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INNOVATING AND SCALING IN THE AGE OF UNCERTAINTY

Addressing Cyber Security Threats

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It’s Time To Call The Heart To Work

Heart of Heaven Picturesque Pakistan

Anker Products For Everyday Use

Unlocking The Promise of a Digital Workplace

CONTENTS " To investors, UAE offers great potential for investment opportunities across multiple sectors as 60% of humanity exists within a 5-hour flying radius of UAE (China, India, Europe, Russia and North Africa)"

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- Mana Sultan Al Suwaidi

"As we grow our cloud data services offerings with solutions like Cloud Volumes ONTAP®, Cloud Volumes Service, Azure NetApp Files and Cloud Insights, we are excited about the potential that lies in front of this new combined team to deliver complete solutions for primary workloads" - Anthony Lye

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Innovating And Scaling In The Age Of Uncertainty

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It’s Time To Call The Heart To Work

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The Growing Need To Focus On Mental Wellbeing In Covid Times In The Workplace

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Alister Bredee And “A Cat Has Nine Lives Virtual Detox Program”

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Women's World Car Of The Year Updates Logo And Introduces A Unique Spotify Playlist

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An Ode To Virtual Facilitation

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Express Auto Wash Opens With Express Services

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Evolution Of Mobile Networks In The Era Of 5G

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Courtney & Co. To Promote Exclusive Natural Water Source And Executive Property With Equestrian Facilities In New Zealand

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Pushing Boundaries - Bering 145

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Project Triton - Heesen Creates A Timeless New Classic, Designed To Cruise The Globe And Explore New Horizons

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Unique Fitness Sanctuary - Interview - Ali El Amine, The Managing Director Of Studiorepublik

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HID Global Unveils Signature Line Of Readers, Hid Signo; Unlocks A New World Of Open, Connected And Adaptable Access Control

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Netapp Acquires Talon Storage

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Addressing Cyber Security Threats

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Veeam Appoints Gil Vega As Chief Information Security Officer

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Unlocking The Promise Of A Digital Workplace

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In The Heart Of Nature - Crans-Montana

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Natural Sanctuary - Bled In Slovenia

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In Perfect Harmony Poland

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Heart Of Heaven - Picturesque Pakistan

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Scenic San Francisco

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Healthcare Evolved

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Icon Art Production

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Design International Foundation Presents: Food Court Remastered – A Free Design Initiative For Mall Owners

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Palatial Opulence - Corinthia Hotel London

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Anker Products For Everyday Use

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Ferrari 812

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The New Audi A6

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All-New Lincoln Corsair

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Ford F-150

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The Lamborghini SiĂĄn Roadster

" One in four adults experience at least one form of diagnosable mental health problem in any one year. " - Maggie Williams

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EDITOR’S LETTER

EDITOR'S NOTE GLOBAL REPRESENTATIVES

FOCUSING ON THE POSITIVE As Melbourne goes under lockdown, we have had conversations with our team of writers and contributors across the globe about our responsibilities as citizens and as a community during these times of uncertainty and darkness.

There is no doubt that profound change is underway, so what is the new reality and how do we navigate it thoughtfully? I hope focusing on the positives, particularly in a tremendously difficult time, will be a good respite for everyone and hence we are particularly excited to bring you in this issue gems from global guidance counsellors, change makers and wellness experts specially curated by our UAE team.

ASIA PACIFIC:

Fozia Fareen Melbourne, Austalia editor@trendingbusinessinsights.com MIDDLE EAST & AFRICA:

Shereen Shabnam Dubai, UAE editor@trendingbusinessinsights.com EUROPE:

Leila A. Paris, France editor@trendingbusinessinsights.com USA:

S. Danish San Francisco, USA trendingbusinessinsights@outlook.com CANADA:

Siew Lin Vancouver, Canada trendingbusinessinsights@outlook.com

The pandemic has made people more thoughtful in current times.

Strangers in parks and stores make jokes and share thoughts, small-business owners have shifted gears to help the community and one another and a sense of community spirit has surged amongst everyone.

Our International writers find that neighbors check on one another more and with parents sharing tips for distance learning.

We appreciate our health care workers, teachers, emergencyservices personnel, grocery employees, and food-service people as true heroes and this understanding binds us across all borders.

None of us know what the future will look like let alone next week. Speaking with fellow peers in the industry, it is evident they have similar sentiments. Our team of writers from Fiji Islands, USA, Australia, New Zealand, Spain, UAE and UK have one thing in common.

We know that we have to focus on the positive and move forward wherever the journey takes us.

Fozia Fareen Editor In Chief editor@trendingbusinessinsights.com

MANAGING DIRECTOR Nishrat Nazeen EDITOR IN CHIEF Fozia Fareen FEATURES EDITOR Shereen Shabnam ART DIRECTOR Verna Muerong

BUSINESS AND LIFESTYLE UPDATES (Publishing House) Registered No. RCBS2018I11862 P.O Box 9179 Nadi

Fiji Islands (t) +679 999 9913 (e) editor@trendingbusinessinsights.com (w) www.trendingbusinessinsights.com |4 7|

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Be your own water Baron

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MAIN INTERVIEW

Innovating and Scaling in the Age of Uncertainty Why UAE as a Global Startup Hub is the right place to get the traction your business needs

By Mana Sultan Al Suwaidi

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uccessful businesses emerge when great ideas and entrepreneurs come together in a creative and nurturing environment that helps dynamic founders, with the help of the right talents, bring new concepts to life.

Undoubtedly startup scalability is the new heaven for investments diversification. Investors at all levels like HNI, family offices, shares and crowd-funding see great potential in technology especially post COVID-19 but need guidance in paring up with an innovator with similar passion and vision.

The need for an evolving Startup Studio was hence clearly evident way before COVID-19 but the recent crises strongly drive a larger

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force towards technology infrastructure and efficiency in all areas of business.

UAE’s strategic positioning as a vibrant hub for trade, finance, media, tourism, hospitality, talent and technology is an advantage, particularly as UAE has enablers already in place to emulate the success stories of startup ecosystems like Silicon Valley.

The vision of the UAE is focused on job creation for the future and each technology innovation that gets nurtured can offer up to 300 jobs filling in gaps with new ideas and improving on existing businesses.

The different Emirates in the UAE have hence directed their focus towards startups.

According to the world’s Global Startup Ecosystem Report (GSER) 2020, Dubai remains in the top 20 cities in the world’s Emerging Ecosystem Rankings. Sharjah ranks the top in high growth activation phase ecosystems in the GSER 2020, marking a milestone in the emirate’s journey towards becoming a thriving global startup hub. Abu Dhabi continues to invest heavily in infrastructure to motivate new startups and set aside funds to attract innovators locally and experts from the globe.

With an abundance in Risk Capital, UAE is open to a culture of bringing in expert foreign workforce to support the UAE Government’s commitment towards entrepreneurship and innovation supported by a legal framework that protects all parties in the areas of data privacy, IP Protection and cybersecurity.

The birth of the Strategi Startup Studio, the startup arm of Strategi Advisors was hence imminent. We aim to bring together innovative and forward-thinking visionaries to build an entrepreneurship ecosystem in the UAE that engages not only entrepreneurs but also decision makers and encourage startups to aim higher in terms of visibility and impact than other parts of the world.

Strategi Startup Studio comprises of a dedicated team that helps build companies that start with an idea and inhouse experts help transform it into a fast growing product or business by creating favourable conditions and attracting the best global talent and capital.

Supported by Strategi Advisors that already has experts on board to cultivate a world class tech driven ecosystem, stakeholders as well as local and international entrepreneurs and startups can benefit from the team’s local know how, get clarity and be inspired to take their businesses to the next level.

Offering requirements of a conducive Tech Ecosystem with capital, talent, Infrastructure, market potential and supportive regulations, Strategi Startup Studio aims to make UAE a thriving global startup hub by working in synergy with the local government, incubators and accelerators.

Having experts within the Studio with decades of experience in bilateral commercial relations, senior management, international business, research and development, communications, marketing, event management, public relations and advanced technology, the government sector, diplomatic missions and the private sector, the Studio hopes to support job creation and economic growth within a vibrant entrepreneurial ecosystem.

As the need to foster a culture of innovation grows, my personal vision is to inspire entrepreneurs to turn their ideas into companies using with the help of new age technologies, digital transformation and help leverage tech ecosystems to restart economies recovering from the COVID-19 lockdowns and help them thrive.

Having seen the potential of various startup studios around the world, UAE is ready to create its own hub for building businesses.

The young generation is ready for this and coming from a pedigree of Emiratis keen on cultivating the vision and framework of leadership, entrepreneurship and "glocalization”, we aspire to demonstrate an advanced level of ecosystem development, characterized by crossborder venture building capabilities.

Strategi Startup Studio conceives, launches and scales local and international startups bringing innovative ventures to the city. We hope to build ventures with success stories for unicorns created in the UAE making local, regional and international impact.

Experts from Strategi Advisors will represent, support, and protect the growth of the startup business community with world-class expertise in every discipline required to build a market-leading company. Our objective is to collaborate with the most experienced and trusted partners to give direction to high growth startup entrepreneurs by listening, reflecting and guiding them along the way.

In the last four months, Strategi Startup Studio has been in investment discussions with a sovereign fund in Abu Dhabi and other regional venture capital investors to invest USD50 millions for exchange of equity in startups in the next five years.

Strategi Startup Studio does not invest capital in startups, we are a venture builder offering VaaS (Venture as a Service) to early stage startups (pre-seed/seed) in order to help them scale-up. We exchange essential and up-to-date information with startups and furnish them with resources needed to accomplish their goals.

To investors, UAE offers great potential for investment opportunities across multiple sectors as 60% of humanity exists within a 5-hour flying radius of UAE (China, India, Europe, Russia and North Africa).

While neighbouring countries are competing as conventional economies, UAE is evolving into a knowledge economy offering the perfect platform to connect startups, investors and enablers with relevant resources, accessibility and opportunities and Strategi Startup Studio is the first step towards building an ecosystem that rivals entrepreneurial hubs like the Silicon Valley.

Today more than ever companies need a forward-thinking strategy with new set of tools and frameworks to navigate through uncertainty and stay relevant. Strategi Startup Studio aims to do just that and guide businesses to think and act differently as well as gain leverage as ecosystems gain relevance to impact economies in a meaningful way.

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SIGNATURE

It’s Time To Call The Heart To Work Susan K Furness, Co Creator, Strategic Heartistry

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ounder of UAE-based Strategic Solutions, Susan is a charismatic marketing strategist with an eclectic career path known for successfully balancing the corporate world with often unusual personal development initiatives and well-being as a Certified Spiritual Intelligence Coach, an Integral Facilitator and an Edgewalker Retreat Leader, among others.

Her expertise is rooted in identifying growth opportunities at new market entry for start-ups, SME’s and multinationals. Susan is known for curating forward thinking business strategies, helping teams embrace challenges as opportunities, as well as authoring powerful new brand narrative.

However, with her strategic nose being so different from the crowd only the brave would jump on board, until Susan jumped overboard in readiness for the new world order.

We speak with her about co-creation, collaboration, and her sense for the future, and the role of Heart leadership.

After the success of Strategic Solutions, you ventured into life changing ventures leading you to co create Strategic Heartistry – tell us a bit about it?

Strategic Heartistry moots an alternative to strategic planning. It suggests we talk in, before talking out. Indeed, a voice continues to say to me ‘Susan, there is another way to live life and be in business….’, and Strategic Heartistry is writing the playbook for this ‘other way’.

It invites the fearless leader to role modeling modeling. It understands that set models don’t fit all, if at all. Especially in life DC into AC (during corona, after corona).

I now know that I have been aware of ‘the voice’ as early as age 12.

I was listening. I was aware. But of course I lacked experience to be fully awake. By 17 I had jumped on board for the heady ride of consumer-driven capitalism, or is it capitalist-driven consumerism? In 2006, I felt consumered-out. Intoxicated by ‘it all’, yet still accepting another round of the same old.

As I stood on the edge, the voice volume was ramped up and I woke up with a big shove as I played witness to the heady, voluptuous business transactions acting up around me. Two years later, the reality was named as The Global Financial Crisis. Much of the world was shaken but not stirred enough to shift into new ways of doing, much less new ways of being.

I was fortunate to be both royally shoved and rigorously stirred. The voice bellowed ‘There is another way for common sense to create common purpose for common unity, for community….’. In this

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#hashtag world, I tag this as #collectiveindividual.

As I stepped up and out on my road less travelled, one of my first stepping stones was the book by Dr Judi Neal, Edgewalkers: People and Organizations that Take Risks, Build New Bridges, and Break New Ground www.edgewalkers.org And so it began; my commitment to blessing my capitalist career goodbye and welcoming true purpose in business and life, more comfortably described for me as a vocation not a career. My road less travelled is not always comfortable rather it’s bumpy, twisty, and infinite. For this I feel blessed. No pain, no gain. No dark, no light.

Fast forward to 2020, and our collective experience with CoVid-19.

Holding the loss, bereavement, and anxiety many have felt in deep respect and prayer, I feel positively touched by this curious time. I observe Mother Nature nudging mankind to be kinder to man.

Strategic Heartistry is one of three new initiatives I have recently cocreated for DC into AC, making use of the new reality that we can ‘zoom around the world in a day on Zoom’.

Designed and delivered with Melbourne-based Possibility Activist, Ian Berry, Strategic Heartistry honours that life no longer needs to be the same as BC - if we listen to the heart before asking the head www. strategicheartistry.com

How does Strategic Heartistry and mentoring help leaders grow their businesses?

Ian and I, as well as many other thought-provokers on the edge of the centre, recognise that this is the Heart Age. Strategic Heartistry calls on all leaders to bring their hearts to work. An example of seven leader-full conversations in Strategic Heartistry.

You will open up what you have always known deep down – the right alternative to traditional strategic planning.

You will consider new strategic direction weaving your way to new possibilities as you design new modeling You will experience how true value quickly manifests when the heart is engaged.

You will explore how acting out of love and kindness evokes 'acts' of love and kindness in others.

You will witness how being ‘decisively human’ increases your top and bottom lines, especially fitting to the digital era.

You will role model collaboration in a world fed up with competition.

You will find your voice in a world desperately wanting to hear you.

The programme running presently is headlined - Re-imagine. Repurpose. Re-start. Guided by Strategic Heartistry’s organic modeling and glossary you will start to write your individual new-era playbook.

It’s powerful stuff, according to participants since its launch in April.

How has your experience in the region evolved over the last few years?

Leaps and Bounds – are the two words that describe the pace of my evolved experience, especially since I steadfastly committed to vocation (professional purpose) in 2017.

Indeed, what playful words I choose as I wouldn’t previously described myself as playful. Interestingly, one of the five Edgewalker Qualities of Being is Playfulness, defined as A joyful sense of fun and creativity, with an ability to keep everything in perspective.

DC (during corona) the business opportunity is to pack only luggage as we move into AC, leaving the baggage behind. This takes courage and an individual practise in fearlessness.

The good news is it doesn’t take long to re-purpose once you have stopped on the edge to talk in, before talking out – to yourself, your team, your family and indeed the marketplace. I stand in good example to this truth.

How would you describe the unique aspects of the business culture of the Middle East?

If I might exchange the word ‘unique; for ‘individual’, here’s three individual aspects of the business culture in this region that I have observed and three that I sense, because we just do not know anymore.

The region’s business culture is an eclectic mix, connected – and sometimes separated - at the core by a deep interest for ‘what is emerging’.

Businesses in the Middle East marketplace (still) have opportunity to serve each other with a wide variety of product and service – from traditional, to current, to ‘new-to-market’. Indeed, ‘New Market Entry’ is a constant, in Arabia and the greater region.

The region’s ‘Next Generation’ will tackle business innovation and growth standing up, not lying down emerging as Newsmakers.

Indeed, the second of the three projects I have been working on during DC for the regional market is The Next Generation MBA in Transformational Leadership.

Numerous, notable new-world ‘preneurs born from the greater Middle East have the opportunity to influence the way the world does business, after corona.

If it’s emerging, if it’s tech, if it’s creative, if it sows new prosperity, the Arabian Gulf in particular will be ever-ready to play a leading role.

Speak English, Speak Arabic, Speak Cloud, Speak AI, Speak CX, Speak Integration, Speak Community, Speak In before speaking out, Seek Global, Dump the logo, and Bring back the QR Code.

In the last few years, I regularly experience a welcome from my peers in the regional marketplace, with many graciously ready to listen to my sense of the future alongside new modeling. From showcasing Edgewalkers in 2009, to being a forerunner with Inbound Marketing in 2011, to talking the language of Colour with associate, Mark Wentworth, to crusading the next era of PR and Corporate Communications as the time for Brand Journalism over the past four years.

Susan's sense of the post pandemic challenges

Having said that, at the end of every meeting I usually hear: ‘Susan, we love you, you have a great strategic mind, but no way – you have gone a stretch too far with this one…if you are right, you are far too early; the market isn’t ready to pioneer such change…..’.

Commercial and Residential Real Estate - Work From Home (WFH) voted ‘the new normal’, en masse

I persevered anyway. Indeed, ‘Perseverance Works’ has been my motto since 1988. It was the name of a new creative studio cluster somewhere around Camden Town in London, I recall.

In 2017, the voice ramped up, and I became a Nomad, or more fitting to Arabia, a Digital Bedouin. I ‘let go’ of the rather beautiful, tangible ‘home’ infrastructure I had collected over my four decades in business in Arabia (I arrived in to Bahrain in 1981, and Dubai in 1992).

Presently, letting go, or Surrender remains my constant companion. In Strategic Heartistry, we model being light-sized to be right-shaped for what is next, now.

Travel - Enjoy zooming around the world on ‘Zoom’ instead of an A380 Bricks and mortar Retail Sector - fill shopping baskets on the Cloud

Education and Learning - gather appetite, courage and bandwidth to feel, think, and act differently Cash Flow, across the board – at home, in busines, in government, in society, in every corner of the world Communications - word of mouth #trends into storytelling online and corporate messaging contributes to brand equity Relationships - all of the above morph in and out of challenge and/or opportunity.

Find out more on www.strategicheartistry.com Trending Business Insights

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EXPERT OPINION

The Growing Need to Focus on Mental Wellbeing in Covid Times in the Workplace Maggie Williams, Executive Coach at Thriving Hives

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n these unprecedented times of Covid 19, when the whole world has been in lockdown, and society, governments and businesses have been challenged like never before, mental wellbeing is now at the forefront of many HR departments.

functioning in our day-to day- lives. The great thing is that Mental Illness is treatable!

While wellbeing programmes are now common in company policy, there is still a long way to go for companies to take on board the need for mental health awareness and support! With companies closing by the minute, isolation through working from home, the fear of the virus, and the uncertainty of constantly changing government rules of what we all must do or not do, it’s no wonder that mental wellbeing is declining everywhere. Isn’t it time we all became aware of mental health and also how we can support those who are suffering right now?

One in four adults experience at least one form of diagnosable mental health problem in any one year. It is a well-known fact that half of all mental health problems are established by the age of 14. In England alone poor mental health has a social and economic cost of over 105 billion pounds per year. In Great Britain in 2018 there were 595, 000 cases of work-related stress, depression and anxiety leading to 15.4 million working days lost. Think what is might be now in these very trying times.

Everyone has Mental Health!

Stigma and how it impacts Mental Health

What is Mental Health?

One of the biggest challenge for companies who want to take mental health more seriously as part of their wellbeing strategy is to help employees overcome the stigma associated with mental health.

Mental health includes our emotional, psychological and social wellbeing. It affects how we think, feel, and act, and how we handle stress, how we relate to others and make our life choices. We all have it.

The term mental illness covers a broad range of mental health problems, which can involve changes in our emotions, behaviours and relationships with others. It’s associated with distress and problems

The Statistics

Stigma is one of the challenges to overcome in attempting to bring awareness and support within a company for mental wellbeing. The fear of being stigmatised often prevents employees from seeking the help they need. When the fear of stigma is in play there is a reluctance to seek professional support or to share feelings with family and friends, for fear of being, victimised, and or bullied. The mental stress involved may spiral out of control leading to a noticeable reduction in work performance.

Tips To Help Combat Stigma • Sharing reliable information with family and friends to improve their understanding.

• Refrain from equating yourself with your condition • Join a support group to talk about stigma and relate to others • Organise local campaigns or get involved with national campaigns • Seek professional help - don't let the fear of being ‘labelled’ with a mental illness stop you Having a good Mental Health strategy in place in your workplace is a sure way to encourage staff to feel comfortable enough to come forward in the early stages of their anxiety. When they trust that they will not be stigmatised and they’ll get the right help and support from you, they’ll feel valued, respected and above all loyal to you.

Next issue - Implementing a great strategy in your company! | 10 | Trending Business Insights

LIVE WELL

Alister Bredee and “A Cat Has Nine Lives Virtual Detox Program”

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he pandemic has made people more aware of health and wellness than before focusing on the need for detox. Hence, we get to know Alister Bredee and his journey towards creating a programme that balances mind, body and spirit.

After a career spanning many years in the Middle-East, Alister Bredee decided to re-train in psychotherapy and hypnotherapy. He graduated in 1984 but quickly found the tools that he had learned were often inadequate. He started a long journey to find more and better ways.

This voyage took him first to homeopathy and then to Applied Kinesiology. In 1988 he enrolled in a Holistic Medicine Programme at Howell College with a campus at London’s Regent’s College and another at Sherborne in Dorset.

The Course involved residency at Sir Anton Jayasuriya;’s “Medicina Alternativa” in Colombo, Sri Lanka. He graduated as a D. HH (U.K.) M.D. (Sri Lanka) as well as a Clinical Nutritionist in 1992. He established a practice in Harley Street and then the prestigious Hale Clinic, again close to Regent’s Park before moving to Dublin.

The book” A Cat Has Nine Lives” emerged in 2016; with the idea of providing an easy to follow “Detoxification Program”. He wrote the book on Koh Samui where he has been working as a Wellness Consultant to several “Detox Resorts” since 2007. He uses the book as the backbone to his own “Detox” program; this is a journey that balances mind, body and spirit.

“A Cat Has Nine Lives” as the title suggests has nine parts. These are nine steps to wellness. As far as the participant is concerned some of these steps are essential and some not. There is a general introduction entitled “The Basics”, which establishes the guidelines. To quote the father of Medicine, Hippocrates, “Leave your drugs in the chemist’s pot if you can cure your patient with food.”

In the past clients would come jetting into Koh Samui. Stay in a comfortable hotel and enjoy a program designed specifically for their needs. This cost money and consumed valuable time. But then along came Sars-2-Covid 19. Thailand closed down as did most of the world and the luxury detox on idyllic Samui was no longer possible.

Alister enthuses, “We had to re-think or sink. The answer was the Cat Has Nine Lives Virtual Detox Program. We designed a program, especially for you to enjoy thanks to the progress in computer-based communications technology. something you can enjoy from the comfort of your own home. This substantially slashed costs There is no need for an expensive airfare or pricey hotel.”

This is a journey that all can afford. Sessions are on line and eating programs come in the form of convenient sachets by way of the Amrita Detox or by carefully designed menus that you can make up yourself.

Alister Bredee trained in the Meridian Energy Therapies under Dr. Tam Llewellyn. He became the Administrator for the Irish Association for Applied Meridian Techniques (IAAMT). He also worked with Today’s Therapist Magazine, where he taught EFT and other Meridian Energy based techniques to therapists in the UK and Ireland.

He introduced his own variant which he called AMBIT (Alister’s Meridian Based Integrative Therapy) which he presented at the first ACEP Conference in Europe and later at the second Conference at Lady Margaret Hall, part of Oxford University. Thus, he is experienced in Meridian Energy work along with Holistic Health and Clinical Nutrition. The Basic 5 Day Detox which includes a free copy of Ä Cat Has Nine Lives” starts from only $33.00 whilst add on components are reasonably priced, too.

To schedule your “No Strings” phone call” E-mail alisterbredee@gmail.com or message +66 847814718

Trending Business Insights | 11 |

NEWS WOMEN'S WORLD CAR OF THE YEAR UPDATES LOGO AND INTRODUCES A UNIQUE SPOTIFY PLAYLIST to voice the Bobby Troup song with his famous hit (Get Your Kicks On) Route 66. This, too, is included in Women's World Car of the Year playlist. Other bands such as The Rolling Stones, Depeche Mode, Manhattan Transfer have also paid tribute to the, very probably, most famous road in world.

It’s not the destiny but the journey and other more recent songs that have hundreds of kilometres of asphalt disappearing beneath the chassis in search of freedom include Going Mobile, by The Who; From a Buick 6, by Bob Dylan; and Highway Star by Deep Purple. All of them prove road songs are more alive than ever and all of them are on Women's World Car of the Year Spotify playlist.

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ongs with lyrics of roads, trips and automobiles is integrated in a unique list of classic rock, blues, soul, country music. The list has been generated in Spotify by jury members of the Women's World Car of the Year to create almost five hours of the very best music for car lovers around the world.

When Bonny Rice first wrote and recorded Mustang Sally in 1965, he didn't anticipate it would become one of the most well-known road songs of all time. It gained greater popularity when Wilson Pickett covered it the following year on a single.

That popularity was helped by the fact it appealed to women because for possibly the first time since the car was invented here was a song that showed Sally, as a woman, was far more interested in the car than the man.

The Women's World Car of the Year playlist in Spotify is almost five hours of the very best classic rock, blues, soul and country and offered to all. Pink Cadillac, by Bruce Springsteen; Highway to Hell, by AC/ DC; Little Red Corvette by Prince, Maybellene by Chuck Berry; Drive my Car by The Beatles: Mercury Blues, by Steve Miller Band are just some examples of Women's World Car of the Year playlist.

Road songs started timidly with the beat generation of the 50's and 60's who were young and looked to distinguish themselves from their parents by refusing their conventional way of life, the way they dressed and the cars they drove.

The young wanted striking and different vehicles which otherwise, they might not be able to afford. The car industry, still ailing after the Second War World standstill, saw this trend as a business opportunity and began producing sport cars with V6 and V8 engines at affordable prices. Born were a number of legends such us Chevrolet Corvette, Ford Mustang and the Pontiac Firebird. They were muscle cars that could drive the Route 66 that Jack Kerouac had immortalized in his book On the Road.

Initially, The Mother Road (as it was named by that time) began in Chicago (Illinois), went through Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, Nuevo México, Arizona and California and finished at Los Angeles.

It covered a total of 3940 km (2449 miles). It allowed Nat King Cole

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Women's World Car of the Year is the only car awards in the world comprising exclusively women motoring journalists. It was created

by New Zealand motoring journalist, Sandy Myhre, in 2009. She is currently Honorary President while Marta García is Executive President.

The objective of the awards is to choose the best cars of the year. The voting criteria is based on the same principles that guide any driver when choosing a car. Aspects such as safety, quality, price, design, ease of driving, benefits and environmental footprint, among others, are taken into account when casting the vote.

Recently, after ten years, Women's World Car of the Year has updated its logo to align with the latest trends.

Based on the original design from Pear Tree Studios in the UK, the new logo keeps its essence, but introduces some guidelines to reflect the spirit of this decade.

Spanish artist Eva Goes has been in charge of the update. My intention has been to preserve the aesthetics of the previous logo. The silhouette of the woman driver has been kept, as it is a very powerful and attractive image that represents very well this group of motoring women journalists.

The lines of the new logo have been softened and synthesized to adapt more to the present time and to make it more effectively function across all formats, but at the same time keeping the ‘face’ of an empowered woman.

Eva has added a circle to frame the portrait to give it more importance and to allow the logo to work effectively as an imagotype. Eva has also used the large acronym WWCOTY for clarity with the whole title underneath as a fuller explanation.

The Gulf region is represented in WWCOTY by UAE based Motoring Jury, Shereen Shabnam who is the Founder of All About Wheels, Editor in Chief of the regional luxury lifestyle magazine of Millionaire Group, Motoring Editor of Madame magazine and Oceania based Trending Business Insights.

DIHC SIGNS STRATEGIC CHANNEL PARTNERSHIP WITH FRANCHISE INDIA Both entities to provide business support to Indian companies looking to set up in the UAE

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he UAE Royal family backed entity, Directions Investments Holding Co. (DIHC), under the Chairmanship of H.H. Sheikh Mohammed bin Sultan Bin Hamdan Al Nahyan and Franchise India, Ltd, the largest franchise and management company in South Asia announce a strategic partnership to support Indian businesses that wish to set up their Manufacturing, Retail, Trading, Representation or Marketing office in UAE.

Globalization and global markets are of considerable relevance, principally owing to the pragmatic growth effects of cross- border enterprise and investment. Moreover the next normal comes with a highly potent business environment, where approaches to incorporate sustainability and resiliency to withstand the uncharted outside shocks becomes equally important for decision making and strategic planning by business owners.

The alliance will open a gateway for competitive advantage in exploiting opportunities and avoiding pitfalls when operating in the MENA and APAC regions by Indian Companies.

The presence of a huge Indian diaspora is a big plus for Indian companies for zeroing down in the UAE and is a great market to replicate a successful Indian business model. Being an affluent market where retail is quite well developed, the potential market is as big as many other emerging markets but highly concentrated.

With about 3.3 million Indian migrants in the UAE alone (according to the UN's migration report in 2017), constituting almost 27-plus percent of its population, it is a big competitive advantage for an Indian company to plan its expansion in the UAE. Franchise India Ltd under the Chairmanship of Mr. Gaurav Marya seeks to assist Indian companies with setting up their Local Limited liability company and do business with government and private companies in the UAE under the direct guidance of the Royal Family office.

"Through our Value Added Services Program, we provide a platform where our JV partners and Sponsorship Program, find the necessary elements to launch, grow and succeed" said Zulfiquar Ghadiyali, DIHC.

Expertise and Experience about the Laws of the land is vital to start a business in the UAE market. The Investor Friendly UAE Government has been taking steps to make the process easier for Indian consumer and manufacturing brands to enter the UAE, especially Abu Dhabi.

Finding a trustworthy sponsor or partner can be tedious for Indian entrepreneurs and that is where this channel partnership will make the process easier and shorter" said Gaurav Marya, Chairman, Franchise India.

The Project is to create visibility and attract leading investors, businesses and organisations to understand the commercial and competitive capabilities of Abu Dhabi by recommending participation in and through specifically curated relevant programs, site tours, inward delegations and networking forums.

Trending Business Insights | 13 |

SUSTAINABILITY

AN ODE TO VIRTUAL FACILITATION M

y facilitation experience has been extensive to say the least, across all levels of organizations; there’s really not much that I haven’t been asked to perform, or have not experienced in formal presentation terms. Yet each and every one has strengthened my facilitation kit gearing me up to face any unexpected reality.

By writing these words, the floodgates on ‘memorable facilitation experiences’ has indeed opened. Ahh, the impact from covering the 600-wide audience with a physical substitute for the ‘workplace glass ceiling’ (fabulous experience yet logistical nightmare!), uggh, the loss of voice throughout the global rollout, ahh, the thrill of witnessing my alternative learning design result in major aha’s, uugh, the moment the front row audience member had an epileptic fit, ahh, the excitement of converting a hardcore traditional audience into storytellers, uggh the client who monitored every word yet would not facilitate themselves and the list goes on; nothing can derail me as responding to challenges on the spot has become second nature to me.

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Additionally, having co-created and co-managed a global online corporate academy involving asynchronous communication now enabling the internal corporate culture, I would classify myself as highly experienced with technologically-driven learning experiences in a Moodle environment. So why, oh why would someone of my capacity be put to the test through COVID- 19 when transitioning my global ‘certified master’ status with the time-tested global The Leadership Challenge Workshop to a Zoom-based, facilitator-led virtual learning experience?

There really are only a finite amount of responses for any unexpected situation that happens in workshops. Physical, socio-economic and emotional missteps may occur with participants and to be honest, while they tend to show up in different ways, many boil down to the commonality of a lack of integration or alignment on either a personal or professional level. Throughout my Zoom-based facilitation within the COVID-lockdowns, there were countless more variables to anticipate and handle, such as psychological, technological and

contextual, with much less being within my sphere of influence or my locus of control.

a. Psychological

The space a learner finds themselves in during a face-to-face workshop is somewhat visible, and the more time you mingle over breaks and lunch, the more is exposed. I needed to enter the space of the learner before the online interactions commenced, and understand it intimately. Was there a private area to work from or would there be a likelihood of children ‘bombing’ the class adding a layer of complexity or distraction to the learner.

What was the ‘temperature’ of the environment from which the learner would be interacting eg hot due to loss of job or cold due to the level of COVID-based fear? Were there demands on the person regarding time competing for other responsibilities to name but a few.

To gain these insights, I set up a one on one personalized chat with each participant prior to the session with surprising results.

Feedback indicated they felt comforted that I would know their reality and was willing to cater for their new realities. While from my side this took quite some time, it was an investment I would highly recommend, yet do so with full understanding that other psychological factors could show up at any time.

b. Technological

The virtues of technology are far-reaching, however not as farreaching as the steps I felt I needed to take to be ‘ahead of it’. What exactly do I mean by that? To roll out the first highly-successful virtual The Leadership Challenge Workshop, a global team of Certified Masters were planning and plotting scenarios for over 8 weeks. The time spent on designing backup tactics, testing and re-testing, adapting exercises to the capability of the technology, ensuring everything would be within the constructs of one seamless platform while well-founded, was disproportionate to the preparation required for a standard iteration of the workshop.

The technology itself was being upgraded at the developer end (no surprizes there in a changing and competitive market) and we had to keep abreast of those regular changes. There was constant analysis for supporting technology: ‘do we invest in this, or go with the free one’, what’s the compatibility with our chosen platform with the aids to integrate, when to video and when to not video, how to discover new functionalities and align those to our objectives, how to ensure it displays across all browsers in a similar way, to name just a few. For the ‘man off the street’ or the trainer in a classroom, that’s certainly a lot to work through.

Yet, so too is the task to gain the confidence of audiences to return to public workshops, eat in the restaurants and engage in group work yet again, all through the shroud of a mask.

c. Contextual

I needed to appreciate the context for each learner, such as the level of resourcing. Were they working in a highly resourced area such as three monitors, the ability to print, the experience with the technology, the employer’s restrictions on some workplace restrictions etc? Were they already suffering from Zoom fatigue, having a not-so-welcoming outlook to technology for me to work around? Were they feeling overwhelmed at work with the amount of online meetings?

COVID has gifted us so many lessons in life. In this case, what has evolved for me from transitioning my facilitation into a live, tech-based environment would be the following: a. Never say never; nothing is impossible; take the first step while relinquishing control, entering a world that’s ready to help you b. While the transition will take much time and effort, simply consider this as a wise investment that will yield vast returns c. Whatever is invisible or intangible can have major impact; dig deep into every aspect in order to steer a customized response (relevant to individuals and technology) So why do these findings excite me? I have a favorite saying: never forget your roots. Regardless of the large variety of experiences my career has given me, I periodically and consciously honor those roots of my original school teaching career, three career phases ago. There is nothing on that above COVID gift-list that wasn’t relevant to the success of my first career all those years ago. They may be ‘dressed differently today’ yet as strong foundational keys, they are what allow me to deliver so much value to and with my clients. I was true to those fundamentals then and I remain so today. Perhaps for me, the role of COVID was to reconnect me to my roots, stripping me back to my basics.

How about you?

Debbie Nicol, MD of ‘business en motion’, a business consultancy and learning organization moves businesses and leaders ahead through change. Operating across the GCC for over 15 years, she achieves this through the services of training, coaching and solutions services, specializing in strategy, leadership and change.

Trending Business Insights | 15 |

SUSTAINABILITY EXPRESS AUTO WASH OPENS WITH EXPRESS SERVICES Sanitising and disinfecting of car wash areas a priority in revolutionary car wash facility in Abu Dhabi

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xpress Auto Wash (EAW), a premium environment friendly automatic car wash facility located behind Mushrif Mall in Abu Dhabi is now open from 9am to 9pm daily offering express services for a five-minute exterior wash.

The cars are cleaned thoroughly using premium products from the USA as the environment friendly facility allows multiple cars to be washed simultaneously, saving valuable time and ensures 95% of the water is recycled.

Express Auto Wash has the most reliable and safest high-tech car wash

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systems with high-pressure undercarriage water nozzles that add to the efficiency of the wash while the MN Tech 21 Turbo Drying System completes the drying process.

The fast and yet thorough clean saves customers valuable time that can be spent more productively at home and in the office. Auto Wash also offers touch free car wash for the more delicate and premium cars.

An Exterior Sedan wash costs AED 30/- and Exterior SUV costs AED 35/-.

TECHNOLOGY

EVOLUTION OF MOBILE NETWORKS IN THE ERA OF 5G | 18 | Trending Business Insights

Hardware manufacturers and service providers are now betting on the acceptance and success of virtualised functions. Software development continues at breakneck speed to meet timelines and demands for more integrated solutions, which easily scale and reduce operational overheads at the same time.

The 5G Revenue Opportunity

5G’s impact is expected to extend beyond the typical mobile network carriers/operators. It promises to enable increased connectivity and flexibility, that will drive additional functions throughout all supportive components of a mobile carrier’s network.

Mohammed Al-Moneer Regional Vice President, MENA at A10 Networks

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ifth generation networks, just like the preceding 4G LTE and WiMAX networks, are expected to greatly increase available bandwidth, with improved end-to-end performance providing a better end-user experience. In the most basic of terms, 4G LTE was the long-term evolution of Radio Access Networks (RAN); 5G is the next iteration.

Wireless carriers have invested billions into their networks to support the ongoing demand for faster network speeds. They must look for ways to increase revenue while delivering more value to the end user.

This continues to drive new devices into the hands of the consumer. The demand for increased efficiencies, bandwidth, and coverage has pushed carriers towards a decentralised deployment model.

Network Virtualisation Remains in The Early Stages

Service providers monitor and review technology for advancements that will help deliver faster and less expensive networks. Recently, they have looked into areas of Network Function Virtualisation (NFV) and automation to support their advancements. Mobile network operators are investing heavily in reducing delays and errors through repetitive processes as they build and add capacity to existing 4G networks.

Virtualisation and Software Defined Networks (SDN) improvements are driving a shift from hardware to software. SDN is promising, but it’s not an instant solution, as purpose-built hardware still remains the preferred choice. NFV and SDN have offered service providers an alternative to existing methods, including dedicated appliances sitting idle. However, it’s safe to say that the age of virtualisation remains in the early stages.

RAN access providers face the question of how to support the ever-increasing appetite for cutting the cord. How can we use our mobile devices in more ways than previously thought, as the end user goes about their daily tasks? This mobility, whether it’s tied to a carrier’s technology or even a simple Wi-Fi home network, reaches all corners of our day-to-day life.

This reach extends from the cloud to the data centre environments and continues to drive capacity needs, supported by both legacy appliances and the everincreasing virtual environments. This continued appetite for consumption has opened up opportunities for all facets of technology and associated vendors.

5G Mobile Network Evolution

The continued expansion of 5G networks will have a revolutionary impact upon every mobile subscriber and business in the world.

The fundamental market forces of network evolution are not based on wired or wireless infrastructure.

Companies are currently focused on upgrading existing mobile networks. Whereas at the exact same time, NFV, SDN and the global IoT industry are all preparing to utilise the next generation of mobile networks.

Software solutions are easier to move from concept to production and frequently offer a lower up-front investment cost. This all adds up to help drive increased functionality for all service providers, including the wired infrastructure.

5G and IoT will be demand-driven. As a result, the more the infrastructure expands to meet that demand, the more opportunities will be uncovered. It’s a positive feedback loop that will revolutionise how we think of the internet.

Get ready for a world that will be changed forever with the next generation mobile networks on the horizon.

Trending Business Insights | 19 |

PROPERTY

Courtney & Co. to promote exclusive natural water source and Executive Property with Equestrian facilities in New Zealand | 20 7 | | Trending Business Insights

Complementing this fabulous property is a four-bedroom executive family home. Including a pool, games room, garaging and spa.

Together with a large barn, out buildings, stable, there are two massive equestrian arenas, training track, horse walker, the grazing paddocks are kept in park like condition.

According to Courtney Wood, CEO of Courtney & CO., this unique offering comes with a large annual volume take, of 100% Natural High Alkaline Mineral Water pH9, that comes from a deep underground sustainable Aquifer providing this incredibly healthy and pure drinking water. This water source is one of only ten natural sources with a bottling consent in the Auckland region.

The naturally energized water sourced at the Riverhead property is super hydrating and offers revitalizing cellular health for humans and animals alike. The property has Auckland Council resource consent to construct a factory, abstract the water, and bottle at source, creating a lucrative export opportunity.

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ourtney & Co., a well-respected Real Estate Company based in Auckland, New Zealand, appoints Coral Coast PR as their official PR agency for the GCC market to promote a very exclusive offering for overseas investors looking to purchase a unique equine property, with a massive natural underground pH9 Mineral Water source in Auckland.

The property is 15 acres set up for horses, both for Equestrian activities and Racing. There is a current income from a tenanted dwelling that accommodates a hair salon, beauty spa, nail spa, Chinese massage and a quality three-bedroom apartment penthouse.

Located three minutes to the North West Motorway, 35 minutes to Auckland CBD and International Airport (Emirates 3 weekly direct flights). The property is perfectly positioned for a large volume water business to be established with possible future land subdivision potential. An 18-hole golf course is on the properties back boundary, with exclusive membership.

Coral Coast PR is proud to be the publicity partner to bring this offering to you. The chance to purchase your own exclusive Natural Water source in New Zealand, with considerable export potential, with all additional attributes, is now.

More information for the property and water business opportunities can be discussed further with the PR team at info@coralcoastpr.com.

Trending Business Insights | 21 |

BUSINESS

Passionately Crafted Rohit Dhamani

Director of Wholesale & Manufacturing - Dhamani Group of Companies

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usoul is envisaged as a passionately crafted jewellery brand, born from the desire to develop collections with a more accessible price point whilst ensuring that the key components of the Dhamani group, quality, craftsmanship and design, are retained.

Shereen Shabnam meets with Mr. Rohit Dhamani who has been with the Dhamani Group of Companies in 1992.

Tell us a bit about yourself and working within a family business?

I am the second eldest son in the family and work alongside my father Mr. L.N Dhamani and my brothers Amit and Manish Dhamani. I foresee the expansion of the business in the Far East and Australasia regions and the production of fine jewellery and gemstones at the regional head office located in Bangkok, Thailand.

Casato and Giovanni Ferraris, Brumani, a timeless yet contemporary Brazilian brand, and Moiseikin, a statement brand from Russia.

What are you fascinated by at the moment and how does it feed into your wok?

Expo 2020 Dubai fascinates me as it will be a festival of human ingenuity; showcasing what is possible when new ideas and people connect their minds to create the future. With Expo 2020 Dubai in sight, we are looking ahead to an increasingly multicultural and diverse demographic of future customers to experience Dusoul and the spirit of the brand.

What is the biggest lesson that you have learned since you started Dusoul?

The Dhamani family saw the opportunity to offer a more affordable jewellery brand that would address an increasing clientele of global customers and millennials looking for affordable luxury. This led to a dialogue with CallisonRTKL, the retail experts and strategists, and eventually, the inception of Dusoul.

The advent of Dusoul is answering the need of a gap in the market where luxury brands and fine jewelry brands dominate. Dusoul sees a place for a truly innovative and more accessible price point that will attract a new breed of connoisseur in the coming months and years – millennials who are looking for quality, craftsmanship and unique design credentials but to whom the allure and magnetic appeal of owning fine jewelry is an important rite of passage. They are also into collections that they can use every day.

The brand is called ‘Dusoul’ as it captures the unique spirit of the city where it is born – in Dubai, U.A.E. Dusoul is currently located in Atlantis on the Palm, Mirdiff City Centre, Mall of the Emirates and Nakheel Mall.

Keep customers in mind during jewellery creation and make jewellery part of their lifestyle. Stay committed to giving jewellery enthusiasts quality products and designs.

Which countries are you looking to expand to in the future?

What makes Dusoul outlets stand out?

What is the USP of DUSOUL and where are the outlets located?

Our future plans include rapid expansion in the region, which will extend from Malaysia to Taiwan and Australia through a well-planned growth forecast. I hope to be at the forefront of the wholesale and manufacturing and responsible for all production related activities for fine jewellery and gemstones.

What are your designs based on?

Dusoul showcases a unique mix of in-house designed collections, brought to life by the natural elements of sun, sea, sand and the stars. These pieces sit alongside an exciting and exclusive portfolio of renowned international brands. Each of the thoughtfully curated collections reflect a unique style and personality.

How is Dusoul perceived internationally?

Dusoul stocks selected international brands, showcasing their latest collections that have been endorsed by celebrities and socialites from around the world. These include three fine jewelry brands – Palmiero,

What advice would you give to young designers?

The new stores depict a luxurious yet warm and inviting environment that compliments the stunning and sophisticated fine jewellery collection. The customer experience is enhanced by innovative technology, offering unique and state-of-the-art digital display software, allowing real-time interaction between the brand and clients.

We have in the past received prestigious accolades for ‘Innovation’ & ‘Best Retail Store Design’.

How do you see Dusoul’s jewellery design evolving in the Middle Eastern region in the near future?

Dusoul encompasses the modern, aspirational, inquisitive nature of the ever-evolving landscape of Dubai. We hope to give Emirati Designers a platform to show their designs and launch their work with us. We hope to stand out with innovative designs and sparkling personality which echo the spirit of the inspirational city in which the brand is created.

Trending Business Insights | 23 |

YACHT

BETWEEN SPORTS AND RELAXATION Understated Elegance of Oasis 135’

By Shereen Shabnam International Writer

Benetti is an icon of timeless Italian styling and construction excellence and each yacht in their portfolio is unique and built to suit the Owner’s needs and desires. The new Oasis 135’ in Benetti’s Class product line is no different as it comes with a promise of freshness, relief and relaxation and to be enjoyed in complete comfort.

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reated to satisfy the needs of an active and sophisticated owner who wants to live his life at sea to the full and across the board, and who has a lifestyle focused on casual elegance, Oasis 135’ is packed with solutions in which close contact with the water plays a foreground role, as is demonstrated by the spectacular beach area with infinity pool just steps from the sea.

The high ceilings, the unusual layout of the onboard spaces, and the extensive use of natural light confirm and underscore the desire to enter into a symbiotic relationship with the outside world. This ambitious project, on which Benetti has worked in partnership with UK-based firm RWD and New York design studio Bonetti/Kozerski that has designed the interiors, revolves around an onboard lifestyle in which sporting activities alternate with periods of total relaxation.

Adrian Chisnell, Team Principal at RWD, describes the concept like this: “We’ve revisited the classic concept of onboard life. Today owners don’t use their boats in the same way as in the past. This yacht reflects a new more dynamic and less formal lifestyle for active, curious owners who don’t spend much time lying in the sun because they prefer to explore and enjoy the places they’ve just reached on their yacht”.

The interiors, designed by US-based firm Bonetti/Kozerski, are casualchic in style and reveal a highly sophisticated use of materials, colour combinations and forms of decoration, all underpinned by an elegant sense of understatement.

The designers’ choice of materials for the decor includes light color leather and rosewood in light, bright colourways. Taken together, all these details define the setting and the overall effect is that of a spacious loft featuring seamless continuity between indoor and outdoor spaces, where the multi-purpose settings can be enjoyed at any time of day.

Sophisticated settings with a classical feel meet a dynamic

lifestyle on board Oasis 135’, a 41-meter displacement yacht with a fibreglass hull and superstructure, and a layout extending across four decks.

The Master Suite on the Main Deck offers the owner a spacious apartment with an elegant marble bathroom. The galley is also situated on this deck, along with a huge day area that replaces the traditional saloon. Here, the windows around the entire perimeter can be opened to create a unique setting in close contact with the sea, with no barriers between indoor and outdoor spaces. This deck provides access to the beach terrace, which can be made even more spacious by opening the two side platforms. The yacht also has one generous balcony in the owner’s suite.

The pilot house has been designed for the first time as a living space dominated by extensive glazed surfaces, a lounge area with sofas and armchairs, and a carefully arranged workstation, in which the helm console, an area for relaxation and the chart table form a single setting from which to enjoy the cruise from start to finish.

The captain’s cabin is located immediately aft of this, while the night area for guests is on the Lower Deck, with two VIP cabins and two cabins with twin beds. Further forward are the crew quarters, with accommodation for nine people.

Cruising speed stands at 14.5 knots, with a top speed of 15 knots, and the yacht has a range of 4,000 nautical miles at 11 knots.

Trending Business Insights | 25 |

YACHT

Pushing Boundaries

BERING 145

Edited By Shereen Shabnam International Writer

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ecently I had a few yacht enthusiasts from Fiji and New Zealand asking me about custom built yachts from different parts of the world and while sending them a few options, I came across Bering Yachts after hearing about them briefly some years ago at the Istanbul Boat Show.

As yacht builders, the team at Bering cover all phases of the building process, from concept, design, engineering, and construction. They recently announced the sale of a Bering 145 for delivery in January 2022. The Bering 145 is a full-custom 45-meter superyacht designed

by Bering Yachts’ in-house team of naval architects and engineers.

Now under construction, this transoceanic model combines elegance, speed, and the latest technology and represents Bering Yachts’ largest build to-date. It has a full displacement steel hull of 514 metric tons.

Alexey Mikhailov, President and Chairman of Bering Yachts mentions that Bering 145 is the culmination of their customer’s many years of yacht-owning experience combined with Bering Yachts’ technical know-how.

“This extraordinary yacht is really pushing boundaries of latest propulsion technologies and is offering a phenomenally economic and up-scaleable solution to long-range global cruising. We are immensely proud to have the Bering 145 as a ground breaking new flagship for Bering Yachts,” he adds.

The Bering 145’s hybrid propulsion system drives the propellers with

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electric motors charged by a bank of batteries. The battery banks are recharged by high-efficiency, variable speed DC generators. Docking and mooring is possible in electric mode.

Capable of taking on the most extreme cruising itinerary the range in hybrid mode is more than 12,000 miles at a cruising speed of 9 knots.

And with her enormous 95,600 liters (25,265 gallons) fuel capacity she can travel more than 4,500 nautical miles under conventional power at a minimum cruising speed of 8 knots. The maximum speed of the vessel is 15 knots.

The Bering 145 features an extremely functional six-stateroom layout on a 9.7-meter (31 foot) beam. The master stateroom is located on the main deck toward the bow with glass windows measuring more than 9.5 square meters. The five guest staterooms are located on the lower deck.

Accommodation is provided for a total crew capacity of 12 with the Captain’s cabin behind the wheelhouse. The main deck houses a huge saloon with a dining area for 12 and a light, enlarged-window, fullbeam lounge area. A second dining area is on the upper deck sky lounge.

A key feature for the Owner was Bering 145’s vast deck spaces with a spacious beach club aft providing 40 square meters of outdoor relaxing and entertainment space. On the flybridge is a SPA zone, bar, and gas grill, among several luxurious amenities.

The lower deck provides generous storage for water toys with tenders placed on the upper deck. Bering 145 is clearly designed with an emphasis on both serious cruising capability and owner and guest enjoyment, relaxation, and entertainment.

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Contact us today to discuss your needs and learn exactly how we can tailor our services for you.

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Trending Business Insights | 27 |

YACHT

PROJECT TRITON Heesen Creates A Timeless New Classic, Designed To Cruise The Globe And Explore New Horizons Edited By Shereen Shabnam International Writer

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eesen builds some of the finest yachts with exceptional standards of engineering, outstanding technology and meticulous attention to detail.

Research and innovation are part of the Heesen DNA, with the company continually investing in R&D and new technologies.

Specialising in truly bespoke design, each Heesan yacht is custom-built to the highest standards of luxury and performance to reflect her owner’s individuality and currently, Heesen is thrilled to reveal Project Triton, the second in its coveted 50-metre Steel Class.

An on-spec build from Heesen’s bold and successful business model, she is scheduled to undergo sea trials and will then become available to purchase; raring and ready to cruise by a lucky owner soon.

At 50 metres, Project Triton is a true blue water motor yacht, designed to provide access to far-flung and remote destinations, with a transoceanic range of 3,800 miles.

This gives ultimate freedom for owners looking to cross the Atlantic, or whip around the Mediterranean without stopping for fuel.

Powered by two MTU 8V4000 M63 main engines and featuring a full-displacement steel hull, she reaches a top speed of 15 knots, with a cruising speed of 12 knots.

Internationally renowned designer Clifford Denn penned her exterior lines, creating an elegant profile characterised by

flowing curves with elements inspired by classic car design including Austin Healey, Old Porsche and Alfa Spider. Born to turn-heads, her flared bulbous bow and majestic profile won’t go unnoticed off the coast of the South of France, or in the crystal clear waters of the Caribbean.

A 68-square-metre sun deck complete with Jacuzzi, al fresco dining area and sun loungers promise the best of the yachting lifestyle. For entertaining, guests are welcomed to the 78-square-metre aft deck, an area complemented by the indoor-outdoor sky lounge. The tender and toys are conveniently stored on the fore deck and guests can enjoy the chic beach club with wellness area at the back.

British studio Reymond Langton has created a contemporary interior, using cool tones and pastel shades to create a linear and clean environment. The sophisticated yet relaxed design offers a tranquil and peaceful ambience in which to retreat to and unwind, while exploring the exciting outdoor life at sea.

Blending practicality with luxurious detail, the layout of Project Triton has been optimised to deliver spacious interior volume, while remaining under the 500GT threshold. Ten guests sleep in five large suites, with the master on the main deck forward and the four large guest cabins on the lower deck.

Built and engineered by Heesen’s in-house team of experts, Triton is of the highest Dutch quality standards. A peerless combination of the best of building and the best of design.

Trending Business Insights | 29 |

INTERVIEWS

Unique Fitness Sanctuary Interview - Ali El Amine, the Managing Director of StudioRepublik Edited By Shereen Shabnam International Writer

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tudioRepublik is a vibrant sanctuary where people of all ages and abilities come to express, come to evolve and come to life within a state-of-the-art space that approaches Wellness, Performing Arts and Group Exercise in a way that’s never been seen before.

What are the unique elements about StudioRepublik?

After experiencing some classes with a few of the finest instructors in an incredible environment where every detail enhances the senses, from acoustics, lighting and equipment, I sit down with Ali El Amine, the Managing Director of StudioRepublik to find out more about him and his latest project.

Our highly specialised Lab consultants configure a personalised, holistic wellness program for clients. At the Stage, we bring worldclass Music, Drama and Arts instructors, as well as innovative methods and comprehensive programs, to amateurs and pros. At the Arena, we offer a new approach to group exercise. Multiple studios that use stateof-the-art audio-visual effects morph into different worlds with top instructors curating programs around client goals.

Can you tell us a bit about StudioRepublik?

StudioRepublik is a place people come to hang out to get fit, collaborate, re-energize and de-stress. It brings together music, drama, dance, group exercise, and state of the art wellness services as well as delicious bites from our in-house restaurant, ROH. | 30 | Trending Business Insights

Our three platforms combine performing arts with contemporary sports. The Lab is for Wellness, The Stage for Performing Arts and The Arena for Group Exercise as we intend to make StudioRepublik the first place in the world to provide a synergy of life-enhancing pursuits.

Tell us about the new lab?

The Lab is equipped to provide Integrated Wellness services, using advanced technology and outstanding talent to obtain tangible

Bootcamp, Aerial, Cycling & GX, Mind & Body classes (Pilates, Yoga and Meditation) as well as enjoy an extensively equipped gym.

What are your greatest challenges so far?

Continually reinventing ourselves means we have to develop programmes that meets the needs of all types of clients. It was a challenge to move into a building from a design perspective but we did it and run the place on our own CRM tailor made to our business needs. We now have 45 new programmes in one institution.

What are your greatest career achievement so far?

Personally, it is gratitude for what I learnt and being grateful for the opportunity.

Also getting investors who believed in the same value system. results. The team are the best in the field across diet, rehab/prehab, personal training and massage therapy, all working together to offer a 360-degree approach to wellness.

How has the response been to the theatre, dance and music studios?

At the Stage, we offer Music, Drama and Dance with world-class craftsman and industry leaders working in a fresh educational system that meets industry-standard goals. An exciting addition to the local music scene, StudioRepublik will offer Dubai’s first community recording studio space to grow the talent of tomorrow, as well as relight the passion of the later-in-life musicians who have had work and life come between their love of music.

The Dance studio offers high-calibre dance instruction to tots, juniors, teens and adults of all levels, from absolute beginner to advanced in all major dance disciplines, led by acclaimed performing arts professionals for recreational or accelerated training.

What does your target market need to know about your classes?

We have group exercises, where people come together in an environment of expertly produced visuals, music and lighting. Senses are stimulated, moods altered and maximize physical attainment achieved. Classes cater to all fitness levels and interests, including

What do you enjoy most about your work and leisure time?

I enjoy so many things as there is never a dull moment. I enjoy the programmes and different aspects of the new venue. I love eating, spending time with the family and travelling during leisure time.

What is your goal in business and how do you see the studio evolving in the future?

We hope to be successful and see the centre of StudioRepublik, ROH become a favourite place for people to hang out or just sit back and watch live music that plays on stage throughout the week. ROH serves up the atmosphere, community and delicious fresh food at breakfast, lunch and dinner.

What characteristics do you value most in others and what inspires you?

Perseverance and capability to fail and come back is what I value. I am very lucky to be surrounded by so many people and have Investors who inspired me to strive for the best in our industry.

Is there a quote you try to live your life by?

NOTHING IS IMPOSSIBLE FOR A WILLING HEART.

Trending Business Insights | 31 |

IT HID GLOBAL UNVEILS SIGNATURE LINE OF READERS, HID SIGNO; UNLOCKS A NEW WORLD OF OPEN, CONNECTED AND ADAPTABLE ACCESS CONTROL

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ID Global, a worldwide leader in trusted identity solutions, today announced the launch of HID® SignoTM, its signature line of readers that creates a new industry benchmark for the most highly adaptable, interoperable and secure approach to access control. The new readers dramatically simplify system deployment and management, meet the advanced security requirements of today’s dynamic environments and set organizations up for smarter, more connected access control.

“With the industry now seeking to use access control systems as a backbone for creating intelligent environments, consultants, integrators and end users are increasingly demanding more versatile, high performance solutions,” said Harm Radstaak, Vice President and Managing Director of Physical Access Control Solutions, HID Global. “HID Signo is built on an open platform and delivers on our commitment to innovation with its unprecedented flexibility and robust set of forward-looking features that optimize workplace experiences.

Our goal is to put more choices in the hands of our customers and give them peace of mind in knowing they can continually adapt their systems as requirements change.”

For ultimate versatility, the readers are interoperable with over a dozen physical and mobile credential technologies so organizations can use their technology of choice and easily migrate to the latest solutions at their own pace. Additionally, with support for Apple's Enhanced Contactless Polling (ECP) to enable Student IDs in Apple Wallet, HID Signo is driving the next wave of flexibility and convenience with mobile access.

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HID’s new readers are packed with smart features, such as automatic surface detection that recalibrates and optimizes read performance based on the mounting location. For rugged, outdoor performance, the readers are also IP65 rated with no additional gasket needed, and feature a capacitive touch keypad resistant to harsh weather conditions.

Transcending traditional access control

HID Signo’s connectivity-by-design model empowers administrators to remotely configure and diagnose readers as well as monitor status through a centrally managed and connected reader ecosystem.

Additionally, configuration can be further streamlined through the controller via the Open Supervised Device Protocol (OSDP).

“HID’s novel approach to access control also lays the foundation for a future of cloud-connected systems that will enable new applications and innovative capabilities, such the ability to proactively anticipate and address system issues before they occur,” Radstaak added.

Delivering multi-layered security with built-in support for OSDP Secure Channel and HID’s proven Security Identity Object technology, the readers store cryptographic keys on certified EAL6+ secure element hardware and custom authentication keys can be used to further enhance security. HID’s patented velocity-checking feature also protects against brute force rapid electronic attacks.

Availability

The new line of HID Signo Readers is available through Advantage Partners in major markets worldwide, with a phased roll out in select regions.

NETAPP ACQUIRES TALON STORAGE Company enhances Cloud Volumes and Azure NetApp Files with global file cache for remote office and branch office workers

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etApp® (NASDAQ: NTAP), the leader in cloud data services, today announced that it acquired Talon Storage, a leader in next generation software-defined storage solutions enabling global enterprises to centralize and consolidate IT storage infrastructure to the public clouds. The combination of NetApp Cloud Volumes technology and Talon FAST™ software, enterprises can seamlessly centralize data in the cloud while still maintaining a consistent branch office experience.

Anthony Lye Senior Vice President and General Manager of NetApp

"As we grow our cloud data services offerings with solutions like Cloud Volumes ONTAP®, Cloud Volumes Service, Azure NetApp Files and Cloud Insights, we are excited about the potential that lies in front of this new combined team to deliver complete solutions for primary workloads," said Anthony Lye, Senior Vice President And General Manager of NetApp's Cloud Data Services business unit.

"We share the same vision as the team

did at Talon - a unified footprint of unstructured data that all users access seamlessly, regardless of where in the world they are, as if all users and data were in the same physical location. And to do this without impacting workflow, user experience – and at a lower cost.”

NetApp’s acquisition of Talon enhances the company’s cloud data services portfolio with a market-leading solution that solves all the remote office and branch office challenges with file shares. Talon FAST is a cloud data service that provides a “Global File Cache” service for ROBO workloads, to enable file server consolidation into a secure, globally accessible file system on our public cloud platform.

Talon’s software will integrate with NetApp Cloud Volumes ONTAP, Cloud Volumes Service and Azure NetApp Files solutions and give customers a faster path to the public cloud at a better total cost of ownership. Visit NetApp Cloud Central for more information.

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IT TECHNOLOGY

ADDRESSING CYBER SECURITY THREATS

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TERRY GREER-KING

rmed with an authority on cybersecurity and with extensive experience in the technology industry, Terry Greer-King is currently SonicWall’s VP of EMEA Sales.

Vice President of Europe, Middle East & Africa (Emea) Sales

Terry has extensive experience providing cybersecurity solutions to partners and customers across the EMEA region with a dedication to direct touch results and business growth hence we speak to him about his current role and trends in the area of cyber security.

Which countries in the Middle East is SonicWall most active in currently?

Sonicwall has been in the region for over one and a half decades now.

We therefore have vast experience and a huge customer base throughout Middle East. Since we are a fully dedicated channel company, we cover all countries in the region, supported by our distribution partners and their technical and business skills.

Our team is based in Dubai, while we attempt to grow our presence to Saudi Arabia and also in other countries. Our business focus today is on UAE, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Bahrain and Oman from a Middle East perspective.

What type of threats are most common in the Middle East?

2018 was a year of high focus on the Middle East’s cyber threats. The strengthening economy, the additional wealth and an increased level of travel resulted in a malware surge mid-2018. This year, Middle Eastern governments have been working successfully on reducing the key threat vectors. Consequently, we saw a 60% decline this year of malware attacks, to 15 million malware attacks of our customers throughout the region in 2019, which we have blocked for our customers.

Dubai has been a focus target, and we expect a high interest during Dubai 2020 Expo and assume a sharp increase of attacks in 2020.

Key malware variants detected were Trojans and viruses, that could be blocked with our technology, working in thousands of customer locations in Middle East.

What is driving your company’s business growth this year?

I would say there are two main drivers that are leading our growth. One, our ever-improving partner base that is armed with the technology, ability and knowledge to protect their customers by adding SonicWall services to our solutions and adopting the layered security needed.

Two, the push to the cloud. This will change the perspective of customers on their security immensely. Today, SonicWall is more than just a firewall vendor. Our solutions comply with our customers’ | 34 | Trending Trending Business Business Insights Insights

need for micro-segmented networks with a mix of Hardware and virtual Firewalls, Endpoint security at the next-generation level, Cloud Application Security and Hybrid environments. Our customers also benefit from a single pane of glass management, a reporting and analytics platform for ease of use, and seamless integration into existing SIEMs and other tools.

What challenges have you and your partners faced recently?

Legacy thinking about cyber security is probably the biggest inhibitor for every next-gen security vendor. “We don’t need security, there is no budget left to secure to current levels, we hear what you say, but we have not been hit yet”. What I like to say, if you secure your business with an old security solution, you will be protected against old threats.

Since cyber-attacks advance quickly, this is obviously not the right approach. Hence, we provide a bi-annual update of our threat report, to ensure, our partners can tell what is happening and support CISOs and IT Managers in their attempt to get the right budget. Security is not living in a silo in companies anymore. It is a matter of trust, brand, and business continuity more than ever. It has become a real matter for the board. This is not understood by some customers yet.

Can you talk about the strength of your comprehensive enterprise collaboration, vendor portfolio?

Our business exists to a major part due to the threat data gather every single day globally from our 1.1M sensors in over 215 countries and territories. This is the database of threats we use to protect our customers and advance our solutions. This is seamlessly integrated with all our products. A mix of on-premise and cloud solutions offers a variety of solutions for almost every use case.

Why is this important? Only a security solution, which is less complex, automated and can detect and prevent data breaches and other cyberattacks, can deliver the least vulnerable security solution. Our layered security solution and platform, from the network perimeter to the cloud to the endpoint, discovers the known and unknown malware attacks, brings to light shadow IT use, protects against attacks using nonstandard ports and easy deployment of encrypted traffic inspection.

All of that is managed through a single pane of glass, reducing complexity and increasingly visibility In order to ensure right deployment, we not only have a number of skilled partners but, we also offer professional services delivered by partners. A simple starting point is the Network Health Check, which is a standardized check of current settings and deployment of the security solution. From there, a SonicWall Solution Architect can help to draft the best possible security layout.

What does the future products and services entail for SonicWall?

Being one of the most agile vendors in the security space, we have launched already 54 new products and capabilities in the past two years, with 160 Million lines of new code. This is a massive undertaking, but we will not stop. Look out for the coming announcements

VEEAM APPOINTS GIL VEGA AS CHIEF INFORMATION SECURITY OFFICER New role will help company scale internal security and compliance processes and successfully navigate the complex and evolving Cloud Data Management market as customers strive to secure and protect critical data

“Data is the most critical asset in any organization, but protecting it [data] against threats – both external and internal – is becoming more complex,” said Bill Largent, CEO at Veeam. “Cyber-security is a top concern for business leaders, which is why they look to Veeam to ensure that their data is managed and protected no matter where it resides. To ensure that we continue to pioneer this space, and help build out our offerings across all sectors, I am delighted that Gil has joined our executive team. His experience is secondto-none, and I know that under his leadership we will take our data security, governance and compliance strategy and policies to the next level to continue to lead the industry.”

With more than 22 years’ experience, Vega is a security expert through and through. Before joining Veeam, Vega was Managing Director & CISO responsible for global cybersecurity, technology risk & compliance at CME Group Inc., based in Chicago.

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eeam® Software, the leader in Backup solutions that deliver Cloud Data Management™, today announced that Gil Vega has been appointed Chief Information Security Officer (CISO).

Vega, whose previous experience includes serving as Managing Director and CISO at CME Group, Inc. and as the Associate Chief Information Officer & CISO for the U.S. Department of Energy and U.S. Immigration & Customs Enforcement in Washington, DC, will be responsible for establishing and maintaining Veeam’s vision and strategy to ensure its information assets and solutions are adequately protected, and will be pivotal in driving strategies to help customers protect their critical data across multiple environments and ensure regulatory compliance.

He has held various cybersecurity leadership posts within the Department of Defense (DoD) and the Intelligence Community.

Vega will report to Bill Largent, Veeam Chief Executive Officer (CEO), and will be part of the company’s executive management team.

CME Group is the world’s leading exchange operator and most diverse derivatives marketplace – handling 3 billion contracts worth approximately $1 quadrillion annually. Prior to his career in financial services, Vega was a member of the U.S. Federal Government’s Senior Executive Service and served as the Associate Chief Information Officer & CISO for the U.S. Department of Energy and U.S. Immigration & Customs Enforcement in Washington, DC. “I am thrilled to join Veeam, not only because it is the leader in Cloud Data Management, but being in a position to have examined the vision of where the company is going I firmly believe Veeam will continue to transform the industry,” commented Gil Vega, Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) at Veeam. “Veeam’s DNA revolves around delivering the ultimate customer experience and ensuring that data is protected irrespective of its location.

Veeam’s vision and strategy is unchallenged in the market, and has an exceptionally solid roadmap through 2020 and beyond. I am excited about leading Veeam’s effort for taking internal data security, governance and compliance strategy and processes to the next level.”

Vega holds undergraduate and graduate degrees in Information Systems & Information Assurance, is a graduate of the Federal Executive Institute in Charlottesville, Virginia and a proud veteran of the U.S. Army, having participated in combat operations in Operations Just Cause, Desert Shield and Desert Storm.

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IT

UNLOCKING THE PROMISE OF A DIGITAL WORKPLACE

By Gamal Emara Country Manager, UAE at Aruba, a Hewlett Packard Enterprise company

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he business landscape has evolved significantly over the past decade. Driven by the need to remain agile, competitive and productive, organisations are adopting more technologies than ever before as they continue their individual journeys towards digital transformation.

Mobile, make up almost half of the business world by 2020, but they will also play an undeniable part in transforming the ecosystem as a whole. True digital natives, they will settle for no less than the best of the best technologies. They want to work and access information in a way that suits them. Put simply – they want IT to be transparent.

These disruptive technologies are not only revolutionising the ways that modern businesses operate, but also enhancing employee experiences, and – crucially – increasing their expectations at the same time. For employees, the digital workplace stands for an innovative and agile new way of working, a concept underpinned by greater convenience and better networking between devices and colleagues.

So, against this backdrop of employee expectations and an increasingly competitive business landscape, what can organisations do to truly unlock the promise of a digital workplace?

Faced with such a promise, the demand for a frictionless employee journey only looks set to surge. Not only will Generation Z, or Gen-

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Automation

The first step is to ensure that the basic requirements, such as easier management and maintenance of the wireless network, rapid integration of new users and devices, and a resilient Wi-Fi connection, are met.

For IT staff, this translates into removing barriers to mobile working

and creating a mobile first digital environment where employees can work effectively.

Here, it is important to remember that a digital environment is not just defined by the tools a company provides – it’s also about the working climate they create and how they enhance the employee experience by making it at seamless as possible. And that means considering everything from personalised lighting settings, how they pay for their coffee and workplace ergonomics, to fully automated conference rooms, preventive device maintenance and automated energy savings. This frictionless experience should be delivered both on and offsite – a remote employee must be able to work as if he were on-site, while registered visitors should be able to connect easily to the guest Wi-Fi as soon as they enter the building.

In order to facilitate this vast level of change, traditional approaches to networking are no longer enough. Instead, IT decision-makers need to deploy mobile first architecture that can support autonomous networking. Rather than relying on manual intervention, an autonomous approach gives IT staff the ability to stay ahead of performance issues, deliver insights into possible causes, and recommend configuration changes that optimize the network before they impact users of the business.

Visibility

While all these new devices and services sound brilliant in practice, in reality it can be difficult to keep track of them on the network – particularly when organisations find themselves reactively scrambling to get a handle on the situation. A common issue is that of Shadow IT, where wellintentioned employees bring their own IT to work, thus creating security issues.

Viessmann is one of the world’s leading providers of holistic energy and climate solutions – you may even have one of its central heating boilers keeping you warm this winter! Viessmann came to us in search of a new network to support the digitisation of its internal processes in a way that was secure, efficient, and transparent. In order to facilitate a move to flexible desks and the introduction of IoT technologies into its manufacturing process, it wanted to provide Wi-Fi connectivity in every corner of the organisation. When you consider that it has over 12,000 employees, 23 production companies in 12 companies and sales companies and representatives in 74 countries worldwide – you can begin to imagine how things might quickly get out of control…

Gamal Emara Country Manager, UAE at Aruba, a Hewlett Packard Enterprise company

In order to support the surge of devices connecting to the network, Viessmann needed a flexible

management system that would enable it to see and control network access for all devices, both now and in the future. Using our Aruba ClearPass solution, which has an integrated, context-based policy engine to help identify devices, and combining it with AirWave to manage network administrator rights, the organisation now has total control over the devices connecting to the network.

Before flooding the workplace with devices, network visibility must be a key consideration – and that means building network access controls and network management into your digital workplace plans from the earliest stage.

Education

Whilst all these technologies can help organisations shift towards a digital workplace, they are only part of the puzzle. To truly realise the benefits of a digital environment, organisations need to encourage employees to unlock its potential – and that means getting away from their desks and collaborating more.

While this might happen over time organically, this type of large-scale culture change will need help from the organisation. Businesses must ensure they are educating employees around how to connect, communicate and collaborate within these new environments – equipping them to use them correctly and to their fullest.

Aside from driving greater job satisfaction creating this technology-culture connection will also benefit employee creativity. The right technology builds a culture of innovation. When employees are tethered to a desk, or they lack the tools to collaborate and spark creativity, you end up with a maze of silos: a “culture of me.”

But when the technology starts to dissolve those boundaries and inspire people to be more open, imaginative and sharing, there's a fundamental culture shift towards new ways of thinking. In the long term, that boost to innovation will be reflected in corporate performance.

Conclusion

More than ever, the workplace is evolving into an environment that allows users to interact with content and tools easily, quickly and efficiently.

Companies that miss this development risk alienating their employees, losing talent and ultimately reducing productivity. An intelligent, digital work environment will promote employee creativity, collaboration, speed and freedom through reliable and personalised services. So, what are you waiting for?

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AVIATION

Celebrating success in Aviation Turkish Airlines was the busiest operator in the Eurocontrol area Turkish Airlines had 400 flights in Eurocontrol area for the first time an airline has that number since 24 March 2020

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urkish Airlines, flying to more countries than any other airline, was reported as the busiest operator in Europe last week after successfully restarting domestic and international passenger operations. On 17 June 2020, Turkish Airlines had 400 flights in Eurocontrol area for the first time an airline has that number since 24 March 2020.

EUROCONTROL is a pan-European, civil-military organisation dedicated to supporting European aviation. They confirmed that Turkey’s national flag carrier operated 359 flights during the first week of June from its home at Istanbul Airport. On 14th June three aircraft were able to take off simultaneously with the opening of Istanbul Airport’s third independent runway, a momentous occasion for the future of Turkish aviation.

Turkish Airlines’ Chairman of the Board and the Executive Committee, M. Ilker Ayci said, “It is our firm belief that once the world overcomes the crisis, air travel will bounce back stronger than ever and Turkish Airlines will be more than eager to welcome you aboard with our

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trademark hospitality as we connect continents, people and cultures.

We fully adapted our customer touchpoints according to new normal standards.”

With the resumption of services, Turkish Airlines also announced new ‘Guidelines for Safe Travel’ and two new inflight services to protect the health of its guests. Prepared with scientific data in mind, the flag carrier is distributing “Hygiene Kits” containing a face mask, disinfectant and antiseptic tissue to its guests, while “Hygiene Expert” cabin crews were appointed to flights to enforce all on-board hygiene and social distancing measures for the healthy travel of passengers.

Turkish Airlines’ aircrafts are disinfected prior to every flight via thorough cleaning methods. Hygiene in the cabin is ensured as all contact points in the aircraft are comprehensively cleaned using chemicals safe for human health, and with methods that are proven scientifically to be effective. Special equipment and chemicals are used for different surfaces such as seats, windows, screens and lavatories.

Comlux receives its first ACJ320neo

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omlux has taken delivery of the first of three ACJ320neo1 aircraft, which will now enter VIP cabin-outfitting by Comlux Completion in Indianapolis. It is the largest customer for the ACJ320neo Family, which has already won a total of 11 orders.

“The new ACJ320neo gives us the means to deliver nonstop flights to even more of the world. CFM International has supported Comlux over the years, and we have chosen its new, fuel-efficient and highly reliable LEAP-1A engines to power the aircraft. Comlux Completion will install a unique VIP cabin interior, using the most advanced technologies to offer the best comfort and luxury to our customer,” says Comlux Executive Chairman and CEO Richard Gaona.

The ACJ320neo family uses new engines and wingtip mounted Sharklets to deliver a 15 per cent fuel-saving, which also translates into a leap forward in range for business jet operators.

It comprises an ACJ320neo that can fly 25 passengers 13 hours or 6,000 nm/11,100 km, and an ACJ319neo that can transport eight passengers 15 hours or 6,750 nm/12,500 km.

“Airbus corporate jets already have a reputation for comfort, reliability and value, already enjoy similar operating costs to traditional business jets through their airliner heritage, and are now even more economical in their NEO versions,” says ACJ President Benoit Defforge.

Airbus’ A320 Family pioneered features that are now standard in most new-generation business jets - such as enhanced-protection fly-bywire controls, cost-saving centralised maintenance and weight-saving carbonfibre – ensuring that it has a long and successful future ahead of it.

More than 190 Airbus corporate jets are in service worldwide, flying on every continent, including Antarctica.

More than 700 A320neo Family aircraft are already in service with airlines and, with over 15,000 firm orders for the whole A320 Family, it is the clear leader in its class.

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TRAVEL

In the Heart of Nature

CRANS-MONTANA

By Shereen Shabnam International Writer

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he Swiss Alps have so much more to offer than just winter sports and snowy mountains. The destination has visitors all year round and is just as popular in the summer, when walking outside is easier with views of breathtaking nature and for outdoor sports.

This summer we headed out to Crans-Montana in the district of Sierre in the canton of Valais, Switzerland. It is a ski resort that was created through the fusion of the two centers of Crans and Montana and is now a sought after destination for celebrities.

Other than hosting spectacular World Ski Championships, guests also come from far to Crans-Montana to enjoy the pop rock festival, bicycle racing and the Omega European Masters golf tournament.

Crans-Montana offers an impressive view of mountain peaks from the Matterhorn to Mont Blanc and offers visitors luxury holiday retreats with expansive natural landscapes and panoramic views of the Valais Alps.

We were able to enjoy shopping in the quaint village shops, get high end luxury brands, walked near aromatic mountain forests, and along a lake, learnt first hand how to make cheese with a local farmer and tried our hand at golf with a talented golf trainer.

For panoramic views, visitors can take the gondolas from CransMontana to the top and enjoy places like the Plaine Morte Glacier, experience mountain rides such as the "Petit Bonvin", the "Cry d'Err" or "Les Violettes, or just hike at their own pace.

Crans-Montana is perfect for family holidays as local parks and

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summer camps offer numerous activities like sledge runs, tobogganing, swings, drawing competitions, golf clinics at the "highest golf course in the world", a fun Forest Adventure Park, lake walks, water sports, hike excursions, music festivals and amusement parks.

We visited the Beach Club, which had beach volleyball, banana boating on the lake and cable wakeboarding. We had coffee on the deckchairs watching the locals swim, enjoying meals with families and relax with board games.

Art enthusiasts can visit various museums and art galleries in CransMontana which has galleries dedicated to art fans and collectors having access to the works of internationally renowned artists as well as new talent.

Food in Crans-Montana was a delight. With mouth-watering sushi at our hotel’s Japanese restaurant, MiZUKI by Kakinuma’, raclette and fondue during the evenings.

Highlight was the gastronomic meal in the mountains at Chetzeron Hotel which was memorable at 2112 m. The menu included an "Alpine refined" flavoured cuisine from traditional Valais-based specialities to contemporary inspirations. We had great seafood at La Plage and even had Lebanese food for dinner, similar to what we would find in Dubai.

We stayed at the Guarda Golf Hotel & Residences located in the heart of the picturesque Crans-Montana. It was an intimate and elegant home for us with personalised service and it is clearly one of the finest luxury hotels in Switzerland being a member of Swiss Deluxe Hotels as well as of The Leading Hotels of the World. Our room had spectacular panoramic views of the Swiss Alps.

To get to Crans-Montana, we flew SWISS from Dubai, which was a comfortable and enjoyable arriving in Zurich in time to start our travel adventure in different parts of Switzerland using the Swiss Pass that allowed us to see many parts of beautiful Switzerland.

Natural Sanctuary

BLED IN SLOVENIA

By Shereen Shabnam International Writer

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ne of my most memorable travel destinations recently was to Slovenia with Turkish Airlines. The first stop was at a lake town called Bled, a popular tourist destination in Slovenia known for its emerald green lake, a wonderful restaurant on top of a mountain with picturesque views and a medieval castle.

On arrival, we had an enchanting boat ride across the lake, which is the highlight of a visit to Bled. It is best to take some time to take in the ambience, watch the swans and ducks on the lakes and enjoy the lush green mountains in the distance.

A hike up a hill followed the boat ride as we climbed a stone staircase with 99 steps to have lunch with panoramic views and a visit to take pictures of the waterfront, the church of assumption and the castle of Bled.

The Bled Castle is the oldest castle in Slovenia. There is also a museum at the top with the history of the castle, some interesting fossils and archaeological findings and a tempting gift shop selling food and the arts and crafts of Bled.

Being a food lover, I stopped to taste the famous Kremsnita cake, which was as delectable as the locals claimed and better than any cream cake I have ever sampled during my travels.

Adventure tourists will enjoy the famous hiking trails that start from Bled. They are called Pokljika, Mount Stol and Triglav. For those on the look out for picturesque views, The Vintgar Gorge has a scenic route that is serene with a lovely waterfall.

Some sites I wanted to visit but missed out on is the Postojna Cave

Predjama Castle and the Lipica Stud Farm that produces horses for the Spanish Riding School in Vienna. Visitors from the Middle East who love equestrian sports can enjoy tours, rides and lessons that cover dressage and how to control horses.

Lake Bled is an ideal destination for a perfect summers day. Dress casual and comfortable to make the most of the visit as the activities involve rowing, hiking, exploring and enjoy the photography opportunities.

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TRAVEL

POLAND POLAND Picturesque

In Perfect Harmony

By Shereen Shabnam International Writer

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xploring Poland has been an absolute delight that has refreshed us in every sense - It is an European treasure that remained off the radar of most intrepid travelers in the past but not anymore. The Poland of today is filled with global influences alongside long-standing local traditions.

Poland is picturesque and full of natural wonders, delicious food and filled with the Romanesque, Gothic, Renaissanceand Baroque architecture. The country has numerous natural sites that offer many adventures to remember.

My Polish adventure started by lunching at the trendy Koszyki Hall. It is Warsaw’s social and culinary center, where you can choose a meal in one of numerous restaurants and pubs sitting on tables laden with different cuisines of the world.

A visit to Vistula, the biggest and longest river in Poland was another highlight. Vistula River in Warsaw runs the entire length of the city and walking along the river or taking a scenic cruise seem to be a favourite past time of the locals so we took an evening cruise on a catamaran enjoying the sites and finishing off the evening with a meal at the famous STIXX Bar and Grill.

STIXX is a highly energetic gastronomy venue offering a diverse selection of exquisite dishes from around the world with the vibe of

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New Warsaw - elegant and sophisticated, yet stylish and entertaining.

The restaurant sits amongst curving walkways, water features, modern art and the ever-impressive Warsaw Spire building.

Another favourite was exploring Warsaw in a vintage Nysa 522, which is a spacious and very retro minivan that once used to drive around Polish streets. A guide can give you a history of the city, take you to the most important monuments of Warsaw and tell you about the key historic events of the city.

If you have time for lunch, stop at the Restaurant Concept 13 located on the 5th floor of DH VITKAC. Its large, glassed interior looks out on a beautiful panorama of the capital which can also be enjoyed from the summer terrace. The dishes are international classics with a polish twist partly prepared on teppanyaki grills or in the open kitchen – their bread is addictive so try and pace yourself before your delightful meal arrives.

Another great place to eat is Zoni Restaurant at Koneser Center perfect for food connoisseurs. Zoni offers creative cuisine of Michał Gniadek, the titled Chef of the young generation whose chef’s signature menu is inspired by international cuisine.

If you love fashion, stop by the Gosia Baczyńska concept store. At the junction of old and new Warsaw Praga, the concept store of Gosia Baczyńska features her own design - both in terms of decor and the fashion presented in it with clothes and accessories of world-famous designers.

Another great place to visit is the Wilanow Palace – the royal summer residence of King Jan III Sobieski. Its joyful to explore this wonderful baroque palace which is a place of great beauty. The original architecture of the palace merges European art with old Polish traditions of construction. I really enjoyed strolling through the beautiful garden and the park which was so relaxing that it was heartbreaking to leave.

My next stop was stopping for lunch at MOD restaurant which serves the best ramen soup in Warsaw. It is a small hidden place at Oleandrów Street where you can try the best Asian and international cuisine and finish your meal with delicious doughnuts. If you still have a

craving for sweets later in the afternoon, stop at a Wedel chocolatier and taste different kinds of delicious hot chocolate. Dinner was at Flamimg & Co. which is a place created from passion for travel and unique things and serves Italian, French and American cuisine.

Golf lovers would enjoy a day out at the Sand Valley Golf Course. You can rent a villa, opt for a round of golf, have a casual evening dining with your friends or enjoy a moonlight dip in your private swimming pool. We enjoyed a lovely lunch and a walk around the property.

From the golf resort, we went to the Hotel SPA Dr Irena Eris where I enjoyed a lovely massage, got introduced to great skincare products and strange as it may sound, I found the best one-off artistic pieces of jewellery for everyday wear. The next day I headed back to the airport with a heavy heart making a mental note to get back to Poland with my family and experience more of this amazing country and the many natural attractions it offers travellers and adventure seekers.

From the UAE it is easy to get to Warsaw. I took an Emirates flight to Warsaw and arrived there just in time for a sumptuous lunch. Emirates has daily flights to Warsaw serviced by Boeing 777-300ER departing Dubai at 0810hrs, and arriving in Warsaw at 12:10 local time. Return flight departs Warsaw at 1500hrs and arrives in Dubai at 2245hrs.

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TRAVEL

Heaven on Earth

PICTURESQUE PAKISTAN

By Shereen Shabnam International Writer

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akistan is blessed with abundant natural and dynamic landscapes with crystal clear rivers, arid deserts, lakes, waterfalls, springs and snowcapped mountains in abundance but I only realized how beautiful the country really is recently when I chanced upon some images online of the Hunza Valley and Gilgit.

Visitors to this fascinating region describe it as heaven on earth and the stunning mountain ranges has started bringing tourists to the country in great numbers recently.

What caught my eye in the images was the spectrum of colours in the natural surroundings of the villages that leaves one truly mesmerised.

The lakes, the trees, the meadows, the flora and fauna brightening up the scene with pink, white, red and orange flowers looking as magical as the fiery sunsets in the evenings.

This motivated me to explore more images of Pakistan, a place I have wanted to visit as a child when I first started learning Urdu in school in Fiji Islands. The country has bustling cities, wild frontiers, colourful landscapes but most of all, the message that came across strongly from visitors and travel bloggers was the charm and hospitality of the locals.

Every Pakistani friend I have met, every travel blog I read and speaking with foreigners and travellers I met around the world as we exchanged our travel notes said the kindest, down to earth, hospitable, charitable and warm people they met during their travels was in Pakistan which

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made me even more curious to plan a visit but a pandemic laid my plans to rest.

Not wanting to give up hope of visiting this enchanting country in the future, I asked my friends for information, images and ideas on where to go and what to do in Pakistan. Trying wholesome local food was on top of the list of everyone who has been to Pakistan. As a foodie and as an editor of three coffee table cookbooks, this was music to my ears.

My Pakistani friend in UAE invited me to sample some delicacies at

her home so I would know what to order when I got to Pakistan. She cooked many iftar meals in Ramadan and the Biryani dishes, meat dishes and sweets surpassed every curry meal I have ever had so I am looking forward to a delectable culinary journey when I land in Pakistan when borders open.

Another thing that caught my eye as a motoring enthusiast and Jury for regional and international Car awards was the stunning and epic highways in Pakistan – most roads are amazing for picturesque drives but some are an astonishing feat of engineering cut across mountains against the odds - somehow the local drivers make it look easy. Seeing the road trips others have taken and their pictures showcasing the natural beauty of the terrain makes the journey worth it up the rolling mountains and the quaint villages and valleys.

Most of our readers also love adventure tourism and Pakistan has plenty of that, including hiking, trekking and hunting. Those brave enough to venture outdoors into the rough terrain can come across mountain species like sheep, deers, gazelles, wild cats, buffalos, golden jackals, goats etc.

Personally, if I ever make it there, I would prefer a walk along the small villages near Hunza and Gilgit areas that includes beautiful scenery, culture, some history, and try the fresh local fruits and authentic Pakistani food.

In addition to the outback areas, also on my bucket list is to experience the bustling city life in Pakistan, in particular the different markets. As I continue to explore Pakistan virtually for ideas on where to go and what to do, I am praying for travel restrictions to ease world over so that we get a chance to experience the beauty of countries like Pakistan first hand instead of images and videos online.

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TRAVEL

Scenic SAN FRANCISCO

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By Shereen Shabnam International Writer

A

s one of the most fascinating and eclectic cities in the world, San Francisco has always drawn me in with its charm and history each time I visit my relatives. Since San Francisco’s attractions are spread out, the best way to see the attractions is to have road trips. Luckily my base is always in Hayward with my favourite aunt and over the years, the attractions below have been the ones I love going back to.

Cable Car Tours

Cable cars are fun to ride and a great way to explore the various neighborhoods of San Francisco. These tramlike vehicles are the only public transport system to be declared a historic monument and they save you loads of time walking up and down the city’s hills.

Museums and Science Centres

The Golden Gate Bridge

After opening a science exhibition at the Tech Museum in San Jose, I dedicated one of my visits to San Francisco to interactive centres. I started my tour with a visit to the Exploratorium, a popular science museum with a huge number of diverse exhibits and hands-on learning experiences designed to educate and entertain.

The Palace of Fine Arts

Next up was the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art visit which took a lot longer with 10 floors, and a large gallery space that took half a day. The next day I ventured to the Young Museum of fine arts that features a wide variety of exhibits from different geographical locations.

As one of San Francisco’s most famous landmarks, The Golden Gate Bridge is a must visit for a walk across the bridge, for amazing pictures and onwards to the Golden Gate National Recreation Area, which has a waterfront promenade and a number of hiking trails.

The Palace of Fine Arts is majestic and the Corinthian columns always catches my eye each time I am in San Francisco. The lagoon area is perfect for a leisurely stroll or for a picnic on the grass. It always has interesting events but my favourite stop is always the theatre.

Alcatraz Island Home to a former federal prison that had some of America’s most notorious criminals in the past, Alcatraz Island is a national landmark that tourists can explore.

Take a guide when taking the tour of the Island so that the rangers can give you historical information with some interesting stories thrown in.

Fisherman’s Wharf

This waterfront is always my definite destination as I love spending time people watching at the cafés on the pier as well as enjoy their famous clam chowder soup with sour dough bread. The street performers are great and I love the souvenir shops that have a wide variety merchandise including my favourite Ghirardelli Ice Cream and chocolate shop. If you love cruising, head towards San Francisco Bay to see the city from the water.

Country Tours

While most visitors head to the Napa Valley for a bit of country air, there are other options as well. One year we decided to escape to Solvang and do the ‘Sideways Tour’ on our own by following the trail exactly as it was done in the award-winning film ‘Sideways’. The scenery was as gorgeous as Napa Valley and we got to see a new part of California.

Chinatown

The San Francisco Chinatown is the most famous in the United States and the most vibrant with the best places to eat Chinese cuisine, get souvenirs and people watch.

I would suggest as least dedicating half a day to get a feel of the area.

Overall, the entire California is an amazing destination but I have a soft spot for San Francisco because of my many relatives living there and the fact that it offers so many attractions and entertainment within and beyond the city.

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HEALTHCARE

HEALTHCARE EVOLVED

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fter attending the recent Digital Health Middle East 2020 conference, we decided to delve deeper into where the industry stands now and what is in for us in the future.

Digitalisation is revolutionising the healthcare industry with new technologies being introduced for affordability and patient care so we get Harald Wolf, General Manager, Roche Diagnostics Middle East to give his insights.

Q: What is the value of in-vitro diagnostics and why is it a crucial component of clinical care?

IVD has long been considered the silent champion of healthcare, given that it influences over 60 percent of clinical decision-making while accounting for only 2 percent of total healthcare spending .

It is a crucial component of clinical care, especially in determining patients’ healthcare needs and helping guide clinical decisions on which treatment or intervention is the most appropriate for them. IVD also saves a great deal of time and unnecessary treatment and plays a significant role in screening communicable diseases.

Put simply, diagnostics ultimately allows laboratories to effectively and efficiently provide healthcare professionals with the support that they need, empowering doctors to make the right decisions for their patients at the right time. In doing so, patients have better control over their own health and wellbeing.

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Q: What is the importance of the iCaRE platform?

How does it help the UAE achieve its healthcare KPIs?

With cardiovascular disease (CVD) being one of the leading causes of death in the region , iCaRE is considered to be the Middle East’s pioneering symposium discussing cardiovascular disease management.

Its relevance also stems from the fact that it brings together leading local, regional and international experts to share the latest advances, reference points and best practices in biomarker testing.

Two-thirds of all deaths in the UAE are caused by cardiovascular disease, making it the leading cause of death in the country , hence the importance for the government in reversing its incidence. iCaRE helps the UAE in achieving this healthcare KPI, particularly reducing deaths from cardiovascular disease per 100,000 by 25 percent by 2021.

Q: What is different about this year’s iCaRE conference?

This year, iCaRE gathered leading experts who are considered as key global references in cardiology for the first time in the UAE and the region to present the most recent clinical practice guidelines for cardiovascular disease to be followed worldwide.

Their presence in the Middle East was significant, as it offered the opportunity for healthcare professionals, including cardiology specialists, laboratory physicians and emergency department doctors

to learn more about the latest reference points and how to apply them.

Furthermore, the third edition of iCaRE highlighted, for the very first time, case studies and best practices from the Middle East, with leading experts from centres of excellence across the region, including the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Lebanon.

Q: What are the latest innovations in in-vitro diagnostics showcased at iCaRE?

This year, we presented to the audience our latest IVD innovations in cardiology, which play a crucial role in clinical decision-making and in overcoming current challenges in the diagnoses of CVDs such as acute myocardial infarction (AMI) and heart failure.

These innovations allow caregivers to provide the best quality of care by improving diagnoses, saving costs, efforts, and resources and therefore correctly identifying the appropriate life-saving treatments case-by-case for patients. This ultimately results in enhanced patient outcomes and quality of life and avoids unnecessary re-hospitalisations and medical procedures.

Q: How is the digitalisation of healthcare impacting diagnostics?

to diagnostic tests and ensuring effective sample procurement, storage, and transportation. Furthermore, laboratory space needs to be reconfigured in order to meet the requirements of conducting molecular diagnostic tests to ensure efficient time management and avoid cross-contamination. Other demands include the education of laboratory technicians to operate advanced diagnostic technologies.

The UAE government has adopted a series of long-term initiatives stated in Vision 2021 to meet these demands and guide the sustainable growth of the sector.

The latest digital health technologies assist healthcare professionals in providing more accurate diagnoses of patients’ diseases, as well as improved management of their conditions. These innovations are streamlining the healthcare professional’s work, optimising systems, reducing human error, lowering costs, and ultimately improving patient outcomes.

Q: Can you please talk more about the importance of biomarkers in the accurate diagnosis of cardiovascular diseases?

Digitalisation is revolutionising the healthcare industry in the region, with new technologies being introduced to help patients lead longer and healthier lives, particularly through prevention. With the rise of non-communicable diseases such as CVD, local authorities have prioritised the digitalisation of healthcare services and the adoption of the latest breakthrough medicines and medical devices for the benefit of the entire local community.

Q: What are some of the challenges faced by the industry?

Although 2019 was another landmark year for the UAE’s healthcare sector and the market has seen tremendous growth, the rapid expansion poses some challenges. These include population growth, demographic shifts, and problematic lifestyle changes such as tobacco-use, all of which are resulting in the expansion of healthcare spending in order to ensure the delivery and access of quality healthcare for the UAE community.

In parallel, the evolving diagnostics industry in the region is facing certain demands, particularly in ensuring clinical laboratory safety. Technicians are facing operational barriers when it comes

Cardiovascular diseases place a heavy burden on countries in the Middle East, largely due to the high prevalence of risk factors in the region, including smoking, high blood pressure, high cholesterol levels, diabetes and sedentary lifestyles. In the UAE, CVDs are the leading cause of death, contributing to 40 percent of total adult mortality. It is therefore critical for healthcare professionals in the region to remain updated on the latest diagnostic methods and tests to detect this noncommunicable disease and help healthcare professionals in managing it.

Advances in biomarkers are a critical topic of discussion, especially given that they are the key to effective risk assessment, diagnosis, prognosis, and disease management of CVD. In other words, biomarkers can help achieve more sensitive screening methods and can be a tool to better identify high-risk individuals and diagnose CVD conditions promptly and accurately.

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ENTERTAINMENT

Icon Art Production back in action filming remotely taking safety measures and with the latest technology and equipment Filming Solutions with upgraded Equipment, Studio & Post Production offered to Producers and Production Companies

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o support the local and International film Industry, UAE based Icon Art Production (IAP) has successfully implemented projects with Remote Filming Solutions to all their International Clients, Producers and Production Companies.

The remote Direction Solution is also available for International Directors who cannot travel but can direct the filming and execute projects, including TV Commercials with remote monitoring.

According to Zakir, CEO of Icon Art production, “Following health and safety measures set by the local authorities and the Rules and Guidelines provided by Dubai Film and TV Commission, live concerts can be filmed in our fully equipped state of the Art Studio for broadcast and sound recording. We film Indoor or outdoor TV Commercials, Music Videos, TV Programs, Web Series and Online Promotional Videos as our team understands the niche requirements of the industry and help assist Directors and Producers during these challenging times.”

Remote Auditions and Casting will be conducted remotely over video conferencing or by sending footage as a safety measure for Covid-19.

A separate Make-Up Room and Wardrobe room is provided and the Cast is on Set only when everything is ready for Filming.

Producer Saurabh Kabra said, “In the current times where shoots are

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banned in India because of widespread of COVID-19, Dubai works as a good opportunity. The city has a good database of actors that can pass of as Indians or are of Indian origin. Hence we prefer to shoot here, it is convenient and cost effective. What the city offers is a world class crew that makes the process endearing.”

Instead of over 100 Crew, the production house with minimized First Light and Art Team crew has managed to work with assigned call sheets and delegated their tasks in a progressive shoot ensuring only the required departments are on Set. The Direction team is directing remotely, with Client and agency totalling almost 15 to 20 people monitoring online.

Using this pattern for a few projects recently, Icon Art Production has worked seamlessly resulting in the same quality of filming as a full team. This is a revolution in the Filming Industry specially for TV commercials as Dubai has vast Talent and resources so people around the world can utilize this opportunity to make their projects happen remotely.

Icon Art Production specializes in the production of Feature Films, TV Programs, Music Videos, TV Commercials, Events Productions, Studios & Post Production and has a facility that can be customized and branded for magazine shoots, product launches and pop up events.

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UAE based Businessman turned Singer, Zakir Hussain with Artist name Zak Zorro launches debut Music Album

o mark his global debut, Zakir (Zak Zorro), known for his powerful vocal abilities will be bringing his unique fusion of songs to music lovers around the world in different genres, Pop, Rock, Hip-hop, Rap, Trap, RNB, Blues, Jazz, Sufi, Qawwali and Ghazals etc.

All the songs are written and produced in Dubai UAE. The Debut rock song is Taqdeeron ke Khilonay for which the music video will be released on 1st April 2020 followed by six songs from Zakir’s Fusion album. In his music video, Zak’s charisma and presence is established with dynamic choreography and storyline inspired by real facts of life that everyone can relate to.

Speaking of his musical journey, Zakir said, “My passion for music began from childhood and I started singing four years ago with Urdu and Hindi poetry which then evolved into songs. I dedicated lot of time for voice training in Hindustani Music and Western music by different

vocal trainers. After over 3000 hours of vocal training, I worked with several different music composers producing different genres of music and found a unique style that worked for me. Every song has a unique story and mood in the lyrics.”

Zak Zorro also established Audio studio for himself and other upcoming artist providing a platform to individuals who needs guideline in their passion in music industry with professional equipment for sound, audio and videography.

“With the support of my brainchild studio, Icon Art Production and the talented production team, we worked on the initial videos and then there was no looking back,” said Zakir.

Music lovers can enjoy Zak Zorro Poetry and Music videos on YouTube channel https://www.youtube.com/c/ZakZorro.

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RETAIL

Design International Foundation presents: Food Court Remastered – A Free Design Initiative for Mall Owners

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A

s the Covid-19 pandemic continues to impact on all our lives, we slowly start to understand that our world, the way we live together and interact in groups is going to change not just in the immediate future. Social distancing will have a long-term impact on architecture and design of any building serving their community as a meeting place.

The focus of the Foundation is on research and educational programmes to support the next generation of architects with training and work experience. The aim is to help these students to shine in their chosen field through innovation and an emphasis on responsible, community centred designs.

As retailers around the world are facing the challenge to adapt their environments to the new requirements of their customers and business associates, The Foundation has partnered with Design International to leverage their creative expertise in food court design to identify solutions to the most pressing issue of the day: How to adapt what usually is designed to be a crowded and buzzing area to the requirements of social distancing without loosing the appeal and fun of communal dining.

“As hospitality, shopping, food and entertainment venues are gradually re-opening their doors to the public the key is to maximise the safety of the visitors while minimising the impact on the customer experience and community engagement” comments Gianluca Gerosa, President of the Foundation.

The initiative is designed to be an easily accessible

design review and sketch service, delivered by a team from Design International working with mall owners to create social distancing compliant layouts for the re-configuration of the food courts within their properties. In line with the company’s corporate social responsibility and ethical values, Design International is contributing 300 free design days to this Design Planning Service program – the aim being to produce layouts for 300 Food Courts in 300 design days, matching the 300 malls that the company has completed over its 55 years of history.

“We value the strong relationships we have built with our clients during this time very much” says Davide Padoa, CEO of Design International. “This is why we feel that after enjoying so many years of shared visions and productive collaboration it is time to give something back to the industry. Our teams in London, Milan, Shanghai and Dubai stand ready to support any owner looking for support in this time of crisis.”

Food Court Remastered will be available to all mall owners on a first come – first served basis from 12 May 2020 at www.designinternational.com/giveback.

Design International is a global multi-disciplinary architectural and design practice headquartered in London with offices in Milan, Shanghai and Dubai. www.designinternational.com Design International Foundation was created to drive innovation in architecture and design through research and education. It is based at the DI Campus in Milan.

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HOTELS

Palatial Opulence CORINTHIA HOTEL LONDON

By Shereen Shabnam International Writer

L

ondon is always a good idea … and the place you select to stay in makes the London experience that much better and in my case, there are three hotels that I select each time, one of which is the Corinthia Hotel London, rated amongst London’s finest 5-star luxury hotels.

I love the fact that this palatial property combines traditional grandeur with modern freshness and the luxuriously redesigned Victorian destination is ideally located in the heart of London, a short walk from many of the city’s major attractions.

The primary reason I selected this property was to experience a day at ESPA Life at the Corinthia, which is a new generation of spa designed for those seeking an exclusive haven dedicated to relaxation, health and fitness.

Spread over four floors and covering 3,300 square metres in the heart of London, ESPA Life at Corinthia offers revolutionary lifestyle programmes, incorporating complementary and alternative medicine and targeted fitness and rehabilitation services that focus on sports training, detox, sleep, weight loss and general vitality.

After a rejuvenating facial and massage, I rested in a tranquil lounge.

Trying out one of ESPA Life’s 17 oval treatment pods was the highlight.

Each treatment uses the highly efficacious and natural ESPA product range and combines both new and indigenous techniques of the world’s most renowned therapies to deliver a unique treatment offering.

An extensive thermal floor area provides a dedicated space in which guests can completely relax and unwind. Alongside a swimming pool, there is a vitality pool, glass amphitheatre sauna, steam room and

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heated marble loungers. ESPA Life at Corinthia is also a destination for grooming and fitness needs with a salon and a state-of-the-art gym.

The enormity and grandeur of the spa is simply breathtaking and after a relaxed time there, the best place to head for a meal is the Massimo Restaurant & Oyster, offering modern Italian cuisine, and the musically inspired Bassoon Bar. The Northall restaurant, serves the best in British produce throughout the day and having breakfast there in the mornings every day was a delight. The new Garden Lounge offers all-day dining options in an al fresco David Collins Studio designed garden landscape.

Housed within a Victorian building, Corinthia Hotel London features 294 rooms, including 40 suites and 7 penthouses, offering sweeping views across London’s most popular landmarks.

Cutting-edge technology in rooms was handy considering the beautiful ambience motivated me to write a few creative articles while staying there. The meeting rooms allow for recording, mixing and broadcasting from dedicated media rooms.

Corinthia London is a great place to stay in the heart of London and I particularly took advantage of its location to walk and watch popular theatre productions and spend quality time in the bookshops in between sampling lovely tea offerings at Fortnum & Masons.

It is a great point from where every part of London with attractions is within easy reach and the staff are helpful in terms of directing you to places that interest you most. It is definitely a spa destination I would go back to as well for rest and relaxation.

CESME

Boyalik Beach Reosrt & Spa

By Shereen Shabnam International Writer

I

seem to continually say Turkey is always a good idea because of the beauty of every city I have visited every year over the past two decades but this nature blessed country continues to surprise me with more adventure and enthralls me every hour I spend there. After a few days in downtown Izmir and falling in love with the food, the people and the shopping in the bazaars, I headed to Cesme in the summer, a resort town that is both breathtaking and charming.

While having an afternoon meal at the Boyalik Beach Cesme that offered an amazing array of fresh and beautifully prepared dishes, we experienced pure tranquility in the green manicured grounds and uninterrupted views of the blue ocean.

At Boyalik Beach Hotel & Spa, you can focus on rejuvenation and renewal, or take advantage of the sports and leisure facilities. Here you can spend a holiday sipping your tea and coffee outdoors or enjoy the wireless in the peaceful environment of your room with a stylish fivestar hotel which is what I normally do as a workaholic.

The hotel has standard and family rooms as well as suites. As an Islander I naturally prefer sea views and Boyalik Beach Cesme has plenty of sea view rooms with Sat TV, complimentary tea and coffee, 24 hours room service, wireless internet, exclusive bath kits, magnifying mirror, mini bar and hair dryer.

Boyalık Beach Hotel & Spa is the ideal place to combine business and pleasure and has fully equipped meeting rooms. If you feel like going out, I highly recommend visiting Cesme’s bustling markets, crystal clear sea, clean beaches and dive and sailing centres, picturesque bays, healing thermal resources and sports activities. Çesme is one of the most ideal places for surfing and our visit to the Alaçatı Surf Paradise gave us insights into the local passion of the

sea among the youth and adults. Seeing teenagers enjoying the surfing made me wish I had a few more days in Cesme as my daughter was keen on trying some water sports. I suggest at least three days to get a good feel of the towns and beaches.

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GADGETS

ANKER PRODUCTS FOR EVERYDAY USE Anker Innovations, committed to delivering outstanding value, continuous innovation, and exceptional products has selected a set of products that makes our life at home easier during isolation, work from home and during festive occasions.Gifting gadgets from Anker for special occasions satisfies different personalities with different tastes as products range from Bluetooth speakers,

headphones, security cameras, smart scales to powerbanks and chargers. The products below make our life more musical, ease household chores, keep us secured, keep the communication devices fully charged and we can enjoy a state-of-the-art cinema experience in the comfort of our home.

EUFY HOMEVAC S11 GO Suitable for delicate surfaces, eufy HomeVac S11 Go comes equipped with a 120AW suction power, stier filter system detachable battery and a 2-in-1 crevice tool to deep clean carpets to hard floors. The innovative technological features in the eufy HomeVac S11 Go include a washable high-efficiency filter that ensures minimal maintenance and improved performance plus the device can be detached to empty the dustbin in seconds. Increased efficiency also includes dust-tight containment for reduced air pollution. The eufy HomeVac S11 Go’s long crevice tool can be used to suck up crumbs and dirt in any corner or hard-to-reach areas and the advanced 5-tier filtration system safeguards and maximizes the motor performance. The long-lasting detachable battery offers up to 40 minutes of cleaning time and the max-mode provides 8 minutes of fierce and focused cleaning when tackling the deepest dust and debris. With eufy HomeVac S11 Go, whether an impossibly tight space or a delicate surface, or the AC vent grill at a height there is an attachment suitable for any cleaning scenario. Available on Amazon.ae and all Electronics Retails stores.

NEBULA APOLLO POCKET PROJECTOR Nebula Apollo Smart Pocket Projector is a new generation pocket cinema in a compact, mobile and soda-can size cubical design. Powered by Android 7.1 Nebula Apollo Hosts loads of capabilities such as Google Assistant, remarkable clarity with Sharp 200 ANSI lumen image, improved 360o audio and In-built video & movie streaming apps like Netflix, Youtube, Amazon Prime it is the perfect entertainment partner. Nebula Apollo provides 4-hours of video playtime with single full charge and offers big 360o sound with a 6W speaker. Nebula Apollo offers an advanced entertainment experience, anytime, anywhere with your loved ones Stream via mobile or inbuilt apps.

Available on Amazon.ae and all Electronics Retails stores.

EUFY SECURITY INDOOR CAM 2K AND INDOOR CAM 2K PAN & TILT Anker’s eufy Indoor Cam 2K and Indoor Cam 2K Pan & Tilt helps keep an eye on your pets and children while you are at work, on your elderly relatives living remotely and your home even at night when intruders can be a threat to the safety and security of loved ones. It helps detect unusual activity and records movements in picture perfect 2K clarity. The Indoor cameras are triggered by movement by unknown faces or pets/children’s movements in no go zone areas and users receive an alert instantly. With eufy Cam Pan & Tilt, when movement is detected, the camera will automatically pan and tilt 360o to follow the actions and record the entire movement while it gives you the instant alert and allows a two-way audio communication. Both cameras work with voice control and are compatible with Apple Homekit, Google Home Assistant and Alexa. You can know more about this product through videos on Anker MEA Youtube Channel. Available on Amazon.ae and all Electronics Retails stores. | 56 | Trending Business Insights

ANKER PREMIUM 60W 5-PORT DESKTOP CHARGER The Anker 5 Port desktop charger comes with one 30W Power Delivery Port for Apple MacBook, Nexus 5X/6P, and 4 PowerIQ Ports for iPhone, iPad, and More that intelligently recognizes your device to boost charging speeds up to 2.4A per port.

When working from home, the entire family have access to simultaneous charging for everyone from just one wall outlet.

With advanced safety features like surge protection, temperature control, and more, you can charge devices with total peace of mind. Available on Amazon.ae and all Electronics Retails stores.

SOUNDCORE LIBERTY AIR 2 Listen to your favourite songs using Soundcore Liberty Air 2. The true wireless in-ear headphones come with four built-in microphones with uplink noise cancellation and filters out ambient noises. Environmental noises are reduced by 60% to 95% to ensure crystal-clear diamond enhanced sound with twice the amount of bass. The HearID technology maps hearing sensitivity at multiple frequencies and intelligently analyzes results for a truly personalized listening experience. For convenience, the one-Step Pairing ensures automatic connection to your device. The earbuds allow for 7 hours of playtime but the charging case provides a longer battery life of 28 hours on the go. Liberty Air 2 can also recharge its power through wireless chargers. With a comfortable fit and the IPX5 (Splash Proof), Liberty Air 2 gives freedom from messy wired headphones speak about comfort and ease of using and offers the convenience of listening to music by the pool, during morning walks or while cooking and relaxing. Available on Amazon.ae and all Electronics Retails stores.

ANKER POWERCORE 10000 PD+PIQ2.0 Stay charged all day with the smallest, yet high capacity 10000mAh portable charger with Power Delivery. Power IQ2.0 technology makes it fully compatible with Qualcomm Quick Charge, providing a high-speed charging experience to all QC devices. Charge your mobile devices at an optimized speed via the USB-A port. Your USB-C phones, tablets, and more get a full-speed charge from the Power Delivery port at the same time. The MultiProtect safety system and high-quality battery cells ensure complete protection for you and your devices with enough power to charge even high-power devices like tablets. Available on Amazon.ae and all Electronics Retails stores.

ROBOVAC G10 HYBRID Cleaning is made effortless as RoboVac takes on dust-busting around your home s with multiple cleaning modes and auto-clean scheduling. The intelligent RoboVac G10 Hybrid operates quietly and comes with Smart Dynamic Navigation, cleaning report cards, Wi-Fi, voice control and 2-in-1 sweep and mop for a sparkling clean. The self-charging RoboVac may be ultra-slim, but it’s packed with a 3-point cleaning system consisting of a suction inlet, rolling-brush and side-brush. This lean cleaning Machine boasts 2000Pa of superior suction power clearing dirt, dust, and crumbs. The Super-Slim 2.85� body effortlessly glides under furniture and into hard to reach areas. Users can give instructions by voice or using your phone via the EufyHome app, Amazon Alexa or the Google Assistant. Post sales, eufy also provides 12 Months Warranty, friendly and easyto-reach support. It is available in all leading electronic stores and amazon.ae.

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ACCESSORIES Quadro Mezzoscafo

THE LEGEND IN YOUR HOME The most sought-after furniture and decorations characterized by inimitable refinement of Riva Yachts, the legendary shipyard. It offers the perfect style both for yacht owners and sea lovers to refresh the beach or lake house with original pieces, with the recognizable aquamarina touch and the timeless elegance of mahogany and steel.

Set 2 Tazzine espresso Tavolo Aquarama Riva Piatto Steering Wheel

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Posacenere Svuotatasche

Set 12 sottobicchieri

Sgabello Aquarama Riva Candela

Multi-Purpose Balancing Holder

Multi-Purpose Balancing Holder

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WATCHES

THE ELEGANT COLLECTION

By Shereen Shabnam International Writer

We bring you a selection of new timepieces that successfully blend watchmaking with elegance perfect for personal use and for gifts.

BOVET

Amadéo Fleurier Complications - Virtuoso V Introduced to the BOVET collections in 2015, Virtuoso V was the first timepiece powered by the Virtuoso II caliber to feature additional complications. These were a jumping hour paired with retrograde minutes. Five years later, the Maison's artisan watchmakers and dial-makers have joined forces to give it a new face. The watchmakers worked on displaying all the information giving way to greater classicism, which enhances the artistic crafts and exemplary finishes of all the components. The dial-makers created a new face where readability of the hour and minute displays is increased thanks to its elegant blue lacquered guilloché.

It contrasts subtly with the rest of the surface, which is entirely hand-engraved with the emblematic “Fleurisanne” motif that has symbolised the true supremacy of BOVET's craftsmen in terms of decorative arts for almost two centuries.

The Virtuoso V integrates two complications that are difficult to combine: jumping hours and retrograde minutes. This timepiece belongs to the Fleurier Complications Collection and is fitted with the patented Amadeo convertible case, allowing it to be transformed into a reversible wristwatch, a table clock, or a pocket watch, without the need for a single tool.

CORUM

AC-One 38 Automatic

Counting on the popularity of the earlier AC-One models, the AC-One 38 Automatic has a much smaller case diameter of 38mm. While adhering strictly to the design codes of the AC-One, the case of the AC-One 38 was given a slight makeover in order to make it more curvaceous than its masculine counterpart. Together with the creation of a shapelier and svelte silhouette for the AC-One 38, Corum had to redesign its signature Corum-decorated micro-rotor for the CO 082 automatic movement used to power this new ladies’ timepiece, in order to fit the size of its case. This watch has a power reserve of 42 hours and is water resistant up to 50 meters. The AC-One 38 Automatic is presented either with a Titanium grade 2 or 5N 18k rose case. Its dauphine-style hands are partially skeletonized and filled with white superluminova.

The white dial, decorated with three-dimensional “Grenadier fendu” finishing, is paired with white rubber straps for a crisp and chic look. There are 72 round VS-grade diamonds set around the bezel. Sporty, practical and elegant at the same time, the AC-One 38 is incredibly versatile and will be the perfect companion for the stylish, upbeat and outdoor-loving woman, be it at work, a glamourous evening, or while enjoying a luxurious weekend getaway at sea.

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KALPA KALPARISMA

Kalpa Kalparisma, Kalpa Donna and Kalpa Piccola

The Kalpa collection was one of the very first women’s collections created by Parmigiani Fleurier. This standard-setting series of watches has evolved into a number of sub-brands including: Kalpa Kalparisma, Kalpa Donna and Kalpa Piccola. The stunning newcomer in this collection – the Kalpa Kalparisma with white gold snow setting, is set to dazzle fine watch-loving ladies from the region, with its unabashed sense of style and glamorous, bejeweled magnetism packed in its svelte rectangular casing. The lustrous diamond coated dial is set with 714 diamonds that give the watch a snow-clad face, where the delta shaped hands show through clearly. The 18-ct white gold case is also set with 665 diamonds, making this a veritable gem of fine watchmaking wizardry. To add to its evident charms, the Kalpa Kalparisma with white gold snow setting, comes with a Hermes black alligator strap with and 18-ct white gold pin setting and is powered by the PF342 automatic winding movement.

OMEGA

NATO STRAPS One of the defining traits of a modern OMEGA watch is the ability to add your own personality through the brand’s extensive collection of NATO straps. In time for summer, another six new styles have been introduced to the range, offering yet more colour and character for watch fans to wear. Each of the new straps has been crafted with a 3-stripe look in two contrasting tones. There are bright combinations for beach towel days, or simpler colours for city sophistication. As always, the easy-to-swap design means you can play with the image of your watch as little or as often as you choose.

Attention to detail is another attribute that makes these NATO straps feel typically OMEGA. In keeping with the brand’s commitment to quality, the straps are made from polyamide nylon fabric, renowned for its durability and strength. Precise stainless steel buckles and fitted keepers add sleek touches of finesse, while the OMEGA icon engraved on the buckle provides an unmistakable link to the famous Swiss watchmaker.

PARMIGIANI FLEURIER Tonda 1950 Double Rainbow Flying Tourbillon Parmigiani Fleurier presents its new creation: the Tonda 1950 Double Rainbow Flying Tourbillon, driven by the ultra-thin PF517 movement and featuring a double gradient of extraordinary colours. This haute horlogerie timepiece represents a fine example of Parmigiani Fleurier's skill in marrying the arts of watchmaking and jewellery. The dial set with white diamonds on the Tonda 1950 Flying Tourbillon Double Rainbow is adorned with a crescent of aventurine within a gradient of coloured stones. This colour progression represents a mirror image of the stones set on the bezel and setting of these stones reveal the painstaking and meticulous work by the craftspeople. The ultra-thin PF517 movement, comprising a platinum micro-rotor and flying tourbillon, was developed following in-depth studies conducted by the Manufacture's master watchmakers. To keep the piece as slim as possible, the decision was taken to integrate the calibre in the movement's main plate. The rose gold case and red Hermès leather strap or the rose gold bracelet perfectly complement the spectacular array of colours created by the tourbillon.

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MOTORING

Prancing Horse Power

Ferrari 812 Superfast

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he amazing PR team at Al Tayer Motors always have the best first-hand information when it comes to Ferrari models and once again, we had a detailed briefing before testing the new Ferrari 812 Superfast.

With the 812 Superfast, Ferrari has pushed the boundaries of its own achievements yet again by designing a new 12-cylinder engine that hailed the start of the glorious Prancing Horse story 70 years ago in 1947.

Ferrari’s wealth of track-derived engineering know-how is evident in the 812 Superfast as its delivers both benchmark performance across the board and the most riveting and rewarding driving experience possible combined with comfort.

Ferrari’s past is studded with just such cars, a long and illustrious list of exceptional models that have gone down in automotive history featuring state-of-the-art running gear, harmonious yet edgy design and a near-perfect aerodynamic package.

The 812 Superfast’s engine unleashes a massive 800 CV, making the 812 Superfast the most powerful and fastest road-going Ferrari ever built (with the exception, of course, of the mid-rear-engined, special limited-series 12-cylinders).

The 812 Superfast thus ushers in a new era in Ferrari 12-cylinder history, equipped with leading-edge vehicle dynamics control systems and components and is also the first Ferrari to sport EPS (Electric Power Steering). Like all cars with Prancing Horse DNA, this new berlinetta promises exceptionally fluid handling and ride comfort that

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drivers will appreciate on longer journeys.

The 812 Superfast, in fact, is aimed at clients that demand the most powerful and exclusive Ferrari in the range. They want a blisteringly high-performance car without compromising on the kind of versatility that will allow them to thoroughly appreciate driving it as a 360-degree experience.

The new 812 Superfast is fitted with Ferrari’s F1 dual-clutch transmission to meet the car’s track driving performance targets and cope with the boost in maximum revs to 8,900 rpm while the gear ratios on all of the gears have been shortened to exploit the extra performance.

The cabin has been radically redesigned to imbue it with an even sportier character with horizontal dash looping stylishly around the central air vents for a sophisticated, sculptural, yet supremely stylish look that is also a nod to the LaFerrari’s cockpit.

Inside, beautifully crafted trimming both at the centre of the dash and around the glove compartment create the just right sense of Ferrari’s signature combination of the artisanal and the high tech. The seats follow a diapason design language combined with superb ergonomics.

A high-end audio system with 12 speakers and a 1,280 Watt amplifier with Quantum Logic offers superb sound delivery.

Ferrari’s vast Personalisation Programme is, of course, also available to ensure each client can make their 812 Superfast unique and even more tailored to their personal tastes and requirements and includes a wealth of new optionals specifically developed for the 812 Superfast.

Bold and powerful Nissan Maxima

By Shereen Shabnam International Writer

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he new Nissan Maxima continues its reputation as an exciting near-luxury sports sedan with its 300-horsepower 3.5-liter V6 engine and sport-tuned steering, braking and suspension.

It comes with captivating performance stance, 19-inch diamond-cut wheels, boomerang signature LED lighting framing the enlarged V-motion grille and offers Nissan Safety Shield 360, a suite of advanced driver-assist systems that supports the Nissan Intelligent Mobility vision to redefine how cars are driven, powered and integrated into society. The 2019 Maxima embraces the visionary Nissan Intelligent Mobility philosophy, which provides technology with convenience.

For Maxima, this includes the availability of Nissan Safety Shield 360, a suite of six advanced active safety and driver-assist technologies designed to help provide 360 degrees of active driver assistance, crash avoidance and pedestrian detection with Blind Spot Warning, Rear Cross Traffic Alert, Lane Departure Warning and High Beam Assist.

Maxima’s aggressive, updated exterior appearance was created

by Nissan Design America in La Jolla, Calif. and features a more voluminous front grille with a deeper V-motion flow that carries into the hood and down the body to the redesigned rear tail lamps and rear fascia.

The standard jewel-like LED headlights and Nissan Signature Daytime Running Lights add to the Maxima’s premium, high performance appearance, along with the new, deep fascia design. The new rear fascia includes integrated quad-tip exhaust finishers, while a new sport rear spoiler is also added to the Maxima SR grade. In addition, a new premium exterior paint color, Sunset Drift, has been added to the Maxima color palette.

The Nissan Door to Door Navigation adds directions that move from your compatible smartphone to Maxima's touch-screen seamlessly. If

you end up parking several blocks away, it can send a walking route to your phone. The one-line destination search simplifies the process of finding a destination by providing a single text box to search for a Point of Interest or address.

Inside, the dramatic Maxima body is a driver-oriented cockpit and comfortable seating for all five occupants. Enhancing the Maxima’s already high level of quality and premium luxury appointments is a new seat insert pattern and charcoal headliner and pillars for SR grades. The SR grade features special Rakuda Tan semi-aniline leather appointments, similar to that available on the Nissan GT-R Premium Interior Package.

The new Maxima is equipped with Apple CarPlay™ and Android Auto™, with 8-inch multi-touch colour display, Bluetooth® Handsfree Phone System and Streaming audio via Bluetooth® and infotainment choices include a Bose® Premium Audio system with 11 speakers.

The interior retains the Maxima’s “Gliding Wing” interior layout that emphasizes the horizontal movement and easy access to all controls, but offers updated trim finishers and materials. Depending on grade level, the instrument panel, door panels, steering wheel insert, stitching, seat materials, headliner, pillars and A-pillar speaker grilles have been upgraded, providing a more premium look and feel.

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MOTORING

Elegantly Sculptured for the luxury class

The new Audi A6

By Shereen Shabnam International Writer

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udi continues its model initiative in the luxury class: following the new Audi A8 and the new Audi A7, the premium brand recently introduced the next generation of the Audi A6. Whether in terms of digitalization, comfort or sportiness – the elegantly sculptured sedan is the all-round talent in its segment.

The new Audi A6 is the eighth generation of Audi’s successful luxury sedan and it is a high-tech, yet elegant model that introduces numerous innovations into the segment and is more versatile than ever before.

Turning heads as we cruised on Beach Road in the new A6, it is clear that this model is a distinguished ambassador for the new Audi design language. With taut surfaces, clear edges and striking lines, it conveys sporty elegance, cutting-edge technology and premium quality.

The new A6 interior focuses consistently on its fully digital operating system and is a trendsetter in the segment. The MMI touch response operating system with haptic and acoustic feedback provides quick, intuitive operation. Its extensive connectivity and assistance solutions offer even greater safety and convenience.

Highlights among the driver assistance systems include the parking pilot and garage pilot, as well as the adaptive driving assistant. It supports longitudinal and lateral control that helps keep the car in its lane even in narrow lanes and roadwork sections.

On the road, the Audi A6 is as agile as a sports car and as nimble as a compact model. The new dynamic all-wheel-drive steering system

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plays a major role in that. It combines a direct, sporty steering response with superior driving stability.

Audi offers the new A6 with a 3.0 TFSI engine that has an output of 340 hp and is equipped with a mild hybrid system as standard for added comfort and efficiency.

Nimble Performance and Confident Ride

All-New Lincoln Corsair

By Shereen Shabnam International Writer

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xpressively designed and effortlessly agile, the all-new Lincoln Corsair arrives as a spacious two-row SUV that combines refined power and a confident, whisper-quiet ride in a luxurious sanctuary that is uniquely Lincoln.

The all-new Lincoln Corsair stands out in the small premium utility vehicle segment with a 2.0-litre turbocharged engine with Auto StartStop technology, making 245 horsepower and 373 Nm of torque mated to a new 8-speed automatic transmission. Staying true to its Quiet Flight DNA, the all-new Lincoln Corsair delivers an effortless yet sprightly drive experience.

Lincoln’s intelligent all-wheel-drive system allows for enhanced allweather capabilities and impressive performance. All-wheel-drive disconnect capability enables a seamless switch between front-wheel drive and all-wheel drive in response to road, speed, temperature and other conditions.

The Lincoln drive modes allow for seamless customisation of the drive experience. Standard modes include normal, conserve, excite, slippery and deep conditions. Each is fully integrated – clients simply select the mode and Corsair handles the rest.

The spacious interior includes plush, hand-selected materials, available Revel™ audio system and multiple sound dampening technologies to ensure a tranquil cabin like a sanctuary within the all-new Corsair.

The calming atmosphere is enhanced by six unique symphonic chimes recorded by the Detroit Symphony Orchestra as alerts to inform drivers of everything from an open fuel door to an unbuckled seat belt.

A specially tuned 14-speaker Revel™ premium audio system is also available to tailor audio quality and accuracy to individual cabin size and acoustics.

To help provide additional peace of mind for clients, Corsair offers a wealth of standard and available driver-assist features. Intuitive technologies and signature Lincoln features include Lincoln Co Pilot360™ Plus and Lincoln drive modes for a personalised experience.

Lincoln Co-Pilot360™, includes Pre-Collision Assist with Automatic Emergency Braking, Blind Spot Detection with Cross-Traffic Alert,

a Lane-Keeping System, Rear View Camera and Auto High Beam Headlamps.

A large eight-inch capacitive centre LCD touchscreen with swipe and pinch-to-zoom capability serves as a portal to SYNC® 3 with both Apple CarPlay™ and Android Auto™ compatibility, enabling Corsair customers to manage audio, phone and navigation. Steering wheelmounted controls are also available for some of these functions.

For on the go drivers like myself, there are also multiple power outlets within the cabin, with two 12V auxiliary ports, and four USB ports ready to keep devices charged. The new Corsair brings signature Lincoln features luxury customers have come to love, delivered in a small SUV package.

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MOTORING

Elegance and Attitude Maserati Quattroporte

By Shereen Shabnam International Writer

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e recently picked up the Maserati Quattroporte from the team at Al Tayer Motors in their elegant showroom on Sheikh Zayed Road. A classic example of authentic Italian design, the new Quattroporte has embraced gracefully the virtues of elegance and athletic attitude, particularly in the GranLusso and GranSport trims.

The best Italian designers have been involved in developing the design language of the Quattroporte throughout its 55-year history fusing the qualities of speed, style and luxury in a sleek body. The modern-day Quattroporte is as distinctive and exclusive as its predecessors with a dominant, powerful nose sculpted around the Alfieri-shaped threedimensional grille, pointed and imposing while featuring vertical chrome rib elements in contrast with the depth of the ‘sharknose’ effect.

friendly interface. The leather-finished steering wheel is electrically adjustable for both reach and height..

The Q4 Intelligent All-Wheel Drive System has been designed to enhance the high performance, grand touring qualities of the Quattroporte and to offer absolute safety and genuine all-weather capability, whatever the road conditions. Since the EPS was introduced in the Quattroporte range, it has improved the car’s handling and comfort.

As a big fan of Ermenegildo Zegna having met him and seen the quality of his work, I love the Zegna Silk interiors that combines finegrain leather with 100% natural fibre Zegna mulberry silk inserts on the seats, door panels, roof lining, sunshades and ceiling light fixture.

Always in dark grey, the silk can be combined with three different shades of luxurious fine leather: black, tan or red. The sophisticated, luxury finish of the car’s interior is seen in the headrests, which feature an embroidered Trident emblem and contrast stitching. This unique and exclusive silk is made by Zegna in Italy, using a patented process.

The area below the climate control panel contains a phone box, SD card reader, USB socket and Aux-in port allowing the user to play music, watch films or view images. With the optional rear seat entertainment unit, the Quattroporte features two 10.2” LCD displays allowing users to reproduce audio, video or photographs from external sources in a wide range of formats. The Quattroporte can contain optional WLAN technology that effectively turns the car into a Wi-Fi vehicle hotspot.

The Quattroporte interior also features a box for phone storage, three 12V power sockets and a USB charging port in the rear armrest. A number of large compartments are available, two of which are at the bottom of the dashboard: a climate-controlled, illuminated passenger glove compartment and another for the driver, as well as an illuminated, climate-controlled storage area beneath the large front armrest.

The stylishly neat interior gives both driver and passengers the sensation of travelling in an exclusive first-class lounge with a driver-

In line with a long Maserati tradition, Quattroporte offers a wide range of interior customization.

A large part of the Quattroporte’s aerodynamic work takes place out of sight beneath the car. The flat floor comprises several aerodynamic features, including a NACA duct to help cool the differential without increasing drag, and flaps on the rear suspension arms to channel airflows.

The family of Maserati petrol units boasts the top-of-the range 3.8-litre V8 for the Quattroporte GTS and the 3.0-litre V6 for the Quattroporte, Quattroporte S and S Q4 versions. Both engines are twin-turbocharged, developed by Maserati in collaboration with Ferrari and assembled in Maranello.

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Honda Redesigns 2020 Honda CR-V

By Shereen Shabnam International Writer

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fter owning a Honda CRV for years in the past, I finally drove the new upgraded 2020 Model of the CR-V which has a new exterior design with redesigned 18� alloy wheels and comes in four grades namely, DX and LX in 2 Wheel Drive (2WD) and EX and Touring in All Wheel Drive (AWD).

What I loved most in the 2020 CR-V is the new blackout bumper, front grille and broad new openings for the fog lights which gives the SUV a more upscale and distinctive look, especially with the new exterior colors Sonic Gray Pearl, Radiant Red Metallic, and Passion Red Pearl.

The center console is redesigned and certainly much easier to use than the 2012 model I used to drive, with more flexible storage options and it has a wireless phone charger that is easy to access and use.

Other technologies include a color TFT driver information interface (DII) center meter display, The DX and LX grades have a 5-inch Colour Screen Audio and the EX and Touring grades have a 7-inch touch screen Display Audio interface with a physical volume knob as well as an available Navigation system.

The 7-inch touch screen Display Audio is compatible with Apple CarPlayTM and AndroidAutoTM platforms, giving customers seamless integration of key smartphone features and functions, including smartphone powered GPS navigation and voice-controlled search capabilities.

Other key comfort and convenience features includes remote engine start, Dual-Zone climate control, rear USB charging ports, front

passenger seat with 4-way power adjustment and driver’s seat with 8-way power adjustment and power lumbar support in the Touring Grade.

The CR-V has the highest available collision safety ratings, including an NCAP 5-star Overall Vehicle Score from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and a TOP SAFETY PICK+ rating from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS).

At the heart of the 2020 CR-V is a 2.4-litre DOHC, direct injected i-VTEC engine that is mated to a smooth shifting and sporty continuously variable transmission (CVT) with Honda G-Shift control logic. The 2.4-liter engine generates 184-horsepower @ 6400rpm and a torque of 244NM @ 3900rpm. The fuel consumption statistics of the CR-V are 15.5km/L for the DX and LX grades and 14.7km/L for the EX and Touring grades.

With the all-new body and chassis design, the improved technical specifications of the car, the new CR-V provides agile and confident handling, greater drive refinement and superior overall versatility.

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MOTORING Tougher, Smarter and Reliable

Ford F-150

By Shereen Shabnam International Writer

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iving in UAE means we get access to some the best off road terrain to test our trucks and off road vehicles and the Ford F-150 is built to take any road we throw at it with its classleading power, smart technology and unrivaled capability and safety features.

The F-150 is the distillation of more than 100 years of truck development and the refinement over 40 years of F-Series leadership, making it the toughest, smartest and most capable F-150 ever. It’s also the safest, with the inclusion of Ford’s new Co-Pilot 360’s suite of drive assist technologies.

Building on its proven heritage, the F-150 is available with a choice of three engines, three cabin styles, and three bed lengths. It comes with muscular styling, segment-first and class-exclusive driver assist technologies and even more features that allow owners to explore the great outdoors with unwavering confidence.

Most regional buyers bank on the F-150’s reputation for power and safety – and it’s in these areas that this Built Ford Tough truck continues to lead. We loved the Co-Pilot 360 which is a package of technologies that helps keep drivers, occupants and pedestrians more protected.

The new Pre-Collision Assist with Pedestrian Detection monitors the F-150’s proximity to other vehicles and pedestrians up front and will alert the driver with visible and audible warnings. In extreme cases, and if the system determines a collision is imminent, active braking may automatically apply full braking.

I found the Blind Spot information system, or BLIS®, useful to identify a vehicle entering the blind spot be seeing an indicator light in the sideview mirror. The Cross Traffic Alert (CTA) gave warning of traffic approaching from either side when backing out of a parking space. It uses the same radar sensors as BLIS and automatically engages when the driver selects reverse.

The F-150 engine delivers where it matters most and comes with higher towing capability, more payload capacity and better fuel

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efficiency than the engine it replaces. The engine comes fitted with a six-speed SelectShift automatic transmission with standard auto-start/ stop technology.

The FX4 Off Road package is available on XL to Platinum models and is designed to give the F-150 even more capability off road. The package includes a lock rear differential, underbody skid plates that protect the front differential, transfer case and fuel tank, Hill Descent Control and off-road tuned shock absorbers. Drivers can also monitor the action via the truck’s productivity screen.

The F-150 is built to work, and the cargo box is designed to make that easier for owners. The new tailgate features a rugged F-150 stamping on all models from XL to King Ranch, and the tailgate can be locked, unlocked and lowered via the key fob. The class-exclusive tailgate step and support make accessing the cargo box easy, while LED lights illuminate the area efficiently. Owners can also add class-exclusive LED sideview mirror spotlights to help illuminate camp sites at night.

For music lovers, a new B&O Play Premium Audio System by HARMAN is available, unlocking the power of your favourite music through the tailored tuning and calibration of ten strategically placed speakers around the cabin.

Ford’s SYNC 3 system allows hands-free control of calls, music and more, while the eight-inch screen provides bold, clear and precise information. SYNC 3 is also Apple CarPlay compatible, meaning iPhone users can use Siri’s functions to access favourite songs and playlists, and Apple Maps for voice-guided navigation. There are also two smart-charging USB ports to help keep your devices powered up and ready to go, and a power outlet for heavy duty tools and devices in the dash.

Outdoor adventurers will love that the class-exclusive stowable loading ramps are available to help make loading ATVs, motorcycles and other equipment easy, while Ford’s BoxLink features four removable and lockable premium cleats provide additional tie-down points to help secure loads. These features makes you want to get out and have fun in the desert and I look forward to my next F-150 adventure.

Designing the future

The Lamborghini Sián Roadster Edited by Shereen Shabnam International Writer

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utomobili Lamborghini introduces the new Lamborghini Sián Roadster: a limited edition, open-top hybrid super sports car engineered around Lamborghini’s iconic V12 engine, with unique hybrid technologies and delivering unsurpassed Lamborghini and hybrid performance.

The roofless design of the Sián Roadster puts an exclusive group of drivers in one of the most spectacular cockpits ever: always open to the sky; resonating with the inimitable V12 sound from the most powerful Lamborghini engine to date; and experiencing extraordinary performance while reveling in the Sián Roadster’s role in Lamborghini’s route to future electrification.

Encapsulating the blue of the sky and the green of the fields, evoking the freedom and driving elation delivered by the open top Sián Roadster’s performance, the car is finished with Oro Electrum wheels: the colour chosen by Lamborghini to signify electrification.

The Lamborghini Sián Roadster asserts the futuristic design of the coupé, but as a true roadster adds a new purity with the open-air cabin. The aerial view of the Sián Roadster is evocative of the iconic periscopio line inspired by the first Countach, running diagonally from the cockpit to the rear and culminating in the aerodynamic airstreamers behind driver and passenger.

The Sián’s long sculptured contours and characteris tic aero wings give the Sián Roadster an unmistakably powerful profile. The car’s very low front, with integrated carbon fiber splitter, houses the iconic Lamborghini Y-shape headlights. The uncluttered Sián design is a clear statement of the car’s optimised aerodynamic efficiency and technological prowess: airflow is directed through the front splitters and through the front bonnet, through the side air intakes and outlets and over the rear spoiler, with no loss of aerodynamic efficiency from the roadster’s roofless design.

The extreme and strong rear of the car incorporates Lamborghini’s evocative hexagon design, including six hexagonal taillights inspired by the Countach. The rear wing is integrated within the profile and extends out only during the driving to enhance the performance.

The low, powerful chassis houses a next-generation V12 powerplant: ‘Sián’ in local Bolognese dialect, meaning ‘flash’ or ‘lightening’, denotes the Sián Roadster’s electrification as part of the future hybrid strategy, while maintaining the extraordinary emotion and dynamic performance inherent in naturally aspirated Lamborghini super sports cars.

The Sián Roadster’s hybrid system provides the highest power possible via the lightest solution, combining the V12 engine with a new powertrain. A 48-volt e-motor, delivering 34 hp, is incorporated into the gearbox to provide immediate response and improved performance. The e-motor also supports low-speed maneuvers such as reversing and parking with electric power.

The Sián Roadster sports Lamborghini’s innovative supercapacitor application: a world-first technology storing ten times the power of a lithium-ion battery. Located in the bulkhead between cockpit and engine it ensures perfect weight distribution. Three times more powerful than a battery of the same weight and three times lighter than a battery producing the same power, the electric system with the supercapacitor and e-motor weighs only 34 kg, thus it delivers a remarkable weight-to-power ratio of 1.0 kg/hp.

This advanced technology combines with the V12 engine, which incorporates titanium intake valves and is uprated to 785 hp (577 kW) at 8,500 rpm. Combined with the additional 34 hp from the hybrid system, the Sián Roadster delivers a total of 819 hp (602 kW) and reaches a top speed of over 350 km/h.

The Lamborghini Sián Roadster benefits from a heightened level of driving comfort facilitated by the hybrid system alongside dynamic handling and performance.

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MOTORING

Domineering Presence Black Badge Cullinan

By Shereen Shabnam International Writer

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ecently we toured different parts of Abu Dhabi in the new Cullinan Black Badge - the darkest, most urban expression of a Black Badge motor car yet from Rolls-Royce Motor Cars. We were amongst the first in the Middle East to drive the cars in the Black Badge Collection and joining me was the founder of the Women’s World car of the Year Awards, Sandy Myhre.

The ambience in the car, from hand painted techniques inspired by modern art to the innovative woven leather panelling on the doors made the Black Badge model line-up a modern masterpiece.

The car clearly appeals to a more adventurous super-luxury SUV clients as it combines genuine practicality with off-road capability and our drive experience was effortless on the different routes we explored in the Capital.

The Rolls-Royce of SUVs aims for clients looking for access to the world’s wildest places and most enriching experiences and it is perhaps the domineering presence of the new Black Badge Cullinan that inspires one to conquer new urban frontiers.

The car is dubbed as ‘The King of the Night’ for good reason as it has the option of being bought in Black Badge’s signature Black which at night gives it a mysterious aura. Multiple layers of paint and lacquer are meticulously applied and hand-polished 10 times at the Home of Rolls-Royce in Goodwood, West Sussex, representing the most comprehensive surface finish process ever applied to a solid paint colour.

For once, even the Spirit of Ecstasy mascot, which has taken many

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forms throughout the marque’s history, is presented in high gloss black chrome, creating the darkest Black Badge yet.

Inside, the Black Badge Cullinan blends comfort, bold aesthetics, advanced materials and precise, meticulous craftsmanship into a comfortable space with audacious design. There are a few upgrades on the dash and centre console that stands out but the highlight was the starlight roof that is customizable and we could select a star pattern of our choice complete with a shooting star feature.

The Architecture of Luxury in the Black Badge Cullinan has been engineered to meet size and weight requirements of different propulsion systems. When the driver presses the ‘Low’ button, it unlocks Black Badge Cullinan’s full suite of technologies. This is asserted by the amplification of the motor car’s 6.75-litre twin-turbocharged V12 through an entirely new exhaust system. The flexibility of the twinturbo V12 has been exploited to generate an extra 29PS creating a total output of 600PS. The sense of a single, infinite gear has also been sensationalised with the addition of a further 50NM of torque, bringing the total to a 900NM. The drive-train, ZF 8-speed gear box and both front and rear steered axles work collaboratively to adjust the levels of engagement depending on throttle and steering inputs. There are changes to the suspension components and settings that ensure an appropriate balance between dynamism and refinement. The result is an extremely well-mannered tourer at low speeds and a vivid driver’s device when pressed.

Overall, we felt majestic during the whole drive experience – every last element in the Black Badge Cullinan was designed with perfection.

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FINAL WORD

WORKING FROM HOME TIPS

By Shereen Shabnam International Writer

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few years ago I made a choice to be my own boss because I could not understand the need to spend hours on the road getting to an office during peak time. As someone with over 20 years of PR and media experience, I was earning more in a month than most of my peers so it was a tough decision to make but being an Islander, I was born to place quality of life above everything else that mattered to the masses and giving up an office job was a no brainer.

I still enjoy the thrill of innovating and planning daily. I feel just as energized by completing tasks and meeting deadlines. Instead of taking 15 clients, I only entertain a maximum of five clients at a time if they can guarantee me meaningful work and if the fee is rewarding enough. My team know my ethos of quality over quantity to ensure we have a perfect work life balance which in the end ensures clients also feel our positive vibes and get inspired to try out new initiatives.

I still work for the same organization independently and still remain one of their most loyal advocates but instead of being an employee and getting a paycheck, I get a consultancy fee. I do the same amount of work, deliver all my work well before time and have time to travel, test drive cars on different terrains and play golf all because I chose to work from home. I pay for an office I have not seen in four years and it is a running joke amongst my friends that I have the most expensive desk in the city that I pay for but do not own.

Working from home helps me stay mentally healthy and gives me positive energy levels for doing good work. I usually follow some basic rules below to keep me focused and productive.

I have no regrets so far as four years ago I chose to work from home and started appreciating life the same way others are doing now but it took a pandemic for them to realise that life does not have to be complicated. With technology, working from anywhere is possible and you can live life on your own terms by letting go of the need for a high salary and material items in your life that in the long run has no purpose.

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Have a planner or things to do list to stay on track. Digital calendars and on the phone and desktop are life savers.

Short breaks for food and coffee giving you a chance to relax and focus on tasks with fresh eyes.

Become physically active as exercise releases good endorphins that makes you feel happy and reduces stress and anxiety.

Get to bed early and improve your sleep pattern and quality.

Feel good by being part of CSR initiatives and support entrepreneurs and small businesses.