Every week, The National's Luxury magazine team puts together Black Book, a cheat sheet of the most interesting and noteworthy arrivals in fashion, watches, jewellery and cars.
This week we're weaving a path from Dior's first wellness retreat to Oris's 60th anniversary diving watch and a lovingly-restored Jaguar E-type, once referred to by competitor Enzo Ferrari as the most beautiful car in the world.
Closer to home, we pop into Acqua di Parma's pop-up at Bloomingdales at Dubai Mall and see the latest release from Simihaze Beauty, the brand run by Palestinian entrepreneurs Simi and Haze.
Dior Wellness Retreat
Dior is hosting its first high-end wellness retreat at Hotel du Cap-Eden-Roc in the south of France. In April, just eight guests will be able to enjoy a luxury four-day getaway, that will include a personalised programme of pilates, led by celebrated teacher Bryony Deery.
Treatments will include signature body scrubs; massages and facials; and nutritional coaching from Rose Ferguson. The hotel has been home to a Dior Spa since 2023 and pledges to ensure guests leave feeling soothed, renewed and revitalised.
From Dh99,157
Divers Sixty-Five 60th Anniversary Edition watch by Oris
To celebrate six decades since its first dive watch, entry-level luxury brand Oris has released the Divers Sixty-Five 60th Anniversary Edition. Like the original Divers Sixty-Five, it comes with the a stainless steel case and a bi-directional rotating bezel, under a sapphire crystal dome.
It features the same legible dial, with luminescent numbers at 3, 6, 9 and 12 for maximum visibility underwater, as well as an additional leather strap and anniversary markings engraved on the case back.
Dh9,181
Acqua di Parma's Bloomingdales pop-up
The Italian fragrance house Acqua di Parma has opened a new pop-up within Bloomingdale's in Dubai Mall. Open until March, the 11-square-metre space is inspired by the famous Colonia bottle shape and focused around a 'Discovery Table' where customers can explore collections such as Arte di Vivere – and add personalisations in Arabic calligraphy, gold foil monogramming, engraving, and hatbox decoration.
From Dh240
E-type UK's restored Jaguar Speedster 1961
A British company called E-Type UK has unveiled a completely restored and upgraded, you guessed it, 1961 Jaguar E-type Series 1 Roadster. To bring the car Enzo Ferrari described as the most beautiful in the world up to date, the specialist company spent more than 3,500 hours painstakingly restoring this vintage vehicle inside and out, bringing it up to modern performance levels.
The shape of the body was subtly altered, while the interior was decked in hand-stitched red leather. While this project was to order, anyone lucky enough to own an E-type in need of restoration now knows who to go to.
Price on request
Simihaze Beauty
The beauty brand launched by the Palestinian twins Simi and Haze Khadra has unveiled a new, matte lip balm. Made with nourishing ingredients including shea butter, vitamin E and avocado oil, the Matte Slick balm is designed to keep lips smooth and hydrated.
Formulated for an invisible, matte finish, it also doubles as a primer to use under lip colour. Arriving in a matt case with a magnetic cap, it will stack with other Simihaze Beauty products, and fits into the Glow Case keychain for clipping to belt loops, keys or bags for convenience.
Dh268
More coverage from the Future Forum
Seemar’s top six for the Dubai World Cup Carnival:
1. Reynaldothewizard
2. North America
3. Raven’s Corner
4. Hawkesbury
5. New Maharajah
6. Secret Ambition
The five pillars of Islam
Expert advice
“Join in with a group like Cycle Safe Dubai or TrainYAS, where you’ll meet like-minded people and always have support on hand.”
Stewart Howison, co-founder of Cycle Safe Dubai and owner of Revolution Cycles
“When you sweat a lot, you lose a lot of salt and other electrolytes from your body. If your electrolytes drop enough, you will be at risk of cramping. To prevent salt deficiency, simply add an electrolyte mix to your water.”
Cornelia Gloor, head of RAK Hospital’s Rehabilitation and Physiotherapy Centre
“Don’t make the mistake of thinking you can ride as fast or as far during the summer as you do in cooler weather. The heat will make you expend more energy to maintain a speed that might normally be comfortable, so pace yourself when riding during the hotter parts of the day.”
Chandrashekar Nandi, physiotherapist at Burjeel Hospital in Dubai
About Karol Nawrocki
• Supports military aid for Ukraine, unlike other eurosceptic leaders, but he will oppose its membership in western alliances.
• A nationalist, his campaign slogan was Poland First. "Let's help others, but let's take care of our own citizens first," he said on social media in April.
• Cultivates tough-guy image, posting videos of himself at shooting ranges and in boxing rings.
• Met Donald Trump at the White House and received his backing.
WOMAN AND CHILD
Director: Saeed Roustaee
Starring: Parinaz Izadyar, Payman Maadi
Rating: 4/5
Jordan cabinet changes
In
- Raed Mozafar Abu Al Saoud, Minister of Water and Irrigation
- Dr Bassam Samir Al Talhouni, Minister of Justice
- Majd Mohamed Shoueikeh, State Minister of Development of Foundation Performance
- Azmi Mahmud Mohafaza, Minister of Education and Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research
- Falah Abdalla Al Ammoush, Minister of Public Works and Housing
- Basma Moussa Ishakat, Minister of Social Development
- Dr Ghazi Monawar Al Zein, Minister of Health
- Ibrahim Sobhi Alshahahede, Minister of Agriculture and Minister of Environment
- Dr Mohamed Suleiman Aburamman, Minister of Culture and Minister of Youth
Out
- Dr Adel Issa Al Tawissi, Minister of High Education and Scientific Research
- Hala Noaman “Basiso Lattouf”, Minister of Social Development
- Dr Mahmud Yassin Al Sheyab, Minister of Health
- Yahya Moussa Kasbi, Minister of Public Works and Housing
- Nayef Hamidi Al Fayez, Minister of Environment
- Majd Mohamed Shoueika, Minister of Public Sector Development
- Khalid Moussa Al Huneifat, Minister of Agriculture
- Dr Awad Abu Jarad Al Mushakiba, Minister of Justice
- Mounir Moussa Ouwais, Minister of Water and Agriculture
- Dr Azmi Mahmud Mohafaza, Minister of Education
- Mokarram Mustafa Al Kaysi, Minister of Youth
- Basma Mohamed Al Nousour, Minister of Culture
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
The five pillars of Islam
1. Fasting
2. Prayer
3. Hajj
4. Shahada
5. Zakat
Defence review at a glance
• Increase defence spending to 2.5% of GDP by 2027 but given “turbulent times it may be necessary to go faster”
• Prioritise a shift towards working with AI and autonomous systems
• Invest in the resilience of military space systems.
• Number of active reserves should be increased by 20%
• More F-35 fighter jets required in the next decade
• New “hybrid Navy” with AUKUS submarines and autonomous vessels
The years Ramadan fell in May
More on Quran memorisation:
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
MOUNTAINHEAD REVIEW
Starring: Ramy Youssef, Steve Carell, Jason Schwartzman
Director: Jesse Armstrong
Rating: 3.5/5
At a glance
Global events: Much of the UK’s economic woes were blamed on “increased global uncertainty”, which can be interpreted as the economic impact of the Ukraine war and the uncertainty over Donald Trump’s tariffs.
Growth forecasts: Cut for 2025 from 2 per cent to 1 per cent. The OBR watchdog also estimated inflation will average 3.2 per cent this year
Welfare: Universal credit health element cut by 50 per cent and frozen for new claimants, building on cuts to the disability and incapacity bill set out earlier this month
Spending cuts: Overall day-to day-spending across government cut by £6.1bn in 2029-30
Tax evasion: Steps to crack down on tax evasion to raise “£6.5bn per year” for the public purse
Defence: New high-tech weaponry, upgrading HM Naval Base in Portsmouth
Housing: Housebuilding to reach its highest in 40 years, with planning reforms helping generate an extra £3.4bn for public finances
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
