are also known, are quite a young club founded in 1970 following the merger of two Parisienne sides, Paris FC and Stade Saint-Germain. After many financial troubles throughout the 70s, 80s and early 90s, French TV channel Canal+ gave the club a reprieve by purchasing it in 1991. Suddenly PSG were receiving 40% of their income from

televised games and became one of the richest clubs in France overnight. Canal+ managed the club through delegated-president Michel Denisot during the 1990s and became the club’s majority shareholder in 1997 and sole shareholder in 2005.

The club’s finances remained healthy and grew steadily throughout the 90s, thanks to a rise in payments for television rights and the increasing number of spectators coming to the games at the Parc des Princes due to the team’s excellent performances in national and European competitions.

Following the departure of Michel Denisot in 1998, the club began to accumulate debts once again, reaching almost $129 million by 2002. The net debt fell to €8m in 2004 after recapitalising the club but PSG’s finances remained in the red. In the years between 2004 and 2006, PSG was the only French club with a huge deficit, registering losses of over $40 million. PSG’s turnover though, increased from $92 million to $107 million.

When Canal+ sold PSG to investment firms Colony Capital, Butler Capital Partners and Morgan Stanley for €41m in 2006 they wiped the debt clean and under the new owners, the club’s turnover reached

Javier Pastore, Thiago Silva, Zlatan Ibrahimović and Blaise Matuidi flanked by Emirates representatives.

UNIQUE GCC | 47 Nasser Ghanim Al-Khelaifi and Leonardo

Emirates In May 2013 – in a deal estimated to be worth over $33 million per season, the newly crowned French champions officially extended their shirt sponsorship deal with Dubai airline Emirates for another five years until the end of the 2018/19 season.

Emirates has become one of the most prominent brands within football sponsorship worldwide. It’s football strategy includes partnerships with FIFA, the Asian Football Con-federation and European clubs including AC Milan, Real Madrid, Paris SaintGermain and Arsenal.

Nasser Al-Khelaïfi said: “The agreement strengthens the relationship between PSG and Emirates and gives to each partner the opportunity to achieve worldwide brand recognition, simultaneously enhancing the image of each partner through increased global awareness.”

Thierry Antinori, Emirates executive VP passenger sales worldwide, said: “This is the perfect time for Emirates to re-sign with Paris Saint-Germain given

the $134 million mark and the losses gradually decreased to only $6.7 million by 2009. After purchasing 95% of the shares by 2010, Colony Capital revealed that they were looking for new investors to make PSG a true title contender for years to come. And that’s where Nasser Al-Khelaifi and Qatar Sports Investments came into the picture again.

In 2011, Qatar Sports Investments (QSI), led by Nasser Al-Khelaifi, bought a controlling 70% of the shares whilst Colony Capital (29%) and Butler Capital Partners (1%) remained minority shareholders. QSI bought the club in a deal worth $67 million, covering an estimated $20-27 million in debts and $25.5 million in losses from the 2010– 11 season. As a consequence, PSG, with Nasser AlKhelaifi as President, suddenly became the richest club in France and one of the richest clubs in the world. QSI later purchased the remaining 30% stake and became the sole shareholder of PSG in 2012 and that deal valued the entire club at $131 million.

Al-Khelaifi, having steered the club to last year’s Ligue 1 trophy, aided by the incredible goalscoring feats of his newly signed striker, Zlatan Ibrahimović, PSG reached the last eight of the 2012-13 UEFA Champions League only to go out of the tournament on the ‘away goals’ rule in their two games with FC Barcelona. As we write, some nine months after that 48 | UNIQUE GCC

the club’s new international players and on-going success in the French championship, as Ligue 1 Champions, as well as the European championship.

Our sponsorship of PSG is a strong platform to further extend our brand presence in France, as well as the many other football focused nations that we fly to globally.”

“PSG’s growing international presence fits perfectly with our own rapidly expanding worldwide network. This partnership represents a strong combination of two global brands that share the same passion for success and growth, offering an international reach well beyond football and aviation. In a short time Paris Saint Germain has positioned itself as the most popular French football club in the world and we are incredibly proud to be their partner.”

The huge increase in the new deal reflects PSG’s rapid assent to domestic success and the club’s rising international profile. Nothing is ever certain in football but some might say that the best is yet to come for Nasser Ghanim Al-Khelaïfi, PSG and the Parc des Princes. Only time will reveal all.

3-3 draw over two legs, Al-Khelaifi, a former tennis professional before his days with Al Jazeera, is on course towards another successful year with PSG, comfortably top of Ligue 1 and making headway in the UEFA Champion’s League. in another life Nasser Ghanim Al-Khelaïfi was born in Qatar on November 12, 1973. Al-Khelaïfi attended the same schools as the royal family in his youth and is a close friend of Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani, head of sovereign wealth fund Qatar Investment Authority.

As a tennis professional in his youth, Al-Khelaïfi was a long serving member of the Qatar Davis Cup team with Sultan Khalfan, appearing on the main tour of the Association of Tennis Professionals, reaching a career-high top 1000 singles ranking 2002. He is currently president of the Qatar Tennis Federation and vice-president of the Asian Tennis Federation of West Asia.

As well as being the president of Paris SaintGermain he continues as a director of Al Jazeera Sports which recently rebranded as beIN SPORTS as the Al Jazeera Media Network seeks to unite its global sport channels under one name ahead of the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.

Nasser Ghanim Al-Khelaïfi, Thierry Antinori and Zlatan Ibrahimović - photo by Christophe Pelletier

UNIQUE GCC | 49

A CROWNING GLORY The Emirates Palace - abu Dhabi

Genie in a bottle In October 2008, American soul sister and Staten Island’s very own Christina Aguilera performed at the Emirates Palace during her Back To Basics Tour to an audience of 15,000 people. One of the biggest events ever held at the hotel, it attracted a massive amount of media attention.

Built and owned by the Abu Dhabi government, it had taken three years and over 20,000 people from nearly 50 different nations just to create it.

After opening, a full time staff of 2,600 people have been on hand just to fulfil the needs of the guests and keep the place running smoothly on a dayto-day basis. That works out at something like 3 employees to every guest.

In terms of service, nothing is ever left to chance.

One might imagine that 13 restaurants would be serviced by 13 kitchens but actually nearly 130 kitchens service those 13 restaurants employing over 300 kitchen staff from chefs to kitchen porters.

The Emirates Palace

Of course, living in the Middle East, you’ll know that in any one month the Emirates Palace in Abu Dhabi uses 5 kg of 24-karat edible gold just to decorate their own pastries and chocolates. No? But we all know about the Delice du Palace, and the 400 slices of this world famous chocolate cake consumed on any given day? Really? No, nor did we.

Ah but surely everyone has heard about how the hotel pampers its guests to a gorgeous array of little luxuries like bath caviar and Prada beauty products in all its suites and the 20,000 roses used to lavishly decorate the Palace every day? You did!

Oh well, can’t win ‘em all!

hotel’s Grand Atrium dome is actually higher than the dome of St.Peter’s Basilica in Rome.

After opening in November 2005 it immediately became a popular venue for dignitaries and celebrities alike, and quickly became the crowning glory of Abu Dhabi. A roll call of some of the hotel’s famous guests would include the 42nd President of the United States, Bill Clinton, Robert de Niro, Will Smith, Lawrence Fishburne and the late Michael Jackson.

Emirates Palace is the official guest residence of Abu Dhabi’s government with 22 three-bedroom suites capable of hosting the heads of state and their entourages. Located on the very top floor are the 6 Rulers’ Suites, reserved solely for Emirati royalty and dignitaries from other Persian Gulf countries. A special Arc de Triomphe-style entrance is reserved for their motorcades upon arrival.

The hotel has its own marina and helipad but for those who wish to drive, the Emirates Palace is only a 30 minute commute from Abu Dhabi airport and 1.5 hours from Dubai. An underground parking

Khaleej Deluxe Suite

facility can accommodate up to 2,500 vehicles and the Palace’s own luxury car fleet includes 2 Rolls Royces, 2 Maybachs, 2 Mercedes, 2 Nissan Altimas and 15 BMWs. Once on the premises, staff are on hand to drive you around the massive landscaped gardens at a more leisurely pace in the less strident golf carts if you feel so inclined.

For those who might be new to Abu Dhabi, the Emirates Palace is perhaps one of the most iconic landmarks in the city. A seven star hotel occupying 850,000 square metres of floor space that’s covered in marble and gold from wing to wing, it stands surrounded by 247 acres of manicured gardens on a private 1.3 km stretch of beach overlooking the Gulf, displaying the beauty of Arabian culture in all its glory.

For sheer opulence and luxury there are few hotels in the world that can compete with this hugely impressive and ultra-glamorous hotel. Built at a cost of $6 billion the Emirates Palace is one of the most expensive hotels ever built and just one look at the fine gold leaf décor, marble bathrooms, 114 decorative domes, 200 fountains and the 1,001 Swarovski crystal chandeliers will tell you why. The

54 | UNIQUE GCC

The Caviar Bar

Royal Khaleej Suite bedroom

UNIQUE GCC | 55

If you find that simple relaxation isn’t enough, and you feel the urge to be more active there are plenty of land and water based activities to choose from.

The hotel has two swimming pools and spas, not to mention the fitness suites, tennis courts and designated pitches for football, cricket and rugby.

The colours of the actual exterior were chosen to reflect the different shades of the Arabian Desert and the 302 grand rooms and suites, all imbued with incredibly luxurious interiors, offer beautiful garden, side sea or full sea views, not to mention a 24-hour butler service that guarantees exceptional, yet discreet service. There are actually seven ‘baths’ listed on the bath menu , each one can be prepared at a moments notice by your very own bath butler.

Of course, the sheer opulence doesn’t stop at the incredible surroundings and service. The Emirates Palace features luxuries such as $15,000 cognacs, Japanese Kobe beef and real Albino caviar (only 6kg are produced in any one year and the Palace secures two of them). With so many restaurants representing the finest cuisine from seemingly every corner of the globe, guests can feast to their hearts content at buffets like ‘Le Vendome Brasserie’ and ‘Cascades’ as well as ‘BBQ Al

Qasr’ and modern Chinese cuisine at ‘Hakkasan’.

Excellent Emirati cuisine can be found at ‘Mezlai’, traditional Lebanese at ‘Diwan L’Auberge’ and fine dining at ‘Etoiles’. Other sensational options include the Italian culinary delights of the awardwinning ‘Mezzaluna’, or the fine seafood at ‘Sayad’ and the freshly prepared grills and salads at ‘Las Brisas’.

BBQ Al Qasr

Etoiles Restaurant and Night-Club

Sarab Land

The Anantara SPA - Massage Room

56 | UNIQUE GCC

Outside of all the other activities available, the Emirates Palace offers some fabulous excursions like day trips to Iran by private jet to create a Persian carpet, or journeys to the Dead Sea in Jordan or even an outing to Bahrain where you can collect a pearl from the depths of the sea. If you’ve any spare time left after fulfilling that little bucket list, you might want to fit in a ‘Royal Golf experience’ at Abu Dhabi Golf Club or an introduction to making your own perfume.

Sayad Restaurant

So there you have it, an incredible hotel where the world is your oyster and room prices can exceed $12,000 per night. Where your coffee comes served on a silver tray with rose petals, crystallised sugar, a linen napkin, marzipan croissants and a bottle of imported water.

One lump or two?

By David lloyd

UNIQUE GCC | 57

SAYING IT WITH FLOWERS

Trumpstand iPhone Dock - $1,800 - $2,000 Designed by Pleiades System Designs, this trumpstand utilises the exquisite shape of a vintage gramophone, in which the speaker is the horn. The horn is made from high quality brass and silver/gold. iPhone enthusiasts all over the world are continuously looking for more advanced, more innovative and better-designed docks for their beloved gadgets.

annick Goutal Eau d’Hadrien - $1,500 Eau d’Hadrien began life as a result of a collaboration between Annick Goutal and Francis Camail and can be used by both men and women.

The perfume is a citrus fragrance, with ingredients that include lemon, mandarin orange, Sicilian lemon, grapefruit, citron, cypress, aldehydes, and extracts from a plant grown in Madagascar called ylang ylang.

The unique feature about this Japanese work of beauty is that it doesn’t feature any electronic component to help amplify the iPhone’s sound.

Instead, it uses the natural shape and acoustics of the horn-looking speaker itself. The sounds gets transmitted from the iPhone to the base of the speaker, where it passes through thick alloy pieces that minimise vibrations, then comes out through the horn and beautifully caresses your ears.

Launched in 1981, this classic perfume gained prominence and popularity in 2008, when it was elevated to the Fragrance Foundation’s Hall of Fame at the FiFi Awards. At $441.18 per ounce this slice of citrus heaven continues to provide something more than the mass produced perfumes can ever offer — individuality. Eau d’Hadrien is exquisitely packaged in a beautifully presented ornamental 3.4ml Baccarat crystal bottle and sells for $1,500.

Princesse Grace de Monaco Pétales de roses Montblanc, the Hamburg-based luxury brand recently introduced a number of new models of the Montblanc Princess Grace of Monaco Collection— ranging from one that can transcend from casual to formal to two haute joaillerie pieces.

l’Odyssée de Cartier – Parcours d’un style These high jewellery earrings in platinum have two briolette-cut golden imperial topazes totalling 28.11 carats with cabochoncut coloured sapphires are the new and bold African inspiration in the collection L’Odyssée de Cartier – Parcours d’un Style.

The jeweller expertly and creatively grasps the strength and essence of the African realm by using these brightly coloured stones, beautiful traditional motifs and the power of animal inspirations to create items of such incredible beauty.

58 | UNIQUE GCC

These elegant timepieces compliment the jewellery line under the same name by designer Susie Otero.

All of the watches are 34mm and all contain the self-winding movement MB 4810/409. One of the high jewellery pieces is the “Pétales de Roses” (rose petals). Invisible joints connect individual petal contours to create floral loops that form a linked bracelet.

The entire ensemble is made from 18k white gold set with 533 brilliant-cut diamonds. The white mother-of-pearl dial is adorned with rose petals made of 79 brilliant-cut diamonds. The face is surrounded by 130 brilliant-cut diamonds while the bezel is adorned by 44 baguette diamonds.

UNIQUE GCC | 59

un-break my heart Azature’s White Diamond Polish will cost $1,000,000. Apparently, the Black Diamond polish wasn’t opulent or expensive enough. To be fair though, this polish was created to raise funds to help fight and research a cure for lupus, a chronic and often disabling autoimmune disease that millions around the world are suffering from.

zai for Bentley skis - $10,850 Zai, the Swiss ski manufacturer, has teamed up with Bentley, the legendary luxury automobile maker, to create a stylish set of limited edition skis aimed at the high-end winter sports market. The skis have a design inspired by Bentley vehicles and can be purchased in the classic British racinggreen or in ice white.

Designer Azature Pogosian (The Black Diamond King), who stunned the world last year by adorning socialite Kelly Osbourne with his exclusive $250,000 Black Nail Lacquer (it sold out), will redefine opulence and glamour in the world of beauty products when he releases his new and exquisite white diamond nail lacquer.

Crafted with an ultra-lightweight cedar wood core, the skis also feature stainless steel edges and a shock-absorbing natural rubber surface for the promise of a genuine all-mountain performance.

The skis will be limited to just 250 pairs and cost $10,850 for a set. Just like a Bentley car, zai for bentley is engineered to deliver a ride of unsurpassed smoothness, stability and speed.

The bottle contains 98 carats of luminous Azature white diamonds with 1,400 individually hand selected diamonds set in the platinum cap. Upon the sale of the million dollar polish, Azature will donate all proceeds to Lupus LA in honour of R&B icon, Toni Braxton’s battle against the disease.

These handcrafted skis are of an uncompromising quality and refinement. All materials used in a zai ski are chosen for specific purposes, and lead in turn to radical manufacturing techniques. In this way, zai remains at the cutting edge of modern ski development.

Knipschildt’s La Madeline au Truffle Looking for the most extensive chocolate in the world?

robert Procop - Jewellery Robert Procop, best-known as Angelina Jolie’s jewellery design partner (He designed Jolie’s $250,000 engagement ring with Brad Pitt). In this edition of Unique, we feature two of his most stunning designs. Robert’s interpretation of Paris’ most famous monument, the gorgeous Eiffel Tower ring (top) was made from white gold and amethyst topped with a 50.83-carat aquamarine. The second item is the Rose Gold Blue Topaz and White Diamond Ring with its triple tier of precision set diamonds surrounding a center emerald cut Blue Topaz, flanked by draping pear cut aquamarine to startling effect. Robert’s sensational jewellery is available at Robert Procop private locations in Beverly Hills, Geneva and Hong Kong. POA.

60 | UNIQUE GCC

Fritz Knipschildt, Maitre Chocolatier, is not a chocolatier of compromise; he applies the highest standards of excellence to each and every stage of the chocolate and confection process.

Recognised by Forbes Magazine as the most expensive chocolate in the world at $250 per chocolate, Knipschildt’s La Madeline au Truffe starts with a decadent 70% Valrhona dark chocolate, heavy cream, sugar, truffle oil and vanilla as the base for the rich luxurious ganache.

An exceedingly rare French Perigord truffle is then surrounded by this rich ganache; it is enrobed in Valrhona dark chocolate and then rolled in fine cocoa powder. The result is pure flamboyance, lying wanton on a bed of sugar pearls in a silver box tied with a ribbon. Who could resist!

This product has a seven day shelf life and is made to order, shipping Next Day Air Saver within 14 days of the purchase date.

UNIQUE GCC | 61

BACK TO THE FUTURE Cadillac’s World Thorium fuel Concept Car “This vehicle is designed to last 100 years without a fuel-up” “I like to spend time answering questions no one asks,” says designer Loren Kulesus. In the case of the extraordinary Cadillac World Thorium Fuel Concept car, the question might have been: “What would a radioactive-powered automobile - one that would never wear out and never run out of fuel - look like?” The answer, according to Kulesus, is a priceless one-of-a-kind roadster.

Commissioned by General Motors to mark the 100th anniversary of their acquisition of the Cadillac marque, its sleek aerodynamic lines are definitely made to last.

64 | UNIQUE GCC

“This vehicle was designed with high-quality materials that are built to resist 100 years of daily use,” insists Kulesus. “There are redundancies built for all the major systems of the vehicle so, even if something were to fail, the vehicle would continue to function.”

The New York-based designer - who began his career with Nissan - had an equally strong vision when it came to the car’s handling too. “The entire body of this vehicle flexes like a muscle to allow very intuitive handling characteristics,” he explains.

“The angle of the wheels to the contact surface of

the road automatically adjusts according to the movement of the vehicle maximizing the energy used to power it.”

The extraordinary wheels, made from a set of 24 separate “tyres”, would require adjustment every five years, but Kulesus is careful to point out, “no material would need to be added or subtracted”.

So far, so good. However, choosing the fuel to power his car, Kulesus - now one of the senior creatives at the award-winning Fifth Avenue design house Raison Pure - drove straight into a controversy.

“This vehicle is designed to last 100 years without a fuel-up,” he explains, revealing that his chosen energy source is the naturally-occurring radioactive element thorium - which, though it has a halflife of a staggering 14 billion years and packs 20 million times more energy than coal, is abundant and totally harmless. “Bananas emit more harmful radiation,” claims one leading US expert.

“Thorium is as common in the earth’s crust as tin and is not fissile (capable of sustaining a nuclear fission chain reaction) the same way uranium and plutonium are,” adds Kulesus. “It is used to power programs that function as the vehicle’s nervous system.” In fact, the onboard nuclear reactor would generate surplus power that could be plugged back into the grid, “power a neighbourhood, or recharge other electric battery-equipped devices,” he says.

But can powering a car using any actinide - the generic term for high-number atomic elements such as uranium, plutonium and thorium - be safe? His response is simple. “The car is designed with safety in mind,” he insists. “The reactor has multiple scuttle devices to poison the sub-critical reaction in case of abuse and the reactor’s exterior is designed to withstand all unauthorised, or accidental, tampering.”

The science he’s describing is at the heart of one of the most divisive debates in global energy.

UNIQUE GCC | 65

And it’s exactly the basis on which the nuclear industry’s best-kept secret - the molten salt reactor or MSR - operates. Developed in the 1950s by the physicist Alvin Weinberg during his time in charge of America’s national nuclear laboratory at Oak Ridge, the self-regulating MSR was a risk-free alternative to the now-commonplace light-water reactors (such as those installed at Three Mile Island, Fukushima and Chernobyl). At the heart of this alternative nuclear technology is a simple maxim: safety first.

“The difference,” explains a nuclear industry insider, “is that in a conventional reactor, the task is to constantly monitor the process and ensure the reaction doesn’t get out of control. A molten salt reactor is ‘walk-away safe’ - it operates on simple physics, without the need for high pressure, so it’s not likely to get out of control and it produces about 10,000 times less nuclear waste.”

With thorium three times more abundant than uranium and the reactor process virtually meltdown-proof, several countries - including India and China - are investing heavily in thorium reactors. Unlike uranium, no processing is required and the by-products can’t be used to make nuclear weapons - which is perhaps one of the reasons MSR technology hasn’t become the dominant force in the nuclear industry.

“Back in the early 1970s, with the USA leading the world in nuclear physics, Alvin Weinberg was a strong advocate of safety,” explains GCC’s industry insider. “But at a time when the USA was seriously considering a nuclear strike against Vietnam, the Nixon administration wasn’t interested in MSRs because they don’t produce plutonium, which is what you need to make a warhead. Weinberg was sacked and, without his lobbying, light-water reactors became the only game in town.”

Worried about the state of their energy economy, US pressure groups - including the Thorium Energy Alliance - and private companies such as Flibe Energy are now making representations to Washington about the need to invest in MSR technology and rare earth element processing, 66 | UNIQUE GCC

which could produce enough thorium to meet a significant percentage of America’s needs. “Just one gramme of thorium yields more energy than 7,396 gallons of gasoline,” says Kirk Sorenson of nuclear consultancy Teledyne Brown. “The amount of thorium it would take to provide all the power you would need to run your entire life is the size of a marble.”

That is a fact that isn’t lost on Dr Charles Stevens of Connecticut-based Laser Power Systems. His firm has already developed a concept car engine fuelled by thorium. But while the architect of the General Motors concept vehicle Loren Kulesus - a graduate of Pasadena’s Art Center College Of Design along with such motor industry luminaries as Chris Bangle, former head of design at BMW, Hubert Lee, the director of the Mercedes-Benz Advanced Design Studio in California, and Chevrolet Corvette designer Larry Shinoda - believes cars running on

thorium could contribute to a healthier, greener planet.

But Dr Stevens has a note of caution. “Cars are not our primary interest,” he says. “The automakers don’t want to buy the technology.” Dr Stevens believes it will take at least 20 years before thorium engines become accepted. Instead, his firm are focusing on the development of a thorium turbine.

Dr Stevens believes that the machine, about the size of an air-conditioning unit, could power homes, restaurants, hotels and offices safely, effectively and cheaply. The radiation, he explains, will be so negligible it can be shielded by a single sheet of aluminium foil.

“We’re building this,” he insisted, “to power the rest of the world.”

By Tim Barr

UNIQUE GCC | 67

ONE FOR THE OCEAN solandge - a vision realised

A number of Solandge’s experienced crew were brought into the build process early on by the owner’s representative, Richard Masters, CEO of Master Yachts. The end product is a yacht full of gracious, soft shapes, sleek lines and hard edges; all contrasting but complementary languages that give off a distinctive energy.

The second part of the owner’s vision involved a design brief that created a lot of places for guests and family to gather together or relax on their own. The Norwegian-born designer’s directive was to provide each deck and space with a distinctive function whilst creating the support furniture and built-ins like buffet bars, dining areas, the 6 metre pool and two hot tubs.

With so much space to work with, he was able to incorporate an exterior cinema and nightclub with DJ station on the top deck, an indoor/outdoor gym, a sheltered main-deck reception area aft and a private outdoor seating area in front of the owners’ suite. In addition, a very substantial tender garage, a full dive centre and an aft sauna with access to the swim platform were also fitted into the design with great ease.

Aileen Rodeiguez’s interior is filled with classical touches in a contemporary backdrop. The unique mix of rare and striking materials gives the yacht’s interior its ultimate look and luxurious style. When boarding Solandge through the main entrance, your attention is immediately taken by the golden “Tree of Life” – a 16 metre high sculpture of 1,200 dazzling lights covering the entire height from the tank deck up to the bridge.

This truly magnificent five deck, 85.1m Lürssen motor yacht, Solandge has a timeless quality about it. With its elegant lines and stunning blue hull, it represents everything that is required of any superyacht about to join the ultra-high-end charter fleet and is the fourth largest boat to be built by the German shipyard Lürssen that is openly available on the global charter markets.

Exhibiting the very best in state-of-the-art yachting advances, engineering and quality, Solandge has an extraordinarily high volume both inside and out.

She offers accommodation for up to 12 guests in six staterooms and her interior includes a dedicated deck just for the master suite. An experienced charter crew of up to 29 crew members can also be accommodated to guarantee the ultimate charter experience for the client, their family and guests.

The Superyacht is the work of the world famous Lurssen shipyard in Germany, its exterior designed by internationally renowned naval architect Espen Øino and its interior designed by the award winning

70 | UNIQUE GCC

Aileen Rodriguez. Along with the usual design details and a desire for the comfort of everyone aboard, sound and vibration engineering were two very important issues. Decibel levels were very much a part of the construction contract, and word has it that Lürssen exceeded the requirement by 20 per cent in some instances. Much of this achievement can be put down to elastically mounted equipment that ensures the yacht runs extremely quietly. On the comfort side of things, Solandge’s zero-speed fin stabilisers reduce wave-generated motions when at anchor.

Rodeiguez’s designs for the Main Salon capture a real style and elegant grace with back-lit amethyst walls flanking the main salon as you’re greeted with a Bechstein piano on one side and a Venetian mirror and console on the other.

Spectacular panoramic views are a big feature of the owners’ suite, as well as a private study, customised his and her bathrooms and personal dressing rooms. Two side doors provide access to a comfortable outdoor seating area and a private Jacuzzi and more seating in the forward area.

In addition to the state-of-the-art wheelhouse, the bridge deck houses the radio room, the ship’s office and the captain’s quarters. A large area is reserved for the gym and spa, which includes a beauty and massage room as well as a Turkish bath. The massage room itself is flanked by a beauty salon, sauna, steam room and a special hydrotherapy tub room for exclusive treatments.

Even before Solandge had come along, Lürssen had already experienced a very busy 2013 with the momentous launch of Azzam, the worlds largest

UNIQUE GCC | 71

privately owned yacht. After undergoing extensive sea trials, Lürssen’s latest offspring Solandge was delivered to her owners in October of last year. A top speed of 18 knots and a cruising speed between 12 and 14 knots gives her an extensive range with 12 knots being capable of 6,000 nautical miles, while at 14 knots she should still be capable of 4,000 nautical miles. The megayacht is expected to make her way across the Atlantic in the coming months

72 | UNIQUE GCC

in preparation for the cruising and charter season.

The opulence and sheer beauty of Solandge is undeniable, and has succeeded in meeting the expectations of her owner. It is believed that with her experienced crew, she’ll no doubt provide clients and guests with many experiences to remember whilst cruising her first season in the Caribbean before sailing back to the Mediterranean later in the year.

UNIQUE GCC | 73

PRICES STA RT FROM AED 1. 2 M*

marina-gate.com

800 100-001

T HE R E S ID EN CE S AT

M A R IN A

+971 4 368 3355 sales@select-group.ae

G A T E

* Terms & conditions apply.

IN V EST IN LUXUR Y AND LIFEST Y LE UNLIMITED. Introducing The Residences at Marina Gate, where luxury living meets marina lifestyle. An imposing development set in an unrivalled location overlooking the entrance to Dubai Marina, The Residences at Marina Gate offers spectacular waterfront views.

A WINDOW ON THE WORLD steve varsano - The Jet Business “The natural function of the wing is to soar upwards and carry that which is heavy up to the place where dwells the race of gods. More than any other thing that pertains to the body it partakes of the nature of the divine” Plato Anyone who might be in the market for a luxury private plane will eventually pass through the prestigious heart of central London and Mayfair.

Or so aircraft dealer Steve Varsano believed when he started The Jet Business three years ago with a Hyde Park Corner address, an office fitted out like the cabin of an Airbus ACJ 319 business jet and a corporate aviation showroom that oozed sophistication from the moment the doors opened for business. The club chairs in the simulated cabin, for example, sell at $40,000 per piece because, according to international air-safety regulations, they must be able to withstand 16 Gs without breaking up.

New York-born entrepreneur Varsano had already been in the industry for three decades when he launched The Jet Business in 2011. Varsano regarded 76 | UNIQUE GCC

the Hyde Park Corner site as the best location in world, a magnet to the super-rich. In an interview with the BBC’s Russell Hotten he explained, “If I was trying to sell to my clients in their own countries, I would be travelling permanently.”

It was the American inventor & businessman Bill Lear, founder of the Lear Jet Corporation who pioneered the manufacture and sale of private business jets. Corporations and the super-rich have purchased pre-owned planes in the same way ever since. They go to brokers who already have their established networks of mechanics, owners and pilots and know exactly who’s looking to sell.

Steve Varsano decided to augment the old way of quietly brokering used aircraft and go retail at the most visible spot he could find.

“It always amazed me that 99% of the people do this business over the phone. That’s ridiculous. You shouldn’t be trying to sell someone something that cost $30m, $40m, $50m over the phone.” Steve Varsano Now Steve Varsano believes his company might

well be the first and only street-level retail showroom dealing in the acquisition and sale of private jet aircraft and ancillary services. Inside the London premises clients relax in luxury leather airline chairs and look out through realistic cabin windows onto a video-simulated sky-line. Just next to the Airbus ACJ 319 mock-up is a room with a huge bank of screens running the full length of the wall where prospective clients weigh up their options. It’s hard to imagine another dealership like this on the planet.

Designed to be completely engaging whilst allowing for an effortless buying experience, The Jet Business harnesses the skills of its own team of researchers and traders who continually update, develop and analyse industry activity, ensuring only the most accurate and complete information is presented to clients. The infrastructure required includes corporate market intelligence, client preferences, brand information and a product library. Including schematics, images, videos, product specifications and brand history, the application houses one of the most detailed and advanced collections of jet aircraft information in the world.

Clients can look through an iPad to run over makes and models, prices, age, range, running costs and view photographs of the aircraft they might be

Steve Varsano

UNIQUE GCC | 77

interested in buying. A full-scale schematic of the length and height of the aircraft can be brought up on the wall. The client can stand against the screen, or walk the length of it and get a true feel of a cabin’s size. Once the customer has made a choice, another tap of the iPad brings up a menu listing aircraft for sale around the world that fit the description. All the information is gathered and processed by staff who sit at desks resembling aircraft cock-pits… or maybe the Starship Enterprise.

catering in this setting, having expressed their own view that using the facilities as a meeting space, should in some senses, be akin to having a private club. Steve Varsano once describing it as “Starbucks for billionaires!” The way the space is designed in a series of zones makes The Jet Business a great space for entertaining business partners and meeting new ones. Not only does it showcase what a jet interior can be, but it showcases the lifestyle you can have.

“You’ll never find an airplane for sale in the same country as the buyer,” said Mr Varsano. “Deals can be complicated. One sale involved a businessman from Eastern Europe, who was then in Austria. His jet was registered in Switzerland but owned by a Panamanian-registered company. The buyer was in China, who had the aircraft’s inspection done in Germany. The lawyers were in London. There was a lot of paperwork!”

Argent Design – which has brought couture design to many high-end residences, super yachts and more than thirteen private jets were brought in to tie the various spaces together with a super luxurious aesthetic befitting the company’s clientele. The interior specifications are those that the buyer or seller of a jet will be well accustomed to. The kind of standards one would expect of a penthouse in New York or Hong Kong, the calibre of a luxury yacht brought to bear inside the cabin of a private jet.

Design for Communication An added asset for The Jet Business clients is that they can utilise the Hyde Park Corner space for business meetings. Along with several wellequipped office areas, the showroom itself and the lobby can also be used as a business rendezvous. The entire set-up is equipped with a very sophisticated lighting system where different areas can offer distinctive moods to guests using the facilities.

The Jet Business premises are fully set up for

78 | UNIQUE GCC

Time Travel With time being one of the few things that money can’t easily buy, Mr Varsano believes that to his clients, a luxury aircraft is just a time machine where they can reduce the amount of hours lost when flying via the usual channels. Contrary to popular belief, private jets are not all about flying off on a skiing trip or escaping to a private island destination in the sun. Most owners see them as a functional tool. When a client is flying perhaps once

or even twice a week, it’s all about convenience. It’s about getting the deal done - getting to a distant airport in the least amount of time and going home again.

A large percentage of The Jet Business deals are for used jets. A new aircraft can take months, even years to deliver, and Steve Varsano found that clients with serious money to spend tend to want their purchases brought to them in weeks, not months. A high spec second-hand jet in perfect condition can sell for anywhere between $10m and $80m depending on the range and capacity, but there are private aircraft like Gulfstreams, Bombardiers and Falcons worth $200m-$300m flying the globe and they are the mainstay of the jet business.

For once you have tasted flight you will walk the earth with your eyes turned skywards, for there you have been and there you will long to return.

Leonardo da Vinci Fascinated with aviation after a flying lesson at the tender age of 14, Steve Varsano took a degree in aeronautics that led him to working as an aviation lobbyist in Washington, rubbing shoulders with some of the most successful power brokers on Capitol Hill before eventually moving on to selling jets in the 1980s.

During the global economy’s golden years, the price of a pre-owned jet surged thanks to an upswing of highly successful Russian millionaires entering the

market with the staggering wealth generated by the boom in the country’s natural resources.

“The Russians went out and started buying planes left, right and centre,” Mr Varsano said. “They couldn’t pay a high enough price, because they wanted something today.”

The market has steadied in recent years and prices have fallen somewhat since the virtual gold rush but The Jet Business has seen no visible shortage in demand. On the contrary, the trend seems to be for bigger and more expensive, longer-range aircraft as the power-brokers and dealmakers of the world cover all the continents in search of the next big deal.

The Jet Business’s pioneering approach seems to be catching on, with Gulfstream Aerospace opening its own showroom in Mayfair. Steve Varsano though, as a director on the board of Virgin Galactic, has his mind on even bigger ideas, 68 miles above the earth’s surface to be exact.

UNIQUE GCC | 79

ISLAND LIFE DRAMAS a Market Overview Of The Caribbean luxury Housing Market

Luxury island homes across the Caribbean were not immune to the tribulations of the global financial crisis. Although property prices on the smaller, more fashionable islands such as Mustique, Jumby Bay and St Barts had performed better than some of their neighbouring islands over the last six years, one report showed that the larger markets, like the Bahamas and Barbados, where residential and leisure development had once been expanding in 2007-08, went on to feel the reverberations of the crisis more strongly than the smaller locations.

Some islands saw luxury prices fall by 30% after 2007 but that rate of decline has thankfully slowed significantly in the last 12 months.

2013 marked a watershed for a good number of property markets in the Caribbean, with Barbados and the British Virgin Islands, in particular, seeing sales volumes on the increase again. Purchasers had started to see buying opportunities in the market

80 | UNIQUE GCC

as some vendors adjusted their expectation levels with asking prices in line with more achievable values that acknowledged the effect of the global financial crisis on market sentiment.

Critical to this return to form has been the renewed confidence amongst buyers from Europe and the US especially as the Eurozone debt crisis no longer represented the destabilising force that it once did for the global economy.

Meanwhile in the United States, the on/off discussions regarding the tapering of quantitative easing (QE) had immediate repercussions on the morale and confidence amongst US buyers in the second half of the year. When the Federal Reserve clarified its position in September 2013, postponing any tapering until US unemployment reached 6.5%, the demand for Caribbean homes picked up considerably. In the mid-market there was also growing evidence of a greater number of higher disposable incomes, with interest in

the $2.5m-$4.5m price bracket strengthening, particularly within the US communities interested in buying.

A weaker dollar had also fuelled interest from Eurodenominated buyers. An increase in enquiries from Swedish, French and Eastern Europeans was particularly noticeable throughout 2013. A look at currency fluctuations helped explain why.

In 2010 a French buyer looking at purchasing a $2 million luxury residence in Barbados would have paid â‚Ź1.53 million for the pleasure. But by 2013, due to currency rates and price movements, the same property would cost the buyer closer to â‚Ź1.26 million.

Newer developments have also resurfaced on the radar of international buyers with projects such as Oil Nut Bay in the British Virgin Islands and Albany in the Bahamas all selling very well.

Despite the revived optimism there remains a large

inventory of properties on the market across the Caribbean. The International Residential Research

by Kate Everett-Allen on behalf of Frank Knight Residential Research noted that those vendors who want to sell will still need to price their homes realistically as buyers have become highly price sensitive.

UNIQUE GCC | 81

THE WORLD IS YOUR OYSTER A Calendar of Upcoming Events super Bowl xlviii Meadowlands Sports Complex, New Jersey, USA 02 February new york fashion Week New York 06 - 13 February sochi 2014 Winter Olympics Sochi, Russia 07 - 23 February The rio Carnival Rio De Janeiro, Brazil 28 February - 04 March new Orleans Mardi Gras New Orleans, Louisiana, USA 04 March Baselworld Basel, Switzerland 27 March - 02 April Coachella valley Music festival Empire Polo Club, Indio, California 11 - 20 April Dubai Polo Gold Cup The Dubai Polo & Equestrian Club, Dubai 23 February - 13 March 82 | UNIQUE GCC