Life

by Camille Macawili
19 mins ago

We speak to some of the best concierge teams who go above and beyond to share insider tips on how to maximise your summer vacation.

The Mark – New York, USA
Our favourite quotes are “the answer is yes, what is your question” and “my only limitation is your imagination” which means that there are very few things that we DO NOT do for our guests at The Mark. From creating a Phantom of the Opera experience in our Penthouse all with original cast members to delivering a special breed of puppy from New York to Qatar – we have done it all!
INSIDER TIP
We personally love creating magical summer moments for our guests. From sailing along the Hudson River on the Mark Sailboat with delicious bites by Caviar Kaspia to taking a spin around Manhattan on our new Mercedes Benz e-bikes, we offer unique ways for our guests to experience this incredible city. For those travelling with their family, a picnic prepared from The Mark Restaurant by Jean-Georges which can be enjoyed in Central Park is a lovely afternoon activity – let The Mark Pedicab take you there! Our second tip is to explore the many outdoor summer concerts and stage performances at our neighboring Central Park. Few things are as enchanting as taking in a Shakespearean play or listening to New York Philharmonic perform outdoors on a warm summer evening.
For more information, visit themarkhotel.com

One&Only Reethi Rah – Maldives
Our Guest Services team at One&Only Reethi Rah curates a fully personalized itinerary based on our guestsʼ preferences. This includes a range of intimate events such as private dining in iconic locations around the resort, as well as themed parties and celebrations for our guests and their loved ones or a bespoke prearrival experience.
INSIDER TIP
Get to know our local Maldivian colleagues! They are always eager to share stories about their culture, islands, and experiences; they are exclusive to your time here in the Maldives. Whenever possible, book your experiences ahead of time and consider reaching out directly to the resort. Take full advantage of our expertise so we can offer experiences and activities that you hadnʼt even thought of.
For more information, visit oneandonlyresorts.com

Anantara The Palm – Dubai, UAE
The role of our concierge team involves performing a variety of personalised tasks and services aimed at delighting the hotel’s guests. In essence, we serve as the public face and a dependable resource for guests. As a seasoned concierge well-versed in local hidden treasures, we create tailored itineraries for guests.
INSIDER TIP
A customised city tour can be facilitated based on guest preferences. These could include a unique tour to the Museum of the Future, or should guests wish to explore the older parts of Dubai, the historic district of Al Bastakiya comes highly recommended or a walking tour to the Gold and Spice markets.
For more information, visit anantara.com

The Ritz-Carlton Ras Al Khaimah, Al Wadi Desert – Ras Al Khaimah, UAE
In addition to organising dinner reservations and providing recommendations that often involve private dinners amongst the dunes or atop of Al Wadi Tower accompanied by a transfer on a camel or via the 1952 vintage Land Rover to create a unique memorable experience, we also organize various exciting activities throughout the hotel from nature drives, wildlife adventures, to relaxing wellness treatments.
INSIDER TIP
Immerse yourself in unique nighttime adventures by participating in guided tours and nature walks, specifically designed to unveil the mesmerizing aspects of Ras Al Khaimah after dark. Engage in stargazing sessions, where you can admire the enchanting constellations while learning about the ancient navigation techniques employed by local Bedouins.
For more information, visit ritzcarlton.com
July/August’s – The Summer Escape Issue with Tania Santos Silva – Download Now 
– For more on luxury lifestyle, news, fashion and beauty follow Emirates Woman on Facebook and Instagram
Images: Supplied More

It’s been a little over two weeks since the 24-hour movement restrictions were lifted in Dubai, changing to a curfew from 10pm to 6am in order for the national sterilisation programme to continue. During these hours movement permits are required, just as they were in place during the 24-hour lockdown. Under the movement permit scheme, […] More

A movement permit system has been implemented in the UAE’s capital. The Abu Dhabi police announced movement permits will need to be obtained by residents in order to leave the house during the curfew hours of 10pm to 6am, while the national sterilisation programme takes place. Similar to the process of the Dubai movement permits, […] More

Life

by Sarah Joseph
3 hours ago

His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the Crown Prince of Dubai, is no amateur when it comes to extreme sports.
By challenging the conventional norm, Fazza always takes a leap of faith and manages to outdo his previous activity.
After digging through the archives, Emirates Woman takes a look at all the adrenaline-fuelled activities Dubai’s Crown Prince has taken part in through the years.
Flying a motorised paraplane

Known for his fine motor skills, Sheikh Hamdan shared a jaw-gripping video of himself flying a motorised paraplane which he smoothly maneuvers mid-air with the help of a parachute. In just about a few minutes of posting the video, it went viral and was shared on several social media platforms. After controlling it with ease, the aircraft is seen going several metres above the ground and he’s surely won the hearts of all his fans through his piloting skills, which is undoubtedly seen in this post.
Riding on top of Ain Dubai

The world’s largest observation wheel, Ain Dubai, opened in the emirate last month. Ahead of the official launch, Sheikh Hamdan perched himself on top of the wheel casually sipping a beverage. Showcasing the daredevil stunt, His Highness posted an impressive video on social media which, to date, has garnered over 10 million views.
Taking a plunge in the world’s deepest pool

Known as Deep Dive, this Dubai marvel holds an incredible 14 million litres of water and has a depth of 60 metres, making it the deepest pool in the world. head of the opening of the pool earlier this year, Sheikh Hamdan took his 12 million followers on Instagram on a tour of the latest attraction posting a video to the platform. “An entire world awaits you at Deep Dive Dubai the world’s deepest pool, with a depth of 60 meters (196 feet),” he said.
Skydiving over Dubai

As one of the most popular adrenaline junkie activities, it’s no surprise the Crown Prince is a keen fan of skydiving. In the video above, he’s seen jumping off a chopper with another member of the crew and is seen catapulting through the air down to the ground. Having complete grip over the parachute, he manages to make a smooth landing on the beach.
Scaling the Burj Khalifa

Ever wondered what the view is like from the world’s tallest building? Well, Sheikh Hamdan knows exactly what it looks like from up there and has previously shared it with his followers last year. Decked in his climbing gear, the Crown Prince took a snap of him standing on the tip of the spire while waving the UAE flag without the slightest hint of fear. Fazza had previously scaled the skyscraper back in 2013, in celebration of Dubai winning the bid to host Expo 2020.
Showing off his flyboarding skills

Back in 2019, pictures went viral of the Dubai Crown Prince as he showed the world his serious core strength through this extreme watersport activity – flyboarding. While it might look easy, this sport is quite dangerous and requires a varied skill set. Propelled by jet sprays, one can twirl, flip and soar through the air, which Sheikh Hamdan exactly did.
As the extremely popular Instagram account continues to accumulate a loyal fan base, it’s always exciting to see which extreme sport is next in the pipeline.
– For more on luxury lifestyle, news, fashion and beauty follow Emirates Woman on Facebook and Instagram
Images: Supplied More

In 2005, I decided to cut off all my relaxed hair and go completely natural. I didn’t have the patience to grow out my natural texture, so I immediately did a big chop. I went from shoulder-length, relaxed hair to two inches of natural hair in a matter of a couple of hours. I actually had no idea what my hair would look like without a relaxer, but I knew I was tired of my dull, lifeless hair. I was unwilling to get a relaxer every 4-6 weeks; to burn my scalp and spend the next few weeks trying to cover up the burn scars. I was ready to explore what was naturally given to me and all that came with my new hair journey. 
On the day of my big chop, the hairstylist took such good care of my new hair, but now it was my turn to figure out how to maintain my new healthy, natural hair. I was living in Philadelphia at the time, so there were tons of Black hair stores for me to grab some new products. I naively thought I would go in, head to the natural hair sections, and grab what I needed. Who was I kidding? It was 2005, and the only products I saw on the shelves were Carol’s Daughter. I bought what I could and began experimenting to see what worked and what didn’t work on my hair. 
Those initial products served me well, but as I learned more about natural hair, I knew I needed more from my products. I had spent all my life relying on other peoples’ products to take care of my hair. I wasn’t getting the results (growth, moisture, minimal frizz) that I was looking for, so I began to make my own products with ingredients in my kitchen. I heard from a hairstylist once that “if you can’t eat it, it doesn’t belong on your skin and hair.” I wanted to take care of my hair in the most natural way possible, so I took her statement to heart and began creating simple recipes to support my hair journey. 
Experimenting with creating my own products allowed me to really get to know my hair. I learned what I needed and how to take care of my natural hair on my own terms. Each week I would spend time creating products to see how they would work on my hair. One week, I would try something for moisture; another week, I would create a styling product; and then another week, I would create something for growth. Don’t get me wrong, I’ve made a lot of mistakes, but it was important to spend time with my hair. I spent so much time in my younger years manipulating my hair to be something that it wasn’t. When I began to wear my natural hair out and proud, I didn’t want to miss out on experiencing my hair in all of its shapes and forms. Creating DIY haircare products was and is an act of love for me. If you’re like me and feel like you’ve tried every product out there and still aren’t reaching your hair goals, it might be time to try your hand at these DIY natural hair recipes:

Deep Conditioning Banana Hair Mask
Bananas are so helpful for your hair. Whether you are looking to add moisture into your strands or trying to grow your hair past your shoulders, bananas have you covered. This is the banana hair mask that I use, but feel free to mix it up to suit your needs. 
What you need:
1 Banana
Water
Optional add ons—pick 1 or 2: egg, honey, coconut oil, avocado
Bowl
Fork or hand mixer to mix
Directions:
Take a ripe or even over-ripe banana and put it into a bowl. 
Mash banana completely so there are no chunks left. 
Add enough water so that the mixture is easy to apply to hair. You will want a loose paste consistency. 
If you are adding in any of the bonus add-ins, put them in the bowl and incorporate them. 
Apply the mixture on dry or slightly damp hair and coat the hair completely
Put on a shower cap to cover hair and protect your clothes
Pro tip: add a heated bonnet or wrap your hair in a warm towel
Let the hair mask sit on your hair for 15-20 mins. 
Rinse thoroughly before you begin your wash day routine
I’m obsessed with how much moisture and shine bananas give my hair. Not only does the moisture last for the week, but this DIY treatment costs me less than $1!

Bentonite Clay Wash
OK, so you might not have bentonite clay in your kitchen, but this natural shampoo swap was a game-changer for my wash routine. I found most shampoos still left a film or residue on my hair. I have low-porosity hair and need my strands to feel really clean, and bentonite clay was the only product that truly cleaned my hair and scalp. 
What You Need:
¼ cup of bentonite clay
½ cup of water
Applicator bottle
Apple Cider Vinegar (optional)
Directions:
Combine clay and water together in the applicator bottle
Shake to combine completely
Apply to your hair as you would a traditional shampoo
Softly massage your scalp to remove any product residue
Rinse and moisturize with your conditioner of choice
Bentonite clay can be a bit drying, so make sure you follow up with a deep conditioner to help balance out your strands. After a clay wash, I know my hair is beautifully clean. If you’ve noticed that your shampoo isn’t really cleaning your hair all the way, you may want to try and swap your shampoo for a simple clay wash. Having a styling gel that actually works for me opened up so many new styling options. Today there are tons of flaxseed gel options on the market, but you will often find tons of ingredients that your hair probably doesn’t need. This three-ingredient gel is as natural as it gets.  

Flaxseed Styling Gel
I have such a hard time with gels and styling creams. I find that they either make my hair hard as a rock or super frizzy, and neither of those results is a good look on me. Making flaxseed gel has become a staple routine in my house. Flaxseed gel is the perfect combo of control and softness that keeps my wash ‘n go style looking good for the whole week. Below is my recipe and if you would like a bit more help making your DIY flaxseed gel use this link.
What you need:
¼ cup of flaxseed
2-3 cups of water
Small saucepan
Pantyhose
Bowl or glass measuring cup
Optional: Rosemary essential oil (5-10 drops)
Directions:
Add water and flaxseed into a pot
Turn on the stove to medium-low heat
Bring mixture to a simmer and continue to stir
Simmer until the mixture becomes similar to a gel consistency
Take off of the stove and let it cool 
Drape stocking over bowl or glass measuring cup
Pour flaxseed gel into the stocking
Release stocking from the bowl
Squeeze the liquid out of the stocking until only the flaxseeds are left inside of the stocking
Discard flaxseeds
If doing so, add the rosemary essential oil and stir to combine
Pour in a mason jar or any jar with a lid
Store in fridge
Since my big chop 15 years ago, the Black natural hair market has exploded. You can find complete aisles dedicated to natural hair. I have tried most brands on the shelves today, yet I still come back to my DIY haircare swaps. We as Black people have fought for the right to wear our hair as we wanted. So whether you buy commercial products or decide to use some of these DIY swaps, your hair is beautiful in any length, texture, or style. To my natural hair community: all hair is good hair. Wear it out, wear it proud.  More