WHY NAPLES STILL LOVES MARADONA OS79_000 Cover.indd 1 8/22/17 11:34 AM AP DP EA YOU SKY OPEN SKIES 390x260+DCC2X7mm UAE.indd 1 15/06/2017 09:59 0270117096_BMW_G12_M760Li_Inflight_Print_Ads_Open_Skies_195x260mm.indd 2 8/23/17 11:09 AM 0270117096_BMW_G12_M760Li_Inflight_Print_Ads_Open_Skies_195x260mm.indd 1 8/23/17 11:09 AM AP DP EA YOU SKY OPEN SKIES 390x260+DCC2X7mm UAE.indd 2 15/06/2017 09:59 - LHP.pdf 1 8/23/17 5:52 PM C M Y CM MY CY CMY K - RHP.pdf 2 8/23/17 5:52 PM C M Y CM MY CY CMY K EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Obaid Humaid Al Tayer MANAGING PARTNER & GROUP EDITOR Ian Fairservice EDITORIAL DIRECTOR Gina Johnson [email protected] GROUP EDITOR Mark Evans [email protected] SENIOR EDITOR Andrew Nagy [email protected] DIGITAL / PRINT DESIGNER Roui Francisco [email protected] DIGITAL ANIMATOR Surajit Dutta [email protected] VIDEO EDITOR Donnie Miguel [email protected] SUB EDITOR Salil Kumar [email protected] EDITORIAL ASSISTANT Londresa Flores [email protected] CONTRIBUTORS Emma Coiler, Gary Evans, Sarah Freeman, Peter Hendrie, Marina Kay, Thomas Mester, Sean Williams, Chris Young Cover: Massimo Sambucetti CHIEF COMMERCIAL OFFICER GENERAL Anthony Milne [email protected] MANAGER PRODUCTION S Sunil Kumar GROUP SALES MANAGER SENIOR SALES MANAGER SENIOR SALES MANAGER Michael Underdown Shruti Srivastava Michelle Quinn PRODUCTION [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] MANAGER R Murali Krishnan EDITORIAL CONSULTANTS FOR EMIRATES EDITOR Manna Talib ARABIC EDITOR Hatem Omar DEPUTY EDITOR Catherine Freeman WEBSITE emirates.com INTERNATIONAL MEDIA REPRESENTATIVES AUSTRALIA/NEW ZEALAND Okeeffe Media; Tel + 61 894 472 734, [email protected] BELGIUM AND LUXEMBOURG M.P.S. 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Any opinion expressed is the honest belief of the author based on all available facts. Comments and facts should not be relied upon by the reader in taking commercial, legal, financial or other decisions. Articles are by their nature general and specialist advice should always be consulted before any actions are taken. 134,109 copies Media One Tower, Dubai Media City PO Box 2331, Dubai, UAE July – December 2016 Telephone: (+971 4) 427 3000 Fax: (+971 4) 428 2261 Email: [email protected] Printed by Emirates Printing Press, Dubai, UAE | 9 | OS79_008-011 Flannel & Editor's Letter.indd 8 8/22/17 4:23 PM FOR THE CITY WHERE NOTHING IS IMPOSSIBLE… THE SHOW THAT PROVES IT. NOW LIVE AT AL HABTOOR CITY La Perle by Dragone is the region’s first ever permanent show, featuring 65 world-class artists. Created by world-renowned Artistic Director Franco Dragone, La Perle combines the spirit of Dubai with an iconic 860 sqm aqua-stage to deliver an unmissable spectacle in, on, and above water. BOOK YOUR TICKETS TODAY LaPerle.com La Perle Open Skies English 195x260mm Aug.indd 1 8/6/17 5:45 PM EDITor’s LE TTE R ANDREW NAGY ON THE COVER SENIOR EDITOR few months ago, Diego and like them, he wanted to stick it to Maradona was made an the north. That the riches of his own A honorary citizen of Naples. existence was a far cry from the majority The evening ended with him sitting on of supporters was of little consequence. top of a van, topless, and leading fans in Maradona had promised them trophies the chant: “Whoever isn’t cheering is a and they were going along with him – Juventus fan.” 75,000 turning out simply to see him sign As a Napoli player, Maradona made his contract. Two years later they became miracles happen – two Serie A titles, the first southern team to win the league a Coppa Italia and the Uefa Cup – and title, and his place in Neapolitan history his extraordinary achievements at the was assured. unfashionable club in the south are why Our cover story this month took the the people love him. But that he ended writer Gary Evans into the heart of the WHY NAPLES STILL LOVES MARADONA THIS WAsn’t fooTBALL, IT WAS POLITICS, Thirty years after bringing a first league BUT MARADONA EXCELLED THERE, TOO – AT title to Napoli, Diego Maradona is still the king of Naples. Even to those who LEAST IN REVOLUTIONARY INTENT never saw him play in their colours. Our cover by Massimo Sambucetti shows the this night on top of a van, minus his top city, just prior to Maradona’s celebration main man at his best. and singing football songs against the and honorary citizenship. He found a north is why they really love him. people that hadn’t changed much in the His 1984 signing alone was an act 30 years since that first league title: still of defiance by chairman Corrado passionate, still defiant, still in love with Ferlaino; a slap in face for the football Diego Maradona. powerhouses of Milan, Inter, Juventus and After seven years, and many trophies, Roma who so desperately coveted the Maradona left Napoli in disgrace. He’d little Argentinian’s signature. This wasn’t upset the Mafia, the chairman and, well, football, it was politics, but Maradona countless others. He’d disappeared, got excelled there, too – at least when it the huff and generally caused mayhem came to revolutionary intent. and scandal like only this particular A desire to upset the natural order Argentinian could. But the city couldn’t identified Maradona as one of their stay mad at the man for long… and own in the eyes of the Neapolitans. Like therein lies the true magic of Maradona. them, he had been born into poverty; like them, he simmered with injustice; Enjoy the issue NOW AVAILABLE ON YOUR IPAD facebook.com/ twitter.com/ instagram.com/ LOOK OUT FOR THIS ICON ON EACH openskiesmag openskiesmag openskiesmag STORY IN OPEN SKIES FOR AN INSIGHT INTO THE WORLD OF EMIRATES | 11 | OS79_008-011 Flannel & Editor's Letter.indd 11 8/23/17 11:33 AM CONTENTS FRONT 16 20 24 32 Experience Stay Neighbourhood Lunch With MAIN 38 47 56 The King of A View From The September Naples The Window Issue BRIEFING 6772 7470 76 Emirates News Inside Emirates Destination Comfort Customs & Visa Information 80 8288 90 UAE Smart Gate Route Map Emirates Fleet The Guide | 12 | | 15 | OS79_015 Contents.indd 13 8/22/17 3:57 PM DISCOVER THE NEW EPICENTER OF ISTANBUL. Ultimate Shopping, Dining and Entertainment Destination emaarsquaremall.com w Carefully curated content focused on unique experiences Stay 20 Experience Neighbourhood Lunch With 16 24 32 FRONT OS79_016-018 Experience.indd 15 8/22/17 3:58 PM EXPERIENCE AUGUST 31 ONWARDS LA PERLE DUBAI, UAE EXECUTIVE PRODUCER CRAIG HARTENSTINE EXPLAINS WHY LA PERLE JUST MIGHT BE THE MOST AMAZING SHOW YOU’LL EVER SEE To the city that trades in superlatives, La experience as soon as you enter the theatre, across different specialities such as slacklining, Perle delivers one of the most spectacular with walls that give the impression of diving and acrobatics. shows in the world, fusing incredible artistic entering a cave and a floor and ceiling that Once the theatre was ready, the artistic performances, immersive imagery and come alive in ways that will transport the and technical teams moved to Al Habtoor groundbreaking technology. audience to another world. There are just 14 City and started rehearsing daily onstage as Franco Dragone – famed for his work rows of seats wrapping 270 degrees around we began what we call Creation – the final with Cirque du Soleil – was approached with the stage, providing visitors with exceptional stage when Dragone and his team create the an idea to create a spectacular entertainment views of the show while each seat offers an vision for his masterpiece. show that would tell the story of the UAE. intimate and completely different perspective The whole team is extremely proud Throughout the show aspects of Dubai’s as the action unfolds. of La Perle and we’re looking forward to rich culture and history, vibrant present and The 65 artists began rehearsals in welcoming everyone there to fully immerse aspirational future are featured through the October, when they took over the region’s themselves in the wonderful world we’ve music, special effects, action and scenery. biggest soundstage in Dubai Studio City and created. We aim to deliver a one-of-a-kind The scale and magnitude of the show went through what is known as Training and entertainment experience, so be sure to is just so spectacular that we had to build formation. This is when the artists refine their expect the unexpected. a theatre around it. It’s a unique immersive skills and disciplines and learn to cross-train laperle.com Download the Emirates App – available for iPhone, iPad and Android.