Women’s World Car of The Year Reveals 2021 Category Winners

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Shereen Shabnam

After a year of testing cars, the jury of the Women’s World Car of the Year are pleased to announce the winners in each of nine categories. These vehicles represent excellence in their segments based on safety, comfort, technology, and value for the money.

As a Motoring Jury based in the UAE, I was able to test the nominated cars easily as we were less affected with lockdowns during the year. This is the eleventh year for WWCOTY, a team of fifty motoring journalists from 38 countries spanning five continents. It is the only jury in the automotive world composed exclusively of women.

This year’s new voting methodology started with choosing the three best models in each category before narrowing those picks down to the individual winners. Eligible vehicles were launched between January and December 2020. As in previous years, votes were certified by the independent auditor Grant Thornton New Zealand.

This year, voting was more complicated due to the pandemic, which limited each juror’s ability to drive. Despite the challenges, jurors made an extra effort to get behind the wheel of these vehicles to evaluate them in time for voting.

One more round of voting remains. Jurors will now choose the Best Car of the Year from among the nine category winners. The results will be announced on March 8, International Women’s Day.

 2021 Women’s World Car of the Year Category Winners

BEST URBAN CARBEST FAMILY CARBEST LUXURY CAR
Peugeot 208Skoda OctaviaLexus LC500 Cabrio
BEST SPORT CARBEST URBAN SUVBEST MEDIUM SUV
Ferrari F8 SpiderPeugeot 2008Land Rover Defender
BEST LARGE SUVBEST 4X4 & PICK UPBEST EV
Kia SorentoFord F-150Honda e

Women’s World Car of the Year is the only car awards group in the world composed exclusively of women motoring journalists. It was created by New Zealand motoring journalist, Sandy Myhre, in 2009. She is currently Honorary President while Marta García serves as Executive President.

The objective of the awards is to choose the best cars of the year. These are not ‘women’s cars’ because there is no such thing. Instead, cars are chosen based on the principles that guide all consumers including safety, quality, price, design, driving dynamics, and environmental impact.

Ferretti Yachts 1000 Launched: The Largest Ever Built By The Shipyard

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The new flagship hits the water in Cattolica, the first unit is for a French owner

Space for onboard comfort and wellbeing; space for timeless design and ‘Made in Italy’ craftsmanship. The first Ferretti Yachts 1000, the shipyard’s first 100% wide-body vessel, has been launched in Cattolica for a French owner.

The launch represents the culmination of a design process driven by the quest for perfection: extraordinary investments in Research and Development, thousands of hours  of naval design, long-term mould prototyping at the Plug  & Mould  factory in Forlì, and the equally long and delicate construction phase at the Cattolica shipyard. The result is a remarkable new flagship made up of talent and technology, the ability to innovate and craftsmanship.

Majestic, versatile and suited to all markets, Ferretti Yachts 1000 reshapes space and changes the whole approach to life on board with unprecedented design solutions and an interior mood in Classic style, featuring soft, balanced colour tones and subtle contrasts. At the heart of the project is the idea of unparalleled comfort and wellbeing in both outdoor and indoor areas, where quintessential ‘Made in Italy’ taste prevails. The suavely understated design, featuring clean lines and sophisticated materials, conveys a sense of refined luxury and is the ideal interpretation of the values expressed by the “Just Like Home” claim:   comfort, Italian style, timeless design and  craftsmanship.

While only just unveiled, Ferretti Yachts 1000 looks set to be a huge success and the first three units have already been sold.

“The new flagship is an exciting choral work permeated by the flair, vision and passion of so many skilled and talented people who represent the winning factor for Ferretti Yachts. To them all I’d like to offer my heartfelt thanks for how they have completed an extraordinary project like Ferretti Yachts  1000 in such a complicated year,” commented Ferretti Group CEO Alberto Galassi. “This fantastic yacht really is a beautiful private island on which to imagine your future, in contact with the sea and the finest ‘Made in Italy’ marine expertise.”

Ferretti Yachts 1000 is the result of collaboration between the Product Strategy Committee led by Mr. Piero Ferrari, the Ferretti Group Engineering Department, architect Filippo Salvetti for the exteriors and Ideaeitalia for the new interior concept.

Kaspersky shares IT security recommendations for businesses in 2021

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Remote work will catalyze a shift from the corporate perimeter concept to micro-office security certification. Outsourcing of IT and cybersecurity functions will be crucial to solve expertise shortages and save budgets. To coordinate managed service providers along with using multiple cloud services, cloud security and management skills will become a ‘must have’. These and other cybersecurity challenges and trends will be among those that businesses will have to manage this year, according to a new Kaspersky report.

A shift to remote work, financial constraints due to economic recession and the growth of cyber threats due to the global pandemic will affect the day to day role of cybersecurity professionals in 2021. Understanding the challenges but also perceiving opportunities in IT and IT security management is key for companies to maintain their protection. The recent Kaspersky report, “Plugging the gaps: 2021 corporate IT security predictions” suggests advice for each role related to cybersecurity, including CEOs or business owners, CISOs, SOC team leads and IT managers. Here are some of the main trends to monitor:

  • Protecting the perimeter is no longer enough – home office assessment and certification will be needed. There should be tools to scan the level of security in a workplace – from the presence of software vulnerabilities to connecting to an unreliable or unprotected Wi-Fi hotspot. It will also require wider adoption of VPN, privileged access management, multifactor authentication systems, the implementation of stricter monitoring, and the updating of existing contingency and emergency plans.
  • Transition to a service model will enable required levels of IT and IT security with lower investments. According to Kaspersky’s survey, seven-in-10 72% businesses in the META region said they already plan to use a managed service provider (MSP) or managed security service provider (MSSP) in the next 12 months[1]. This is for good reason as the service model helps to minimize capital investments and transition business costs from CapEx to OpEx.
  • Training for internal IT security specialists should incorporate management skills. Cybersecurity professions split into very narrow specializations, meaning that hiring staff for each specific role may be too expensive. This is where outsourcing can help plug the gap. However, businesses that outsource key cybersecurity components still need to focus on developing management skills for their in-house teams to handle those outsourced functions.
  • There will be an increased reliance on cloud services, making dedicated management and protection measures necessary. The survey showed thatin 2020, employees in 91% of enterprises and 95% of SMBs in the META region used non-corporate software and cloud services such as social networks, messengers or other applications. This is unlikely to change when staff return to the office. To ensure that any corporate data is kept under control, better visibility over cloud access will be necessary. IT security managers will need to align themselves with this cloud paradigm and develop skills for cloud management and protection.

Along with the introduction of new cybersecurity practices, the quality of tools that enable these changes will be equally important. Quality of protection and seamless manageability are key when choosing cybersecurity solutions. “We have seen two important changes in what customers expect from corporate cybersecurity offerings. Firstly, the quality of protection is no longer up for discussion – now it’s a ‘must have’. Another major trend is that deep integration between various components of corporate security, ideally from a single vendor, now plays a bigger role. For instance, there was a long-held belief in the industry that various specialized solutions from various vendors can help create the best combination for protection. Now, organizations are looking for a more unified approach with maximum integration between different security technologies,” says Alexander Moiseev, Chief Business Officer at Kaspersky.

Check the full report ‘Plugging the gaps: 2021 corporate IT security predictions’ for more predictions.

[1] According to Kaspersky Global Corporate IT Security Risks Survey (ITSRS), conducted across 31 countries in June 2020. Throughout the report, a total of 5,266 IT business decision-makers were interviewed.

Azraq Volunteer Members Remove 137.9KG of Debris From Lulu Island

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Four of Azraq’s volunteer members, ventured out to Lulu Island in Abu Dhabi yesterday to undertake a clean up from the seabed and around the island itself, removing 137.9kg of debris, mainly plastic water bottles and fishing debris.

This initiative was undertaken with its newest partner, The Captain’s Club which provided a boat and captain for the activity. 

Aside from ocean clean ups, Azraq will utilize the partnership to expand on its coral reef survey program in Abu Dhabi, with an eye on Dubai also.

Natalie Banks, Founder of Azraq, stated that the partnership with The Captain’s Club came at the perfect time, through a connection from one of Azraq’s members and partly fulfilled a long-time dream of the conservationist, to have regular access to boats for water activities.

“We have long had a dream of having access to a boat in order to undertake additional marine conservation activities, so the team at The Captain’s Club absolutely made our wishes come true when they agreed to partner with us” Ms Banks said.

“There is a great deal of debris on the sea floor which I see regularly as a scuba diving instructor, and in order to conserve and protect our local waterways, we need to not only look at stopping the debris from entering the waterways, but assist to remove it also.”

Azraq has a long history of beach cleans, which the team will continue to do wherever possible, even when having to accommodate to social distancing regulations. Nonetheless, the ocean cleans are proving to offer greater reward for effort, with larger amounts of debris found.

“Organising the removal of debris from the seabed requires a great deal of organization and logistics, and we could not be happier with the support that The Captain’s Club provides us,” Ms Banks said.

“In addition to The Captain’s Club, we are extremely grateful for the support from the Environment Agency Abu Dhabi and Tadweer which sent a boat to Lulu Island to collect the debris afterwards.”

The clean ups are being undertaken by approved members. Anyone interested in joining Azraq is encouraged to do so by visiting their website or by sending an email to admin@azraqme.org

Timeless Appeal

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We have curated some timeless pieces for your watch collection this month. Adorn your wrist with watches based on craftmanship and the perfect combination of style and functionality. Eric Richard brings you a selection of timepieces that pay homage to the past and yet remain relevant for collectors of all ages.

Abu Dhabi Airports launches the region’s first PCR testing laboratory located within an Airport

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Abu Dhabi Airports, in partnership with Pure Health and Tamouh Healthcare, has launched the region’s first PCR testing laboratory within an airport. The new state of the art RT-PCR lab offers fast COVID-19 testing within the Abu Dhabi International Airport (AUH) to facilitate the resumption of air travel and assist with quarantine tracking procedures.

Designed to ensure the health, safety, and wellbeing of travellers and staff at Abu Dhabi International Airport, the new Real Time Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR) testing process is free for arriving passengers and is one of the fastest in the world, with results available in approximately 90 minutes and the capacity to test more than 20,000 travellers and staff per day.

The establishment of the PCR testing laboratory falls in line with the directives and vision of His Excellency Sheikh Mohammed bin Hamad bin Tahnoon Al Nahyan, Chairman of Abu Dhabi Airports, to contain the spread of COVID-19 while continuing to deliver a smooth and seamless travel experience at Abu Dhabi International Airport.

Shareef Hashim Al Hashmi, Chief Executive Officer of Abu Dhabi Airports, said: “Through partnering with Pure Health and Tamouh Healthcare, Abu Dhabi International Airport is now able to offer travellers state-of-the-art rapid testing services delivered by a dedicated laboratory facility. The introduction of the RT-PCR COVID-19 testing is a milestone achievement in our ongoing efforts to facilitate the safe resumption of international air travel and support the recovery of the aviation industry.”

“The fact that this is the first airport in the region to contain its own dedicated PCR testing laboratory is testament to our commitment at Abu Dhabi Airports to continuously innovate and look for new ways to deliver a safe, smooth and seamless travel experience for all our passengers. The new fast testing facility at Abu Dhabi International Airport, developed in partnership with many of our stakeholders, will not only enable passengers to confidently travel to Abu Dhabi, but significantly enhance the efficiency of our operations while supporting global efforts to curb the spread of COVID-19,” added Al Hashmi.

All passengers arriving at Abu Dhabi International Airport through both terminals 1 and 3 will be tested at the AUH PCR testing facility. Results of the COVID-19 tests will be shared by SMS and WhatsApp, as well as being available on the Alhosn mobile application. Passengers who receive a negative PCR test and are from the list of ‘green’ countries, outlined by the government of Abu Dhabi, will not have to self-isolate. Those not from the list of ‘green’ countries will have to self-isolate for a period of ten days, and will require a quarantine wristband fitted at the PCR testing tent attached to the airport.

Participants in the National Vaccination Programme and Phase III clinical trials who have an identification mark (letter E or golden star) on Al Hosn app are exempted from self-quarantine procedures. Passengers transiting through the airport will not be tested prior to departing for their final destinations.

The lab, being developed and operated by Pure Health – the region’s largest laboratory operator – and the healthcare and passenger facility, being developed by UAE-based Tamouh Healthcare, will provide results in approximately 90 minutes and will have the capacity to test more than 20,000 travellers per day. The 4,000 square metre facility will operate around the clock with up to 190 staff.

The launch of fast COVID-19 testing services follows Abu Dhabi Airports’ introduction of a comprehensive range of health and safety measures at Abu Dhabi International Airport, including a specially trained team of Wellness Ambassadors equipped to support passengers by answering common questions relating to keeping healthy during travel, encouraging social distancing, and providing Personal Protective Equipment (PPE).

In addition, the airport has deployed touch-less elevator technology, SterixEco Gates sterilisation tunnels, thermal scanning cameras, as well cameras with facial recognition capabilities that alert staff if passengers or visitors to the airport are displaying symptoms of COVID-19 or not wearing facemasks.

For the latest COVID-19 information at Abu Dhabi International Airport, please visit: abudhabiairport.ae/en/announcement

Sandbank Picnics to Sunset Escapades

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Sheraton Maldives Full Moon Resort & Spa

By Shereen Shabnam

After a period of not travelling for nearly a year, heading to Maldives was indeed a treat and a few days at the award-winning Sheraton Maldives Full Moon Resort & Spa brought so many memorable moments.

The resort is home to an exquisite collection of accommodation options from elegant deluxe rooms to charming cottages and indulging water bungalows and villas. We stayed in a chalet right on the beach with an open-air bathroom that in itself was exquisite.

Sheraton Maldives Full Moon Resort & Spa has five dining venues and two bars, offering a diverse selection of cuisines that range from authentic Thai or Indian, savory Chinese and Caribbean-inspired meals, to favored Mediterranean picks.  

The Resort also features Sea Salt, a seaside open-air seafood restaurant, where we had an amazing meal during sunset. The sandbank picnic, sunset dinner and the lunch in the sea while our feet stayed submerged in the water were all memorable experiences we will not forget for years.

On our last night, we went for a Maldivian buffet right on the beach with entertainment from the hotel staff that left us mesmerised and while the more adventurous diners had a great night dancing under the stars while enjoying the freshly grilled seafood from the dinner.

During our stay, we tried the award-winning Shine Spa for Sheraton, located on its very own island and offers a generous treatment menu to restore balance to body and mind. I selected a massage that restored my energy and had we ready for more island adventures on offer at the resort.

The Sheraton Maldives Full Moon Resort & Spa also invites guests to participate in the coral-fragment plantation activity in an effort to promote reef habitats and generate new coral. The resort has teamed up with Reefscapers, a coral propagation organization appointed by the Maldivian Government as custodians of the coral colonies in the Gulhi Falhu lagoon which was slated to be destroyed as part of a reclamation project.

The activity is led by experts and offers a hands-on experience to participants while also providing an alternative business to the 250 inhabitants whose sole previous source of employment was fishing.

Another activity we enjoyed was the weaving workshops where we learnt to weave gorgeous headbands, hats and bracelets from palm tree leaves. The activity is a favourite amongst guests of all ages but in particular kids who prefer making cute leaf animals they can play with.

My favourite was getting up for yoga by the beach early morning to start the day, just before indulging in breakfast. The boat ride to watch dolphins was memorable as we watched dolphins playfully chasing each other in the sea. Sailing back to the resort during sunset was definitely a value add to the boat ride.

Sheraton Maldives Full Moon Resort & Spa is definitely a resort I would go back to in a heartbeat for a relaxing and chilled out holiday.

Omeir Travel extends Amadeus partnership to power UAE growth and broaden digital presence

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Omeir Travel has strengthened its long-term relationship with Amadeus by extending their partnership. Since 2003, Amadeus has accompanied Omeir Travel in its digital transformation and the development of integrated travel services for consumers in the UAE and from around the world.

This continued collaboration comes as Omeir Travel plans expansion into more B2B and retail outlets in the UAE. The latest engagement also includes the development of an Omeir Travel one-stop-shop mobile app that meets customers’ hotel and flight needs and is expected to be introduced to the UAE market very soon.

In recognition of the ever-changing needs of the travel sector, Omeir Travel has deployed Amadeus’ cutting-edge travel technology solutions to maintain a competitive edge. Amadeus has driven automation throughout the agency’s operations and provided optimisation intelligence tools to find the best fares and ensure the highest quality of service.  This also improves product customisation, which enables the delivery of an enhanced customer experience, both online and in-store.

Abdulla Bin Omeir, CEO at Omeir Travel Agency, said: “With the travel sector constantly evolving, our business must stay agile to not only keep up, but to stay ahead. Our partnership with Amadeus has allowed us to do this with resounding success. It makes me very pleased to extend our relationship once more. Our ambition is to provide customers with tailored services and a superior experience, which Amadeus helps make possible.”

Ernesto Sanchez Beaumont, Managing Director of Amadeus Gulf, noted: “Amadeus is known for its long-lasting relationships, such as the one we have with Omeir Travel. We are pleased to see the role our technology has played in the growth, digitisation, and optimisation of Omeir Travel during our ongoing collaboration that spans nearly two decades. We will continue to support them with our worldwide experience and leading technology-based solutions as the business enters an exciting new stage of expansion.”  

Project Cosmos: Heesen’s Largest, Fastest Full-Aluminium Yacht In The World

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Set to be a colossal 80m with a top speed of almost 30 knots, Heesen Yachts’ Project Cosmos is currently in build. She will be the shipyard’s largest yacht built to date and the fastest in her class, marking a succession of new technological firsts for the iconic Dutch shipyard – a thoroughbred racehorse and the next evolution of the Heesen breed.

The aim is to build for speed and size, coupled with muscular sportiness and a timelessly elegant aesthetic. The combination of speed, aluminium and length required Heesen to devise new methods of bringing longitudinal strength into the design without adding extra weight to the overall structure.

A world leader in large aluminium yachts, Heesen developed a brand new patent: ‘The Backbone’ reminiscent of the I girder. The ‘I’ section design means it is far stronger than a flat metal bar – you can bend a flat bar but you can’t bend an I beam.

To deliver on the promise of speed (a desired 30 knots), the Fast Displacement Hull Form will be fitted with four MTU engines to drive two controllable pitch propellers, which are required to handle the enormous amount of power – a total of 19,000hp.

A project of such proportion requires for an epic collaboration: renowned British studio Winch Design to pen her exteriors and Sinot for her interiors.

Winch Design created sleek and contemporary profile, while still maintaining the style elements unique to Heesen’s DNA. Remarkable features include a breath-taking 270 square metre Sun Deck; a completely flushed foredeck that doubles as a helicopter landing area and a chic outdoor cinema; a seven-metre pool with a glass bottom and waterfall that plunges from the deck above; and a spectacular beach club with a sunken walk-around bar, that features illuminated onyx panels and opens up to the transom and portside platforms.

Award-winning Dutch studio Sinot have created an interior inspired by elements from nature, including mathematics, such as the Fibonacci sequence. Glass, natural light and optimised ceiling heights create a sense of balance and a clean aesthetic. These details are offset with the use of backlit onyx, crystal glass panels, straw marquetry, hard wood flooring, silk carpets, leather wall panelling and stainless- steel.

Key interior design features include a stunning spiral staircase with stainless-steel detailing that wraps around the full glass elevator and a spacious foyer on the main deck, that combine to form a highly desirable entrance to the boat.

The yacht will accommodate 12 guests in four guest suites on the lower deck, a VIP with an adjacent private studio on the bridge deck, and the striking master stateroom on the main deck forward. Nineteen crew in eleven cabins will be able to discretely service the guests. Project Cosmos will be delivered in April 2022.

Iconic Masterpiece: CRN Delivers The M/Y 137 Megayacht

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By Shereen Shabnam

My last visit to Ancona left me yearning to explore shipyards and I started with the best as CRN is known to deliver some of the best bespoke yachts. The M/Y 137 megayachtis a new 62-metre vessel and an icon of creativity, bespoke innovation and contemporary yachting style.

Leaving the marina at the Ancona yard, the M/Y 137 is the latest fully custom steel and aluminium work of art by CRN that has been delivered to her owner. The megayacht has now embarked on her maiden Mediterranean cruise.

Taut yet fluid, the aerodynamic external lines lend the yacht strong character and an inimitably Italian touch. The striking impression is reinforced with the personalised colours of her smoky quartz hull, silver sand superstructure and jet black details.

The new 62-metre megayacht with an 11.50-metre beam was designed by CRN with Italian architecture studio Nuvolari Lenard, who developed the concept and the interior and exterior styling. The owner’s powerful personality and resolve shine through in the bold, unmistakable lines that stand out for miles, for an iconic masterpiece that will endure the test of time.

This bespoke yacht spans 5 decks with a master suite and 5 VIP cabins to accommodate 12 guests in exquisite comfort. The upper deck is the owner’s exclusive domain, with a suite to the stern and a panoramic lounge at the bow offering total privacy and a space to entertain friends.

An emblem of CRN’s excellence and in-depth expertise, the megayacht is the work of all the highly accomplished artisans and technical specialists at the Ancona yard. Her creativity and craft is a winning blend of complementary skills, ideas and knowledge, united by a passion to build something truly unique – inspired by the brand motto “Made by you with our own hands”.

CRN is currently constructing another 3 fully custom yachts: the 62-metre CRN M/Y 138, the 72-metre CRN M/Y 139, and the 60-metre CRN M/Y 141.