For jewellery designer Salama Khalfan, time at home facilitated a period of self discovery. “I’ve learned things about myself – and about my reactions to external factors that I cannot control – that I didn’t know before," she tells us from her home in Dubai. Photo by Antonie Robertson / The National
For jewellery designer Salama Khalfan, time at home facilitated a period of self discovery. “I’ve learned things about myself – and about my reactions to external factors that I cannot control – that I didn’t know before," she tells us from her home in Dubai. Photo by Antonie Robertson / The National
As the founder of design and architecture firm Roar, Pallavi Dean is well versed in the ways space can affect well-being. But as she continues to spend more time indoors, she has found herself yearning for things like views, outdoor spaces, and more zones within her open-plan home. Photo by Antonie Robertson / The National
As the founder of design and architecture firm Roar, Pallavi Dean is well versed in the ways space can affect well-being. But as she continues to spend more time indoors, she has found herself yearning for things like views, outdoor spaces, and more zones within her open-plan home. Photo by Antonie Robertson / The National
“I think we need luxury that is more mindful and sustainable, and more thoughtful,” says Bong Guerrero, chief executive and co-founder of Fashion Forward. Antonie Robertson / The National
“I think we need luxury that is more mindful and sustainable, and more thoughtful,” says Bong Guerrero, chief executive and co-founder of Fashion Forward. Antonie Robertson / The National
For multidisciplinary Palestinian artist and designer Faissal El-Malak, time spent in self-isolation has given him a newfound appreciation of the comfort of home, he says. “I’ve had the privilege for it to be a time to reflect and a time to work on myself." Photo by Antonie Roberston / The National
For multidisciplinary Palestinian artist and designer Faissal El-Malak, time spent in self-isolation has given him a newfound appreciation of the comfort of home, he says. “I’ve had the privilege for it to be a time to reflect and a time to work on myself." Photo by Antonie Roberston / The National
Hanan Sayed Worrell, author of Table Tales, the Global Nomad Cuisine of Abu Dhabi, likens the self-isolation experience to a “game of musical chairs, where everything stops and you are right there, where you are”. Photo by Victor Besa / The National
Hanan Sayed Worrell, author of Table Tales, the Global Nomad Cuisine of Abu Dhabi, likens the self-isolation experience to a “game of musical chairs, where everything stops and you are right there, where you are”. Photo by Victor Besa / The National
For photographer Abdulla Elmaz, the coronavirus crisis has offered much-needed time to reflect, he says. “It gives you time to think, which is something none of us have had to do in a long time, because we have our routines, we go about our days, and that’s it.” Photo by Antonie Roberston / The National
For photographer Abdulla Elmaz, the coronavirus crisis has offered much-needed time to reflect, he says. “It gives you time to think, which is something none of us have had to do in a long time, because we have our routines, we go about our days, and that’s it.” Photo by Antonie Roberston / The National
While a lot of people have been scaling things back in the wake of the pandemic, Dominic Nowell-Barnes decided to launch a new business, The Giving Movement. An athleisure brand with an ethical slant, it donates $4 (Dh15) to charity for every item sold. Photo by Antonie Robertson / The National
While a lot of people have been scaling things back in the wake of the pandemic, Dominic Nowell-Barnes decided to launch a new business, The Giving Movement. An athleisure brand with an ethical slant, it donates $4 (Dh15) to charity for every item sold. Photo by Antonie Robertson / The National

Luxury

At home with the UAE's top creatives: sharing lessons learnt in isolation

We capture members of the UAE’s creative community in their homes, as they reflect on how their perceptions of luxury have changed as a result of the pandemic

Selina Denman
Selina Denman

July 05, 2020

  • English
  • Arabic

How will the pandemic shape our priorities moving forward? For many, the past few months have been filled with anxiety and uncertainty – for others, they have offered much-needed stillness and time to reflect. Either way, it is a period that is likely to shape our collective consciousness.

Luxury visited members of Dubai's creative community in their homes, to find out how the pandemic has affected them – and whether their definition of luxury has changed as a result.

'It has been both insightful and emotional'

Salama Khalfan, jewellery designer

For Khalfan, time at home facilitated a period of self discovery. “I’ve learned things about myself – and about my reactions to external factors that I cannot control – that I didn’t know before. It has also been insightful in terms of learning how to adapt and being reminded of what it's like to live a slower-paced life.” And it has invited her to reconsider her definition of luxury. “Luxury in my view is a sentiment, a feeling derived from an experience, whatever that experience may be.”

'I’m really craving things like views and outdoor spaces'

Pallavi Dean, interior designer

Pallavi. Dean, founder of Roar. Photo by Antonie Robertson / The National
Pallavi. Dean, founder of Roar. Photo by Antonie Robertson / The National

As the founder of design and architecture firm Roar, Dean is well versed in the ways space can affect wellbeing. But as she continues to spend more time indoors, even she is looking to enhance her home. “When we bought our home, I was very much focused on the interiors of the space.” Now, things like views, outdoor space and having dedicated zones within her open-plan house have gained in importance.

'Luxury is wellbeing – your mental, physical and emotional wellbeing'

Hanan Sayed Worrell, author of 'Table Tales, the Global Nomad Cuisine of Abu Dhabi'

An engineer by profession, Hanan Sayed Worrell works on urban and cultural projects, but is also "a recipe hunter by passion" and the author of Table Tales, the Global Nomad Cuisine of Abu Dhabi. She likens the self-isolation experience to a "game of musical chairs, where everything stops and you are right there, where you are". But it has offered her an opportunity to reconnect with her home and spend more time with her family. "I hope to have a balanced life when we come out of this," she says.

'The earth has given us quite a lot of of signs that we need to slow things down'

Bong Guerrero, co-founder, Fashion Forward Dubai

Bong Guerrero, co-founder, Fashion Forward Dubai. Photo by Antonie Robertson / The National
Bong Guerrero, co-founder, Fashion Forward Dubai. Photo by Antonie Robertson / The National

“I think we need luxury that is more mindful and sustainable, and more thoughtful,” says Bong Guerrero, chief executive and co-founder of Fashion Forward. “I think luxury, even more so, will become more about the experience of absorbing something, whether it’s a product or travel or space. It boils down to the quality of the experience."

'For me, luxury is now about comfort'

Faissal El-Malak, designer and artist

Multidisciplinary Palestinian artist and designer Faissal El-Malak is the founder of his eponymous fashion brand, which bridges traditional craftsmanship and artisan work from the Middle East with modern design elements. Time spent in self-isolation has given him a newfound appreciation of the comfort of home, he says. “I’ve had the privilege for it to be a time to reflect and a time to work on myself,” he notes.

'Luxury comes with having good people in your life – and journeys and adventures'

Abdulla Elmaz, photographer

Abdullah Almaz, photographer. Courtesy Antonie Robertson / The National
Abdullah Almaz, photographer. Courtesy Antonie Robertson / The National

As movement restrictions were being put into place in Dubai, photographer Abdulla Elmaz was racing against the clock to shoot a campaign for Italian fashion house Valentino. While that project was completed in the nick of time, a planned exhibition of his work at Abu Dhabi's Manarat Al Saadiyat had to be postponed. Nonetheless, the coronavirus crisis has offered much-needed time to reflect, he says. “It gives you time to think, which is something none of us have had to do in a long time, because we have our routines, we go about our days, and that’s it. It’s been like a little retirement for me.”

'You realise what is actually important'

Dominic Nowell-Barnes, founder of The Giving Movement

While a lot of people have been scaling things back in the wake of the pandemic, Dominic Nowell-Barnes decided to launch a new business, The Giving Movement. An athleisure brand with an ethical slant, it donates $4 (Dh15) to charity for every item sold. Although unforeseen, the timing seems apt. “I think, for so many people, the pandemic has been a life-changing experience. You realise what is actually important – the basics of having family and friends around you, and of staying healthy. I feel this is probably going to be reflected around the world in people’s values and the products they want to invest in,” he says.

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6.30pm UAE 1000 Guineas Trial Conditions (TB) US$100,000 (Dirt) 1,400m

Winner Final Song, Christophe Soumillon (jockey), Saeed bin Suroor (trainer).

7.05pm Handicap (TB) $135,000 (Turf) 1,000m

Winner Almanaara, Dane O’Neill, Doug Watson.

7.40pm Handicap (TB) $175,000 (D) 1,900m

Winner Grand Argentier, Brett Doyle, Doug Watson.

8.15pm Meydan Challenge Listed Handicap (TB) $175,000 (T) 1,400m

Winner Major Partnership, Patrick Cosgrave, Saeed bin Suroor.

8.50pm Dubai Stakes Group 3 (TB) $200,000 (D) 1,200m

Winner Gladiator King, Mickael Barzalona, Satish Seemar.

9.25pm Dubai Racing Club Classic Listed Handicap (TB) $175,000 (T) 2,410m

Winner Universal Order, Richard Mullen, David Simcock.

About Krews

Founder: Ahmed Al Qubaisi

Based: Abu Dhabi

Founded: January 2019

Number of employees: 10

Sector: Technology/Social media 

Funding to date: Estimated $300,000 from Hub71 in-kind support

 

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Yahya Al Ghassani's bio

Date of birth: April 18, 1998

Playing position: Winger

Clubs: 2015-2017 – Al Ahli Dubai; March-June 2018 – Paris FC; August – Al Wahda

MATCH INFO

Chelsea 3 (Abraham 11', 17', 74')

Luton Town 1 (Clark 30')

Man of the match Abraham (Chelsea)

Final scores

18 under: Tyrrell Hatton (ENG)

- 14: Jason Scrivener (AUS)

-13: Rory McIlroy (NIR)

-12: Rafa Cabrera Bello (ESP)

-11: David Lipsky (USA), Marc Warren (SCO)

-10: Tommy Fleetwood (ENG), Chris Paisley (ENG), Matt Wallace (ENG), Fabrizio Zanotti (PAR)

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More than 2.2 million Indian tourists arrived in UAE in 2023
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Results

Male 51kg Round 1

Dias Karmanov (KAZ) beat Mabrook Rasea (YEM) by points 2-1.

Male 54kg Round 1

Yelaman Sayassatov (KAZ) beat Chen Huang (TPE) TKO Round 1; Huynh Hoang Phi (VIE) beat Fahad Anakkayi (IND) RSC Round 2; ​​​​​​​Qais Al Jamal (JOR) beat Man Long Ng (MAC) by points 3-0; ​​​​​​​Ayad Albadr (IRQ) beat Yashar Yazdani (IRI) by points 2-1.

Male 57kg Round 1

Natthawat Suzikong (THA) beat Abdallah Ondash (LBN) by points 3-0; Almaz Sarsembekov (KAZ) beat Ahmed Al Jubainawi (IRQ) by points 2-1; Hamed Almatari (YEM) beat Nasser Al Rugheeb (KUW) by points 3-0; Zakaria El Jamari (UAE) beat Yu Xi Chen (TPE) by points 3-0.

Men 86kg Round 1

Ahmad Bahman (UAE) beat Mohammad Al Khatib (PAL) by points 2-1

​​​​​​​Men 63.5kg Round 1

Noureddin Samir (UAE) beat Polash Chakma (BAN) RSC Round 1.

Female 45kg quarter finals

Narges Mohammadpour (IRI) beat Yuen Wai Chan (HKG) by points.

Female 48kg quarter finals

Szi Ki Wong (HKG) beat Dimple Vaishnav (IND) RSC round 2; Thanawan Thongduang (THA) beat Nastaran Soori (IRI) by points; Shabnam Hussain Zada (AFG) beat Tzu Ching Lin (TPE) by points.

Female 57kg quarter finals

Nguyen Thi Nguyet (VIE) beat Anisha Shetty (IND) by points 2-1; Areeya Sahot (THA) beat Dana Al Mayyal (KUW) RSC Round 1; Sara Idriss (LBN) beat Ching Yee Tsang (HKG) by points 3-0.

LifestyleLuxury