Dec_Jan 2021

December 2021 / January 2022 December 2021 /
January 2022
LE 30

the magazine of egypt

egypt today the magazine of egypt CELEBRATING THE
FESTIVE SEASON

Special
Christmas

Edition

volume 41  •  number 12



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COVER STORY

CELEBRATING THE
FESTIVE SEASON

Special Christmas Edition

Cover design by
Heba Mekky

34

5

FEATURES Will Put You in the Holiday picture perfect winter destination.
Spirit By Samar Samir
34 Celebrating the Festive The festive season is around the 58 Christmas in Spain
Season corner, and if you are the type of With winter holidays upon
Your Guide to Christmas and New person who prefers to celebrate at us, discover thrilling Spanish
Year’s Holidays home with family and friends, a destinations for a festive long-awaited
36 A Time for Giving nice dinner and a movie night can break with your loved ones. 
Five acts of giving that will help you be an enjoyable alternative. 64 Classic Christmas Desserts
spread Christmas cheer By Rana Hamdy These delicious classics look like a
By Rana Hamdy 48 Perfect Presents dream and are guaranteed to be the
38 Five Exclusive Christmas Want to go all out when it comes perfect ending to any Christmas meal.
Culinary Destinations to Christmas gifts this year? Check 68 Winter Flavors
Gather with family, friends and out these three exclusive options Ice cream in December? Check out
loved ones for sumptuous festive handpicked for you. these new winter favorites from
feasts at these five exclusive hotel 50 Christmas in Vienna Dolato.
destinations this Christmas and Celebrate the holiday season in this
New Year’s.
44 Seven Christmas Movies that

98 A New Era for Egypt’s Arts and Culture

Egypt’s Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly inaugurates
the new Opera House Concert Hall at the Arts and Culture
City in the New Administrative Capital.

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THE GUIDE a visual exploration of fabled
landscapes and historical gems.
Culture
12 The Year in Tweets Art
Twitter highlights the top entertainment- 28 Ahmed Farid: At a
related conversations in 2021 in Egypt. Crossroads
By Rana Hamdy The celebrated contemporary
artist’s fifth exhibition with
Stage Safarkhan is an artistic
14 Samar Morsy: Triple Talent exploration and abstract
The rising star turns the heads of audiences meditation on the resonant notion
and critics alike starring alongside Sherihan of intersectionality.
in Coco Chanel.
By Angy Essam FASHION TODAY

Film 72 Redefining Alice in
18 Mohamed Diab: The Wonderland
Successful Path to Marvel ASORY unveils its most diverse
Currently shooting the Disney series collection yet, “The Dream of
Moon Knight, the acclaimed director and Fantasia.”
scriptwriter looks back at the road to Marvel By Rana Hamdy
and discusses his latest movie, Amira.
By Angy Essam 78 The Painted Dreams of
Marina Azer
Books Inspired by nature, Marina Azer
24 Fabled Landscapes creates works of art using simple
Famed fashion photographer Gilles lines.
Bensimon releases A Dream of AlUla, By Rana Hamdy

TRAVEL TODAY

86 Snapshot
Travel and hospitality news and
offers

90 Passport
A Show of Greatness
“Ramses the Great and the Gold
of the Pharaohs” exhibition opens
in Houston.
By Angy Essam

ALSO...........

96 Around Town
98 Parting Shot



`

DECEMBER 2021 - VOL 41 - NUMBER 12 Founder William Harrison (1940–1995)

Celebrating the Executive Editor in Chief 
Festive Season Mohamed Abdel Baky

It’s that time of year again when we’re celebrating with family, friends and Managing Editor
loved ones. For our special annual holiday edition we bring you not only our Noha Mohammed
regular Guide to Christmas and New Year’s but also look at alternative things
you can do this season to share the Christmas spirit and make a small difference Editors
in someone’s life. In “A Time for Giving,” we bring you five small acts of giving Yasmine Hassan
that will help you spread Christmas cheer and go a long way to putting a smile
on the face of the needy. Senior Writers
Angy Essam
Check out “Five Exclusive Christmas Culinary Destinations,” for the best venues Samar Samir
you can gather with family, friends and loved ones for sumptuous festive feasts.
Our “Perfect Presents” guide is for those of you who want to go all out when it Lifestyle Coordinator
comes to Christmas gifts this year, bringing you very exclusive handpicked luxury Maria Fathy
options.
Contributors
With travel cautiously opening up, why not explore a few European destinations Rana Hamdy
this holiday season? Vienna is a picture perfect winter destination, complete with Mustafa Marie
Christmas markets and delightful spots to stop for hot chocolate on a snowy Safarkhan Art Gallery
day. Better known as a summer attraction, Spain is reinventing itself as an ideal
location for that festive long-awaited break you’ve been looking forward to.  Art Director
Wael Wahba
But if you are planning cozier holidays this year, and you’re the type of person
who prefers to celebrate at home with family and friends, a nice dinner and a Creative Supervisor
movie night can be an enjoyable alternative. Delight your guests with our delicious Heba Mekky
dessert classics that look like a dream and are guaranteed to be the perfect ending
to any Christmas meal. After that serve up some hot chocolate and snuggle in Business Development Director
front of the TV and take your pick from our Christmas movie playlist. Sherif Anis

Elsewhere in our issue Senior Writer Angy Essam sits down with Mohamed Senior Public Relations &
Diab, who looks back on his successful path to Marvel. Currently shooting the Advertising
Disney series Moon Knight, the acclaimed director and scriptwriter also gives us Eman Hassan
a sneak preview of his latest movie, Amira. She also catches up with triple talent
Samar Morsy, the rising star who’s turning the heads of audiences and critics Senior Sales Manager
alike starring alongside Sherihan in Coco Chanel. Sayed Abo El Magd

Check out who else has been making news in “The Year in Tweets,” which For advertising inquiries please
highlights the top entertainment-related conversations in 2021 in Egypt.  contact

We wish you a Merry Christmas and a Peaceful New Year 01222239700

— Noha Mohammed Egypt Today, founded in 1979, is
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THE GUIDE
Art • Books • Film • Food • Health • Music • Stage
• Style• Tech • Television • Travel • Culture

BOOK
Fabled Landscapes

Famed fashion photographer Gilles Bensimon releases A Dream of
AlUla, a visual exploration of fabled landscapes and historical gems.

HEALTH
Ahmed Farid: At a Cross-
roads

The celebrated contemporary artist’s
fifth exhibition with Safarkhan is an artis-
tic exploration and abstract meditation
on the resonant notion of intersectional-
ity.

STAGE
Samar Morsy: Triple Talent

The rising star turns the heads of audi-
ences and critics alike starrinig alongside
Sherihan in Coco Chanel.



et Guide | Media

The Year
in Tweets

Twitter highlights the top entertainment-

Arelated conversations in 2021 in Egypt.
t the end of each year, Twitter highlights
the key conversations which took place
on the platform throughout the year.
In 2021, following its annual analysis
of conversations in Egypt, Twitter is revealing the
biggest trends of the year, from topics and emojis,
to handles and hashtags.

By Rana Hamdy

Most mentioned
celebrity handles

The place to connect, when it
comes to celebrities, people from
across the world can directly reach
out to their favorite celebrities on
Twitter, jumping into conversa-
tions or sharing their admiration.
Here are the most mentioned
Egyptian celebrities of the year:

Most mentioned Most mentioned
actors and actresses  singers

1. Nabil ElHalfawy (@nabilelhalfawy) 1. Amr Diab (@amrdiab)
2. Yasmine Sabri (@yasminesabri)  2. Tamer Hosny (@tamerhosny)
3. Youssef El Sherif (@ElSherif) 3. Hamza Namira (@HamzaNamira)
4. Ahmed Helmy (@ahelmy) 4. Mohamed Mounir (@Mounirofficial)
5. Mohamed Ramadan (@Mohamed_Ramadan) 5. Mohamed Hamaki (@Hamaki)

12 DECEMBER 2021

Lighthearted and Guide | Media et
Heartwarming Tweets
Most liked celebrity
2021 wasn’t just the year of celebrity, with ev- tweets in Egypt
eryday people showcasing their personalities
across the platform, from heart-warming to hu- 1. Actor Khaled El Nabawy (@KhaledElNabawy) shared
morous, here are some of the most liked Tweets his pride for his country in light of the Pharaohs Golden
of the year:  Parade which took place in April.  

1. @AahmedRamzyy Tweeted a humorous vid- 2. Actor Ahmed Mekky (@Mekkystyle) Tweets a poster
eo of himself reenacting scenes from old action of his show “Al Ikhtiyar” (The Choice) with fellow actor
movies. Karim Abdel Aziz (@karimabdelaziz) which aired during
Ramadan 2021.
2. @m_Sharaawi shared a photo of his father
holding a poster with his sister’s name on it, fol- 3. Actor Ahmed Helmy (@ahelmy) Tweets a photo of
lowing her graduation from medical school, ex- himself and fellow actor Karim Abdel Aziz (@karimab-
pressing his pride for both of them. delaziz) asking people to share their captions for the image.

3. @Karimkhedr12 shared a photo of his recent  4. Actor Mohamed Henedy (@OfficialHenedy) Tweeted
artwork. a photo of himself in a wig, with a caption from Kathem
Elsaher’s song. 
4. @urfavgangona shared a photo of herself
being photobombed by a truck passenger in the  5. Actor Ahmed Amin (@AhmedAmin) Tweets a humor-
streets of Egypt. ous picture about expectations vs. reality when ordering
online, with a funny side-comparison with David Beck-
ham. 

Egypt’s fastest-
growing celebrity

handle goes to
actress and singer
@somayaelkha-

shab.

DECEMBER 2021 13

et Guide | Stage

Samar Morsy:

Triple Talent

The rising star turns the heads of audiences and critics alike starring
alongside Sherihan in Coco Chanel.

By Angy Essam

She debuted her professional career as a jour-
nalist, then travelled to the United States to
study art direction at the New York Fashion
Institute & Technology, only to discover that
what she really wanted to pursue was a career in act-
ing. Today, the talented young actress is making an im-
pression with audiences and critics alike in Sherihan’s
comeback play Coco Chanel. This month she chats with
Egypt Today about her latest role in the play, her career
and future plans.

14 DECEMBER 2021

Guide | Stage et

Tell us all about how were you cast in Coco Chanel contemporary dance is a whole different story and Hani
I was in Paris when Marwa Gabriel told me that I’m on the Abaza our choreographer did a great job rehearsing with us
almost every single day during pre-production months. The
shortlist for a lead of a huge project. Just a day after coming biggest challenge was keeping up with Sherry’s steps , when
back to Cairo I received the call that director Hadi Elbagouri it comes to dancing she’s outstanding on every level. 
had chosen me for the role. I had no idea what the project
was but once I figured it was Sherihan’s comeback and di- How important is it to portray influential women like
rected by Hadi, I immediately agreed without even reading Coco Chanel in theater?
the script. Later that night, I started reading the script and
I was very flattered he had chosen me since it’s the biggest Very important. Not only in theater but in cinema and on
role with her in the play. I’m absolutely very grateful for the TV as well. Inspiring other women by telling them stories
opportunity to be in this very unique creative production. of successful women who also struggled to succeed from all
over the world is crucial. Sherihan herself and her life are
How would you describe working with the iconic Sheri- huge inspiring stories that are no less than Gabrielle Chanel.
han? What did you learn from her?
What’s the most demanding role you’ve played to date,
She’s literally a legend. I’ve enjoyed every second working and which of your roles has touched or affected you the
with her, we got along great. I’m a very committed person to most? 
my work and as a method actor I care very much about de-
tails and so does she which was very heartwarming in com- Every role is a demanding role since I usually pick char-
parison to what we see nowadays in the industry. She’s not acters that are very different from me. Some are more emo-
only an icon who is very passionate about her craft but also tionally demanding than others like Camelia in Lams Aktaf
a very delightful person to be around. She has respect for who was a total psycho coming across as a sweetheart.
every single person on the project, is very humble and po-
lite with everyone, and the biggest flex is she’s an encourager And Cécile was physically demanding, not only the danc-
and builds up other actors with her. I’ve a learned a lot from ing parts but the exile scene, Sherihan and I were literally
her and to be honest she’s one of the very few superstars who standing and moving in a hanging box about eight meters
cares and enjoys teaching others.  above the stage. One wrong move and we could have fallen
but we successfully pulled it off.

This is your first role that requires dancing how did you I know you are picky and only perform the roles that at-
prepare for this? tract you the most. Do you agree that actors always need
to be one the scene, even if it means accepting roles only
Yes it is. I did ballet as a child so I had an idea, however, to be present?

I’m picky for a couple of reasons: one, I wanted to work

DECEMBER 2021 15

et Guide | Stage with and learn from the greatest in this industry and I’m very
grateful that I was given the opportunity to work with the
“We need to be kind best since I started. Two, I’m not a big fan of social drama but
to ourselves and since this was the mostly produced genre in the past few years,
I had to pick the best of what’s available to me. But no, it’s a
realize that life has its myth that absence for a short period makes a difference in
ups and downs. It’s a the industry. As a matter of fact, when an actor is all over the
place everywhere it’s a major turnoff. How would audiences
journey and we’re miss them and want to go watch them if they’re everywhere? 
just passengers.”
What is your dream role? 
16 DECEMBER 2021 I love sci-fi and thrillers and it’s why I love acting. It intro-

duces you to imaginary worlds. I’m crossing my fingers for
a sci-fi role, because we can create what Hollywood creates.
We do have the talents and the production. And usually sci-
fi and thrillers are the highest box office grossers in Egypt,
not just worldwide.

Which actor, actress and director do you want to work
with the most? 

Oh my, so many still on my list. Directors like Marian
Hamed, Sherif Arafa, Peter Mimi, Amr Salama . . . I love their
work and their out-of-the-box creative projects. And on my
greatest generation list there’s Adel Emam and Mahmoud
Hemeda.

You studied psychology, how has this affected your act-
ing performance? How do you preserve your mental
health in general and what are your tips for our readers?

I studied psychology as a part of studying method acting
in Lee Strasberg. It of course allows me to give depth to my
characters’ behavior, thoughts, movement, traits and even
how they speak. It allows me to make them real people not
just a spoken script.

I preserve my mental health after shooting by totally dis-
connecting from my character and social media. In fact I
took last year off because I was at a place where I missed who
I am and the Covid-19 pressure was too much to deal with. I
don’t regret that break, it was so much needed.

As advice, seek help and rest assured it’s OK not to be OK.
We need to be kind to ourselves and realize that life has its
ups and downs. It’s a journey and we’re just passengers.

You started your professional career as a journalist, why
did you shift from writing to acting? Has your journal-
ism experience helped you in your acting career?

I was a creative director for about only three months, act-
ing as editor in chief for the period I was rebranding an Eng-
lish magazine into a fashion and lifestyle publication to suit
18 to 24 year old readers. Part of my job as a creative director
was creative writing and putting together creative concepts
and leading a team to execute that alongside artwork that’s
usually done by art directors, graphic designers and creative
writers. It was an interesting experience that made me re-
spect a lot how journalists work and the struggles they go
through. It definitely makes me work with journalists from
a different perspective now that I’m an actress.

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et Guide | Film

Mohamed Diab:
The Successful
Path to Marvel 

Currently shooting the Disney series Moon Knight, the acclaimed director
and scriptwriter looks back at the road to Marvel and discusses his latest

movie, Amira.

By Angy Essam

18 DECEMBER 2021

Guide | Film et

Renowned director Mohamed Diab has become York Times as an unmistakably harbinger of the revolu-
the first Egyptian director to work with Mar- tion. Famed Brazilian novelist Paulo Coelho tweeted about
vel and is currently shooting the Disney se- the film, calling it brilliant, saying it should be mandatory
ries Moon Knight. Starring Oscar Isaac, Moon for men, regardless of their religion or culture, to watch. 
Knight revolves around Marc Spector, an ex-Marine turned
mercenary whose multiple alter egos allow him to better A prominent participant in the the January revolution,
fight crime. Diab went on to release Eshtebak (Clash) which took five
years to make and was screened in 2016. Diab’s film dis-
Since bursting on the filmmaking scene in 2007, Diab cussed many issues that began with the revolution in Janu-
has made a name for himself as a director and scriptwriter ary 2011. It won a number of awards and cemented Diab’s
who is keen on emphasizing critical political and social role as a distinguished filmmaker who presents new cin-
issues in Egyptian society. His debut film, El Gezira (The ema from a different perspective. Clash participated in the
Island, 2007) followed the life of a drug dealer and the lord Cannes Film Festival last year in the Un Certain Regard sec-
of an island in Upper Egypt whose inhabitants cultivate tion and was highly praised not only by the panel members
drugs. The movie was based on a true story of an Upper but also by the festival guests who saw the movie. Among
Egyptian drug dealer named Ezzat Hanafy. The movie was those was Hollywood megastar Tom Hanks, who sent a let-
a huge success and in 2014 he released a sequel. ter to Diab, describing the film as magnificent. 

One month before the January 25 revolution, Diab re- In 2017 Diab participated as a panel member for the Un
leased his movie 678. This time it was named after a bus Certain Regard section in the 70th Cannes Film Festival.
that witnessed the sexual harassment of several wom- That same year the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and
en. The breakthrough movie is one of the most award Sciences chose Diab to be a member of its governing body.
winning films in Egypt and was described by the New
Egypt Today spoke with the internationally acclaimed

DECEMBER 2021 19

et Guide | Film

director about his journey with Marvel, his latest movie wood stars Oscar Isaacs and Ethan Hawke who are working
Amira and the most important stages in his career. with me said it is too stressful for them as well. After about
fifteen years of working here in Egypt, I never reached the
In a previous interview during the last edition of Venice 100-day continuous filming. You become an employee, you
International Film Festival you said there is no compar- wake up every day to start shooting.
ison between working with Marvel and anywhere else.
What did you benefit from your work this year with one After working at Marvel, what do you think the Egyp-
the largest film production companies in the world? tian industry needs?

The biggest benefit from working with Marvel is that What I am going to say you may find cliche but it is the
there is a well-defined system for work. A number of of- mere truth, the real problem of the Egyptian cinema indus-
ficials there asked about my previous work more than once try lies in the script. We have talents that can work glob-
because of this point specifically, to know the possibility of ally, for example, the Egyptian cinema editor Ahmed Hafez
working within a system. The work of any director requires who works with me, his technical level is no different from
some dictatorship, no doubt, but the focus has been on any editor working in Marvel, if not better without exag-
the possibility of my work as a director within the Mar- geration. The music of my film is made by Hisham Nazih,
vel system which is more influential than any individual whose music has been remarkably admired in Marvel. Also
working in Marvel. Everything is on a larger scale and I am what we need above all is to have a cinema industry in ev-
working with a budget I have never worked with before. I ery sense of the word, this will happen when there will be
also learned how to move from the drama that I used to continuous production all the time, because until now any
work through to different types of comedy, action, horror cinematic work in Egypt can be considered independent
and other genres. cinema, no matter how big or small, compared to Disney,
which is a state not just a big company.
You said you shoot daily for 120 days, tell us more about
this experience. In one of the scenes of your movie 678, one of the heroes
tells the story of his desire to quit his bank job and his
We’ve been shooting continuously for six months now ultimate wish to work as a stand-up comedian, to work
in Hungary. All in all, despite all its advantages, it is a very in the field of art in general. I think you were telling
tiring experience, the shooting schedule continues on a your story. How did you start your acting career?
daily basis over a period of 120 days. Professional Holly-

20 DECEMBER 2021

Guide | Film et

My story started like that of many Egyptian youths. I
didn’t even know if I had a talent or not, because there was
no way within our education that could tell us if we are
talented. For example I discovered that I had a talent for
drawing at university. For a long time I did not understand
what I wanted, but I never thought of becoming a director
or scriptwriter. I graduated from the Faculty of Com-
merce, then I worked in a bank, but I was not happy at that
time. I understood that my character does not like restric-
tions. I had an idea for a movie, and I used my work in
the bank to present my ideas to some clients who are ac-
tors, producers and filmmakers, until I once met producer
Moez Masoud, who introduced me to Ahmed El Fishawy,
and then I decided to write a movie after I finished reading
my first book about writing the script.

To enhance my writing talent, I travelled to the US to
study filmmaking for one year. After that I decided that
there would be some films that I wanted to direct and then
I started working on my first film 678.

Which veteran filmmakers have inspired you the most?
When I decided to travel to study, my plan at that time

was to make films abroad. Then I thought that the films
that I love and was trying to make were not similar to Hol-
lywood movies so I decided to make local films but with
international standards, hence the idea of making Al Jazira
(The Island). The directors who truly inspire me all the
time are the those who have managed to transcend their
borders and transfer their art to the whole world, such as
Alfonso Cuarón, Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu, Akira Ku-
rosawa, Iranian-born Abbas Kiarostami, and many others
whose art has transcended the limits of their original lan-
guage to the wider world.

DECEMBER 2021 21

et Guide | Film

There is an extreme movement in all your stories, even
your series have a fast tempo. Why?

A very good note, you are right, all of my films have ex-
cessive movement. I think this comes from my character
itself, I move a lot, I talk fast, I tried to slow the pace of my
latest movies Amira, but I am a fast human being by nature
and the rhythm of the movie comes from the character of
its maker. Even writing series for me has to be fast, because
when I watch some series and find their slow pace, I cannot
stand them, I am a person who while writing thinks about
the next line before writing the line he has to write.

You are keen to use means of transportation as a tool
to highlight your ideas, this was clear in both 678 and
Clash. Why?

I don’t have a personal relationship with means of trans-
portation, but from my point of view harassment is an act
that flourishes and finds its appropriate place in crowds
in general. In Egypt, the most crowded places are means
of transportation so it is the best place for any harasser.
As a filmmaker I have to identify with the character I am
writing and think exactly like him/her, I have to completely
lose myself and melt into the character I wrote. Sexual ha-
rassment is an issue that is not limited to people in Egypt,
there are countries that are similar to us in that, such as

22 DECEMBER 2021

Guide | Film et

India with its different culture and religion and in Mexico become more mature and learn things that I did not learn
they have the same thing. I read that in Mexico there was from anywhere else before. How does a girl live in Egypt? I
a woman who used to kill harassers on public transport, couldn’t have known the answer to this question without
not just hurting them like Fayza used to do in 678 movie. making a movie like 678. I remember a friend of mine told
me that someone left an apology letter to a girl he harassed
Tell us more about Amira before after watching 678, those were the things that af-
I usually get the ideas of my movies from the news. In fected me the most, how you can express the feelings of
others.
678 movie I was inspired by the girl who filed the first
harassment case in Egypt, I went to the court and spoke What is the medium you most prefer working with?
to the girl. I was browsing websites and news when I read Definitely cinema, if I have to choose I will not work on
strange news about how some Palestinian prisoners have
babies by smuggling sperm to their wives and I felt that any non-cinematic project, I will devote myself to cinema
this story could make a Greek Shakespearean drama that only. I consider my real projects those that I have directed
could raise big existential questions. only. So far I have not directed any series, and I have no
intention of doing so. I have participated in writing series,
As an Egyptian filmmaker, what inspired you to make but sometimes the conditions are not suitable for working
a movie about such an issue, one that you don’t have in cinema and when that happens I have to work outside
enough experience of? cinema.

I usually feel motivated to write about things I don’t How do you distribute your non-commercial films?
know, of course I like to write about things I’ve experienced Non-commercial films are distributed based on their
before, but in order to be a good filmmaker I have to dive
into a world that doesn’t quite belong to me, expressing participation at the festivals. The more successful the
things that I am not familiar with to learn experiences I’ve film, the higher its price. The film is sold to each country,
never had before. For example during the three years of and each country has a different distributor. The film can
making Amira, I lived with the soul of a Palestinian, how be distributed over a period of two years or more and its
he actually lives, it was a human experience that made me screening becomes subject to worldwide sale.

DECEMBER 2021 23

et Guide | Book

Cover of A Dream of
AlUla featuring original
photography by Gilles

Bensimon 

Acclaimed photographer Gilles Ben-
simon issues A Dream of AlUla, a
visual journey through time and
the senses of this ancient Arabian
landscape. This oversized book celebrates the
rich culture of AlUla and offers the unique
experience of traveling to a mythical land and
little-known geological wonder, bringing alive
8,000 years of AlUla’s past through to its pres-
ent day.

Fabled
Landscapes

Famed fashion photographer Gilles Bensimon releases A Dream of AlUla,
a visual exploration of fabled landscapes and historical gems.

Captured through the lens of Gilles Bensimon, A Dream Located 1,000 km from Riyadh, in North-West Saudi
of AlUla is an expedition through time and the senses. Arabia, AlUla is a place of extraordinary natural and hu-
Filled with 215 pages of original photography, the book re- man heritage. The vast area, covering 22,561km², includes
veals the poetic aspects and magnificence of age-old desert a lush oasis valley, towering sandstone mountains and an-
landscapes and highlights the people who lived there from cient cultural heritage sites dating back thousands of years
history and today. Home to the UNESCO World Heritage to when the Lihyan and Nabataean kingdoms reigned. The
Site, Hegra, where exceptionally preserved tombs of the most well-known and recognised site in AlUla is Hegra, Sau-
Nabataean age show elaborate facades cut out of sandstone di Arabia’s first UNESCO World Heritage Site. A 52-hectare
outcrops, it’s a hidden treasure waiting to be discovered. ancient city, Hegra was the principal southern city of the
Nabataean Kingdom and is comprised of 111 well-preserved

24 DECEMBER 2021

Guide | Book et

Local Saudi Arabian men
and camels in the AlUla
desert, captured by Gilles

Bensimon

tombs, many with elaborate facades cut out of the sandstone different languages. AlUla Old Town, a labyrinth of more
outcrops surrounding the walled urban settlement. Current than 900 mudbrick homes developed from at least the 12th
research also suggests Hegra was the most southern out- century, and Hijaz Railway and Hegra Fort, key sites in the
post of the Roman Empire after the Roman’s conquered the story and conquests of Lawrence of Arabia. 
Nabataeans in 106 CE.  
In A Dream of AlUla, Gilles Bensimon takes readers on
In addition to Hegra, AlUla is also home to ancient Dadan, a voyage through AlUla’s lush green oasis, vast expanses,
the captial of the Dadan and Lihyan Kingdoms and consid- drifting sand, basalt uplands, geomorphological wonders
ered to be one of the most developed 1st millennium BCE and millennia-old inscriptions. These are just some of the
cities of the Arabian Penninsula. And Jabal Ikmah, an open- stunningly photogenic scenes of AlUla.
air library of hundreds of inscriptions and writings in many
An American photographer and the former International

DECEMBER 2021 25

Guide | BookUNESCO Heritage Site Hegra

et at Night, captured by Gilles
Bensimon

Pre-Arabic inscriptions found
at Jabal Ikmah, captured by

Gilles Bensimon 
26 DECEMBER 2021

Guide | Book et

Creative Director of Elle Magazine, Gilles Bensimon is cel- says Gilles Bensimon. “I can only hope that my photographs
ebrated for working with models and celebrities including might open the door to a new dream in your mind: the
Cindy Crawford, Christy Turlington, Madonna and Elle dream of meeting AlUla.”
Macpherson. In A Dream of AlUla, his muse is the rich his-
tory, natural beauty, and cultural significance of this north- Published by Rizzoli New York and featuring a foreword
western Arabian destination. “I will not begin to describe, by French art historian Diana W. Picasso, A Dream of AlU-
or even attempt to tell the story of my journey in AlUla,” la is available for purchase at https://www.rizzoliusa.com/
book/9782952820660/, retailing at $300 USD.

Red sandstone natural formations
and Jabal Alfil (Elephant Rock),
captured by Gilles Bensimon

DECEMBER 2021 27

et Guide | Art

Ahmed Farid:
At a Crossroads

The celebrated contemporary artist’s fifth exhibition with Safarkhan is
an artistic exploration and abstract meditation on the resonant notion of

intersectionality.

Artwork courtesy
Safarkhan Art Gallery

28 DECEMBER 2021

Guide | Art et

Ahmed Farid’s conceptual impression of inter- meet, in his artistic journey. Crossroads that symbolize
sectionality refers to our world having in recent the significance and fatefulness of choice above all else,
times become enveloped in a sort of stasis that to our yearning to choose, and the subsequent learning that
a great extent has suspended much of the norms comes with the choices we make in life. The expanse of
that comfort us, resulting in a crossroads of psychological, Farid’s canvases in this collection therefore represent the
physical and societal forces. This idea of the amalgamation delicate equilibrium we as a species traverse between the
of mental and physical “Crossroads” has been the stimulus temporal and intangible realms. That is the metaphysical
behind Farid’s latest collection, which he created labori- domain of our spiritual selves, where the powers of intu-
ously throughout the midst of the pandemic. ition and subconscious reign supreme. It is where we find
the source of inspiration for Farid’s painting, the artist not
For Farid, these altered individual and collective states only at a crossroads within his own personal and profes-
were not merely something to wrestle with or resist. Rath- sional capacities, but his desire to express the collective
er, it was his own embrace of the certain welcome aspects crossroads we face and will surely continue to face as con-
that it also brought, which now animate the typically op- scious beings in the individual and collective.
timistically effervescent painting style which has become
his signature. Born in Cairo, in 1950 where he currently lives and
works, Farid is an autodidact painter who trained pri-
Namely, this took shape in the form of bringing us closer vately in immersion apprenticeship in established artists’
to a more profound understanding of the world around us, studios. With a degree in social sciences and an early ca-
and our collective responsibility towards one another and reer in marketing communication and business, Farid’s
the planet. Elsewhere, it is a contemplation of adopting a encounter with art came through extensive travels in the
more measured and unhurried pace in our daily affairs, co- early 1970s. The meeting with the historical western art
alescing us into more grounded and thoughtful states of movements and his attendance of the effervescent Egyp-
being. Ultimately, Farid brings to fruition the meaningful tian cultural life results in a very personal artistic research.
clarity and creative impetus that arrive from seclusion and Farid’s painting is influenced by the gestures attributable
isolation to newer undiscovered horizons. to the abstract expressionist matrix that does not deny an
atypical and barely visible form of representation but that
Crossroads reflects the artist’s own personal path, and
the eventual crossroads that met, and will continue to

DECEMBER 2021 29

et Guide | Art

sublimates it as a revelation of his own reality. His works Both as a man and as an artist, Farid is influenced by this
have been exhibited in private art galleries and public spac- formative and chronologically dissociated melting-pot which
es in Egypt and Europe. manages to combine figurative echoes drawn from the experi-
ence of Gazebia Sirry with compositional reminiscences that
From his very first formulations of pictorial research,
Farid’s art has staged a closely confined look to Nicholas de Staël and explosions
and relentless conflict between the at- of gestural colour influenced by the
tempt at complete elimination of the work of de Kooning filtered through the
figurative and the symbolically fierce itineraries of Adel el Siwi.
resistance of his own cultural roots in
expressionism. Nevertheless, this struc- The absence of an immediate re-
tural feature of much of his production sponsibility transforms reality into vi-
should not be read as an unresolved is- sual experience, into poetry balanced
sue within Farid’s universe: on the con- between the spiritual and material
trary it is the essence of the same, the physicality. The dreamlike and some-
generative thrust behind every single times disturbing quality of some of his
one of his artistic creations. What we works celebrates an excited creative de-
have then are not two different paths, bate within the artist.
but a differently parallel itinerary which
can consistently open up towards mul- This may be resolved in an explo-
tiple stylistic and technical possibilities. sion of color, or in the absence of it,
Moreover, being born in Egypt, growing which starts from a fixed point and is
up with American cultural mythology, propagated, expanding to fill the en-
travelling through the world and experiencing the explo- tire canvas. In a chromatic courtship,
sion of avant-garde art history movements can plausibly the shades come close and reciprocally
lead to such a confrontation-clash with one’s own nature. balance each other without ever overlapping.
The subject of the works is never a fixed image but a
gestural automatism, an evolving flow that merely hints

30 DECEMBER 2021

Guide | Art et

at reality. From this perspective, the sign becomes rational strongly human situation, capable of evoking a primeval
transcription in a succession of stains, clots of matter and history of symbolic significance.
emotional writing.
The identifying image is concealed and then proposed
Order makes way for an apparent disorder, pursuing a to the gaze, evading winking impositions to knit up a sort
logic that is defined, within the compositional tangibility, of metaphysical intimacy with what surrounds it and with
in a stylistic deformation conceived to reflect a mood of the observer. The slender non-figure figures, which appear
absence and of the persistent meshing of distance from the to emerge from the depths of the canvas, the strong tonal
figurative and its evocation in abstract terms. nuances and a natural inclination towards the creation of
layers of matter give rise to a transfigured consistency and
The shapes, that are no more than sketched or even whis- a lacerated polyphony.
pered, appear unstable as if awaiting a different dimension,
an interior space devoid of narrative. The apparent anxiet- The result is a type of expression which becomes possible
ies make way for feverish explosions of inner peace in a only by arriving at a mediation between tangible perceived
physical world that is scarcely able to contain the imagina- reality and a timeless space. This geography, in which deli-
tive enormity of Ahmed Farid’s work. cate figures hug masses of compact color, is what makes
up Farid’s art.
The large-scale works in particular impress on the ob-
server a sense of sublime contemplation, an invitation to Watching Ahmed Farid at work, we have the chance to
venture into the disturbing meanders of one’s own un- perceive the secular sacredness with which he approaches
conscious. Using grounds of variably even color, the artist his concept of making art: the three steps backwards which
concentrates on a labor of fragmentary brushstrokes and he frequently takes to get a larger view of the work encap-
material residues that emerge as symbolic hostages in the sulate the entire cosmos of imagination and instinctive
precarious tangle of the magmatic colorings. creation that characterizes his production.

This sort of stylistic metaphor yields canvases loaded It is only by achieving this short distance that we, us-
with thick, at times almost creamy paint, where the crowd- ing his key, can see the asymmetrical totems in movement,
ing of signs, shapes and colors tends to entrap figures and continents adrift and figures in search of an impossible
portions of humanity with an archaic flavor. These figures definition.
appear to be crushed and sorely tried: distraught and dis-
integrated souls in search of their space. It is, therefore, a —Courtesy Safarkhan Art Gallery

DECEMBER 2021 31

5A by The Waterway
Developments:

«A Work of Art»
Redefining Luxury

Experience

In a night of glitz and glam, The Waterway Developments unveiled its newest and biggest commercial
development yet. Nestled in the heart of East Cairo, 5A by The Waterway Developments gives a taste
of all things opulent and luxurious and is bound to be the new central district bringing a distinctive
mix of top-of-the-range office spaces, Michelin Star restaurants, upscale retail units, and iconic fash-
ion houses including Balmain, Versace, Gucci, Givenchy, and Yves Saint Laurent to name a few. 

The extravagant and lavish opening event was attended by the who’s who of the Egyptian society, dig-
nitaries, Cairo’s elite, in addition to a line-up of celebrities, football players, designers, and top-tier blog-
gers making it a real star-studded night. During the evening, guests got the chance of the first exclusive
exploration of this luxurious destination, in addition to relishing a culinary experience from all the fine
dining restaurants around.

32 DECEMBER 2021

The astounding night was hosted by the widely
popular comedian, Wonho Chung who was meet-
ing and greeting guests around the development
while engaging in casual conversations around
the event and the project. The festivities kicked
off with a variety of exotic performances includ-
ing a fire show, lively saxophone performance by
Youssef Fawzi, in addition to burlesque dancers.
The spectacular party brought world-renowned
artists performing in Egypt for the first time such
as Masked Wolf and Inna, as well as the legendary
Amr Diab, all together hyping up the audience in a
party like no other.

With unrivaled design aesthetics, luxury, and
state-of-the-art services, 5A by The Waterway De-
velopments has raised the bar with the introduc-
tion of refined concepts that position it as East
Cairo’s most luxurious destination. The Waterway
Development is following its tried and tested busi-
ness model and builds upon its corporate strategy
that has  proven successful in every single proj-
ect. The new iconic destination offers all of the
promise of niche and iconic experiences coupled
with modern convenience that serves tenants and
guests alike.

With an aim to transcend the conventional and
to deliver perfection in every aspect, The Waterway
Developments operates through a group of sub-
sidiaries that offer a wide array of comprehensive
services tailored to exceed the clients’ expectations.
The different businesses and activities are strate-
gically planned and executed by the company to
serve all sectors.

The Waterway Development has built a strong
reputation in the market expanding its success
stories across various business lines and building
upon its corporate strategy that supports and se-
cures further growth manifested in world-class
concepts. The team of The Waterway Develop-
ments works dedicatedly towards achieving these
objectives and leverages its expertise to ensure
these high standards are uncompromisingly main-
tained to achieve innovation and improvement.

DECEMBER 2021 33

Celebrating the

Festive
Season

Your Guide to Christmas and New Year’s



et Feature

A Time for

Giving

Five acts of giving that will help you spread Christmas cheer.

By Rana Hamdy

36 DECEMBER 2021

Feature et

Christmas is a time of joy and cheer and
while we get caught up in its festivities
and preparations we might forget what
really matters, acts of giving. Sad as it
may sound, there are a lot out there who are not as
fortunate and don’t get to spend a joyful Christ-
mas like everyone else. So, this season, let’s spread
some love with acts of giving and make it better
for those who are less fortunate.

1. Donate supplies to charity. With
many struggling to survive, it is our role to
contribute and make a difference. Donate
food, money, and clothes in good condition
to charities. No matter how small, a little goes
a long way.

2. Gift toys to children’s hospitals and
orphanages. Some children have a really
tough life either hospitalized or not having a
home and family to feel the warmth and love.
Visit those children at hospitals and orphan-
ages, and gift them toys to draw a smile on
their faces.

3. Give out blankets and food to the
homeless. Imagine how harsh it can be for
those living on the streets to survive with no
food, a clean home, or a roof above their head,
and the struggle must be tougher with win-
ter’s weather conditions. Gather your friends
and give out some blankets and food for those
who have nothing to live off. Also, keep in
mind those who work late at night like jani-
tors and security guards.

4. Visit the elderly in nursing homes.
The elderly living in nursing homes feel lonely
and unloved all the time. It would be a nice
gesture to keep them company and make
them feel they’re not forgotten as they get
older. They would love to have someone to
sit and talk with. It is an experience that will
teach you a lot of things.

5. Help animal shelters with mone-
tary donations or food supplies. Shelters
struggle financially in keeping up with the
number of abandoned pets and stray animals
they need to care of. You can also keep some
dry food in your bag or car to feed stray cats
and dogs you come across.

DECEMBER 2021 37

et Feature

5 Exclusive

Christmas Culinary
Destinations

Gather with family, friends and loved ones for sumptuous festive feasts at
these five exclusive hotel destinations this Christmas and New Year’s.

38 DECEMBER 2021

Feature et

Let the Festivities Begin at the Semiramis
InterContinental

Book brunch at Night & Day on Friday December
24 and January 7 and enjoy an ala carte Christmas Eve
dinner at Pane Vino restaurant or a spectacular Christ-
mas Eve dinner with Harpist tunes and live perfor-
mance by the Trio band at The Grill.

Savor Thai tastes for a unique New Year’s Eve at
The Birdcage and enjoy scrumptious takeaways from
Cafe Corniche. For a lighthearted season of celebra-
tions, treat yourself to an appetizing Christmas cana-
pés & desserts with a live pianist on New year’s eve at
the Tea Garden or step into the elegant club lounge
atmosphere of the Ambassador Club. Sushirami offers
festive sushi rolling while India along the Nile offers
delectable dishes and à la carte options,

To purchase gift vouchers or more information, call
+202227988080 or WhatsApp 01029986364, facebook.
com/SemiramisIC, @icsemiramis, @ICSEMIRAMIS

DECEMBER 2021 39

et Feature

Add a touch of sparkle to
your Holidays at Le Meridien

Cairo Airport Hotel

Welcome 2022 on an enchanting note with
a tasteful set menu dinner while you dance the
night away at Mezzeh.

Indulge in the spirit of the festive season at
EVOO. Count down the New Year with a distinc-
tive dining experience at EVOO, where you can
share a beautiful memory with your loved ones
as you bid farewell to 2021with a savory dinner
buffet.

Book your spot and gather your family and
friends for a remarkable beginning of 2022.

For more information and reservations, call
+202 22659600. Facebook Page: @lemeridien-
cairoairport. Instagram Page: @lemeridiencai-
roairporthotel

40 DECEMBER 2021

Feature et

Embrace The Glory Of The
Festive Season At The Nile

Ritz-Carlton, Cairo

Located on the Nile and overlooking the remarkable
Egyptian Museum, the Nile Ritz-Carlton, Cairo is the
ideal destination to celebrate the magic and wonder
of this festive season. Whether you are looking for the
ideal romantic getaway or traveling with family, the
breathtaking Cairo views, lush gardens, and hospital-
ity of the Nile Ritz-Carlton await you this December.

A carefully curated program of exciting happenings
is guaranteed to create long-lasting memories for the
whole family. Enjoy indulgent Christmas Day feasts,
The Nile Ritz-Carlton, Cairo has everything you need
to make this special time of the year truly magical.

In Celebrating The Season And Starting The New
Year In True Ritz-Carlton Fashion:

Culina offers uniquely indulgent brunch experience
with variety of proteins, rich BBQ, sushi, seafood, sea-
sonal salads, and dessert offerings while enjoying live
jazz entertainment and Christmas spirit.

Bab El-Sharq celebrates Christmas and New Year’s
by offering prefix dinners featuring traditional orien-
tal flavors while guests enjoy live entertainment and
authentic oriental dishes from all over the Middle
East.

For Italian cuisine lovers, Vivo is offering exclusive
dinner experiences for Christmas with live entertain-
ment in a contemporary setting overlooking infinite
views of the Nile and Cairo Tower.

Dine and Dance at Midnight to celebrate New Year’s
Eve with a countdown to celebrate at Bar-oro.

Overlooking Cairo and the Nile in all its magical
glory, NOX invites guests to celebrate the arrival of
the New Year in a luxurious and fun night with DJ
beats and live entertainment

Intimate and elegant, Lobby Lounge features a spe-
cial Christmas high tea with a Trio Live entertainment.
Enjoy a chocolate extravaganza with Valrhona on New
Year’s Eve.

At Sweet Boutique, our talented culinary team cre-
ated a special gingerbread masterpiece inspired by the

pyramids of Giza along with other delicious spe-
cialty Christmas creations during the en-
tire month of December.
For more information, please
call +202 25778899 Ext: 2002, or
email reservations@ritzcarlton.
com.

DECEMBER 2021 41

et Feature

A charming Christmas & a Glamorous
New Year at Sonesta Hotel, Tower &

Casino – Cairo

With its vast array of exciting venues and exquisite
flavorful Holiday treats, Sonesta has the passion for
providing a memorable experience.

Gather with your family and friends at “La Gondola”
for a Christmas Eve Dinner with live entertainment,
followed by a Christmas Day lunch featuring tradi-
tional Christmas dishes.

Celebrate the New Year’s Eve in our new pool-side
tent with live entertainment or in our restaurants while
enjoying delicious international and oriental dinner
accompanied by live entertainment in a cheerful festive
ambiance.

For reservations or more information, call
+202.2264.1111 or visit www.Sonesta.com

42 DECEMBER 2021

Feature et

Festive Season 2021 Christmas Celebration
at the St. Regis Cairo

It’s the most wonderful time of the year and The St.
Regis Cairo is setting an array of bespoke Christmas
offerings on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Year’s
Eve, Coptic Christmas Eve and Coptic Christmas Day
to get you into the holiday’s spirit. Celebrate the festive
season exquisitely this year at Cairo’s best address.

On Christmas and Eve and Coptic Christmas Eve a
timeless gastronomic experience awaits at Tianma Sin-
gaporean restaurant, which will take you on a bespoke
culinary journey to the city of Singapore with an eight-
course set menu and live performance. Savor warm
winter creations of Christmas-themed Afternoon Tea
in Water Garden. Indulge in seasonally-inspired bever-
ages at St. Regis bar overlooking Cairo’s skylines.

Gather your loved ones at La Zisa Italian restaurant
for a five-course set menu with live entertainment in a
cozy yet elegant atmosphere overlooking the breath-
taking views of the Nile. Dine at J&G Steakhouse Cai-
ro, surrounded by captivating aesthetics and overlook-
ing panoramic Nile views.

Christmas is all about cherishing family gatherings
and creating memories that last a lifetime. On Christ-
mas and Coptic Christmas Day, enjoy a spectacular
brunch at La Zisa or book at table at Tianma, which
rolls out its signature Dim Sum brunch. The Water
Garden offers seasonally inspired Afternoon Tea.

Count down to the start of the New Year and cel-
ebrate it by experiencing St. Regis Cairo’s iconic offer-
ings and activities. Enjoy specially curated set menus
at La Zisa, J&G Steakhouse, Tianma. Party the night
away with an exclusive selection of the world’s finest
cocktails at the St. Regis Bar.

For bookings, call +202 25979000, email: info.cairo@
stregis.com, WhatsApp: La Zisa: +201006772264, Tian-
ma: +201006772297, J&G Steakhouse: +201006774402,
Water Garden: +201006773220, St. Regis Bar:
+201006773220, or visit www.stregis.com/cairo

DECEMBER 2021 43

et Feature

44 DECEMBER 2021

Feature et

Christmas

Movies

7that Will Put
You in the
Holiday
Spirit

The festive season is around the
corner, and if you are the type of
person who prefers to celebrate at
home with family and friends, a
nice dinner and a movie night can

be an enjoyable alternative.

By Rana Hamdy

Come the holidays, it’s wonderful to just snug-
gle up on the couch with a mug of hot choco-
late and a list of movies to channel the vibes
of the holiday season. We’ve compiled a list of
Christmas movies, old and new, that will put you in the
Christmas mood.

DECEMBER 2021 45

et Feature

2 Love Actually (2003)

The Christmas-themed romantic
comedy delves into different aspects of
love narrated through 10 different sto-
ries which are later revealed to be loosely
interrelated as the movie progresses. All
the 10 stories take place a month before
Christmas in London.

1 Home Alone (1990)

Eight-year-old Kevin is accidentally
left behind at home alone while all the
family rush to the airport to catch their
Christmas Holiday. All on his own, Kev-
in has to deal with a lot of things includ-
ing protecting his house against a pair
of bungling burglars.

3

The Christmas Chronicles (2018)

The movie tells the story of siblings
Kate and Teddy Pierce, who plan to catch
Santa Claus on camera on Christmas
Eve. Their scheme takes an unexpected
turn of events where they embark on a
journey that is better than any dream.

46 DECEMBER 2021

4 Feature et

The Polar Express (2004)

A young boy embarks on a magical
adventure to the North Pole on Christ-
mas Eve. The journey teaches the child
a lot about bravery, friendship, and the
spirit of Christmas.

5

6 The Grinch (2018)

A grumpy Grinch gets annoyed with
all the growing festivities taking over
Whoville village so he decides to team
up with a dog in an attempt to ruin the
joyful and festive spirit.

The Holiday (2006) 7 Klaus (2019)

The movie tells the story of two girls When Jesper, a new postman, proves
who live in different countries and swap himself to be the worst in the academy,
homes for the holidays to escape their he is sent to a freezing town in the north
problematic boyfriends and relation- where he meets a toymaker named
ship issues. Both girls’ lives change un- Klaus and they become good friends.
expectedly when each meets a local guy Together, they spread holiday traditions
and falls in love. with their toys and gifts.

DECEMBER 2021 47

et Feature

Perfect Presents

Want to go all out when it comes to Christmas gifts this year? Check out
these three exclusive options handpicked for you.

Dialling Up the Holiday Cheer

Time is what you make of it, and the holi-
days are about spending quality, carefree time
with friends and family, having fun and making
memories together. The Swatch X Peanuts Holi-
day Special does just that for fans and puppies
worldwide with its latest release, CHOMP, which
celebrates Snoopy, the most famous beagle on
the planet, and his loyal and loveable friends. 

The limited-edition CHOMP packs the color
punch that Swatch is known for and takes in-
spiration from the Peanuts comic strip. With a
41mm case, the New Gent watch features a bio-
sourced case and glass and bursts with holiday
cheer. Black and white Peanuts strips run end-
to-end on the bracelet and depict Charlie Brown,
Snoopy, Lucy and the gang building snowmen,
sledding at speed and having fun. While the red
background, multi-colored festive lights on the
loop and dial decorating Snoopy’s doghouse,
bring an extra pop of joy. 

Branded with Swatch X Peanuts, the red dog
bowl features black Schulz line drawings of
Christmas trees, dog bones and Peanuts charac-
ters playing in the snow. 

CHOMP is available online and in Swatch
stores alongside other exciting holiday styles and
will come with a special surprise.

48 DECEMBER 2021

A Trip of a Lifetime Feature et

Atlantis Dubai is launching its extraor- Gourmet Treats Galore
dinary January sale just in time for Christ-
mas–as a last minute opportunity to purchase Finding the perfect gift for your loved ones
the ultimate gift. Guests are invited to book may be challenging for some, but the team
35% off rooms and suites as well as ‘stay for 5 behind LiliAnne has you covered. Ready to de-
nights, pay for 4 nights’ in the exclusive January light even the hardest on your list to please, their
sale offer and as an unbelievable bonus, this year, festive hampers are filled with gourmet treats
Atlantis are including a selection of experiences galore. The LiliAnne line-up currently includes
unique to the resort in the package. The sale of- biscuits, granola, honey, jams, oils, pastries and
fer is valid on stay dates from January 9, 2022 vinegars. Each item is created by hand, in-house
to January 6, 2023, and features an unbeatable by the talented team at La Serre, using only the
array of additional experiences and benefits. As finest ingredients.
well as offering complimentary PCR testing in-
resort for guests staying five nights or more, the The hampers arrive in four different sizes.
ocean-themed resort prides itself on its safety Foods perfect for the season ahead include its
and hygiene protocols. Atlantis Dubai was the zingy Apricot or Christmasfavourite, Cranber-
first hotel in the region to earn Sharecare Health ries and Orange Jams. Sweep a thick layer onto a
Security Verified® Badge with Forbes Travel slice of fresh baguette or use them in your festive
Guide, the hotel industry’s go-to cleaning verifi- cooking. Add a little more luxury to any meal
cation programme. This means that every guest with some Foie Gras Terrine or nibble on a selec-
can rest assured in the knowledge that the resort tion of French cheeses. Not only for those on the
is adhering to global best practices for their safe- naughty list, LiliAnne’s Sweet Black Truffles ar-
ty and comfort. For bookings and more infor- rive reminiscent of pieces of coal. Bite into them
mation, visit https://www.atlantis.com/dubai/ to reveal a golden honeycomb on the inside, the
special-offers/extraordinary-benefits. perfect sweet surprise.

Hampers can also be personalized to your
loved one’s tastes. Arriving in classic wicker
baskets that feature leather and gold detailing
alongside the brand’s elegant logo, they are a
gift in themself. They are available to purchase
directly at La Serre or online at LaSerre.com. You
can also order them online at LaSerre.com.

DECEMBER 2021 49

ChristmasetFeature
in Vienna

50 DECEMBER 2021