NOV - DEC 2026
AUTOMOTIVE
GENESIS GV90 A New Vision of Flagship Luxury
LEADERSHIP
SIMA GANWANI VED The Woman Who Built a Retail Empire from Dubai
HOROLOGY
ROLEX DAY-DATE 40 The Power Watch, Reconsidered
DESTINATION
OMAN The Luxury of the Unspoiled
LONGEVITY
TULÅH CLINICAL WELLNESS India’s New Standard for Renewal
TERRY CREWS STRENGTH, REDEFINED
)PHOTOGRAPHY: PETER SVENSON(
TECHNOLOGY
IPHONE DUO Two Screens, One iPhone
ESCAPE
PATAGONIA The Last Great Wilderness
DINING
THE GUILD DIFC’s Grand All-Day Dining Destination
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PASSO offers 5 distinct residential collections, from wellness-led homes with private gardens and plunge pools to elite residences, penthouses, and beach mansions. A sculptural arrival piazza, cascading pools, landscaped paths to 250 metres of private beachfront, and curated wellness, family, and leisure amenities complete the experience. More than a destination, PASSO reflects BEYOND’s vision for design-led waterfront living, where architecture, nature, and emotion flow as one.
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CONTENTS
COVER 22 THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO
HOROLOGY 44 HOURS IN MOTION
FEATURE 28 BUILDING BELONGING FIRST
48 THE PRESIDENTIAL
TERRY CREWS The actor on Flint grit, true strength and the value of a second passport
Khalil Al-Hashemi brings designled thinking to BOLD Developer and Dubai residential life
32 PITCHING BEYOND BORDERS
John Aguilar turns airtime, scrutiny and investor access into opportunity for founders
36 RETAIL WITHOUT LIMITS
How Sima Ganwani Ved built Apparel Group into an international force from Dubai
Audemars Piguet revisits jumping-hour history with the Neo Frame
STANDARD The Rolex Day-Date 40 remains one of watchmaking’s clearest expressions of status
52 THE CHOPARD SIGNATURE Craftsmanship, elegance and mechanical substance meet in a collector’s proposition 54 STRUCTURE ON SHOW
The Hermès H08 Squelette reveals the architecture beneath its modern silhouette
56 ROADSTER RETURNS
AUTOMOTIVE 58 OPEN-AIR VELOCITY
The Czinger 21C Spyder brings fresh drama to an American hypercar
60 ELECTRIC, WITH ATTITUDE
The Porsche Macan GTS proves an electric SUV can still feel deeply personal
62 ADVENTURE, RECHARGED Chopard keeps pace with motoring historye ARTICLES
68 THE ADRIATIC ADVANTAGE
Montenegro’s waterfront lifestyle appeals to global citizens
74 TIMING MATTERS
Children’s ages can shape family citizenship plans
40 TRUST AT THE TOP Mazen Nahawi on turning corporate reputation into lasting business value
Cartier brings its distinctive automotive-inspired watch back into focus
22
28
40
48
54
70
16 NOV - DEC 2016
A new home for global citizens
ARGENTINA CITIZENSHIP BY INVESTMENT
Your ambitions reach beyond borders. Your citizenship can too. Explore Argentine citizenship by investment with Arton Capital. Register your interest and plan your next move.
Become a Global Citizen® MONTREAL · ZURICH · PARIS · SOFIA · BUDAPEST · SAINT JOHN'S · PODGORICA · ISTANBUL · DUBAI · SINGAPORE · HO CHI MINH · ARTONCAPITAL.COM
BOULEVARD PLAZA TOWER 1 SUITE 2004 BURJ KHALIFA DISTRICT DUBAI UAE
INFO@ARTONCAPITAL.COM +971 4 456 9220
DESTINATIONS 82 THE LUXURY OF THE UNSPOILED Oman rewards travellers with dramatic landscapes, warm hospitality and room to breathe
86 THE LAST GREAT WILDERNESS
Patagonia delivers scale, solitude and adventure at the edge of the map
92 THE ULTIMATE RESET The Maldives remains the definitive escape for privacy, water and complete release LONGEVITY 96 WELLNESS THROUGH WATER
Japan’s onsen culture inspires deeper restoration
98 RITUALS OF RENEWAL
Mayan heritage shapes modern restorative travel
GADGETS 102 THE WORLD, OVERLAID
AI smart glasses move computing, communication and assistance into our line of sight
104 SOUND, REFINED
How Google ended up paying Elon Musk to keep up
106 PRECISION, DRESSED UP
Garmin’s MARQ Collection places serious performance tools inside luxury materials
108 ALMOST INVISIBLE
112 STAIRS ARE NO OBSTACLE
The Roborock Saros Rover gives home robotics a new kind of mobility
114 TWO SCREENS, ONE PHONE
Apple’s iPhone Duo brings a larger, more versatile canvas to the familiar iPhone experience
DINING
116 THE GUILD STANDARD
ICD Brookfield Place’s grand dining room gives DIFC a destination built for lingering
LG revives the Wallpaper TV with an ultra-thin OLED design and wireless freedom
110 WELLNESS ON YOUR FINGER Oura turns sleep, readiness and recovery data into useful daily guidance
100 LONGEVITY MEETS LIVING WISDOM Kerala reimagines the clinical wellness retreat
82
86
96
106
114
116
18 NOV - DEC 2016
A new citizenship. A shorter wait.
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EDITOR’S LETTER Dear Readers,
W
elcome to our November/December issue, a celebration of leadership, considered living, and the people shaping what comes next. Our cover belongs to Terry Crews, who went from being cut by the NFL and sweeping floors in Los Angeles to becoming one of entertainment’s most recognisable faces. He talks to us about the Flint work ethic that shaped him, why he believes vulnerability is the truest form of strength, and why Montenegro is now part of his family’s future. Alongside him, we meet property developer Khalil Al-Hashemi, The Final Pitch creator John Aguilar, retail leader Sima Ganwani Ved, and Mazen Nahawi, founder and CEO of CARMA and RAIYN. Craftsmanship takes many forms across these pages. The Genesis GV90 rethinks flagship motoring, Czinger opens up the extraordinary 21C, and Porsche brings GTS character to the electric Macan. In horology, five great houses balance heritage with fresh ideas. Our citizenship pages look at Argentina’s new citizenship by investment programme, the lasting appeal of Montenegro’s Adriatic coast, and why a child’s age matters when families plan a second passport. Oman, Patagonia and the Maldives offer three compelling escapes. Our longevity section moves from clinical wellness in Kerala to the jungles of Yucatán, Japanese bathing traditions, Arctic stillness, and Balinese healing. The Guild brings us home to one of DIFC’s most distinctive tables. We also explore the objects changing daily life, including AI smart glasses, Apple’s foldable iPhone Duo, health-tracking technology, ultra-thin screens, and more capable home robots. It is an issue about purposeful ambition, thoughtful design, and richer ways to experience the world.
GLOBAL CITIZEN PUBLISHER Tarek Al Kaaki EDITOR IN CHIEF Andrea Antal COPY EDITOR Sameer Denzi CREATIVE Fierce International Art Team PRINTING Masar Printing www.global-citizen.com www.issuu.com/global-citizen www.facebook.com/GlobalCitizenMag www.instagram.com/GlobalCitizenMagazine www.globalcitizenforum.org www.facebook.com/globalcitizenforum.org www.instagram.com/globalcitizenforum
FIERCE INTERNATIONAL FZ LLC PUBLISHER Fierce International Dubai Internet City Dubai Media City - DQuarters - Level 1 T: +971 4 421 5455 - F: +971 4 421 0208 tarek@fierce-international.com Copyright 2026 Fierce International. All rights reserved. Neither this publication nor any part of it may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the permission of Fierce International. Where opinion is expressed it is that of the author and does not necessarily reflect the editorial views of the publisher or Global Citizen. All information in Global Citizen is checked and verified to the best of the publisher’s ability, however the publisher cannot be held responsible for any mistake or omission enclosed in the publication.
We hope you enjoy it.
Andrea Antal Editor-in-Chief Global Citizen Magazine
Terry Crews Photography By: Peter Svenson
20 NOV - DEC 2016
Global Citizen is made of 100% recycled paper
LES TOUPIES A
D A N C E
O F
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GC COVER STORY
THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO TERRY CREWS 22 NOV - DEC 2016
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lint taught him nobody’s coming to save you. Hollywood taught him fame is a loan. Now the NFL castoff turned Golden Buzzer–slamming star is putting his money on the Gulf, and his future on a second passport from Montenegro What did Flint teach you about work and survival that Hollywood never could? Flint taught me that nobody is coming to save you. You show up, you do the work, and you don’t wait for permission. Flint also gave me my work ethic. That city built cars. People clocked in, did hard things with their hands, and went home tired. Nobody was talking about “personal brand.” You were judged by whether you did the job. Hollywood can teach you a lot about image. Flint taught me about substance. In Hollywood, people will tell you you’re great when you’re not. In Flint, the work tells the truth. Either the car runs or it doesn’t. The other thing Flint gave me was art. I was drawing all the time. That was my escape, and it got me a scholarship and a way out. So Flint taught me that your gift is your exit, but only if you work it every single day. I’m still that kid. I just have a bigger canvas now. From the NFL to starting over as an actor — what kept you going when nothing was working? I got cut. That’s the truth of the NFL for most guys. I was an 11th-round pick, I bounced between teams for years, and one day it was over. I moved my family to Los Angeles with almost nothing. I was .
sweeping floors . I worked security at a club. I’d been a professional athlete, and now I was cleaning up after people. What kept me going was my family. Rebecca and the kids were counting on me. So I swept those floors like I was going to get a million dollars. Here’s what I learned. Humility isn’t humiliation. Humiliation is when you let the job define you. Humility is when you do the job well and know it’s not the end of your story. I also stopped waiting for Hollywood to decide what I was. I went out for everything. Game shows, commercials, small parts. Then Friday After Next came, then White Chicks, then Everybody Hates Chris. None of it happened fast. Celebrity is fading, and service is what matters — where did that conviction come from? It came from almost losing everything that celebrity couldn’t buy back. I had the shows, the commercials, people yelling my name in airports. And my marriage was falling apart because of who I was behind closed doors. Fame didn’t fix that. Fame actually hid it. Success is the warmest place to hide. When I went to work on myself, I realized celebrity is a loan. The audience gives it to you, and they can call it back anytime. Service is different. When you serve people, you’re building something that doesn’t depend on whether you’re trending.
23 NOV - DEC 2026
GC COVER STORY
Hosting America’s Got Talent sealed it for me. My job on that stage isn’t to be the star. It’s to make sure somebody who’s been singing in their car for 20 years gets their moment. When I see that person get a Golden Buzzer, I’m not thinking about me. That’s the best feeling in this business. And look at how fame works now. Anybody with a phone can go viral. Attention is cheap. What’s rare is trust. You earn trust by showing up for people consistently, especially when the cameras are off. Rebuilding strength and embracing vulnerability — what did you have to unlearn first? I had to unlearn the idea that strength means control. Where I grew up, a man was strong if he was in charge, if nobody could touch him, if he never showed weakness. I watched that version of manhood up close in my own house, and I swore I’d never be my father. Then I realized I’d become a nicer-looking version of the same thing. I was controlling. I thought because I provided, I got to make the rules. Muscles became armor. I could bench a lot of weight, but I couldn’t say “I’m wrong” or “I need help.” The first thing I had to unlearn was that being right was more important than being in relationship. Rebecca told me the truth, and I had a choice: defend myself or change. I chose to change. That’s where my Four R’s come from — repentance, relearning, recovery, and reinvention. You can’t skip the first one. What I learned is that real power is accountability. It’s saying “that was me” without a “but” behind it. That’s why I called my book
24 NOV - DEC 2016
Tough. Being vulnerable is the toughest thing I’ve ever done, harder than any NFL training camp. Weakness is hiding. Strength is showing up as you really are. How do you decide which ventures deserve your name, and which feels most like you? I use what I call my A.P.I.A. — Authority, Purpose, Intention, and Accountability. Do I actually know something about this? Does it serve people? Am I doing it for the right reason? And will I stand behind it when it goes wrong? If I can’t say yes to all four, it doesn’t get my name. My name is the only thing I own that I can’t buy back. I’ve turned down a lot of money because the thing didn’t line up with who I am. If I wouldn’t use it or put it in my own house — I’m out. The ventures that work for me all connect to the same root: helping people find their power. Acting lets me entertain. Hosting lets me celebrate other people’s talent. Speaking lets me tell the truth about my own mess so somebody else feels less alone. And now I’m building businesses that carry that same spirit. Which one feels most like me? Honestly, the art. I was an artist before I was anything else. Drawing got me out of Flint. Everything I do now — the shows, the keynotes, the brand — is really just me making something and handing it to people. That’s who I’ve always been. Two years running at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix — what keeps pulling you back? In LA, I’m always on. There’s traffic, there’s the next meeting, there’s somebody wanting something. You carry that tension in your body, and you don’t even notice until it’s gone.
COVER STORY GC
25 NOV - DEC 2026
GC COVER STORY
Abu Dhabi is the opposite. The hospitality is on another level. People treat you with a respect that feels old-school, and I love that. F1 is like church for me. The sound of those engines, the engineering, the precision. You’re watching people perform at the highest level, where a tenth of a second decides everything. That speaks to the athlete in me. But what really pulls me back is the energy of the place. Abu Dhabi is building. You can feel ambition everywhere — not hype, actual vision with a plan behind it. Coming from Flint, a city that watched its industry leave, being somewhere that’s betting on its future hits me hard. And honestly, I need it. I talk a lot about recovery and taking care of yourself. A trip like this is how I practice what I preach. I rest, I reset, and I go home a better husband and a better dad. Binghatti Aquarise, a Business Bay apartment, a second citizenship — what drives these moves, and how do you balance legacy with brand? What drives me is that I never want my family to be stuck in one place, depending on one industry. I grew up in a town that put everything on one industry, and when it left, people were devastated. I watched that happen. So I think about diversification like a survival skill. Standing in front of 12,000 people at the Aquarise launch was a rush, but signing on stage was about more than a moment. I was saying out loud, “I believe in what’s being built here, and I’m putting my own money where my mouth is.” I take my Montenegrin citizenship as an honor and a responsibility. When a country asks you to stand with them, you’d better show up for real.
26 NOV - DEC 2016
As for balancing legacy and brand, I don’t really see them as separate. Your brand is what people say about you today. Your legacy is what your kids say about you when you’re gone. If I chase brand without legacy, I’m just a billboard. So every move gets one test: will this still make sense for my grandkids? If the answer is yes, then the brand takes care of itself. Global opportunity is great. But the goal is never to be everywhere. The goal is to be solid everywhere I go. What first made you want a second citizenship? What is a passport worth to you? I’ll be straight with you: I was looking. Years ago, I wrote on my goal list that I wanted to own homes in multiple desirable places around the world, not just one. When I started really researching where, Montenegro kept coming up, and the more I learned, the more I fell in love with it. It felt like the place I was already moving toward was saying, “We want you here too.” That meant a lot. And I’ll tell you something: Montenegro is the best-kept secret in Europe right now. You’ve got the Adriatic coast, mountains, history, and real people, without the crowds and the inflated prices you find in so many other places. I believe it’s the future. People are going to be talking about Montenegro the way they talk about the hottest spots in Europe today, and I’m glad I got there early. Then I thought about my kids. Money is one kind of security. Mobility is another. The freedom to live, work, and build in more than one place is a gift you can hand down. I’m proud to be American. That doesn’t change. A second citizenship isn’t me leaving
COVER STORY GC
anything. It’s me taking on another responsibility and adding to what my family can do. What’s a passport worth? Where I come from, a lot of people never left Michigan, let alone the country. A passport was something you saw in movies. So to me, a passport is proof that the world is bigger than the block you grew up on. It’s access. It’s opportunity. It’s the idea that your story doesn’t have to end where it started. I tell young people this all the time: get a passport, even if you don’t have a trip planned. It changes how you see yourself. You stop thinking like a local and start thinking like a citizen of the world. For me, a second passport is the grown-up version of that same lesson. You set a goal, you go after it, and sometimes the world meets you halfway. How do you hold the US, Montenegro, and the Gulf together without losing your roots?
Your roots aren’t a place. They’re your values. You can take them anywhere if you actually live them. Mine are faith, family, hard work, and accountability. Those don’t change whether I’m in Pasadena, Podgorica, or Dubai. I’m a kid from Flint, Michigan. I’ll always be that. When I walk into a room full of billionaires, I’m still the guy who swept floors to feed his family. I think that’s my edge, honestly. I don’t get impressed by the wrong things. Practically, it comes down to people. I keep a tight circle — my wife Rebecca, my kids, my team. They keep me honest. If I start changing for the worse, they’ll tell me, and I’ve learned to listen. The US is my home. The Gulf is where I feel ambition and rest at the same time. Montenegro is a place I’m building a future in. They’re three different rooms in one house. And the house is built on the same foundation it’s always been.
27 NOV - DEC 2026
GC FEATURE
THE FOUNDER
Building a Sense of Belonging First
28 NOV - DEC 2016
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halil Al-Hashemi brings a design-led perspective to residential development, guided by the belief that a home should feel as good as it looks.
For BOLD, this marks the beginning of a broader ambition to create homes that are defined not only by how they look but also by how they make people feel.
From the placement of keys by the front door to the warmth of the lighting after a long day, he understands how seemingly small details shape the experience of living.
The Collective brings together 94 fully furnished one- and two-bedroom apartments in a boutique residential setting, where bespoke interiors, practical layouts and thoughtfully planned amenities come together to create a considered living experience.
As founder and CEO of BOLD Developer, Al-Hashemi brings this attention to detail to a market often defined by architecture, location and investment returns. For him, a home’s true value lies in how well it serves the people who live in it, balancing functionality, comfort and a sense of belonging.
Every detail is approached with everyday comfort in mind. Carefully selected finishes, functional spaces and ready-to-move-in interiors that offer convenience for residents and a rental-ready proposition for investors.
With more than two decades of experience in interior design, he has developed a keen understanding of how space, materials and aesthetics work together. Through BOLD, he is extending this expertise beyond individual interiors to the creation of complete residential environments.
Rooftop pool decks, landscaped courtyards, leisure terraces, a fitness studio and outdoor sports areas create opportunities for relaxation, wellness and connection. Family-friendly and pet-friendly features further reflect the needs of modern households.
His approach centres on anticipating residents’ needs, simplifying daily routines and ensuring that every design decision serves a purpose.
Developed in collaboration with Design Haus Medy, the architectural vision brings interiors and shared spaces together through a cohesive design approach.
BOLD’s first residential project, The Collective in Dubai South, brings this vision to life through a thoughtful approach to contemporary living, where comfort and connection are integral to the residential experience.
For BOLD, design is integral to how a home functions and feels, shaping an environment that balances aesthetics with the practicalities of everyday life.
As Al-Hashemi puts it, “We want to build the places we genuinely wished we could live in.”
Dubai South offers a strategic setting for BOLD’s first project. Shaped by aviation, logistics, commerce and residential expansion, the district is central to Dubai’s long-term urban and economic ambitions.
29 NOV - DEC 2026
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Its proximity to Al Maktoum International Airport and Expo City Dubai places it within an evolving business and residential corridor. As infrastructure and employment opportunities develop, the area is positioned to attract a growing mix of residents, professionals and investors. For buyers, the opportunity lies in recognizing the district’s potential while considering the pace of infrastructure delivery, essential services and community development. Against this backdrop, The Collective introduces a boutique residential concept that combines furnished apartments, prac tical amenities and distinctive interiors, offering an immediate living proposition alongside the area’s longer-term prospects. Delivering this vision requires close coordination across regulatory approvals, construction schedules, material selection and quality control. For a new developer, translating the original concept into a finished building demands consistency at every stage. Al-Hashemi’s experience in bespoke interiors provides a strong foundation, while The Collective will demonstrate BOLD’s ability to carry its design standards through the complexities of residential development. Ultimately, the project’s success will be measured by the quality of its delivery and how well the completed residences meet the expectations set from the outset.
30 NOV - DEC 2016
For Khalil Al-Hashemi, BOLD represents an opportunity to extend his design philosophy into a broader vision for residential development. As the company grows, the focus will be on maintaining quality, building trusted partnerships and ensuring every project reflects its founding principles. The Collective sets this direction, creating a foundation for future developments guided by purpose and thoughtful execution. Because a building is more than the spaces it contains. It is the life that unfolds within them.
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31 NOV - DEC 2026
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PITCHING BEYOND BORDERS
John Aguilar turns airtime into opportunity
32 NOV - DEC 2016
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he lights are on. The investors are waiting. A founder has minutes to explain the problem, the product, the market and why this particular team deserves the money. Then come the questions. This is where John Aguilar pays closest attention. As creator and host of The Final Pitch, Aguilar has spent years watching entrepreneurs cross the distance between believing in an idea and defending it under pressure. A polished opening can command the room. Useful information often arrives afterwards, when an investor challenges the valuation, identifies a weak assumption, or asks the founder to change direction. Aguilar built a television format around that moment. The show began on CNN Philippines and developed into what its producers describe as Asia’s longest-running business reality pitching programme. It has helped direct millions of dollars into the startup ecosystem and connected aspiring founders with established business leaders. Its Dubai edition extends that platform into a city whose commercial culture is international by design. Aguilar’s authority comes from operating on several sides of the table. He is an award-winning serial entrepreneur, president of independent television producer StreetPark Productions, and chief executive of venture builder Dragon’s Nest. He also produced Philippine Realty TV, a long-running programme focused on property and construction. Before business television, he competed as a decathlete. The common thread is range: success depends on performing across several disciplines and recovering quickly when one event goes badly.
That range shaped The Final Pitch. A conventional pitch contest can reward polish during a short presentation. Aguilar’s format borrows from both investment panels and business challenges, giving investors a longer view of the founder. He has said that investors look beyond the presentation to the quality of the entrepreneur. Resilience, openness and integrity become visible when a contestant receives criticism, revises an idea or works with a team. This is a valuable leadership lesson. Capital can accelerate a sound company, though it cannot supply judgment on a founder’s behalf. Aguilar encourages entrepreneurs to know their numbers, communicate a clear market need and understand the people whose support they are requesting. His book, The Art and Science of the Pitch, published by Penguin Random House Southeast Asia, turns that experience into a practical framework. The title captures his central argument: persuasion needs human connection and disciplined preparation. Moving the franchise to Dubai also reflects Aguilar’s belief that media can bridge markets. The emirate offers access to investors, family offices, multinational businesses and founders from across Asia, the Middle East and Africa. For Filipino entrepreneurs, it is a particularly meaningful stage. The UAE hosts a large Filipino community, including professionals with the experience and networks to build their own businesses. Aguilar has described the expansion as both a dream and a responsibility, adding that he wants to show Asian entrepreneurs can lead globally. That ambition places
33 NOV - DEC 2026
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representation inside the business model. When a founder sees someone with a familiar background negotiating confidently on an international platform, entrepreneurship becomes more imaginable. When investors encounter a wider range of founders, their own view of opportunity can expand. The Dubai series retains the pressure that makes the format useful. Entrepreneurs present to investor judges and angel investors, then work through further scrutiny as the season progresses. Aguilar serves as host, executive producer and interpreter between the room and the audience. His best interventions keep the discussion understandable without reducing its seriousness. Terms, valuations and strategy matter, yet viewers remain engaged because the decisions belong to people with something real at stake. The show also faces a leadership challenge behind the camera. A credible business programme must protect several interests at once. Founders deserve fair representation. Investors need adequate information. Partners expect professional production. Audiences want momentum. Aguilar and executive producer Monica Hipolito-Aguilar, who is also Dragon’s Nest’s chief operating officer, have built an operating partnership around those demands while developing the show’s global expansion. Aguilar’s work offers an alternative view of entrepreneurial influence. A founder can build one company and create jobs through it. A platform builder can help many founders become visible, prepared and investable.
34 NOV - DEC 2016
The impact is distributed, which makes it harder to capture in a single valuation. It can still change an ecosystem’s direction. His athletic past adds a useful dimension to that philosophy. A decathlete trains for ten events and accepts that excellence across the programme matters more than perfection in one discipline. Founders face a similar reality. Product, finance, sales, recruitment and communication all demand attention, often within the same week. Aguilar’s platform rewards that adaptability. A memorable pitch may open the conversation, while consistent execution gives an investor reason to stay. The continuing test is how well The Final Pitch travels. Each market has different investor expectations, regulations and cultural habits. Expansion requires a format strong enough to remain recognisable and flexible enough to feel local. Aguilar is well suited to that negotiation. His career joins production, venture building, sport and authorship, giving him fluency in performance and substance. For a generation of founders, the most valuable outcome may arrive after the cameras stop. A sharper story, a demanding mentor or a serious investor conversation can alter a company’s prospects. Aguilar has built his leadership around creating those encounters. The pitch is the doorway. What matters is whether the entrepreneur is ready to walk through it.
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35 NOV - DEC 2026
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RETAIL WITHOUT LIMITS Sima Ganwani Ved built scale from Dubai 36 NOV - DEC 2016
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efore Sima Ganwani Ved founded a retail group spanning 14 countries, she managed a department in her father’s Dubai shopping mall. She was 20, newly returned from university in the United Kingdom and close enough to the sales floor to see every consequence of a business decision. Stock that looked promising in a meeting could sit untouched. The right employee could rescue a difficult interaction. A customer’s smallest hesitation could reveal a bigger mistake in price, product or presentation. That early education established the operating principle behind Ved’s career: retail is won in detail and repeated at scale. In 1996, she founded Apparel Group. Three decades later, the Dubai-based enterprise has become one of the Middle East’s largest fashion and lifestyle retailers. The group’s public profiles list its portfolio as including more than 85 international brands, with more than 2,300 stores across 14 countries. It employs tens of thousands of people and spans fashion, footwear, beauty, food and beverage, and lifestyle concepts. Its names include ALDO, Charles & Keith, Skechers, Tommy Hilfiger and Tim Hortons. The numbers convey reach. Ved’s more significant achievement is the operating system behind them. International brands entering the Gulf need a partner that understands real estate, local tastes, hiring, supply chains, marketing and regulation. A store concept proven in London or Toronto cannot simply be copied into Riyadh, Dubai or Doha. It must preserve the brand’s identity while responding to the habits of a different customer. Ved built Apparel Group around that act of translation.
The company’s portfolio approach spreads risk across categories and price points, while its regional infrastructure allows new concepts to scale. Shopping centres remain important, though digital commerce and loyalty data have changed how customers discover and buy. Apparel Group has developed online channels, including 6thStreet.com, and continues to add physical stores. The combination reflects a practical view of modern retail: customers choose the channel that suits the moment, and the retailer must recognise them across each one. Her own story is closely connected to Dubai’s growth. Born in Africa, she moved to the emirate with her family in the 1970s. She has recalled watching her father, entrepreneur Lal Ganwani, work intensely to support relatives in India. She later fought for the chance to attend university, earning a bachelor’s degree at King’s College London and pursuing postgraduate business study. Those experiences gave her two lasting lessons: the responsibility that comes with enterprise and the importance of women claiming room to lead. Ved speaks frequently about gender equality, inclusion and the commercial value of diverse teams. Apparel Group has placed women’s empowerment within its public agenda, and she has taken that discussion to forums in Davos, Riyadh and Dubai. Her position is grounded in organisational performance. A retailer serving a broad public needs decision-makers who understand that public. Inclusive leadership improves the range of questions asked about products, customers, workplaces and cities.
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That commitment is visible in the group’s community initiatives. Apparel Group brands have supported breast cancer awareness through partnerships with organisations including Friends of Cancer Patients and Al Jalila Foundation. Its sustainable athleisure brand F5 Global has backed a World Refugee Day initiative involving UNHCR. The group has also developed programmes focused on health, education, and environmental responsibility. These efforts vary in scale, yet together they show how a large retail network can direct attention and resources toward social priorities. Ved’s leadership extends beyond the conventional image of a corporate chair. In the early 2000s, she wrote a newspaper column, acted in plays and hosted the television programme Hi Tea with Sima Ved. Those pursuits reveal comfort with public communication and creative risk. They also help explain why she treats brands as cultural experiences rather than inventory alone. Retail at its best combines theatre, service, psychology and logistics. Her enduring challenge is to preserve entrepreneurial speed inside a mature organisation. A portfolio of more than 85 brands can create complexity. Each concept requires clear accountability, and each country demands local expertise. Growth in Saudi Arabia and India presents substantial opportunity, while changing consumer confidence, rents and global supply chains require constant adjustment. Ved’s answer has been to combine partnerships with a strong regional platform and a continuing appetite for new categories.
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Recognition has followed. Forbes Middle East placed her among its 100 Most Powerful Businesswomen, and Retail Leaders Circle has highlighted her influence on the sector’s future. Awards are a useful marker, though the stronger evidence appears in the thousands of daily interactions across the group’s stores. Retail leadership is renewed each time a customer enters, a colleague solves a problem or a brand decides to place its regional reputation in the group’s hands. Ved’s journey offers a compelling model for founders. She started close to the customer, learned the mechanics of the business and expanded through repeatable capability. She remained open to performance, media and advocacy, building a public voice alongside commercial scale. Above all, she treated Dubai as a base for outward growth. The empire in the headline is real. Its foundation is less glamorous and more instructive: attention to people, disciplined execution and the confidence to keep widening the map.
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TRUST AT THE TOP
Mazen Nahawi, Founder and CEO of CARMA and RAIYN, on reputation, leadership, and earning lasting trust.
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ou’ve spent three decades in communications intelligence, and now you’ve brought four established firms together under one network. What problem in the market convinced you that RAIYN needed to exist, and what do you believe the traditional communications industry has fundamentally got wrong?
I have spent thirty years listening to what people say about organisations. What they are really telling you, every time, is whether they trust them. That is a human question, and it deserves a joined-up answer. Yet clients were buying PR from one firm, social from another and research from a third. Each did good work. Nobody was joining it up. The industry organised itself by discipline. People don’t experience a brand that way. They experience it whole. RAIYN is our answer. Four founder-led
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firms working as one, so organisations can understand people and earn their trust. You describe RAIYN as “trust-led,” but trust can sound like an abstract communications concept. From a CEO’s perspective, how do you turn trust into a measurable business asset and ultimately connect it to revenue, valuation, growth or resilience? Companies don’t own their brands. Stakeholders and consumers do. They give you their trust, and they can take it back.
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Trust is a daily decision. It determines whether clients choose your products, regulators give you the benefit of the doubt, and employees stay through difficult periods. These outcomes translate directly into revenue, resilience, growth and, ultimately, brand valuation.
RAIYN combines the capabilities of Brazen MENA and APAC, Cicero & Bernay, Salient Communication Group and SOCIALEYEZ, bringing together specialist expertise, deep marketing capabilities and the agility to address complex challenges across markets.
Trust also shapes how a CEO is judged. When something goes wrong, do people wait to hear your side? If they do, you have built credibility. If they have already made up their minds, that value is eroding.
Ultimately, value is measured by what lasts. Our focus is on building longterm client relationships and creating value through every communication.
That is why RAIYN puts trust at the centre of everything. Reputation deserves the same scrutiny as financial risk. I would put four measures on every board agenda: stakeholder sentiment, emerging issues, the gap between what a company says and what people believe, and whether its culture inspires pride. Boards must also ask whether their organisations are prepared for an uncertain future. These indicators should be reviewed continuously, not just annually. The Future of Communications RAIYN brings strategy, creativity, digital expertise and intelligence together under one connected model. The traditional PR agency is not disappearing, but the industry must evolve to meet changing client expectations. Clients no longer want disconnected departments. They want one accountable team that understands their business and delivers measurable results.
Artificial Intelligence and Human Judgement AI is already transforming communications, from research and summarisation to content creation and routine tasks. Over the next five years, these capabilities will expand, allowing professionals to focus on interpretation, strategy and higher-value work. Marketing is particularly exposed to this transformation, which is why we have developed our own AI systems across RAIYN to improve efficiency and give our teams more time to focus on clients. But judgement remains human. AI cannot sit with a CEO before a difficult announcement and tell them what they need to hear. That requires experience, courage and trust. It is reflected in our name: RAIYN stands for both AI and AI – intelligence and humanity. Technology should support decisions; people must make them. MENA: From Importing Ideas to Exporting Influence
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For decades, the region imported its communications playbook. That is changing. MENA businesses with global ambitions need partners who understand their origins, international aspirations, diverse stakeholders and cultural identities. Our strength lies in that cultural fluency. Many AI models rely on Western data and overlook regional languages and dialects. We understand these nuances and are building a new generation of national communications experts, aligned with local value standards and equipped for an AI-enabled industry. RAIYN is made in MENA and built for the world. The region is increasingly shaping its own rules and exporting its influence. Building One Connected Network Bringing four established businesses together means aligning different cultures, leadership styles and specialist identities without losing what makes each distinctive. Our foundation is a shared set of values: trust, care, partnership and quality. We are building one culture across RAIYN through shared habits, agile teams and a commitment to continuous learning. Our account teams are organised around expertise rather than company origins, allowing us to deliver integrated solutions across sectors. This approach has already helped us secure new business in real estate and hospitality. Strong cultures take time. Integration should strengthen individual capabilities,
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not dilute them. Measuring What Really Matters Communications has long been criticised for measuring activity rather than impact. Media coverage, impressions and reach matter, but they do not necessarily translate into business outcomes. Clients should demand measurable impact and accountability from their partners. The right questions are simple: Did audiences change their minds? Did trust improve? Did people choose your brand? Did the relationship lead to business? At CARMA, part of our group, we measure what people think, say and feel about organisations across markets and languages. Intelligence provides the insight; evidence demonstrates the impact. CEOs should focus on the metrics that matter: reputation, sentiment, share of voice and the business outcomes they influence. Ultimately, we measure ourselves by our clients’ growth. Five Years Ahead: A New Standard for Trust RAIYN began as a promise: to bring people together and build respect. In five years, I want that promise to have become a standard. Clients should set the benchmark for how organisations measure themselves. They should know that we presented the complete picture, told the truth even when inconvenient, and helped them make better decisions.
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Trust must become a business asset discussed in every boardroom. The MENA region has the opportunity to lead that conversation globally.
RAIYN takes its name from light and rain – two forces that make things grow. That is precisely what we want to deliver for our clients, our people and our region.
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TIME TAKES A LEAP
Art Deco elegance meets jumping hours
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udemars Piguet is best known today for the Royal Oak, yet its archives contain a much broader history of unusual complications and shaped watches. The Neo Frame Jumping Hour draws from that heritage, revisiting a display style explored by the manufacture during the 1920s and pairing it with a slender case inspired by a 1929 archival design.
along its sides, giving the watch the streamlined character associated with Art Deco architecture and the glamour of early motor travel. Black sapphire forms a substantial part of the case and dial construction, creating a strong contrast with the warm gold framework. A textured calfskin strap keeps the overall composition elegant and restrained.
Instead of conventional hour and minute hands, the watch presents time through two apertures in a black sapphire dial. The hour numeral changes instantaneously every 60 minutes, while the minutes progress through a separate display. Reading the time becomes an intentional pleasure, with each turn of the hour marked by a crisp mechanical jump.
The model takes inspiration from Audemars Piguet’s pre-model 1271 of 1929. Early jumping-hour watches often used metal covers to protect their fragile glass,
The elongated 34 mm case is crafted from 18 ct pink gold. Vertical gadroons run
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leaving only small openings through which the time could be read. The Neo Frame reverses that relationship by placing modern sapphire at the centre of the design, allowing the dark, glossy surface to become part of the watch’s identity.
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Inside is calibre 7122, Audemars Piguet’s first self-winding jumping-hour movement. It was developed to deliver an instantaneous change while maintaining resistance to everyday shocks. The movement provides a power reserve of approximately 52 hours and is finished according to the decorative traditions expected of haute horlogerie. The Neo Frame Jumping Hour offers a different expression of Audemars Piguet
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for collectors familiar with its sportier icons. It feels formal without becoming conservative and historically informed without looking like a reproduction. Its appeal lies in the combination of mechanical theatre, graphic clarity and compact proportions. On the wrist, it becomes both a discreet conversation piece and a reminder that displaying time can still be imaginative.
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A GOLDEN EVOLUTION Rolex introduces its newest precious alloy
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ew watches communicate achievement as instantly as the Rolex Day-Date. Since its debut in 1956, it has appeared on the wrists of presidents, entrepreneurs, artists and cultural leaders. For 2026, the Day-Date 40 receives a significant update through the introduction of Jubilee Gold, a new proprietary 18 ct alloy developed and produced entirely in-house by Rolex. Jubilee Gold has a softer and more nuanced appearance than traditional yellow or rose gold. Its colour combines gentle yellow, warm grey and subtle pink tones, creating a finish that changes character as the light moves across the case and bracelet. The effect is sophisticated and distinctive,
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particularly for collectors who appreciate precious metal without seeking the stronger colour of classic yellow gold. The new alloy is paired with a light green aventurine dial cut from natural stone. Its fine mineral inclusions produce a delicate sparkle, ensuring that each dial has its own character. Ten baguette-cut diamond hour markers add definition and form a clean circle around the dial. The signature day display remains positioned at 12 o’clock, with the date and Cyclops magnifying lens at three. At 40 mm, the case has the presence expected of a modern prestige watch while retaining the balanced proportions that have helped
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the Day-Date endure for seven decades. Its fluted bezel and three-link President bracelet provide two of the collection’s most recognisable design signatures. The concealed Crownclasp keeps the bracelet visually uninterrupted around the wrist. Inside is Rolex calibre 3255, a self-winding mechanical movement that controls the hours, minutes, seconds, day and date. It offers approximately 70 hours of power reserve and carries the brand’s Superlative Chronometer certification. The Oyster case is waterproof to
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100 metres, giving this highly polished watch genuine everyday resilience. The Jubilee Gold Day-Date 40 feels appropriately celebratory for one of Rolex’s defining collections. It preserves every element that made the watch an international symbol of success while introducing a colour that feels fresh, refined and difficult to replicate. For established collectors, it offers a compelling new interpretation of a familiar icon. For a first-time Day-Date owner, it may be the most distinctive version yet.
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GOLD REACHES NEW HEIGHTS Chopard elevates its modern sporting signature
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he Alpine Eagle has become one of Chopard’s most recognisable contemporary watches, combining an integrated bracelet with a dial inspired by the iris of an eagle. The new Alpine Eagle 41 XP CS Gold elevates that sporting design through ethical rose gold, an exceptionally slim profile and a finely finished movement carrying two respected watchmaking distinctions. Its 41 mm case and bracelet are crafted entirely from 18 ct ethical rose gold. Even the hour and minute hands use the precious metal, creating a consistent warmth across the watch. At only 8 mm thick, the case has a refined profile that slips easily beneath a cuff while retaining the substantial feel collectors expect from a full-gold sports watch. The dial is among its most memorable details. Chopard calls the colour “Shades of
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Wood,” a graduated brown that darkens toward the edge. Its concentric pattern recalls both the rings of a tree and the texture of an eagle’s iris. The combination brings depth and movement to the surface, with the colour shifting from caramel to deep chocolate depending on the light. Chopard has redesigned the bracelet to improve both its appearance and comfort. The first five links taper more decisively from the case, while the links approaching the clasp become narrower. An integrated adjustment system allows the bracelet to extend by up to five millimetres, useful during travel, warm weather or a long evening when the wrist naturally expands. The self-winding L.U.C 96.42-L movement measures just 3.3 mm thick. A 22 ct gold micro-rotor winds two stacked barrels,
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providing around 65 hours of power reserve. The movement is COSC-certified as a chronometer and bears the Poinçon de Genève, recognising the quality of its construction, decoration and case finishing. A sapphire caseback allows owners to appreciate its hand-finished surfaces. Water resistance to 100 metres preserves the everyday versatility expected from the
Alpine Eagle. This is a serious haute horlogerie watch that can accompany a tailored suit, relaxed resort wardrobe or international itinerary with equal confidence. Its appeal comes from balance: precious without excess, technically accomplished without becoming intimidating, and distinctive enough to feel personal in a crowded field of luxury sports watches.
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STRUCTURE TAKES CENTRE STAGE Hermès reveals the mechanics within
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ermès has always approached watchmaking with a distinctive point of view. Its watches often play with typography, proportion and the very idea of time, reflecting the same creative confidence found across the maison’s fashion, leather and home collections. The H08 Squelette brings that approach to open-worked watchmaking, revealing the movement within a bold contemporary case. The H08 first appeared as a versatile sports watch with a rounded square profile. In Squelette form, its geometry becomes even more pronounced. The
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titanium case is coated in black DLC and paired with a satin-brushed ceramic bezel featuring mirror-polished chamfers. The mixture of matte, brushed and polished surfaces gives the watch depth while preserving its monochrome character. Its open-worked dial places the movement’s structure in full view. Bridges and components form a layered black framework beneath the hands, while a grey minute track helps maintain legibility. Hermès’ stylised numerals appear around the outer edge, adding a graphic quality that separates the H08 from more
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traditional skeleton watches. The result feels architectural and modern, with enough visual restraint to remain wearable. The case measures 42 mm from lug to lug and 39 mm across. These compact proportions, combined with the lightness of titanium, make it comfortable despite its strong visual presence. Rubber straps in shades including black, Dune, green and deep blue introduce colour without distracting from the open dial. A black DLC-coated titanium folding clasp completes the streamlined design. Hermès’ self-winding H1978 S calibre powers the hours, minutes and seconds and provides a 60-hour power reserve.
Both the front crystal and caseback use anti-reflective sapphire, allowing the wearer to view the movement from either side. Water resistance to 10 bar, equivalent to 100 metres, gives the Squelette the durability expected of a contemporary sports watch. The H08 Squelette will appeal to collectors who admire mechanical detail but prefer a cleaner and more design-conscious interpretation of skeletonisation. It has the technical interest of an exposed movement, the comfort of a lightweight sports watch and the unmistakable visual identity of Hermès. On the wrist, it feels current, versatile and confidently removed from conventional watchmaking formulas.
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AN ICON RETURNS
Cartier revives its sporting original
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he Cartier Roadster has returned more than two decades after its original launch in 2002. Its revival arrives at an ideal moment, as collectors increasingly embrace shaped cases, expressive design and watches that carry a strong identity. Inspired by the visual language of classic automobiles, the Roadster remains one of Cartier’s most energetic creations.
Large models are powered by Cartier’s self-winding calibre 1847 MC, with hours, minutes, central seconds and a date display. The movement provides approximately 40 hours of power reserve. Medium models use the automatic calibre 1899 MC, allowing the Roadster’s distinctive form to suit a broader range of wrists.
Its case blends the curves of a tonneau watch with the purposeful detailing of a sports model. The dial takes cues from a speedometer, while the magnified date window resembles the shape of a vintage headlamp. A conical crown, exposed screws and sculpted bracelet links reinforce the automotive theme without turning the watch into a novelty piece. Cartier’s Roman numerals and sword-shaped hands keep the design unmistakably connected to the maison.
Versatility is a major part of the revival. Cartier’s QuickSwitch system allows the bracelet to be exchanged for an accompanying leather or rubber strap without tools. A steel Roadster can move easily from a polished daytime watch to a more relaxed weekend option. Water resistance to 100 metres gives it enough practicality for regular wear and travel.
The revived collection includes large and medium models in steel, yellow gold and two-tone combinations. One of the most striking large versions pairs a steel case with a rich blue PVD dial and matching luminous details. Measuring 47.2 by 38.7 mm, it has a strong wrist presence, although the curved case and integrated bracelet help it sit more naturally than the dimensions might suggest.
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The Roadster’s return reminds collectors that Cartier’s design archive extends well beyond the Tank and Santos. This is a confident, characterful watch with the visual energy of a grand touring car and the elegance expected from Place Vendôme. It feels familiar to those who remember the original and refreshingly individual to a new generation discovering it for the first time.
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SPEED UNDER OPEN SKIES California’s hypercar loses its roof
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he Czinger 21C Spyder brings fresh drama to an already extraordinary American hypercar. Developed and hand-assembled in Los Angeles, it combines a central driving position, advanced manufacturing and immense hybrid power with the heightened sensations of an open cockpit. For collectors accustomed to familiar European badges, the Czinger offers something genuinely different. Its shape is low, narrow and purposeful, with tandem seating that places the passenger directly behind the driver. This arrangement reduces frontal area while making the person at the wheel feel like a fighter pilot. Remove the roof panels
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and the experience becomes even more intense, bringing the rush of air and the sound of the powertrain directly into the cabin. The 21C’s unusual proportions also ensure it commands attention before the engine has even started. That engine is a compact 2.88-litre twin-turbocharged V8 developed inhouse. It produces 750 bhp and revs to 11,000 rpm, while electric motors raise total output to 1,250 bhp. Czinger claims the Spyder can accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in 1.9 seconds and reach 205 mph. These are remarkable figures for any road car, particularly one created by a relatively young manufacturer.
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Much of the 21C’s fascination lies in how it is made. Czinger uses computational design and additive manufacturing to create lightweight components with intricate, almost organic forms. Around 23 per cent of the car is printed, while the chassis weighs just125 kg. The resulting structures resemble bones and tendons, shaped to place material precisely where strength is required.
The road stretches ahead from a central seat, accompanied by a high-revving V8 and the knowledge that very few people will ever share the experience. The 21C Spyder feels less like another hypercar variation and more like a glimpse of a new automotive era.
For all its futuristic engineering, the Spyder speaks to a timeless desire: experiencing a fast car with as little separation as possible between driver, machine and surroundings. There is no conventional windscreen framing the view and no neighbouring passenger occupying the driver’s peripheral vision.
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THE ELECTRIC SWEET SPOT Everyday usability meets genuine Porsche pace
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he letters GTS have long identified some of Porsche’s most desirable models. They traditionally signal a carefully judged combination of performance, usability and distinctive styling, positioned below the most extreme version in the range. The all-electric Macan GTS follows that familiar formula while introducing it to a new generation of Porsche SUV. Its dual-motor, all-wheel-drive system produces up to 420 kW, equivalent to 571 PS, when launch control is engaged. That is enough to send the Macan from 0 to 100 km/h in 3.8 seconds and onwards to 250 km/h. Those figures place it firmly in sports-car territory, yet the GTS retains five seats, a practical luggage compartment and a towing capacity of up to 2.5 tonnes. Straight-line speed is only part of the attraction. Porsche has given the GTS a rear-biased character, model-specific damper settings and sports air suspension that lowers the body by 10 millimetres. Porsche Active Suspension Management is standard, while rear-axle steering is available for drivers seeking even greater agility. The result promises to feel more alert and engaging than the regular Macan Electric without sacrificing daily comfort.
Visual differences are purposeful rather than theatrical. Black wheel-arch trim, side blades and exterior detailing give the GTS a sharper presence, complemented by redesigned side skirts and model-specific wheels. Inside, Race-Tex upholstery and black leather create a focused atmosphere. Optional interior packages introduce stitching and accents in Carmine Red, Lugano Blue or Slate Grey Neo, allowing owners to connect the cabin with the exterior colour. The 100 kWh battery offers a WLTP range of up to 586 kilometres. At a suitable rapid charger, the 800-volt system can replenish the battery from 10 to 80 per cent in around 21 minutes. This makes the Macan GTS realistic for long journeys as well as energetic weekend drives. The Macan GTS succeeds because it understands its audience. It delivers serious pace, polished road manners and the visual confidence expected of a Porsche, wrapped in a format that fits comfortably into everyday life. For many enthusiasts entering the electric era, this may be the Macan that makes the strongest case.
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ADVENTURE FINDS ITS SPARK The electric pick-up grows more polished
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he Rivian R1T has always looked like a vehicle built for people whose weekends begin where paved roads end. Its combination of electric performance, practical storage and outdoors-focused design helped turn a young American manufacturer into one of the industry’s most recognisable names. For 2027, Rivian has refined its flagship pick-up with a simpler range and more standard capability. The line-up now consists of Premium, Performance and Quad trims. Premium uses a dual-motor all-wheel-drive system producing 533 horsepower, with an optional upgrade raising output to 665 horsepower. Performance adds a third motor, 850 horsepower and acceleration from 0 to 60 mph in as little as 2.9 seconds. At the top sits the 1,025 horsepower Quad, capable of completing the same sprint in 2.5 seconds.
Such figures sound more suited to a supercar, yet the R1T remains an impressively useful machine. Its lockable Gear Tunnel runs across the body behind the cabin, offering secure storage for luggage or outdoor equipment. The front trunk adds another weatherproof compartment, while the powered cargo bed can carry the equipment required for camping, cycling or a full family escape. The R1T feels created around a particular kind of modern freedom. It can carry bikes, tackle remote trails and accelerate with astonishing force, yet it remains comfortable enough for the school run or a long motorway journey. In a market full of imposing pick-ups, Rivian’s greatest achievement is making capability feel inviting, intelligent and genuinely enjoyable.
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SMALL CAR, SERIOUS PACE
BMW sharpens its compact performance coupé
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he BMW M2 has earned a loyal following by keeping the traditional ingredients of a great M car in a compact package. A muscular six-cylinder engine sits at the front, power goes to the rear wheels and the driver remains central to the experience. The limited-production M2 CS takes that formula further with more power, less weight and a greater sense of occasion. Its twin-turbocharged 3.0-litre straightsix produces 523 horsepower, an increase of 50 horsepower over the standard M2 in the United States. An eightspeed M Steptronic transmission sends
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power exclusively to the rear wheels. With launch control, BMW quotes 0 to 60 mph in 3.7 seconds and a top speed of 188 mph, equivalent to 302 km/h. BMW has reduced weight by 97 pounds, or approximately 44 kilograms, through the extensive use of carbon-fibre-reinforced plastic. The roof, boot lid, exterior details and sections of the cabin use the lightweight material, while forged alloy wheels are fitted as standard. Revised suspension settings, additional chassis bracing and specially tuned electronic systems give the CS quicker responses and greater precision.
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The styling communicates its purpose immediately. A pronounced carbon rear spoiler, sculpted bonnet and enlarged front openings create a more assertive profile. Four exhaust outlets preserve the visual theatre expected from an M car. Inside, heated carbon bucket seats, an Alcantara steering wheel and CS-specific displays reinforce the connection to BMW’s motorsport heritage, although the cabin retains the technology and everyday convenience of the regular M2. The CS badge also brings scarcity. Production began in Mexico in August 2025, with the model offered in limited numbers. That exclusivity, combined with the continued use of a high-output petrol engine and rear-wheel drive, is likely to give the M2 CS lasting appeal among collectors.
Its character is easy to understand. This is a compact coupé built for drivers who enjoy the sound, balance and physical involvement of a powerful rear-driven car. It can handle ordinary journeys, yet every detail encourages its owner to seek out a favourite road. In an age of increasingly large and complicated performance cars, the M2 CS keeps the pleasure concentrated.
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THREE WHEELS, FULL THRILL Campagna T-REX RR: A raw, unapologetic expression of performance that turns every drive into an occasion.
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n a world of increasingly sophisticated supercars, where technology often softens the edges of performance, the Campagna T-REX RR takes a different road. With three wheels, an exposed cockpit and an unmistakable road presence, this Canadian-built machine strips driving back to its most visceral essentials: power, precision and pure adrenaline. Part motorcycle, part sports car, the T-REX RR refuses to fit neatly into any category. Its distinctive three-wheel configuration pairs a wide, planted front end with a single rear wheel, creating
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a low-slung, muscular silhouette that commands attention before the engine even starts. At its heart is a BMW-sourced inline-six engine, delivering responsive performance with every press of the throttle. The RR’s lightweight architecture, purposebuilt chassis, direct steering, and openair cockpit put the emphasis firmly on driver engagement. There is no cocoon of luxury insulation here, no attempt to separate driver from machine—every curve and acceleration becomes part of the experience.
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That is precisely the appeal. The T-REX RR is not designed to disappear into the background as an anonymous daily commuter. It is a statement of individuality for those who believe driving should remain an event rather than a simple means of transportation. Its tandem-style cockpit reinforces this sense of occasion, offering an intimate setting that makes every journey memorable. For collectors and enthusiasts who already own traditional supercars, this three-wheeled outlier offers something
refreshingly different: a machine chosen not for performance figures alone, but for raw emotion. The Campagna T-REX RR makes no compromises in pursuit of convention because convention was never the point. It is a celebration of mechanical theatre, bold design, and the simple pleasure of being completely connected to the drive. Three wheels. Six cylinders. Zero interest in playing by the rules.
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ARGENTINA: WHERE GLOBAL CITIZENSHIP MEETS THE GOOD LIFE
South America’s first citizenship by investment program opens the door to a G20 nation known for its culture, its landscapes and a way of life that is hard to find anywhere else. 68 NOV - DEC 2016
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uenos Aires wakes up late and stays up later. Dinner rarely starts before ten. In Recoleta and Palermo, Belle Époque façades line streets of bookshops, cafés and galleries, and the Teatro Colón remains one of the great opera houses of the world. A two-hour flight away, the vineyards of Mendoza run up to the foothills of the Andes. Further south, Patagonia offers lakes, glaciers and ski slopes in Bariloche that are empty by the standards of the Alps. Argentina has always drawn travelers. It is now preparing to welcome a new kind of resident. Announced by Minister of Economy Luis Caputo in Paris on 2 October 2026, Argentina›s planned Citizenship by Investment Program will be the first of its kind in South America, with applications expected to open in the fourth quarter of 2026. For internationally mobile families, it offers something few programs can: citizenship of a G20 economy, a strong passport and access to an entire continent. Why Argentina, and why now For ultra-high-net-worth families, a second citizenship is rarely about leaving home. It is about options: somewhere stable to spend time, a passport that opens doors, and a second base far from the pressures of any one region. Argentina answers each of these. Safety. Argentina recorded 3.6 homicides per 100,000 inhabitants in 2025, according to government figures. That is the lowest rate among the Latin American and Caribbean countries included in the
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government›s analysis, and Buenos Aires City recorded its lowest homicide rate in more than three decades. Distance from global flashpoints. Geographically removed from many of the world’s conflict zones, Argentina offers a sense of calm that increasingly shapes where wealthy families choose to keep a second home. A passport that travels. The Argentine passport ranks 14th worldwide on Arton Capital›s Passport Index, with a Mobility Score of 160. That includes visa-free access to the Schengen Area. A continent within reach. Through the Mercosur Residence Agreement, Argentine citizens have a straightforward route to residence in countries including Brazil, Chile, Uruguay, Colombia and Peru. That makes it easier to live, study and do business across the region. The seasons, reversed. Argentina›s summer arrives as the Northern Hemisphere winter sets in. For families splitting the year between continents, that means two summers instead of one. A life worth living What sets Argentina apart is not only what a passport can do, but how life feels on the ground. Buenos Aires is one of the most cultured cities in the Americas. It is a capital of theater, literature and design, with a restaurant scene that ranges from classic parrillas to some of the region›s most
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acclaimed tasting menus. The city›s European heritage shows in its architecture, its cafés and its rhythm of life. Beyond the capital, the country opens up. Mendoza is the heartland of Malbec, with vineyard estates and boutique lodges set against the Andes. Salta’s high-altitude wineries and colonial towns offer a quieter pace. In the countryside, estancias carry on the traditions of gaucho culture, and Argentina’s place at the top of world polo makes the Palermo Open a fixture of the international social calendar. Patagonia offers skiing in winter and fly-fishing, sailing and hiking when the snow melts. Education is another draw. Argentina has a highly educated population and well-regarded universities, and Spanish fluency is an asset for any child whose future spans continents.
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Two routes to citizenship The program will offer two investment pathways, designed for different investor profiles while supporting Argentina’s fiscal and financial objectives. • Treasury Contribution: a non-refundable contribution of US$350,000 for a single applicant, with additional amounts determined by family composition. A contribution of US$500,000 is expected for a family of four. • Sovereign Bond Investment: an investment of US$800,000 in a government security created specifically for the program. Built on rigorous oversight Credibility matters as much as access, and Argentina has designed its program with that in mind.
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Applications will be assessed by the Agency for Citizenship by Investment Programs, working with the State Intelligence Secretariat, the Financial Information Unit and the Ministry of Security. Screening will cover identity, source of funds, assets, criminal and reputational records, immigration history and jurisdictional risk. All funds must pass through the formal financial system, and international due diligence experts will also take part. Following its assessment, the Agency will submit a recommendation to the National Directorate of Migration, which will approve or reject each application. Arton Capital is one of five investment migration firms advising the Argentine Government through Argentina Mobility for Investment and Global Opportunity Limited (AMIGO), alongside Latitude Group, Passport Legacy, AIM Global and Apex Capital Partners. The consortium has supported the program›s design and will continue to
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assist with its implementation and launch. Senior representatives joined Minister Caputo in Paris for the announcement. A new chapter Argentina offers a rare combination: the stature of a G20 nation, the reach of a continentwide residence framework, and a way of life rooted in culture, landscape and long evenings around the table. For families thinking about where the next generation will live, learn and invest, it deserves a place on the shortlist. Arton Capital is now accepting registrations of interest for Argentina’s Citizenship by Investment Program. Register your interest at artoncapital.com. Program details are subject to final regulations and may change. This article is for general information only and does not constitute legal, tax or immigration advice.
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THE DOORS YOU OPEN BEFORE THEY’RE 18
For families considering residence or citizenship abroad, the right time to act may depend on more than investment markets. It may depend on where their children are in life. 74 NOV - DEC 2016
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hen parents explore citizenship options, they are often thinking years ahead: where their children might study, the opportunities they could pursue and the freedom to build a life across countries. Yet the application itself depends on the family’s circumstances today.
Growing up, changing eligibility
A child who qualifies as a dependant while at university may be assessed differently after graduation. A first job, marriage or a milestone birthday could change whether they can join a parent’s application. The family’s plans may remain the same, while the route available to them changes.
Dominica, for example, allows children aged 18 to 30 who attend an institution of higher learning and are fully supported by the principal applicant or their spouse. Saint Lucia also makes provision for children no more than 30 years old who are fully supported by the applicant.
This makes a child’s age and circumstances an important part of the investment decision. Understanding them early can help families coordinate their plans, prepare the right documents and avoid discovering that one member needs a separate pathway.
For parents supporting a child through university, these provisions can make a shared application possible. But they also show why choosing a program involves more than comparing investment amounts. The conditions attached to dependent status must fit each child’s situation.
Turning 18 does not automatically exclude a child from a family citizenship application. Several programs accommodate adult children, recognising that financial independence often comes later.
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Applying together can simplify the practical process. Documentation, screening and submission can be coordinated, while every family member still needs to satisfy the applicable eligibility requirements. The cost of a separate path When an adult child no longer qualifies as a dependant, the financial picture can change. In Saint Lucia, a child aged 18 or older who falls outside the dependent criteria would need to apply as a separate principal applicant. They would then have to meet the relevant investment and application requirements in their own right. Depending on the chosen program, a separate application may involve another contribution or investment, additional government and professional fees, and its own assessment timeline. What began as one family decision can become two distinct commitments.
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The timing of eligibility checks also matters. Families should understand whether dependent status is assessed at submission, approval or another stage, particularly when a child is approaching an age limit or a change in circumstances. For residence programs, the longer-term questions extend to renewal, permanent residence and any eventual route to citizenship. Inclusion in the first application should be considered alongside what happens next. Arton Capital helps families bring these considerations into the planning process, assessing available options against the ages, circumstances and ambitions of each generation. The aim is to identify a pathway that supports the people at the heart of the decision. Plan your family’s residence and citizenship options with Arton Capital. Visit artoncapital.com.
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MONTENEGRO: A LIFE ON THE ADRIATIC, BUILT TO LAST 78 NOV - DEC 2016
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n the Adriatic coast, Montenegro has quietly become one of Europe’s most compelling places to spend time. Historic towns such as Kotor and Perast sit beside new marina communities built for international residents, all within a short flight of the continent’s major cities. For many global citizens, it is no longer just a destination. It is a place to own a home, build a community and return to year after year. Why Montenegro Appeals to Global Citizens Montenegro›s appeal begins with the life people can build there. International waterfront communities bring homes, places to work and an active social calendar into the same neighbourhood. For investors, this creates a close connection between owning a property and enjoying it. For those who obtained Montenegrin citizenship under the former program, that connection extends further, offering the freedom to make the country a lasting home.
In Tivat, Porto Montenegro brings this lifestyle into focus. A meeting in a business club can be followed by dinner overlooking the marina, while concerts, exhibitions and sailing events help residents build connections beyond work. A Lifestyle Built Around Community Porto Montenegro illustrates how a destination can accommodate both visitors and residents. Its residential neighborhoods sit within a community that operates throughout the year, combining everyday conveniences with the services associated with a marina destination. Someone spending several months there can find places to work and socialize within the same neighborhood. Luštica Bay offers another expression of this approach. Its marina village brings homes together with dining, leisure and hospitality, including The Chedi hotel. The appeal of ownership extends to the setting around the residence: somewhere to meet friends, welcome guests and settle into a routine.
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Montenegro’s established towns add another layer. Kotor and Perast give the country a strong architectural and maritime identity, rooted in centuries of Mediterranean history. Spending time there introduces residents to a local culture that exists alongside the newer international communities.
base for longer stays.
Investing in a Place to Spend Time
The facilities around a property help shape that decision. Access to dining, professional spaces and leisure activities can make a home easier to use throughout the year. Porto Montenegro and Luštica Bay show how residential investment can form part of a wider environment designed around daily life.
For a buyer considering a home abroad, Montenegro›s residential developments offer a tangible connection between investment and personal use. An apartment within a marina community can serve as a regular holiday address or a
Accessibility also matters. International airports in Tivat and Podgorica provide two gateways into the country, a practical advantage for residents whose work and family commitments take them elsewhere.
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What Citizenship Adds
A Place to Return To
For those who acquired citizenship, the connection is a long-term one. Citizens can make Montenegro their home and live and work there without depending on renewable immigration permission. This gives them the flexibility to settle, spend part of the year in the country, or return as their circumstances change.
Montenegro’s appeal lies in how easily it becomes part of a life. Its marina communities combine homes, work and leisure in one setting. Its historic towns carry centuries of Mediterranean heritage, and two international airports keep the rest of the world within reach. A property here can be a holiday address, a seasonal base or something more permanent.
The passport also offers practical travel benefits. Holders of Montenegrin biometric passports can visit the Schengen Area without a visa for short stays, generally up to 90 days within any 180-day period, subject to entry conditions. Montenegro›s EU accession negotiations add a longer-term dimension to its international outlook. It remains a candidate country, and Montenegrin citizenship does not currently confer EU-wide rights to live and work. Any future rights would depend on accession and the terms agreed.
For those who hold Montenegrin citizenship, that choice stays open. They can settle, spend part of the year in the country, or return as their careers and families change. The decision is theirs to make, on their own terms. To explore the residence and citizenship options available today, speak with an Arton Capital adviser. This article is for general information only and does not constitute legal, tax or immigration advice.
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LUXURY OF THE UNSPOILED
Arabia’s most rewarding road less travelled
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man has mastered a form of luxury that feels increasingly rare. Its finest experiences are shaped by space, privacy and a deep connection to place. Mountains rise sharply beyond whitewashed towns, desert dunes extend towards an open horizon, and fishing villages remain tucked between cliffs and sea. The country welcomes visitors with confidence while preserving the customs, architecture and landscapes that give it such a distinctive identity. A journey often begins in Muscat, a capital whose low-rise profile follows the coast’s contours. The Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque, Royal Opera House and National Museum reveal different chapters of Omani culture, while Mutrah Corniche remains one of the city’s most enjoyable walks. Traditional wooden dhows sit in the harbour, frankincense drifts from the souq, and restaurants serve grilled hammour, shuwa and richly spiced rice. Muscat’s luxury hotels are destinations in their own right, but the city becomes most interesting as a starting point for a longer road trip. Within a few hours, the scenery shifts from coastline to mountain passes, historic settlements and desert. Nizwa makes a natural next stop. Its monumental 17th-century fort stands beside a lively souq known for silverwork, pottery, dates and the Friday livestock market.
Beyond Nizwa, the road climbs into the Al Hajar Mountains. Jabal Akhdar sits around 2,000 metres above sea level, where cooler temperatures support terraces of pomegranates, apricots and Damask roses. Mountain paths connect villages built into the rock, while viewpoints open across immense canyons. Alila Jabal Akhdar takes its architectural cues from traditional Omani forts and stone dwellings. Nearby, Anantara Al Jabal Al Akhdar places rooms and private pool villas along the canyon edge. Reaching the plateau requires a four-wheel-drive vehicle, and the ascent forms part of the adventure. From the mountains, travellers can continue towards A’Sharqiyah Sands, also widely known as Wahiba Sands. The dunes glow in shades of gold, copper and red as the sun moves across them. A night in the desert brings dune drives, camel rides and dinner beneath a broad field of stars. The most memorable camps use comfort to deepen the experience, offering private tents, thoughtful meals and a front-row view of the landscape without separating guests from it. Water provides another side of Oman. Wadi Bani Khalid and Wadi Shab offer natural pools surrounded by pale rock, while the coastline near Sur leads towards Ras Al Jinz, an
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important nesting site for green turtles. In the north, the Musandam Peninsula has a wilder character, with steep mountains descending into narrow inlets. Traditional dhow cruises explore the coast, often accompanied by dolphins. Six Senses Zighy Bay occupies a secluded beach between the Musandam mountains and the Gulf of Oman. Guests arrive by four-wheel drive, speedboat or, when conditions and operations allow, tandem paraglider from a launch point 293 metres above the sea. Its villas, private pools and wellness programmes deliver polished comfort while keeping the surrounding village and landscape firmly in view. The most agreeable months for northern
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Oman generally fall between October and April, when temperatures suit walking, desert excursions and outdoor dining. Salalah follows a different rhythm. From approximately June to September, the khareef monsoon turns the southern region green, bringing mist, waterfalls and cooler weather. Oman rewards travellers who resist rushing. Seven to ten days allow its contrasts to unfold naturally, with time for Muscat, the mountains, Nizwa and the desert. Adding Musandam or Salalah creates a broader journey. What stays with visitors is the balance: exceptional hotels, generous hospitality and access to landscapes that still feel open, authentic and wonderfully unspoiled.
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THE LAST GREAT WILDERNESS
Where adventure still feels truly immense
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atagonia has never been one destination in the conventional sense. Shared by Chile and Argentina at the southern end of South America, it is a vast region of granite towers, ice fields, open steppe, ancient forest and Atlantic coastline. Distances are significant, weather changes rapidly and many of its finest experiences require effort. That is precisely what makes arriving here feel so rewarding. For first-time visitors, Torres del Paine National Park in Chile provides the clearest introduction. The Paine Massif rises above turquoise lakes and golden grasslands, creating one of the continent’s most recognisable landscapes. Guanacos
roam close to the road, condors circle above the cliffs and, with patience and an expert guide, travellers may encounter signs of the elusive puma. The celebrated W Trek links several of the park’s best-known sights, including the granite towers, French Valley and Grey Glacier. A complete trek demands several days, although staying at a luxury lodge makes it possible to experience the landscape through carefully chosen day walks. Guides can adjust each outing to suit weather, interests and fitness, allowing couples or families to explore at their own pace.
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Explora Torres del Paine occupies an exceptional position beside Lake Pehoé, within the national park itself, and offers more than 40 guided explorations. Tierra Patagonia curves low along the shore of Lake Sarmiento, with 40 rooms looking towards the massif. Awasi Patagonia takes a more private approach, accommodating guests in individual villas and assigning a guide and four-wheel-drive vehicle to each villa. These lodges understand that comfort matters most after a day outdoors: a hot bath, an excellent Chilean wine and dinner overlooking the mountains.
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Across the border, Argentina’s Los Glaciares National Park delivers a different perspective. Near El Calafate, the Perito Moreno Glacier advances into Lago Argentino as a vast wall of blue and white ice. Walkways offer expansive views of its face, while boat excursions approach from the water. The sound of ice breaking from the glacier and falling into the lake is one of Patagonia’s defining moments.
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Farther north, El Chaltén sits beneath the serrated outline of Mount Fitz Roy. Trails begin close to town, ranging from gentle valley walks to demanding full-day hikes. Travellers seeking a polished base can combine guided excursions with a stay at a remote lodge or private estancia. Horse riding with local gauchos, fly-fishing and long lunches featuring Patagonian lamb add a cultural dimension to the mountain scenery. Patagonia also extends well beyond its most famous parks. Chile’s Carretera Austral passes through a greener northern wilderness of rivers, temperate rainforest and isolated communities. On the Argentine coast, the Península Valdés
attracts southern right whales, sea lions, elephant seals and orcas at different times of year. Tierra del Fuego brings forests, channels and the spirited frontier city of Ushuaia at the continent’s southern edge. The main travel season runs from October to April. December through February brings the longest days and warmest average temperatures, along with greater visitor numbers. November and March are particularly attractive for travellers who prefer fewer people, while April introduces autumn colour. Packing must account for wind, rain, sun and sudden cold, sometimes within the same afternoon.
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A well-paced first journey requires at least ten days. Combining Torres del Paine with El Calafate and El Chaltén provides a strong overview, although two weeks allows the region to breathe. Private transfers and charter flights can reduce travel time, yet long drives remain part of the experience. They reveal the scale of the steppe and the remarkable emptiness between settlements. Luxury in Patagonia is measured by access. It means waking to an uninterrupted view, walking with a guide who understands the land and returning to warmth after hours in the elements. The landscape remains the central event. Patagonia’s greatest privilege is the chance to feel very small within something immense.
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THE ULTIMATE RESET
Island life reduced to pure pleasure 92 NOV - DEC 2016
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he Maldives offers an appealing proposition to travellers accustomed to busy itineraries: permission to stop. After the flight, the airport transfer and the final sweep across the water, daily life contracts to a private villa, a strip of white sand and the changing colours of the Indian Ocean. Decisions become refreshingly simple. Swim before breakfast, read beside the pool, explore the reef or surrender an afternoon to the spa. The country comprises a chain of coral atolls spread across a vast area southwest of Sri Lanka. Most luxury resorts occupy their own islands, creating an immediate sense of privacy. Yet the experience varies considerably from one property to another. Some islands are compact and social, with a lively choice of restaurants. Others focus on wellness, diving, family travel, conservation or complete seclusion. Choosing the right island matters more than selecting the largest villa. For first-time visitors, the classic overwater villa remains difficult to resist.
Steps lead directly into the lagoon, breakfast arrives by boat, and a private deck provides a front-row seat for sunset. Beach villas offer a different pleasure, with more space, shade and immediate access to the sand. Families often prefer them, while couples may favour the uninterrupted outlook of an overwater setting. The most accomplished resorts now extend far beyond beautiful accommodation. Cheval Blanc Randheli in Noonu Atoll combines polished service with spacious villas and a strong culinary identity. Soneva Jani is known for expansive residences, some with slides descending into the lagoon, as well as open-air cinema and observatory experiences. JOALI BEING takes an immersive approach to wellbeing, with programmes shaped around movement, nutrition, restorative treatments and time in nature. Patina Maldives brings contemporary architecture, art and restaurants to the Fari Islands, within convenient reach of Malé by speedboat.
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For travellers who want marine life to define the trip, atoll selection is essential. Baa Atoll is a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve and home to Hanifaru Bay, where manta rays gather seasonally, particularly during the southwest monsoon. South Ari Atoll is renowned for year-round whale shark sightings. House reefs on islands across the country let guests snorkel directly from the beach, often among turtles, rays, and schools of tropical fish. The dry season generally runs from November to April, bringing lower rainfall, calmer conditions and strong visibility in many areas. It is also the most popular and expensive period, particularly over Christmas and New Year. From May to October, the southwest monsoon brings a greater chance of rain and wind, although showers can be brief and sunshine remains common. This season suits surfers, value-conscious travellers, and those hoping to see manta ray activity in Baa Atoll. A reset in the Maldives can be active or deeply restful. Mornings might begin with sunrise yoga, a guided reef swim or a session with a visiting wellness practitioner. Days unfold through diving, paddleboarding, tennis, fishing trips and sandbank picnics. Private boats allow guests to search for dolphins or watch the sun descend beyond the atoll. At dinner, settings range from barefoot tables on the beach to tasting menus, wine cellars and restaurants below the surface of the sea.
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Greater attention is also being paid to the health of the environment supporting this luxury. Leading resorts operate marine biology centres, coral restoration projects, water-bottling facilities and programmes designed to reduce waste. Guests can join reef surveys, learn about turtle conservation or support local communities. Standards vary, so review each resort’s specific work before booking. Five nights offer a satisfying escape, although seven lets you fully change the pace. Splitting the stay between two resorts adds variety, but transfers can consume valuable time. Travellers seeking genuine restoration may benefit from choosing one exceptional island and staying there. The Maldives delivers its most lasting effect through repetition: the same horizon each morning, the same short walk to the water and the gradual disappearance of urgency. Within a day or two, shoes become unnecessary, watches stay in the villa, and conversations grow longer. That sense of release is the destination’s true luxury.
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WELLNESS THROUGH WATER
Japan’s onsen culture inspires deeper restoration
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manemu sits among the forested hills of Ise-Shima National Park in Japan’s Mie Prefecture, overlooking the calm inlets of Ago Bay. Inspired by traditional ryokan hospitality and Japanese vernacular architecture, the resort creates an environment of space, restraint and close attention. At the centre of its wellness philosophy is onsen bathing, a practice that has shaped Japanese ideas of rest and renewal for centuries.
Mineral-rich thermal water flows through the resort and into its expansive spa. The 2,000-square-metre facility includes a thermal spring garden, treatment suites, two private onsen pavilions, a dry sauna, steam room and facilities for hydrotherapy. An Aqua Movement Suite hosts water-based treatments such as Watsu, which combines supported floating, stretching and gentle movement in a warm pool.
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The onsen experience is valued for relaxation and relief from fatigue, although the precise composition and potential effects of hot spring water vary by source. At Amanemu, the greater benefit may come from the ritual itself: slowing down, bathing without distraction and allowing warmth to release the tension accumulated through work and travel.
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Every suite includes its own private onsen bath and terrace, allowing guests to experience this ritual in complete privacy. Interiors use timber, woven textiles and natural tones, with large windows opening towards garden, forest or water. Villas provide additional space for families and groups while preserving the same sense of calm. Wellness programmes can include massage, body treatments, yoga, strength training and guided movement. Seasonal treatments draw on ingredients associated with the region, including sea salt, seaweed and locally grown herbs. The spa also uses Aman’s skincare range, produced without animal-derived ingredients and presented in recyclable glass packaging. A stay can extend beyond the treatment room. Guests may visit Ise Jingu, Japan’s most sacred Shinto shrine complex, walk sections of the historic Kumano Kodo pilgrimage routes or explore Ago Bay by boat. The area is known for pearl
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cultivation and a long relationship with the sea. Encounters with local craftspeople and food producers add texture to the restorative pace. Amanemu will resonate with travellers who prefer their wellbeing experiences to feel private, unhurried and culturally grounded. There are no dramatic promises attached to the daily routine. The appeal lies in repetition: soaking in warm mineral water, eating carefully prepared food, moving through nature and sleeping within a deeply composed environment. In a crowded wellness landscape, Amanemu demonstrates the enduring value of a practice refined across generations. It treats longevity as a relationship with rhythm, recovery and attention. Here, the path towards feeling better begins with warm water and enough time to appreciate it.
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RITUALS OF RENEWAL
Mayan heritage shapes modern restorative travel
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hablé Yucatán occupies a restored 19th-century hacienda surrounded by tropical forest outside Mérida. Historic stone buildings, contemporary casitas and lush gardens create an immediate sense of retreat, yet the property’s defining feature lies deeper in the landscape.
Its spa has been constructed around a natural cenote, a freshwater sinkhole with profound significance in Mayan culture.
local plants and Mayan traditions, delivered by experienced healers and wellness practitioners. Guests are encouraged to set an intention for their stay, allowing the programme to reflect personal goals such as rest, reconnection or renewed energy.
elements. A temazcal offers a traditional heat ritual within an enclosed structure, while yoga beside the cenote turns a familiar practice into something closely connected with the setting. Meditation, sound experiences and energy work complement more conventional treatments.
The spa journeys incorporate massage, hydrotherapy, herbal preparations and ceremonial
Chablé also recognises that wellbeing can include pleasure, curiosity and movement.
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This relationship with place gives Chablé’s wellness experience its character. Treatments and rituals draw upon regional knowledge,
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Guests can cycle along forest paths, play tennis, use the fitness facilities or explore a wellness-focused golf course. Cooking experiences introduce Yucatecan ingredients and techniques, while cultural excursions can take in Mérida, nearby villages and important archaeological sites. Accommodation is spread across private casitas and larger villas, many with their own pools and outdoor terraces. Contemporary architecture sits comfortably against the hacienda’s original walls and arches, with Mexican textiles, stone and handcrafted details creating a strong sense of place. The privacy makes it easy to shape each day according to energy rather than obligation. Food plays a central role. Menus draw heavily on produce from the property’s organic garden and celebrate regional flavours through a polished, contemporary lens. Travellers accustomed to wellness cuisine built around restriction may find Chablé’s
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approach especially appealing. Meals support the experience while preserving generosity, flavour and the social pleasure of dining. From a longevity perspective, Chablé’s strengths lie in stress reduction, movement, restorative sleep, nourishing food and meaningful connection. These are familiar principles, although the hacienda gives them emotional and cultural depth. Guests can engage fully with the spa programme or simply allow the natural rhythm of the property to slow them down. Chablé Yucatán suits those who view wellbeing as part of a rich life rather than a clinical project. Its lasting impression comes from balance: privacy and conviviality, history and contemporary design, serious treatments and genuine enjoyment. The cenote at its heart provides an enduring symbol of renewal, connecting every modern comfort to a landscape shaped over thousands of years.
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LONGEVITY MEETS LIVING Kerala reimagines the clinical wellness retreat
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erala has long attracted travellers seeking Ayurveda, but Tulåh Clinical Wellness offers a far broader proposition. Set across approximately 30 acres near Kozhikode, also known as Calicut, the new sanctuary combines traditional healing systems with modern medicine, advanced diagnostics, nutrition, movement and mental wellbeing. The ambition is to help guests understand their health in greater detail and leave with a realistic plan for life beyond the retreat.
Each stay begins with consultation and assessment. Depending on the selected programme and medical suitability, diagnostics may include body composition, cardiovascular and metabolic testing, imaging, microbiome analysis and genetic insights. Physicians trained in modern medicine work alongside specialists in Ayurveda, functional health, physiotherapy, psychology and other disciplines. Results inform an individual schedule rather than placing every guest into
the same sequence of treatments. Tulåh’s wellness journeys cover concerns including sleep, stress, metabolic health, hormonal balance, digestive health, rehabilitation and healthy ageing. Ayurvedic therapies may sit alongside clinical exercise, physiotherapy, yoga, meditation and international bodywork. The centre carefully positions these elements within a wider programme, allowing ancient practices and contemporary assessment to inform the same health con
versation. The setting brings warmth to what could otherwise feel clinical. Curving architecture opens towards landscaped gardens and views of the Western Ghats, one of the world’s most biologically significant regions. The campus includes pools, movement spaces and the Sonorium, a large sound-healing dome created for immersive sessions. Guest rooms adopt a modern, minimal style, offering privacy between consultations and treatments.
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Nutrition is tailored to individual goals and medical guidance. Kerala’s ingredients and culinary traditions appear alongside Mediterranean and Asian influences, with spice levels, portions and compositions adjusted where appropriate. The emphasis is on demonstrating how health-conscious food can remain satisfying and culturally grounded.
Tulåh will appeal to wellness travellers who want more substance than a restorative holiday and greater comfort than a conventional medical environment. Its broad diagnostic capabilities also require sensible expectations. Testing is most useful when interpreted carefully, discussed with qualified professionals and connected to practical decisions.
A particularly valuable part of the experience comes at departure. Guests receive recommendations, exercise guidance and relevant results through Tulåh’s digital platform, supporting continuity after returning home. This follow-through matters because a week of treatments has limited value if its lessons cannot survive work, travel and family life.
The retreat reflects the direction longevity travel is moving in: personalised, multidisciplinary, and designed around sustained behaviour. Kerala provides the heritage, modern medicine supplies greater visibility, and the guest remains an active participant throughout. Tulåh’s promise lies in bringing these worlds together with unusual scale and seriousness.
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COMPUTING COMES INTO VIEW The next screen sits on your face
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mart glasses are moving from experimental novelty to a credible everyday category. The most successful models resemble familiar eyewear, while cameras, microphones, and open-ear speakers let the wearer interact with an AI assistant, capture photos, listen to audio, and make calls without reaching for a phone.
The category is now expanding. Meta’s display glasses can place text and notifications within the wearer’s view, while Google’s Android XR platform is bringing Gemini-powered eyewear to frames from brands including Gentle Monster and Warby Parker. Proposed features include directions, messaging, photography and access to connected apps.
Ray-Ban Meta and Oakley Meta glasses helped establish the format. Voice commands can identify objects, answer questions, translate conversations and describe what the wearer is seeing. The first-person camera makes the glasses particularly useful for travel, cooking, navigation and sharing a moment while keeping both hands free.
The appeal comes from reducing the friction of digital tasks. A traveller could ask for information about a landmark, hear a translated phrase or receive walking directions while continuing to look ahead. For people with visual impairments, scene descriptions and text recognition also offer meaningful accessibility potential.
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Privacy remains the defining concern. A small recording light may be easy for others to miss, and AI assistants can misunderstand context. Battery life, comfort and social acceptance will determine whether smart glasses become as natural as wireless earbuds. The technology still needs refinement, yet the direction is clear. Computing is beginning to move away from the hand and into the wearer’s field of view.
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SOUND WITH SUBSTANCE
Beautiful earbuds built for frequent travel
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ang & Olufsen’s Beoplay Eleven earbuds approach personal audio as both technology and design. Their polished aluminium surfaces, compact proportions and jewel-like charging case bring a sense of permanence to a category often dominated by disposable-looking plastic. The earbuds are available in Natural Alumini
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Copper Tone and Eucalyptus Green. Their appearance builds upon the familiar form of the earlier Beoplay EX, with improvements focused on active noise cancellation, transparency and call quality. Multipoint Bluetooth allows them to remain connected to two devices, useful when moving between a laptop and smartphone.
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Active noise cancellation helps reduce the steady background sound of aircraft cabins, offices and daily commutes. Transparency mode allows outside sound back in when crossing a road or speaking to someone. Bang & Olufsen has also worked to improve performance in windy conditions, an important consideration for voice calls and outdoor listening. The Beoplay Eleven retain an IP57 rating for resistance to dust and water. Battery life reaches up to six hours with noise cancellation active, with additional charges supplied by the case. Wireless charging adds convenience at a desk or bedside table.
Their premium price places them above many capable rivals from Apple, Sony and Bose. The difference lies partly in materials, finish and the character of the sound. Owners are paying for an object that feels considered each time it is taken from a pocket. For listeners who want effective travel earbuds with a stronger sense of craftsmanship, the Beoplay Eleven make a persuasive luxury upgrade. They prove that everyday audio equipment can still feel personal and beautifully made.
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THE ULTIMATE CARBON Garmin brings exceptional lightness and strength to its most specialised luxury collection
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armin’s MARQ Carbon collection comprises three modern luxury tool watches: the MARQ Athlete, MARQ Golfer, and MARQ Commander. Each pairs Garmin’s performance technology with an exceptionally light 46mm case and bezel inlay crafted from 130 layers of Fused Carbon Fiber.
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Every carbon layer is rotated to a different angle to strengthen the initial block before heat and pressure shape the watch housing. Diamond cutting reveals a distinctive spiral pattern, while a domed sapphire lens protects the AMOLED touchscreen. Edition-specific straps use perforated FKM leather, jacquard-weave 46 mm nylon or silicone.
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The MARQ Golfer – Carbon Edition includes more than 43,000 courses. Virtual Caddie recommends clubs using wind, elevation and swing data, while shot dispersion highlights hazards. PlaysLike distance adjusts yardages for elevation and environmental conditions, and Green Contour data shows slopes on selected greens with an active Garmin Golf app membership.
The MARQ Athlete – Carbon Edition focuses on training and recovery, with profiles for trail running, swimming, hiking, rowing and indoor climbing. Endurance score, hill score and training readiness help assess capacity and recovery, while PacePro, Garmin Coach, suggested workouts, real-time stamina and the race widget support preparation.
The MARQ Commander – Carbon Edition is built for tactical use. Its display works with night vision goggles, stealth mode stops storing and sharing GPS position, and a kill switch can erase user memory. Dual-position coordinates, Jumpmaster and projected waypoints join aviation tools, including direct-to navigation and NEXRAD, METAR and TAF weather information when paired with a compatible smartphone.
All three share multi-band GPS with SatIQ technology, mapping and navigation tools, sleep and stress tracking, Pulse Ox, Body Battery monitoring, smart notifications, Garmin Pay and music storage. Battery life lasts up to 16 days, and the magnetic charger can restore the watch to full power in about an hour.
107 NOV - DEC 2026
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TELEVISION ALMOST DISAPPEARS LG brings its slimmest screen home
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G’s Wallpaper television has returned for 2026 as the OLED evo AI W6, an ultra-thin screen designed to sit almost flush against the wall. Its nine-millimetre-class profile gives the television the presence of a large framed image rather than a conventional piece of electronics. The effect is made possible by relocating most connections to LG’s Zero Connect
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Box. Consoles, streaming devices and other sources plug into the separate unit, which transmits picture and sound information wirelessly to the screen. The television still requires a power cable, but the usual bundle of HDMI leads can be positioned elsewhere in the room.
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OLED technology allows every pixel to produce its own light, creating deep blacks, precise contrast and strong viewing angles. LG’s 2026 processing and Hyper Radiant Color technology are intended to improve brightness and colour while preserving the qualities that make OLED particularly suited to films and premium home cinema. The Wallpaper design is available in 77inch and 83-inch sizes. Installation deserves careful planning, since the screen’s appeal depends on accurate wall mounting and a clean surrounding space.
The separate box also requires a suitable position with a clear and reliable connection. For design-conscious buyers, this is the rare large television that can improve a room even when switched off. It removes much of the bulk associated with home cinema while retaining a properly cinematic scale. The W6 carries a premium over more conventional OLED models, and its value rests as much in architecture as picture quality. For a carefully designed apartment, media room or modern villa, that combination may justify the investment.
109 NOV - DEC 2026
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WELLNESS AROUND YOUR FINGER More health insight in a smaller, smarter ring
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he Oura Ring 5 is designed for people who want detailed health information without another bright screen or a watch on their wrist overnight. Its discreet form tracks more than 50 health and wellness metrics, turning signals linked to sleep, activity, recovery, heart health and stress into accessible scores and longer-term trends in the Oura app. This fifth-generation model is 40 per cent smaller by volume than Oura Ring 4, measuring 6.09 mm wide and 2.28 mm thick. Its fully titanium construction is finished with a scratch-resistant PVD coating, while redesigned, low-profile
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sensors maintain close skin contact. Oura says the new 12-path sensing system delivers clearer, more consistent readings across a wider range of fingers and skin tones. Each morning, Sleep, Readiness and Activity scores bring together detailed sleep analysis, resting and 24-hour heart rate, heart-rate variability, respiratory rate, temperature trends, blood oxygen, movement and automatically detected exercise. The app also looks beyond the daily snapshot, with Daytime Stress, Resilience, Cardiovascular Age, Cardio Capacity, body-clock and chronotype insights, personalised activity goals.
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goals and reports that show how habits affect health over time. Women’s health tools include Cycle Insights and Pregnancy Insights, while metabolic features support meal logging and compatible glucose-tracking services. Integrations with platforms such as Strava allow activity data to move between services. Newer software experiences, including Health Radar and AI-enabled guidance, extend the ring’s role from tracking what has already happened towards identifying changes that may deserve attention. The ring is not a substitute for professional medical evaluation, and its readings should be treated as guidance rather than diagnosis. Full access also requires an Oura membership, adding an ongoing cost, and the ring stores only up to three days of data before it needs to sync with the app.
Oura Ring 5 comes in sizes 6 through 13 and six finishes: Black, Silver, Stealth, Brushed Silver, Gold and Deep Rose. Battery life typically reaches six to nine days, with a full charge taking about 80 minutes. Water resistance is rated to 100 metres, making the ring suitable for swimming, water sports and sauna use, although not for diving. An optional pocket-sized charging case can provide up to a month of power while travelling. For frequent travellers, busy professionals and anyone who dislikes sleeping in a watch, Oura Ring 5 is a more comfortable and capable version of an already polished wearable. Its greatest strength remains its ability to turn a dense stream of biometric data into small, understandable prompts for the day ahead.
111 NOV - DEC 2026
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THE ROBOT CLIMBS
Roborock finally takes aim at stairs
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tairs have remained the clearest limit of the robot vacuum. A machine may clean an entire floor independently, yet moving it between levels and cleaning each step still requires human help. Roborock’s Saros Rover proposes an ambitious solution through a pair of articulated wheel-legs. Unveiled at CES 2026 and demonstrated again at IFA, the Rover can raise and lower each side of its body independently. This lets it approach a staircase, lift itself onto a step, clean the surface, and continue upward. Roborock says it is developing the architecture for straight, curved, spiral, and carpeted stairs, as well as ramps and changes in floor height.
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Artificial intelligence, motion sensors and three-dimensional spatial information help the robot understand its position and coordinate each movement. The legs fold closer to the body on level floors, allowing the Rover to move more like a conventional robot vacuum. It can also make small hops and adjust its balance when navigating obstacles. The concept is impressive, but it requires patience. Demonstrations have shown that climbing and cleaning a short staircase takes several minutes. Corners and narrow edges may remain challenging, and the current prototype focuses on vacuuming rather than mopping.
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Most importantly, Saros Rover remains in development. Roborock has not announced full specifications, pricing or a confirmed retail date. Buyers cannot order one yet, and the final product may change considerably before launch. Even with those caveats, the Rover represents
a meaningful step in domestic robotics. It addresses the home’s architecture rather than expecting the home to accommodate the robot. If Roborock can deliver it reliably, multi-storey automated cleaning may finally become practical.
113 NOV - DEC 2026
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TWO SCREENS, ONE IPHONE
Apple’s first foldable creates more room to work and play
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pple’s iPhone Duo turns the familiar iPhone into a book-style foldable. Closed, its 5.4-inch outer screen works like a compact smartphone. Open it and the 7.6-inch Super Retina XDR display provides the largest viewing area yet on an iPhone, without requiring a separate tablet.
demanding apps, games and Apple Intelligence features. A dual-battery system supports longer viewing, while two 48 MP rear cameras offer live previews, automatic group photographs and detailed 4K Dolby Vision video. Fast-moving scenes can also be slowed down smoothly.
The larger canvas gives iOS more flexibility. Split View places two apps side by side, so a photograph can be dragged into Mail while a video plays alongside. The adjustable hinge supports hands-free FaceTime calls, workouts and films, or turns the device into a clock or photo frame.
The construction combines a Grade 5 titanium frame and hinge cover with Ceramic Shield glass and resistance to water and dust. The Duo is thicker than a conventional iPhone when closed, and Apple has replaced Face ID with Touch ID in the side button. Its premium positioning will also limit its appeal.
Both screens offer smooth scrolling and strong outdoor visibility. A built-in vapour chamber helps the A20 Pro chip handle
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The Duo is designed for travellers, creatives and Apple enthusiasts who value extra screen space but do not want to carry an iPad. Its most convincing quality is not simply that it folds. It is how naturally the larger display, adaptable hinge and familiar iPhone software work together as one device.
115 NOV - DEC 2026
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DUBAI’S GRAND BRASSERIE
DIFC dining with confident global character
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he Guild is among the few Dubai restaurants that can accommodate a business breakfast, leisurely lunch, date-night dinner and celebratory weekend gathering without feeling compromised in any of those roles. Located on the ground floor of ICD Brookfield Place, it interprets the grand brasseries of New York and Europe through Dubai’s preference for scale, polish and occasion. The restaurant is divided into five distinct spaces. The Salon is the main dining room, with a red-brick fireplace, open kitchen and the kind of comfortable formality that suits both clients and friends. The plant-filled Nurseries offer a brighter setting for drinks and relaxed meals, while the Potting Shed provides softer seating for coffee, cocktails and cigars. The Café handles breakfast, pastries and lighter lunches. For many diners, the Rockpool is the most striking section. Built around a central indoor pool, it places seafood at the centre of the experience. North Atlantic lobster, Kelly oysters and king crab feature prominently, particularly during The Guild’s Saturday Brunch Society. It is a suitably extravagant setting for platters of shellfish and a chilled bottle selected with help from the sommelier. The wider menu follows a classic brasserie format, moving between seafood, steaks and pasta. The open kitchen and wood-fired cooking bring
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energy to the Salon, while generous portions make the restaurant well suited to sharing. The Michelin categorises its cooking as meats and seafood and recommends the restaurant for date nights, although The Guild is equally persuasive for a polished group dinner. Dessert should include the chocolate mousse service, prepared with Valrhona chocolate and presented tableside. It captures the restaurant’s approach particularly well: familiar, indulgent and delivered with enough theatre to feel special. The extensive Wine Atlas ranges from approachable bottles to prestigious French Champagne and vintages intended for significant occasions. The Guild is also one of DIFC’s most dependable weekend choices. Saturday brunch brings seafood, live entertainment and a more social mood. Sunday is devoted to a traditional roast prepared in the wood-fired oven, offering a comforting close to the week. Its versatility is the real achievement. Guests can stop for sourdough and coffee, entertain clients over lunch or settle into the Salon for an evening of oysters, steak and wine. In a district filled with globally recognised restaurants, The Guild feels distinctly rooted in Dubai: ambitious in scale, generous in spirit and designed for people who genuinely enjoy dining together.
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117 NOV - DEC 2026
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THE LEICA Q3 MONOCHROM
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rafted in Wetzlar for discerning collectors, the Leica Q3 Monochrom distills photography to pure light and shadow. Featuring a dedicated 60-megapixel black-andwhite full-frame sensor, a Summilux 28mm f/1.7 lens, and discreet matte-black brass construction, it delivers timeless, museum-grade artistry.
118 NOV - DEC 2016
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