may 2012
13
Written by award-winning
American author Jeffery Deaver,
Carte Blanche
tells
the story of James Bond
fresh from Afghanistan and
recruited to a new agency.
The secret agent is called
away from dinner with a
beautiful woman to prevent an
attack that
will cause thousands of casualties, and he has
carte blanche to do whatever it takes to fulfil
his mission.
The story takes 007 to many far-flung
destinations including Dubai, one of the seven
emirates to make up the United Arab Emirates.
Much of the plot centres on Dubai Festival City,
the InterContinental and the adjoining
shopping centre where Bond plots his counter
attacks, drives impossibly fast cars, samples
the finest Arabic cuisine and relaxes over a
glass of medium dry Stolichnaya martini,
“
shaken very well”.
Published by Hodder & Stoughton,
Carte
Blanche
is available from all good bookshops.
Between the covers
15.00-16.30
Scale the Burj Khalifa
Leave the speedboat in Dubai Marina,
hop in a top-of-the-range Bentley and
shift through the gears until you reach
the Burj Khalifa (right), the tallest
building in the world at a staggering
828
metres high. Ride in the world’s
fastest elevator to the 124th-floor
observation deck and take in the
stunning panoramic views. Call
Lane Luxury Car Rentals on
04 335
5188
or visit
lanerac.com
,
and call
800
ATTHETOP
or visit
burjkhalifa.ae
16.30-16.50
Enjoy Dubai
from up high
Dodge the onset of Dubai’s
rush-hour traffic and charter a
helicopter from the Burj Khalifa to Dubai
Festival City, admiring the sprawling
Downtown Dubai and Dubai Creek far
beneath. Call Aerogulf Services on
04 220 0331
or visit
aerogulfservices.com
16.50-18.00
Relax and unwind
Head to the Spa InterContinental for some
of the best men’s treatments in town. The
classic European
Casanova Facial uses a
blend of minerals
combined with hydrating
ampoules and a
brightening mask to
provide the skin with
essential nutrients,
leaving it cleansed,
balanced and ready for an evening of
five-star indulgence. Call
04 701 1257
to
book an appointment.
18.30-19.30
All dressed up
With one of the city’s most upmarket
culinary experiences ahead, it’s only fitting
to take your time dressing for dinner. Enjoy
a relaxing soak in the freestanding bathtub
before carefully running through your
personal grooming routine. After all, you
want to be as chic and as stylish as the
cordon bleu cuisine that awaits.
19.30-20.30
Pre-dinner drinks
Suited, booted, preened and polished, head
to Vista Bar at the InterContinental Dubai
Festival City for your essential martini,
shaken not stirred, of course. It’s here on
the terrace that James Bond sits in
Carte
Blanche
,
overlooking the spectacular city
skyline. Recreate the scene with drink
firmly in hand. Call
04 701 1127
for more
information on this stylish outlet.
20.30-23.00
Dine in style
James Bond has a penchant for the finer
things in life so it would be rude not to
sample the exquisite dishes at award-
winning Reflets par Pierre Gagnaire, which
is overseen by the Michelin-starred chef
Pierre Gagnaire. Wash dinner down with a
bottle of Salon 1988 Champagne and you
will be hard pushed to find a better French
restaurant in the city. Call
04 701 1199
for
more information.
23.00-00.00
Post-dinner cigar
Round off your action-packed
day with a relaxing cigar at
Trent’s, the premium bar at Al
Badia Golf Club. With a
wide range of fine,
imported cigars, this is
one outlet not to be
missed. Call
04 601
0111
for more
information.
Vista Bar
Reflets par Pierre Gagnaire