• THE EDITOR
Another One Bites the Dust
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“Who’s the bane of Santa’s life? The elf and safety officer.” – Catherine Tate
I
t seems like only yesterday that I was writing this very monthly letter talking about how fast the year has gone and my goals for 2018. Time really does fly. I’m sure many of you find yourself thinking the same thing. And if, like me, you’re wondering exactly what you’ve done, achieved or experienced in the past year, here’s how to give yourself a little reminder. A colleague recently told me to look through my photo gallery on my phone and scroll up the last 12 months. Wow! There are things I did in 2018 that I’d completely forgotten about; scaled a mountain and zip-lined off it in Oman, finally made it to Azerbaijan, attended one month of back-to-back family weddings, and in a very unexpected turn of events, decided to take the adrenalin up a notch and do the world’s longest zip line in Ras Al Khaimah. No biggie! So while December can be a month of complete chaos, too many dinner parties, lots of brunches, and wild celebrations, make sure to take a few minutes to slow down and have a cheeky little scroll through your 2018 in photos - believe me when I say that you’ll find some real gems that will bring back all the memories. For those of you who like to dive straight into the holiday season, it’s time to amp up the excitement and plan your month ahead. We’ve got all kinds of festive treats picked out for you; from gingerbread house decorating to festive afternoon teas; delicious dinners and lavish brunches, you need to turn straight to p25 for the lowdown. Similarly, New Year’s Eve is set to be a full-on party right here in Dubai, with venues bringing their A-game for the year's biggest event. Think trendy parties, gala dinners, intimate soirees, DJ performances, and so much more to choose from, starting p44. There's all the travel inspo you need with our Globetrotter trips: check out everything you need to know about the very cool and creative Andaz hotel brand (p51) as well as a trule unforgettable Game of Thrones-inspired trip to Ireland (p58). We can't wait for the series to return in 2019 and this will get you hyped! I started with a winter playlist as early as mid-November - sorry not sorry. As Jingle Bells Rock - the Mean Girls’ version of course - plays in the background as I type, I can’t help but feel a big inner festive cheer coming on, for the incredible year we’ve had at FACT, and for the endless possibilities to come in 2019! Wishing you all a very merry festive season and happy new year!☺
Shabana Adam Editor-in-Chief shabana@fact-magazine.com Insta: @shabs_a 4
fact magazine
FACT Magazine Dubai Edition • DECEMBER 2018 VOLUME 02, ISSUE 03
CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER GREG HUGHES PUBLISHING DIRECTOR EDWARD SMITH EDITOR-IN-CHIEF SHABANA ADAM (shabana@fact-magazine.com) ASSISTANT EDITOR AANCHAL DUGGAL LOCAL EDITOR ANGELA BEITZ SENIOR GRAPHIC DESIGNERS SYED MUHAMMED RAIHAN JYOTI RAWAT CONTRIBUTORS DAVID TAPLEY JAYNE GREEN MELEK YILDIRIMTEKIN PHOTOGRAPHY DAVID TAPLEY PRODUCTION & DISTRIBUTION NEIL MAHMOOD AJIT KUMAR SALES COORDINATOR KIA MARIE PLACIDO ADVERTISING ENQUIRIES EDWARD SMITH (edward@ohlala-magazine.com) PRINTED BY UNITED PRINTING PRESS
All Rights Reserved. Opinion expressed within does not necessarily represent the opinion of the publisher. All efforts have been made to ensure accuracy of the information within this publication. However, FACT M.E. FZ-LLC cannot accept legal responsibility for any erroneous content or omissions. FACT M.E. FZ-LLC, Office 907E, TwoFour54, Park Rotana Complex, P.O. Box 769328, Abu Dhabi, UAE License Number: D.L. 361/17/F