The French Riviera is famous for a lot of things – beaches, glamour and sophistication – but the image it perhaps conveys most is an affluent lifestyle.
Whether it is the movie jet set attending film festivals in Cannes or their film production companies using casinos in Monte Carlo as the backdrop to their latest caper, the Riviera has been a playground for the wealthy for more than 150 years.
Some European aristocrats built impressive homes there that remain among the most spectacular anywhere in the world.
Le Chateau Malet is one such example. The house sits on a 14-acre site in the hillsides of Cap D’Ail, overlooking Monaco’s yacht-filled harbours.
Le Chateau Malet was built in 1892 for Sir Edward Malet, who at the time was Britain’s ambassador to the German empire. He appointed the Danish architect Hans-Georg Tersling, who designed Monte Carlo’s Metropole Hotel, to create the home for him.
It was completed in 1896, but extended in 1961 when the French architect Secondo Buzzi created an adjoining, perpendicular property. At the same time, the English architect Russell Page redeveloped the ground’s extensive gardens.
The property’s present grounds have olive trees, a rose garden, a palm grove and a number of exotic plants, as well as a rock garden pond with water lilies. It has a swimming pool that is 18 metres long and six metres wide that cascades between different levels.
Inside, it has 800 square metres of living space. There are reception rooms, a library, a dining room, a kitchen, a scullery, a cold store and guest toilets. There is also a 200-square metre Italian ballroom with a ceiling height of 15 metres. One wing contains a pool house, shower rooms and toilets, while another is used for staff and has two bedrooms, a bathroom, toilets and a service entrance.
Upstairs, there are five en suite bedrooms (two of which have their own lounges) and a laundry. There is also a staff apartment with two bedrooms, a bathroom and toilets, and a 220-square metre basement with its own wine cellar.
With two caretakers’ homes on the grounds of the property, it has a total of 12 bedrooms and eight bathrooms. Such a special property comes with an equally distinctive price tag. It is on the market for €48 million (Dh196m). This may seem steep to some, but is less than the €75m it was reportedly marketed for two years ago.
q&a access to the high life
The Emile Garcin Real Estate Group tells us more about the chateau:
What’s so special about Le Chateau Malet?
Homes of this stature only come onto the market “very, very rarely”. The property’s size and its location are key selling points. There are few properties with 1,000 square metres of space on a 14-acre site that is just five minutes away from Monaco. The diplomat who built it hosted members of royal families from several European countries, including Britain’s Queen Victoria and King Edward VII.
What about security?
The site is fully fenced off. There is a videophone entry system and electric gates.
What about the area?
Cap D’Ail has a beach, coastal walks and woods to explore, but Monaco is the star attraction. Some of the world’s most spectacular yachts are moored in its harbour, and there are palaces, cathedrals and an old town to explore. The principality is also a petrolhead’s dream. The highlight is the most famous event on the F1 GP Championship, the Monaco Grand Prix. But there is also a historic grand prix event for classic cars, the Monte Carlo Rally in January.
How accessible is it?
If you are in a rush to attend to business back home, private jets can be arranged from Monte Carlo. The nearest commercial airport is Nice International, which is 25 minutes away by road – or six minutes by helicopter transfer. Emirates flies directly to Nice from Dubai International Airport.
mfahy@thenational.ae
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The specs
The specs: 2019 Audi Q8
Price, base: Dh315,000
Engine: 3.0-litre turbocharged V6
Gearbox: Eight-speed automatic
Power: 340hp @ 3,500rpm
Torque: 500Nm @ 2,250rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 6.7L / 100km
THE BIO
Favourite place to go to in the UAE: The desert sand dunes, just after some rain
Who inspires you: Anybody with new and smart ideas, challenging questions, an open mind and a positive attitude
Where would you like to retire: Most probably in my home country, Hungary, but with frequent returns to the UAE
Favorite book: A book by Transilvanian author, Albert Wass, entitled ‘Sword and Reap’ (Kard es Kasza) - not really known internationally
Favourite subjects in school: Mathematics and science
10 tips for entry-level job seekers
- Have an up-to-date, professional LinkedIn profile. If you don’t have a LinkedIn account, set one up today. Avoid poor-quality profile pictures with distracting backgrounds. Include a professional summary and begin to grow your network.
- Keep track of the job trends in your sector through the news. Apply for job alerts at your dream organisations and the types of jobs you want – LinkedIn uses AI to share similar relevant jobs based on your selections.
- Double check that you’ve highlighted relevant skills on your resume and LinkedIn profile.
- For most entry-level jobs, your resume will first be filtered by an applicant tracking system for keywords. Look closely at the description of the job you are applying for and mirror the language as much as possible (while being honest and accurate about your skills and experience).
- Keep your CV professional and in a simple format – make sure you tailor your cover letter and application to the company and role.
- Go online and look for details on job specifications for your target position. Make a list of skills required and set yourself some learning goals to tick off all the necessary skills one by one.
- Don’t be afraid to reach outside your immediate friends and family to other acquaintances and let them know you are looking for new opportunities.
- Make sure you’ve set your LinkedIn profile to signal that you are “open to opportunities”. Also be sure to use LinkedIn to search for people who are still actively hiring by searching for those that have the headline “I’m hiring” or “We’re hiring” in their profile.
- Prepare for online interviews using mock interview tools. Even before landing interviews, it can be useful to start practising.
- Be professional and patient. Always be professional with whoever you are interacting with throughout your search process, this will be remembered. You need to be patient, dedicated and not give up on your search. Candidates need to make sure they are following up appropriately for roles they have applied.
Arda Atalay, head of Mena private sector at LinkedIn Talent Solutions, Rudy Bier, managing partner of Kinetic Business Solutions and Ben Kinerman Daltrey, co-founder of KinFitz
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Rating: 1/5
What is the FNC?
The Federal National Council is one of five federal authorities established by the UAE constitution. It held its first session on December 2, 1972, a year to the day after Federation.
It has 40 members, eight of whom are women. The members represent the UAE population through each of the emirates. Abu Dhabi and Dubai have eight members each, Sharjah and Ras al Khaimah six, and Ajman, Fujairah and Umm Al Quwain have four.
They bring Emirati issues to the council for debate and put those concerns to ministers summoned for questioning.
The FNC’s main functions include passing, amending or rejecting federal draft laws, discussing international treaties and agreements, and offering recommendations on general subjects raised during sessions.
Federal draft laws must first pass through the FNC for recommendations when members can amend the laws to suit the needs of citizens. The draft laws are then forwarded to the Cabinet for consideration and approval.
Since 2006, half of the members have been elected by UAE citizens to serve four-year terms and the other half are appointed by the Ruler’s Courts of the seven emirates.
In the 2015 elections, 78 of the 252 candidates were women. Women also represented 48 per cent of all voters and 67 per cent of the voters were under the age of 40.
Titanium Escrow profile
Started: December 2016
Founder: Ibrahim Kamalmaz
Based: UAE
Sector: Finance / legal
Size: 3 employees, pre-revenue
Stage: Early stage
Investors: Founder's friends and Family
The specs
AT4 Ultimate, as tested
Engine: 6.2-litre V8
Power: 420hp
Torque: 623Nm
Transmission: 10-speed automatic
Price: From Dh330,800 (Elevation: Dh236,400; AT4: Dh286,800; Denali: Dh345,800)
On sale: Now
THE BIO
Bio Box
Role Model: Sheikh Zayed, God bless his soul
Favorite book: Zayed Biography of the leader
Favorite quote: To be or not to be, that is the question, from William Shakespeare's Hamlet
Favorite food: seafood
Favorite place to travel: Lebanon
Favorite movie: Braveheart
The%20Roundup
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AGL AWARDS
Golden Ball - best Emirati player: Khalfan Mubarak (Al Jazira)
Golden Ball - best foreign player: Igor Coronado (Sharjah)
Golden Glove - best goalkeeper: Adel Al Hosani (Sharjah)
Best Coach - the leader: Abdulaziz Al Anbari (Sharjah)
Fans' Player of the Year: Driss Fetouhi (Dibba)
Golden Boy - best young player: Ali Saleh (Al Wasl)
Best Fans of the Year: Sharjah
Goal of the Year: Michael Ortega (Baniyas)
How to avoid crypto fraud
- Use unique usernames and passwords while enabling multi-factor authentication.
- Use an offline private key, a physical device that requires manual activation, whenever you access your wallet.
- Avoid suspicious social media ads promoting fraudulent schemes.
- Only invest in crypto projects that you fully understand.
- Critically assess whether a project’s promises or returns seem too good to be true.
- Only use reputable platforms that have a track record of strong regulatory compliance.
- Store funds in hardware wallets as opposed to online exchanges.
Living in...
This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.
Farasan Boat: 128km Away from Anchorage
Director: Mowaffaq Alobaid
Stars: Abdulaziz Almadhi, Mohammed Al Akkasi, Ali Al Suhaibani
Rating: 4/5
HOSTS
T20 WORLD CUP
2024: US and West Indies; 2026: India and Sri Lanka; 2028: Australia and New Zealand; 2030: England, Ireland and Scotland
ODI WORLD CUP
2027: South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia; 2031: India and
Bangladesh
CHAMPIONS TROPHY
2025: Pakistan; 2029: India
Essentials
The flights
Etihad (etihad.ae) and flydubai (flydubai.com) fly direct to Baku three times a week from Dh1,250 return, including taxes.
The stay
A seven-night “Fundamental Detox” programme at the Chenot Palace (chenotpalace.com/en) costs from €3,000 (Dh13,197) per person, including taxes, accommodation, 3 medical consultations, 2 nutritional consultations, a detox diet, a body composition analysis, a bio-energetic check-up, four Chenot bio-energetic treatments, six Chenot energetic massages, six hydro-aromatherapy treatments, six phyto-mud treatments, six hydro-jet treatments and access to the gym, indoor pool, sauna and steam room. Additional tests and treatments cost extra.