FEATURE STORIES

Feature Stories

Andy Pearcy

Palm Bike Ace Escapes the Rat Race

October 2 - 4:41 AM

Click to read the full story

For most people, Friday morning is synonymous with a well earned lie in, perhaps a lazy breakfast and an amble through the Gulf News. For the energetic there might be another futile attempt to emulate Tiger Woods; for the really energetic there may be jog or a trip to the gym. And then there is Andy Pearcy.

The Palm 'Spa Queen'

on juggling business, twins and husband

August 21 - 6:10 PM

Click to read the full story

Salina Handa runs the ultimate juggling act - devoted wife, mother of twin girls who have just celebrated their first birthday and forthright business woman. But even with all of these balls in the air she is calm and relaxed - perhaps a reflection of her chosen profession, perhaps an example of her sheer professionalism.

Sadia Irfan

A passion for teaching

July 19 - 7:57 PM

Click to read the full story

We all have that one teacher that we remember from our school days. The one that left an indelible mark on our young minds, whose opinions shaped ours and made us believe and understand. With her effervescent personality, warm smile and open nature – Sadia Irfan is that teacher.

Champions League

Another fantastic event

July 1 - 5:29 PM

Click to read the full story

It started out as a simple click on the "yes" button to attend another Crest of Dubai event: The opportunity to watch one of the biggest games of the 2009 World Football calendar. Manchester United and FC Barcelona meet for the UEFA Champions League final being held in Rome's Stadio Olimpico.

Nasimi Beach Party

by a Palm Journalism Club Reporter

June 12 - 1:42 PM

Click to read the full story

The sultry night couldn’t keep the singletons away from Nasimi Beach at Atlantis Hotel, as on Wednesday night, the well-groomed beach on teemed with well-heeled members of Crest of Dubai for this month’s Mars/Venus event.

Leanne Lee

Jumeirah’s model Citizen

May 13 - 3:45 AM

Click to read the full story

It’s not enough for the camera to like you, you need a photogenic ease that elevates you above the fierce feline competition. Leanne Lee achieves this with a natural ease that is complemented by her ability to immediately address the lie that all models are bimbos “Don’t worry I get that all of the time.”

Jane Ferguson

Ahead of the Palm press pack

March 19 - 8:30 PM

Click to read the full story

Kate Adie is 64 now, and boasts the badges of a lifetime of frontline journalism around her crow’s feet eyes and across her furrowed brow. No time for botox here, or for a family; or for a life outside of the News Room. For 25 years she was the face of the war torn World as covered by the BBC. Rewind 40 years and you would find Jane Ferguson - young, fresh and blonde; all bundles of serious enthusiasm and burning ambition, no Botox here, either for the Adie reincarnation.

Des Enoch

Jump start to a quieter life on the Palm...

March 19 - 8:24 PM

Click to read the full story

When you meet professional soldiers there is a calm exterior to them. A confident control built up over years of ‘taking care of business’. Des Enoch fits the bill perfectly. Quiet and unassuming, but you can sense that he is typically in control of situations around him. For a quarter of a century he proudly served in the Royal Marines, finally leaving at the rank of Warrant Officer, and having faced active duty in most of the World’s favourite hot spots from the Falklands to Bosnia, Northern Ireland to the Gulf, an area he now calls home.

Nicola Lee

Dedication of a swimming sensation…

March 19 - 8:16 PM

Click to read the full story

I speak to lots of people on the Palm who put their business success down to dedication and hard work. I think we can all associate with that, especially in tough times. Less common are the people with the same degree of dedication and hard work in their private lives. Nicola Lee fits the bill with the kind of dedication that I find difficult to even imagine.

Gusto, new restaurant on the Palm

Mustapha Benhadou, Chef de Cuisine-Gusto

February 15 - 5:46 PM

Click to read the full story

Gusto opened a couple of weeks ago between building 7 & 8 and the man whose job it is to entice you through the door is Chef de Cuisine Mustapha Benhadou.

Bryan Mackenzie

The Palms own piano man

February 15 - 5:29 PM

Click to read the full story

It can be quite humbling when you sit with someone blessed with a natural ability, someone who can casually bring a musical instrument to life. Especially when your own musical genius extends little further than singing along to the radio, stuck at traffic lights when you think nobody is watching.

Palm Writing Group

A poet in our midst…

February 15 - 5:15 PM

Click to read the full story

“It’s tough to get stuff published, and they pay you nothing- 5 cents per word if you’re lucky. I don’t want to sound like the struggling artist, but it was really tough - still is I guess, especially with poetry”.

Rays on the Palm

Wildlife beneath the surface

February 15 - 4:14 PM

Click to read the full story

These incredible pictures were taken outside the shoreline apartments by one of our members Craig Wright.

Sarodjiny Carlwig

...from L.A. to U.A.E for Hollywoods' finest.

February 2 - 3:22 PM

Click to read the full story

“It seemed the perfect combination – a powerful woman; the Middle East and fighting against the odds, so right now I am passionate about Queen Zenobia, she was a Persian Queen who stood up and fought against Rome.” I must admit that this is news to me, but the pure passion with which Sarodjiny Carlwig speaks is infectious and I am compelled to ask more.

Michael Prophet

Race ace settles to Palm pace

January 15 - 1:33 AM

Click to read the full story

“Yes I guess I do have the best job in the world - on paper at least!” and it’s hard to argue with Michael Prophet, one of only a handful of professional racing drivers living here in Dubai. “I don’t think everyone admits to wanting to do what I do, but one trip down Sheikh Zayed Road scares the life out of me!”

Karen Clarke

Paintball Wizard

January 14 - 10:58 PM

Click to read the full story

Not really sure what to expect today as I wait in Costa coffee to meet up with Karen Clarke. From the chat we have had on the phone I’m thinking some crazed adrenalin junkie could burst through the doors at any second. The shop has its usual blend of busy business types grabbing a latte to go, and fabulous looking young mums, de-stressing after the school run - all too fresh faced to have kids of ‘that’ age.

Anders Lövbrand

Founder of Crest of Dubai

January 8 - 8:05 AM

Click to read the full story

Video interview. "City 7 - Inside business" interviews Crest of Dubai's founder Anders Lövbrand regarding his previous success stories, his new ventures and his view on how the market for internet services has evolved during the last 10 years.

Richard Thorn

International Photographer

January 8 - 8:03 AM

Click to read the full story

It was between thunderstorms that I finally got to share a coffee and chat with another of the Palms most unassuming but interesting characters. To most of us, the inclement weather is no more than a mild inconvenience, but to Richard Thorn it changes everything. As an internationally renowned photographer whose main passion includes architectural shots, he is the right city at the right time and the change of climate and lighting merely gives him more to work with.

Kim Wood

The shark fishing Australian golfer

January 8 - 7:09 AM

Click to read the full story

‘I came over here to assess some property investments for a client of mine; took one look and thought "I think I’ll stay here!". I know it sounds a bit ‘gung ho’ but the worst thing in life is regret, and I really still see this as a land of opportunity’

Patricia Caruth

The Palm’s most inexhaustible villa owner

January 8 - 6:51 AM

Click to read the full story

'I'll only speak to you if you don't mention my age' laughs Pat Caruth, as I manage to force one of the Palms' most active villa dwellers to pause for 10 minutes. Three hours earlier I had been trailing in her wake as she breezed through her second month of the now infamous 'Military Bootcamp' training held on the shoreline apartments beach at 6 AM. 'I love anything like that - I have always been into sports, and those guys really push you to be the best that you can. I'm doing Boxercise next and I will do Bootcamp again in January and ...'