lifestyle and culture

June’s – ‘The Beauty Issue’ – Download NowMonther Darwish, Managing Director at Palazzo Versace Dubai and Founder of Palazzo Hospitality discusses the Neoclassic references that drive clients to return.What do the first 30 minutes of your day look like, your morning routine?I don’t have an exact morning routine as each day is so different. On a typical day, however, I usually wake up to reading the property’s morning reports before having a quick catch-up with the management team.The Versace DNA is felt throughout the hotel – how long did this process take to build?Palazzo Versace Dubai is a detailed property that thoroughly embodies the brand’s DNA. Each corner of the hotel reflects the true essence of the Versace brand, from the dining venues that are tributes to Versace’s signature works, to the property’s interiors adorned with Versace fashion sketches and emblematic designs, the property is a testament to the brand’s storied heritage. The hotel group’s utmost priority was that the property reflects the Versace lifestyle which is bold, one-of-a-kind, and luxurious. ENSHAA is the development firm for the hotel, and the board’s goal was to have guests feeling like they’ve landed on a fashion runway straight out of Milan. Luxury was to be integrated in every part of the experience, be it while lounging by the pool or while dining at the restaurants. Every aspect of the hotel was created with minute attention to detail, from the architecture and interior design to the overall guest experience. For the property to be experienced in the best way possible, a top-notch team of hospitality experts was required to ensure guests have an unforgettable stay.Everything from to the china and furnishings is printed, how do you ensure everything stays on brand on a daily basis?Each team member is a guardian of the brand, from housekeeping to marketing or front office, Palazzo Versace Dubai is helmed by a team of experts. All team members are briefed on the many brand standards that we follow, reinforced by detailed training and team development to ensure that these parameters are met and respected at all times.Do you have a high client retention rate and do you see a trend in clients visiting from specific corners of the globe?Despite the pandemic, we are proud to say that our returning guest rate has only grown over time. Over the past few years, we have managed to build a great community of guests who love Dubai and love staying at Palazzo Versace thanks to the tailor-made experience, attention to detail and top-notch service that we pride ourselves in. There are a plethora of reasons why people return to Palazzo Versace Dubai, the warmth of the team, the quality of service and the experience overall is unmatched.What key aspects make the Palazzo Versace a truly unique experience?Although Dubai is one of the most diverse cities in the world in terms of hotel offerings and tourism experiences, Palazzo Versace Dubai remains, unlike any other property. The hotel’s strong identity, its opulence, luxury offering, and super adaptable team provide guests with a lifetime of memories. In Dubai, the property remains unique thanks to its strong ties with the fashion brand, providing a location that leaves guests feeling like they’ve flown to Milan for the latest fashion week. The food, the amenities and everything immerse guests in an unparalleled bubble of the finest luxury.How has the hotel industry had to adapt over the last year and what changes have you implemented?Needless to say, the hospitality industry was among the hardest hit by the pandemic. While February 2020 announced a promising year, March 2020 hit us like a hard wake-up call to reality. It was challenging to keep our doors open with only 5 per cent occupancy. Yet during this downtime, as a team, we worked together to improve sanitation protocols at all levels and to communicate continuously to guests through social platforms. We never let our guests down and ensured they stayed informed on how we were preparing to welcome them back when the time permitted. Since we worked overtime to remain on top, we experienced an amazing turnaround once restrictions were lifted – occupancy was at an all-time high and the summer months were highlighted by a rise in local travel and numerous staycation offerings that worked better than ever.What’s the best piece of business advice you’ve received?The best piece of business advice I’ve ever received is to turn challenges into opportunities. This advice has become even more relevant in light of the pandemic, a time when hoteliers have been forced to adapt and transition in the safest ways possible. Maintaining a hotel business in times like these, faced with industry-wide restrictions, was very difficult. However, as a team we managed to turn these challenges into business opportunities, allowing us to reach targets, surpass goals and maintain our budgets.What advice would you give to your younger self?I’d tell myself to never let a day pass without having achievement. Achievements can change depending on the day – on a bad day, an achievement could be just getting out of bed, other days it’s rewarding a hard-working member of the team or achieving a personal goal. Every day we should strive for something to look forward to.Tell us about the spa and the signature treatments you offer?The SPA at Palazzo Versace Dubai offers all kinds of body and face treatments complemented by luxury wellness brands. One of our newest additions to The SPA includes the Amber Essence massage, which happens to be one of my personal favourites. The treatment is a super relaxing massage using an Amber-scented candle by Moroccan brand marocMaroc that hydrates and comforts the skin instantaneously.This is ‘The Beauty Issue’ – what does beauty mean to you?Beauty to me is all about self-care and balance. We feel the most beautiful when we take care of ourselves, be it internally or externally. Balance is also key, the beauty of life comes by knowing how to keep ourselves balanced, to best serve ourselves and our community.

June’s – ‘The Beauty Issue’ – Download Now
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If choosing between Asian and Italian cuisine is a common dilemma frequenting your life, look no further than the culinary fusion of Chef Carlos De Garza of 3Fils and Chef Nicholas Reina of Bella.The chefs have created a cooking collaboration like no other, where they have ingeniously combined elements from both cuisines to bring a unique 12-course tasting menu to Dubai, for a limited time only.Exploring the links between Asian and Italian gastronomy, with common denominators that stretch far beyond noodles, the chefs have carefully curated the 3Fils x Bella menu with a nod to their signature dishes.The 12-course tasting menu begins with a shitake mushroom croissant served with seaweed burnt cream. This will be followed by Uni topped with whipped burrata and a Shio Kombo Jelly, then an Otoro pizza which is topped with a chilli emulsion and koji.The main attraction begins with guests indulging on Tagliolini with a Japanese twist, followed by 72-hour braised short ribs with kalbi marinade with pickled apple and XO sauce.To finish, a selection of desserts begins with Miso crepes with Amarenti cherries dusted with Miso powder, followed by a Timut frozen yoghurt drizzled with black cardamon oil and to end the menu, a Coffee Sorpresa.Experience the 3FILS x Bella collaboration at 3FILS on 21st and 22nd June and at Bella on 28th and 29th June, priced at Dhs395 per person.– For more on luxury lifestyle, news, fashion and beauty follow Emirates Woman on Facebook and InstagramImages: Supplied More

One emirate has been named as one of the least stressful cities in the world according to VAAY’s latest survey. Comparing 100 major global cities over 15 factors, the survey is an attempt to show which cities are leading the way, in terms of improving the well-being of their citizens.Abu Dhabi is one of the least stressful cities for its citizens, according to this latest survey.Abu Dhabi was ranked 28th on the list of 100 countries, with a total score of 83.6/100, making it one of the least stressful cities to live in throughout the world.In terms of safety and security, Abu Dhabi was ranked the 4th least stressful. Sitting closely behind Doha, Reykjavik and Singapore, Abu Dhabi received a score of 96.7, deeming the emirate incredibly safe and secure. This score is based on public opinion of the perceived risk of being a victim of a crime and local media coverage of conflicts.This follows on from the research conducted by crowd-sourcing website Numbeo, earlier this year, out of 431 cities which were included in the data, the UAE’s capital had the lowest crime index and the quality of life score was 88.46 per cent, making Abu Dhabi the safest city in the world for the fifth year in a row.
#AbuDhabi is the world’s safest city for the fifth consecutive year in Numbeo’s Quality of Life index. Topping 431 cities is a testament to the security and stability Abu Dhabi enjoys, confirmed Major General Staff Pilot Faris Al Mazrouei, Commander-in-Chief of Abu Dhabi Police. pic.twitter.com/1vO9w3rikp
— مكتب أبوظبي الإعلامي (@admediaoffice) January 24, 2021However, in terms of air pollution, Abu Dhabi was found to have the 11th my stressful of the 100 countries listed, with a score of 53.8, based on data from annual average air quality indexes.Similarly, in terms of minority equality, Abu Dhabi scored 25.8/100, making it the 7th most stressful of the 100 countries. Expressed as a score this data is based on the degree to which minorities have equal opportunities in the political, religious and legal areas.One other major GCC city, Doha, Qatar, earned first place in terms of safety and security scoring the highest possible 100/100.Overall, Rekjavik in Iceland was deemed the least stressful city, with most of its scores being so positive it ranked in the top 10 in multiple categories including safety and security, weather and noise pollution, which confirmed the city as the least stressful of those measured.– For more on luxury lifestyle, news, fashion and beauty follow Emirates Woman on Facebook and InstagramFeature Image: Unsplash More

As today, June 21, marks Father’s Day in the UAE, Her Highness Sheikha Latifa Bint Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Chairperson of Dubai Culture and Arts Authority, shared a sweet public message to her father, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai.Sheikha Latifa shared a series of images on her Instagram, some of which included from when she was just a baby with her father.Her Highness also showcased the doting grandfather Sheikh Mohammed is sharing two images of the Ruler of Dubai with her children – Mohammed bin Faisal Al Qassimi and Shaika bint Faisal Al Qassimi.Sheikha Latifa captioned the series of swipe-right images saying, “And that I brag about you, that you are my father. Who will be to blame when I brag? #FathersDay @hhshkmohd Happiest Father’s Day Dad, I love you @hhshkmohd my #1 always #fathersday.”Sheikh Mohammed is known for being a family, regularly spending time with his grandchildren,Earlier this year, Sheikha Latifa shared a series of sweet photos of her father with her three-year-old son, Mohammed.The first featured the young Mohammed bin Faisal giving his grandfather a small red flower. The second photo then showed Sheikh Mohammed kissing his grandson on the head with the flower in his right hand.Also marking Father’s Day, Dubai’s Crown Prince, His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum shared an inspiring video on his stories of Sheikh Mohammed and him with snippets from the video shown below for a Father’s Day wish.– For more on luxury lifestyle, news, fashion and beauty follow Emirates Woman on Facebook and InstagramImages: Instagram @latifamrm1 More

Kylie Jenner has opened up about her former best friend Jordyn Woods for the first time in two years.During part two of the Keeping Up With the Kardashians: The Final Curtain reunion special, Jenner, alongside her sister Khloe Kardashian, discussed Woods and the end of their friendship following the revelation Woods had kissed Kardashian’s partner and father of her child, Tristan Thompson.Looking to the future, the pair faced questioning from the show’s host, Andy Cohen, on Sunday where both sisters opened up about their public falling out with Jordyn Woods.Addressing the cheating scandal which drove a wedge between the Kardashian-Jenner family and Woods, Jenner admitted that the situation was especially difficult to handle due to her close relationships with both parties.The founder of Kylie Cosmetics commented on the division saying, “When we were friends, we never thought that we wouldn’t be friends, it was kind of an overnight thing. When she did something to my family, it felt like she did something to me.”In terms of Kardashian’s stance on Woods, who was involved in one of Thompson’s cheating scandals, she hasn’t spoken to Jenner’s friend since the feud, but said, “I think she’s doing really well in her personal life.”Kardashian went further on the matter, suggesting there was a “huge misconception” regarding suggestions she had forgiven Tristan but not Jordyn. “I don’t have any grudge against Jordyn,” she said. “I think people make mistakes, people live and they learn.”She continued, “I have to forgive these people for me, and it’s up to them to forgive themselves and be accountable and learn and hopefully don’t repeat these same cycles.”The Good American founder also opened up about telling her sister that she wouldn’t have a problem with the makeup mogul trying to rekindle her friendship with Woods if she wished.Putting her family first, Khloe said, “My sisters matter way more to me than any grudge or issue that I would have with another individual. And, if I can allow Tristan back into my life, I need to allow the same forgiveness and acceptance of other people.”– For more on luxury lifestyle, news, fashion and beauty follow Emirates Woman on Facebook and InstagramImages: Kris Jenner Instagram, Feature Image: Kylie Jenner/Kylie Cosmetics Instagram More

Since they welcomed their first child together in September 2020, Gigi Hadid and Zayn Malik have been in a world of parental bliss.Opting to keep their daughter away from the limelight, the couple have chosen to share small tidbits of the little one’s life when suits them, including the revealing of her name, Khai, earlier this year.Of course, to mark Father’s Day, Hadid gave one such insight into their lives as parents, sharing an unseen photo of “baba” Malik and baby Khai.In a sweet photo shared to Instagram, Malik is seen holding his baby girl up to a lit-up globe, essentially showing his daughter the world.“Our Khai is so lucky to have a baba who loves her so much & does anything to see her smile!!” the 25-year-old said. “[Zayn] Happy first Father’s Day. I’m so grateful for all the lil [sic] bits of her that are you.“We love you so much.”Hadid also shared another photo to mark Father’s Day over her own “baba”, Mohamed Hadid. The sweet snap of the property tycoon in New York City – where the supermodel and Malik have a home – pushing a stroller presumed to have baby Khai in it.“Happy Fathers Day my daddio @mohamedhadid I love you so much and have loved watching you be the sweetest Jido to Khai,” Hadid said.How Gigi and Zayn are raising their daughterHadid recently opened up in an interview to i-D magazine discussing how she intends to help her daughter embrace her multiethnic heritage, something she’s previously felt difficulty standing up for at times when it comes to her Arab roots.Both she and Malik are from multicultural backgrounds, with Hadid having Palestinian and Dutch heritage, while Malik is British Pakistani, and she admitted it’s something they talk about a lot as partners as it’s “something that we first experienced ourselves”.Noting how both she and Malik are both the “first generation of those mixed races, and then that comes with that first generational experience”, she admitted she has previously felt like she was “too white” to embrace her Arab heritage.“In certain situations, I feel – or I’m made to feel – that I’m too white to stand up for part of my Arab heritage,” Hadid said. “You go through life trying to figure out where you fit in racially.”When it comes to her daughter, Hadid hopes she’ll feel empowered to be a “bridge” for her multicultural background.She added, “I think that Khai will grow up feeling out the way that she can or wants to be a bridge for her different ethnicities.”The Palestinian-Dutch model also noted she’s keen to have conversations with her daughter to see “where she comes from” in her thoughts and ideas about embracing her heritage.The meaning of baby Khai’s nameEnsuring she has a piece of heritage with her all the time, Hadid’s daughter’s name pays tribute to her Arab heritage.Not only is Khai a beautiful name, but there’s also a truly special meaning behind the moniker.Khai means “crowned”, “the chosen one” or “strong” in some Arabic terms. The name was also chosen as it pays tribute to her late grandmother, Khairia, on her father Mohamed Hadid’s side of the family, according to TMZ.Hadid’s father has previously claimed his late mother descended from royalty. “Her great grandfather was the Prince of Nazareth – King of Galilee in the 18th century Daher Al-Omer The Ruler,” he previously said.– For more on luxury lifestyle, news, fashion and beauty follow Emirates Woman on Facebook and InstagramImages: Gigi Hadid Instagram More