FIGHT CITY How Las Vegas became the boxing capital of the world LOOKING UP IN MOSCOW RED PLANET The truth about the Soviet skyscrapers Why Hawaii is so vital to the mission to Mars, LUPITA NYONG’O and how it’s testing An insider’s guide to Nairobi astronauts to the limit OS83.P01_COVER-boxing.indd 1 12/20/17 3:58 PM Seddiqi_OpenSkies_MAG_390x260_201712.indd 1 08.12.17 15:21 oyster perpetual YACHT-MASTER 40 Seddiqi_OpenSkies_MAG_390x260_201712.indd 2 08.12.17 15:21 FLANNEL EDITOR-IN- MANAGING PARTNER & EDITORIAL CHIEF GROUP EDITOR DIRECTOR OBAID HUMAID AL TAYER IAN FAIRSERVICE GINA JOHNSON [email protected] GROUP SENIOR SENIOR SENIOR EDITOR EDITOR ART DIRECTOR DESIGNER MARK EVANS ANDREW NAGY OLGA PETROFF ROUI FRANCISCO [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] DIGITAL SUB EDITORIAL ANIMATOR EDITOR ASSISTANT SURAJIT DUTTA SALIL KUMAR LONDRESA FLORES [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] CONTRIBUTORS IAIN AKERMAN, CHRISTOPHER BEANLAND, EMMA COILER, GARY EVANS, SARAH FREEMAN, JOE MORTIMER, LISA SCHWARZBAUM, SEAN WILLIAMS, CHRIS YOUNG COVER: NEIL LEIFER GENERAL MANAGER PRODUCTION CHIEF COMMERCIAL GROUP SALES PRODUCTION MANAGER OFFICER MANAGER SUNIL KUMAR R MURALI KRISHNAN ANTHONY MILNE MICHAEL UNDERDOWN [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] ASSISTANT PRODUCTION SENIOR SALES MANAGER MANAGER BINU PURANDARAN MICHELLE QUINN [email protected] [email protected] EDITORIAL CONSULTANTS FOR EMIRATES EDITOR ARABIC EDITOR DEPUTY EDITOR MANNA TALIB HATEM OMAR CATHERINE FREEMAN Emirates takes care to ensure that all facts published herein are correct. In the event of any inaccuracy please contact the editor. 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. INTERNATIONAL MEDIA REPRESENTATIVES AUSTRALIA/NEW ZEALAND Okeeffe Media; Tel +61 894 472 734, [email protected] BELGIUM AND LUXEMBOURG M.P.S. Benelux; Tel +322 720 9799, francesco. 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Our new range of roaming bundles offers you a complete communication experience with plenty of minutes to make and receive calls in addition to mobile data, available for daily, weekly or monthly use in more than 100 countries. These plans are available for both consumer and business customers. Dial *177# to subscribe. Experience more convenience +971 8002300 etisalat.ae/roaming T&C apply. CONTENTS INTRO 14 18 20 22 26 28 32 39 EXPERIENCE THE YEAR OF TASTE STAY TRAVEL DISPATCH NEIGHBOURHOOD COLUMN ZAYED ESSENTIAL FEATURES 42 50 58 FIGHT CITY LIFE ON MARS STALKING MOZART BRIEFING 67 70 72 74 82 88 90 NEWS INSIDE DESTINATION VISA, COMFORT, ROUTE THE CELEBRITY EMIRATES AND SMART GATE MAP FLEET DIRECTIONS OPEN SKIES / 9 OS83.P06-11_FrontSection.indd 9 12/20/17 5:08 PM EDITOR’S NOTE ON THE COVER FIGHT CITY When it comes to photographing boxing, Neil Leifer is something of a legend. His shot of the Rumble in the Jungle represents part of boxing’s power shift from New York to Las Vegas – by way of Zaire. When Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Conor McGregor fought in Las Vegas late last year for The Money Belt, it represented boxing’s relationship with the city in microcosm. The belt itself was encrusted with 1.5kg of 24-karat gold, 3,360 diamonds, 600 sapphires and 300 emeralds. The fight, meanwhile, was a face-melting display of showmanship, sleight of hand and, for some at least, sophisticated grifting. Although the numbers behind it were staggering (Mayweather was SOCIAL MEDIA guaranteed US$100 million minimum, McGregor US$30 million), the show itself was nothing new. The sweet science is increasingly defined facebook.com/ by its place on the Strip, with Caesars Palace – where George Foreman openskiesmag slugged it out with Ron Lyle in 1976 to put the city firmly on the boxing map – looming large in the background. twitter.com/ But while boxing and Vegas seem a natural fit, our cover story on openskiesmag page 42 explains why this wasn’t always the case, and how its power play came by way of Kinshasa, Caracas and a touch of Mafia corruption. instagram.com/ But if this game is known for anything it’s the potential to upset the openskiesmag odds; and those resting on their laurels can get dumped on the canvas pretty quick. Could Vegas face a battle from places such as Macau and Dubai in 2018 to retain its crown? ANDREW NAGY ALSO AVAILABLE SENIOR EDITOR ON YOUR IPAD OPEN SKIES / 11 OS83.P06-11_FrontSection.indd 11 12/20/17 5:09 PM Desert Palm_OpenSkies.pdf 1 12/20/17 11:38 AM C M Y CM MY CY CMY K IntroNEIGHBOURHOOD EXPERIENCE • TASTEINTRO • STAY • NEIGHBOURHOOD • COLUMN FESTIVAL OF FIRE Travellers to Scotland should visit Lerwick in Shetland for Up Helly Aa – the annual tribute to its Viking heritage. SHETLAND, SCOTLAND | UPHELLYAA.ORG Turn over to plan your month OPEN SKIES / 13 OS83.P13_Intro Cover.indd 13 12/20/17 5:11 PM THE PLAN Events to aim for this month JAN. 4-16 TORUK THE FIRST FLIGHT Artistic director Hugo Martins explains how his Cirque du Soleil show will be out of this world WORDS: Andrew Nagy What can we expect? This is a unique show by Cirque du Soleil based on James Cameron’s record-breaking movie, Avatar. It’s 3,000 years before the events of the film and we follow three Na’vi teenagers as they set out on a quest through Pandora to save their race from extinction. How do you tell the story? We go big! We use the entire floor, and the set – which is over 20,000 square feet – is covered in projections creating a canvas that’s bigger than five IMAX screens. What should we look out for? We created the giant loom, a seven- metre-high structure that includes gymnastic high bars, specifically for the show. We also have a bone structure that’s a giant revolving skeleton seesaw. Our athletes do a mix of balancing and contortion on top as it moves and spins around. How many people are involved? The show travels with approximately 100 people from 22 different countries, including a multicultural cast of 41 talented artists. They come from all over the world, and from different disciplines like gymnastics, roughly five years from inception Which part do you love most? circus arts, dancing, capoeira, martial to our premiere. There are so many It’s difficult for me to say, but what I arts, juggling and diving. aspects, from creating storyline and really enjoy is the show’s emotional How long does it take to create a costume, to makeup, the set build, component and message. It show like this? rehearsals and much more before relates to the importance of being This was no easy task. It took you’re able to start the tour. connected with each other and OS83.P14-16_Experience.indd 14 12/20/17 5:13 PM EXPERIENCE FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION... JAN. 5-8 THE EMIRATES FA CUP There are some big games this month, (Liverpool vs. Everton derby anyone?), but if you’re looking at the potential for some classic Third Round giant-killing, then Fleetwood or Hereford vs. Leicester City could be your best bet. ENGLAND-WIDE | THEFA.COM JAN. 10-17 WINTER JAZZFEST This month’s Winter Jazzfest is sure to warm any visitor to NYC, courtesy of six days featuring the freshest new jazz acts in the world. Be sure to check out Giles Peterson’s British Jazz Showcase, which opens the event on January 10. NEW YORK CITY | WINTERJAZZFEST.COM JAN. 18-28 SUNDANCE FILM FESTIVAL The biggest independent film festival in the US is a Robert Redford-chaired monster of an event in Lake City, Utah. Expect a crowd of 40,000 plus, including cinema lovers, aspiring moviemakers and A-list stars. UTAH, USA | SUNDANCE.ORG JAN. 25-28 DUBAI DESERT CLASSIC Originally the first European Tour event to be staged in the Middle East, it has attracted some of the biggest names in golf to the Majlis course at Emirates Golf Club. Go this month to see the current elite battling for the US$3 million prize fund. with our planet, reminding us that everyone counts and can make a EMIRATES GOLF CLUB | contribution in any challenge we OMEGADUBAIDESERTCLASSIC.COM may have to face.