BEAUTY

Hot New Buys

COMPILED BY: SARAH JOSEPH

The best edit of luxe beauty

A PRIVATE BLEND

The Tubéreuse Nue fragrance conjures the nocturnal bloom of fresh petals as a so musk essence. Dhs2,300 for 50ml Tom Ford Radiant Glow

This miracle dual-action formula uses an acid exfoliation blend with radianceboosting ingredients to refine the appearance of pores. The research-powered Super Radiance Resurfacing Facial provides that instant gleaming glow to reveal youthful looking skin. Dhs257 for 50ml Charlotte Tilbury

Supercharged Skin

Charcoal reduces the appearance of congested skin with a scrub that refines rough, bumpy texture with its natural exfoliating powders. The Charcoal Smoothie jelly body scrub overall helps to reduce the appearance of congested skin. Dhs164 Sunday Riley available on cultbeauty.co.uk

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INTENSIVE REPAIR

This high-concentration shampoo provides a nourishing touch for damaged, frizzy hair. Replenishing the roots and protecting the scalp through UV filters, it is ideal for those subject to daily sunlight. Dhs155 for 250ml SachaJuan

Supple texture

This multipurpose face oil comes in a portable form which glides on, to moisturise the skin with coconut alkanes as a spot oil treatment. The oil stick consists of a series of high-performance oils, to enhance your skincare routine. Dhs95 Jones Road Brow Hold

An easy-to-apply formula which sculpts the brow giving it that feathered look, allowing them to stay in place all day. Dhs102 Anastasia

Curl Enhancing

This fragrance-free hydrating product gives shine and definition to your hair as it melts into your curls with the ease of an oil. The Curl Crème reduces any frizz while leaving it absolutely natural. Dhs140 OUAI

Powerful Hydration

Made with 8 hyaluronic acids which infuse within the skin’s surface, this unique formula provides long-lasting hydration while reducing the appearance of fine lines. Delivering incredible water retention properties, the Hyaluronic Global Face Cream improves any uneven skin tone as it combats pigmentation. Dhs315 for 50ml By Terry

Grateful for Good Skin

Skin Laundry is renowned for harnessing the power of lasers to deliver serious skin results

What is the most common request from clients coming to Skin Laundry? We receive many queries ranging from are our laser treatments painful to what kind of downtime is there? We strive to reassure our clients as best as possible prior to their treatment.

Do you believe that good skin also combines our approach to food, sleep and a balanced lifestyle? Absolutely! All factors need to be taken into account and the internal is as important as the external. Taking care of your skin does start with having the best products suited to your skin type, but also is a combination of what you put into your body – this includes food, water intake, vitamins and most importantly wearing SPF. What is at the heart of Skin Laundry, the DNA? We pride ourselves on not only being results-driven, but also being safe, e ective, e cient, a ordable and easily accessible. We cater to those who have a very busy lifestyle and want to improve their skin without having to wait months to see results. Our USP is our laser treatments combined with our in-house products developed by our team of dermatologists in the US. You’ve grown globally, tells us about why you’ve chosen the locations you have to date? Skin Laundry gravitates towards developing cities who are forward-thinking and growing. From Hong Kong to London, US to the Middle East. As a brand we are expanding globally, therefore we choose our locations very carefully as we are all about convenience, ease of access but also ensuring we are o ering the best environment to make people feel great. Dubai is one of the beauty capitals of the world. The beauty and skincare market here is excelling which allows us to tap into an audience who would appreciate our services and products. How do the laser facials work and which combination of treatments would you recommend for every skin type? Our dedicated laser technician reviews in detail with each client their skin concerns, medical history, skincare goals and skincare type. Our personalized treatment plans, alongside our in-house skin product recommendations work toward the client’s expectations to achieving great skin.

IMAGES: SUPPLIED For beginners we recommend our Signature Laser Facial which uses safe energy-based technology to boost collagen production, minimized pores, tighter skin and improve discoloration. This treatment is completely safe on all skin tones and types and will leave your skin glowing and deeply cleansed! For those who need advanced treatment, we recommend our fractional laser which utilizes a unique technology to help smooth fine lines and wrinkles, improve overall skin texture and skin strength. The USP of Skin Laundry is that we o er tailored memberships for our clients, so that they can combine treatments with recommended products from our DHA registered laser technicians. What has been the biggest challenge in the last year and how did you overcome it? Like many businesses, Covid-19 played a challenging role in our business. The launch of our brand in the UAE and the opening of our new clinic in Dubai was an exciting time for us. Unfortunately, the gravity of the Covid-19 outbreak caused Skin Laundry to close a er only 1 month of opening. For 8 weeks the clinic was closed and our daily struggles in recuperating, keeping our sta motivated, building our customer base and maintaining the reputation of a brand was a challenge we were able to overcome. Our re-opening had over 1,000 people on a 7-week waiting list! A er an amazing launch, our re-launch was equally successful with queues of people who had waited to have treatments once it was safe to do so. We believe having such a well-recognized global brand allowed us to gain trust quickly in this market and most people already knew the brand from London or LA and were excited to try the treatments for themselves. How has social media a ected the beauty business and which platform has been most useful? Social media if anything, has encouraged the growth of our business. We have built a great rapport with our followers by sharing advice, skincare maintenance tips as well as creating great video content showing our treatments to keep our audience engaged. The best platform which has been successful in growing our followers and providing conversion in leads has been Instagram and TikTok. Is there anyone who cannot have these treatments? Client safety is paramount and we have a set of guidelines that we follow to ensure this. These include women who are in their first trimester of pregnancy, anyone who is taking oral antibiotics or has active skin infections. Clients with a history of skin cancer or have vitiligo. We also stress that anyone who has had Botox or filler 5-6 days prior or has sunburn should not have the procedure. Do you see similar or di ering trends in terms of beauty treatments globally? People are moving towards technology when it comes

“People are moving towards technology when it comes to skincare.”

to skincare. Lengthy wet facials do not fit in with those with busy lives and we are seeing the results we want quicker with machinebased facials. Gone are the days where you would wait months to notice a di erence in your skin or lying for over an hour getting a facial. Advanced technology provides results a lot more quickly as well as reaching the deeper layers of skin that a traditional facial would not be able to. This is ‘The Gratitude Issue’ – what are you grateful for? For Skin Laundry – we are grateful for the health of our sta , something which is paramount. We are extremely proud of being a strong, female-led team taking the Middle East by storm! Our biggest achievement has been developing our amazing community of Laundry Club members worldwide and meeting customers from our clinics all over the world who share the same love we do for what we do.

The Beauty Shelf

Bahraini entrepreneur and life coach Abeer Al Matooq takes us through her hero beauty products

Lip Oil Dhs105 Clarins I absolutely love the lip oils from Clarins. They comfort and hydrate the lips really well. Amour Blush Dhs126 Nars Cosmetics This blush goes so well with my skin tone. It’s also incredibly versatile and works with any makeup look. Skin Trainer Line Kiko – CC Blur Dhs90; Eye Serum Dhs85; Regenerating Serum Dhs120 I love the entire Skin Trainer line from Kiko. My favourites are the CC Blur, the Eye Serum and the Regenerating Serum. They are very e ective and gentle at the same time. Velvet Matte Lip Pencil Dhs140 Nars Cosmetics All of the Nars Velvet Matte Lip Pencils are amazing, but my favourite shade is Walkyrie, a dark nude colour. Exaggerate Waterproof Eye Definer Dhs34 Rimmel London This waterproof eye pencil is so black. It defines the eye really well and stays on the eye the whole day.

COMPILED BY: OLIVIA MORRIS

Diorshow Pump ‘N’ Volume Mascara Dhs150 Dior This mascara is my all-time favourite – you can never go wrong with it. Moisture Surge Dhs126 Clinique I cannot live without this product – the name says it all. It leaves my skin feeling hydrated and moisturized all day long. Ultra HD Lip Booster Dhs85 Makeup Forever I can wear this every day, whatever the occasion. It’s so light on the lips and it gives this light and natural plumped look.

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DINH VAN PARIS PRESENTS ‘THE PULSE COLLECTION’ – A BLEND OF RHYTHM AND MODERNITY

Known for its simple, understated pieces that still deliver impact, dinh van Paris presents ‘The Pulse Collection’ as an ode to its fresh take on fine jewellery – bringing everyday luxury to the modern woman. The Pulse line exudes modernity and minimalism, creating a tribute to light though the construction of each piece. Inspired by the notes of a graceful music score, rhythm is combined with luminosity, alongside the use of diamonds and hollow lines to create exquisite, elegant pieces. The collection follows a monochromatic and elegant colour theme of white and rose gold, creating the ideal canvas to elevate any look.

Minimal & Modern

THE HERO PIECES

Pulse medium ring white gold and diamonds; Pulse bracelet rose gold; Pulse studs rose gold and diamonds. All dinh van

COMPILED BY: SARAH JOSEPH

AM TO PM BEAUTY

Acaena Amoros, founder of The Elixir Clinic, talks us through her beauty and skincare routine

Talk us through your morning routine. In my 30s, I realized the importance of a skincare regime to maintain healthy skin. I have a very strict morning and evening routine that consists of Dr. Barbara Sturm’s products. Every morning, I start with the Dr. Barbara Sturm Foam Cleanser and twice a week use the Dr. Barbara Sturm Enzyme Cleanser. I finish o my morning routine with the Brightening Moisturizer combined with Sun Drops for sun protection. And how about your evening routine? This is similar to my mourning routine, but I take the time to ensure my face and neck are well cleansed and hydrated before bed. I’m big on serums, so I tend to mix it up depending on my mood. For example, if I have spent the day in the sun, I ensure to use the Calming Serum in the evening. What are your go-to skincare products? Dr. Barbara Sturm skincare products are definitely my go-to but I have recently been introduced to Tata Harper and I am absolutely loving the Clarifying Mask and Elixir Vitae Serum. Are you a fan of masks? I love masks, they make me feel hydrated with a fresh glow. I incorporate a face mask into my routine on a

Clockwise from top left: Noir Extreme Eau de Parfum Spray 100ml Dhs677 Tom Ford available on bloomingdales.ae; Liquid concealer Dhs115 KKW available at glamazle.ae; Foam cleanser Dhs235 Dr. Barbara Strum; Elixir Vitae serum 30ml Dhs2,000 Tata Harper available at OUNASS; Hypnôse Drama instant volume mascara Dhs150 Lancôme available at sephora.ae; Dior Lip glow Dhs166 Dior available at faces.com

IMAGES: SUPPLIED weekly basis, either at the end of the week or if I have an event or special occasion to prepare for. I started using Tata Harper Clarifying Mask a few months ago and absolutely love it. How would you describe your relationship with makeup? I’ve never been a fan of too much makeup and I can confess that I’ve never “contoured” or “baked” my face. I always stick to the simple natural “no makeup” look which consists of a little touch of KKW Beauty Concealer, my M.A.C Mineralize SkinFinish Powder and blush, Huda Beauty Eyeshadow and Lancôme Mascara with a nude lipstick.

What can always be found in your makeup bag? My Dior Lip Glow is an essential! Let’s talk fragrance. What are you loving at the moment? Tom Ford Extreme. It’s an alluring scent! Talk us through your hair routine. I tell my friends this all the time, “don’t underestimate the power of hair masks”. I try to incorporate hair masks in my routine at least 3 times a week. The results I’ve seen in the growth, texture and quality of my hair is amazing. I use the Philip Ingsley Elasticizer followed with Moroccan Argan oil and Keratin.

A Conscious Vision

Alserkal’s Executive Director, Vilma Jurkute, on launching a new sustainability agenda whilst reimagining the cultural space

WORDS: SARAH JOSEPH What do the first 30 mins of the day look like, your morning routine? My mornings are dedicated to self-regeneration and knowledge. I usually start with a workout, followed by an iced co ee and a lot of reading to make sure that I am up to date on news and current a airs. I make time to reconnect with my academic research situated across the various disciplines of urban studies. What is your approach to sustainability? What sustainable practices are currently in practice at Alserkal and do you have any additional plans to develop this? The word Anthropocene begins with a Greek word ‘antropos’, meaning human, and as we try to address the undeniable human impact on the environment, I believe we must begin with a selfaudit. Sustainability demands for a political and intellectual solution, involving complex alliances of actors from all over the world. Resisting the temptation of addictive growth and progress and reappraising our conditions of production and consumption are important ideological steps towards change. I am mindful of how easily terms like ‘sustainability’ can become commodified over

IMAGES: MUSTHAFA ABOOBACKER, SUERAYASHAHEEN; COURTESY OF ALSERKAL AVENUE the cultural ecosystem of the UAE and beyond, reflecting our polyphonic identities, artistic commitment, and diverse knowledge paradigms. As a collective of over 70 creatives, cultural thinkers and makers, we have always been driven to challenge the conventional and see the boundless possibilities of the work we do. What have been the biggest hurdles to date and how did you overcome them? What key lessons are you grateful for in business? It is never easy to be the ‘first’ or a pioneer, because there is no model or playbook you can follow. I take comfort in advice someone once gave me: “Don’t be afraid of uncertainty, it means you are innovating”. To be honest, when we started, I felt like the West didn’t know what to do with us because we didn’t fit any of their ‘boxes’, in terms of art paradigms. We began as an arts neighbourhood in the Al Quoz industrial area, then through Alserkal Avenue’s expansion in 2015 we extended our platform to welcome a curated community of entrepreneurs across various industries, acting as a building block for the creative economy locally and through our commitment to artistic production, residency programmes, scholarship and research we evolved further as an institution, forming the Alserkal Arts Foundation. It created for a context-specific and organic model that responds to our city, our history and publics. Alserkal and its initiatives are everyone’s community commons: collaborative, open, experimental and flexible by nature. Why do you think Alserkal Avenue has holistically grown as a centre for art and design? How has the concept of culture and heritage in Dubai grown over the last few years? Despite the rapid commercial growth that Dubai has seen, our arts and culture scene is still young, and the potential that it o ers to young artists is immense. We need only to look at the growth that has taken place over the last decade to realise that the momentum will continue to pick up pace. Dubai’s arts ecosystem, which started with just a few commercial art galleries a decade ago, has grown to become a holistic arts scene. We’ve witnessed the development of robust education programmes, not-for-profit spaces with active community programming, and the emergence of new collectives and homegrown concepts within the creative industries. Locally-based taltime, o en endorsed through tokenised in- ent is more eager and more able than ever to frastructure solutions. At Alserkal, we have develop their artistic practices locally now formed a Sustainability Working Group to that there is the infrastructure to support develop solutions, not only through projects that; the Alserkal Arts Foundation space such as solar power, recycling and pedes- was a big step in further enhancing the trianisation, but by changing our behav- Alserkal family’s commitment to the arts. iours and focusing on economies of repair The next step, as our founder Abdelmoas a community at large. It is a big task – nem Alserkal always reflects, “Is not about we must reimagine what circular economy physical expansion, but about legacy buildmeans for our part of the world and for the ing through nurturing artists, not-for-profcreative industry overall. it programmes and research endeavours.” How has this community scaled in growth How does this cultural district continue to celsince its inception? Alserkal Avenue is an ebrate homegrown talent? We grew to become inclusive space, a cultural inventory as- the region’s most influential arts and culture sembled from various industries and disci- destination over the last few years, and for that plines in art, design, architecture, literature, we are indebted with gratitude to the homefilm, performing arts, lifestyle and food, grown art galleries and the new international all in the context of the industrial area of spaces that have chosen Alserkal Avenue as Al Quoz. The Avenue’s grassroots evolu- their home. With our expansion in place, it tion was spearheaded by risk-takers driven was essential to protect our cultural integrity by tenacity and creative ambition in a city by creating the environment for knowledgethat has always embodied potential. While sharing amongst the best talent. We are conwe might be just over 10 years old, we have, tinuously building an arts infrastructure with individually and collectively, contributed to many ‘firsts’ along the way. In order for the ecosystem to flourish, it was essential to create a space where culture is produced and consumed and driven further through artistic discourse. I cannot help but remember an old TV interview of Leo Castelli’s (the famous collector and gallerist in New York in the 70s), where he was asked on what basis he selected his artists and his answer was “I pick them not because they are good, but because they are the leaders of a new movement”. I think the same applies to our community members at Alserkal. We take the risk on the risk takers and through our collective e orts further grow the impact of the arts in the city and beyond. Alserkal Arts Foundation forms an important pillar of our public promise at Alserkal. As a non-collecting foundation, we are committed to artistic production, residency pro-

“Don’t be afraid of uncertainty, it means you are innovating.”

grammes, research grants, and alternative learning through colloquia and other forms. Supporting a new generation of thinkers to challenge the conventional – leading to new forms of knowledge – is what lies at the heart of our mandate. This is ‘The Gratitude Issue’ – What are you grateful for? Community. The erosion of boundaries through shared compassion is something I will carry with me from this pandemic. Over the past year, the aspects of collectivity, togetherness and giving back that are an intrinsic part of our community ensured that we never felt alone.

The Philanthropist involved throughout the design until its completion. Honestly, the sense of fulfillment is dif-

Muna Al Gurg isn’t just a leading ficult to put into words. How do you give back to the community? Edu-

Emirati businesswoman, she’s also cation and healthcare have been equal passions for me. Through the years I’ve been involved a philanthropist passionate about with several community outreach projects. The most recent one being the donation towards giving back on a local & global scale building a neonatal intensive care unit in Jenin, a Palestinian city in the West Bank. The donation will buy new equipment for the unit in the Can you talk us through state-run Khalil Suleiman your career? A er a short Hospital. The support is stint at an advertising desperately needed in the agency, I joined our fam- occupied territories where ily business in 2000, the newborns lack adequate Easa Saleh Al Gurg Group access to healthcare. The (ESAG), to focus on mar- project is being managed keting and communica- by the Palestine Children’s tions. Since 2009 I’ve been Relief Fund. Director of Retail, respon- Which career milestones are sible for strategy and op- you most proud of? When I erational development of completed my MBA at Lonthe Group’s international don Business School (LBS), and local retail brand I realised how access to the portfolio. It’s been a fasci- right kind of educational opnating experience, as I’m portunities can help change the second generation of futures. Setting up the our 60-year-old business. Muna Al Gurg scholarship What inspired you to ven- for Arab women at LBS has ture into philanthropic been a moment of pride for work? Both my parents me personally, particularly were role models and had as I’ve seen women from traits that I wanted to diverse career backgrounds emulate and build upon. graduate and thrive. During my teens and early Who would you say your twenties, I was greatly in- mentors are in life and how fluenced by my father’s charitable projects across geogra- are you grateful for them? My sisters and I were brought up phies spanning East Africa, the Gulf and across to the Indi- in an environment where hard work and determination were an subcontinent. He eventually went on to to build one of the encouraged and celebrated. The life experiences that we had UAE’s first o cial family-sponsored charity foundations. in our formative years was the mentorship from our father. My late mother believed that every individual has a role These lessons helped shape our life paths and was the fuel in bettering their community and was a supporter of the for our individual successes and passion for social causes. arts in helping establish the first Dubai Community The- We’re all about female empowerment, as are you. How do you atre. She also did a lot of work with the Palestine Children’s help empower women? There are many reasons women leave Relief Fund. My initial personal exposure to philanthropy their professional careers, but especially so a er childbirth, and the satisfaction that comes with it was from the build- sometimes never to return. A er I became a member of the ing of a school in Bwejuu, Zanzibar, for 300 children which ‘30% Club’, a global campaign to increase gender diversity we were able to build through the family foundation. I was at board and senior management levels, I looked inward

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throughout our organisation to find ways to further support our female employees. Most private sector organisations in the UAE currently o er a 45-day maternity leave. We explored the issue and came to understand that this somewhat limited policy was a significant factor in women opting to at least temporarily leave, and in many cases never returning. We decided to change this at ESAG Group to give mothers greater flexibility in their work-life balance, whilst also taking an extra step in not losing business talent and diversity. I proposed to increase our maternity leave to 90 paid days which was approved by our board at the start of 2020. From a funding perspective, I have supported female entrepreneurs by investing in Mindshi Capital – a global, women-run venture firm investing in amazing women-led companies solving important problems. How has the support you have in turn received, shaped you as a woman? One of the biggest inspirations of my life has been my aunt Dr Amina Kazim who played a big role in my childhood. She was the first UAE national female physician and the only Emirati anaesthetist in the country. She was also the first UAE national woman to obtain a private pilot license. Despite facing many challenges, her spirit of giving and also sharing knowledge with many le a great impression. I hope to emulate her zeal for life. How do you want to inspire others? I think it’s important to talk more about philanthropy. Our region is one which celebrates charitable giv- What are your hopes for women in the future? My conversations ing but has historically been discrete about it. with Gen Z and the Millennial generation indicate there’s a growThere’s an opportunity to magnify the impact ing interest in social impact and meaningful entrepreneurship. I of what is being done by adopting a strategic hope that those who have the means and resources ‘pay it forward’ approach. I’ve been fortunate to have recently within the community and society. Each of us has a talent that worked with the Gates Foundation in helping can be used for the greater good, what is required is the mindset to me assess and optimise my philanthropic work. transform thought into action. In the not too distant future, I plan to establish What have been the hurdles you’ve experienced throughout your my own foundation, specifically to create em- career? When I began my journey as a young business leader, the powerment pathways for women and girls across challenge was to be heard in a room full of men, some of whom who the Middle East and North Africa. I hope we’re were also older and more experienced. Over the years I have learnt successful in our mission, but also aspire to be that it is important to be assertive and find your voice if there are an example to other budding philanthropists goals to accomplish. that want to take a similar journey. What have been the key milestones? The most significant milestones What does it feel like being a woman in this region relate to our family business. First was when I joined ESAG and took that is paving the way for others? I am fortunate over the responsibility of strategy for the retail arm of the business. to be an Emirati citizen as the UAE believes in The next milestone was when my father, who is the founder of our o ering equal opportunity to all and focuses on business, decided to hand over the reins to his three daughters. And gender balance in every sphere. I have learned finally, the satisfaction that I have taken the lead in creating gender that competence is essential. Have the ability to balance and inclusive policies that enhance women’s participation communicate clearly. Voracious curiosity and within the UAE’s private sector. listening well – to what is being said and some- This is ‘The Gratitude Issue’ – how do you practice gratitude in your times to what isn’t, is important. Also, stand up life? Over the years and especially during 2020, I have realised that for yourself without being overly aggressive, and a crucial aspect of maintaining wellbeing is gratitude. I make it a create bonds with people you respect and ad- practice to list three things that I am grateful for every morning. mire by finding a commonality. This helps me face the day with greater positivity.

“Over the years and especially during 2020, I have realised that a crucial aspect of maintaining wellbeing is gratitude.”

Stay Grateful

We talk to some of the most incredible women we know about practising gratitude

ASMA HILAL LOOTAH

Founder of the Hundred Wellness Centre

@thehundredwellness

What are you most grateful for in your life? I am most grateful to God, as I believe my faith has given me the wisdom, strength and foresight to flourish and prosper both mentally and physically. I am also grateful that I have self-awareness to make positive changes to my life. Living consciously and making a choice to be mindful and aware of every aspect of your life is vital for happiness, health – both physical and emotional, success and relationships. How do you practise gratitude in your life? I learned an incredibly valuable life lesson from an online course I took by Shawn Anchor. The practice involves writing down three new things every day that you are grateful for and by doing so, your brain is trained into looking for positives. This practice has had a wonderful impact on me and has changed the way I think, and without doubt contributed to my positive outlook on life. Life can o en become challenging for everyone and when this happens, I make a conscious decision to pause and take a moment to appreciate everything around me. Even in tough times, there is always something to be grateful for and I believe that ultimately a grateful heart finds peace.

GHIZLAN GUENEZ

Entrepreneur

@ghizlan_guenez

What are you most grateful for in your life? I’m most grateful for my mindset which allows me to appreciate the little and big things in life and to not take things for granted. I’m also grateful for being able to continue to grow and enjoy this journey that is called life with all of its ups and downs. This is ‘The Gratitude Issue’ – how do you practise gratitude in your life? I’m very intentional with gratitude. I journal and I write down three to five things that I’m grateful for on a daily basis. Sometimes it is big like being healthy and seeing your loves ones well and happy. Sometimes it’s as small as staring out the window and seeing clear blue skies. We are abundantly surrounded by things that we should be grateful for and we need to ensure we open our eyes to that.

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YASMIN AL MULLA

Creative Director of YNM Dubai

@YNMdubai @yasminalmulla

What are you most grateful for in your life? My health, my family, and the UAE – and everything in between. This is ‘The Gratitude Issue’ – how do you practise gratitude in your life? Each morning is a fresh start, waking up with a thankful heart is my drive in life. I truly appreciate each blessing: small or big, simple or major. Every blessing is a fortune thing by itself, therefore I am always grateful and thankful for everything I have in my life.

KHULOOD THANI

Creative Director of Bint Thani Studio

@khuloodthani

What are you most grateful for in your life? Every small detail that I have in my life and contributed to make me who I am. This is ‘The Gratitude Issue’ – how do you practise gratitude in your life? It’s important to be connected to the energy of gratitude through appreciating things that we already have instead of looking for things outside. I usually practise daily gratitude a rmations as part of my spirituality and I should say that it has supported me a lot.

RAHA MOHARRAK

The youngest Arab and first Saudi woman to climb Mount Everest

@rahamoharrak

What are you most grateful for in your life? It’s truly impossible to count or quantify the amount of gratitude I have for my life and that’s precisely what I’m grateful for the most, being healthy and having a healthy family and true friends is a wealth that’s incalculable. This is ‘The Gratitude Issue’ – how do you practise gratitude in your life? I practise gratitude by living with the code of paying it forward and always striving to do small things with love, we might not have the ability to change the world but we all have the ability to change someone’s world.

Practising Gratitude

The Hundred Wellness Centre’s Emotion & Relationship Coach, Roh Hafez, reveals exactly how she guides people through their journey of self-awareness and gratitude

WORDS: OLIVIA MORRIS

of their hiding places so we can get to know them, understand them and accommodate them. I love working with human emotions and meeting my clients on that deep level where masks are shed, and true selves are most welcome. Coaching relationships, including the relationship with oneself, involves creating the interpersonal safety and connectedness that allows patterns of behaviours to be understood and for helpful tools to be taught and employed to create well-balanced, healthy, and fulfilling relationships. How do you help people find purpose in their lives? I help people by guiding their selfawareness journey. When people know what they truly value and gain insight into their true strengths, talents and natural preferences, their vision about what they want for themselves becomes clearer. The journey of finding purpose can and needs to be an enjoyable and exciting one. When we get to know ourselves better, we are more likely to choose paths and destinations that we are excited about, and the excitement drives us. My role is to guide my clients in navigating the path by clarifying and correcting patterns of thinking, beliefs and behaviours. What are the benefits of emotion & relationship coaching? Clients of emotion and relationship coaching benefit in Can you talk us through your career? My career spans over 20 various ways such as enhanced self-awareness and selfyears. I graduated with a BA in International Business and management, resolved psychological wounds and trauMarketing and my first job was in a consultancy that provided mas, healthier relationships, higher self-esteem and a rich training and consulting services focused on Human Develop- repertoire of life and social skills. My clients generally feel ment. I then joined one of the largest multinationals world- supported and guided through their unique journeys towide, in the oil and gas sector and progressed until I managed wards goals that we set together in the beginning of our Customer Feedback in Africa and the Middle East region. It work and regularly revisit. was a time of so much learning and almost exhilaration at What advice would you give to people to practise gratitude coming to outcomes that minimized and eliminated recurrent in their lives? For gratitude to be experienced, we need to be problems. That was the time when I first tapped into my pas- present for ourselves. In the rush of our daily lives, we o en sion for understanding and tackling root cause and e ectively go on autopilot mode, and although it helps us tick o to achieving the desired outcome. do’s on our endless lists, autopilot deprives us of experi-

Twelve years ago, I personally worked with a coach on encing the moment as it happens. We miss out on simple what turned out to be an inspiring and gratifying self-ex- pleasures and hardly take time to reflect on the good things ploration journey that propelled me towards my next move, a that happen all the time. My advice is to slow down enough plunge into the human psyche. I studied Neurolinguistic Pro- to be able to experience the moment as it happens and to gramming and coaching and completed an MA in Psychol- take mental notes of what you experience. Make it normal ogy with an emphasis on Marriage and Family Therapy. In to speak to yourself like an excited child. You can tell yourparallel, I joined another consultancy and provided character self things like “I am really enjoying the taste of this sandbuilding and leadership programmes to hundreds of partici- wich” or “It feels so good to lie in my own bed at the end of pants in both the private and public sectors. I am on a journey the day”. The more aware and present we are, the more we of continuous learning and have along the way incorporated can capture moments and experiences that we are grateful many new skills and approaches into my toolbox. for. Keeping a gratitude journal is a great way of keeping a What goes into being an Emotion & Relationship Coach? It record of the things we feel grateful for. takes a lot of academic knowledge, life experience, intuition What are the hurdles people face when going through this and capacity to attune to be an e ective Emotion and Rela- type of coaching? I think the main hurdle is usually a kind tionship Coach. We all know both human emotions and hu- of resistance and it is perfectly normal. We all have parts man relationships can be overwhelming. Coaching emotions of us that want things to stay as is, familiar even if it were involves creating the holding space for emotions to come out uncomfortable or even painful. It is what we know and that

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part of us wants to keep it this way. In the process of coaching, change happens, change in beliefs when they are clarified and challenged, change in thinking patterns, in behaviours and ultimately in feelings. Whenever there is change, there is a degree of resistance. It is a hurdle, but it’s not insurmountable. In my work, I welcome resistance as a natural protective part of my client and work with it as long as they are willing to show up for our sessions. Can you outline the main issues people come to you with? The most common complaint I come across is being “stuck”. People come to me because they feel they are stuck in a mood, in an emotional state, in a situation, in a relationship, in a job, career or in a phase of life. Although being “stuck” is a common complaint, every individual and relationship is unique, and we treat it from this standpoint. How do you go about helping them? The first step in helping my clients is always getting to know them and understanding their context, their life, family, work, support system and so on. I then go on to learn more about the issue they are coming in hoping to address. Enough time is dedicated to understanding the issue, and once that is clarified, we work together to define the goals we want to work towards. Once the goals are clear, a high-level plan is set in place that would include interventions that would benefit this specific client bearing in mind personality and context. My intention is always to create a safe holding place for my clients and to e ectively support and guide their journeys. Your top three tips for people to ensure they stay grounded and grateful. Practise mindfulness as you go about your daily life. Create experiences and situations to be grateful for. Keep a gratitude journal or jar and regularly revisit it for reminders and inspirations.

This is ‘The Gratitude Issue’ – how do you practise gratitude in your life? I stay present and anchor myself in the here and now. Noticing the colour of the sky, a laughing stranger or a helpful friend. I also work towards goals aligned with my values, my progress gives me opportunities to be grateful. Lastly, I use a rosary to count my blessings, with every shi ing bead I would mention one thing I am grateful for and it can turn into a long list. Those lists can go on and on, and with every shi ing bead, comes a positive shi in how the world and life appears in that specific moment, and all those tiny shi s create lasting impact.

“Create experiences and situations to be grateful for.”

IMAGE: ALI ALRIFFAI

WORDS: OLIVIA MORRIS

The Power of Gratitude

filled reality for yourself. If you feel like you’re at a standstill in your life, it can get you out of that so-called “rut” and it helps you take your power back and be the leader in your life and the writer of your own story. Overall, life coaching can help you balance your energy so you can enjoy the true essence of who you are. It also helps you manage your relationships better with confidence and true self love. You’ve achieved so much throughout your career – what are you most proud of? I am most proud of the person I am today, my ability to see through challenges and work through it all while remaining the loving and joyous person I know myself to be. I actually love my ability to remain this grounded and balanced while moving forward constantly. Who would you say your mentors are in life? There are so many, so I cannot name them all, but I am truly grateful to each and every one of them. I was always blessed to have genuine people around me who took the role of my wise and loving mentors. What does it feel like being a woman in this region that is paving the way for others? I am blessed to be born in this day and age, and I’m so very grateful for all the women who came before me and opened doors that were previously closed. Today I do feel both grateful and responsible to be someone who eagerly drives change for other women to be able to speak their truth and be the best they want to be. What are your hopes for women in the future? Honestly, my hope is for us not to even take gender into consideration because to make this world a better place to live we need men and women to support each other. My view is that we all came here with a message, a purpose and a role in the orchestra of life. So, by working together harmoniously we will reach a beautiful balance. Can you outline the ways you give back to the Bahraini and wider GCC community? I was and still am engaged in a number of projects that support women in leadership or who aspire to be in leadership to unlock their potentials and learn about their unique strengths in order to put them into use and create better futures and careers. I also create a lot of content in this regard and share it on my social Bahraini entrepreneur and life coach media platforms, website and more. I also have a best-selling book Be True to the Song Abeer Al Matooq helps people find in Your Heart, which was also then translated into Arabic so it could reach a wider audience. true happiness which, in turn, supports How do you want to inspire others? By helping people know themselves more, love finding gratitude in all aspects of life themselves more and better understand and appreciate the di erence each and every one person can make. What have been the largest hurdles throughCan you talk us through your career? I started because they do not know how to find it. In out your career? For me personally it was alworking very early on in my life, first at sum- coaching, we call it the geography of happi- ways striking a balance between life and work. mer jobs which I continued throughout my ness. However, if you don’t know what you’re What have been the key milestones? I would high school and university careers. My ca- looking for, how will you find it? This is where consider leaving my safe job as an executive reer then “o cially” began when I started I come in to help people find their purpose. and launching my own business a milestone my first job at a large multinational com- Purpose is what keeps you connected to your because from there my career and entire life pany. I was still doing this in tandem with own core, which is the source of your true took a turn and a new version of me was remy Bachelor’s degree in English Literature happiness and joy. There is a huge di erence vealed. This version of myself is stronger, and Psychology. From there, I progressed in between what many people assume as hap- more focused and more loving, too. my career to where I was appointed Direc- piness and what true happiness actually is. This is ‘The Gratitude Issue’ – how do you tor of Human Resources and Administration What are the benefits of life coaching? Life practise gratitude in your life? I do a lot of at one of the government entities in Bahrain. coaching gives you clarity, so you get to journaling and I regard it as a very imporFrom there, I decided to establish my own know who you are, what exactly you want, tant practice of mine, it helps me keep things coaching consultancy firm where I now work what are the feelings you are longing for, in perspective especially during tough and with organisations as well as individuals to what makes you happy, what resonates with challenging times. It helps me stay focused help align their daily actions with their end you and what brings you fulfillment and on what’s good, what’s bad and what’s goals and results, helping them work from a more meaning to your days. It can also help working. I have a strong belief that there is space of clarity, focus and power. you create peace with potential tragedies good in every bad – we just have to be intelHow do you help people find purpose in their you have gone through and work through ligent enough to see I and focus on it to have lives? Most people don’t live their best lives trauma to create a more balance and ful- more of it. Gratitude is magic – I know so.

Can you talk us through your career? I’m a two-time STEM certified professional and educator. Prior to co-founding Clever Play, I worked in Government for a few years, in Research and Security. I did my undergraduate degree in Melbourne, Australia with a double major in Politics and International Studies and a postgraduate degree in International Relations from the UK. All my life it seems I have been learning how to serve. Schooled by life experiences and educated in Global Politics and International Studies, I sought the big picture – global problems – aspiring to be an ambassador for my country [Bahrain] and found my special space in the company of children – transforming the way they learn and live, empowering them to serve the future with their best. What inspired you to launch Clever Play? My nephews, Ali and Mohammed. They were six and four at the time and we wanted a space for them to be able to explore their interests and discover their passions outside of the conventional classroom. A space that would celebrate their curiosity, spark their creativity and value hands-on learning by giving them the opportunity to try new things, build valuable skills, and take control of their own learning. We didn’t find what we were looking for, so we decided to start one! Can you talk us through the initiatives on how you give back to the community? As a socially-driven startup, giving back is very much in our DNA. We believe that companies can and should do more than just make money. They should also serve others in the process. We are a proud member of Pledge 1% – a network and movement of companies committed to making giving back a priority. My colleagues and I pledged one per cent of our time to volunteering opportunities. For example, I help young entrepreneurs with diverse backgrounds gain skills and experience through mentorship. My colleagues are very much involved in their own communities and look for opportunities to give back and be of service. We also recently ran a Girls for Tech Camp to teach and train 1,000 young Bahraini girls between the ages of eight to 14 years coding and digital skills with the support of Zain Telecomm and the Supreme Council for Women. Additionally, in 2020, I was selected as one of only 100 Meaningful Business leaders worldwide for our e orts combining profit and purpose to help achieve the UN Sustainable Development Goals, especially Goal #4 (Quality Education) by Meaningful Business in the UK. You’ve achieved so much throughout your career – what are you most proud of? I am most proud of what we were able to achieve for our biggest source of inspiration: children. To us, children are the most important people in the world. We know that when children are educated, encouraged and empowered, they have the power to change not only themselves but their communities and the world at large. Championing children is one of our core values at Clever Play and being in the business of empowering them through foundational STEAM skills early on is key to unlocking their promise and potential. Despite overwhelming evidence in support of early childhood education, high-quality, playful STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineer-

The Gratitude of Giving

Sheikha Latifa Al Khalifa is transforming the way children learn and live in Bahrain and the wider GCC, one incredible sacrifice at a time

IMAGE: GETTY

ing, Arts and Math) programmes have not yet been incorporated into early childhood education. We are slowly but surely changing that. I am proud of the progress we have made on that front, and for making STEAM accessible to over 14,000 children to date. Who would you say your mentors are in life? My sister and co-founder, Muneera, is my biggest mentor. She has allowed me to see the hope inside myself and provides me with direction, encourages me when I am down and pushes me when I need to be challenged. She has given me the tools I needed to navigate the challenges I was faced with at each stage of the business journey. She is a constant source of inspiration and support but also challenges me to grow in new and very uncomfortable ways. I continue to learn from her every single day. My gratitude for her contribution to my success personally and Clever Play’s business success is immeasurable! What does it feel like being a woman in this region that is paving the way for others? I am beyond thankful to have strong female role models in my family from my grandmother, to my mother and sisters. They taught me that “real success” is not defined by financial wealth, or status, but by becoming the person you have the potential to be and serving others in the process. I am thankful for the brave, trailblazing women who went before me and inspire me to embrace ambition and push for more. So o en I get contacted by women who praise my journey – I’m so grateful to them for elevating me and giving me the confidence to continue. But I also want to say that to every woman who thinks they can’t do the same, I’m here to tell you that you can.

What are your hopes for women in the future? I’ll quote T.E. Lawrence who said, “All men dream but not equally. Those who dream by night in the dusty recesses of their minds wake up in the day to find it was vanity, but the dreamers of the day are dangerous men, for they may act their dreams with open eyes and make it possible.” My hope for women is to be dangerous dreamers of the day, who act on their dreams with open eyes and make it possible. My hope for them is not to break someone else’s ceiling, but their own! How do you want to inspire others? Through my personal story and everyday actions. I stumbled into entrepreneurship very reluctantly. I didn’t have a formal business or education background when I started. It was the scariest thing I’ve ever done at that point in my life, and yet, I didn’t let that stop me. I started before I was ready, I surrounded myself with a great team, and I committed to embracing a white-belt mentality – learning as I went. I am living proof that you don’t need to go to college for business to start one. I want to inspire others not only to do more, but to be more. What have been the biggest hurdles throughout your career? As an entrepreneur, I’ve faced a lot of hurdles. The biggest ones are wrestling with bouts of doubt, uncertainty, instability and balance. I doubted myself and my capabilities at the start because I never saw myself as a “businessperson” and I didn’t have the formal qualifications or experience to fall back on. In fact, it took my co-founders and I almost two years to finally take the leap and launch Clever Play. At the start of our business, uncertainty was around every corner. It was definitely a roller coaster ride – and sometimes still is! What have been the key milestones? In our short business life so far, we have had plenty of milestones that we are proud of, namely: receiving local, regional and international recognition for our work, and also preparing Clever Play to be franchised across the GCC. This has been a milestone we were working towards ever since we started, and now we are happy to say, almost three years later, that we are ready to expand to the region! We are excited to o er our top-notch STEAM programmes to pre-schools, schools and individual partners who believe in our mission and want to help us change the face of education in the region by making STEAM education a fundamental part of early childhood education! This is ‘The Gratitude Issue’ – how do you practise gratitude in your life? I keep a gratitude journal and write down three things I’m grateful for every morning. I also handwrite letters to individuals who have had an impact on me whom I’ve never properly thanked. I actively look for gratitude in any challenges I am experiencing and I try to do random acts of kindness as o en as possible.

Rare

The one-off vintage finds you’ll be grateful you own

WORDS & STYLING: AMY SESSIONS

“MARSALA” LOUNGE CHAIR BY MICHEL DUCAROY FOR LIGNET ROSET A large lounge chair designed by Michel Duracoy for Ligne Roset in France, 1970s. The Marsala Chair features a bronze lucite curved frame. This chair has new chenille upholstery. POA available at thesouthlooploft.com

From left: Hand-sculpted Crystalline Teakwood Chair Dhs18,365 per chair; Paolo Salvi Table Lamp in Travertine and Chromed Metal Dhs13,957; Panton S-Chair in Black by Verner Panton for Herman Miller, 1975 Dhs2,678; Chaise Longue Model “Le Bambole” by Mario Bellini Dhs40,212. All available at 1st Dibs

IMAGES: SUPPLIED

Downtime

Pace yourself for positivity and peace

IMAGES: SUPPLIED

From top left: Cuban Tobacco scented candle, 300g Dhs269 Lumira available at NET-A-PORTER; Mineral of Essence Rectangle Marble Candle Dhs400 LAVA; Ambre Candle, 190g Dhs258 Diptyque; Elements Scent Water Candle Tom Dixon Dhs764 Tom Dixon; Solis Rex scented candle, 800g Dhs897 Cire Trudon; Ambre Cognac Candle, 300g Dhs403 Diptyque; La Casa Sul Lago Candle, 200g Dhs295 Acqua Di Parma; Eau d'Égée No.3 scented candle, 350g Dhs359 L'OBJET; Apocalyptic scented candle Dhs381 Byredo available at NET-A-PORTER

Culture Club

The Arts Club is an inspiring haven for entrepreneurs and creatives alike

The Arts Club was founded in London in 1863 by men of vision to be a haven for a community of people all connected by their love for the Arts. In 2011, the club was relaunched and today it is a vibrant hub for creative and entrepreneurial members, providing an environment where they can come together to entertain, exchange ideas, dine and participate in a rich cultural programme of events. The Arts Club Dubai shares this same vision, giving Dubai a unique concept for its extraordinary new membership. The club is the first of its kind in the Middle East and endeavours to support the rich artistic landscape of the region. Relax, dine, work or unwind in the outstanding interior, designed by a Milan-based studio, and enjoy both the permanent contemporary art collection, alongside changing exhibitions. theartsclub.ae

The Wanderlust

An exceptional edit of the best spiritual retreats around the world

COMO Uma Paro, Bhutan Located in the Kingdom of Bhutan amongst the country’s mountains, COMO Uma Paro is a luxurious retreat where you’ll be able to reconnect with yourself incorporating a wide range of Ayurvedic treatments and yoga sessions throughout your stay. With just 29 rooms available at this exclusive retreat, their wellness experts are there to be hands-on with guests to help them rejuvenate the mind, body and soul. THE HIGHLIGHT

COMO Uma Paro’s ‘Himalayan Wellness Discovery’ programme o ers a sixnight itinerary for guests to be immersed in the full COMO Shambhala Experience. Yoga and meditation is led by the resort’s resident expert and a daily massage therapy is also included in the stay.

Ananda in the Himalayas, India Restore peace and balance in both mind and body at this five-star refuge located in the heart of the Himalayas in Northern India. The luxury escape uses the power of the ancient Indian sciences of Ayurveda, Yoga, Meditation & Vedanta to help guests reconnect their mind and body to its optimum health and capacity. THE HIGHLIGHT

Ananda’s ‘Dhyana Meditation’ programme helps guests to harmonize their minds and tap into their potential of higher consciousness. It guides guests through Pratyahara which is the with-

IMAGES: GETTY AND SUPPLIED

Left page: Amanoi, Vietnam; This page: (top) COMO Uma Paro, Bhutan; (below) Kamalaya Holitistic Spa Resort, Thailand

drawal of the sense from the mind, to focus on their mental awareness which will enable them to continue meditative awareness long a er the programme ends.

Silver Island Yoga, Greece As the only private island yoga retreat in the world, Silver Island Yoga is a truly unique experience. The exclusive retreat accommodates a maximum of 10 guests giving the chance for true reflection. Furthermore, the resort is entirely o -grid using only solar power energy to run it. THE HIGHLIGHT

The week-long retreats on o er ensure you totally get away to transform your mind. It’s meant to create an experience that inspires peace, abundance, serenity and mindful living. Being o the grid also allows guests the opportunity to have an authentic digital detox.

The OSHO Meditation Resort, India Encompassing the underlying spirit of Zorba the Buddha – a place for someone whose feet are firmly on the ground, like Zorba the Greek, and yet whose hands can touch the stars, like Gautam the Buddha – the OSHO Meditation Resort in India is a place where the mind, body and soul can play and heal harmoniously together. THE HIGHLIGHT

Set in the idyllic setting of Pune, India, around 120km southeast of Mumbai, this resort is one of the largest centres in the world focusing on personal growth and mediation, making it the ideal place to rejuvenate your sense of self.

Bali Silent Retreat, Indonesia This retreat aims to nourish the body and soul of its guests to reconnect with their true selves and find their inner voices in their own way through the power of meditation and yoga. THE HIGHLIGHT

It’s all about reconnecting with yourself in silence through daily yoga and meditation, as well as exploring the eco-sustainability gardens, soak in the hot springs and participate in Balinese cultural activities.

Amanoi, Vietnam A restorative wilderness by the sea, this Aman resort o ers a tranquil seclusion for its guests. With its duo of Wellness Villas, you are invited to experience their immersive holistic retreats amid the natural wonders of Vietnam. THE HIGHLIGHT

Their ‘Mindfulness & Stress’ programme uses specialist movement classes including yoga, Qi Gong and Tai Chi to help participants physically relax. Alongside, expert-led meditation and spa treatments that soothe the central nervous system work to release tension and cultivate lasting harmony between body and mind.

Kamalaya Holitistic Spa Resort, Thailand Located in the luxury setting of Koh Samui, Thailand, this getaway combines authentic ancient healing traditions with contemporary therapies to ensure all guests nurture their wellbeing in all aspects of life. THE HIGHLIGHT

The ‘Embracing Change’ programme helps guests to enrich their emotional wellbeing and life fulfilment, addressing emotional habits and life situations to restore emotional balance within life.

The Beauty of Heritage

Saif Al Tunaiji, General Manager of ‘Experience Sharjah’ – the tourism division under Sharjah Investment and Development Authority (Shurooq), shares his insight into the region’s ancient Bedouin culture at the outstanding Mleiha Archaeological Centre

WORDS: SARAH JOSEPH

IMAGE: SUPPLIED Investment and Development Authority (Shurooq), I lead a team of experienced professionals and ensure the best exposure for the destination to create a memorable and exciting experience for the visitors. The surprising and energizing element about the role is its adventurous nature. Working at one of the most picturesque destinations in the UAE, where history, tradition and exhilarating experiences comes together is truly unique. With Mleiha being nominated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, how does it continue to preserve its heritage? Mleiha is retracing the history of the earliest settlers of the region. Graves of humans and animals that have been excavated in and around these archaeological sites make for a surreal moment where one feels deeply connected with people of the past through sociocultural norms that have lived on for countless generations. At Mleiha, we have enMleiha is known for its experiences. What gives it archaeologi- lightening lessons on some of the greatest migrations in cal uniqueness? This UNESCO nominated World Heritage history and archaeological evidence to support it. Visitors Site is one the UAE’s most important archaeological areas can go through carefully-cra ed chapters of history, and which o ers plenty opportunities to explore the nation’s in the end, understand how the human settlement of the civilizational past, including its key cultural elements along region began. We take our visitors on memorable journeys with flora and fauna. It o ers an insightful world into the pre- on which they will learn, make spectacular discoveries and historic world of our ancestors. While being one of the most unravel secrets that Mleiha and adjoining regions have ancient incubators in the region’s civilizations with archaeo- been safekeeping for an incredible 130,000 years. Through logical treasures, a visit to Mleiha allows the visitor to step this, we aim to give our guests a truly authentic taste of back in time and learn a whole host of information about the our forefathers’ traditions, values and history, to enhance settlers in the region during the Paleolithic, Neolithic, Bronze, people’s knowledge and understanding of the Arab region’s Iron, pre-islamic, Islamic and modern ages while discover- history – shaped through the ages. ing this time through their history, social order, rituals, pa- How does the venue contribute towards environment protecthologies, trade and commerce, art and jewellery and much tion and sustainability? Mleiha is a lot more than just archaemore. The well-curated exhibitions, interactive displays and ology and experiences. The region has a plethora of flora and artefacts at Mleiha Archaeological and Eco-Tourism Project fauna including some rare plants and animals that are not provide a detailed introduction to the past which allows the easily found elsewhere. One of the major reason why these visitor to travel back thousands of years to see the UAE in its diverse elements have survived and flourished in the area is nascent stages of existence. due to the foresight of the Mleiha Archaeological and EcoWhat inspired the development of Mleiha Archaeological cen- tourism Project. Along with protecting the natural elements tre as part of a wider eco-tourism project? Mleiha used to be of the site, we also ensure that awareness is passed to the known as a small village which is located around 20 kilometres visitors. The Flora and Fauna Workshop organised by the south of the Al Dhaid region and 50 kilometres east of Shar- centre is one fine example. It helps the visitors to increase jah city. A er more that 30 years of thorough excavation and their understanding of the region’s plants, trees, and wildextensive research by the Sharjah Archaeological Authority, life. While being educated about the region’s diversity, they its historic aspects have been discovered revealing the secrets also discover plant species indigenous to the region and perof life in that region. The Mleiha Archaeological and Eco- haps see some of the local fauna as well. tourism Project was developed by Shurooq as one of Sharjah’s What are the other major experiences and activities of premiere archaeological tourism and outdoor adventure des- Mleiha? While providing an educative platform to explore tinations, due to its natural beauty, diversity of wildlife and UAE’s ancient history, Mleiha is also known for o ering a its archaeological discoveries. Nominated by UNESCO as a lifetime experience to the visitors that not only gives them World Heritage Site itself reflects the region’s rich cultural and an adrenaline rush, but also invigorates their senses with archaeological heritage. The details of designing the project breathtaking activities in the picturesque landscape. From were also inspired by the story of the Umm an-Nar tomb and experiencing the beauty of Mleiha’s landscape on horsethe archaeological discoveries which date back to over 130,000 back to overnight camping under the stars along with exyears ago – In short, it was the rich heritage and knowledge of hilarating Mleiha Landscapes adventure to a sunset lounge the past, that inspired us to design a futuristic project. experience, there is a lot to discover at Mleiha.The Sunset What values from history in the region can we carry forth to- Lounge package is one of the popular visitor’s choice – It day? All our achievements and success stories are deeply includes an o -road drive to catch the sunset in the desert; rooted in our tradition and history. What we learned from barbeque dinner in the desert and stargazing assisted by our forefathers has enabled us to be more sensible, aware astronomy experts. Buggy Self-Drive Adventure, another and open to diversity. The historical importance and unique favourite allows visitors to feel the adrenaline rushes as discoveries of Mleiha also shares insightful thoughts and they pass through landmarks like Fossil Rock and Camel values. The trade-related artefacts excavated from the re- Rock, exploring dunescapes and landscapes in their buggy. gion points towards diversity that we had in the region in the Archaeo-MOG tour, Jebel Buhais trek, Mleiha adventure past and the strong connections that we maintained around package, Archaeological tour and star gazing are some the globe. It is something that proves the value of tolerance other experiences that Mleiha o ers. and openness that the region always upheld as knowledge This is ‘The Gratitude Issue’ – what are you grateful for? I’m about our past makes us more humble and respect the deep- grateful for being part of the rich history and tradition of rooted values and seek to sustain them. this place – I truly consider it as a blessing to be part of What is your role at Mleiha and what has been the most sur- a place which connects the past with present in a perfect prising thing about the role? As the General Manager of ‘Ex- harmony. Thanks to the visionary leadership of the auperience Sharjah’, which is the tourism division of Sharjah thority and Sharjah for making this possible.

The Conscious Edit

Founder of The Goodness Company, Geeta Pahlajani has built a brand based on everyday essentials. We discuss her gratitude for the positive impact this is carving out for future generations

WORDS: SARAH JOSEPH What do the first 30 mins of the day look like, your morning routine? I start my morning at 5am with an Ayurvedic tea blend followed by an hour of yoga in our garden. Some days I may alternate this with a mindful breathwork meditation practice. A key rule I have been strictly following for the last few years is to have the first 2 hours of my morning tech free. What inspired you to launch The Goodness Company? The Goodness Company started from a personal need. I was diagnosed with celiac disease in 2008; and this required a complete overhaul in my lifestyle. It is believed that celiac disease first started with the introduction of GMO technology. At this stage I had little knowledge about natural ecosystems and its impact on the human body as a lot of the information we are exposed to is obfuscated by clever marketing tactics. Whilst looking for good quality, clean label conscious products there was nothing available in the local UAE market, and it was getting increasingly frustrating having to import everyday essentials. I was working with a large global FMCG at this point but knew something had to be done to fill the gap as I had many friends experiencing similar challenges. This is how The Goodness Company journey started. The brand is focused on sustainability. Has this been the case from the start? Sustainability has always been at the heart of The Goodness Company since conceptualization in 2017 far before being sustainable became trendy. Our core values are aligned with The UN’s Sustainable Development Goals, especially number 12 which is – responsible production and consumption. How has The Goodness Company evolved as a brand? In today’s climate, evolution is ongoing, and this is no different for us. We started as a small niche firm to test the market with a focus on a few products in 2018. After having increased our product range and distribution reach over the last 2 years

IMAGE: SUPPLIED and in 2021, it has since then continued its momentum. With sustainability and conscious consumption becoming mainstream, we foresee rapid growth moving forward. What key lessons are you grateful for from your mentors? Being a perfectionist by nature; I learnt that this is not the best trait in a small medium enterprise environment. The best advice I have received is to start small, fail fast, fail often and pivot quickly. We need to learn from our mistakes and look back at them as experiences rather than failure. What lies at the core of the brand’s DNA? Positive Social Impact. Everything we do has a larger lever in positively impacting individuals, society, and the world at large. What have been the hurdles you have experienced in your career and how did you overcome them? Starting a business ground up comes with its own set of hurdles daily. ∙ HR: Building a team that has the same values to see the brand flourish has been a large challenge. However, over the years we have identified a mechanism to hire for mindset rather than just skills. ∙ Unethical Practices: It is common practice for an innovative brand like ours to be copied and launched by a large player as their own idea. This has happened to us several times; now we just view this as a form of flattery and remain undeterred. ∙ Market Acceptance: The Goodness Company was launched when the market was still very nascent and conscious consumption practices were not mainstream. Our flagship vegan chocolate range has taken 2 years to reach FMCG potential and acceptance by retail players to be launched into major supermarket chains in the UAE. Consistently educating consumers through various channels whether social media, events, popups, partnerships has been integral to overcome this hurdle. Creating demand and brand value is a long journey and takes time; this is where I have seen a lot of businesses lose patience and give up. Could you tell us about your CSR initiatives? We are partners with One Tree Planted, a nonprofit environmental tree planting charity. We support them on reforestation efforts to reduce the severity of global climate change and restore natural balance of plant life on the planet. How does the brand offer a holistic approach to sustainable living? Sustainable living is a journey and with busy modern lifestyles, a very difficult one. Therefore, a large part of our efforts goes into educating the consumer to make conscious decisions and use their purchasing power wisely. Our products are designed to make easy switches without any compromise: ∙ Chocolate: our plant-based chocolate and spreads range is indulgent yet nutritionally dense, all natural and does not compromise on taste in any way. ∙ Copper Collective: this vertical supports an artisan community of copper craftsmen in Moradabad, North India to preserve their craft. Copper is self-sterilizing and eco-friendly; with this collection we have interpreted ancient traditions for modern needs. Our copper bottles are very popular with expats and Emiratis as they are aesthetically pleasing and offer healing benefits (as believed in Ayurveda). ∙ Conscious Ware: This range was designed to provide sustainable alternatives to household staples offering the perfect balance of creativity and elevated functionality. Our reusable glass and steel straws are designed for the modern consumer whilst our bamboo toothbrushes come in a minimalistic design with no compromise in efficacy vs regular plastic toothbrushes.

At The Goodness Company, we believe that rather than trying to be perfect; small positive changes can make a large collective difference. This is ‘The Gratitude Issue’ – what are you grateful for? Survival of The Goodness Company through the pandemic we are currently living in; hopefully with the worst behind us. I have seen many close friends lose flourishing businesses overnight but having The Goodness Company survive this difficult period and come through stronger with a positive forecast makes me very grateful to everyone who has believed in my vision and in the brand – especially our employees, customers, and partners.

WORDS: SARAH JOSEPH

The Contemporary Nomad

Co-Founders of MONTROI, Enrique Hormigo and Samir Aghera share with us how the brand embraces a cultural bridge to create connections through everyday objects

What do the first 30 mins of the day look like, your morning routine? EH: I usually check my phone when I’m up. I’m not sure this is the best thing to do but I like to feel connected as soon as I wake up. I usually have breakfast and work for a little from home, answer emails and organise the day ahead. I try to inculcate fitness into my morning routine, as I live close to beach, hence, I enjoy starting my day by running there. What inspired you to launch the brand and what is at the heart of the DNA? EH: The project started around five years ago as a lot of people around me were inspired by the concept of being a nomad through their love for travelling. At MONTROI, we see nomadism as a cultural bridge which is an educational tool – to connect, to grow, to learn through dialogue and shared experiences. Being a nomad is ultimately leaving behind a more enlightened world for future generations. We were all nomads at one point, regardless of where we came from and going back to our roots is o en essential. A nomad goes back to the essence of having less things in life, while only appreciating things that can be carried, which age well and tell stories of where they have been. Our leather goods are manufactured in Italy and Spain, our pashminas are handmade in Kashmir and our fragrances in Grasse, France. How has your focus on artisanal excellence helped to support building such a strong brand identity? EH: We work closely with our artisans, as we don’t manufacture in large factories, rather in places where we know the people create with pride and care, which ultimately translates into good quality products. For instance, the production timing of one backpack is four months from preparation of the leather, production of zippers which are made to measure, the double antihumidity treatment, sewing and other steps which require around twenty-one experts to participate in during the manufacturing process. If we only consider the work in the workshop to manufacture the backpack it is the equivalent of two full days per bag. What elements has the brand taken inspiration from? EH: We take inspiration from nomads. People who lived nomad such as Paul Bowles, Alfred Thesiger and Le Corbusier but also nomads of today. We have a pool of contributors who live like nomads and who inspire us daily. The more we travel, the more we learn from other cultures and ulti-

IMAGES: SUPPLIED

mately, we make this world a better place. The world needs more nomads, more dialogue and more learning from each other. What key lessons are you grateful for from any mentors you have had? EH: When we started this project, we had a pool of mentors who helped us shape it. We learnt how to make a beautiful project financially sustainable, long term. We are grateful for those who helped us build both a passion project and a business at the same time. Be true to what you are – is another great advice we received from one of our mentors which I will always remember. What have been the hurdles you have experienced in your career and how did you overcome them? EH: Some years ago, I was trapped at a job in a big luxury company, which had stability but I felt the need to do something more creative, entrepreneurial and more dynamic. We live once and I believed I still had time to create a beautiful project myself and combine my love for travelling. The transition time was challenging. Which location has been the most inspiring in terms of travel and where is next on the list? EH: Every year we spend time in the places where we manufacture, which include Marrakech, Jaipur, Jabal Akhdar, Bergamo, Spain and the French Riviera. It’s been more challenging this year but usually I really enjoy hopping from one place to the next. We are now working on a fantastic project in Jaipur so that’s my next trip.

“Sustainability has many dimensions. For us, sustainability is not a destination but a journey.”

What do you always pack when traveling? EH: My iPhone, my sports equipment and my camera. What’s the perfect gift for a host from MONTROI? EH: We have many gi s. Now I am obsessed with the new candles and incense sticks that we just launched which I like to o er when going to someone’s place as we usually burn it and it sets the mood. How does the brand o er a holistic approach to sustainable living? Sustainability has many dimensions. For us, sustainability is not a destination but a journey. We may not be perfect but we work hard toward being it. We start by making products that last long and age beautifully. We encourage conscious investment in products that last as opposed to quick consumption. Also, we work in partnership with workshops and communities; we know their names, their families and their stories. We feel that it’s easier to work on these topics compared to working with big factories. This is ‘The Gratitude Issue’ – what are you grateful for? I am extremely grateful for the life I have and the people around me. Just by having food and water on a daily basis we already belong to the 60% lot of privileged people on earth. In addition, I’m in good health, comfort, while being surrounded by family and friends who I love and I love my work too, which I’m so grateful about.

THE DIRECTORY

All Brandon Maxwell SS21

A

Accessorize (04) 3399098 Adidas (04) 2325690 Aerin (04) 4098888 Aesop (04) 3293030 Agnès b. (04) 3520391 Ahmed Seddiqi & Sons (04) 3398881 Aigner (04) 4341333 Alberta Ferretti (04) 3398957 Aldo (04) 2328162 Alex Perry +44(0) 2039622362 Alexander McQueen (04) 3398760 Alexander Wang +44(0) 2039622362 Alexandra Rich (04) 4098888 Alexandre Vauthier (04) 409 8888 Alexandre Birman (04) 3951200 Alighieri +44(0) 2039622362 Altuzarra Online at Farfetch Anita Ko +44(0) 2039622362 Amina Muaddi (800) 5383573 Antik Batik (04) 4343080 Areej (04) 3405223 Armani Exchange (04) 3399472 Assouline (04) 4384546 Aquazzura (04) 3882367 Ayesha Depala (04) 5136415

B

Banana Republic (04) 3398462 Balenciaga (04) 3951769 Bally (04) 3231643 Balmain (056) 1883796 Bambah (055) 224 1538 Baruni (050) 4579249 Ba&sh (04) 3854557 BCBG Max Azria (04) 4340627 Benefit Cosmetics (04) 3951978 Blaze Milano (800) 044 5703 Bloomingdale’s Dubai (04) 3505333 Bottega Veneta (04) 3951201 Boucheron (04) 3410039 Boutique1.com (04) 3951200 Burberry (04) 3998243 Bulgari (04) 3308834 Byredo (800) 74676277 BySymphony (04) 3106900

C

Cartier (04) 3951000 Carolina Herrera (04) 3398132 Catherine Malandrino (04) 3398102 Céline (04) 3410585 Chanel (04) 3818400 Chantecaille (04) 4098888 Charles & Keith (04) 3398713 Charlotte Olympia (04) 3994122 Charlotte Tilbury (04) 4190100 Chaumet (04) 3398758 Chloé (04) 3300700 Chopard (04) 3414545 Christian Dior (04) 3235322 Christian Louboutin (04) 3990998 Church’s (800) 5383573 City Walk 800 637227 Claudie Pierlot (04) 3253798 Coach (04) 3398670 Cos (04) 4190858 CVC Stones (800) 044 5703

D

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E

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G

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H

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I & J

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K

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L

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M

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N

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O

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P

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R

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S

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T

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V

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W

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X, Y & Z

Yves Salomon (04) 5245555 Zadig & Voltaire (04) 3399186 Zara (04) 3308567 Zayan The Label (04) 3440104 Zimmermann (800) 74676277

NEWBORN TO 16 YEARS

ABSTRACT ELEGANCE

Floating flashes of diamonds cast a strong presence

Brevis four-stone ring POA REPOSSI

WORDS: AMY SESSIONS