< PreviousSTYLE 40 C EO M I D D L E E A S T SEPTEMBER 202 1 THE ITALIAN JOB Domenico Dolce and Stefano Gabbana fi rst met in Milan in 1980 and designed for the same fashion house. Five years later the talented duo started a retail empire that is now estimated to have a brand value of $3.2bn olce&Gabbana specialises in luxury items inspired by timeless and high-designs; responding to long-term trends as well as seasonal changes. Followers – from aristocrats to celebrities – love the brand’s high quality tailoring paired with everything that is new, fresh, and vibrant. For the popular brand, contrast is an endless source of stimulation and inspiration. The contrast value generates the harmony value which is expressed in a style that combines luxury and street, tradition and research, creativity and tailoring, excess and rigour, dream and reality. D Passion for fashion. Stefano Gabbana (left) and Domenico Dolce co-founded the eponymous luxury fashion house in 1985 in Legnano, Milan “So, our job today is to bring together our DNA, what we are, uniting our vision and the vision that all young people have,” Gabbana said during the brand’s Winter 2021 – 2022 collection, paying homage to the new generation. CEO Middle East takes a look at some of the latest offerings from the fashion house. BY EDWARD LIAMZONSTYLE SEPTEMBER 202 1CEO M IDDLE E A ST 41 Stylish. Mino calfskin loafers with branded plate, $909 Wrist candy. DS5 watch in steel with PVD coating, $4,100 Cool creation. Cashmere/wool moss stitch cardigan with DG intarsia, $ 2,549 CliCh/li h Leather feel. Medium Sicily bag in aria matelassé calfskin, $2,287 Bling. Chain bracelet with DG logo charms, $648 Suave. Linen Taormina-fit suit, $2,81042 C EO M I D D L E E A S T SEPTEMBER 202 1 NATURE INSPIRED Modelled after the concept of the ‘Tree of Life’, this Dubai Hills Grove mansion’s design and development is nothing short of breathtaking BY CEO MIDDLE EAST STAFF LUXURY PROPERTY R ounding out a hat trick of deals that each exceeded AED100m ($27.2m) in value in 2021 alone, Luxhabitat Sotheby’s has just announced the sale of a stunning luxury mansion villa in Dubai Hills Estate, which also records as the fastest ever deal from listing to transaction date for a AED100m+ property, which is in SEPTEMBER 202 1 CEO MIDDLE E A ST 43 LUXURY PROPERTY Luxury living. (Standing) Leigh Williamson, managing director at Four Seasons Retail Office for Luxhabitat Sotheby’s International Realty and associate director Honey Deylami $16.87BN The value of real estate sales transactions in Dubai in the first half of the year EVERY DETAIL HAS BEEN FINISHED TO THE HIGHEST STANDARDS AND MAKES THIS A TRULY REMARKABLE HOME less than a month. This resale deal is the highest value property sold in Dubai Hills Estate to date and has now been purchased by a discreet, high net worth buyer. Although the villa was lovingly curated from shell and core by the owner, the current market trends represented an opportunity for resale that was too good to pass up. Standing out from the crowd Dubai as a location is not short on exceptional luxury properties. This is the city of island paradises, the secluded oasis and the city centre penthouse. Yet a rare few number of homes manage to push the boundaries of excellence that little bit further, and therefore stand to attract the top echelons of buyers from all over the world. That is exactly what happened with this custom-built villa in Dubai Hills Estate. Already a sizeable villa, the owners had a vision to unite chic functionality with effortlessly organic design, inspired by the woods of Switzerland and the ‘Tree of Life’. Enlisting the aid of award-winning experts Infi nite Architecture & Interior Design and BW Interiors, they set about creating a meticulously designed home that would utilise dramatic proportions, changing textures, sophisticated lighting and calming hues to optimise the naturalistic environment. Every detail has been fi nished to the highest standards and makes this a truly remarkable home, from the 4-metre high glazed bi-fold doors that integrate the indoor with the outdoor to the 10 metre drop Grand Staircase light installation made of handcrafted Bohemian crystal glass leaves. 44 C EO M I D D L E E A S T SEPTEMBER 202 1 n March 10, 2011, David “The Bullet” Smith Jr was shot out of a cannon, he flew nearly 60 metres and reached a speed of 120km/h, currently holding the claim to the world record. During his exhilarating flight he would have coped with stresses of up to 9G as he plummeted through the air. It’s an experience that most wouldn’t choose, or be able to comprehend. I however, now have some inkling into his world, after a weekend with the aston- ishing all-electric Porsche Taycan Turbo and specifically its Launch Control. Step one, click this AED650,000 machine into Sport Plus mode. Step two, fully depress the brake, then fully depress the accelerator, it’s now your car tells you ‘Launch Control Activated’ and the hairs on the back of your neck stand up. Step three, release the brake and then hold on tight as the universe slams into fast forward and you are thrown back into your seat, gripping the steer- ing wheel for dear life. Physically, the two electric motors that give this machine life are generating up to 500kw of power, the equivalent of 680 horse power, hurtling you onwards so fast that in 3.2 seconds you’ve passed 100kph. Emotionally, through a potent cocktail of adrenalin, endorphins and sheer exhilaration, you are weeping with joy, laughing in a way you haven’t laughed since you were a child. The Taycan isn’t just a sports car, it’s a time machine. Experience Launch Control and you are right back rid- ing Space Mountain at Disneyland for the first time, you are Michael Knight pressing Turbo Boost in Knight Rider, or Starbuck launching his Viper fighter in Battlestar Galactica. What makes this sensation akin to Mr Smith Jr’s flight is the smoothness of the acceleration. There isn’t the lag as fuel is injected, pistons fire and gears are worked through, instead the two ‘perma- nently excited’ electric motors (one on TIME MACHINE AS THE UAE WELCOMES PORSCHE’S ALL-ELECTRIC SPORTS CAR ON ITS ROADS, CEO MIDDLE EAST GETS TO GRIPS WITH THE FUTURE OF MOTORING By SCOTT ARMSTRONG O CAR REVIEWCAR REVIEW SEPTEMBER 202 1 CEO MIDDLE E A ST 45 the front axle, one on the rear) deliver power instantly and silently. So much so that accelerating above 100km/h is still that same seat-slamming experience. On the racetrack the Taycan can get from 100km/h to 200km/h in a mere 7.4 seconds. This makes the Taycan incredibly agile, the delay between thinking ‘I want more speed’ and the machine giving it to you is only limited by how fast the syn- apses in your brain deliver the message to your foot on the pedal. It’s like Clint Eastwood’s Firefox (though you don’t need to think in Russian – Millennials look it up on YouTube). There’s been much talk about whether the Taycan’s launch control can outpace Tesla’s ‘Cheetah mode’, with common wisdom being that Porsche just sneaks it, but on an engineering front the German marque takes all prizes be- ing able to repeat that blistering speed over and over again without rest, not the case with its American rival. The difference was put to me this way when I took the key to this machine: “Tesla is a technology firm that built an electric car, Porsche is a sports car maker that put all its herit- age and knowledge into building its electric creation.” While this speed is impressive on the track, on the road it gives you the ability to skip away from peril in a heartbeat. Indeed while test driving, having proper- ly indicated to turn left at a roundabout, two oncoming trucks ploughed straight through (probably too busy gawping to stop) and would have sided me in pretty much anything else, but the Taycan was able to surge past danger with just a whisker of pressure on the accelerator. The time machine effect isn’t just isolated to launch control, just being sat behind the steering wheel and watching and listening is a thing of joy, it is having your mind blown away as a child watching the original Tron, and you almost feel like you are piloting a light cycle. The silence is captivating, as you drive you actively listen to the stillness as it’s mesmerising. If you want a little accompaniment you can of course switch on the Elec- tric Sport Sound (this is a requirement in Europe so that pedestrians can hear the car coming). With this switched on, inside it sounds like an orches- tral choir is in the back just humming along, getting more animated as the power is increased. Of course, while this car has pretty much driven out of my childhood movies it does need to live in the real world, and in a part of the world not quite set up for electric motoring yet. Dubai to its credit has already started down the path with charging stations at petrol stations, malls and the like, and still currently there is zero cost to charging your Tay- can up at a public facility if you can find one. But the reality is that charging isn’t Thrilling. Porsche Taycan Turbo’s two electric motors generate up to 500kw of power The stats: Top speed: 260 km/h 0 – 100 km/h: 3.2 seconds 0 – 200km/h: 10.6 seconds Overboost power for Launch Control: up to 500 kW (680 PS) Maximum torque for Launch Control: 850 Nm Range: 383 – 452 km on a fully- charged battery as big a deal as you’d think. The Taycan has a range on a fully charged battery of up to 452km (depending on how it’s driven) and during my weekend that range hovered around the 400km mark. What might surprise though is how easy it is to charge at home, you can simply plug it in to any three-pin socket. This is going to take you about nine hours overnight to charge from empty to full and cost you around AED15. Of course, if you were seriously buying this car you would have the ultra-fast charger plumbed in to your garage to speed that process up. For some this idea of charging at home rather than filling up on the go might take a little change in habits, but anyone living in the suburbs using ser- vices such as Cafu are already well-used to this fill up at home ethos. There are 100 other things I could write about this car, in terms of per- formance or technical engineering, but the most important that hit me was the sheer joy of the Taycan Turbo. For any petrol heads who said electric cars could never provide an emotional, mov- ing experience, Porsche has delivered an incredible rejoinder. And, if this is where we start with electric performance motoring then the science-fiction geek of my childhood can’t wait to see where we go on this journey. PHO TOS: PORSCHE46 C EO M I D D L E E A S T SEPTEMBER 202 1 ts runway collections are edgy, extrovert and ooze ultra-confi - dence, but brand Versace in hotel form takes on a distinctly more subtle char- acter. Sure, you’ll see Donatella’s runway sketches framed proudly in gold, punctuat- ing soaring, sleek marble corridors, and perhaps once in a while the fashion icon herself, but that’s where the obvious simi- larities end. Oh – well, aside from the fact that slip- ping into a Versace ensemble feels much like slipping through the hallowed doors and into the lobby of this Al Jaddaf land- mark: you feel instantly taller, more attrac- tive and somehow pleasantly important. The architectural style joins traditional neo-classical Italian with Arabian elements. Every detail is superb, from the lavish orna- mental fl ourishes on the ceilings, to the fi nest marbles and mosaics, crafted from stones hand-picked and sourced from exclusive suppliers. Brand Versace is all about opulence, fi nery and magnifi cence – but this property does an exceptional job of delighting its guests with thoughtful, sensitive service and opportunities for serenity and repose. The latter feeling is abundantly enabled courtesy of the flawless service at this impeccably-run palazzo. The staff, a care- fully choreographed ballet, are responsive and charming, attending and considerate of their guests, providing ample freedom to indulge in whatever whim has brought you here – that change of scene, a family getaway minus the headaches of passports HOSPITALITY | PALAZZO VERSACE DUBAI BY JOLA CHUDY I A PALACE FIT FOR ROYALTY When Dubai’s high society wants a change of scene, they swap palaces for this palazzo; Versace, to be specifi c, a playground for the senses that’s all about ultra-luxurious moments of pure delightSEPTEMBER 202 1 CEO MIDDLE E A ST 47 PALAZZO VERSACE DUBAI | TRAVEL decked out in sophisticated palette of turquoise, blue, beige, gold, and pale pink. The Palazzo Versace’s rooms and suites are furnished with the Versace Home Collec- tion and the bathrooms feature hand- crafted mosaic and Carrara marble tiling. Each piece of furniture was designed and made specifi cally for the property. The property boasts 65 suites and 150 and nasal invasions, or simply a decacent meal with friends in one of the many excep- tional dining outlets. Perhaps the siren call of signature Ital- ian restaurant Vanitas, with its intricately decorated ceilings and elegant tables, has drawn you here, or the highly theatrical Persian-inspired dishes of Enigma? The Giardino brunch deserves its reputation as one of the city’s best; it’s certainly the best one to bring your offspring to thanks to the magicians, play areas, kids’ menu and costumed characters who stroll through the dining area every now and then. Defi - nitely kids-free, Q’s bar is the perfect spot for a sensual tete-a-tete with a music-ap- preciating companion or two. The live band is exceptional and the singer’s powerful vocals fi ll this dark, sultry space, transport- ing you even further from routine into a transcendent escapism. And that’s really what an exceptional hotel should do – take you away from your every day for a little while and allow you to experience joy, delight and a sense of profound equilibrium. The waterfront location with its three lavish swimming pools is ideally poised to elevate one’s vacation vibe further – there’s even a pool that is sensibly allocated to only those over the age of 18, allowing those blessed with over-excited progeny to enjoy each other’s rambunctious behavior safely in their own designated area. A swim-up bar seems like a perfectly sensible option for weekend escapism and then perhaps a post-cocktail nap or a languid afternoon on the sun lounger with book in hand. The accommodation reflects the essence of brand Versace, with luxurious materials and fabrics in abundance – if there’s one thing the Italian marque is known for, it’s not being shy when it comes to extravagant touches. So the floor is parquet, and you will step into rooms rooms, but that doesn’t mean you’re guar- anteed a room – the management is proud to acknowledge that thanks to its swift response to Covid-19 and well communi- cated safety measures, it was one of the few hotels in Dubai to enjoy healthy book- ing numbers throughout the pandemic. Whilst its popularity may also come down to the endorsements and patronage of some of the city’s most powerful and elite men and women, the truth is that every guest at this stunning waterfront property experiences the royal treatment – a Palazzo by name and nature. palazzoversace.ae “THE TRUTH IS THAT EVERY GUEST AT THIS STUNNING WATERFRONT PROPERTY EXPERIENCES THE ROYAL TREATMENT” Pure luxury. Versace is all about opulence, finery and magnificence Splendour. The hotel reflects the essence of brand Versace, with luxurious materials and fabrics in abundance48 C EO M I D D L E E A S T SEPTEMBER 202 1 OH MY OSH Zor at The Pointe, Palm Jumeirah, offers lessons in Uzbeki and Central Asian cuisine in a lamb-lover’s paradise BY RIAZ NAQVI walnuts); a green-hued pesto hummus; moutabel peppered with pomegranate; quinoa tabbouleh; and a very moreish pumpkin soup. Of the initial round, the soup was our favourite – the consistency was balanced (not too watery or thick) and the topping of pumpkin seeds and marinated blend of olive oil, garlic and soya sauce mixed well. We commenced our second round of starters with smoked salmon blinis (Russian pancakes), which work nicely with the accompanied cream cheese. Next is a typically Russian comfort food – pirozhki fi lled with cheese – that is probably the most fi lling of the starters. “It’s a dish originating from Tartarstan, alking into Zor, the recently opened Uzbeki restaurant at The Pointe, Palm Jumeirah, one can’t help but be struck by the eclectic charm of worlds colliding. The furniture is modern but the wooden ceilings, beams and booths are rustic. The open bags of spices by the entrance are laid out in a manner that wouldn’t look out of place in the old markets of Deira, but there’s a DJ pumping out contemporary house beats as we’re led to our upstairs table. The Friday brunch menu is a set affair. It kicks off with a Georgian salad (Uzbeki tomatoes, red onion slices, and cucumbers marinated in a blend of olive oil and crushed W RESTAURANT REVIEWSEPTEMBER 202 1 CEO MIDDLE E A ST 49 RESTAURANT REVIEW Excellent. The grilled lamb skewer showcases hearty and delicious flavours Must try. Khachapuri (Georgian cheese bread) and Georgian salad are a melting pot of flavours and spices affi rms this. “It’s more popular than chicken,” says the chef. For added fl avour, the lamb is traditionally slow-cooked in its own fat in a kazan, a type of cauldron. Osh, a rice and lamb pulao, is an Uzbeki natural treasure and one of Zor’s signature dishes. After the meat is roasted, onions, garlic, Uzbeki yellow carrot (healthier and sweeter than the orange type), water, cumin and salt are added for an hour of boiling. The rice, a long-grain lazar variety, is then added. With raisins served too, it’s easy for the untrained diner to confuse this with an Afghani pulao – but there are subtle differences. “In Afghan pulao, everything is put in at once and cooked together. In the Uzbek cooked in crispy oil,” the chef tells me. The fried lamb chuchvara (dumplings) are another item familiar to anyone who has experienced Middle Eastern cuisine, as is the mini lamb cheburek (a hardened cross between a samosa and kibbeh, served with laban) and the adjar khatchapuri, a crispy Georgian dough with rich sulguni cheese and an egg yolk that is very similar to a Turkish pide bread. The lamb cheburek – fried dough stuffed with onions and garlic, served with a spicy Georgian ajika sauce – awakens olfactory memories of stuffed parathas, something most people of a South Asian background will be familiar with. No meat is more beloved by Uzbekis than lamb, and a brief glance through Zor’s menu variant, ingredients are cooked one by one, and the rice isn’t as well-done. It’s a little harder,” says the chef. The mains are rounded out with grilled items: four massive prawns served with a slightly blackened lemon, as well as shashilik skewers of lamb, chicken and vegetables. The prawns are, thankfully, easy to prise open along their length. Dessert is a less traditional slice of fudge cake. The brunch at Zor offers an experience both fresh and familiar. Diners familiar with Central Asian and Middle Eastern cuisine will enjoy a range of dishes only slightly different to what they’ve tasted before, while those who aren’t in the know will dive into a journey across dishes and fl avours of the Silk Road. “IT’S A DISH ORIGINATING FROM TARTARSTAN, COOKED IN CRISPY OIL”Next >