SimplyAbuDhabi XXXVIII

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. CO-FOUNDERS Arnie S Hira Arnie.Hira@simplyabudhabi.com Jordana Imogen Lynch Jordana.lynch@simplyabudhabi.com MANAGEMENT TEAM Creative Director: Colin Statham mamuci@me.com Managing Editor: Kerry Smith kerry@simplyabudhabi.com Media Investment Director: Chris Seel chris.seal@simplyabudhabi.com Director of Photography: Charn Kamal Singh charn@simplyabudhabi.com SOCIAL MEDIA | IMAGES | DISTRIBUTION Facebook www.facebook.com/simplyabudhabi Instagram @simply.abudhabi Distribution Abu Dhabi Media Company Circulation Director Mr Mohamad Al Zarouni Operation Manger Mr. Khaled Ibrahim Distribution In charge Muzammil Sulaiman My Dear Friends and Family around the world, S pring is the season of renewal, rebirth, and eternal hope. And this year, that seems to resonate with us more than ever before. The past year has brought each and every one of us unprecedented challenges, regardless of who we are, where we live, or what our beliefs are. We’ve been forced to put our lives as we know them on hold, and while it’s been daunting, it’s also give us reason to reflect on how much we have in common with our fellow human beings around the world. It’s connected us in a way perhaps no one could have predicted. A year later, here we stand on the verge of a slow re-emergence back into the world. The days are getting longer, the trees and flowers are beginning to bloom, and we look forward to reuniting with friends and family. What’s more, we long to return to the things we love doing, and resuming our sense of normalcy – and for the first time in a while, there seems to be a light at the end of the tunnel. That’s why we are overjoyed to be returning with this digital edition of Simply Abu Dhabi – to bring you a curated selection of the features you’ve come to love over the past 10 years, and that we’ve loved bringing to you. The beautiful image on the cover will be familiar to many of you – it is, of course, the iconic Qasr Al Watan Presidential Palace. The feature article brings you inside the palace walls for a fascinating look at the art and architecture of the building, as well as the treasures that are housed in its remarkable library. We hope it will inspire you to visit this revered landmark. Elsewhere in this issue, we have a terrific interview with the legend that is The Rock, Dwayne Johnson. The Rock speaks candidly about his early years and colourful family, and shares his excitement about a new show depicting his childhood. We think you’ll agree, he’s an absolute delight. From the motoring world, we take a look at the Phantom Iridescent Opulence, a highly bespoke Rolls-Royce now in Abu Dhabi – a true work of art – as well as the Artura, McLaren’s first hybrid supercar, and the DBX, Aston Martin’s first-ever SUV. Spring really is the time for all things new! Of course, as ever, we have an exquisite selection of elite brands to dazzle you, from the worlds of jewellery, horology, fashion, and so much more. From all of the team at Simply Abu Dhabi, we wish you the very best of health, prosperity, and peace.