Young Emirati designer Omar Al Gurg has become something of a media darling in recent years. He’s been on the cover of lifestyle magazines and made lists of the best designers in the Middle East and North Africa. It’s easy to see why. Besides his professional talent, he oozes a sort of effortless charisma in person and in media appearances. He’s part of a new generation of entrepreneurs who approach their work seriously, but with a touch of levity and humour. Last year, he even curated the UAE Designer Exhibition at Dubai Design Week.
Al Gurg’s studio, Modu Method, is inspired by modular design (it’s in the name) and heirloom pieces. The word fun comes up a lot in his work.
I caught up with him at Modu’s new Dubai studio in a dreamy Umm Suqeim villa and asked him to answer questions for Luxury magazine’s One Last Thing.
What is your favourite time of day and why?
Early hours of the morning, when the sun starts to shine through. There’s something special about how light comes into a space in the morning.
What is your favourite restaurant anywhere in the world?
Barrafina, London
When was the first time you realised that your parents were human?
I think I realised that after graduating university, when I spent more time with them.
What do you want to be when you grow up?
Probably a farmer.
Do you have any hidden talents?
I’m pretty handy sometimes. I could probably set up a satellite dish on someone’s roof with the right equipment on hand.
Your favourite book?
In Praise of Shadows by Jun’ichiro Tanizaki.
What type of music can’t you stand?
There’s a few. Heavy metal, techno and house music. And the occasional country music.
What puts you in a bad mood?
Messy rooms.
What can you not live without?
My sketch book.
Dream dinner guests?
Charles and Ray Eames, and Verner Panton. I want to pick their brains about a few things.
Sitting on the sofa or out with friends?
Sofa. Always sofa, with friends if possible.
What smell takes you straight back to childhood?
Burning oud, no matter how many times I smell it, I feel nostalgic.
What food takes you back to childhood?
Cocktail sausages.
Have you ever been on a motorcycle?
A few times.
Can you play a musical instrument?
I can! The guitar, but I haven’t played in a while.
Which city do you love but would hate to live in?
It would probably be New York. There’s too much hustle and bustle, but it’s always so exciting.
How do you take your tea?
Hot, and probably herbal. No milk and no sugar – unless it’s karak.
Any words to live by?
Be a fountain, not a drain.
Biggest pet peeve?
When someone asks for advice, then doesn’t take it because it’s not what they wanted to hear.
Do you believe in aliens?
Maybe? The universe is ginormous, and Earth is tiny in comparison. So, it may be probable!
The most niche thing you watch on YouTube?
Visuals from the 1970s – I have a particular playlist that keeps running in the background.
What is your favourite Arabic word?
Inshallah. It’s ambiguous.
What makes you cry?
Beautiful scenery.
What do social algorithms think you’re interested in?
ASMR. Lots and lots of ASMR.
TikTok or Instagram?
Instagram. TikTok is dangerously addictive.
What is it about you that would surprise people?
I’m not so sure actually, that’s a good question. I’ll have to come back to this when I find out.
What was the last thing you did for the first time?
The last thing I can remember doing for the first time is probably pottery. What’s great about it is that it kind of always feels like the first time.
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”.
Biography
Favourite drink: Must have karak chai and Chinese tea every day
Favourite non-Chinese food: Arabic sweets and Indian puri, small round bread of wheat flour
Favourite Chinese dish: Spicy boiled fish or anything cooked by her mother because of its flavour
Best vacation: Returning home to China
Music interests: Enjoys playing the zheng, a string musical instrument
Enjoys reading: Chinese novels, romantic comedies, reading up on business trends, government policy changes
Favourite book: Chairman Mao Zedong’s poems
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%3Cp%3ESixteen%20boys%20and%2015%20girls%20have%20gone%20on%20from%20Go-Pro%20Academy%20in%20Dubai%20to%20either%20professional%20contracts%20abroad%20or%20scholarships%20in%20the%20United%20States.%20Here%20are%20two%20of%20the%20most%20prominent.%0D%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EGeorgia%20Gibson%20(Newcastle%20United)%3C%2Fstrong%3E%0D%3Cbr%3EThe%20reason%20the%20academy%20in%20Dubai%20first%20set%20up%20a%20girls%E2%80%99%20programme%20was%20to%20help%20Gibson%20reach%20her%20potential.%20Now%20she%20plays%20professionally%20for%20Newcastle%20United%20in%20the%20UK.%0D%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EMackenzie%20Hunt%20(Everton)%3C%2Fstrong%3E%0D%3Cbr%3EAttended%20DESS%20in%20Dubai%2C%20before%20heading%20to%20the%20UK%20to%20join%20Everton%20full%20time%20as%20a%20teenager.%20He%20was%20on%20the%20bench%20for%20the%20first%20team%20as%20recently%20as%20their%20fixture%20against%20Brighton%20on%20February%2024.%0D%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
- Flexible payment plans from developers
- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
THE SPECS
Engine: six-litre W12 twin-turbo
Transmission: eight-speed dual clutch auto
Power: 626bhp
Torque: 900Nm
Price: Dh940,160 (plus VAT)
On sale: Q1 2020
Who has lived at The Bishops Avenue?
- George Sainsbury of the supermarket dynasty, sugar magnate William Park Lyle and actress Dame Gracie Fields were residents in the 1930s when the street was only known as ‘Millionaires’ Row’.
- Then came the international super rich, including the last king of Greece, Constantine II, the Sultan of Brunei and Indian steel magnate Lakshmi Mittal who was at one point ranked the third richest person in the world.
- Turkish tycoon Halis Torprak sold his mansion for £50m in 2008 after spending just two days there. The House of Saud sold 10 properties on the road in 2013 for almost £80m.
- Other residents have included Iraqi businessman Nemir Kirdar, singer Ariana Grande, holiday camp impresario Sir Billy Butlin, businessman Asil Nadir, Paul McCartney’s former wife Heather Mills.
Hunting park to luxury living
- Land was originally the Bishop of London's hunting park, hence the name
- The road was laid out in the mid 19th Century, meandering through woodland and farmland
- Its earliest houses at the turn of the 20th Century were substantial detached properties with extensive grounds
UAE squad to face Ireland
Ahmed Raza (captain), Chirag Suri (vice-captain), Rohan Mustafa, Mohammed Usman, Mohammed Boota, Zahoor Khan, Junaid Siddique, Waheed Ahmad, Zawar Farid, CP Rizwaan, Aryan Lakra, Karthik Meiyappan, Alishan Sharafu, Basil Hameed, Kashif Daud, Adithya Shetty, Vriitya Aravind
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
'My Son'
Director: Christian Carion
Starring: James McAvoy, Claire Foy, Tom Cullen, Gary Lewis
Rating: 2/5
CHATGPT%20ENTERPRISE%20FEATURES
%3Cp%3E%E2%80%A2%20Enterprise-grade%20security%20and%20privacy%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%E2%80%A2%20Unlimited%20higher-speed%20GPT-4%20access%20with%20no%20caps%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%E2%80%A2%20Longer%20context%20windows%20for%20processing%20longer%20inputs%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%E2%80%A2%20Advanced%20data%20analysis%20capabilities%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%E2%80%A2%20Customisation%20options%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%E2%80%A2%20Shareable%20chat%20templates%20that%20companies%20can%20use%20to%20collaborate%20and%20build%20common%20workflows%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%E2%80%A2%20Analytics%20dashboard%20for%20usage%20insights%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%E2%80%A2%20Free%20credits%20to%20use%20OpenAI%20APIs%20to%20extend%20OpenAI%20into%20a%20fully-custom%20solution%20for%20enterprises%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
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
Company Profile
Name: Thndr
Started: 2019
Co-founders: Ahmad Hammouda and Seif Amr
Sector: FinTech
Headquarters: Egypt
UAE base: Hub71, Abu Dhabi
Current number of staff: More than 150
Funds raised: $22 million
READ MORE ABOUT CORONAVIRUS
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