Hannah Wilde Article Contributions-GPS Edition 4

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In your opinion, how easy is it for a company to establish themselves in the United Arab Emirates?

This a difficult question, as there are many nuances and potential pitfalls to consider. There are lots of different options and ways of going about establishing a business in the UAE. If you want to operate on-shore, you need to have a local partner in your business. However, there are free zones in the UAE where this rule does not apply, but the downside to this is that you cannot conduct business within Dubai from a free zone. I would advise any UK company to speak to a lawyer early on in order to establish the specifications and exact requirements of your business.

So is it pivotal to do a lot of preparation and research before you set up in the UAE?

Yes, certainly. The UAE has a good market, but it is extremely competitive. British companies setting up in the UAE can be naïve when establishing themselves here, particularly after the boom years, but as long as the correct research has been undertaken first, then it can be extremely rewarding.

Are there different rules and regulations for setting up a business across the different states in the United Arab Emirates?

Each Emirate within the UAE is its own jurisdiction; for example, a trade license for Dubai may not be applicable for trading in Abu Dhabi, so it is simply a matter of gaining an understanding of this from the outset and seeing which intra-emirate regulations you will need to adhere to or apply for.

So in terms of legal implications, it’s all about your own due diligence first and foremost?

Yes, I would say that is certainly the case.

In terms of international investment from the UK, is this generally regarded as a positive thing?

The sentiment in the UAE is very much pro-international investment; in fact the Government actively supports international investment as a source of income for the country as an essential element to allow the expansion and diversification of the economy, as well as a source of private sector employment for Emirati nationals.

Before the economic crash, you could say that a rising tide lifted all the boats, but now in this new post-crash economy, it would be easy to fall into the trap of trying to compete on price, as the largesse of previous years quickly evaporated. However, we would advise UK firms to focus

HOW TOSETUP BUSINESS

IN THE UAEWords : Hannah Wilde | View : Standa

Joe is the founder and first CEO of the British Centres for Business (BCB), joining the initiative in December 2013. He is responsible for developing & delivering the

project in both Dubai and Abu Dhabi, working in collaboration and the British Business Groups (BBGs) UKTI and local governments in both cities.

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on providing a high-quality product or service that will not run the risk of damaging their brand, and at the same time will allow them to compete on their strengths. Britain in particular is still viewed as having extremely high standards, and companies are welcome here if those standards are adhered to.

In the current economic climate, are there certain industries in the UAE that are thriving?

There are certainly specific sectors that are drawing business. Trade and tourism now make up 8.5% of Dubai’s economy in 2014, according to the World Travel and Tourism Council, but there are numerous industries grouped under this umbrella. For example, tourists help the retail economy and the hotel industry; even taxi drivers benefit from the trade generated by an influx of tourists, and the aviation industry is an obvious cog too. In fact, the aviation sector accounts for a staggering 20—25% of Dubai’s GDP.

How big is the expatriate business market?

We know that there are a lot of UK companies, start-ups, and successful

British entrepreneurs in the UAE market, but it is hard to quantify, as there are no concrete figures. However, those UK businesses that are currently trading in the UAE are very active and, through the well-established British Business Groups in both Dubai and Abu Dhabi are seen as representatives of the UK private sector and a key part of the positive bi-lateral relationships between the UK and the UAE.

How different is the business culture in the United Arab Emirates when compared to the UK business culture?

There are certain local cultures that should be acknowledged, like dressing appropriately and respecting Islamic customs. Generally though, the business culture is not drastically different, as you are still dealing with people from all over the world. Although in the UAE specifically, there is a business cycle in terms of decision-making, which is driven by both the climate and the Islamic calendar, featuring religious events like Ramadan.

Is there a hierarchical system in the world of Emirati business?

Well I wouldn’t compare it to somewhere like, say Asia, with a rigid business structure. In the UAE, you tend to deal with more expatriates


but, as previously mentioned, you do need to acknowledge local cultural nuances in order to do business with local Emiratis.

What about the economy in the UAE?

Abu Dhabi relies heavily on energy, whereas in Dubai, only 5—10% of its GDP comes from hydrocarbons, so Dubai has had to create a more diversified and sustainable economy. If you set up a business in Dubai, your customers will generally be from the private sector, whereas in Abu Dhabi the market is dominated by the government and government-related entities.

As previously mentioned, Dubai welcomes expats into the country, but are there caps in place to limit the number of international businesses operating in the UAE?

No, this is not the case; Expatriates can only buy properties in certain areas within the United Arab Emirates, but apart from that there are absolutely no restrictions in place to slow down the country’s inward investment. From a trading perspective, local Emiratis will always have priority in terms of business, but that being said there is still a huge market

for expatriates in all Emirates of the UAE.

So once a business is established, what is the policy for setting up the staffing; are there any specific regulations in place?

In some sectors, when a foreign firm gets to a certain size, there is an obligation to engage with locals and employ Emiratis to enhance their business. Any company operating in the UAE should consider working with local nationals to familiarise themselves with local markets, which will help with the company’s localisation, which in time will become a positive part of the business’s commercial offer.

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British Centre for Business

The BCB is a new business-to-business professional services company established with the mandate to provide operational support and market entry services in Dubai and Abu Dhabi to British companies. As part of the joint UK Trade and Investment (UKTI)/British Chambers of Commerce Overseas British Network Initiative, it is responsible for the delivery of the scheme in the UAE.


THE ABU DHABI

GRAND PRIXWords : Hannah Wilde | View : ZRyzner

The Grand Prix is by far the biggest event in the Formula 1 calendar: Over the span of 9 months, from March to November, 22 drivers compete in 60 high-speed races across 20 different locations worldwide. The 2015 Grand Prix is a thrilling mix of old and new, from old classic circuits like Belgium’s famous Spa-Francorchamps, to the debut of the new Russian circuit Sochi International, and many more besides.

Taking place over five different continents, the Grand Prix has always been a diverse cultural experience, from the varying track styles to the incredible locations. Adding to the excitement of the biggest motor racing event in the world, no two Formula 1 tracks are the same, making the Grand Prix a thrilling and unmissable global event each and every year.

This world-famous competition has seen some incredible changes in recent years: as well as featuring the established and well-known circuits like Silverstone and Spa-Francorchamps, the 2015 Grand Prix has led to the inclusion of some fairly new additions to the race line-up. These new tracks are shaking up the preconceived notions of Formula 1, each proving more daring and innovative than the last, further cementing the Grand Prix’s status as one of the most diverse, and exciting, sporting events in the world.

Yas Marina Circuit, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates(27—29 November 2015)

One such new and innovative circuit is Abu Dhabi’s Yas Marina Circuit, a track that made history on its 2009 debut as the most expensive Grand Prix circuit in history, as well as the home of the first ever Formula 1 day-night race, starting at twilight and finishing at night. Allowing a race to play out during the transition between day and night was a revolutionary development for Formula 1, and one of the many things that make the Yas Marina circuit so unique. The track has already proved popular among Formula 1 drivers and its 50,000-strong audience as during the race, the whole circuit becomes illuminated by 24 x 40-metre tall outfield floodlights which serve to enhance the already charged atmosphere around the course.

Established just five years ago, Yas Marina is one of the newer tracks in the Grand Prix lineup, and has certainly made its name as a driver favourite. German driver Nico Rosberg was quoted in the press praising the track’s unique corners, whilst two-time Spanish world champion Fernando Alonso concurred, paying homage to Yas Marina’s diverse and exciting track. The circuit certainly is diverse: at 3.451 miles

This world-famous competition has seen some incredible changes in recent years: Question is what to expect from the

coming season?


long, Yas Marina is the fourth-longest circuit in the 2015 Grand Prix (behind Silverstone, Spa-Francorchamps and Russia’s brand-new Sochi circuit), contains 21 exhilarating turns, and at the height of the race demands a maximum speed of 192.6 miles per hour. During its Grand Prix fixtures, drivers circuit the course 55 times, totalling an overall distance of an impressive 189.739 miles.

Yas Marina was created by well-known F1 circuit designer Hermann Tilke and is one of the few racetracks that run in an anti-clockwise direction, yet another revolutionary feature. It was the Yas Marina circuit that truly and resolutely put the United Arab Emirates on the Formula 1 map, encouraging the growth of sporting culture in the area and allowing Abu Dhabi to take supreme pride in being one of the few bespoke centres for motorsports excellence in the Middle East. The only other notable Middle-Eastern circuit on the Grand Prix calendar is Bahrain, a circuit also featured in the upcoming Grand Prix, but Yas Marina is noticeably more spectator-friendly and generally more aesthetically impressive than its pre-established counterpart.

As well as a firm driver favourite, Yas Marina is also much-loved by Formula

1 fans because of its renowned hospitality. As the only Grand Prix circuit to completely cover each of its five grandstands from the harsh desert sun, the circuit’s number-one priority is the comfort and enjoyment of its spectators. Furthermore, Yas Marina is also home to the luxurious 5-star Yas Viceroy, making it the only hotel in the world be built over a Formula 1 circuit, as the 12-storey hotel forms a bridge over the 18th and 19th turn. Further enhancing its status as one of the most luxurious tracks in the Grand Prix calendar, Yas Marina offers premium access to the Sun Tower, its exclusive VIP tower located right on the start/finish line, 60 metres high and offering a luxurious panoramic view of this remarkable, beautiful and record-breaking circuit. The unquestionable luxury of Yas Marina came at a considerable price however, as speculation is rife that construction costs were in excess of USD$1 billion, making Abu Dhabi’s Yas Marina Circuit by far the most expensive Formula 1 track in the world.

Sochi Autodrom, Russia (9—11 October 2015)

Making only its second grand prix apperance is the new Sochi Autodrom. The inclusion of this unique circuit is a momentous step for Formula 1, as this will mark Russia’s second Grand Prix in 100 years, with the country’s


debut in the 2014 season greeted by critical acclaim. Designed around the infrastructure built especially for the 2014 Winter Olympics, Sochi Autodrom is dynamic and exciting, featuring 19 corners, track width varying from 13 to 15 metres, and even a section making use of 1.7km of public roads. Sochi is expected to become an instant hit with Formula 1 fans and drivers alike, since the track’s mix of straights and fast corners, as well as some parts of the course demanding a top speed of 198 miles per hour, will make Sochi the one of the fastest Formula 1 circuits in the world.

In addition, the fourth corner of this track, a long sweeping circular corner, is a notable inclusion in the design of this circuit, as it will see cars enter at 80 miles an hour and exit at 190 miles an hour. Many believe this particular corner will make Sochi notorious as the home of one of the hardest turns in Formula 1, which will no doubt gain admiration and trepidation in equal measure from fans and drivers alike. Yet the process of creating such an incredible circuit proved no easy feat for Formula 1’s resident architect Hermann Tilke, who sought to make the track cut through the middle of the Winter Olympic Park and intricately weave in between the stadiums and arenas to utilise all available space in and around the Park.

Although significantly cheaper than its Abu Dhabi counterpart, the price of

building the Sochi Autodrom was in excess of $330 million as of February 2014, even before its completion. However, the growing cost of the brand-new circuit was no cause for concern, since the aim was to create a first-class Formula 1 facility to house the Grand Prix for at least the next 7 years, until 2021, as per the agreement between Russian president Vladimir Putin and Formula 1’s CEO Bernie Ecclestone in 2010. It is thought that Sochi will increase tourism in the area, as well as encouraging domestic fans to show their support by paying the high ticket prices to attend the event. Sochi Autodrom is an exciting new addition to the Grand Prix line-up, in the wake of the circuit’s successful debut in October this year.

Marina Bay Street Circuit, Singapore(18—20 September 2015)

Like Yas Marina, Singapore’s Marina Bay Street Circuit perfectly utilises night conditions, making it Formula 1’s first and only completely night-time racetrack. Making its Grand Prix debut in 2008, this circuit is arguably one of the most exciting, offering drivers a tough circuit through the picturesque streets of Singapore lit only by artificial lights, whilst simultaneously offering a fantastic atmosphere for all of its 110,000

Yas Marina Circuit, Abu Dhabi


Ukraine, Europe

spectators. During the race, in an attempt to enhance the gorgeous Singaporean skyline that surrounds the circuit, floodlights are used around the whole track to emulate daytime conditions, which requires an incredible 3,180,000 watts of electricity, making Marina Bay four times brighter than any football stadium in existence.

Despite only hosting seven competitive races to date, Marina Bay has been praised by drivers, who have complemented its difficulty level and the excitement of driving at night that only Singapore offers. Fans are equally fond of this unique circuit because, despite it being one of the slowest of the Formula 1 season, Marina Bay adopts an unforgiving stop-start nature, which always makes for a dynamic and unpredictable race from start to finish. Bernie Eccleston, Formula 1’s CEO, is particularly enamoured with Marina Bay, so much so that he hailed the circuit “the jewel in F1’s crown which keeps getting polished”.

However, even in the face of exciting new innovations and unique track additions that have dominated Formula 1 of late, fans still reserve a certain level of reverence and affection for the older circuits on the Grand Prix calendar. Arguably the most famous are the pre-established tracks, some of which are distinguished not just in Formula 1 circles, but worldwide, as a tourist attraction in their own right.

Silverstone, UK(3—5 July 2015)

Dubbed the home of British Motor Sport and easily one of Formula 1’s most recognisable circuits, Silverstone has put the UK on the Formula 1 map. No Grand Prix is complete without a trip to Northamptonshire, Silverstone’s home since 1947 on the site of an old RAF airfield. Although this course remained largely unchanged for nigh on 35 years, a feat almost unheard of in the constantly-changing Formula 1 world, the Silverstone circuit finally underwent a major redesign after the 1990 Grand Prix, the results of which proved popular with both fans and drivers alike because, despite its complete aesthetic overhaul, it was unanimous that the circuit still managed to retain its ‘oldschool’ feel.

Silverstone is renowned for many things, notably its impressive circuit, its unparalleled atmosphere, and its notoriously bad weather. The circuit is also steeped in history, as the host of the first ever Formula 1 race in 1950, an event attended by King George, who still to date remains the only British monarch to ever attend a Grand Prix. Even now, Silverstone is still immensely popular because of its tantalising mix of high-speed flowing sections and complex corners, heightened only by its incomparable spectator atmosphere.

Spa-Francorchamps, Belgium(21—23 August 2015)

Another course often frequenting the top-spot on the list of popular Grand Prix circuits is Belgium’s Spa-Francorchamps, arguably the best, and oldest, circuit in the Formula 1 repertoire. Boasting a lap length of 4.352 miles, by far the longest of any other circuit featured in the 2015 Grand Prix, Spa-Francorchamps is a crowd favourite, situated along the picturesque Ardennes Mountains.

Having hosted its first race in 1922, making it more than 80 years old, one of the many reasons that the circuit remains popular to this day is due to its exciting assortment of high-speed rises and falls, juxtaposed with tight and sudden deceleration zones. The inclusion of Eau Rouge, one of the most exhilarating and notoriously difficult corners on any Grand Prix course, as well as mix of long straights and fast corners, make Spa-Francorchamps just as exciting for its 90,000 spectators as it is for its 22 drivers.

Spa-Francorchamps is renowned by Grand Prix aficionados as one of the most challenging in the world, proven by the fact that only six drivers have ever managed to win the Belgian Grand Prix more than twice. Unsurprisingly, Formula 1 legend Michael Schumacher is the only driver to have won this notorious circuit an incredible six times, earning him the unofficial title of the ‘Master of Spa-Francorchamps’. It is unsurprising that the most famous driver in Formula 1 history has a remarkable fondness for arguably the sport’s most famous circuit, as it was here that Schumacher started his illustrious career: his first Grand Prix, and later his first competitive win, both happened here at Spa-Francorchamps, a popular circuit bathed in history and notoriety.


Ukraine, Europe

Red Bull F1 Team


Circuit de Monte Carlo, Monaco (21—24 May 2014)

Another crowd favourite is Monaco’s Circuit de Monte Carlo, which boasts 78 high-impact laps, the most out of any 2014 Grand Prix circuits, but ironically is the shortest race in terms of distance, at only 161.880 miles. Famous among Formula 1 fans for its slow, tight corners through the gorgeous streets of Monaco, Monte Carlo demands precision and control from all its drivers, leaving no room for error. Former triple world champion Nelson Piquet even likened the circuit to “trying to cycle round your living room” in an attempt to describe Monte Carlo’s narrow, and some would say treacherous, streets. This race is without doubt one of the most dangerous of all the circuits in the motorsport calendar, with numerous serious accidents to date, which adds to the tension from fans who dutifully watch as drivers try to navigate this notoriously difficult circuit.

Due to its legendary status in the Formula 1 world, Monte Carlo is known to give all 120,000 spectators an incredible show of skill and speed, the perfect mix of exhilaration and danger. It is for this reason that Monte Carlo still remains a firm favourite in the Formula 1 line-up despite being 85 years old, and remains largely unchanged to this day. Interestingly, this circuit is the only one featured in the Grand Prix not to have an iconic winner’s podium, instead favouring setting up the winners’ celebration on the steps of the royal box.

Autodromo Nazionale Monza, Italy(4—6 September 2014)

Another highly popular circuit is the Italian Autodromo Nazionale Monza, constructed by architect Alfredo Rosselli in 1922. Despite not being the oldest of the Grand Prix tracks, Monza has hosted 63 Formula 1 races to date, the most out of any other Grand Prix circuit in the year’s line-up. This circuit is bathed in history as the first purpose-built venue to stage a Grand Prix, as well as the first to charge its 115,000 spectators for entry. Adding to Monza’s incredible record-breaking history, the circuit’s 2003 Grand Prix went down in history as the fastest Formula 1 race ever recorded, with winner Michael Schumacher’s speed retaining an average of 153.84 miles per hour. Its status as one of Formula 1’s fastest circuits has particularly pleased the Tifosi, the collective for die-hard Italian Ferrari fans, who for this reason have dubbed their home circuit as ‘The Temple of Speed’.

Although Monza has enjoyed a long and illustrious 92-year history, this hasn’t been without its share of tragedy. After a string of high-profile fatalities, numerous safety precautions have been implemented around the Monza circuit over the years, which have by no means diminished its status as one of the top circuits in Formula 1. Even now, fans can always expect a tense, high-speed, high-octane race at the Autodromo di Monza, a circuit that its passionate Italian home-crowd affectionately calls ‘La Pista Magica’, meaning ‘The Magic Track’.

Whilst there are 13 other Grand Prix tracks featured in this year’s Grand Prix from all over the globe, bringing the total to 20, the difference between the old circuits and the new are vast, yet both seem to gain equal respect in the world of Formula 1. With each circuit completely unique, it is hard to ascertain which one would triumph—the new circuits like Sochi and Marina Bay boast the glitz and the glamour of modern-day life, rich, ostentatious and highly specialised, whereas old circuits like Silverstone and Spa-Francorchamps boast years of experience and notoriety, an electric atmosphere, and a history that no amount of money can buy.

Formula 1 has always been a perfect juxtaposition of old and new, offering its 530 million+ fans all the traditions of the past, with all the excitement of the future, and its most famous race is no exception. The Grand Prix is, and will always be, a varied mix of cultures, exotic locales and incredible landscapes, an event synonymous with billions of dollars, fast cars and a variety of exhilarating and utterly unique circuits, each more different than the last.


Ferrari F1 Team


SHOPPING FOR

CHRISTMAS

Words : Hannah Wilde | View : Sergey Nivens

It is widely acknowledged that Christmas shopping is all part of the excitement of Christmas, a time of preparation, anticipation,

and generosity

Christmas. A time of festive cheer, elaborately decorated Christmas trees and of course, Christmas shopping. December is the time for the giving and receiving of gifts in celebration of the birth of Jesus, which accounts for the fact that in the UK alone, total spending in December was £31 billion, of which £14 billion was spent in the two weeks leading up to Christmas. On average around the festive period, Britons will spend approximately £660 on gifts, £160 on food, plus an additional £100 on Christmas cards and decorations for the home, meaning that shopping is at fever pitch during this time of year, with Christmas preparations costing each household in excess of £920 every year.

It is widely acknowledged that Christmas shopping is all part of the excitement of Christmas, a time of preparation, anticipation, and generosity. Christmas shopping is a ritual annually undertaken by consumers in almost every single country in the world, to similar ends: the hectic Christmas rush, elaborately decorated shop fronts, the beautiful Christmas lights, and the purchase of an abundance of cards, wrapping paper and food to complete the festive celebrations. When shoppers have exhausted all the ornately decorated shops on the high-street, most cities play host to one of Christmas’s oldest traditions, the famous Christmas

Market. Small ephemeral villages, consisting of hundreds of beautiful wooden chalets, are established in busy central locations in the run-up to Christmas, each housing local wares like unique handmade crafts or a selection of regional and European delicacies. Traditionally, Christmas markets around the world pay homage to Germany, the country in which this tradition was founded, aptly named Christkindlmarkts. These markets offer the best of German festivities, including favourites like glühwein, a traditional hot spiced wine, and lebkuchen, famous Bavarian gingerbread. However, each Christmas market is as unique as the country in which it resides, which makes for an exciting and unique addition to any shopping experience the world over.

Whilst Christmas is fundamentally the same celebration all over the world, each country chooses to celebrate this global event in its own way. Christmas, especially in the UK, is a hugely lavish commercial affair, with each major UK city choosing to herald in the Christmas period in a different way. Of course, London leads the way in the country’s celebrations, with Oxford Street, one of the world’s most famous shopping streets, illuminated with lights and ornate shop-fronts. Some of London’s most famous stores are completely transformed at Christmas-time, basking


in the beauty and traditions of such a festive and frivolous time of year. Knightsbridge’s Harrods, one of the most famous department stores in the world, was the first to develop their own ‘Christmas World’, a 2000-square foot section of the store completely dedicated to the Christmas season. Almost all other retailers have also followed suit, with the iconic Fortnum & Mason food store filled with opulent decorations and a whole range of gorgeous culinary treats, from festive Christmas hampers to beautiful designer Christmas crackers, and Selfridges’ flagship store also offers a huge selection of luxurious festive goods.

In addition to the high-street wares on offer, London is also home to one of the biggest and most impressive Christmas markets in the world, Hyde Park’s Winter Wonderland, complete with an ice rink, a display of ice sculptures, and even a circus. This market is a highly modern take on the old-fashioned notion of Christkindlmarkts, as Winter Wonderland is a tantalising mix of old and new. As expected from a European market, it still contains the traditional wooden cabins carrying an array of homemade gifts, but also offers incredible eating facilities, including a replica of a Bavarian village, an outdoor fire pit, and even an après bar modelled on an alpine ski lodge.

Just north of the capital, the UK’s unofficial ‘second city’ of Manchester is also home to some incredible Christmas shopping opportunities. In the centre of this diverse city is Manchester’s retail hub, an alluring mix of boutique and designer stores, all adorned with decorations and festive Christmas trees. Just five miles west of the city centre sits the Trafford Centre, a hugely lavish shopping centre nicknamed by its developer ‘The People’s Palace’, an attraction in itself that draws 35 million visits annually. At Christmas time however, the Trafford Centre’s incredible baroque architecture is enhanced by an abundance of beautiful decorations, including a huge Christmas tree that creates a gorgeous centrepiece in the heart of this shopping mecca. If you’re looking for both high-street and designer shopping, the Trafford Centre is the perfect place to complete your Christmas shopping in style.

However, the true highlight of Manchester’s festive calendar is its Christmas markets, situated in the heart of the city and adorned with a selection of German, European and regional goods, offering everything from Hungarian goulash and Spanish Paella, to French-style hot chocolate and the traditional German glühwein. More than 9 million guests visited the markets in 2013, helping to boost the local economy by more than £90 million throughout the festive season. A celebration of diversity and internationality, Manchester’s Christmas markets are now approaching their 16th consecutive year, and in 2013 were named ‘the best Christmas market in Europe’. Manchester, the home of incredible Christmas shopping opportunities and an equally incredible Christmas market, is one of the most interesting and culturally diverse places to visit during the festive season.

In addition, mainland Europe has a lot to offer visitors seeking extensive opportunities for festive shopping, starting with Germany, the birthplace of the iconic Christkindlmarkt. The country’s capital, Berlin, is home to a fabulous shopping metropolis, with its mix of brand and vintage stores, as well as the famous KaDeWe department store, the largest in Europe and dubbed ‘the Harrods of Berlin’. A little over 270 miles away is the German city of Nuremberg, home to arguably the oldest and most popular Christkindlmarkt in existence, dating back to the mid-16th century. More than 180 stalls transform the city’s main market square into a festive metropolis, with each festively decorated hut selling everything from handcrafted Christmas ornaments, mulled wine and gingerbread, to the famous Nuremberg Plum People, prunes delicately modelled into handheld figurines. This old and richly traditional Christmas market, nicknamed ‘Little Town from Wood and Cloth’, attracts more than two million visitors every year.

Germany’s neighbouring country of France is also one of Europe’s best shopping destinations, especially at Christmastime. With Paris widely considered one of the world’s fashion capitals, it is no surprise that France’s capital is a serious European contender for some of the best Christmas shopping in the world. Avenue Montaigne is home to the most luxurious Parisian boutiques, housed within beautifully-architected buildings, perfect for those seeking expensive luxury designer goods. However, the streets of Paris are also lined with trendy boutiques, luxury bespoke fragrance shops, tantalising chocolatiers, and gorgeously traditional bookshops, with each storefront lit up and beautifully decorated during the Christmas period and filled with gifts to suit every taste and budget. Paris, too, is home to a unique transient Christmas market,


Christmas Market, Berlin


created as an amalgamation of German and French cultures, containing all the traditions of a German Christkindlmarkt complete with wooden chalets, but also including a regional twist, by offering delicacies such as pain d’épices (spiced bread) and other such French foodstuffs.

Further along the French border is Italy, another incredible destination for Christmas shopping. Milan’s Via Montenapoleone is one of the most exclusive addresses in the world, an avenue lined with top designer boutiques, perfect for those shoppers seeking luxury designer labels. Each storefront is a true testament to the beauty of an Italian Christmas, with lights, trees and decorations ornamenting each store, enhancing its beauty and enticing its customers. However, for those seeking a more traditional Christmas shopping destination, a little over 5 hours away, Italy’s capital city of Rome plays host to the one of the biggest and best Christmas markets in the country. In true festive spirit, the city square of Piazza Navona is utterly transformed with stalls gleaming with twinkling lights and selling all kinds of festive wares, including handcrafted gifts and sweet treats. Rome’s Christmas market hosts nativity scenes to ensure that the true meaning of Christmas is recognised, as well as hosting a range of festive family fun such as carnival rides and fortune tellers. No matter what your budget or preference, there is always something for everyone to enjoy in one of Europe’s many beautiful Christmas destinations.

Across the Atlantic, some 4,000 miles away from the delights that Christmas in Europe has to offer, is New York, one of the world’s best-known shopping destinations. Ever since 1933, the Christmas season in this incredible city begins in early December with a traditional ceremony: the lighting of the Rockefeller Centre Christmas tree. In true American style, the Rockefeller Christmas tree is the biggest in the world, illuminated by over 30,000 LED lights, and perfectly situated in the middle of the world’s most famous seasonal ice rink. Boasting what is arguably the most iconic street in the world, Fifth Avenue, New York City is synonymous the world over for its incredible shopping potential, never more so than at Christmastime. Fifth Avenue is a mix of the old and new, with classic and iconic stores like Tiffany and Co. rubbing shoulders with a huge state-of-the-art 24-hour Apple Store.

A short way down the block will lead you to the famous toy store FAO Schwartz, home of the iconic floor piano as immortalized in the 1988 Tom Hanks film Big, a popular destination for children and adults alike at Christmastime. New York’s Fifth Avenue is certainly impressive at the best of times, but at the height of the Christmas period it is almost otherworldly in its beauty and festive cheer. High-street stores like H&M and Abercrombie & Fitch rub shoulders with designer giants like Louis Vuitton, Prada, Gucci and Cartier, and with each store decorated more lavishly than the last, even window-shopping is an adventure on Fifth Avenue.

In addition to the festivities found in the main shopping areas of the city, New York also has its share of Christmas markets, each embracing the glamorous Manhattan lifestyle. One such market is the indoor Holiday Fair which takes place in the city’s iconic Grand Central Station, selling an array of handmade Christmas trinkets. For a more traditional outdoor market, New York has its fair share, from innovative and unique glass huts selling food, drink and gifts as found in Bryant Park, to Columbus Circle’s Holiday Market, which sells sundries like handmade wooden puzzles, artisan chocolates and truffles, home accessories from local makers, and jewellery from up-and-coming designers. New York City truly is a shopping haven, not more so than at Christmastime, meaning that there is something for everyone in this incredible shopping capital.

If however, you are seeking all the traditions of Christmas but in a more unconventional setting, the majestic country of the United Arab Emirates is an incredible shopping destination in its own right. Although fundamentally a Muslim country, the UAE observes all the overtly Western traditions associated with Christmas wholeheartedly, a notion that epitomises the inclusivity of the festive season. Shopping is always an incredible experience in the United Arab Emirates, but at Christmastime, the country’s capital of Abu Dhabi leads the way in its festive celebrations.

For the past 10 years, Abu Dhabi has been home to The Swiss Christmas Market, one of the most unique markets in the world, set in the courtyard of the beautiful Abu Dhabi Beach Rotana Hotel. Despite December temperatures often in excess of 25 degrees Celsius, this proves no hindrance to the locals who wish to experience all the traditions and excitement of a European Christmas.

Ice Rink, Rockefeller Centre, New York


Ice Rink, Rockefeller Centre, New York


With the help of the Swiss Embassy, the Swiss Christmas market is strenuous in its attempt to replicate an authentic, open-air Swiss alpine village, seeking to present its visitors with all the joy and spirit that Christmas in Europe has to offer. Despite the heat, chalets in the hotel courtyard are lavishly decorated, showcasing a number of trinkets and gifts. School choirs are on hand to provide a repertoire of traditional Christmas carols, which are the perfect soundtrack to the festive season. Furthermore, an abundance of appetizing Swiss food is available, from the lusciously rich Swiss chocolate, to Raclette, a Swiss delicacy of potato and cheese. Despite the fact that Christmas Day is a normal working day in the Muslim country, Abu Dhabi is still rigorous in its observation and appreciation of the worldwide tradition of Christmas. This market is a true testament to both the Swiss culture and the universal Christmas celebrations, proving the city’s almost endless tolerance to other religions and cultures.

Just 88 miles away from the capital is Dubai, the home of the United Arab Emirates’ largest outdoor Christmas festival. This celebration sees all the traditions of Christmas mixed with a regional twist, and is more suited

to those seeking designer discounts than locally hand-crafted goods. Although relatively new to the Christmas scene, celebrating only its third year in operation, in excess of 30,000 visitors are expected to flock to the unique three-day event this year. Not to be outdone by the incredible spectacle in Abu Dhabi, Dubai has pulled out all the stops for this winter extravaganza, with features including a music stage featuring carol singing and live bands, Santa’s Grotto, a fairground, ice-rink, a Snow Fight Zone, and even a Christmas Pantomime. Whilst traditional festivities like Gingerbread house-making workshops are still acknowledged, Dubai’s Christmas celebrations are far removed from the traditions of the famous Christkindlmarkts that populate Europe.

Instead of quaint wooden huts selling local fares and glasses of hot German wine, Dubai’s Christmas Festival offers heavily discounted designer products, with a selection of famous chefs from some of Dubai’s hottest restaurants providing delicious local food. Although high-street shopping is more the focus of this incredibly modern and one-of-a-kind festival, Christmas is still the recurrent theme, with festive traditions like the Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony are still enjoyed by all, allowing the


Christmas spirit to truly thrive. The incredible dedication of the United Arab Emirates to embrace foreign traditions truly goes to show the true spirit of Christmas, and that the traditions of the festive season extends to every country in the world, regardless of race or religion.

Whilst there are many more incredible Christmas destinations all around the world, it is truly refreshing to see each country celebrating the festive season in its own unique way, mixing all the traditions of the past with all the promise of the future. Christmas shopping, whilst fundamentally a commercial venture, seeks to prove what the true meaning of Christmas is all about—kindness, generosity, and basking in the joy of the Christmas season. The inclusion of Christkindlmarkts in major cities allow people to come together, as towns, cities and countries join in celebration, as well as allowing local merchants and craftsmen to share in the prosperity that Christmas brings. These markets have been a part of Christmas traditions since the 16th century, and will undoubtedly continue to be a part of our future for many years to come.

Dubai Mall, Dubai


IS THE TRADITIONAL OFFICE BECOMING

REDUNDANT?

Words : Patrick Kinsella & Hannah Wilde | View : Sergey Nivens

Technology makes ‘working on the move’ a realpossibility

Just a few short years ago, clients and associates at opposite ends of the world could only be reached at the latter end of a long day, after a short residency in an airport lounge and an exhaustingly long flight on-board a stuffy, confined plane. While those far corners of the world could once only be reached after one such journey, innovative technological advances of recent years has meant that this has become a thing of the past—peo-ple in far remote countries can now be reached within the time it takes to press a button on your smartphone, tablet or laptop. Technology has changed everything about our daily lives, from the way we organise our day, to how we manage our contacts and social events, and everything else in between. These changes have truly revolutionised the way (and ease) in which we communicate, which inevitably has drastically changed the business world beyond recognition.

2014 is unquestionably the age of technology. We now live in the era of high-tech gadgets, with a dizzying array of smartphones, tablets, iPods, laptops, Kindles and Macbooks on offer, each fulfilling an equally dizzying array of functions to enhance our daily lives. A mobile phone, at one time used only for sending and receiving text messages and phone calls, is now all things to all users: a phone, a portable Internet device, an MP3

player, a games console, and a remote email server all in one. Everyone in the developed world seems to own a smartphone, so much so that reports indicate there are 1.5 billion in the world, which equates to one smartphone for every 5 people in the world. During the digital migration of recent years, other gadgets are also featuring more and more prominently in everyday life, with market research firm Strategy Analytics reporting that 1 in 10 people will own a tablet computer by 2016.

And what is the one common denominator between all these gadgets? Internet access. Most of these modern devices rely on Internet usage, so it is unsurprising that in this time of increased connectivity, public Wi-Fi connections have quickly become commonplace. This is particularly true in some of the world’s most prosperous cities, with the likes of New York, Beijing and London all spearheading city-wide schemes to ensure that the Internet can be connected to from any given point within the city borders. The ease in which one can access the Internet is profound all over the world, with Britain prolific in the accessibility of public Wi-Fi, pledging to ensure that 95% of the country’s population will have access to superfast fibre-optic broadband by 2017.


The changing business landscape

Therefore, it is unsurprising that this culture of near-constant connectivity has given rise to the era of ‘remote working’—that is, working away from the office—which has surged in popularity over recent years. This could be due in large part to the increasing number of Wi-Fi hotspots all over the world, as well as an influx of new gadgets and apps perfectly suited to fulfil the needs of the modern-day working life. Gone are the days of handwritten reports and daily face-to-face meetings—the Internet has well and truly revolutionised the business landscape. In the place of handwritten reports are spreadsheets and digital documents that allow users to easily read, amend and share with others, while physical business meetings are often eclipsed in favour of the easy and cost-effective alternatives of video conferences and phone calls. This ability to utilise technology to work almost anywhere has led to what Merlyn A. Griffiths and Mary C. Gilly of the Universities of North Carolina and California respectively have called ‘a new class of teleworkers for whom the office is wherever they can access a wireless signal’. Therefore, this poses the question: with the influx of modern mobile technologies on offer, is there still a need for the traditional office space?

In this day and age, technology can bridge the gap between any location in the world, meaning that anyone with access to either a computer or a mobile phone is, in essence, available at the touch of a button. As previously mentioned, the rising popularity and increasing functionality of a vast array of gadgets to which we now have access means that we are all in a prime position to have access to everything at our fingertips. Emails

can be accessed on a smartphone; video conferencing can be achieved through the Skype app on a tablet computer; advancements in data stor-age mean that Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) can allow users to access networks remotely via a laptop or desktop computer. Therefore, the rise in flexible remote working has increased in direct correlation to the increase in technological advances of the past decade, simply because massive obstacles have been overcome to ensure that a user can always stay connected. In this landscape, there are two options when considering the potential of working away from the office: either working from home, or working on the go.

Working from Home

Despite all the potential distractions that could come from the merging of the workplace with the home environment, technological innovations mean that it is feasible for the same level of work be completed at home that can be achieved in an office environment. Emails are accessible on almost every internet-enabled device; documents can be written, re-written and edited an infinite number of times on a laptop or desktop computer; phone calls and conference calls can be made on one’s smartphone; and video conferencing can be easily achievable via the FaceTime or Skype application featured in a new-generation iPad or tablet. All these mobile technologies allow their user to complete work remotely and without restriction, meaning that any amount of working capabilities can be just as easily accessed from home as from the office. However, it has to be said that working away from the workplace is restrictive, only applicable to certain business and administrative sectors, but for those


who fit this criteria, home-working can be rewarding, self-motivating and an exercise in self-sufficiency.

Working ‘on the go’

Since the majority of these new technologies are small enough to encourage user mobility, there are no restrictions on when or where you use your devices. You don’t even need to be at home to be connected to your work. Nowadays, smartphones are pocket-sized, and laptop and tablet computers can easily fit inside a bespoke laptop bag or handbag, meaning that it has never been easier to take advantage of the ‘on the go’ working environment that has swept the working world. As long as there is sufficient Internet connection, all manner of work can theoretically be undertaken in the most unconventional of places—on trains, in cafés, and even on aeroplanes. The latter location has seen an incredible rise in remote working in recent years, with over 40 airlines, including American Airlines, Etihad Airways and British Airways, offering Wi-Fi services on selected international flights. For many, there is no better time to work remotely than on a plane, as one finds themselves with an abundance of free time through the duration of the flight, which has proved to be an opportune time for logging on to do some remote working from the relative comfort of your aeroplane seat.

However, 30,000ft up in the air is not the only place that has seen a surge in remote workers using their location as their base in recent months. Cafés and trains are two such places that have a growing capacity for remote workers, since both often offer both Wi-Fi and power sources for

when their much-used mobile devices require a much-needed recharge. The provision of both Wi-Fi and plug sockets in most places mean that there is an almost limitless capacity to do work anytime and anywhere, making the transition to join the thousands of people who are part of the mobile working community almost effortless.

Technology

Both working from home and working on the go require similar tech-nological specifications. However, all you really need is two pieces of technology: a smartphone, best for calling and keeping up-to-date with email updates, and a laptop, best for perusing the Internet and writing or amending a spreadsheet or Word document. With just two gadgets, you have everything you will possibly need to stay connected with colleagues and clients, all accessible at the touch of a button. Furthermore, the beauty of such widely accessible technologies such as mobile phones and laptops in the developed world is that they are not mutually exclusive—not just the elite can afford the technology that businesspeople use. Technology of this calibre is so widely acquiesced in this day and age that everyone from teenagers to the older generation, affectionately named ‘Silver Surfers’, have access to the latest ‘it’ technology. The Western world’s almost avid need to buy into the latest technology is so widespread that Cisco, the world’s largest maker of network equipment, has predicted that in by 2017, there will be 2.5 Internet-enabled devices for every single person on earth, which equates to 5 devices for every Internet user in the world.

To enhance the usability of these new gadgets, new technologies have


been developed to operate within these devices: namely, the rise in apps, an acronym of the word ‘applications’. The two biggest makers of smartphones in the world, Apple and Samsung, both have an extensive collection of apps that can be used for a whole number of functions. Have you ever heard the popular saying: “There’s an app for that”? This has never been more true than right now, with applications made for almost anything, like apps to improve fitness, countless apps that allow users to play games, and even apps to help you procrastinate, such as iNap@Work. However, the majority of apps are useful and productive, with a growing number of apps purposefully designed to assist even the savviest businessperson. Here is a list of five apps that are used to enhance your working life:

1. Skype—A remote businessperson’s best friend, Skype is an all-encom-passing app that allows users to video or voice call contacts, message them in real-time, and share a whole host of files remotely. Skype is so commonplace in the business world that it has been turned into an adjective: ‘Skyping’ refers to the act of setting up a video call between yourself and a recipient, perhaps to an international business client or even a colleague based in the office. The beauty of Skype is that it can be accessed from almost any Internet-enabled device, so you can be connected on your laptop, tablet and phone at the same time.

2. Dropbox—This innovative app allows users to drop files into a remote folder that can be accessed by multiple recipients. Anything that is added to Dropbox will automatically show up on all your devices, and even on the Dropbox website, so you can access your files anywhere, anytime.

3. GlobalMeet—Whilst lesser known than the previously mentioned apps, GlobalMeet is an incredibly innovative way of changing the way web conferencing is conducted. This app allows for an easier and better way to share presentations online and collaborate with large groups of invited participants, meaning that meetings have never been easier, even when you’re away from the office. Like its counterparts, GlobalMeet is another app that has gone mobile: it is easily downloadable via laptop, tablet, or smartphone.

4. CupCloud— Cupcloud is a free cloud application that allows you to save, open, and share multiple documents and web pages quickly and easily. It has never been easier to pick up where you left off, as the software is designed to help you continue workflow, stay organized, and collaborate with others as easily as if you were in the office.

5. Worksnug—Perfect for those remote workers always on the move, as this app for your smartphone shows available working places nearby, as well as rating them on Wi-Fi quality, socket availability and noise level, so you can pre-plan the best places to work without the hassle of trying to find a suitable workspace.

Pros and Cons of Remote Working

Now that it has been established that most people have access to the technology needed to work successfully out of the office, one wonders at which point the office starts becoming redundant. With technology as abundantly available as it is in 2014, it has been established that any amount of work can be done remotely. But do the obvious positives of remote working outweigh the few small but pivotal negative aspects?The positives of home-working are undoubtable. In this day and age, with the help of smartphones and a whole array of gadgets, it has never been easier to stay connected. We are perfectly placed to email and text colleagues, to video conference clients, and to phone managing directors wherever we are in the world, so by this token it no longer matters whether we are communicating from the office or from a train, a café, or even from the comfort of your living room. Technology means that we are always in constant communication. Furthermore, file sharing has also revolutionised the ease in which remote working has made its way into the mainstream. The likes of email attachments, social media’s downloading and ‘private message’ functions, remote file sharing programmes like Dropbox and Apple’s iCloud, and even external devices like hard-drives and USB memory sticks have all aided the transition to home-working, as any file from any system in the world can be shared and transferred to another computer in the shortest time possible. Thanks to a whole host of incredible technologies that have made their way into the modern digital landscape, transferring, sharing and editing files remotely has never been easier, perfect for those remote workers who can now easily have access to any file they need at the click of a mouse.

However, while remote working seems to be almost infallible, there are


office space is indeed redundant. It is clear that communication has never been easier, and files, folders and documents can be easily accessed from one computer to another, meaning that work can always be retrieved from anywhere in the world. However, the question is not can the work be done from out of the office, but rather should it? Interestingly, a report published by the Westminster Sustainable Business Forum suggests that, rather than being detrimental for businesses, employees working outside of the conventional office environment is beneficial for the UK economy, allowing employers across the country to save a collective £7billion from property costs alone. Furthermore, PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC)’s report has showed that a staggering 86% of Brits do not want to work in a traditional office in the future. Therefore, it is clear to see that the business climate is changing in the burgeoning era of technology, so much so that it seems that there is no real need for an office environment anymore.

However, that said, an office space is entirely dependent upon the nature of work undertaken by your company, and the kind of working environment you want to promote. Although technology has made remote working a real possibility, and in doing so dramatically changing the way we work, it is yet to bring around the absolute death of the traditional office—the office will be intrinsically linked with the business world for as long as we actively keep the notion alive. Sure, we may not necessarily need an office space in this day and age, but whether we want one is a different question altogether.

two distinct limitations with this flexible employment strategy. The first, and most important, factor to be considered is the ever-present threat of losing connectivity. How many times have you heard the words ‘lost connection’, ‘slow Internet’, or the terrifying admittance that your ‘computer has a virus’? In an office environment, these glitches and a whole array of others can be fixed by a quick visit to the IT department, made up of a group of specialist technological experts who are perfectly placed to fix any computer-re-lated conundrum you could possibly face. However, when you work remotely, you are both literally and figuratively on your own, meaning that troubleshooting can only be done either manually or through a laborious step-by-step phone tutorial from the self-confessed geniuses at Apple, or some other technical virtuoso. This long and often sluggish process means that work cannot be done until the problem is fixed, meaning that that the connectivity which is so vital to the lifeblood of the remote worker is severed, however temporarily. This also overlaps the other issue faced by the remote worker—solitude. Working alone day after day means that there is a physical distance between themselves and their co-workers, meaning that should a problem arise or even when looking for likeminded peers to talk to, there is an insurmountable distance to be overcome first.

Conclusion—Is the traditional office space an outdated, or important, business convention?

In conclusion, it is hard to tackle the question of whether the traditional

Hannah Wilde Article Contributions-GPS Edition 4

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