1. THE FIRST MAGAZINE IN THE
APRIL 2012
REGION TO USE MOBILE TAGGING
THE WIDEST CIRCULATED YOUTH
FOCUSED MAGAZINE IN THE UAE
SOCIAL MEDIA
blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah
know more on page 12
+ PLUS
RUNNING WILD PEETA
THE PASSION OF ART
FAIRY TALE MAGIC

3. contents
www.tempoplanet.com
ed’s
note:
04
05
letters to the editor
uspace
12 We receive so much feedback from you, our
06 what’s hot readers, about what you want to see more of in
07 the bottom bottom line Tempo, and what you want us to throw out. We
love your letters and are always thankful for the
08 tech talk / game hedz
feedback, both positive and negative.You see, we
09 tempo’s top 10 songs / on my ipod know that you wouldn’t write to us if you didn’t
10 my style blueprint care.
12 running wild peeta
14 city bites So we gathered months of feedback and decided
to send Tempo back into the garage for a tune-up.
15 the passion of art
We’ve tweaked the design and the look and feel,
17 people calendar and hope Tempo is more entertaining and pleasing.
18 youth talk
19 time capsule We’ve also been tinkering with our website www.
21 planetarians tempoplanet.com to make it easier to read and
more user-friendly to navigate. Have a look and
23 fairy tale magic
send us your comments and ideas. Drop me a line
24 doc in the house / campus view personally and I promise to respond.
26 social media: policy not policing
27 tamakkan knowledge hub The one thing that we’re not changing is the
28 articulate / just handcrafted Tempo editorial formula. We are still steadfastly
‘community’ and remain unabashed in recognizing
30 mini minx / just a thought
groups and individuals who are interesting and
make a contribution to the wonderful tapestry of
humanity in the UAE.
14 15 Be kind, live well and keep up the tempo!
Sana Bagersh
Managing Editor
bagersh@tempoplanet.com
MANAGING EDITOR
Sana Bagersh
SUPERVISING EDITOR EDITORIAL
Ian Mason CONTRIBUTORS
FEATURES WRITER Angeli Castillo
Alma Kadragic Neena Rai
EDITORIAL Jan D’Sa
COORDINATOR
23
Manar Al Hinai
Sharon Carvalho
Ahmed Samir
MARKETING
COORDINATORS Rohith Bhat
Manjul Abhishek Azza El Masri
Laskar Laipubam
Shahid Saeed
MAGAZINE DESIGN
Blakniss
Mark De Castro
Shamma Al Suwaidi
DISTRIBUTION
Dave Solomon
COORDINATOR
Melaku Muluneh Justin Thomas
ADDRESS
To reach editorial at Abu Dhabi Tempo email: editorial@tempoplanet.com. If you need to find out where you can pick up your PUBLISHED BY:
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4. letters to the Post your
views and
comments on
our facebook
and twitter
pages anks for
Hey Ed, th rians.
he Planeta
featuring T
more grass
We need is,
tives like th
roots initia ols
ping scho
and I’m ho ce
Hello Tempo! I was an intern for your ities embra
Dear editor, I was touched by the story on the and univers
amazing magazine last year! Loved working dra M.
orphanage in Tanzania, and also about the British this - San
there, learned a lot and definitely got a lot
School Al Khubairat drive for Zambia. Sharing
of experience too. Well, this is a stop motion
such stories really helps to motivate us all
film I came up with, not so long ago. It was a
- Mathew N.
college project :) Hope ya’ll like it! :D Cheers BrandMoxie was
- Nyurka Fernandes proud to host
Hi Tempo, I don't always agree with your the launch of
choices for Top 10 songs in the UAE - Imagenation's film
Hey Nyurka, we’re so proud of you ( "Give me all your luvin?" - Madonna... Really?!!) club, Bopcorn &
and we wish you the best of luck But I'm glad you're doing the Top 10 in the Sawaleef, at it's
with University! - The Tempo Team UAE...coz no one else is doing it - Brian D. Innovation@Work
Hall.
TEMPO’S SHOUT OUT: “WHAT’S YOUR FAVOURITE PART OF THE MAGAZINE?” Follow them
on twitter: @
BopcornSawaalef
Well, the articles are interesting I loved the story on
and Tempo is like a home for The Dream Players!!
everyone to get noticed! :) - Kera Thompson
- Jason D’souza
The fact that anyone with talent
can find their place in Tempo :)
- Simone Carvalho
u vote
RESULTS OF LAST MONTH’S U VOTE:
Tempo asked our online readers, If you had a super
NEXT power, what would it be? This is what you said:
MONTH’S
QUESTION:
Do you like
the new size of
Tempo magazine?
INVISIBILITY 10% 10%
Yes
X-RAY VISION
No
20%
SUPER STRENGTH 60%
SUPER SPEED
go to tempoplanet to vote
04 | www.tempoplanet.com

5. u space occasions and everyday use, as well as accessories
and decorative items. Paris Avenue is the window to
TALKING BOOKS
By Azza El Masri
the world for these designers.
INSPIRATION AND PARTNERSHIPS
There are two - the first one is a nod to my father,
God bless his soul, who used to have a fashion
boutique, but I was too young to be interested in
it. The second reason is to pay tribute to the art of Book Review:
French living and to all the artisans who love their The Fault in
work. I take this opportunity to thank all those Our Stars
who surrounded me, helped me and encouraged (Dutton Books, 2012)
me - my family, my friends and my wonderful Author: John Green
ENTREPRENEUR FOCUS collaborators.
THE ESSENCE OF PARIS AVENUE
IN THE ZONE WITH…
I wanted a cosy place where everyone would feel at
What’s worse than losing
Meet Houda Cassim, Francophile Fashionista
home. It is not only a boutique but a gallery where someone to the death-grips
Houda, a Saudi entrepreneur with a strong you can admire objects, and read, smell and feel the of cancer? Being diagnosed
French influence, has poured her love of Paris and soul of Paris avenues.
with a terminal cancer yourself.
everything Parisian into a new boutique she has set
up called ‘Paris Avenue,’ located in Khalidiya. Houda Most of the items available are chosen from Introducing John Green’s newest
materials and handmade in small workshops.
chatted to Tempo about her inspiration and her
Some of these items are unique. The workshops I
masterpiece, “The Fault in Our
dreams.
deal with respect labour rights, demand freedom Stars”.
A SAUDI IN FRANCE of association and compliance with local laws,
I am a Saudi national. I studied architecture at and prohibit child labour, forced labour and FINDING THE BEAUTY OF LIFE
Ecole Nationale des Beaux Arts in Paris, but due to discrimination. Despite the miraculous surgery that
family reasons I had to stop my studies and started buys her a few extra years, 16-year-old
working for my embassy. Having lived for several FORWARD LOOKING Hazel’s cancer has always been terminal.
years in Paris, I have been imbued of French culture, With God’s help, I will consider opening more
Then she meets Augustus Waters, a
and I appreciate a lot of the French know-how in stores in the UAE and in the GCC region. I also
have other projects in mind, not in the fashion field
17-year-old ex-basketball player, at a
many fields. I knew this was something I had to do
but still related to French living. Paris Avenue is Cancer Kid Support Group and her life
when I moved to the United Arab Emirates.
located off Zayed First in Khalidiya. takes a beautiful, tragic and funny turn.
BRINGING PARIS TO ABU DHABI For the first time, Augustus coaxes her
Paris Avenue is a concept store themed around into savoring the beauty in her life.
the discovery of new designers. It is dedicated
entirely to those creators of art for whom To find out more about Paris Avenue CHARACTERS TO LOVE
elegance, originality and quality go together. I offer call 02 635 4030 Narrated by Hazel, “The Fault in Our
a large selection of handbags and shoes for major Stars” will grip readers with the deep
and realistic perception it describes.
Heavy with philosophical meaning, this
novel succeeds in absorbing you right
shortly after. He told me all about motorcycles, his
favourite hobby, and how much he wanted to have a into the lives of its main characters to
social life again. the point of feeling like you’ve become
part of the book. It raises fundamental
FORMING A SOCIAL GROUP questions that every teenager asks
After hanging out a couple times, we decided to
themselves yet adds a sense of gravity
start a social group for adults with special needs.
for those who haven’t much time left.
The aim of the social group is to find adults with
mild-moderate cognitive or physical disabilities and
create an exciting environment for them to feel LAUGH AND CRY
welcome and be accepted for exactly who they are. John Green, acclaimed for his previous
MEMBERS WANTED:
novel “Looking for Alaska”, mixes
Special needs group formed ABOUT THE GROUP
comedy with tragedy so perfectly that
By Jenna Bolduc The group has started as a meet-up group through
you’ll find yourself not knowing whether
www.meetup.com. It is free of charge - the only
As a newly-arrived special education teacher costs will be for the activities we do. In particular, to sob or laugh. It’s the kind of book
in the UAE, I quickly became aware of the lack we urge the guardians of group members to attend you’ll want to have a notepad close at
of organizations for children and adults with the first meet-up. hand while reading to jot down all the
exceptional needs. beautiful, perceptive quotes. But more
However, more members – at least 3 or 4 – are than just notes, you will find yourself
FIRST MEETING
needed to commence the proposed regular events writing out half of the book because of
Last year, I met a wonderful woman with a
such as dinners, bowling, movies, plays and going to its touching realism and the perceptions
21-year-old son who has exceptional needs.
the beach. of young adults and their feelings.
They are expats who have lived here for about
two years. She told me that her son is bored and
stays at home every day because there are no MORE INFORMATION For me, “The Fault in Our Stars” is the
opportunities for him. She said he sits around To find out more or to register someone as a best book of 2012 so far. It’s powerful
the house and waits until she returns so they group member, visit www.meetup.com/Social-
and life-changing; electric, sharp, funny
can travel to the mall or go outside to ride his group-for-Adults-with-Exceptional-Needs
but tragic. Read it - trust me, you won’t
beloved Harley Davidson bike. I met with her son
regret it.
www.tempoplanet.com | 05

6. LAIDBACK LUKE
5 April, Flash Forum, Abu Dhabi
After proving to be a massive hit with the crowds at Creamfields Abu Dhabi 2011, the Dutch
dynamo Laidback Luke returns to the capital on 5 April. With his fusion of hyper drive house
step & ghetto jack trance bass, he’s sure to whip up a frenzy at the FLASH
Forum. Supported by local DJs Mister Outlaw and Immaculate Touch
(Chad Punk and Stew Magoo), this is a club night not to be missed.
Laidback Luke chatted to Tempo about his upcoming gig – the
interview can be read on www.tempoplanet.com
MIDDLE EAST FILM
MAKE-A-WISH FOUNDATION®
BAZAAR
AND COMIC CON
THE DREAM
THE 20-21 April, Mina Seyahi Hall,
14 April, Café Arabia, Abu Dhabi PLAYERS IS Dubai International Marine Club
GOING DREAM
PLAYERS The region’s largest pop culture and
The Make-A-Wish Foundation® United MALL-SIDE!
19 April, entertainment festival is back. The
Arab Emirates does some awesome
Al Wahda Mall, Middle East Film and Comic Con
work, and this is no exception.Vendors,
Abu Dhabi is the place to meet celebrities for
artists and artisans are invited to
autographs and photos, buy exclusive
participate in a fundraising arts and
merchandise and loads of cool stuff
crafts bazaar on Saturday 14th April
from some of the world’s largest
from 10-4pm at Café Arabia, Abu Dhabi. After successful performances
entertainment companies, watch
Support the cause and help them put a at the Innovation@Work space, classic sci-fi, anime, superhero movies
smile on a child’s face! The Foundation, The Dream Players will take its and gain exclusive previews of the
under the Chairmanship of HH Sheikha next show to the newly-expanded summer’s biggest blockbusters.
Sheikha Bint Saif Bin Mohammed Al Al Wahda Mall on 19 April from
Nahyan, is dedicated to granting wishes 6.00pm- 8.00pm. Be a part of the Gamers compete in the Gamezone
to children aged 3-18 living with life and try out the latest video game
coolest community talent show in Abu
threatening conditions in the UAE. releases, take part in art, cosplay
Dhabi and cheer on the incredible talent
and gaming competitions, and join in
More info:
being discovered in the UAE! workshops and panel discussions.
mel.raymer7@yahoo.co.uk
More info and registration:
www.thedreamplayers.com Ticket info: www.mefcc.com
06 | www.tempoplanet.com

7. THE BOTTOM
BOTTOM LINE
Lighting up the skyline
I passed by the Abu Dhabi breakwater and
realized that there was something quite
spectacular about the skyline. And then it
occurred to me, that it was the huge UAE flag
that’s next to the Abu Dhabi Theatre. The flag,
which I’ve heard told holds the Guinness record
for the largest flag in the world (can anyone
corroborate this?) looks absolutely stunning, and
it’s all because of the lights at its base. Now the
flag projects to the heavens and carries a sense of
historical purpose.
DUBOMEDY TURNS 4! Nipping smoking in the bud
Is anyone aware of the growing problem of
1 April, 7.00pm and 9.00pm smoking among the young? If you have any doubt
DUCTAC, Mall of the Emirates, Dubai then go to the public parks where kids hang out in
the evening and you’ll see groups of preteens and
April Fools Day (1 April) is an appropriate day to celebrate Dubomedy’s 4th teenagers lighting up casually and passing out fags
birthday bash. Renowned international comedian Aron Kader (Axis of Evil, LA’s as if they were gum sticks. I saw a young boy who
Comedy Store, Arabs Gone Wild & much more) returns to the UAE after a three looked like he was 11 or 12 lighting up, and I was
year absence, and his live show in Dubai is sure to match his previous sold out hugely tempted to walk up to him, yell ‘idiot’ in his
shows . face and take away the cigarette. But I didn’t.
Joining Aron will be Mina Liccione and Ali Al Sayed along with two students from Health craze bandwagon
Hurray for all the health clubs that are popping
the Dubomedy Arts School to be nominated by Aron based upon their ‘end of
up everyday throughout the UAE; it gives all of us
workshop’ performance.
less reason to gripe about why we can’t exercise.
The health clubs who get marks are the ones that
To join the comedy workshop, email LOL@vivadubai.com are clear about their offerings and transparent
about their prices. Amna writes to me that she
Show info: LOL@vivadubai.com or www.dubomedy.com went up to Fitness First to ask about their prices
Ticket info: www.ticketingco.com or 050 927 3621. and was told that the girls at the counter couldn’t
VIP tickets: AED 250. give prices, and that she had to first talk to one of
Regular seating: AED 175. their interviewers/reps and that they needed her
number and would call her back later to give her
an assessment etc etc…. not cool, guys.
Getting the word out
EMIRATES KOREAN FILM FESTIVAL If you’re a film aficionado, there is a recent event
that you should have not missed but probably
5-8 April, Heritage Village and other locations in Abu Dhabi did. This is a documentaries film festival focusing
on women that was held in Abu Dhabi in March.
It was brought to the capital by The Women In
The Emirates Korean Film Festival celebrates the best of Korean cinema and culture from
Film group (kudos Michelle Nickelson) and held
5 – 8 April. This year’s festival will introduce the politics of North and South Korea through
outdoors at Heritage Village. It was an incredible
the eye of the lens. setting with many unforgettable films. The only
thing missing was an audience… what a shame
The world of Korean anime opens up during Saturday’s family friendly day at the Heritage only a small number of people knew about the
Village, along with Korean fashion, food and fun. A festival highlight is the annual platform of event… if only art authorities and corporate
educational workshops by award winning filmmakers. benefactors supported worthy artistic events with
funding for marketing.
Festival info: http://www.wix.com/ekff2012/ekff#
In support of film
Thank you New York Film Academy and US
Ambassador Michael Corbin for the invitation to
the short film competition “The UAE Through
Your Eyes:Your World,Your Future.” Five movies
were shown at the ambassador’s residence.
Tempo was especially happy to see Daniel Malak,
a rising star from the Tempo-NYFA “I Love UAE”
BE THE FACE OF SMASH! competition, win this short film competition.
And a Tempo shout out to Image Nation who
Send a photograph of yourself to smash@liwastores.com along with the answer to "Why
launched its new social film club - Bopcorn &
should you be the Face of Smash!?" The winner will be the Face of Smash! and will receive Sawalef - at BrandMoxie’s hip innovation space in
a voucher worth AED 400 to spend at any Smash! outlet, and will be featured in Tempo's Nahyan Camp. All pretty cool stuff.
My Style Blueprint.
The chosen entries will be uploaded to the Smash ME Facebook page. 3 runners up also Write to me:
get gift vouchers. So enter today and get your friends to 'Like' your pic! concierge@tempoplanet.com
The Concierge
www.tempoplanet.com | 07

8. EDITORIAL CONTRIBUTORS
tech talk
Shahid Saeed | Talker for the Non-Techies Follow me on @shahidaasi
LATEST NEWS
THE NEW iPAD
Social Media Demographics
Apple has unveiled its third iPad, restoring its
technological lead over rivals in the tablet stakes.
More than 66% of adults are connected to one
The new iPad has impressive retina display upgrades or more social media platforms, but who exactly
to 3.1 million pixels, giving it the range of 2048 x are these people? This infographic, created by
1536 which is more than an HDTV resolution. It Online MBA, breaks down the demographics:
has Apple’s new A5X processor with quad-core • 57% of Facebook users have completed some
graphics, said to be four times the pixels of iPad 2. college and 24% have earned a bachelor’s or
CANON EOS 5D MARK III
master’s degree. People aged 45 and older
Canon has announced the latest addition to its
The camera is upgraded to 5 megapixel with 1080p world-famous EOS range with the launch of make up 46% of Facebook users. There is
HD video recording and 4G LTE - I don’t know why the new EOS 5D Mark III which builds on the also gender split, with women using Facebook
a tablet would need that much faster data speed but performance of the legendary EOS 5D Mark II. more than men - about 57% of Facebook
it sounds great. With the Dictation feature, you can users are women.
now write an email by speaking. It features a 22.3 megapixel full-frame sensor, up • 59% of Twitter users are women.
to 6 frames per second shooting, 14-bit DIGIC • Pinterest has the heaviest gender imbalance,
It also has the smart covers previously supplied 5+ processor, 61-point AF system and 63-zone with 82% users being women.
with iPad2, and the battery life is up to 10 hours per metering, a huge native ISO range 100-25600 • Google+ is occupied by men (71%) and
charge which is also a good sign. expandable to 102400, advanced AF system, about 50% of Google+ users are 24 or
1920X1080 full HD movie, highly accurate younger.
exposures by iFCL metering system, 3.2” clear • LinkedIn have an even ratio of men and
view TFT fixed LCD screen, dual card slots CF women, and 49% of over-45s use the site to
Type 1 and SD/SDHC/SDXC. connect with other business professionals.
• Most people use social media to stay in touch
The Mark III is faster and more responsive and with friends and family, and more are doing so
features the tools to adapt to everything from while on the go - about 200 million Facebook
studio photography to creative videography while users check their Timelines from their mobile
producing results of the highest quality. devices every day.
game hedz
Blakniss | Original game head from Atari to XBox!
MASS EFFECT 3... game are more cut scene than anything else - only Pretty sweet. Just make sure you have an EA
How’s it going, Game Hedz? I trust you›ve done the after about 45 minutes of game play does the full account so the game outcomes can be synced.
right thing and got your hands on a copy of Mass RPG experience kick in.
Effect 3. If you haven’t, you’ll be cursed with two left This game does great in continuing to show how
thumbs...or something like that. We’ve been playing NOTE OF CAUTION: if you import a saved iOS and other portable devices can provide a great
through the game (not finished yet) and can see the character, you can’t choose gameplay mode - you gaming experience with near console level graphics
get Role Playing Game mode (RPG) by default. and gameplay.
immediate impact of larger scale conflict and story
that makes for a density of interdependent missions
...AND A MORE! Get it, and keep fighting to save the universe!
and pivotal relationships.
Big news! You can play a Mass Effect prequel on iOS! Without the universe we can’t enjoy chocolate...and
Can I get a “wuhoo”! I love chocolate.
You might experience the temptation, like I have, to
backtrack and change a choice to see the differing
outcome, like putting Jack and her students on It’s called Mass Effect Infiltrator, and you play Randall MY FAV APP
the frontline. I chose a support role for them, but Enzo, a Cerberus operative with a conscience
My favourite app is Real Football 2012 for iPhone,
wonder if choosing frontline duty would put Jack who is now fighting for the Alliance (supposed iPad & Android devices. This is a fantastic touch game
back on the Normandy. We’ll see. Otherwise, it’s good guys) and intent on taking down Cerberus and very easy to play for anyone as it has difficulty
rolling on nicely, though the beginning stages of the (Cerberus is a dubious organisation that is working selection options.
against the good guys in the main game).You are
You can play in practice, exhibition, league and cup
trying to recover important alien-related data from mode; select your team, level, time, ball and when you
a research facility and pass it on to the Alliance. are off the ground, push the goals to win the match;
share results on Facebook; and get your rewards
It hasn’t been widely publicised but it does exist, I in coins, cash and experience points. Later, you can
promise, and it’s pretty cool. With similar controls use all the rewards to buy more stuff from the store
provided within the game.
as Dead Space and Shadowgun, you can shoot from
cover, vault, switch weapons and use biotic skills Everyone must try this app - it’s free to download
pretty seamlessly. and heaps of fun.
This story occurs simultaneously with the Mass
Effect 3 storyline, and the outcome apparently by Shajeel Malik
contributes to the console game’s storyline!
08 | www.tempoplanet.com

9. 1. We Are Young - Fun ft. Janelle Monae
2. Stronger - Kelly Clarkson
3. Glad You Came - The Wanted
4. Set Fire To The Rain - Adele
5. Somebody That I Used To Know - Gotye ft. Kimbra
6. Starships - Nicki Minaj
7. Turn Me On - David Guetta ft. Nicki Minaj
8. Take Care - Drake ft. Rihanna
9. Wild Ones - Flo Rida ft. Sia
10. Part Of Me - Katy Perry
1 Earthquake - Labrinth ft. Tinie Tempah 1. Somebody That I Used To Know - Gotye
2. Starships - Nicki Minaj
3. Elephant - Alexandra Burke ft. Erick Morillo
4. Next To Me - Emeli Sandé
2 Lego House - Ed Sheeran 5. Wild Ones - Flo Rida ft. Sia
6. Titanium - David Guetta ft. Sia
7. Hot Right Now - DJ Fresh ft. Rita Ora
3 Stronger - Kelly Clarkson 8. Turn Me On - David Guetta ft. Nicki Minaj
9. Love Me - Stooshe ft. Travie McCoy
10. Paris - Jay-Z & Kanye West
4 Part Of Me - Katy Perry
5 Get Yourself Back Home - Gym Class Heroes
Phoebe Jaspe, a 20 year old film making student who is
ft. Neon Hitch currently a digital content creator in an oil/gas company
loves chillwave, homesick ambient sounds laced with
modern/electro pop, psych-folk, post-punk revival, nu gaze
6 Starships - Nicki Minaj and witch house.
1. Twin Shadow - Castles in the Snow (Com Truise remix)
2. Holy Other - Touch
3. Stumbleine - Sun Bleached
4. Marques Toliner - Deep in my Heart
7 Drive By - Train 5.
6.
Twin Shadow - Slow (Van Rivers remix)
The xx - VCR
7. Toro y Moi - Talamak
8. James Blake - Wilhelm Scream
9. Neon Indian - Polish Girl
10. Washed Out - Feel it all Around
8 Wild Ones - Flo Rida ft. Sia
9 Hot Right Now - DJ Fresh ft. Rita Ora
10 Sorry For Part Rockin - LMFAO
View the #1 SONG IN THE UAE
www.tempoplanet.com | 09

10. Name:
Ahmed
Mohammed
Abusara
Age: 20
4th year Civil Engineering student at
Abu Dhabi University
Fashion Statement:
I am forever a lover of fashion. Some
people are quick to say that I am not
into fashion, but we all have style within
ourselves, whether we are open to
recognizing it or not.
Clothes are a part of our daily lives so why
not make a statement with your clothes?
Your personal style:
Funky, fun, bright,
sometimes sporty,
comfy, suitable
and
stylish.
Fav buy of the past month:
A t-shirt from Armani Exchange.
Which is your fav store in AD? H&M is my
favourite store. There are a lot of places but I
think the best places are Diesel, Zara, H&M and
Pull & Bear.
Does AD have style? Of course it has style!
I think that people here are much more stylish
compared to other countries in the region.
It’s a multicultural city so you can see the style
ranging from a kandura to jeans and a t-shirt.
Do you have any fashion pet hates? I
don’t like people wearing unmatched colors in
the same outfit; outfits with glitter and shiny
diamonds; and I don’t like shoes with long necks.
MY FAV THINGS
10 | www.tempoplanet.com

12. cover story
By Sharon Carvalho
RUNNING WILD PEETA
SOCIAL MEDIA THE RECIPE FOR SUCCESS
Wild Peeta is a home-grown success story with an ambitious plan to roll out their unique brand
of restaurants across the globe. Mohamed and Peyman Parham Al Awadhi, the brothers behind
Wild Peeta, tell Tempo how social media and the community have been critical to their growth.
Getting started of between 50-70% for small businesses menu; a really good hearty soup, our gourmet
not making it past the 3-5 year mark. It’s shawermas and our signature drinks. For
As with any invention or idea, it comes out of not easy being an SME in the UAE because instance, our coffee is from a brand called
opportunity.You see something that doesn’t there is no legislation for small businesses. RAW that sells organic fair trade Dubai
exist and you fill that gap. For us, it was Being grouped with big businesses is not roasted coffee. In terms of our cold drinks,
creating the first brand of gourmet shawerma. fair because they have more money and we make our own and we’re a big fan of tea-
We saw that there were tons of regular resources at their disposal. We believe that based drinks.
shawerma shops but not one that had gone unless this is addressed, we won’t see enough
beyond the norm. That was about 12 years small businesses entering the market and we Passion brings happiness
ago and it’s been a hell of a journey since then. stand to lose some amazing ideas that small
businesses can bring to the market. It’s simple Wild Peeta has changed our lives
Learning curves - does the UAE only want imported brands? tremendously. For one, it showed us how
Does the UAE not want to see local brands resilient we can be. We came in to this with a
It took so long for the idea to take shape and local ideas? small budget and so we had to find innovative
partly because of fate and partly because of ways to achieve what we wanted to. For
the lack of funding. Back then, there was an Meeting expectations most, moving from a paid job to this is not
abundance of ways to find financing for cars easy but for us, we didn’t think much about
or houses or other such items but there There’s a lot of hype that surrounds Wild it. It was just hell, yeah! And even though it’s
was nothing for those that needed money to Peeta. Sometimes it works for us and other extremely challenging to be a small business
start a business. 12 years ago, the business times it doesn’t. How it works for us is that in the UAE, we have never been happier. We
environment in the UAE was not geared for everybody always wants to go to Wild Peeta. believe that happiness comes from doing
startup businesses. Then, eight years ago, How it works against us is that sometimes, something that you love, have passion for and
we went and met the Sheikh Mohammed expectations are extremely high and we have believe in deeply. Plus it helps that there are
Establishment (now called Dubai SME), to remind everybody that we’re still new. We 10,000 people encouraging us and keeping us
explained everything to them and since then, are a small business that’s only been around grounded constantly!
they’ve been huge supporters of Wild Peeta. for three years and we’re trying to make the
We are now in our third year of operation best of the means that we have. Next, the world
and it has been highly turbulent because of
the many learning curves we’ve faced. Being different I think today, more than ever, we know that
Wild Peeta has the potential to be in every
Start-up challenges Two things that you notice when you walk major city in the world. It makes us feel that
in to the outlet are: one, the food and two, there’s no such thing as impossible. Impossible
We tested a lot of things. As a small business, our followers. We make everything in our was when they said that man couldn’t fly or
you are able to have an idea and test it out kitchen by hand, with fresh ingredients and couldn’t be in space! We feel that man can do
and you learn from these tests. The statistics no preservatives. We don’t own a deep fryer! anything, so why not? Why not have a brand
for a startup business are really poor in the Everything we get is from the Middle East created in the UAE and exported to every
UAE. They say that there is a failure rate and we put all of that together to create our country?
12 | www.tempoplanet.com

13. QUICK Q’s
WHERE WOULD YOU LIKE TO
10,000 followers... and growing COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT SEE WILD PEETA IN 5 YEARS?
Our social media followers have been a huge We have all sorts of events happening We would like to have a handful of
part of our lives even before we opened the at Wild Peeta. There was a Dubomedy outlets in the GCC. We have a target;
outlet. We invited them to help in the decision comedy event, we celebrated Social we’re looking at a certain number of
making. We asked them for advice about the Media Day, and clubs like the Dubai outlets and a strong base in the GCC
drinks we served and the layout of the store Anime Club and the Twitter Book Club before moving out. Every day we get
and almost everything. We figured that the meet at our outlet. Wild Peeta is like a contacted to open up Wild Peeta
more people we asked for advice, the better focal point, an opportunity to connect outlets across the Americas, Asia and
we would be. Over three years, we have built all these people in the UAE. Europe but we aren’t going to do it
a following of over 10,000 people and these until we have a solid foothold in the
aren’t random people. We grow our followers, These are all community initiatives and GCC.
have conversations with them and take time we don’t want to take credit. The only
out of our day to involve them with Wild thing that we do is bring them together. WHAT WOULD YOU DO IF
Peeta’s life and, in the process, these 10,000 We create opportunities for the people YOU WEREN’T RUNNING A
people feel like they are a part of the Wild to share. RESTAURANT?
Peeta existence.
We’re just grateful that the community We really don’t know but running
Customers are everything has adopted Wild Peeta and considers a restaurant has definitely taught us
it their own. It would have tougher if that life is too short to do anything
People tend to ask us why would we want to the community hadn’t got together. that you’re not passionate about. We’d
involve 10,000 people in our decision making travel. We love travelling and we’d
process. We think that it makes us better SUCCESS OF SOCIAL MEDIA travel all the time if we didn’t have
people and it makes Wild Peeta a better the restaurant. One way that we’ve
brand. We’re doing this for ourselves and Wild Peeta’s social media influence managed to incorporate travelling
our customers and if we don’t listen to our ranks among one of the highest in the is by launching Peeta Planet. Peeta
customers, why do it? UAE and it’s growing among the Middle Planet is our way of fusing social
East. media, travelling and television. It’s us
travelling around the world but guided
The result of having such a strong by our followers. Our followers tell us
influence is that brands look to us the best places to go and we go there!
as partners to try to engage the
community. WHAT IS THE WILD PEETA
MOTTO?
For instance, Sony got in touch with us
to collaborate and we look forward to Local. Social. Fresh.
more such collaborations.
www.tempoplanet.com | 13

14. city bites
By Justin Thomas
SEVILO’S AT MILLENNIUM:
ITALIAN FOOD YOU CAN’T REFUSE
The restaurant is one of the last strongholds
of genuine face-to-face social intercourse.
Sadly though, even here, there are
increasing numbers of diners insisting on
a side of Blackberry with every meal. It’s
heartbreaking to watch a young couple out
for a candle-lit meal, both of them stare
lovingly into their smart-phone screens,
frantically thumbing messages to whoever,
wherever - “fa6ooomy: waynich 3yooni?”
On what level is the couple actually even
together? Physically? Perhaps. Psychologically?
Definitely not. More tragic still is when only
one partner engages in this behavior while
the other partner waits patiently for scraps
of leftover attention.
Such a scene is unlikely at Sevilo’s, an old- where their Italian chef masterfully prepares Calling it pizza seems a disservice - this was
school restaurant oozing authenticity. This a medley of traditional Italian dishes and about as distant from the usual fast-food-joint
is a place where the food, the chefs, and the guests get to sample everything. This is a nice pizza as a Ferrari is from a Fiat.
occasional musicians command attention, concept, not quite buffet and definitely not
diverting diners away from their habitual à la carte. Each dish is brought fresh to the Similarly, the steak was outstanding, equal
digital distractions. table and you can take as much or as little as to, if not superior to, those served at
you like. It’s meant to create a homely dining establishments specializing in steak. Mid-
Sevilo’s is located within Abu Dhabi’s experience - food like mamma used to make. meal, the Chef and his assistant toured the
Millennium Hotel. Not the gargantuan Grand Mamma’s rules too; you get what you are tables on a well-deserved lap of honor. They
Millennium Hotel resembling a citadel which given and eat it. But there is lots of choice and received authentic heartfelt appreciation from
casts an ominous shadow over Al Wahda Mamma, being the friendly matriarch she is, all the diners.
Mall, but rather the older Millennium Hotel has made all your favorites.
on Khalifa Street. This Millennium has a lobby By the time desserts started to pile up on our
which is almost identical to that of its sister Nine courses were served on the night we table, I was fighting an almost irrepressible
hotel, the Sharjah Millennium. This slightly dined. First up was a bruschetta with spicy urge to do my Don Corleone impression,
disorientated me on arrival as I was haunted vegetables and black olives. The olives were especially as the music wafting through the
by surreal feelings of déjà vu until I made the amazing, understandable given that Sevilo’s restaurant was reminiscent of the famous
connection between the Sharjah and Abu is olives spelt backwards, and they obviously wedding scene from “The Godfather” movie.
Dhabi venues. harbor a well placed affection for this versatile
veg/fruit. Then came pizza - one topped with However, before I could muster my best
I would describe Sevilo’s decor as old-world dry beef and lobster, the other beautifully Brando face, one of my dining companions
woody homeliness with lots of dark wood, be domed by buffalo mozzarella and roasted leaned across the table and, in an impossibly
soft lighting and a distinctly European feel. I eggplant. husky voice, said: “Bonasera, Bonasera,
particularly love the little twisted olive trees what have I ever done to make you treat
dotted around the place. Next up was, a variety of elegant salads, me so disrespectfully? If you’d come to me
followed by durum wheat pasta and hammour in friendship, this scum who ruined your
Sevilo’s is unashamedly Italian. When we garnished with a dill sauce. Another pasta daughter would be suffering this very day.”
visited, there was live Italian music being dish arrived, tortellini stuffed to bursting with The Thursday night ‘Mamma Mia Serata’
strummed on a small wooden guitar-like trout and spinach. This dish was followed by experience is priced at just over 100 dirhams
instrument, accompanied by a woman with a risotto with saffron and grilled vegetables, per person inclusive of soft drinks, an
glorious soprano voice. Those diners fluent then pan-fried tenderloin steak, and finally unbelievably modest tariff for such a first-rate
in Italian were mesmerized. All of the lyrics, roasted hammour fillet. I also counted at least dining experience. Indeed, it is an offer you
except ‘amore’, were wasted on me, but live six different types of dessert, among them a can’t refuse.
music has an almost unfathomable ability to powerfully-caffeinated tiramisu.
create an enjoyable ambience. I strongly recommend it, but leave your
Gluttony and journalistic integrity forced me Blackberry or iPhone at home, and give your
Thursdays at Sevilo’s is known as ‘Mamma to eat a little of everything, and quite a lot of undivided attention to the food and your
Mia Serata’. This is Sevilo’s signature night, somethings. Of particular note was the pizza. dining companion - they deserve it.
14 | www.tempoplanet.com

15. THE PASSION OF ART
LIVING THE DREAM
By Sharon Carvalho
To most, art is just a hobby and is not taken seriously. But
to some, art is a passion; a lifestyle. It is a way of capturing
every moment and being inspired every second. For
Nabeel Khalfan Al Mehairbi, art is just that. Nabeel told his
story of inspiration and passion to Tempo.
In the beginning the Impressionist period is one of the most
I am a 40-year-old Emirati of mixed UAE and recognized and revered. For me, inspiration
British heritage and I live and work in Abu could also come from an idea, a scene or even
Dhabi. Apart from painting, I love reading, an expression on a person’s face.
movies and travelling. I also love visiting the
theatre and national galleries. Artistic difference
In the UAE, there are not many artists who
I began winning prizes in the UK and UAE are realist painters; for the most part it is
for my art in my late teens. It was then that modern/contemporary works. Here is where
I realised that my drawing skills were above I can offer something that is not seen every
average. One day I sat down and asked myself day. It has worked for me and against me.
how much this means to me, and from that
moment I decided to push myself every day. It Overcoming challenges
has not always been easy but was worth every The main challenges are building a name and
moment and since then I have not stopped. having galleries show your work.You have to
work hard and never give up.
Living the dream
My journey as an artist has been very exciting. Life motto
I only began taking my art seriously three My motto would be to just enjoy every day of
years ago and since then I have participated in your life.
an exhibition at the Ghaf Gallery, which was
my first exhibition. This was followed by other Advice for new artists
ventures culminating in being documented as The best advice I can offer is that if you love
one of the Emirates Fine Artists in the Abu painting and creating artwork, don’t let anyone
Dhabi Music & Arts Foundation database. dissuade you. I suggest that you introduce
yourself to the art community, show your
Personal influences work, market yourself, visit local exhibitions
My personal influences are artists from the and don’t hide at home, otherwise no one will
Impressionist period such as Renoir, Monet know you.
and Sisley. They redefined how paintings were
made by capturing a moment on the canvas Books are second to art
and understanding how the surroundings I have been lucky with where I work. Books
affected the subjects. These artists changed are my other passion so you can imagine how
all preconceptions on painting standards and, much of an inspiration it is to be working for
at the time, struggled to make a name; now the National Library.
www.tempoplanet.com | 15

17. 1 2 Simone
3 4 5 6 7
Natalie Cole Atelier Live
Kareem K.
World Ports and The Bride Show Dubai
in Concert Dance Arena
Trade Summit 2012 Laidback Luke @ DIEC 4-7
@ Emirates Palace @ Dubai International
April Fool’s Day! @ ADNEC 2-4 HAPP @ Yas Arena
BIRTHDY Auditorium Cricket Stadium
TO MEAY
!
8 9 10 11 12 13 14
Ankit Lodha
Zainab Khan
APRIL Emirates Skills Tri Yas @ Yas Marina UAE Jet Ski
Flea Market The Eagles perform
National Competition Circuit tomorrow Championship
@ Café Arabia @ The Sevens Stadium t
@ ADNEC @ Abu Dhabi Abu Dhabi Spor
9am- 1pm NEC
tomorrow! Exhibition @ AD
11-12 Breakwater 12-14
National Poetry
Writing Month
tempo’s people calendar
15 16 17 18 19 20 21
Laveezah Khan
Dubai Fashion Week Middle East Film and
OLIVER! The musical The Dream Players
Fall/ Winter 5th Gulf Film Festival Comic Con @ Dubai Walk for Autism
Anushka Abraham
@ Madinat Jumeirah @ Al Wahda Mall
@ Dubai World @ InterCon Hotel, Gulf Rail 2012
12-23
6pm - 9pm International Marine @ Zabeel Park,
DFC 10-16 @ DICEC 17-19 Club 20-21
Trade Center Dubai
7-14
22 23 24 25 26 27 28
ABC Expo Tamakkan
Zeeshan Razzaqi
CITYSCAPE Community Arts
Piscine Middle East @ ADNEC 22-25
Seminar Abu Dhabi 2012 Hug a friend day! and Crafts Souq
2012 @ADNEC @ Mamoura @ Café Arabia
@ ADNEC Al Ain Education and
22-25 Auditorium Career Fair 10am- 4pm
22-25
30 April- 2 May
29 30 my april eco pledge my april to do list
Osama El Kamel
Olympians
@ ADNEC Beauty Secrets Show
till 30th April 2012 @ ADNEC
30 Apr- 3 May

18. youth
talk
THEORIES DEBUNKED:
THE FALL FROM GRACE By Ahmed Samir
You’re wrong.Yes, you are.You think you’re right, and perhaps many completely false! A dizzyingly abrupt fall from grace. And similar falls
agree you are right, but you’re very likely as wrong as can be. Allow me litter the science and history books. The Earth was thought to be
to explain. flat, not the spherical structure we know it to be today.
In the year 334 BC (or thereabouts), a particularly interesting Then followed another faulty theory: the sun was thought to revolve
individual by the name of Aristotle declared that living creatures can around the Earth, as do all the planets - an idea that was supported
arise from non-living matter (among many other equally interesting by the fact that the sun, stars, and planets appear to circle the Earth,
theories); that frog tadpoles seemingly appearing out of nowhere and the physical perception that the our planet is not moving, but a
in muddy pools and lakes arose from the sand and water. Or that stable structure, the pivot of the universe. Well, wrong again.
maggots appearing on decaying meat arose from the meat itself (not,
And even today, scientific theories are continually given a
as we know now, the result of the hatched eggs of flies attracted to
bashing, proverbially thrown against a wall and smashed
the dead flesh).
to smithereens for being inadequate, for being superseded
by other more advanced, more thorough evidence. It’s a
The theory was Spontaneous Generation - that is, the postulation
continuous cycle of ‘find out, think, discard, think again, find
that life can take form from that which does not contain life. At the
out again, repeat’.
time, the philosopher and polymath’s theory was widely accepted and
generally held to be the true origin of thing. Frogs looked like they Doubtless, the continuous process of trial and error, discovery and
appeared from the water and mud, so they must be born from them! debunking and right and wrong, is integral to our development as a
Right? species, and to our understanding of things – which brings up a very
interesting question.
Well, wrong of course. With the invention of the microscope and the
development of atomic theory, Aristotle’s theory was completely The question now becomes ‘what do we now know and think is
debunked by the 17th century and regarded as having little base right, but actually isn’t’? What will we discover that will tip the scales
in scientific fact. Aristotle, despite being a lucid thinker, was clearly of belief in favour of new theories, new ideas and new ways of
limited; he didn’t know about microscopic life. His limitations led looking at everything? What are we wrongly convincing ourselves of?
him to an incorrect conclusion. The interesting thing about all this is
that something once held to be scientific fact was later proved to be Worth thinking about.
EVOLUTION OF SOCIAL MEDIA:
By Shamma Al Suwaidi GOOD OR BAD?
visit a friend for a few hours? Sounds nice and harmless, right? Well,
No. Welcome to the year 2012. up to a point. Consider this. A group of
Sometimes I like to stop to get off I can use something that can be both friends are sitting at a table, and instead of
the fast moving river of life and take extremely helpful and extremely dangerous communicating face-to-face, they are all
a look at it from a distance, where it at the same time. It’s what we human beings tapping away on their BlackBerrys, zoned
is in clear view. I observe the lives of like to call ‘social media’. You know, BBM, out and into another world. Not so social.
people around me, like close friends or Facebook, the stuff that keeps you connected.
relatives, and have a quick health scan
Social disconnect
on my own life while I’m at it. Make-up or break-up? So are these ‘useful tools’ actually bringing
What comes to mind when you think deeply humanity downhill? Seems unbelievable,
Finding real friends is... are they actually helping us maintain our but it’s actually possible.
Apparently I find that an important aspect social lives, or are they just breaking us apart
of my existence is my social life. Oh, and from past friends? I find myself attached to these strange
by social life, I don’t mean dragging myself things myself, and it feels like only
to visit my annoying neighbors on a daily On the positive side, when you’re in a yesterday we had to jam our friends’
basis in order to maintain our ‘neighborly situation where you can’t meet your friend numbers onto our landlines to contact
relationship’. I mean my REAL friends in person, you can always contact them easily them.
from all around the world. through a social media channel, and pretty
quickly too. You can group chat or even I can’t help but notice how quickly the
Well, how do you fit a flight to Brazil video chat with a bunch of relatives that you world is evolving. But here’s the question...
and back in 24 short hours? And what haven’t seen in a while. In other words, meet is it evolving in a good way? That’s
about spending all that money just to them virtually. something for you to think about.
18 | www.tempoplanet.com