The Bazaar Arabia Little Black Book Of Dubai: Every Contact You Could Ever Need To Make Life Utterly Fabulous
From impossible last-minute reservations to sourcing a croc Kelly in an hour, Bazaar Arabia’s little black book is your insider index of the 20 power players to know (and cosy up to)
Book a last minute talk-of-the-town table
It’s 1pm on a Sunday and you realise you have Instagram-loving high-maintenance guests that you need to impress. Who do you call to claim the chicest table in DXB? Nazli Sonmez. The chief brand officer of the Rikas Group is on first name basis with the owner/maitre’d of every hotspot in town – no, scratch that, the world. Whether you’re wanting to dine à deux at Gigi Roma, live it up with sparklers at Aretha Dubai or take in views of the Eiffel Tower from a prime terrace spot at Giraffe, she’ll sort you out. But only if she likes you.
Ensure your dog has his (holi)day
Pet parents can let their pups continue their high life – literally – by whisking them off on holiday to almost anywhere in the world. Gunawan Wahab at Dubai’s Fly JetPets not only helps with charters and private planes, but sorts out all the pesky paperwork too. Make sure you request in-flight caviar for truly pampered pooches, à la Becca Bloom.
Fast track your F1 experience
Forget pit lane access, being in the pit wall gantry on race day is like having a spot in mission control during a rocket launch. This restricted area above the garages, the preserve of team bosses, engineers and strategists, is prohibited to the public. Unless, of course, you’re with Hansel Castro. If you want to hear insider info relayed in real time and a prime perch to watch drivers speed past, there’s no better man.
Move mansions, pronto
The five-bedroom pile simply won’t cut it now that your life as a duo has been upturned by the arrival of two kids. Luckily, Jackie Johns, joint owner of Christie’s International Real Estate Dubai, has you covered. With a constant eye on the most prime real estate in the city – right now there’s a six-bed Dhs220 million Palm Jumeirah villa on her books – she’s the one to call if you’re looking for a humble second beachside vacation home or your primary pad.
Kardashianify your closet
Kim likes order – after all, she was once a stylist – so it’s no surprise that her walk-in wardrobe is as awe-inspiring as the cash she’s made from her turns on TV. Want to emulate her obsessively colour-coded clothing racks and beautifully displayed Birkins? Ally Loepp at The Orderly Luxe will ensure your sanctuary ticks both form and function boxes.
Get Demi Moore’s phenomenal glow
Abu Dhabi-based Anastasia Achilleos’ client list is a who’s-who of Tinseltown, with Demi, Gwyneth and Jennifer Aniston among her devotees. Her famous face-sculpting technique ensures sky-high cheekbones and the banishment of fatigue lines; but isn’t merely a facial – it’s a nervous system and burnout reset, too.
Enjoy your beauty sleep (even with a baby)
It’s a number passed from serene mum to frazzled new one with sage reverence. Cecile de Scally – aka the Baby Whisperer – is a miracle worker when it comes to all things mini-me related. Whether you’re struggling to get little Latifa to lie down for a nap, or need someone to help kick-start routines so your personal trainer gets your full attention, Cecile will decode all your tot’s tantrums.
Dock at port de Saint-Tropez
What sets Baroque apart from other yacht specialists? Their ability to meticulously curate a crew that will ensure your every whim – be it a gastronomic tour or a party-centric trip – gets fulfilled beyond your wildest dreams. Another flex? Whether you’re in Mykonos or Capri, you’ll get the ultimate docking spot; no easy feat in high season. Ask for Henry Liu.
Source an exotic Kelly
Andy manages to get a copy of the final unpublished Harry Potter manuscript for Miranda in The Devil Wears Prada, but for those who don’t have an Andy to hand, De Beauvoir House’s Lyndsey Carphin and Melissa Johnson arearound. The high-end concierge tick off your desires – coups include Met Gala access, limited-edition Richard Mille timepieces and a croc Kelly in a matter of hours – and will manage every facet of your life. They even have a water sommelier.
Get your child into Oxbridge
Negotiate the notoriously difficult Oxbridge and Ivy League entry process with someone who’s been there and done that. Not only does Oxford grad Jemma Zoe Smith from Top School and Uni have qualifications galore, but she’s a dab hand at getting her students into where they want to go. What’s more, she’ll come to you whether you’re in Riyadh or Rio to ensure Mohammed Jnr’s matriculation.
Fly sky high
You realise last minute that you can make it for The Trilogy Closing Party Weekend; Dumani Ndebele, regional FBO director of ExecuJet Middle East will ensure you’ll land before Eric Prydz takes to the decks. With a fleet of 22 aircraft, it’s the only private jet company in the region with its own dedicated terminal at Al Maktoum International Airport (allowing VIPs to arrive and depart discretely, and even take a bubble bath, reflect by the salt wall or have grooming services in the Al Samaa Suite). No request is too big. One client bemoaned time spent commuting due to Dubai traffic; the team transformed a space in the terminal into a state-of-the-art conference room so he could land, and – preferred coffee in hand – immediately start his meetings, before walking back to the plane to depart to his next destination. Another family on a layover found a fully equipped
play area complete with baby amenities. They’ll even arrange violinists to serenade you on your anniversary.
Customise your one-off Rolls-Royce
Full disclosure, this experience comes with a caveat: you have to be invited to collaborate on a Coachbuild. The good news? Outside of Goodwood, Rolls-Royce’s West Sussex home, the only other Private Office in the world is in Dubai. Pick everything from wheel centres to contrast seat piping, coachline colours to the style of Spirit of Ecstasy bonnet mascot – and there are 44,000 shades to narrow down to your favourite. There are no limitations, with the design starting literally from scratch and Chris Hardy to help you on your journey. Bazaar’s choice? Cool Mint offset by Blushing Pink, with an Arctic White contrast exterior.
Feel fully protected
The name covers it – VIP International Security Services, helmed by Ali Karaki, is your one-stop shop if you’re looking for protection, whether it be for yourself, your kids, your home, your party – or even your high jewellery. Long trusted by the region’s Sheikhas, celebrities and visiting dignitaries, there’s an added bonus to this team; female protection officers too.
Infiltrate the racing scene
There’s no one who has secured his place in the close-knit world of equestrian sports in the Middle East like Oliver Burridge-Dean. Get to know this Dubai resident, who counts Godolphin trainer Saeed bin Suroor and Bahraini Ali Majeed, trainer for Almohamediya Racing, as contacts, if you want to break into the inner circle – and nab a seat at one of his dinners at The Arts Club.
Supercharge your skin
It’s close to impossible to get a slot to see Dr Radmila Lukian, the aesthetic doctor that has arguably become even more famous than her celebrity clients. The Serbian founder and CEO of Lucia Clinic, known for enhancing skin till it’s naturally luminous, has become a sensation, with her use of technology, from radio frequency to lasers and everything in between, guaranteeing freedom from needing foundation.
Leave with more than just memories
Specialising in everything from matrimonial finance to child custody and succession planning, Diana Hamade, Managing Partner of her own law firm, should be your first call if things are on the rocks. An authority on family law, Sharia law and private client practise for HNW individuals, this savvy Emirati knows how to navigate the system – and has a slew of accolades to prove it.
Ensure it’s all smooth sailing
“My grandfather was a Commodore and DOSC still won’t let me in!” Overheard at a soirée, this isnt surprising. Dubai Offshore Sailing Club insists there are no shortcuts. Even if you’ve got requirements covered – members to vouch for you, a detailed sailing history, and points through club participation – you might still be languishing on the wait list. Our top tip? Get to know GM Jacky Gerault; if anyone can smooth the process, he can.
Buy a diamond as big as The Ritz
Looking for a diamond dealer? Fadi Naddaf is the respected go-to in the city. Known for working alongside some of the biggest names in the industry (his company, Diamond Direct Jewellery, is known for repairing high jewellery pieces too), insiders reach out when they want a gobstopper-sized stone. Or need to apologise for transgressions.
Travel like the 1 per cent
Lionel Guirand organises holidays that “whisper rather than shout” for clients in the region that have clocked up a profile as high as their net worth. Anyone can book a five-star hotel and order a luxury cocktail – these trips are about once-in-a-lifetime experiences. Think a one-on-one with a Sardinian shepherd-philosopher or a midnight concert in a Lisbon palácio. When a family missed the taste of home during their European travels, the L’artisien team sourced specific regional ingredients and flew in a celebrity chef from Saudi to create an authentic feast for them. They’ve also transformed a yacht deck in the Mediterranean into a majlis – complete with live musicians and a bespoke service team – when a client wanted an impromptu evening gathering in complete privacy. No wonder the Middle East is their quickest growing market.
Book Beyoncé to sing at your party
Whenever an A-lister is spotted in the region – from Chris Hemsworth to Priyanka Chopra to Queen B – chances are you’ll see power couple Sonal Vara-Parmar and husband Ash discretely guiding them. Want Kevin Hart to do a short stand-up set at your anniversary? Fancy a game of doubles with Boris Becker? Need Mariah Carey to sing happy birthday to your tortured teen? Keep this duo behind IAM Entertainment on speed dial to book celebrity encounters of the superstar kind.
Lead image credits: Photographer: Vladimir Martí. Creative director: Tamim Mortaza. Stylist: Imogene Legrand. Model: Maryam Ghavidel-Rostami at M+P Models. Make-up: Manu Losada. Hair: Jean Luc Amarin. Shot at Maison Revka Dubai.
Images Supplied
From Harper’s Bazaar Arabia September 2025 Issue