Simply Abu Dhabi Magazine XVIII

3 5 S I M P LY A B U DH A B I FOUNDER & CO-FOUNDER’ S LETTER Dear l o v e r s o f l uxu r y Arnie S Hira – CEO & Founder Arnie.Hira@simplyabudhabi.com Jordana Imogen Lynch – Managing Director & Co-Founder Jordana.lynch@simplyabudhabi.com Manoj S Hira – Director – info@nowaiting.co.uk Editor: Arnie S Hira Co-Editor: Jordana Imogen Lynch Copywriters: Jordana Imogen Lynch, Arnie S Hira ترشع و شیع सुख 奢侈品 Lujo Luxe Luxus Lusso Management team Creative Director: Colin Statham - colin@simplyabudhabi.com Managing Editor: Kerry Smith - kerry@simplyabudhabi.com Beauty Editor: Sophie McMullan - sophie@simplyabudhabi.com Car Editor: Nick Jaynes - nick@simplyabudhabi.com Sub Editor: Caroline Stupnicka - caroline@simplyabudhabi.com W E L COM E T O S I M P LY A B U DH A B I : “Your Passport to Pure Luxury” Jordana &Arnie Wishing the World: Peace, Prosperity & Progress in 2015 S imply Abu Dhabi XVIII marks a Return to the Palace – the Emirates Palace, to be exact. As you’ll have seen from the stunning photo on our cover, in this special summer edition we proudly feature one of the world’s most beautiful hotels, Abu Dhabi’s iconic Emirates Palace. The very essence of luxury and hospitality, set amongst some of the most breathtaking architecture in the world, the Emirates Palace holds a very dear place in our hearts. It’s here that we first fell truly in love with this amazing city, and were inspired to pursue our dream of creating a publication dedicated to the very best it has to offer. We invite you in these pages to immerse yourself in a journey through the Palace’s magnificent accommodations, superb dining and serene spa experiences. We think you’ll agree it’s a truly magical destination. The lavish surroundings of this landmark hotel also provided the setting for the inaugural edition of Fortnum&Mason Presents Tennis at the Palace – a gala weekend of exhibition tennis from some of the legends of the sport, played on the UAE’s first-ever grass court built specially for the occasion. Our Creative Director Colin Statham and partner Ellis Valentine were in attendance, and share with you their experiences of the ultimate British lawn party. If you missed this year’s event, you’ll want to be sure to book in for next year after reading Colin and Ellis’s account. In other sporting news, British Polo Day Abu Dhabi, now in its fourth year, presented an unforgettable black-tie evening of world-class polo, stellar dining, and philanthropic endeavour. Read on to learn more about the night’s event, and the origins of this phenomenal celebration of how equestrian sport and charitable concerns can bridge cultures. Then indulge yourself in the appetising world of Hakkasan at the Emirates Palace. This award- winning fine-dining experience offers an utterly modern take on authentic Cantonese cuisine. We spoke with Chef de Cuisine Lee Kok Hua at length about what makes Hakkasan so unique, how he maintains the consistent excellence for which the restaurant is lauded, and the state of the Abu Dhabi food and beverage scene. Continuing the theme of interviews with fascinating people, we were honoured to have the opportunity to speak with Sir Richard Branson. Known around the globe as a business tycoon, adventurer, and philanthropist, Sir Richard is at heart the ultimate entrepreneur, and we were thrilled to have the chance to hear his insights on that topic. Finally, we conclude with an interview with the actor Vin Diesel, star of the massively successful Fast and the Furious film franchise. Whilst he’s the strong and silent type on screen, in this Q&A he opens up about losing his friend and co-star Paul Walker, and the importance of family. As ever, we’re delighted to bring you the latest luxury offerings from the most incredible watchmakers and jewellers on the planet. It’s an incredible selection, ranging from dazzling diamonds, to sporty watches, to glamorously fashionable pieces. And talking of fashion, is your wardrobe ready for spring/summer 2015? You’ll want to check out the latest off the runways from the world’s top designers for both men and women. And for the first time, we feature a fashion feature for children, with an adorably stylish collection from CH Carolina Herrera. Our Beauty Editor Sophie McMullan is here to get you ready for summer as well, with her take on all the latest in luxury cosmetics and skincare for the season, as well as a feature on Yas, the Royal Name of Perfumes, the UAE’s own purveyor of unique, precious fragrances. We’re pleased to introduce to you motoring correspondent Nick Jeynes, who joins the Simply Abu Dhabi Teamwith his coverage of incredible new cars steeped in British heritage fromAstonMartin and Rolls-Royce. We’re confident you’ll join us in eagerly awaiting more from Nick in future editions! And whilst we’re on the topic of British heritage, we invite you to read about Belgraves, a Thompson Hotel in London. We recently enjoyed a stay at this fantastic boutique hotel that combines traditional English hospitality with a carefree attitude and loads of fun. It’s a bit of Bohemia in Belgravia, and a true haven for a London summer. Finally, Simply Property once again brings to you some of the most spectacular properties in the world, from the majestic Swiss Alps to the urban chic of Manhattan. We hope you’ll enjoy this summer edition of Simply Abu Dhabi as much as we have enjoyed creating it for you. Wishing you a glorious summer.. And as ever, we wish you all the best in life and luxury. Like our Facebook page vi a http://www.facebook.com/simplyabudhabi Images: All photos used in Simply Abu Dhabi are by Getty Images/Shutterstock/GoRunway/ Distribution: Abu Dhabi Media Company Distribution Director: Raed Hamdan Distribution In charge: Muzammil Sulaiman Disclaimer: The publishers regret that they cannot accept liability for error or omissions contained in this publication, however caused. The opinions and views contained in this publication are not necessarily those of the publishers. Readers are advised to seek specialist advice before acting on the information contained in this publication, which is provided for general and entertainment use and may not be appropriate for the reader’s particular circumstances. The intellectual property and the ownership of trademarks are acknowledged. No part of Simply Abu Dhabi or any parts of the contents thereof may be duplicated or reproduced, saved, stored in a retrieval system or communicated/transmitted in any form without written permission of the publishers. An exemption is hereby granted for extracts used for the purpose of fair and reasonable review. Simply Abu Dhabi Limited HQ is Elizabeth House, Elizabeth Street, Manchester, M8 8JJ, United Kingdom. Born in Abu Dhabi, Designed in Manchester, Distributed throughout the world.