< Previous70 C EO M I D D L E E A S T MAY 2 0 1 9 Fe s t i v e G u i d e MEDITERRANEAN EXPERIENCE OPA has a special Greek Iftar menu for the holy month includ- ing a soup of the day, dates, cold and hot starters, a main course and a dessert. Located at The Fairmont Hotel, the new charming Greece-inspired inte- riors are designed to transport you to a quaint and enchanting Greek island. The authentic fla- vours combine classic Hellenic techniques with a Mediterrane- an touch for a unique twist with the menu featuring a delectable assortment of tender grilled meats, zesty salads and fresh fish preparations. – Kleftiko, the star of the menu, is a tender braised lamb shoulder, accom- panied with feta mash and mint salad served on the side. FLAVOURS OF THE DESERT Set in the heart of Abu Dhabi’s desert, enjoy a taste of Arabia with dishes prepared in big open-style kitchens showcasing charcoal kebab grills and a traditional saj oven at the Bait Al Hanine restaurant at the recently opened Jumeirah Al Wathba Desert Resort and Spa. Enjoy live oud music in the background while your children play in the specially designed kids’ corner. The resort is an ideal hideaway for couples and families seeking a tranquil escape, situated in Al Wathba which is a historical location with rich Emirati resonance and home to the annual Sheikh Zayed Heritage Festival - one of the biggest cultural events in the UAE. WITH THE HOLY MONTH OF RAMADAN SET TO BEGIN THIS MONTH, WE ROUND UP SOME OF THE SEASON’S IFTARS AND SUHOURS TO SET THE PERFECT BACKDROP FOR MEANINGFUL SEASONAL GATHERINGS WITH FAMILY, FRIENDS, COLLEAGUES AND CLIENTSM AY 2 0 1 9 CEO MIDDLE E A ST 71 BREAK YOUR FAST AT THE WORLD’S TALLEST BUILDING If you’re looking for quiet sophistication and gracious service the Armani Hotel ballroom’s subtle Arabesque design provide elegantly styled ambience and gracious service for an Iftar or Suhour with clients and colleagues. Or enjoy a four course spe- cial Iftar meal with family at Armani’s Indian restaurant Amal along with a stunning view of The Dubai Fountain. INSPIRATION FROM THE SILK ROUTE The Manzil Downtown features an inspiring spread of cuisines from across the trade routes that have historically connected the East and West. Connect with different tradi- tions and witness the influence of Europe, Asia and Africa on your Iftar or Suhour table and at live cooking stations in a contempo- rary Arabesque lounge and courtyard. BY THE SEA Set by the water with sweeping views of the Burj al Arab, the five-star Jumeirah Al Qasr’s Khaymat Al Bahar, or ‘Tent of the Sea’ in Arabic, is inspired by the culinary traditions of the Gulf’s diverse community of Bedouin tribes. Seven rotating menus feature a spread of more than 18 starters, nine main courses and numerous desserts. Main courses being rotated during Ramadan include Kofta bel Seney (minced lamb dish), mixed grill and Djej Bil Senyeh (baked garlic chicken with potatoes), while international palates can sample baked salmon, vegetable Thai green curry, shrimp masala and baked mushroom pasta. HEALTH AND WELLNESS The Retreat Palm Dubai MGallery by Sofitel’s Iftar is all about being healthy and even includes a free genetic test. The traditional Arabian Iftar buffet includes three live cooking stations, date and halawet market, a healthy cold mezze with superfood dressings, as well as authentic lean lamb Ouzzi, flavour-infused chicken shawarmas and fresh Manakesh. Guests are also invited to choose from four test areas including weight loss management, micronutrient management, food intolerance, and skin care and anti-ageing management. 72 C EO M I D D L E E A S T MAY 2 0 1 9 LEISURE | MOTOR GLADIATOR READY JEEP’S TOUGH AND TENDER NEW TRUCK OR THOSE OF AN AGE WHO REMEMBER THE TV show Gladiators, the name of the new Jeep truck makes perfect sense. The ’90s show saw competitors taking on a gruelling physical obstacle course, before qualifying for the final round, the eliminator. For those of a younger generation, think Ninja Warrior, but with terrible hair. Like the show’s contestants, the new Jeep Gladiator is tough and purpose built to get through a whole range of obstacles, making it very much a mid- sized truck rather than an SUV. Based on the brand’s flagship off-roader, the Wrangler (which launched its very im- F BY ALP SARPER pressive all-new fourth generation last year), the Gladiator is a hugely capa- ble off-road with an outstanding 11.1 inches of ground clearance, but also adds practical heft with an impressive maximum towing capacity of 3,470kg and able to haul up to 726 kg in its bed. Aesthetically, it takes again takes its lead from the Wrangler – meaning that it is just as handsome and sculpted as its SUV sibling up front. Jeep’s signa- ture seven-slat grill design carries over, obviously, but it’s slightly larger here to help with cooling. The Wrangler’s LED headlights, optional steel bumpers, and big ole fenders remain unchanged. Importantly, the Gladiator can now boasts of being the only open-air pick- up truck in the industry. In fact, every version of the Gladiator is a convertible – both hard and soft tops – and offer a low-range gearbox for off-roading. You’ll find the same 3.6-litre V6 engine producing 285hp and 352NM of torque throughout the range, and the choice of either a six-speed manual transmission or an eight-speed automatic. While potential buyers may already be excited to get behind the wheel, they will have to be patient as the trucks wont hit roads in the GCC until early 2020. Gladiators, ready. MAY 2019 CEO MIDDLE E A ST 73 AN AUTONOMOUS MUSE DUBAI’S W MOTORS AND CHINESE STARTUP ICONIQ MOTORS UNVEIL FULLY-ELECTRIC CAR AT AUTO SHANGHAI 2019 UBAI-BASED W MOTORS AND ITS SISTER company, China’s electric vehicle start-up Iconiq Motors, have officially unveiled the Muse autonomous car at Auto Shanghai. With the global trend forecast to move from car ownership towards shared mobility, and from human driv- ers to autonomous vehicles, the Muse has been designed entirely in-house by W Motors with an aim to become pioneers of the future mobility in the region. A test fleet of the Muse, developed in partnership with Iconiq, is set to make its debut on UAE roads in specially designated zones during the Expo 2020 in Dubai, with production of series ve- hicles set to commence in 2023. The next-generation mobility vehicle has wide translucent surfaces and clean lines with an aerodynamic shape for better efficiency and longer autonomy. With four seats including two swivel- ling front seats, the car can also be converted into a mobile meeting room via conference mode. Two large screens and four personal tablets enable indi- vidual connectivity through a ‘CEO. UX’ user experience which stands for comfort, entertainment and office. The Muse is also equipped with cutting-edge cyber-security and safety systems. With a name derived from the Greek goddess of inspiration, the fully-electric self-driving Muse fea- tures an advanced infotainment system and smart onboard services, innovative wide screen user interfaces and ad- vanced cloud-computed connectivity. “It is estimated that electric vehicles will make up a massive 40 to 50 per- cent share of the global auto market by 2040, up from around three precent today,” Ralph R. Debbas, founder and CEO of W Motors said in a statement. “The transition from conventional vehicles to electric ones will happen sooner than expected due to cost ef- ficiency and environmental awareness, and a shift in mindset away from car ownership will take this transport mod- el one step further.” Making its road-ready Asian debut, W Motors’ Fenyr SuperSport production model was also unveiled at the Shang- hai Auto Show. Showcased in arctic white with distinctive gold accents, the D Fenyr SuperSport is the newest hyper- car to be launched by the auto compa- ny, a limited edition with a production run of only 110 cars including 10 launch editions. The custom-made twin-turbo flat 6, mid-rear 3.8L engine is capa- ble of delivering 800HP and hits zero to 100 km/h in just 2.8 seconds with a maximum top speed of 400 km/h. W Motors’ famed first hypercar the Lykan HyperSport, which appeared in Universal Studios’ Furious 7, was also on display. 74 C EO M I D D L E E A S T M AY 2 0 1 9 FROM SCREEN TO PLATE MASTERCHEF IS THE LATEST ADDITION TO DUBAI’S RESTAURANT SCENE The world’s first MasterChef-themed restaurant has made its debut in the Dubai Marina. Based on the popular international competitive cooking reality television show, the restaurant will showcase talents and recipes of MasterChef series contestants from many of the 60 worldwide territories where the programme has been adapted. Located at the Millennium Place Marina, the venue offers indoor and outdoor dining experiences with a capacity to accommodate 180 covers including terrace seating with a capacity of 60. Headed by internationally-acclaimed chef Maria ‘Margarita’ Vaamonde-Beggs, the franchise’s competitive element will be featured in the form of its Mystery Box challenge. Available to groups of two or more guests, the main course Mystery Box menu option will allow adventurous diners to pick their choice of up to five ingredients from 10-plus proteins, vegetables and condiments. CEO APPROVESSimpler Banking AT YOUR SERVICE ACROSS THE REGION Enjoy ABK’s simpler banking services in Kuwait, Egypt, and the UAE.Next >