Luxury Arabia

To celebrate the indescribable drive and competitive spirit of all athletes and fans, Apple launched the International Collection bands for Apple Watch, featuring 22 limited-edition Sport Loop bands with colorful designs that represent those nations across the globe. Each band also features a matching downloadable Stripes watch face showcasing color combinations that customers around the world can use to personalize their Apple Watch and boldly show their country support.

Available only online, the International Collection Apple Watch Sport Loop bands are available in 40 mm and 44 mm sizes for $49 (US). The band packaging includes App Clip functionality to easily download the matching country’s Stripes Apple Watch face. Additionally, customers can download any of the 22 watch faces from their website and also use Face Sharing to share with other Apple Watch users. The new Sport Loop bands and matching downloadable Stripes watch faces feature colorful designs that represent 22 nations across the globe.

The new Oris Aquis Date Calibre 400 41.5 mm series is both modern and avant-garde with heavy wide crown guards, and short angular semi-integrated lugs making this watch one of unique proportions that is considerably more compact on the wrist than other diver watches. 

Oris Calibre 400 Series sets the new standard in automatic mechanical watchmaking. Conceived entirely in-house by the independent Swiss watch company’s skilled engineers, it offers elevated levels of anti-magnetism and a five-day power reserve, and comes with a 10-year warranty and 10-year recommended service intervals.


The watch is available in three iterations with ceramic bezel insert featuring a bright, legible white diving scale on a base of black, navy blue, or deep forest green. The case back includes a sapphire display window to showcase the new in-house movement, and the watch is water resistant to 300 meters.

All three versions of the new Aquis Date Calibre 400 41.5 mm series use a sunburst dial finish. Buyers can choose between a dark anthracite gray tone, an oceanic sunburst blue, or an emerald green, which feels deep and intense in initial images. The in-house Calibre 400 automatic movement inside the Oris Aquis Date Calibre 400 41.5 mm series is a major step forward for the brand’s movement-making capabilities, especially for its core offerings. 

In addition to outstanding accuracy, the Calibre 400 offers magnetic resistance of up to 2,250 gauss, more than 11 times the current ISO standard for anti-magnetism. Power reserve performance is robust as well, with twin mainspring barrels producing 120 hours of power reserve. 

Oris also validates the longevity of the Calibre 400 platform, recommending a service interval of 10 years rather than the more standard five recommended years between services. All three watches feature a stainless steel bracelet with vertically brushed center links. For those that prefer straps, all three models in the new line can also be optioned with the brand’s signed textured black rubber strap, which also includes a folding clasp and dive extension for a modern and functional sporting look.

The Oris Aquis Date Calibre 400 41.5 mm line is available now through authorized dealers at an MSRP of $3,300 on rubber and $3,500 with the stainless steel bracelet. For more details, please visit the Oris website.


MENA Newswire: Luxury e-commerce startup ShopWorn is on track to hit $20 million in sales by year end. Initially fueled by the revenge shopping spree begun by Chinese consumers, leading ShopWorn to open a Hong Kong satellite, American consumers are now doing their own revenge spending on ShopWorn as a sustainable alternative to buying used luxury. ShopWorn’s circular business model of acquiring past seasons’ unsold luxury watches, jewelry, leather goods and other accessories directly from luxury brands or their authorized retailers tackles a less addressed area in retail sustainability conversations: what to do with unsold inventory at the end of every season. 

With consumers now choosing where they spend their money based on a company’s environmental footprint, luxury brands are viewing ShopWorn not only as a channel for their remaining inventory of never previously owned products, but also as a pathway for achieving zero-waste in their production cycles.  This added value has aided ShopWorn in increasing the number of luxury brands working directly with the site by 50 percent over the past 12 months. This gained market share and new customer acquisition account for ShopWorn’s 117 percent projected growth since the start of the pandemic. 

“Talk of sustainability must go beyond what has already been produced,” said Larry Birnbaum, CEO of ShopWorn. “What about the raw materials remaining after wholesale orders have been fulfilled? We understand these supplies are often never enough for a complete production run, so we encourage our brand partners to provide us merchandise made from these leftover materials, whether this is one item or five. In this, we assist our partners in reducing waste and support our customers’ desires to be part of the circular economy.” 

Cyril Guerin, Product Director for DeWitt Watches, commented, “The challenges that come from sparing no detail in achieving the highest in horology is the spare components once a DeWitt timepiece is completed.  This is where our relationship with ShopWorn has become a valuable part of our business as we continue to explore our environmental impact. Through ShopWorn, we are able to ensure fewer unused components at the end of every production season. Once our primary clientele orders have been satisfied, we then deliver to ShopWorn customers exceptional DeWitt timepieces that allow us to advance our ingenuity in watchmaking while focusing on zero waste. Sustainability in watchmaking isn’t impossible – you must only have the right partner to achieve it. For us, ShopWorn has been that partner.”

ShopWorn is an e-commerce shopping destination for customers who want to be the first to own authentic, unused luxury products but don’t want to pay luxury prices. Launched in 2015, ShopWorn was created to help brands and their authorized retailers sustainably alleviate the challenge of unsold inventory. 

With ShopWorn’s unique sourcing strategy of obtaining products directly from luxury brands and authorized retailers, every item sold on ShopWorn is guaranteed to be 100% authentic and never previously owned, even at incredible savings from the original MSRP. The direct relationship between ShopWorn, brands and authorized dealers alleviates any question of authenticity. And because customers should be able to trust what they see and buy online is what they receive, all ShopWorn product images are from an in-house photographer. Stock images are never used.  Items featured on the ShopWorn site are always in stock and ready to ship within two business days. 

Miral in collaboration with Warner Bros. Themed Entertainment announced that The WB Abu Dhabi hotel is on track to open in 2021. With a design and concept inspired by the world-famous Warner Bros. brand, the hotel, developed with a total investment of US$112 million, will complement the company’s commitment to diversifying Yas Island’s offerings and delivering unforgettable experiences for its visitors.

Peter van Roden, SVP Warner Bros. Themed Entertainment, said, "We are thrilled to be so close to completion on the world’s first Warner Bros. branded hotel. The WB Abu Dhabi will be an amazing complement to the adjacent Warner Bros. World theme park. The hotel will be a first-rate family destination inspired by the iconic WB library of film and television shows. Guests will be able to participate in all the thrills and excitement of the theme park then step inside the hotel for an experience fit for a Hollywood star.

Her Highness Sheikha Latifa bint Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Chairperson of Dubai Culture & Arts Authority (Dubai Culture), has inaugurated Infinity des Lumières, the GCC’s largest immersive digital art centre. Representing a new era of modern immersive art, the establishment of the centre further enhances Dubai’s position as the city of the future.

Sheikha Latifa stressed that opening the centre is another step in the emirate's journey towards becoming a global cultural centre. This partnership enhances the emirate’s position as a destination of choice for the global creative movement and modern and contemporary arts and enriches the emirate’s knowledge-based economy in line with the leadership’s vision.

Her Highness explained that Dubai’s adoption of ambitious cultural projects, such as Infinity des Lumières, strengthens the emirate's position as the global capital of the creative economy, following the vision of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai.

She added that the centre will not only bring a unique art experience to the public in Dubai, but also attracts digital creatives to establish their practice and thrive in the emirate, providing them with an innovative platform that would open up prospects for a prosperous future within the UAE and the region.

The centre, which opens to the public on 1st July, offers an unforgettable, multi-sensory and vibrant journey presented through the art of Van Gogh’s Starry Nights, DannyRose Studio’s Dreamed Japan "The Images of the floating world", and Thomas Vanz’s fully digital creation, Verse.

Spread over 2,700 square metres, Infinity des Lumières has created an innovative, technology-driven artistic platform using 130 projectors, 58 speakers, and 3,000 HD digital moving images. In May 2021, Dubai Culture announced its partnership with Infinity des Lumières to promote the future of art and culture in the city, marking the beginning of a new era of digital artists. Through the support of Dubai’s sophisticated community of talents, Infinity des Lumières will spend the coming year creating a niche community, where tech-driven artists have a place to gather and innovate.

Hope Probe Tourbillon is a new one-of-a-kind creation dedicated to the extraordinary UAE space mission. Based on a technology exclusive to Louis Moinet, this satellite tourbillon timepiece contains an authentic meteorite fragment from the Moon and genuine Martian meteorite dust.

“The UAE mission, dubbed the Hope probe, entered Mars' orbit following a journey of more than 300 million miles offering an unprecedented  and unique instrumental synergy, by exploring Mars' different atmospheric layers, revealing new and global perspective of its atmospheric behavior and connections," said Jean-Marie Schaller, CEO and Creative Director of Les Ateliers Louis Moinet. "The UAE and the world rejoiced with pride and this unique timepiece is our way to honor the Mars mission - a remarkable feat of human ingenuity utilizing science and technology,” he added

The satellite tourbillon beautifully depicts on a blue dial, the map of the Northern hemisphere constellations and is crafted using a special miniature painting with mother-of-pearl technique. The green tourbillon carriage, measuring an exceptional 13.59 mm in diameter, is balanced by means of a Mars planet rotating around it and encrusted with genuine Mars meteorite dust.  A hand-painted depiction of the Hope Probe appears on the black aventurine front plate, inlaid with a genuine lunar meteorite fragment – as too is the black rear plate featuring a hand-painted UAE astronaut. 

The UAE’s Hope Probe is the first Arab space mission. Known as Al-Amal in Arabic, it will orbit the red planet for at least one Martian year (687 days). It is the first probe to provide a complete picture of the Martian atmosphere while evaluating its seasonal and daily changes. The Hope Probe is an important gift dedicated to the people of the UAE on the 50th anniversary of the nation and a source of inspiration for Arab youth. 

Jean-Marie Schaller created Les Ateliers Louis Moinet in St-Blaise (NE) in 2004. The fully independent firm was established to honor the memory of Louis Moinet (1768-1853): master watchmaker, inventor of the chronograph in 1816 (certified by Guinness World Records), and pioneer in the use of very high frequencies (216,000 vibrations per hour). Louis Moinet was a watchmaker, scholar, painter, sculptor, and teacher at the School of Fine Arts - as well as the author of the Traite d’Horlogerie, a watchmaking treatise published in 1848 that remained a definitive work of reference for a century.

Today, Ateliers Louis Moinet is perpetuating this legacy. The firm’s mechanical timepieces are produced as one-of-a-kind models or limited editions only and comprise two categories: “Cosmic Art” and “Mechanical Wonders”. Louis Moinet creations often make use of unusual and rare components, such as extraterrestrial meteorites or prehistorical materials. 

Breitling and IRONMAN have signed a long-term partnership and teamed up to co-design the Endurance Pro IRONMAN watches, a special series of Breitling’s ultimate athleisure watch. The result is a set of perfectly lightweight and lighthearted luxury sports watches combining high precision, innovative technology, and vibrant, colorful design. The launch features two exciting new watches: a red version available globally at all Breitling boutiques and retailers and online for sports and timekeeping enthusiasts, and a black and gold piece exclusively available for IRONMAN race finishers. Additional models reserved for the IRONMAN community are planned for the coming months. 

In 2019, Breitling and IRONMAN had already launched the highly successful Breitling Superocean IRONMAN Limited Edition. This new partnership kicks off a long-term collaboration with Breitling becoming the new Official Luxury Watch of IRONMAN. To celebrate the partnership and offer a first look at the watches, a special event was held at the Breitling Boutique in Beverly Hills. In attendance as special guests were IRONMAN Hall of Famer and 1997 IRONMAN World Champion, Heather Fuhr; IRONMAN Ambassador and the first person with Down syndrome to finish an IRONMAN, Chris Nikic; IRONMAN Hall of Famer and the Voice of IRONMAN, Mike Reilly; and professional IRONMAN triathlete Ben Hoffman, who was also on hand to celebrate the new watches as well as his recent partnership with Breitling as a local ambassador in the US. Since turning professional in 2007, Hoffman has won numerous IRONMAN, IRONMAN 70.3 and National Championship victories.

All three members of Breitling’s Triathlon Squad have distinguished themselves in IRONMAN triathlon events around the world. German triathlete Jan Frodeno is not only a 2008 Olympic gold medalist, but also a three-time IRONMAN World Champion and a two-time IRONMAN 70.3® World Champion. In 2019, Frodeno recorded a best overall course time at the IRONMAN World Championship®, winning in 7:51:13. Daniela Ryf, a native of Breitling’s home country of Switzerland, is a five-time IRONMAN 70.3 World Champion and four-time IRONMAN World Champion. The third squad member is Chris “Macca” McCormack from Australia, who has claimed two IRONMAN World Championship titles – in 2007 and again in 2010. He also won the 2012 ITU Long Distance World Championships.

All three represent the best in IRONMAN triathlon racing, which brings together three disciplines into the world’s most challenging single-day races, consisting of 2.4 miles (3.8 km) of swimming, 112 miles (180 km) of cycling, and 26.2 miles (42.2 km) of running.

The new Endurance Pro IRONMAN collection serves athletes as well as luxury clients looking for the ultimate athleisure timepiece. Its 44 mm watch case is made out of Breitlight, which is 3.3 times lighter than titanium and 5.8 times lighter than steel, but significantly harder. This exclusive high-tech material boasts exceptional resistance to scratches, traction, and corrosion. It also stands out for its anti-magnetic and anti-allergic properties, as well as its thermal stability, which gives it a warmer feel than metal. It’s powered by the Breitling Caliber 82, a COSC-certified thermo compensated SuperQuartz movement that is ten times more precise than regular quartz and offers a battery life of approximately three to four years.

The bidirectional rotating bezel has engraved compass points, and the tactile molded crown provides excellent grip and maneuverability. The hour and minute hands are coated with Super-LumiNova®, making them legible even in limited lighting conditions. Along with a small-second sub dial, there are 1/10th second and 30-minute chronograph counters that have also been designed for easy reading. The watch is water-resistant to 10 bar/100 meters/330 feet.

At present there are two versions available: Endurance Pro IRONMAN and Endurance Pro IRONMAN Finisher. The former comes with a red dial featuring a black inner bezel with a pulsometer scale. The watch is presented on a red rubber strap with a Breitlight double tang-type buckle. It features a unique IRONMAN inscription instead of the Breitling inscription. The latter – black accented with gold – is targeted at athletes who’ve completed an IRONMAN event. This version will be available exclusively through IRONMAN channels, and its case back features a special IRONMAN Finisher Series engraving.

Flydubai, the Dubai-based airline, has announced the start of daily flights to Warsaw (WAW) from 30th September, 2021. Warsaw will become flydubai’s second destination in Poland after Krakow (KRK), which currently operates with a twice weekly service.

Ghaith Al Ghaith, CEO at flydubai, said, "We have been flying to Krakow in Poland since 2018 and by adding Warsaw to our network we are providing our passengers with more options for travel to and from Poland. We look forward to creating travel and trade flows with our daily service."

With international travel restrictions gradually easing, flydubai has grown its network to over 90 destinations including several seasonal summer routes, such as Batumi in Georgia, Bodrum and Trabzon in Turkey, Mykonos and Santorini in Greece, Naples in Italy, Sharm El Sheikh in Egypt and Tivat in Montenegro.

Flydubai’s network offers passengers the chance to explore a range of cities rich in culture, heritage and activities such as Baku, Bucharest, Budapest, Istanbul, Ljubljana, Tbilisi, Tirana and Yerevan. flydubai also offers flights to some of the best beaches and tropical hotspots in the world including the Maldives and Zanzibar.

Emirates will codeshare on flights to Warsaw, offering travelers more seamless connections through Dubai’s international aviation hub to 168 destinations between both the Emirates and flydubai networks, including Australia, China, Indian Ocean, Japan, South Asia, and the US.

The airline's passenger experience has been redesigned to enable travel in a safe environment that minimizes crew and passenger contact and offers passengers confidence to travel at every step of their journey. Passengers who book a flight through flydubai.com will receive complimentary global cover for COVID-19 related costs.

Passengers are required to make sure that they are up to date with the regulations from the IATA Travel Centre and the IATA destination tracker for their whole journey, and follow the guidance issued by the authorities and the airline. Passengers can also visit the COVID-19 information hub on their website for more information.

United Kingdom residents will be able to experience the magic of Disney Cruise Line close to home with brand-new Disney Magic at Sea "staycation" sailings from U.K. ports this summer for a limited time. Featuring enchanted entertainment and with multiple layers of health and safety measures, the Disney Magic cruise ship plans to sail mostly 2- and 3-night voyages, as well as limited 4-night sailings round-trip from London Tilbury, Newcastle, Liverpool and Southampton.

Disney Magic at Sea staycation sailings are expected to go on sale in April 2021 for sailings this summer, pending the issuance of U.K. government guidelines and authorizations. For more information, visit their website.

The LEGO Group unveiled the latest enviable addition to its garage, a life-size replica of the Lamborghini Sian FKP 37 made from over 400,000 LEGO Technic elements. This show stopping collaboration with Automobili Lamborghini demonstrates once again that with Technic, you can build whatever you can imagine for real.

Following the launch of the 1:8 scale LEGO Technic Lamborghini Sian FKP 37 last year, this life-size model replicates the visionary design of the limited-edition Italian super sports car on a much grander scale. Over 154 different types of LEGO elements have been used to ensure the model embodies the futuristic elegance and unmistakeable silhouette of the Lamborghini Sian, down to the most minute details.

Lena Dixen, Senior Vice President of Product and Marketing at the LEGO Group said: “Our designers love a challenge, so you can imagine their delight when we tasked them to think slightly larger than normal with this model. They jumped at the chance of teaming up with our amazing designers and engineers from our model production workshop at the Kladno factory in the Czech Republic who build these impressive life-size models, and really pushing the boundaries of what can be done with LEGO Technic. The creativity that the system allows meant it was possible to really do justice to the exceptional design of the Lamborghini Sian FKP 37.”

Marking the second collaboration between the two companies’ talented designers, engineers and technicians, the model mirrors the dimensions of the Lamborghini Sian FKP 37 to the millimeter. The proportion-perfect frame is covered with an intricate fabric of bespoke hexagonal LEGO Technic elements which interconnect to form an energy-charged shell. The design plays homage to the six-sided shape that plays an integral role in Automobili Lamborghini’s design language, echoing the iconic hexagonal taillights and exhaust shape on the Italian super sports car.

Externally the Lamborghini Sian’s design has been replicated in meticulous detail. The word Sían means “flash” or “lightning” in the Bolognese dialect so to mark this, the electrical experts from the LEGO Group ensured that the lights and sleek lightning bolt that flashes along the body reflect how the real model’s epsilon headlights and hexagonal taillights power up and down. 

Inside the cockpit the detail continues, with a brick-built steering wheel emblazoned with the famous Lamborghini emblem and Italian flag, LEGO-built dashboard controls and racing seats. This model is the first large-scale model from the LEGO Group to have a paintbrush-effect UV color coating applied to ensure the model lasts a lifetime. The color, which is a perfect match to the 1:8 scale LEGO Technic model, was applied by Automobili Lamborghini’s official paint shop to ensure a finish worthy of the super sports car.The result: a flawless model that could be mistaken for the real super sports car, proudly created by a team of 15 people during 8,660 hours of development and painstaking construction.

Following the breath-taking launch of the 1:8 scale model, the life-size LEGO Technic Lamborghini Sian FKP37 has been given its own show-stopping moment deserving of the super sports car. In a new first-of-its-kind virtual unveiling from the LEGO Group, the full-scale model has been rebuilt in a virtual LEGO workshop to give supercar fans and LEGO lovers the chance to get up close and personal with the immense model, while ensuring the safety of fans around the world. 

The resulting experience is packed with suspense and emotion, making viewers’ dreams come true by giving them the chance to get behind the wheel of the 1:8 scale model before they are ‘transformed’ along with the model into the full-scale replica revealed today.  The experience lets viewers explore this feat of design excellence in their own time; they can sit in the driver’s seat and hear from the talented Automobili Lamborghini and LEGO Group designers who made this model a reality. 

Etihad Airways, the national airline of the UAE, will launch seasonal flights to Greece’s most popular islands, Mykonos and Santorini, and the famous southern Spanish city of Malaga in Andalusia. Mykonos will operate between 8 July and 11 September 2021 and Santorini between 9 July and 12 September 2021. Both destinations will benefit from a twice weekly direct service on an Airbus A320.

With a safe travel corridor established between the UAE and Greece, fully vaccinated individuals now have more opportunities to enjoy quarantine free travel. Travelers can enjoy Mykonos’ Mediterranean cuisine or admire Santorini’s unique architecture. Just over four hours from Abu Dhabi, Etihad’s new flights to the Greek islands complement the airline’s existing service to Athens.

As Spain prepares to reopen to international vaccinated travelers from 7 June 2021, Etihad will launch new flights to Malaga, twice a week, between 9 July and 15 September 2021. Flights to Malaga will operate using a Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner, offering Economy Space and Neighbor-free seating options. The new service will provide greater choice and convenience for leisure travelers between the UAE and Spain, with Etihad now serving three destinations between the two countries – Barcelona, Madrid and Malaga.

For Etihad Guest Members wanting to redeem their well-earned miles, Mykonos, Santorini and Malaga are ideal destinations. Members have access to best value seats with their miles, plus countless hotel and car partners to suit their travel needs.

As border restrictions ease and safe travel corridors are implemented, Etihad continues to broaden its network by adding services and frequencies across key markets. Today’s announcement on the Greek Islands and Malaga follows the recent resumption of services to Athens, Casablanca, Nairobi, Phuket, Rabat and Seychelles.

To simplify the travel experience and provide additional peace of mind, Etihad recently launched Verified to Fly, allowing guests to validate their COVID-19 travel documents before arriving at the airport. Travelers who use Verified to Fly can enjoy fast track check-in at the airport by going to the dedicated Verified to Fly desk for a quicker and smoother experience. To use the Verified to Fly service, guests can sign-up by visiting Manage my Booking and will receive further information on how to submit their documents.

For more convenient travel options, guests can also check in for their Etihad flight from the comfort of their own home by visiting the website up to seven hours before their flight. This means passengers can check in their bags, choose their seat and collect their boarding pass and luggage tags from their home in Abu Dhabi. Once at Abu Dhabi International Airport, all non-transit passengers who have used the home check-in service can skip the queues bag-free, making the airport journey seamless. Luggage will need to be collected at the destination baggage belt.

Flying to, from, and via Abu Dhabi is supported by the airline’s fully redesigned sanitization and safety program, Etihad Wellness, which ensures the highest standards of hygiene are maintained at every stage of the customer journey.  Those wishing to book are advised to visit the website and the app to view their options, and to remain informed on the appropriate entry regulations at their end destination. Flights are also available for booking through the mobile app, by calling the Etihad Airways Contact Centre on +971 600 555 666 (UAE) or through a local or online travel agency.

BMW Welt and the BMW Museum open doors to the public again for the first time this year on May 25. Visitors to the BMW Museum will be admitted free of charge on opening day. During the first week of opening, visitors should look out for special promotions in BMW Welt, the BMW Museum shop and participating cafés. Of course, the health of our visitors and employees continues to be the main priority. For this reason, reopening will take place in compliance with all official regulations and measures.

For the time being, BMW Welt will be open daily from 8 am to 8 pm. All the exhibition areas will be open for visitors, and customers can pick up their new vehicles as usual in BMW Welt. In addition, a limited number of visitors can get personal advice on new vehicles in the BMW Welt showrooms, or pop into the BMW Welt Lifestyle & Accessory Shop to purchase from a wide range of high-quality, BMW and MINI branded products.

Catering facilities, including Biker’s Lodge, Restaurant Bavarie and the outdoor terrace, are also available to visitors from May 25. By way of a culinary highlight to kick things off, Restaurant Bavarie is offering business lunches from midday to 3 pm, Monday to Friday, with a new menu each day. Each Friday evening from June 4 to July 30 it will also be providing an exquisite Hawaiian BBQ on the large terrace overlooking the Olympic Park. Guests can enjoy the genuine taste of Hawaii – everything from fresh seafood and grilled Huli Huli chicken to fruit-packed desserts and exotic cocktails.  

To celebrate the reopening, the BMW Museum offered free entry to all visitors today. The M1 bistro will also be open again. Visitors can look forward to two new exhibits with special stories to tell. The BMW 2800 GTS Coupé Frua (1969) bears the unmistakable signature of the renowned Italian designer Pietro Frua – a design icon that BMW has lovingly restored to its full glory. Also on show is the BMW 2200ti Garmisch (1970/2019) – a futuristic concept car by Marcello Gandini, head of the Bertone design studio, which was unveiled more than 50 years ago and which was rebuilt in 2019 after going missing without trace.