GTM Issue 23

Aromas Fiji

CANDLE FLAVOURS

Citronella

White Frangipani

Pink Frangipani

Sandlewood Vanilla

Japanese Honeysuckle

Vanilla

Sandlewood Vanilla

HANDMADE ORGANIC SOAP

Aloe Vera Flavoured Soap

Rose Petal Soap

Orange Flavoured Soap

Moringa Flavoured Soap

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CONTACT:

Aromas Fiji

P.O. Box 9179, Nadi Airport Fiji

info@aromasfiji.com

TEL: +679 9999913

Reinventing and Transforming to Stay Relevant in Retail

What is Good Cloud Migration Security?

A Stats-Based Approach to Hybrid Work in the Financial Sector

Driving Innovation in the Middle East with Kubernetes

The Perfect Escape Destination Malta

A Land of Fine Tastes Iconic Istanbul

Relaxed Living Hideaway Fujairah

Object of Desire

The New Pearl 72

Redefined Luxury Travel

Turkish Airlines’ State-Of-The-Art Lounges

Adventurous Drive Experience

The New Creta From Hyundai

Smooth Ride

Lincoln Navigator

New levels of Luxury, Connectivity and Performance

The New Teramont

Time Is Money At Express Auto Wash

Generating Public Interest In The Technology Of The Future

PUBLISHER

Catherine Gilbert

EDITOR IN CHIEF

Shereen Shabnam

Editorial Team

Fozia Fareen

Natasha Jasmin Dury

Nishrat Nazeen

Eric Richard Dury

Correspondence Address

H3J LLE

Office 404, Building B

Old Saaha Offices - Souk Al Bahar

Old town Island - Burj Khalifa District

P.O. Box 487177, DUBAI - U.A.E.

Tel: +971 50 769 0087

Art Director

V. Suquila

Impression/Printing

Silver Point Printing Press L.L.C

Shed No:05 Caterpillar Building Salah

Al Din St Al Khabaisi - Deira - Dubai

by

THE ADMIRABLE RESILIENCE OF TOURISM DESTINATIONS

With travel destinations opening up to tourists, we have witnessed a significant increase in tourism numbers globally and Malta is no different. Our team was lucky to spend a week in Malta experiencing a travel itinerary that was personalised, unique and involved sampling gourmet meals, luxury hotels, boat rides, road tours and excellent service everywhere we visited.

Despite the increase in travel costs, tourists are spoilt for choice for locations to visit, experiences to be had and the way they wish to be pampered and Malta offers a wide range of choices for all types of travellers. We also feature Istanbul and Fujairah in this issue for seasoned travellers looking for a variety of places to visit.

We were indeed lucky to interview Hon. Dr Ian Borg, Malta's Minister for Foreign and European Affairs and Trade who gives us insights into the development goals of the country as it celebrates its National Day in October. During our visit to Malta, we also got to know Claire Zammit Xuereb - Hospitality and Care Director for AX

Group - who is taking her hospitality portfolio in Malta to new heights.

In this issue, we have expert opinion pieces from our technology partners. Our regular contributors, Hakan Ozel, General Manager of Shangri La Dubai and Susan Furness, Edgewalker Senior Associate also offer some interesting reading.

We love the world of museums and in this issue, we feature MTE Studios, a specialized consultancy firm focused on Lifescape Architecture and Interactive Experiences. We are constantly fascinated by the work they do and hope you have been equally inspired by the projects they have implemented in the region.

We hope you love the curated fragrances, jewellery, beauty products, watches, accessories, gadgets, home deco products curated by the team, and we hope you enjoy our choice of cars and yachts for our luxury connoisseurs.

Shereen Shabam editor@globaltrendmonitor.com

RCBS201811862

MAN WITH A PLAN Power of Diplomatic Collaboration

Interview with Hon. Dr Ian Borg, Minister for Foreign and European Affairs and Trade

International relations between Malta and the United Arab Emirates were cemented even more strongly than ever before during the recent World Expo. For the occasion of the Malta National Day, we meet with Dr Ian Borg Minister for Foreign and European Affairs and Trade to give us insights into his current role in maintaining Malta's external relations and the management of its international diplomatic missions.

A lawyer by profession, Ian Borg is graduated as a Doctor of Laws from University of Malta after completing a Doctoral degree in Laws, a Diploma in Public Notarial Practice and a Bachelor’s Degree in Law.

As Dr Ian Borg was entrusted with a wide portfolio of work ranging from major infrastructural projects to the construction and maintenance of the country’s infrastructure, land, air and maritime transport and property, we interview him to know more about him and his vision for Malta.

TELL US A BIT ABOUT YOURSELF AND WHAT MOTIVATED YOU TO PURSUE A CAREER IN GOVERNMENT?

That’s rather a straightforward question as a beginning and deserves a straightforward answer too. All the great ancient Greek philosophers tried to understand what motivates persons to enter the field, or rather the activity of

politics. And they almost all agreed, quite a rarity among philosophers, that politics is a call from Destiny which some people respond to, while others ignore.

In our day, politics has not only lost the glittering descriptions of the philosophers of Hellas, but what is more worrying is that many politicians who are not called, that is have no real vocation for politics, have not only taken away the glamour from politics, but proved themselves so out of place, so inadequate, so ill prepared, so glaringly without a message or a vision, that even persons who hear the call of Destiny early in their teens, are shying away from entering an arena where they are exposed, day in, day out

Photo credit: Ray Attard

to a 24 hour surveillance from an allpowerful social media.

When I was in my teens, about to enter the University of Malta, and I can say, even before, I felt an urge inside me. Although I tried hard to ignore it, I just couldn’t. The voice of the call kept saying that I could do much for my small village and its inhabitants.

I decided to answer the call and stepped forward. I entered the ranks of the Labour Party, the party of the underdog, of the forgotten majority and the struggle against the Establishment. I contested the Local Elections, and to my surprise, I was not only elected as a member of the Council, but also as Mayor because I garnered the highest number of votes.

As Mayor I did well and the next step to contest the national General Elections in 2017 was as natural as day follows night. I took the plunge and was elected to Parliament at my first try and the Prime Minister entrusted me as a junior minister with the EU Funds. It was my first experience in the realm of international relations which later served me well for my present position. Such was the beginning of my career in government.

But I never pursued this career, for it is not just a career for me. It is the principal reason to help our country and our people to better their lives. I have always considered politics to serve the people and not to build a career for myself.

WHAT IS THE IMPORTANCE OF COOPERATION WITH GULF COUNTRIES LIKE THE UAE, ESPECIALLY IN THE ECONOMIC FIELDS POST THE PANDEMICS?

For our nation, especially for all Labour Governments, it was always top priority to seek and enhance intimate friendly relations with all Gulf countries, and the economic, commercial, trade and investment fields constitute fields which we have concentrated upon since the first post-Independence Labour Government of Prime Minister Dom Mintoff.

In fact, immediately after his election in 1971, Prime Minister Mintoff himself travelled to various Gulf states and forged strong commercial and trade links with them. During a recent visit to Malta of a Saudi diplomatic delegation headed by the Foreign Minister himself, I had a wonderful occasion to discuss with the Prince numerous initiatives, and we also discussed even more extensive initiatives in almost all sectors, ranging from the political to the cultural.

We feel and strongly believe that we,

Maltese, and the Arabs, are kindred people. Even our language has a solid base of Arabic.

We look forward, in these difficult post pandemic times, and when the world economy is ravaged by the Russian invasion of Ukraine, that our reciprocal cooperation is not only important but also decisive in enhancing our already close relationship.

As I happen to have under my responsibility also the Ministry of Trade, I see so many opportunities before us to further commerce and trade between our countries that will surely be beneficial to both parties.

or it is nothing.’ I accepted the great challenge, determined more than ever of answering it with a successful response. We must bring Maltese infrastructure from colonial times right to the third decade of the 21st century.

We had a strategy; we had a plan; we had a timetable; we had a mission to fulfil, and we managed to modernize not only the motorways, not only changing the old lamps of roundabouts for the new lamps of tunnels and flyovers, but also to build hundreds of kilometres of new roads, give life again to decaying village cores, open new country lanes and completely overhaul the transport system.

YOU HAVE

OVERSEEN

AN ABUNDANCE OF IMPORTANT INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS IN MALTA BEING IMPLEMENTED AS WELL AS SEVERAL NEW INITIATIVES COMING UP. CAN YOU TELL US MORE ABOUT THEM?

I have deliberately not mentioned in my first answer, the five years as Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Capital Projects, because it is more fitting to discuss them now. I was really surprised when after the General Elections of 2017, the Prime Minister handed over to me this super ministry. I was not only surprised but also awed, and to say the truth a bit frightened because Malta’s infrastructure and transport system was more or less, with a little cosmetic change here and there, still basically that which the British had constructed for their military and naval bases.

I have always followed Lord Acton’s law of living, namely, ‘that Life is Action,

Even now, for the coming two years, Infrastructure Malta which was created under my watch is bringing to fruition the new Flyover network of Malta International Airport and the Flyover/ Tunnel Project of Imrieħel. All the projects which modernized Malta’s roads were completed in time, with the right costings and against all odds.

Previous administrations kept back from modernizing our infrastructure but as I was convinced that a vibrant economy cannot expand if nobody dares to take the bull by the horns, I had to do it. My slogan for those five years of action was aptly described in the phrase ‘Getting Things Done.’

AS THE MARITIME SECTORS WERE UNDER YOUR PORTFOLIO, HAVE YOU SEEN AN INCREASE IN SHIPS AND SUPERYACHTS IN MALTA, ESPECIALLY FOR TOURISM?

Under my watch, I am proud to say that all the maritime sectors made great

Photo credit: Ray Attard

leaps forward. The Malta Flag registry has reached unprecedented numbers and our country has become one of the largest maritime hubs not only in the Mediterranean Sea but also in the world.

With regards to superyachts, it is even a greater success story with Malta placing in the first position in the Mediterranean Sea and in the world. Malta has all the requisites and advantages to become the grandest hub of the superyacht world. Our one and only disadvantage is Malta’s size, but in the third decade of the 21st century there are ways and means to find a remedy for this disadvantage.

TELL US ABOUT THE AVIATION SECTOR POST PANDEMIC AND HOW THE INDUSTRY IS RECOVERING IN COMPARISON TO THE REST OF THE WORLD?

I am afraid that as I am no longer responsible for the aviation sector, and we are still in the early post pandemic months, I cannot answer how this industry is recovering or how it is doing so in comparison with the rest of the world.

However, I can assure you that when I was responsible for this sector, I nursed

it like a baby and dedicated so much time and efforts to build on strong foundations. You only must know some statistics and figures on the air registry to notice the unprecedented growth of the sector in its various branches ranging from registration of private aircraft, airline companies, air industries to the new drone industry. We were even among the very first to introduce drone postal systems and even drone merchandise carriers. The openings and opportunities in this drone sector are as high as the sky.

Also, during the pandemic we introduced Aircraft Leasing Malta. Another important link in the aviation economic niche which will translate into more economic growth and creation of quality jobs.

As regards the future post pandemic times for the aviation sector, I can only feel confident that it will survive the setback and bounce back with great vigour because once the pandemic’s tide ebbs, and peace again is restored in the Ukraine, our aviation sector is robust enough to bounce back with greater vigour and will be able to compete with the world’s other actors.

CAN YOU HIGHLIGHT SOME OF THE CULTURAL AND COMMUNITY PROJECTS LOCALLY AND IN COOPERATION WITH THE UAE OR THE GCC REGION?

Malta and the UAE have very recently signed their first cultural cooperation Memorandum of Understanding in December 2021, concurrently to which, Malta also inaugurated an exhibit of a certified replica of the Maymūnah Stone, an important historical artefact from the Arabic-Islamic Medieval era in Maltese history, at the Malta Pavilion at the EXPO 2020 DUBAI.

On 22 March 2022, the original Maymūnah Stone was installed and inaugurated at the Sharjah Museum of Islamic Civilisation. These two occasions marked a good number of “firsts” between Malta and the UAE: (i) it was the first time that the Maymūnah Stone travelled to be exhibited outside Malta; (ii) this was the first time that a Maltese artefact or its replica was exhibited at a World EXPO; (iii) the first collaboration between Malta and the UAE in exhibiting a Maltese historical artefact; and (iv) the first-ever exhibition by Heritage Malta in a museum in the Arab World. Such initiatives help to bring countries closer together in intercultural, interfaith, and

Photo credit: Ray Attard

multi-cultural understanding, which are soft powers often coming to the usual aid of the core political and diplomatic efforts.

The aspect of community is also very strong. The Maltese diaspora in the UAE started to expand in the late 90s when several Maltese citizens found employment in the aviation industry in the UAE.

As years progressed, more Maltese nationals travelled to the UAE for varied opportunities and today we have diaspora members who work in the medical, legal, construction, teaching, real estate, logistics, financial sectors just to mention a few.

They have all, in their various ways, assisted in the development of the UAE, and therefore represent our country Malta through their hard work and diligence in their everyday life in the UAE. They are also indeed our ambassadors and Malta is proud of the excellent reputation of Malta they promote.

HOW DO YOU SEE THE PROSPECTS FOR JOINT COOPERATION BETWEEN MALTA AND THE UAE FOR OPPORTUNITIES FOR TRADE, INVESTMENT AND TOURISM?

In the past few years, we have worked very hard to expand our network of contacts in the UAE, at all levels and in all spheres. Work on trade, investment and tourism has always existed between our two countries, especially because

of the strong levels of connectivity we mentioned earlier. However, prospects are also digital and renewable, and we are now looking at ways we can cooperate on innovation and technology, fintech, artificial intelligence projects, genomics, logistics, and renewables.

The pandemic we spoke about earlier has provided us not only with challenges but also with opportunities to think outside the box and to explore new avenues of cooperation which we may not have had the opportunity to think about in the past. Nonetheless, here we are now, post pandemic, and post-EXPO 2020 DUBAI, harnessing the new knowledge which we have managed to garner through these two watershed experiences.

ON A PERSONAL FRONT, WHAT MOTIVATES YOU MOST IN YOUR WORK EVERY DAY?

As I told you earlier, I strongly believe that Life is Action. And I also believe that Life is a never-ending series of challenges and responses. As soon as Man responds successfully to a challenge, his very success will create another challenge which he will also have to face and respond to successfully if he wants to continue the road he has chosen.

When one enters politics, the challenges are even more difficult and heavier because if a politician fails to respond successfully to the challenge, he will not just imperil himself but also those who trusted him with the responsibility to guide them to a better world. This heavy burden never crushes me down under its

weight. On the contrary it motivates me to work harder, to think wisely and to search for new ways to be able to reach the goal of my endeavours.

Many, especially those who are only masters of criticism always find fault in those who stick their necks out and try to do things. Generally, critics are persons who have never done a thing in their life.

The certainty that I am doing my best for those who had enough trust in me to grant me their confidence, gives me new strength, new determination, new energy to continue in my journey.

All this motivates me and steels my will for as the road is hard and full of snares and traps, the goal for which I work, that of bettering the life of the people and strengthening our country is the goal of my endeavours.

WHAT DO YOU DO FOR RECREATION? ANY HOBBIES OR SPECIAL INTERESTS THAT HAVE HELPED YOU ALSO IN YOUR CAREER?

I will be honest with you, my time is so full that I am obliged to be very parsimonious with my short free time and here, my family comes first. I try my best and modestly I can say that I am succeeding to be always near to my wife and my little daughter. For me they are ‘pearls of great price’ and the centre of my life. However, I, too, have my special interests. I like meeting people. I like to travel. I am also a sports fan, especially of the Italian football team AC Milan.

Photo credit: Ray Attard

BENCHMARKING IN LUXURY ORGANIZATIONS

Hakan Ozel

General Manager - Shangri-La Hotel, Dubai

Building up and sustaining a competitive edge through quality is an important part of a strategic plan in luxury brands and their organizations. Communicating this strategic plan, mainly of setting the goals, continuous improvement process, ensuring gradual improvement, creativity along with innovation, and working toward world-class competitive capability never stops. However, the questions are, what is this competitive edge and capability, and at what level does it stand on to target to supersede?

Benchmarking is the answer! It is an external focus on internal activities, functions, and operations to achieve continuous improvement. Starting from the analysis of existing activities and practices within the organization, the objective is to understand existing process, or activities, and then to identify an external standard by which that the process or the activity can be measured or judged. The benchmark can be established in any functional and administrative area at any level of a luxury organization. The ultimate goal is quite simple: To be better than the best – to attain a competitive edge!

A certain kind of comparative measurement, either in the operations whilst serving and producing for the customers, or performing in the heart of the house, is essential. In sports games, the scoreboard announces the winner and loser. For the business executives of today, such scoreboards are financial reports and strategic management performance metrics, such as balance score cards.

You cannot manage the business while continuously looking at the scoreboards though – performance furnishes the scoreboards… In this respect, benchmarking is emerging in leading-edge luxury organizations as a tool for obtaining the information required to support continuous improvement and gaining a competitive advantage.

It is indeed the continuous process of measuring the services, products and practices against the fierce competition or those companies perceived

and recognized as the industry leaders. Through the use of benchmarking concepts and techniques, it becomes extremely important that future success of the luxury require more than the gutfeel or instinct, and more than just doing what they have always done quite a bit better.

When it comes to luxury business, be it in service or product, the continuous pursuit of excellence is an underlying and ever-present goal of benchmarking practices. The starting point of achieving excellence is the customer. The customer of luxury business sets the expectations for performance. It is the ultimate judge of its quality, especially when it is realized that the customers populate the luxury operational and corporate landscape.

Benchmarking provides leadership with the tools needed to make the hard decisions about resource allocation and the strategic focus of the organization. It does this by providing objective measurements, or scorecards, of the company’s efforts to meet the stakeholders’ demands. Benchmarking develops a series of objective measures of success of the corporate gameplan as set against the internal goals as well as against the external organizations performing at recognized levels of excellence.

Benchmarking is an early warning system of impending problems, too. If its siren sounds, a change and revision is needed. Through the use of objective, market-oriented measures of performance, it focuses attention where the attention is needed and rips away the blinders that prevent learning. It is more than a one-time measurement; it is a tool for creating the learning organization.

There are two fundamental issues of today’s business that the organizations are struggling to identify and subsequently solve almost every day: One is finding out what the real problem of business outcome with an absolute root cause is, and the other one is setting very thorough and the most realistic goals to achieve. Benchmarking is a true vitamin pill for both.

BOUNDLESS CAPABILITIES

By Shereen Shabnam

During a recent visit to Malta, we were privileged to meet Claire Zammit Xuereb, an influential entrepreneurial leader with a history of significant accomplishments in the hospitality industry in Malta.

Claire is the Hospitality and Care Director for AX Group, a family-run group of companies operating in various key business sectors, where she manages a highly regarded portfolio of seven hotels and 13 restaurants, which has become synonymous with exacting standards and stellar guest service throughout.

In addition, she also leads the healthcare division of the Group, which includes the

island’s first unique retirement village and care home, respectively. In this role, she draws from her years of experience in the hospitality industry to create a truly inclusive and fulfilling retirement community.

Possessing a BSc in International Hospitality Management from the University of Wales and a degree in Hospitality and Tourism Management from the Centre International de Glion, Claire, through her vision, passion, and determination, remains committed to seeking untapped opportunities to create a diverse range of forward-thinking and successful hospitality businesses.

We are inspired by Claire's business acumen and her skill to develop new products and hospitality offerings that add quality and value to the local sector. We had the privilege ofinterviewing her during an experiential meal at AX Hotels’ One MICHELIN Star restaurant, Under Grain in the heart of Valletta.

WHAT MADE YOU VENTURE INTO HOSPITALITY?

I fell in love with the hospitality industry at just nine years of age, starting what would eventually be my passion and full-time career doing all sorts of jobs to get to know the work at different levels and to appreciate every role, from

Interview with Claire Zammit Xuereb - Hospitality and Care Director for AX Group

back-of-house positions to front office duties. Particularly during my studies in Switzerland, I learnt a lot about hospitality that would then bring value to our islands’ tourism industry.

Professionally, after my studies, I started my career as a revenue manager and then moved on to acting General Manager where I managed to quadruple profits in the first year. Since then, I never looked back and I continue learning new and innovative techniques to keep up with the ever-evolving industry, ensuring that our company is a top choice among holidaymakers.

WHAT BRANDS FALL UNDER YOUR PORTFOLIO?

As the Hospitality Director, I mainly handle the properties under the AX Hotels brand which specialises in 4-star and 5-star accommodation together with the hotels’ respective restaurants, some even award-winning. The hotels part of the AX Hotels family include the 5-star luxury hotel Rosselli AX Privilege and the boutique hotel AX The Saint John, which are both situated in Merchants Street, Valletta. Across the harbour in Sliema are the five-star AX The Palace, the 4-star AX The Victoria Hotel and the 200-year-old historic AX Palazzo Capua.

Up north in Qawra are AX Sunny Coast Resort & Spa and AX Seashells Resort at Suncrest, the latter of which is currently undergoing redevelopment and scheduled to open its doors next year, along with an additional 10 F&B restaurants. 2024 will also be a pivotal and milestone year for AX Hotels, as The Verdala Hotel a 5-star luxury hotel based on wellness is scheduled to welcome its first guests following an extensive redevolpment that commenced in 2021.

Some of the award-winning restaurants found at our hotels include the Asian fusion TemptAsian Restauarnt & Lounge at The Palace, One MICHELIN Star Under Grain and MICHELIN Bib Gourmand Grain Street, both housed at Rosselli. In 2022, Grain became the only brand in Malta to house two MICHELIN-awarded restaurants on the island – an exceptional success spearheaded by Executive Chef Victor Borg.

I was also recently appointed as the Director of the AX Care business division to employ my experience and passion for positive change to the company’s established and highly successful healthcare brands, including Malta’s first unqiue retirement village, Hilltop Gardens and Simblija Care Home, along with the Orchard Restaurant. AX Care and AX Hotels are just two of the divisions part of the larger AX Group, which also operates in other sectors, namely Real Estate, Construction, Development, and Renewable Energy.

YOUR FEARLESS ENDEAVOURS HAVE LANDED YOU A NUMBER OF HIGH-PROFILE ROLES. CAN YOU

TELL US ABOUT THEM?

In addition to my directorship duties with AX Hotels and AX Care, I also sit on the Executive Board of AX Group, a team of people that has shown time and again that they have the means, knowhow, resources, energy and understanding to drive such a diversified corporation. I am also the Chairperson of AX Foundation, our company’s charitable non-profit organisation that assists persons living with invisible disabilities, with its primary focus being on the autism spectrum.

I’ve also held various positions within the tourism sphere, namely with the Malta

Hotels and Restaurants Association and the ITS Board of Governors.

WHAT ARE YOUR KEY STRENGTHS?

One of our key strengths is that for our projects, we manage by area, not by hotel so the district GMs stay focussed in bringing the local people looking for local flavours to our properties and restaurants.

HIGHLIGHT AN ACHIEVEMENT IN YOUR CAREER YOU ARE PROUD OF?

I love mentoring and helping my team grow in every facet of their roles. Our team is our biggest asset – without their talent and skillsets, our brands wouldn’t thrive. We are proud to have a One MICHELIN Star and a MICHELIN Bib Gourmand in our portfolio, successes that were spearheaded by Grain’s Executive Chef Victor Borg. Our MICHELIN-awarded restaurants, Under Grain and Grain Street, are just two of the 13 restaurants that form part of AX Hotels.

HOW DO YOUR BRANDS OUTREACH TO THE COMMUNITY?

As Chairperson of the AX Foundation, we strive to assist people living with invisible disabilities, primarily those on the autism spectrum. Our Foundation has made strides in contributing to national policymaking to drive positive social change that will create a more inclusive future for all.

WHAT DO YOU LOVE MOST ABOUT YOUR JOB?

I love coming up with new and striking concepts and collaborating with our talented team who bring innovative techniques to the table that help strengthen our brands across the board. I am patriotic so I also enjoy helping to grow the local hospitality industry, providing better products for both local and foreign holidaymakers.

CAN YOU MENTION ANY PERSONAL HOBBIES, FOOD PREFERENCES ETC?

Hands down, my favourite cuisine is Asian. The flavours and textures that emerge with each bite are incredible. I also have an appreciation for cars and a cheeky love for speed. When I’m not heading our division, I enjoy putting pen to paper; in fact, I’m working on publishing a book which has been 11 years in the making.

I also take pleasure in engaging in sports such as kite surfing and boxing. My personal motto is pushing boundaries, so I enjoy strategizing, planning and trying new projects which help me grow my personal skillset and inspire me to be creative within the field and in my personal life.

CONCRETE CONCEPTS

Delivering award winning projects has become a norm for Dubai and Cape Town based MTE Studios, a specialized consultancy firm focused on Lifescape Architecture and Interactive Experiences.

For over two decades, the company been implementing projects worldwide encompassing experience centres, museums, science centres, exhibitions, and commercial and retail environments.

Currently the MTE Studios team that curated the immersive experience are celebrating one of their key projects The Dubai Frame recently won an accolade from The Remarkable Venue Awards this year.

Established over twenty years ago, the company has evolved and has done

notable projects in the region where they transform spaces into imaginative places by harnessing innovative technologies to tell compelling stories through lasting interactive experiences. Each project at MTE Studios is seen as a unique opportunity to imagine exhilarating people-centred experiences that promote cultural diversity.

The design team at MTE Studios take a holistic approach when studying new projects and combine their thoughts with interdisciplinary services that include research, idea conceptualization, master planning, tech-integration, design, art direction, production, project management, and operational planning and support.

With the aim to provide meaningful experiences with emerging technology, the MTE Studios team adapt to diverse client requirements, varying environments, emerging industry trends, and ever-changing society.

The company is best known for interactive learning experiences for museums,

science centres and experience centers which they Imagineer, plan, design, build, bringing a creative idea from concept to implementation. They excel at content development, architectural design, exhibition design, audiovisual design, Kinetic/Animatronic sculptures, art directing, operational planning and Technology integration.

The multidisciplinary MTE Studios team of skilled professionals develop drawings, prototypes and models that depict each stage of development for their tailormade projects.

They collaborate on designs using state-of-the-art technologies, handson demonstrations, audiovisual presentations, large icons, precious artifacts, computer interactives, detailed

miniatures, and anatomical models.

Some of MTE Studios key projects include The Dubai Frame, Ajman Fort Museum, Masfout Museum, Jumeirah Archeological Site, Shindagha Heritage Crafts Centre, Dubai Science Museum, “Big picture” vision for 12 IZIKO MUSEUMS, RTA Transportation Museum, Museum of Science and Technology (MOSTI), Pearls of Arabia Experience Center, Bahrain Science Center, The Qur’an Park, Ibn Battuta Mall, Dubailand and Al Khobar Walk.

Given their over 20 years of experience and expertise in development and planning advice, design, project management and full construction management, MTE Studios lead projects from strategic development advice at project inception right through to completion.

Ajman Fort Museum

REINVENTING AND TRANSFORMING TO STAY

RELEVANT IN RETAIL

SALIM M.A - DIRECTOR AT LULU GROUP

As the retail industry picks up in the UAE, we notice fast-tracked changes in customers’ shopping behavior from instore to online and the shifting trends leading them back to physical stores. We are hence adjusting our offering from retail therapy online to retail with instore and in-mall experiences.

To meet these increased customer expectations, traditional malls and retailers have to evolve quickly to meet their customers’ needs to survive and see the future of malls and retail in a ‘new normal’ world.

With in-store footfall back on the rise, many retailers are focused on creating new and compelling ways to engage customers who have been steadily using e-commerce but are now returning to physical stores. An important part of the in-store experience is ensuring a fast, convenient and frictionless checkout, as well as providing an intuitive store or mall layout that customers can easily navigate.

In our internal discussions, we look at how malls reinvent retail and rapidly transform with attractions, and events to remain relevant and get shoppers back to malls, bearing in mind customers’ priorities have switched to safety, convenience, and exceptional experiences.

Shopping malls in the UAE will have to rethink their business model and introduce disruptive changes in their offering, service and monetization strategy. While we welcome most of our customers back into the stores, there is a large group who have tasted the convenience of having their shopping delivered to the door.

Hence it is now time for retailers to recalibrate their understanding of customers whose shopping patterns are increasingly moving from bricks to clicks. Consumers can browse the website or app to get real-time inventory at the store location closest to them, and the on-site pickup experience is facilitated smoothly through the mobile app.

The world is well-connected and tech savvy and brand conscious shoppers are spoilt for choice, and are able to shop globally from the comfort of their homes. Therefore, retailers need effective omnichannel strategies that address the entire supply chain; from that first click right through to delivery.

As retailers, we have long accepted e-commerce as a given part of our business, but we still plan to accelerate omnichannel retailing that is customer centric as we want customers to enjoy a smooth experience across different channels.

Retail is no longer just about the bottomline. It is about our customers’ needs. As in-store pickup becomes more common, we as retailers are striving to make the pickup process as frictionless as possible while working on ensuring we attract more in store customers with special offers and in store experiences so they get comfortable visiting malls and stores for a more fun and in person shopping experience.

WHAT IS GOOD CLOUD MIGRATION SECURITY?

By Jonathan Nguyen-Duy, Vice President, Global Field CISO at Fortinet

Cloud adoption continues to be important for many organizations as they transform how they do business in today’s digital world. While there are many benefits associated with cloud adoption, the security implications of moving to the cloud cannot be ignored if organizations are to fully embrace it.

WHAT IS CLOUD MIGRATION?

Cloud migration is the process of transferring an organization’s data and apps from on-premises servers to a cloud infrastructure. A cloud infrastructure enables organizations to access data storage requirements and computing capabilities when they are needed.

Rather than creating on-premises IT infrastructures or leasing datacenter space, organizations can rent cloud infrastructure and their required computing capabilities via third-party providers. This can mean cost savings

to an organization’s operating budget due to lower spending on energy bills, IT personnel, hardware, servers, and software that are needed for a physical data center.

Other key benefits of cloud migration are agility and flexibility. Cloud infrastructures are highly agile and flexible because they are self-managed and allow users to spin up new services and make changes in a matter of minutes. This permits organizations to be more focused on business and bottom-line issues rather than being bogged down in IT matters.

Cloud platform and infrastructure works through an abstraction process, such as virtualization. The goal is to separate resources from the physical hardware they are typically installed on and put them into the cloud. These virtual resources are provisioned into

cloud environments using tools like automation and management software, enabling users to access the resources when they need them from wherever they are working.

THREE TYPES OF CLOUD ARCHITECTURE

When we talk about cloud infrastructure, we’re referring to the tools that are used to build a cloud environment. When we talk about cloud architecture, we’re referring to the design or blueprint of specifically how the various technologies for creating a cloud computing environment will be connected. There are three types of cloud architecture:

by on-premises servers to the cloud, you will be typically using a technique that’s called “lift and shift.” This is the transfer (or “rehosting”) of an exact copy of your current environment without making extensive changes.

This is the fastest and simplest way for an organization to start taking advantage of the cloud. As for moving data between clouds, say public and private ones, it will be done mostly likely because you want to keep it more secure. On the rare occasion where data becomes no longer important or obsolete, a reverse cloud migration may be employed to free up space and archive it on a local storage device.

factors that slow or stop cloud adoption.

Best Practices For Creating A Cloud Migration Security Strategy

The key components of a strong cloud migration security strategy, should include:

• Enabling access control

Cloud migration security solutions need to offer access control across the cloud infrastructures, enabling them to secure applications and provide access management and connectivity between data centers and the cloud.

• Applying automation to avoid misconfigurations

Public cloud architecture uses third-party cloud providers to make cloud resources available to multiple customers via the internet. These providers operate multi-tenant environments that lower the cost of data storage and computing power for customers. Public clouds can have a drawback: privacy issues for organizations that handle sensitive data or personally identifiable information (PII).

In a private cloud architecture approach, cloud infrastructure is only accessed by the organization. The private cloud architecture can be built, developed, and maintained by a company’s own IT teams or delivered by external providers. Private clouds as their name implies address the drawback of the public cloud issue with privacy.

A hybrid cloud model is considered the best of both public and private architectures. The hybrid approach allows private and public cloud infrastructures to interact within a connected but separate system. This is ideal for organizations that handle sensitive information and PII, allowing them to store their critical data in private clouds and while keeping less sensitive data in public clouds. With a hybrid cloud architecture, organizations can maintain their private environments while accessing all the benefits of public cloud services for other computing tasks and storage.

THREE TYPES OF CLOUD MIGRATION

There are three main types of cloud migration:

1. On-premises to the cloud

2. Cloud-to-cloud migration

3. Reverse cloud migration.

When moving data that is being hosted

To save time and expenses, cloud migration experts recommend some procedural tasks be performed before migrating data. The tasks include doing an audit and deciding what data and applications to retire and what ones to retain and migrate to the cloud.

WHAT ARE THE SECURITY RISKS THAT COME WITH CLOUD MIGRATION?

There are several security-related challenges that organizations must overcome in the process, including compliance breaches and malware. Because the cloud is ever-evolving, some vendors will handle the changes well and some won’t. If a cloud provider goes out of business or has a dramatic overhaul, any enterprise using their services might be exposed to risk because of the upheaval.

Another cloud migration risk involves its reliance on the internet, meaning “any cloud solution is only as solid or reliable as the network connection it is built on.” It’s difficult for an enterprise and its users to accept downtime when apps and services aren’t accessible. Cloud infrastructures must have dependable connections and networks that are supported by service level agreements (SLAs).

A cloud migration security strategy must also consider that data controls are transferred from the organization to a cloud service provider. For the strategy to be effective, there must get buy-in from enterprise leaders. They need to accept the trade-off of getting cloud computing benefits while having less or limited control over access to applications, data, and any server-based tools.

Recently, a cloud survey showed some of the concerns about cloud migration from IT leaders mentioning a lack of visibility, high cost, lack of control, and lack of security as the biggest unforeseen

A viable strategy for cloud migration has to incorporate security with continuous evaluation of configurations across regions and public cloud types while dynamically analyzing activity in the public cloud infrastructure to identify potentially malicious activities. Organizations should look for highly accurate and automatic solutions powered by on-device machine learning capabilities, as well as the flexibility of form factors from containers to virtual machines to SaaS.

• Prioritizing visibility across the cloud environment

Organizations need a single-paneof-glass to gain visibility and enforce consistent security policies throughout the entire cloud infrastructure to effectively manage risk. Cloud migration security solutions need to provide visibility across the cloud infrastructures, allowing administrators to see both inline security, as well as cloud configuration security to build a comprehensive view of risk.

• Establishing who is responsible for what

Assigning responsibility to the cloud migration tasks is a necessary for keeping the procedure secure.

• Protecting connectivity

Cloud strategies are only as successful as the networking and security that connect and protect the cloud compute – whether private, public or hybrid. As organizations deploy cloud infrastructures and shift toward multi-cloud, secure connectivity across these various environments is critical to delivering better user experience and business outcomes.

Networking, security and computing all have to work together, so consider how to optimize access and security from the outset, and not as an afterthought to cloud adoption.

1. Public

2. Private

3. Hybrid.

A STATS-BASED APPROACH TO HYBRID WORK IN THE FINANCIAL SECTOR

A FLEXIBLE OFFICE ENVIRONMENT CAN BETTER ALIGN EMPLOYEE NEEDS AND BUSINESS GOALS

By: Ekta Puthran, MEA Lead – Collaboration, Barco

Most employees in the UAE want a hybrid or full-time remote work arrangement. It is a sentiment that is echoed by people working across industries, including the local finance and banking sectors. But as businesses began contemplating return to office plans earlier this summer, the financial and banking sector seemed to be reverting to old habits and rallying for in-office presence.

Bolstered by the COVID-19 pandemic and a tight labour market, worker demands for more flexibility have only increased in recent months - even with the world reopening again. Standard Chartered showed foresight and committed to continue to offer permanent flexible work for its staff from as early as January 2021. The initiative started with 9 of its primary markets, including the UAE.

The bank also collaborated with flexible workspace services provider IWG so employees worldwide can work from any of IWG’s 3,500 locations internationally. HSBC has also formally certified hybrid working with the ambition of reducing office space by 40%. On the flip side, Barclays announced that it was looking to ramp up employees’ return to its London and New York offices.

Clearly, only a handful of organizations within the financial sector are realising the risks of a ‘one size fits all’ work approach, as many workers want to retain the flexibility they had during the pandemic.

Nevertheless, while the workforce may have changed, the office is still equipped for the old way of working. Recent

changes are shaping a new paradigm, and businesses across the financial sector must keep up to meet employee expectations.

OFFICE REVAMP: A MUCH-NEEDED INITIATIVE

Anyone who has entered an office since early 2020 would likely have experienced the eerie silence of the rows of empty desks and cubicles. Memories of battling colleagues for coveted meeting spaces and groups huddling around a single laptop are probably still fresh.

From the advent of remote working, many of us have experienced significant increases in productivity. However, the quality of our interactions has dramatically fallen. As a result, work meetings have regularly failed to meet expectations. A recent study by Barco showed a 25-point decline between 2020 and 2021 on its meeting barometer.

The findings further indicated that 57% of white-collar workers considered meeting rooms as the most useful spaces in a post-pandemic world. Hence, employees no longer view the office as simply a place to work. Rather, they think of it as an encouraging space for more collaboration.

In this scenario, the opportunity to realign office spaces may come as a system shock to an industry long accustomed to the traditional "cubicle rows" layout. Nevertheless, as professionals now covet meeting spaces, they will be a functional must-have. Currently, 50% of workers visit offices to host meeting calls in a more professional setting, indicating that the desire for efficient meetings will be the real drive to an office return. Therefore, accommodating these new behaviours should be a priority for the financial and banking sector.

TAPPING INTO HYBRID TECHNOLOGY

Improved office layout isn’t the only change needed for a hybrid environment. There’s a great opportunity for businesses to upgrade outdated or inefficient collaboration technologies.

Like other industries, financial sector employees have embraced the laptop as the main device to work, collaborate, and host meetings, fuelling the surge in preference for Bring Your Own Meeting solutions (BYOM). Barco’s research

indicates that 77% of respondents cannot imagine working without their laptop and have enjoyed sharing their screen and content with just a simple click. With meetings now controlled via the user’s laptop, businesses must invest in solutions that continue this seamless connectivity. To that end, agnostic solutions like Barco’s ClickShare allow workers to connect and collaborate irrespective of meeting platform ( Webex by Cisco, Zoom, Microsoft Teams, etc.).

Additionally, the return to offices is unlikely to be instant or unanimous. Despite calls from certain corners of the finance and banking sector to do so, many employees will continue to work from home periodically or permanently. Therefore, companies should ensure that their meeting rooms are well equipped for hybrid meetings. ClickShare and similar solutions would require implementation alongside updated Audio-Visual equipment to make collaboration easier.

All-Round Security

While security is important in any industry, the highly sensitive and datadriven nature of financial work makes it critical for success. Early in the pandemic, hijacked conferencing platforms and cyber-attacks by hackers/pranksters became a regular occurrence.

With meetings likely to continue in a hybrid fashion, it is essential that any future tech invested in is secure. Particularly with agnostic solutions that connect the user’s laptop to meeting room equipment, there must be strong security considerations. For starters, the sector should prioritise investing in solutions that incorporate security directly into the product’s design.

Another key responsibility comes from within the company via the education of employees. Ensuring that workers are well aware of prevalent dangers and the necessary precautions to be taken when using a new device is paramount.

Like others, the financial sector is still learning to shape a future of work that accommodates its employees' needs and preferences. As the industry begins to embrace hybrid work, it creates plenty of opportunities to eliminate the inefficiencies of the pre-pandemic world, thereby reimagining everything from work technology to office spaces.

WITH MEETINGS LIKELY TO CONTINUE IN A HYBRID FASHION, IT IS ESSENTIAL THAT ANY FUTURE TECH INVESTED IN IS SECURE.

DRIVING INNOVATION IN THE MIDDLE EAST WITH KUBERNETES

By: Mohamad Rizk, Regional Director, Middle East & CIS at Veeam Software

Container use in enterprises is exploding across the globe. Kubernetes, the de facto platform for orchestrating containers today, is an open-source container orchestration platform that automates deploying, managing and scaling containerized applications. A Cloud Native Computing Foundation (CNCF) survey found that 92% of responding companies run containers in production, and 83% of those deployments use Kubernetes.

The Middle East is not far behind! According to findings of the Veeam Data Protection Trends Report 2022, 69% of UAE organizations and 76% of Saudi Arabian organizations are already running containers in production, while 29% and 22% respectively plan to do so in the next 12 months.

WHY CONTAINERS AND KUBERNETES?

The advantages of a virtualized infrastructure are well documented. Greater workload mobility, availability of resources, automated operations and increased performance are all benefits of virtualization that make IT simpler to manage and less costly to own and operate. Containers are a lighter-weight, more agile way of handling virtualization.

Without the need of a hypervisor, organizations leveraging containers can enjoy faster resource provisioning and speedier availability of new applications. Instead of dedicating one operating system for each application, multiple applications can run independently from each other on the same operating system, which means less hardware and licenses and reduced load on servers.

Containers and Kubernetes have greatly simplified operations for DevOps teams. Previously, to create a virtual machine or to provision a physical server, developers needed to talk to a number of different

units including the infrastructure team, backup administrators and network administrators. With containers and Kubernetes, that workflow is not needed anymore.

Developers have become the A-team and are responsible for everything. The infrastructure team is still required to provision physical servers and put in the layer of Kubernetes and hypervisors, but they are no longer needed to create new applications or the resources needed for the applications. All this means that companies can go to market with new applications and technologies, internally or externally, much faster. The provisioning phase of any application – the testing and moving it from development stage to production stage –now takes place in a very short time.

Also, with app deployments accelerating, very often companies experience huge server workloads. For high availability, Kubernetes can shift from one cluster or one node or one server to another very easily, thus making processing faster and more efficient. It optimizes the response time and evenly distributes tasks to avoid overloading compute nodes. Kubernetes can load balance by creating more microservices and containers to serve the excess load. When the load scales down, those containers are deleted.

In simple terms, what Kubernetes has done, is to decouple the application from the data and the underlying infrastructure. The repeatable service and repeatable function becomes an independent piece of code that can be replicated to any number of servers, to any infrastructure or to any site, that would give organizations and their customers much more agility, resiliency and a much faster go-to-market. Kubernetes enables organizations to create self-healing, high available applications.

KUBERNETES IN THE MIDDLE EAST

Enterprises that we talk to in the Middle East have a good understanding of Kubernetes. It’s not just a buzzword - like in the early days of Cloud, companies were using the term ‘Cloud’ quite loosely by saying that they were moving to Private Cloud or Public Cloud, when most of the time they meant they were going to virtualize their environment.

With Kubernetes, however, regional enterprises now have skilled teams in place (skillsets are quite unique in this space) and because it is controlled

IN SAUDI ARABIA, WHICH IS THE BIGGEST IT MARKET IN THE REGION, GOVERNMENT AGENCIES ARE THE LEADING ADOPTERS OF KUBERNETES TECHNOLOGIES, FOLLOWED BY BANKS AND FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS.

by developers and not infrastructure teams, there is a much better and deeper understanding which ultimately leads to high quality deployments.

In Saudi Arabia, which is the biggest IT market in the region, government agencies are the leading adopters of Kubernetes technologies, followed by banks and financial institutions. Typically these organizations have a large number of users of digital services. The reasons for high adoption rates are clear.

Government entities providing public services are unable to predict the number of users that will be accessing their services. If they decide to go with a traditional IT model of physical infrastructure and virtualization, and estimate that a maximum of 50,000 users would access their systems, then they would need to pay upfront for an infrastructure that can accommodate all these users, involving an undesirably high CAPEX.

With Kubernetes, as explained earlier, because services and applications are decoupled from the data and the operating system, those services can scale up and down easily and the customer doesn't need to make a huge upfront investment to have dedicated physical servers for each application or service or each operating system.

The self-healing aspect of a Kubernetes environment is another big advantage. Any microservice or replica of a microservice that is not running properly can be restarted easily without affecting the overall service. Self-healing translates to better uptime in terms of the availability of the service to customers and end users.

The competitive nature of the banking and financial industry is a big driver for Kubernetes adoption. Banks are constantly trying to be the first-to-market when it comes to innovative applications

and services. Kubernetes short circuits the laborious app provisioning cycle, making it quick and easy to spin-up apps.

PROTECTING KUBERNETES ENVIRONMENTS

There is no doubt that the attack surface is growing as more companies adopt containers and do their orchestration using Kubernetes. The complexity that early adopters are finding is the lack of data management and data integrity when it comes to protecting Kubernetes and container workloads. Kubernetes and containers are often compared to virtual machines, but it is a very different approach. It is very much focused on a different persona.

The person that looks after the lifecycle of containers in a Kubernetes environment is not your traditional operations

infrastructure admin. They are focused on the application and have more of a DevOps function, but also understand the platform where the application lives. Bringing the infrastructure or platform closer to the application carries its own benefits anyway.

But this same approach means that data integrity has to be looked at differently than how we approach virtual machine backup. Kubernetes environments require an application-centric approach over an infrastructure focus.

This is why regional enterprises need to look at modern data protection technologies that work against a wide range of Kubernetes application stacks and deployment methods, like Kasten K10 by Veeam for example, that completes that ability to protect these new cloud-native workloads.

CONTAINERS AND KUBERNETES HAVE GREATLY SIMPLIFIED OPERATIONS FOR DEVOPS TEAMS.

THE PERFECT ESCAPE DESTINATION MALTA

Located in the heart of the Mediterranean, Malta is known for its beautiful beaches, dramatic cliffs and stunning landscapes. During my last few visits to Malta, I found it to be a land rich in culture, nature, history and gastronomy, offering visitors a wide selection of tourist attractions.

The Maltese islands have something for every type of traveller. It suits romantic couples looking for a getaway, families seeking a fun vacation, history enthusiasts, or adventurers.

We started our trip with a visit to the beautiful St John's CoCathedral in Valletta in the afternoon and dinner by the harbour in the evening. After a leisurely breakfast the next day, we then visited the Three Cities (Vittoriosa, Senglea and Cospicua) in the morning and had lunch by the port so we could try the famous and delicious fish, lampuki known for migrating past the Maltese islands during the autumn.

This was followed by exploring Mdina, the old capital and the Silent City of Malta. It is considered one of Europe's finest examples of an ancient walled city and is extraordinary in its mix of medieval and baroque architecture. Our dinner was at the Bahia Restaurant at Corinthia Palace Hotel. Here we were given a choice of selecting one of three tasting menus (Past, Present and Future) and each one is just as delightful as the other.

Cathedral Interior © viewingmalta.com

The next day we hopped on a boat cruise to the nearby Comino Island and explored famous sights like the blue Lagoon and Santa Maria Bay, away from crowds and other tourists and sailed to Gozo.

This was followed by a road tour of Gozo Island where we explored the magnificent island on a tuk tuk, stopping at hidden and secret spots which are often difficult to reach by conventional means.

Lunch was again by the water where fresh seafood was available in abundance. Gozo is a quieter place compared to Malta, and it is perfect for a day of relaxation and rest.

We started our morning the following day by visiting a farmhouse restaurant Diar ilBneit where we enjoyed a sample of local produce before heading to megalithic temple Hagar Qim, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, dating back to between 3600BC and 3200BC. It is one of the oldest temples in the world.

We ended the day visiting Popeye Village, a purpose built film set from a 1980 Hollywood movie, starring Robin Williams but which is now a village that has been converted into a small attraction fun park, consisting of a collection of rustic wooden buildings. On the day we visited, the site had a festive atmosphere with music and children's activities.

We enjoyed all our road tours but for those that enjoy the finer things in life, and look for a luxury travel experience, it is best to rent a private yacht or boat and sail around the islands.

From the sea, you will enjoy the breathtaking scenery of Malta from a different

perspective, while relaxing in the peace and quiet of the waters.

Visitors can also enjoy a unique shopping experience on the islands as Malta is home to beautiful clothing and fashion accessories created by award-winning local designers.

For food lovers, Malta has a wide range of fancy restaurants to choose from, which are led by world-renowned chefs.

Malta is easy to reach from the UAE via Istanbul with Turkish Airlines daily and ideal to have a mini stopover vacation in Istanbul on the way back as well.

Travelling around Malta is easy as it is less than an hour’s drive to anywhere on the main island, and only half an hour on the ferry to getaways in Gozo or Comino.

Blue Lagoon © viewingmalta.com

Dwejra Church - Gozo © viewingmalta.com

Mdina © viewingmalta.com

Popeye's Village © viewingmalta.com

A LAND OF FINE TASTES ICONIC ISTANBUL

By Shereen Shabnam

Istanbul is a dynamic destination that is often a stopover for travellers looking to enjoy this vibrant city where the East meets the West and where every street corner is a delight to the senses.

Known for its architecture, culture, historic monuments, traditional bazaars, and mouth-watering cuisine, Istanbul has something to offer to travellers of all ages and tempts travelers from all over the world. This is a city where traditional mosques, ancient hammams, and regal palaces co-exist with a sociable latenight scene and a modern attitude.

I travel to Istanbul a few times a year and often start my excursion from the historic Sultanahmet area where in close proximity you find the Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia, the Grand Bazaar, the Spice Bazaar, the Fatih District and the Topkapi Palace.

My favourite area to stay is in the Taksim and Pera neighbourhoods, that has many choices of restaurants, markets, cafés and retail options at the doorstop. I love the traditional markets in the area and often find the more exquisite pieces of jewellery from street vendors.

If you love the sea like I do, then the best way to take in the sights of the city is to

hop on a Bosphorus boat tour along the Bosphorus Strait. No matter how many times I take this tour from different tour operators, it is always a pleasure. I often start my journey with a simit (local pastry with sesame seed) and a Turkish coffee while sitting along the port and enjoying the vibrant city life.

Another stop for tourists has to be the Istanbul Modern Art Museum, several Ottoman palaces, fortresses, waterside villages with Ottoman architecture and take in views of the nearby polulated hills, the Galata Tower, the Blue Mosque while exploring this magical city.

Retail therapy at the Grand Bazaar is a must plus shopping malls, kiosks along the Bosphorus shores and stores run by designers are the best places to pick up items that make you stand apart. Give yourself a few hours in the bazaars that sell anything from souvenirs, spices, jewellery, clothes, carpets etc.

Topkapi Palace and the Istanbul Museum Pass allows free entrance to a dozen of the city’s best paces like the Hagia Sophia and the well-known Istanbul Mosaic Museum.

If adventure tourism is your thing, check out the possibility of scuba diving in the

Mediterranean, helicopter tours (One of my best experiences in seeing the whole of Istanbul from the sky), trekking, mountain biking, kayaking, cycling and paragliding.

No visit to Istanbul is complete without visiting the historical hamams. Getting scrubbed and cleaned in the steamy Turkish baths with relaxing massages is one thing everyone should do when in Turkey, especially the seventeenthcentury Çinili hamam in the Asian suburb of Üsküdar is possibly one of the most traditional experiences.

If time in Istanbul is short and you can only do one or two things, my favourite choices would be to either take a Bosphorus tour or visit the Sultanahmet area. Turkish Airlines flies to Istanbul from different parts of the world and a stopover in Istanbul will have you coming back for a longer holiday, especially as the airline makes the travel experience seamless and has one of the best airline lounges in the world.

RELAXED LIVING HIDEAWAY FUJAIRAH

Natasha Jasmin Dury (NJD)

From its pristine beaches, diving sites and scenic mountain valleys to its museums, historic forts and parks, Fujairah is a tourists' paradise and one of our favourite destinations to relax, have a quiet vacation and go diving.

Located on the Eastern coast of the country, Fujairah beaches attract a steady stream of divers like myself keen to do scuba diving and snorkeling. For adventurous travellers, Fujairah’s Hajar Mountains offer a fascinating hiking experience. We curate our top places we love in Fujairah.

SCUBA DIVING

Fujairah is famous for its scuba diving, and I frequent my trips there with Al Boom Diving Centre. The Emirates has amazing diving sites offering expert diving trainers, an abundance of marine life, including turtles, reef sharks and whale sharks. My family loves the Snoopy Island and Dibba Rock as the rocky formation is a great place to snorkel and go on boat trips.

FUJAIRAH CITY

As we leave the rugged foothills of the Hajar Mountains towards the coast, we see the Fujairah City in a distance which is a good place to stop for a bite to eat and buy essentials for your road trip. We often stop at the tiny fort for photos.

FUJAIRAH MUSEUM

The Fujairah Museum has permanent exhibits of local archaeological finds

and on the traditional way of life in the emirate. It shows the cultural and traditional history of the local people and various collections such as weapons, arrowheads, costumes and other items related to fishing, pottery, trade and agriculture. It also has Bronze Age softstone vessels and pot lids, some lovely Bedouin jewellery and various dioramas depicting traditional market stalls and scenes from Fujairah's fishing industry.

FORTS IN FUJAIRAH

The 16th-century Fujairah Fort is set in the Fujairah Heritage Village, constructed using locally available material such as rock, gravel and mortar, supported by mangrove poles and a roof made of palm fronds and trunks.

The Al Hayl Fort is built around 1830, tucked deep into the jagged Hajar Mountains near the village of Al Hayl, about 13km southwest of Fujairah. Constructed from mud-brick and plaster, it depicts the traditional local architecture and it is located near the Fujairah City Centre Mall.

SHEIKH ZAYED MOSQUE

Fujairah’s grand mosque is the second largest in the UAE, after the one in Abu Dhabi. It has six 100m-high minarets and can accommodate up to 28,000 worshippers. There are other mosques along the drive and each one offers a peaceful and serene ambience to experience.

WADI WURAYAH NATIONAL PARK

The Wadi Wurayah National Park in Fujairah was named after the tall marsh plant known as ‘warrah’, which flourishes in its wetlands, while the word ‘wadi’ is the Arabic term for valley. This unique wetland supports many species not seen in other parts of the world. Located in the Hajar Mountain range in Fujairah, the wadi is home to migratory birds and many freshwater streams and springs that run throughout the year.

HOW TO GET THERE

From Dubai, it is best to set aside two hours to get there leisurely or three hours if you intend to stop along the way for the markets, photos with camels or for refreshments.

Rosselli - AX Privilege SANCTUARY FOR THE SENSES

By Eric Dury

As we enter Rosselli AX Privilege, a 5-star boutique luxury accommodation in a historic palazzo at the heart of Malta’s baroque capital city, Valletta, history greets us in the form of a 400-year-old fountain that was being admired by a group of locals and guests. A couple of local craftsmen had successfully restored the fountain, which is the centre piece of the palatial residence, making guests experience a bit of living history.

A haven of style, sophistication and serenity in an exquisitely restored heritage building, Rosselli AX Privilege was once the residence of a well-established goldsmith and philanthropist. Built in the first decades of the 1600’s Casa RosselliMassa is a clear example of a transitional building, incorporating the classical lines of Renaissance architecture and the

more florid early Baroque styles.

Rosselli AX Privilege has 25 luxurious designer suites laden with tranquility and each room is a stylish sanctuary, complete with soft velvets and crisp linens. The rooms exude quiet calm which was welcome after a long flight and helped in reenergizing the mind, body and soul.

There are discreet spots of comfort everywhere in the hotel, whether it is the rooftop terrace with panoramic views, the relaxing lounge area that’s an architectural gem, the chic restaurants or the spa and wellness features in some of the suites.

The hotel is close to the sea, so it is ideal to while away the hours watching ships approaching Valletta Harbour, strolling the Upper Barrakka Gardens or hunting down national treasures in the capital’s museums.

After a busy day exploring the Island, the best place to unwind is in The Rosselli Lounge. Here you can relax in the soft sofas while listening to the soothing sweet tinkle of water from the fountain.

There are also the AX Privilege meeting rooms and facilities that are ideal for

corporate meetings or informal business chats.

The 24-hour reception is always ready to assist with information, working hand in hand with the concierge and can provide great tips on where to eat and shop in Valletta.

However, the best place to retreat and eat is the hotel itself. Here you can experience the epitome of luxury and high-class service provided by a dedicated team and the Michelinawarded kitchen brigade. At street level, Grain Street offers an authentic dining experience with plates to share, and wines served by the glass, a concept that became worthy of the MICHELIN Bib Gourmand accolade.

On the subterranean level, Under Grain transports you to a refined experience. For three consecutive years, Under Grain was awarded a Michelin star and due to high popularity, there is a waiting list to dine here. The curated menu is interesting, and food is of the highest quality.

Rosselli AX Privilege is truly a haven for relaxing and is located strategically close to the best shopping, dining and popular attractions in Malta.

PINNACLE OF LUXURY

THE ST. REGIS AMMAN

By Shereen Shabnam

St. Regis Amman, the first St. Regis Hotel in the Kingdom of Jordan is an authentic landmark in the most treasured address of the 5th Circle and the affluent district of Abdoun, moments away from noteworthy attractions of the city.

My few nights at the hotel brought home the message of true luxury living where all the senses are ignited through the beauty of the place, the smell and tastes of the authentic Jordanian food, the sound of the live music in the lobby and not forgetting the feel of the comfortable bed.

Influenced by the beaux-arts architecture of the original St. Regis New York, the St. Regis Amman interiors take you back to the 18th century of classical design. It embraces the sophistication and

timeless heritage of the world-famous St. Regis New York.

The hotel's 258 hotel rooms, suites, and serviced apartments capture the essence of comfort, with refined decor, top-quality amenities, and sophisticated butler service for guests seeking a bespoke travel itinerary here in Jordan. We had a pre-planned itinerary but guests who used their service were most impressed.

The St. Regis Amman is a premier setting for gatherings of all kinds, from executive meetings to extraordinary celebrations. The ten distinguished meeting rooms, and the inclusive 1,263 SQM Astor Ballroom offer over 2,400 SQM of elegant space for exquisite events.

Iridium Spa is the perfect sanctuary to relax and revive your senses here in Amman. Offering spacious suites with customized treatment packages, our hotel's luxury spa offers all you need to feel energized and better than ever.

St. Regis Amman has numerous facilities and services that includes an outdoor Swimming Pool, a Butler Service, Concierge, 24-hour In-Room Dining, a 4-hour fitness facility, complete business services, including translation and secretarial services and limousine service.

The St. Regis Amman is one of the city’s premier culinary destinations with five distinctive restaurants and lounges. The exquisite dining venues include eclectic cuisines served in a secret garden, seafood, and Levantine delicacies. Mercado is a delightful interpretation of casual dining. Tamara offers exclusive Seafood with menus handcrafted by the hotels acclaimed chefs.

Segreta is a mashup brasserie between French, Italian and Californian cuisine, offering relaxed dining in a comfortable garden setting with a simple menu of classic brasserie favorites cooked to perfection using the finest ingredients. The Tea Lounge serves an impeccable selection of fine teas and other refreshments in a casual setting.

Zenith grill and lounge, taking the city to new heights with its rooftop location crowns the hotel on the seventeenth

floor, where one can enjoy a lively atmosphere against the backdrop of the city lights offering a range of crafted cocktails and rich grill cuisine. We had a sharing meal with a set of starters and mains outdoors as the weather in Amman in the evening was delightful.

The hotel provides a locally inspired take on established traditions, with an extensive art collection composed of works from local artists and the surrounding Levant, Jordan, area, from the azure waters of the Red Sea to the sculpted rose stones of Petra.

While exploring Jordan brings unforgettable memories, being indoors at the St. Regis Amman brought as much joy as the attractions close by.

FEAST FOR THE SENSES An evening at Sumo Sushi

By Eric Dury

As a pescatarian, I find that Japanese restaurants are the best in serving dishes that delight all the senses. Japanese cuisine is perfect for pescatarians, and my personal favourite is the Sumo Sushi & Bento outlets that serve a wide range of dishes suitable for us. This includes refreshing salads, Sushi Sandwiches, Poke Bowls, curated bento meals, sushi plates, sashimi dishes, tempura and of course the ramen bowls.

I spent an evening at the Town Centre outlet of Sumo Sushi & Bento and found the menu extensive with affordable dishes and healthy options that were made with fresh ingredients to please different palates, including meat eaters. The dishes at Sumo Sushi & Bento came out better than most similar restaurants

because of their clean flavors and generous use of vegetables. As I shared my meal with friends who had different dietary preferences, we had ample choice of vegetarian dishes, rice, noodles, seafood and meat-based dishes.

My companions raved about the crispy karai and kushiyaki chicken during our starters while I enjoyed the calamari rings and Rock N Roll shrimps. For mains, I shared my Bento with tuna sashimi, tuna nigiri, tuna rolls and a poke garden salad with my fellow diners who meanwhile loved the gyoza ramen, sushi sandwiches, BBQ beef bento and noodle dishes.

Dessert is a must at Sumo Sushi & Bento and we highly recommend tempura ice

cream (Fried vanilla ice cream in crispy panko shell), Ube-licious (Sumo's unique ube ice cream served with shaved coconut and a selection of mochi in assorted flavours (creamy gourmet ice cream wrapped in a sweetened rice confection).

Sumo Sushi & Bento has a wide range of drinks one can order with the meal. I enjoyed the ginger cooler which is a refreshing drink made with fresh ginger and mint leaves.

The vibe at the family friendly Sumo Sushi & Bento may be casual but the food is premium and high end in both quality and taste. The secret is the use of fresh ingredients, style of cooking and the impeccable service from the staff.

The Ice Mask Story LET YOUR BEAUTY SHINE

Ice Mask, which was developed, researched, and made in Switzerland is a product we are most excited about this month. The US born creator Gary Hassler combined American creativity with the high Swiss standards to develop the product. Together with reliable staff and business partners, Ice Mask is set to

become a premier product with superior performance.

The mask keeps you relaxed, refreshed, and energized after use. Not to mention the stunning results in regards of wrinkles, dark circles under the eyes as users see a difference after 10 minutes!

The wonderfully different facial mask tightens the collagen and makes the skin look fresh.

For Ice Mask enquiries, please contact info@coralcoastpr.com or office@ marinefilms.net

This highly moisturizing mask results in smooth skin and a deeply relaxed yet refreshed feeling! The Vitamin C protects against free radicals and Aloe Vera helps regenerate the skin

ICE MASK ANTI-AGING - WITH ALOE VERA AND VITAMIN C ICE MASK FACE WOW! - WITH CAFFEINE & ZINC

This highly moisturizing mask helps against puffiness and dark circles under the eyes, is extra refreshing and revitalizing. It deep cleans the pores to help prevent pimples and smooths the skin for better make-up application. The mask can be used for 10 -15 minutes each.

ICE MASK 24

The Ice Mask 24 is perfect for post treatment after aesthetic procedures like laser, filler, toxins, derma roller and many more. The cooling masks provide great relief, the moisturizing effect helps especially after laser and the Vitamin C helps restore the skin. The box comes as a set of 24 Anti-Aging Masks, and each can be used for 10 -15 minutes.

CIRCA 1000 WORDS

By Susan Furness, Edgewalker Senior Associate

With a strategic twist, Susan Furness takes an alternative look at words often seen as opposite, or in polarity.

I almost always experience a sense of freedom when I consider the polarity of a word or a situation. I notice a smile as I look towards the other end of the word spectrum. Most often I experience a felt shift into a new relationship with whatever it is I am considering.

For example, way back I realized the positive impact of experiencing the dark to recognize light. I notice that an issue or challenge can first appear dark, disturbing, and even chaotic before metaphorically turning on the light to reveal its blessing.

Consider the energetic shift on this play on words. These two (business) statements mean the same. Try saying each out loud. Which sounds and feels more appealing, possible, exciting, and lighter?

Our Objective is to ensure an Outcome. Or, Our Intention is to make an Impact? The latter floats my boat.

Going back to ‘light’. Light also refers to weight. Do you agree that the word baggage feels heavy, but luggage feels lighter? In reference, you may know the idiom ‘carrying too much baggage’ or even ‘carrying the world on your shoulders’.

Talking of luggage versus baggage, in this still somewhat disruptive time the opportunity to let go of what does not serve can be a blessing; from stuff, to habits, to ways of doing in business and life.

I notice the ‘tools’ I needed in business and in life, or thought I needed BC (before corona), are no longer fit-for-purpose. This is especially apparent as I move through DC (during corona) to AC (after corona).

As I practice letting go - a synonym of surrender - I stand consciously in the present to ask, ‘what must I leave behind?’. I notice I am talking in; I am listening to my heart before asking my head as I muster the courage to say farewell. Interestingly, in French ‘heart’ translates as ‘coeur’. Courage to Coeur Age, or the Heart Age. There’s blessing if ever there was one!

My love of wordsmithing fired during my professional journey in Public Relations.

Many moons ago I named a workshop ‘The Value of Vocabulary’ and another ‘The Gift of Glossary’.

Then in 2008, I started my Edgewalker journey and began integrating Dr Judi Neal’s modelling into my toolkit. This is how ‘my experience’ with Alternative Strategy was birthed.

With practice, I am now able to look in different places for new answers, and use word play to amplify the essence of the findings, as well as the build the equity of the (brand) message. But the real joy comes from supporting strategic leadership in the creation of new value by 'positively playing with words'.

In early 2020, a colleague said: “we must remain decisively human in this digital era”. This aroused my ethical commitment (as a marketer) to discourage a cyberworld smacking of ‘content obesity and information starvation’.

On- and off-line, clarity matters. Kindness does too.

It’s a no brainer that (spoken) acts of love and kindness evoke love and kindness in others. In polarity, words can deflate, inflate, and crush ego. This is likely to result in all manner of negative outcomes, especially when the intention is to ignite expansionary impact, right?

Back to idioms or expressions, you may be familiar with the ‘calm before the storm’ in reference to an often-noticeable period of inactivity or even tranquillity before something quite chaotic sweeps in, with calm and storm in polarity.

During this extended period of time, that I called ‘during corona’ or DC, I often felt we were experiencing a reverse polarity at play – like the storm before the calm. Indeed, many of us mooted that the period was a signpost to the new normal, or as Ian Berry, my co-creator in StrategicHeartistry.com said: “There will be no new normal. There will only be a series of not normal”.

If Ian is right, ‘not normal’ could be a blessing in disguise for a new world order.

HERE'S SIX ALTERNATIVE NUANCES

1. BE PRESENT

The first Edgewalker Skill is Sensing the Future. The blessing in disguise of DC into AC is we do not know anymore, so we can strategically plan in the moment, from here to here, instead of here to there!

2. TRAVEL LIGHT

One of the five Edgewalker Qualities of Being is Playfulness defined as A joyful sense of fun and creativity, an ability to keep everything in perspective. Stepping forth with our business strategy carrying luggage not baggage will likely give a determined lightness across the team.

3. WORDS MATTER

Integrity is a Edgewalker Quality and Connecting is the fifth Skill. Both act as a reminder that what we say and how we say it influences cause and effect.

4. HEART

KNOWS

Some say intuition lives in the gut. Others suggest this is the source of instinct - not intuition - nudged to life by memory recall, whereas intuition ‘sees’ from the third chakra, also known as The Third Eye. This is the pineal gland, and it has a direct link to the heart. On the path of transformation, listen to your heart before you ask your head, including the heart of your organization.

5. LISTEN TO HEAR

It’s not just you, we all need constant practice in the art of Active Listening. I have noticed that Fear can close off the Ear, so we Hear what we want to hear. Listen to the Heart. And notice the letters at work in these words – Fear, Ear, Hear, Heart. And, an anagram of heart is Earth.

6. YOU

You are a blessing and the gift to universal intention. So is every family member and team mate. Enough said.

Susan is a self-proclaimed Alternative Strategist because ‘the strategist in me just won't buzz off and let me be something different, so I am Being Different by fusing Strategy with Spirituality at the intersection of Digital Technology’.

Be different with Susan www.edgewalkers.com

susan@strategicsolutionsonline.com

A NEW GENERATION OF FRAGRANCES VIKTOR&ROLF

Viktor&Rolf is the avant-garde luxury fashion house founded in 1993 by Dutch fashion artists Viktor Horsting and Rolf Snoeren, recognized and respected for its provocative Haute Couture and conceptual glamour.

Viktor & Rolf approach olfactory development in the same way as their fashion: with meticulous technical refinement, continuously evolving their scents and bringing them to new, unparalleled heights, making the impossible possible.

Following the resounding global launch of Flowerbomb in 2005, quickly becoming one of the most iconic bestselling fragrances for women, Viktor&Rolf makes a brand-new statement as it unveils GOOD FORTUNE, endorsed by the visionary visual artist, singer and dancer FKA twigs.

With GOOD FORTUNE, Viktor&Rolf set out to create a fragrance that expresses

modern spirituality. Resonating with those who are on an inner path to discover the essence of their being. Viktor & Rolf are storytellers, and the tale of GOOD FORTUNE is filled with playfully mysterious references to 'spirituality'. The fragrance is an invitation to those wanting to embrace their inner modern mystic, to follow their own path and to trust their own innate power.

A modern elixir, GOOD FORTUNE innovates on several levels. It features an exclusive, never used before distillate of fennel and gentian flower. Like a magical concoction, this never seen before note is the unique alchemy between two ingredients extracted together. It creates a magnetic elixir that reveals the bewitching energy of the GOOD FORTUNE fragrance. It also has no ingredients of animal origin, still a rarity in modern perfumery.

Once again defying the codes of fashion and fragrance, Viktor&Rolf presents a spiritual hymn to a new age of prosperous

femininity. With GOOD FORTUNE, Viktor & Rolf anticipate a bright future with a single motto: “Destiny’s not a matter of chance, but a matter of choice.”

It took perfumers Anne Flipo and Nicolas Beaulieu ten years and more than 3,500 trials to come up with GOOD FORTUNE. The result is a Viktor&Rolf exclusive codistillate of fennel and gentian flower, the scent’s top notes and a vegan formula with no animal-derived ingredient, the first L’Oréal Luxe fragrance to claim it.

Flipo and Beaulieu added a Superinfusion of velvety Indian Jasmine Grandiflorum that was exclusively crafted for GOOD FORTUNE for the heart notes, and creamy vanilla from Madagascar for the base notes. Two natural super ingredients reveal a truly unique signature.

GOOD FORTUNE will be available in 10ml, 30ml, 50ml and 90ml formats, with its 100ml refill bottle.

LA MARQUISE JEWELLERY’S EXCLUSIVE JEWELS FIT FOR THE ROYALS The

Bridal Collection

With bridal season around the corner, La Marquise Jewellery reveals their exquisite bridal collection specially made for every bride-to-be. Indulge yourself in all-things grandeur and step into your fantasy wedding with intricate pieces curated by artisanal craftsmen. Perfectly paired for a luxurious finishing touch, La Marquise’s exclusive collection features contemporary and timeless pieces that has the power to elevate any look to a memorable one.

The collection offers 18K solid gold, show-stopping diamonds, and the rarest vibrant gemstones sourced from around the world including Emeralds, Sapphires and Rubies. A precious set that resonates with the feeling of love, symbolising the auspicious union of newlyweds that will also make a remarkable addition to your personal jewellery collection. With brides becoming more adventurous, be it a grand wedding or a simple celebration, La Marquise Jewellery has all the right sparkles needed to compliment every milestone event.

TIME ON MARS

OMEGA’s latest space watch tracks the rhythms of the red planet

The creators of the first watch worn on the moon have anticipated the next giant leap with a stylish new Speedmaster designed to measure every moment on planet Earth - and Mars. Made in partnership with the European Space Agency (ESA), OMEGA’s Speedmaster X-33 Marstimer is everything the name suggests.

Providing power to the new Marstimer is OMEGA’s 5622 Calibre. A highly precise, thermo-compensated, quartz movement, which handles the watch’s many digital and analogue functions with speed and efficiency. The unique 45 mm chronograph, cased in grade 2 titanium, can track times and time zones, across our own world and on the mysterious red planet. Developed to assist scientists, OMEGA’s Marstimer offers a range of valuable tools for those working in the field of space research.

Its functions, developed under an ESA patented license, include an MTC function

to track Mars’ sol date and time at the prime meridian, allowing for the fact that a day on Mars is 39 minutes longer than on Earth.

As well as an innovative solar compass, to find true north on planet Earth and Mars. Wearers also have access to those applications available on the traditional Speedmaster Skywalker X33, such as MET (Mission Elapsed Time), PET (Phase Elapsed Time), alarms and perpetual calendar.

In keeping with OMEGA’s take on professional watches, it also performs its tasks in style. Its classic black dial provides a contrasting backdrop for the multiple analogue and digital readings, made even clearer by Earth and Mars symbols to distinguish which particular functions are in use.

Circling the dial is an oxalic anodized aluminium bezel ring in red hematite colour, reminiscent of Mars’ distinctive dust. This striking shade is also present on the seconds

hand, which has a black to red hematite gradient, a design code to signal an OMEGA’s status as a professional instrument.

Turning the watch over reveals a caseback embossed in the centre with OMEGA’s famous Speedmaster wording and Seahorse logo. Circled by the words SPEEDMASTER X-33 MARSTIMER, ESA TESTED AND QUALIFIED. Testimony to the legitimacy of the partnership and integrity of the timepiece. For those wishing to switch out the grade 2 and 5 titanium bracelet, the Marstimer also comes with a dedicated NATO strap and strap changing tool. These are included in the special watch roll, which has a nod to the red planet on its inner lining: a reproduction of Hebes Chasma, a unique steep-sided canyon on the surface of Mars.

Although a crewed mission to the red planet may still be years away, OMEGA’s new Speedmaster X-33 Marstimer is available now, at multiple locations across Earth. A must for professionals, space fans and passionate collectors, it’s stylish to wear, compelling to operate and makes a perfect companion piece to OMEGA’s Speedmaster Moonwatch.

Note: ESA is an intergovernmental organisation and is not involved in the manufacturing or commercialisation of the OMEGA Speedmaster X-33 Marstimer.

CULTURAL BLUEPRINTS DESIGN WITH BIRGU BLUE

By Shereen Shabnam

Birgu Blue, located in Malta’s maritime capital of Birgu (Vittoriosa) within the Grand Harbour, is a one-of-a-kind, independent boutique, combining a workshop and an atelier. The vibe is artisanal, slightly rebellious, and retro all at once and characterised by an in-house leather artisan and master craftsman.

The store location has an intriguing history. It is located in the Collacchio quarter, the area exclusively reserved as living quarters to the members of the prestigious religious Order of the Knights, where the original Knights’ Auberges, opulent palazzos of notable architectural importance still stand today in the medieval plant-lined cobbled streets.

The street was later named Britannia Street in the 19th Century, when Malta formed part of the British Empire, and was eventually renamed Hilda Tabone Street in the early 70’s after a renowned Maltese opera singer whose family lived in the city.

At Birgu Blue, Malta-based designer Ozzy Chien runs the show, and curates an eclectic selection

of accessories ranging from hand-stitched leather accessories designed and hand-crafted by himself, vintage gems, unique artisanal jewelry pieces, batik cushions, homeware and limited-edition prints.

Originally from Taiwan, Ozzy Chien studied leather accessory design at the world-renowned Accademia Costume e Moda in Rome and worked side by side with Master Italian craftsman and artist Stefano Conticelli on projects and commissions for luxury connoisseurs, royalty and multi-millionaire VIPs.

In a constant search for perfection, Oz experiments with new styles, processes and materials in pursuit of the perfect harmony of form and function, a balance found in studied design and meticulous attention to detail.

Shoppers at Birgu Blue can explore an assortment of accessories from emerging designers as well as more affirmed Maltese and international designer artists. The shop also has a gourmet section proposing Maltese jams and chutneys, as well as 100% pure Maltese honey and mead.

In this issue, we curate our favourite items from Birgu Blue.

Oz – the in-house leather brand, whose collection includes beautiful hand-stitiched leather bags and accessories as well as bespoke unique pieces which are crafted to specification using the highest quality leather from the best tanneries in Tuscany.

Urban Island – batik cushions, fabrics and handloom – Sri Lanka

With Love from our Kitchen – homemade, premium jams and chutneys – Malta

I gioielli di Nina - a curated selection of costume jewelry from a pool of Mediterranean women artists and jewelry designers - Italy & Greece

Flora in Blue - original cyanotype prints taken from Maltese wild flowers and fauna - Malta

Sloyd on the Rock - Hand-carved functional objects made out of Maltese tree branches that have been pruned or that have fallen off the tree.- Malta

TWEED AROUND TOWN WITH MANGO

Edited by Natasha Dury

I have always told my mum that every wardrobe needs a touch of tweed. As she buys most of my clothes, I started my teenage years with no tweed until a shopping trip with my friends. I came home with a black and red tweed shirt and after a while converted my mum to love the designs that she eventually bought me a black and white one that is perfect for formal and casual wear.

MANGO’s latest edit has something for everyone which is exciting since I have successfully converted my mum to love tweed and she does owe me a birthday present end of this month. The new collection features leather effect garments such as skinny trousers and biker jackets, accompanied by miniskirts, tailored jackets, and coats in classic and timeless tweed.

With exclusive designs, high-quality fabric, and colour, each piece in the collection is a statement. The collection also sees frills, lace, and metallic or shiny details accompanying the star fabric. Tweed appears with different sizes and colours of the classic houndstooth pattern.

GADGETS THAT MATTER

Edited by Natasha Dury - Curator @new_technology_trends

Shopping for fun helpful gadgets shows great appreciation for the people you love. Here are just some of my favorite tech gadgets right now that meets all your needs in the house and on the road - these are really cool and you would want to buy some of these for yourself as well.

If you love cool tech gadgets, especially stylish smartphones, HUAWEI nova Y90 is perfect for young users who are looking for an immersive viewing experience, enhanced battery life and a 50MP AI Triple Camera system, which is as impressive as it sounds. Featuring a 6.7-inch HUAWEI Edgeless FullView Display, HUAWEI nova Y90 lets you view your content on a larger scale.

A smartphone with a small battery is no longer enough for our current lifestyle. But with HUAWEI nova Y90, you can use the phone for an entire day after a full charge of the 5000mAh large battery. As HUAWEI nova Y90 comes with 128GB of storage, users have access to ample storage for their favourite apps, games or files for work and study.

THE MOMENTUM 4 WIRELESS

The MOMENTUM 4 Wireless defines elegance with an allnew design that perfectly balances exceptional comfort and streamlined style. For all-day use without fatigue, it combines lightweight with a richly padded headband and deep cushioned earpads. With an outstanding battery life of up to 60 hours and fast charging capability that can provide a further six hours listening in just 10 minutes.

The touchpad interface of the MOMENTUM 4 Wireless, combined with voice and sound prompts, make controlling music, calls and voice assistants intuitive and easy to navigate. The fold-flat design is also comfortable when worn around the neck and can be easily slipped into a bag or backpack in the slim case when on the go.

HUAWEI NOVA Y90

SONOS SUB MINI

Sub Mini, the wireless subwoofer that sets a new standard in its category for powerful, balanced bass. Sub Mini delivers the brand’s distinctive distortionfree sound in a more compact, cylindrical design. Small but mighty, Sub Mini boosts bass across movies, music, gaming and more.

On the heels of introducing two new soundbars - Beam and Ray - Sonos is expanding its home theater lineup even further with Sub Mini, the brand’s new subwoofer that makes it easier than ever to supercharge your streaming experiences. You can also fine tune Sub Mini’s sound with Trueplay, which detects and adapts the speaker’s sound for reflections off of walls and furniture, giving you the best listening experience.

Capture precious memories during Eid celebrations with Sony ZV-1, a lightweight, compact digital camera. Designed for content creators and vloggers, it features a side flip-out 3.0"" touchscreen and a directional 3-capsule microphone that are perfect for front-facing recording. The ZV-1 also caters to this crowd with the Product Showcase Setting, Background Defocus function, Soft Skin Effect, and Face Priority Auto-Exposure. Despite its sleek and lightweight design, the ZV-1 also features 24-70mm F1.8-2.8 ZEISS® Vario-Sonnar T* large-aperture lens for creating beautiful background bokeh (background blur). Located on top of the camera, this Bokeh button is easily accessible for shooting selfies.

SONY ZV1: THE ULTIMATE VLOGGING CAMERA

INTERACTIVE LOOK AT THE FUTURE OF SUSTAINABLE AND SMART LARGE-SCALE URBAN DEVELOPMENT THE ELLINIKON EXPERIENCE CENTRE

Edited By Shereen Shabnam

The Ellinikon Experience Centre is the largest visitor center in the world of its kind, delivering natural and technological exhibits that immerse guests in the smart, sustainable, innovatively designed future of this groundbreaking project. The centre is being developed by Lamda Development S.A, known for some of the country’s most ambitious and successful projects.

The Ellinikon sits just 20 minutes, on average, away from Athens city center, its port and airport. Greece’s capital, one of the world’s foundational metropolises, will now become an international leader for coastal and green design, smart living, indoor-outdoor commercial experiences, and sustainable, low-carbon urban renewal.

The project is rejuvenating the urban coastline and delivering near-shore sustainability across its 3.5-kilometer Coastal Front and Marina. The shoreline combines a publicly accessible beach of 1 km, and recreation with luxury waterfront

living and tourism at The Riviera Galleria. Visitors can step inside the heart of Europe’s largest coastal park, The Ellinikon Park, which will span two million square meters of vibrant green space.

The Park will include extensive seasonal programming and 50 kilometers of cyclist and pedestrian pathways. This will be the first smart park in Greece, incorporating seamless connectivity, AR navigation,

and smart energy systems, among many other strategies.

Technological infrastructure and thoughtful design extend to every facet of The Ellinikon, from the development’s next-generation transportation network to the bioclimatic, indoor-outdoor hybrid architecture and green facades that provide thermal insulation, carbon dioxide reduction, and air purification and the coastline resilience aided through environmentally engineered sensors. This breathtaking waterfront development will also include new and innovative venues and facilities for sports and wellness.

The Ellinikon will rejuvenate the idea of commercial spaces. Sustainable, technology-forward office developments will platform creativity and business growth while providing a major draw for talent retention and acquisition in Athens. Mediterranean hospitality, meanwhile, will provide conference, entertainment, and tourism destination experiences through a range of hotels and resorts created with leading hospitality partners offering sustainable, wellness-focused commercial and hospitality spaces.

This future city comes to life at The Ellinikon Experience Centre, where all elements of The Ellinikon are presented in immersive detail. Spanning 4,800 square meters in a former airplane hangar designated as a Modern Monument by the Greek Ministry of Culture, the Experience Centre offers five thematic areas and more than 22 exhibits detailing the project, from its use as an airport and air force base to its stunning evolution into

one of the world’s most innovative and ambitious urban development projects.

Through a dynamic interactive experience, visitors can discover how the project is creating a global agora and a new model of residential, commercial, retail, recreational, and hospitality spaces and more through the themed areas of Living a New Era, Living in Nature, Living the Future, Living Smart, and Living by the Sea, all of which represent different groundbreaking aspects of the project.

Visitors take in the entirety of The Ellinikon’s grand scope through the largest interactive miniature model ever created in Greece in the Living a New Era

exhibit, which includes more than 25,000 individual pieces at 1:625 scale, captured in meticulous detail.

Adventurous guests can next cruise the rejuvenated coastline and see the beach, Marina and other landmarks virtually aboard a simulated speedboat at Living by the Sea and can experience the panoramic views of the park and coastline from 4 different residences at The Ellinikon.

Visitors can learn about Living in Nature through a model of The Ellinikon Park, Europe’s largest coastal park comprising two million square meters of vibrant green space, as well as through a virtual bicycle tour on a section of the development’s pathways. This exhibit also presents a Botanical Library simulating the prevailing flora of the park while the Night Garden Dome imitates the park’s nightlife

through light strips, sounds and scents that feel as real as the world outside.

Finally, Living the Future presents the innovative technologies and infrastructures that will make The Ellinikon the global standard-bearer of resilient urban development, such as through the transportation network that will make The Ellinikon a mobile, 15-minute city; bioclimatic architecture. The sheer scale and ambition for The Ellinikon development comes to life before the eyes of guests at The Ellinikon Experience Centre where visitors can touch, see, and hear what’s to come through a fully immersive and experiential journey.

DECO aura Living

DECOR IDEAS FOR MAJOR GLAMOUR!

A much-loved interior trend and an iconic design style, art deco has been around for ages and it’s making a big comeback! It radiates glamour and class through its combination of geometric yet simple, and symmetrical patterns and edges.

To create a sense of drama and style, Saudi home furnishing brand aura Living, blends Middle Eastern taste with the best of global design to offer an array of unmatched art deco designs that will elevate any space.

SOFT CURVES AND GEOMETRIC DESIGNS

Curved designed are on-trend this season and they seem to work well when paired with geometric designs. Consider adding geometric throws on your curvy sofa, or a geometric wallpaper on the wall behind it to create an interesting contrast within the space.

COLOUR VARIATIONS

Any colour in your home should look bold and luxurious to give you that edgy feel. Saturated hues should reflect neutral shades, like creams against black or orange. You don’t need to pick neon shades, as long as your featured colours are bright and eyecatching.

FABRICS

Velvets, leathers, and feathers have become staples for art deco. You can alternatively choose to add solid colours with an essence of geometry. If you can upholster furniture with solid bold colours, you can successfully recreate art deco in your home.

Gulf Craft, a global brand recognised for its innovation in yacht and boat building, continues to make its mark in the field of composite-built superyachts as it shared production plans of the company's second largest superyacht , the brandnew Majesty 160.

Celebrating its 40th anniversary this year, Gulf Craft which is the world’s leader in composite hull production and the creator of the world’s largest compositebuilt production superyacht, the Majesty 175, revealed the first details of its brandnew luxury superyacht at a packed press event hosted onboard the Majesty 120.

The Majesty 160, which goes into production this year at Gulf Craft’s fully integrated state-of-the-art manufacturing facility in the UAE, is designed by the award-winning Cristiano Gatto Design Studio in Italy whilst the naval architecture is penned by the worldrenowned Van Oossanen Dutch Naval Architects.

QUALITY & PERFECTION MAJESTY 160 FROM GULF CRAFT

Built to the specifications outlined by the Bureau Veritas Commercial Yacht Rules for yachts under 500 gross tonnage (GT), the Majesty 160 has a gross tonnage of 498 meeting all safety requirements of a vessel of 500 GT.

Taking its design cues from the iconic Majesty 175, the brand-new superyacht’s interior and exterior has been carefully designed with immaculate attention to detail to create a seamless balance between the outdoor and indoor spaces.

Redefining the segment through its opulent and contemporary interiors, the Majesty 160’s most notable feature is the phenomenal Master Suite. Ideally located at the end of the main deck corridor, the suite includes a private lounge, retractable balcony, large ensuite with both bath and shower room, along with a full-beam Master cabin.

The smart layout has an innovative climate control system and accommodates up to 12 guests across its seven lavish staterooms and can also host a crew of up to nine members with five large crew cabins and private captain’s accommodation.

The Majesty 160’s smart exterior design features an incredibly expansive sun deck with modular and moveable furniture suitable for all types of social occasions along with an infinity pool, perfectly setup for incredible panoramic and elevated views. Stand-out features also include a beach club - a customisable multi-

purpose space with natural light that can be used as a lounge or bar area, a gym or health club making it an ideal place to relax after a long day of water activities.

The swim platform provides guests unprecedented ease of access to the water while the fold-down balconies located on both portside and starboard side of the platform allows for sunbathing throughout the day.

Combining the hull design and the superyachts technical prowess with twin MTU 16V 2000 M87, 2000 HP engines, the Majesty 160 can achieve a top speed of 19.5 knots* whilst at a cruising speed of 12 knots she has a range of 3,500 nautical miles* and a further extended range of 4,300 nautical miles* at 10.8 knots.

Featuring wing stations on the main deck that enable smooth manoeuvring in and out of tight marinas and ports along with an optional helm station located on the sun deck, the Majesty 160 can effortlessly cruise low-draft areas, drawing just 2.3 metres of water, enabling close beach access due to its ground-breaking engineering and use of lightweight yet sturdy composite material hull.

The Majesty 160 comes with two pairs of zero speed carbon fin stabilisers and twin 100 kW generators including solar panels at the top of the sun deck roof capable of powering one of the four generatorslimiting overall energy consumption.

OBJECT OF DESIRE THE NEW PEARL 72

Pearl’s newest model is ready for her worldwide debut at the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show. With two master cabins, four ensuite guest cabins, and a crew cabin, plus a garage large enough for tender and a jet ski, the Pearl 72 is anticipating a gracious reception.

Founded in 1998 with the aim of designing a range of luxury motor yachts offering voluminous interiors, combined with opulence and design excellence,

Pearl Yachts is now one of the UK’s most prominent shipyards.

And the hotly anticipated Pearl 72 is finally approaching her official debut at Florida’s famous Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show. Fresh from her completed sea trials, she is already cruising around the sunshine state, getting acquainted with the beautiful coastal waters.

In terms of layout, the Pearl 72 makes

a unique introduction to the size-class: two Master Cabins. One is forward with a private entrance, as typically seen on much larger yachts, and the second is full beam amidships. The innovative layout allows owners to enjoy a beautiful view even when moored stern-to in a marina.

There are two further ensuite double cabins plus accommodation for the crew, in addition to an exceptional garage with space for a William 345 tender (or similar) and a jet ski.

Kelly Hoppen Interiors has continued to refine the design of Pearl Yachts, taking the world-famous look one step further with the introduction of a new interior theme - “Indulgence”. The design intent of this yacht was to capture New York City urban living on water while enhancing and working with the incredible mechanical features that have been achieved.

An array of materials including high gloss veneers, satin stones and contrasting metal detailing has been used and layered throughout to set up enchanting reflections and luxurious tones that fuse the ocean and interiors together.

REDEFINED LUXURY TRAVEL TURKISH AIRLINES’ STATE-OF-THE-ART LOUNGES

By Eric Dury

On our way back from Malta, we enjoyed spending a few hours experiencing the award-winning Turkish Airlines lounge that offers an enhanced travel experience with modern facilities, freshly made local pastries, grilled meat, local dishes, pasta dishes and of course a wide range of local drinks that include homemade lemonades and Turkish coffee.

As an airline that flies to more countries than any other, Turkish Airlines’ lounges align with the Turkish Airlines’ brand of luxury and offers travellers a more rewarding airport experience.

When flying with Turkish Airlines via Istanbul Airport, Business Class passengers and Economy passengers with Miles&Smiles membership can make use of one of the 2 international lounges, the Business Lounge or the Miles&Smiles Lounge depending on their eligibility, or they can use the Domestic Lounge for domestic flights.

The Business Lounge sprawls across 5,800 sq.m, seats 765 guests, and is easily one of the most well-equipped lounges in the world. With 13 private suites, shower cabins, a Turkish museum, a movie hall, and a variety of delicious Turkish food, the lounge offers world-class refinement and promises a one-of-a-kind experience.

The Miles&Smiles Lounge, designed for Turkish Airlines’ frequent fliers, also offers a diverse range of entertainment which make the transit between cities the best part of the journey. Open 24 hours, passengers can spend their downtime at the cinema, console gaming or use the spacious children’s playground where the fun never ends.

Meeting rooms and a library are also available. Turkish Airlines’ Miles&Smiles Lounge has an area of 5.600 m2 and can seat up to 765 people. The lounge houses 11 suites with 11 showers, comfortable couches and delicious treats of Turkish and world cuisines.

The Domestic Lounge is accessible through a special entrance gate located outside the terminal and is designed to help passengers relax and revive.

With a brand-new children’s play area equipped with game consoles, and an interactive gaming experience, the lounge offers parents a chance to enjoy a stress-free experience as the play corners are overseen by a dedicated Turkish Airlines

supervisor. Now with an advanced new hub and superior facilities, Turkish Airlines’ goal remains to continue expanding globally by increasing both its destination and fleet numbers.

The airline is clearly committed to providing passengers with unparalleled customer service in-flight and on the ground and we certainly enjoyed spending a few hours in Istanbul to enjoy Turkish hospitality at its best.

ADVENTUROUS DRIVE EXPERIENCE THE NEW CRETA FROM HYUNDAI

By Shereen Shabnam

We recently ventured to Jordan to drive Hyundai's new Creta 2023, a head turning premium compact crossover that brings a novel definition to what a sensuous and sporty car can be, together with its dynamic capabilities and seamless driving personality.

Equipped with a futuristic and stronglooking exterior, dynamic interior architecture and an impressive set of advanced technologies, the new Creta shows improved performance.

We enjoyed the convenience features that certainly assured we had fun driving experience from Amman to see the panoramic views of the Dead Sea, with some lovely spots along the way for lunch and photos.

The new Creta combines a resilient bold sportiness, supported by brand-new technologies and features that gives it a unique and new personality in terms of the design and its presence on the road. It is a city compact SUV that has a bold and robust look with sharp sporty side cuts and a modern forefront. This gives the car a strong presence on the roads and reflects Hyundai’s ‘Sensuous Sportiness’ design identity.

The front has an original bold look with a symbolized radiator grill painted with black and silver, and a set of hidden position DRL lights projecting a unique brand statement which is styled to draw a distinctive “Lights ON” image. From the side, a long hood profile reflects the robust and dynamic design of the car, which aims to mirror the latest trends in body design, implying a more powerful personality.

The rear of the CRETA contains individual lamps and a wide, rigid-looking stance which complements the front side. With an ample rear window glass, drivers enjoy more visibility.

The new CRETA sports a T-shaped layout and the interior cabin has evolved with new enhancements. The center fascia and console include a comfortable crash pad and a vertical structural layout to ensure safety. The door trim is now designed in a wing-shaped fashion and there is more spacious legroom and headroom for passenger comfort.

Careful attention was given to create harmony between the exterior and interior colors by offering different

shades of black, brown and grey to the interior furnishes, which is made of cloth and artificial leather.

The new CRETA features Hyundai’s innovation in the ‘Smartstream’ lineup of powertrains. These technologies aim to provide the car with better fuel efficiency, improved performance, and reduced gas emissions. The powertrain specifications for the gasoline ‘Smartstream’ G 1.5L include an optimal airflow control which aims to control the amount of air intake, a more effective combustion and improved fuel economy.

The advanced driver assistance system enhancements include Forward CollisionAvoidance assist, Lane keeping Assist, Lane Following Assist, Blind-Spot Collision-Avoidance Assist, Rear CrossTraffic Collision-Avoidance Assist, High Beam Assist, Driver Attention Warning, Safe Exit Warning, Reverse Parking Distance Warning and Rear-View Monitor.

The new CRETA infotainment system features a variety of responsive, userfriendly technologies that accommodate the needs of music savvy customers. With eight speakers, passengers will enjoy a premium quality Bose sound system, a USB port with an Illumination USB charger.

We thoroughly enjoyed driving this across different terrains in Jordan using different driving modes that includes NORMAL, ECO, SPORT, and SMART. The new Creta has certainly evolved into a comfortable SUV that is perfect for the city and for road trips.

LINCOLN NAVIGATOR SMOOTH RIDE

By Shereen Shabnam

Every time I get a Lincoln Navigator at my doorstep, my heart skips a beat knowing that for the next few days, I will dominate the roads in Dubai. There is something about this luxury SUV that brings images of cool people with hoodies and loud jewellery cruising slowly around the city with music just loud enough to make others look in awe and get out of the way.

I realize this image and impression has come from music videos of the kings of rap music but knowing that I shall be the cool kid in the neighbourhood for a few days brings me immense joy.

Blending an updated exterior, refreshed infotainment system, and stylish new interior options, the new Lincoln Navigator comes with an updated signature grille, front end equipped with standard

adaptive pixel projector headlamps, and all-new 3D taillamps as well as Ford’s SYNC4Ò infotainment system.

With its spacious interior, confident exterior, advanced technologies, and unmatched comfort for both driver and passengers, the Navigator as a large-size luxury SUV is a comfortable ride and offers a seamless, connected, and personalized experience for driver and passengers.

For instance, Ford’s SYNC4Ò infotainment system recognizes individual voices for hands-free control of an enhanced navigation operating system via a new, larger 13.2-inch center screen. As the driver, I had the freedom to configure the 12-inch heads-up display with the information I wanted, so I would not need to take my eyes off the road while driving.

We enjoyed the upgraded massage system, climate adjustment and other curated luxurious experiences for all passengers. To raise the luxury quotient further, Lincoln partnered with the Detroit Symphony Orchestra (DSO) to provide a calming aural atmosphere in the new Navigator. Plus the awardwinning acoustics of the Revel Ultima 3D audio system, 28 speakers that envelop occupants with rich, precise, and multidimensional sound offers a truly 360-degree listening experience.

The new Navigator comes with a highly responsive powertrain complemented by remarkable handling. Under the hood, an advanced 3.5-liter twin-turbo V6 engine offers an impressive 440 horsepower and 510 lb.-ft. of torque.

There is also a suite of advanced driver assist technologies making our driving experience intuitive and comfortable. Adaptive Suspension with Road Preview is the Navigator’s newest update in this category – 12 sensors, including a forward-facing camera, scan body movements, vehicle motion, steering, acceleration, and braking 500 times per second and automatically prompt adjustments up to 100 times a second to mitigate unpleasant impacts.

Other standard features include Intersection Assist, Active Park Assist 2.0, which uses side sensors to help drivers comfortably exit even the tightest spots, Forward Collision Warning, Post Collision Braking, Distance Alert, Dynamic Brake Support, Pedestrian Detection, Auto Hold, Hill Start/ Descent Assist, Automatic Headlamps, Voice-Activated Touchscreen Navigation and Adaptive Cruise Control.

The new Lincoln Navigator is indeed a luxury SUV with premium features, progressive design, intuitive technologies and so much more.

NEW LEVELS OF LUXURY, CONNECTIVITY AND PERFORMANCE THE NEW TERAMONT

By Shereen Shabnam

Luxury is taken to new heights with the seven-seater Teramont, the largest SUV in the Volkswagen family as it comes with a bolder design as well as interior upgrades, advanced connectivity, a new digitalized cockpit, all at a price designed to draw attention in the crowded family SUV segment.

INTERIOR

The Volkswagen Teramont offers a refreshed interior that is classic clean and functional, with a premium feel. Driver controls are positioned for optimal ergonomics and usability, and simple, driver-centric displays enhance involvement behind the wheel.

The seat position, shifter height, and the spacing between the pedals are all designed for maximum driver comfort.

EXTERIOR

The new Teramont is available in three different trim levels: from Trendline, Comfortline and Highline, with the option of adding an R-Line package to the Comfortline or Highline. The new and redesigned LED headlights are available as standard on all trim lines and highlights are the more aggressively styled front and rear bumpers and bold three-bar grille that extends into the front light signature, creating a more sophisticated presence. The side skirts emphasize the premium profile of the Teramont.

SAFETY & PERFORMANCE

The Teramont comes available with two engines; 2.0L TSI 4 cylinder with 220HP, and a 3.6L FSI with 280HP. It provides a combination of both passive and active safety systems, engineered to meet all current safety standards.

For safety, there is a 360 camera, including rear view camera, Blind Spot Monitor with Rear Traffic Alert, Adaptive Cruise Control, Lane assist, Park Assist, Park Distance Control and Front Assist with Autonomous Emergency Braking. The Teramont also offers an Automatic Post-Collision Braking System. Passive safety features include three-point seatbelt for all seats, side-curtain headprotection airbags that cover all three rows, and a number of electronic safety systems, such as an Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) and Electronic Stability Control (ESC).

VERDICT

The Teramont adapts to every family’s needs and there are enough chargingpoints to keep everyone up to speed and there are enough storage compartments to keep the family belongings stored when on the move. It is perfect for big families and hence suitable for this region.

Already renowned for fast and efficient service, the Express Auto Wash (EAW) located at Mushrif Mall in the heart of Abu Dhabi, in partnership with MacNeil of North America, brings customers premium automatic car wash facilities not seen before in this part of the world.

Express Auto Wash is an environment friendly facility that has a 250-foot (80m) tunnel equipped with fifty-five kilometers of wire, piping and plumbing, allowing multiple cars to be washed simultaneously saving your valuable time.

It is a pioneer of tunnel car washes in the UAE and ensures 95% of the water is recycled and the facility hosts the most reliable and safest conveyor, MacNeil’s XR-1000 for fast service. The 360 ° high tech car wash systems with 48 highpressure undercarriage water nozzles add to the efficiency of the wash.

The customer experience is fivestar quality, using MN Versa Arches, streamers, foamers and tire chemical applicators, washing all vehicle surfaces including the under-carriage, providing customers with an exceptional wash and

rinse, while the MN Tech 21 Turbo Drying System completes the drying process.

Cleanliness, professionalism, and passion is evident at Express Auto Wash on arrival, and as each car travels seamlessly along the automated belt through various stages of the car wash cycle. The fast and yet thorough clean saves corporate and private customers valuable time that can be spent more productively at home and in the office.

Added to that, the high quality microcellular closed-cell Envirosoft

foam brushes from MacNeil allow faster line speeds and clean, quiet and safe operation. Express Auto Wash also offers touch free car wash for the more delicate and premium cars.

Express Auto Wash has a loyalty program and a customer referral program. The mission of Express Auto Wash is to lead the vehicle care industry by always putting customer service, innovation and performance first and their vision is to be passionate champions of world-class car wash solutions.

SUMO SUSHI & BENTO CONDUCTS BEACH CLEANUP WITH DUBAI MUNICIPALITY

Sumo Sushi & Bento, the originator of family friendly sushi dining in the region partnered with Dubai Municipality recently in a beach cleanup campaign at Palm Deira Beach with 130 team members taking part in the initiative to foster awareness, reflecting the team's commitment to environmental conservation and protection of Dubai’s coastline.

Ms. Julianne Holt-Kailihiwa, CEO, Sumo International Inc. LLC, said, "The beach cleanup campaign brought over 130 of our staff together, reflecting the remarkable level of environmental commitment our team has towards the environment. As a company we hope to continue supporting our recycling programs and help raise awareness of improved waste management practices."

Sumo Sushi & Bento looks forward to cooperating with the local government authorities and the community in corporate social responsibility (CSR) activities to spread awareness and encourage more people to care about protecting and preserving the future environment.

JAMAL TRAVEL AGENCY IMPLEMENTS AMADEUS TRAVEL TECHNOLOGY

and its drive to enter new markets.

Jamal Travel Agency has built its solid reputation and customer base since its inception in 1988. By working with Amadeus, Jamal Travel Agency plans to offer a wide range of new technologydriven solutions with customer service at the core. Its goal is to make travel experiences more integrated and frictionless.

The multi-year agreement sees Jamal Travel Agency using key Amadeus products including Amadeus Selling Platform Connect, Amadeus Ticket Changer, Amadeus B2B Wallet, Amadeus Value Hotels, and later adding Amadeus Fare Optimizer to the mix.

Jamal Travel Agency, a fully-fledged travel and tourism service provider based in the United Arab Emirates, is working together with Amadeus to launch its B2B and B2C ecommerce platform.

The new agreement sees Jamal Travel Agency adopting Amadeus’ advanced technology solutions to help achieve the company’s strategic objectives for greater efficiency, increased profitability

The award-winning travel agency looks forward to providing optimized travel solutions to its partners and clients thanks to its collaboration with Amadeus.

Sumo Sushi & Bento staff with Dubai Municipality at the beach cleanup campaign at Palm Deira Beach.

Sainulabdeen Salim – Founder and Managing Director, Jamal Travel Agency (Left), Ernesto Sanchez Beaumont, Managing Director, Amadeus Gulf (Right)

SILICON CENTRAL WELCOMES LANDMARK RETAIL'S FLAGSHIP BRANDS

Landmark Retail brings a mixed offering of apparel, home and baby categories to the new mall. Babyshop, targeted at moms and moms-to-be, will offer a range of fashion clothing, baby basics, toys and nursery furniture in a great shopping experience. For fashion lovers, Splash will offer high-street fashion trends and Max will bring a variety of value fashion clothing, accessories and footwear. Also opening at Silicon Central is Home Box, a one-stop shop offering smart furniture and furnishings at affordable prices.

The shopping mall and management division Lulu Group International, Line Investments & Property welcomes Landmark Group, the region's leading retail and hospitality conglomerate to

With a total of 81,500 sq m GLA and 3,500 car park spaces, Silicon Central will offer a broad mix of brands tailored to ensure shoppers' complete satisfaction. Adding to the unique shopping experience, a diverse range of dining options will comprise 24 casual restaurants and cafes as well as 21 food court units, making it the perfect place to catch up with friends and families in an enjoyable atmosphere.

LIWA TRADING ENTERPRISES TO BRING FLAGSHIP BRANDS AT SILICON CENTRAL

The shopping mall and management division of Lulu Group International, Line Investments & Property welcomes OVS, La Senza and Simply Kitchen from Liwa Trading Enterprises brand portfolio to Silicon Central, Dubai's new lifestyle destination.

Silicon Central will see OVS, Italy’s leading apparel fashion brand for men, women and children and USA fashion retailer, La Senza opening in November bringing the latest trends in lingerie and sleepwear catering to the modern-day woman. Simply Kitchen will open doors soon after providing genius gadgets, amazing appliances, and decorative kitchen accessories that every at-home chef or food lover needs.

Silicon Central, Dubai's new lifestyle destination, with the opening of four flagship brands: Babyshop, Splash, Home Box and Max Fashion.

GENERATING

PUBLIC INTEREST IN THE TECHNOLOGY OF THE FUTURE

By Shereen Shabnam

As October is the month of technology, experts from all over the world head to the Gitex Global which is the largest & most inclusive tech show that unites technology enterprises, governments, startups, investors, coders, academia, and youth.

While we will see the most spectacular tech transformations happening worldwide, across a comprehensive showcase of Metaverse, Web 3.0, Sustainability, Quantum Computing, 5G, Cloud, Blockchain, AI, Future Mobility, we also want the public to understand why technology is the way of the future.

In the last three decades, technologies and digital communications have transformed how we connect and engage with the world around us, creating opportunities in every area of our day to day life. But as often as these technologies foster knowledge, too many people are excluded or marginalized and not able to access, benefit from, or influence digital platforms, even in progressive societies.

This is due to their education or economic background or purely because not enough is being done by tech giants to educate the masses on the benefits of digitization. Policy makers

are struggling to regulate AI-operated phones to the use of new apps and services. Users often do not understand the adverse consequences the apps or what threats lurk behind them or have an understanding of cybersecurity. As a result, they become casualties in the race to embrace new tech.

The solution to these challenges is to stay focused on developing tech for good suitable for individuals, the community, and the nation at large. Not enough is being done to create a road map of multisector solutions with a holistic understanding of a connected future. The road map needs to be guided by public interest, their technology insights and perceptions and then addressing what they do not understand.

The education sector can help lay the knowledge foundations for technology experts, present and future. My daughter did a degree in Forensics and Criminology, and it was after she graduated and considering her Masters that she decided that since a lot of the criminal activity is happening online, she would benefit more by studying either digital forensics and cybersecurity to be able to address these challenges.

She then chose to do a master’s in computer science for a better understanding of the challenges and threats technology users can face as our world moves towards digitization. Lessons taught in universities hence play an outsized role in shaping technologies we use in our everyday lives and forge a more just digital future for us all. A digital future for the world also demands thoughtful government involvement both to protect the public interest and to meet innovation demands.

There should be importance placed on welcoming public interest technologists into the policymaking process so that governments can regulate the use of technology and set a new global standard. It makes sense that social entrepreneurs, business leaders, community leaders’, philanthropists, technologists, and academics can come together to shape a more fair and useful Tech future.

It is time to invest in innovation and perhaps listen to more talks on what technology can do for us for the better as technology touches most parts of our lives and public interest technologists can ensure that technology works for good, for all, in the present and into the future.

TIMING:

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