When Christian Dior first came across the town house at 30 Avenue Montaigne, he immediately decided that it needed to be the home of his fledgling couture label. He admired its “reduced size and classic without overwhelming pedigree”, and set about making it his.
At 9am on December 16, 1946, he officially launched his new space. Within seven years, it had been extended to occupy five floors and housed 28 workshops and 1,000 employees.
This address continued to be the Dior flagship until two years ago, when it was closed for an extensive revamp. It will reopen its doors on Sunday.
The newly expanded complex now stretches over 10,000 square metres, with cafes, gardens, a restaurant and a private apartment for overnight visits from VIP clients. This is in addition to numerous floors of retail space stocked with the label’s clothing, accessories, tableware and make-up collections.
Located next to the store is a new museum, La Galerie Dior, which traces the label's history from the 1940s. It includes some of Christian Dior’s earliest creations, his desk and an original fitting room packed with hats, gloves and jewellery.
This is the latest in a series of significant real estate investments undertaken by luxury conglomerate LVMH, Dior’s owner, in the French capital. These include two hotels, the much-anticipated Cheval Blanc and Bulgari Hotel.
Islamophobia definition
A widely accepted definition was made by the All Party Parliamentary Group on British Muslims in 2019: “Islamophobia is rooted in racism and is a type of racism that targets expressions of Muslimness or perceived Muslimness.” It further defines it as “inciting hatred or violence against Muslims”.
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Specs
Engine: Dual-motor all-wheel-drive electric
Range: Up to 610km
Power: 905hp
Torque: 985Nm
Price: From Dh439,000
Available: Now
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The Vile
Starring: Bdoor Mohammad, Jasem Alkharraz, Iman Tarik, Sarah Taibah
Director: Majid Al Ansari
Rating: 4/5
The specs
Engine: 4.0-litre V8 twin-turbocharged and three electric motors
Power: Combined output 920hp
Torque: 730Nm at 4,000-7,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed dual-clutch automatic
Fuel consumption: 11.2L/100km
On sale: Now, deliveries expected later in 2025
Price: expected to start at Dh1,432,000
Duterte Harry: Fire and Fury in the Philippines
Jonathan Miller, Scribe Publications
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MATCH INFO
Maratha Arabians 107-8 (10 ovs)
Lyth 21, Lynn 20, McClenaghan 20 no
Qalandars 60-4 (10 ovs)
Malan 32 no, McClenaghan 2-9
Maratha Arabians win by 47 runs
Specs
Engine: Electric motor generating 54.2kWh (Cooper SE and Aceman SE), 64.6kW (Countryman All4 SE)
Power: 218hp (Cooper and Aceman), 313hp (Countryman)
Torque: 330Nm (Cooper and Aceman), 494Nm (Countryman)
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh158,000 (Cooper), Dh168,000 (Aceman), Dh190,000 (Countryman)
French business
France has organised a delegation of leading businesses to travel to Syria. The group was led by French shipping giant CMA CGM, which struck a 30-year contract in May with the Syrian government to develop and run Latakia port. Also present were water and waste management company Suez, defence multinational Thales, and Ellipse Group, which is currently looking into rehabilitating Syrian hospitals.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
MATCH INFO
English Premiership semi-finals
Saracens 57
Wasps 33
Exeter Chiefs 36
Newcastle Falcons 5
Guide to intelligent investing
Investing success often hinges on discipline and perspective. As markets fluctuate, remember these guiding principles:
- Stay invested: Time in the market, not timing the market, is critical to long-term gains.
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Racecard
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The biog
Name: Maitha Qambar
Age: 24
Emirate: Abu Dhabi
Education: Master’s Degree
Favourite hobby: Reading
She says: “Everyone has a purpose in life and everyone learns from their experiences”
GAC GS8 Specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo
Power: 248hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 400Nm at 1,750-4,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 9.1L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh149,900
Getting there
Flydubai flies direct from Dubai to Tbilisi from Dh1,025 return including taxes
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