Celebrities visiting VIP Lounge at Abu Dhabi Grand Prix are spoilt for choice

Watches, clothes and cookies – these are just some of the goodies awaiting celebrities in the VIP Lounge. We talk to local designers and the organiser of the lounge to find out what’s in store.

Bait Zait's camel soap. Courtesy GCA
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The life of a celebrity is a privileged one, awash with flight upgrades, free hotel stays and designer gifts in abundance. The job of showering the stars – including after-race concert headliner Rihanna – with luxury treats this weekend at the 8th Formula 1 Etihad Airways Grand Prix in Abu Dhabi, falls to Katherine Raso, who heads the VIP Lounge.

“This is the fifth year we’ve been backstage at the du Arena for F1,” says Raso, the co-founder and general manager of Global Communications Agency.

“Each year, the VIP Lounge returns with a different look and feel, and this year, [Abu Dhabi restaurant] Asia de Cuba is bringing a Latin flair to proceedings. We have a variety of international and local brands and the lounge is open to all celebrities – from concert artists to the racing drivers.”

Inside the goodie bags gifted to visiting musicians, actors and sports personalities will be a carefully chosen selection of apparel, accessories, sweet delicacies and cosmetics.

One label hoping to prove a hit with the celebrities is UAE fashion brand Ayaso Boutique.

“All my pieces are kimonos merged with abaya designs,” says its co-founder, Somaya Soeryadiredja. “We have straight-lined overcoat abayas made from silk chiffon and satin, which are very lightweight. The pieces are very colourful and can be styled up or down for the F1 – either worn over a simple maxi dress or belted with a lace evening dress underneath – and styled with a nice clutch bag for a more glamorous look for the night.”

Top of Soeryadiredja’s wish list is to dress 28-year-old Barbadian singer Rihanna during her visit to the capital.

“I’d love to see her wearing my pieces because she’s so daring in terms of her style,” says the designer.

Helping to ensure the celebrities are picture-perfect, with glowing complexions, during Formula 1 is Bassma Al Banna, the owner of Abu Dhabi organic skincare company, Bait Zait. She will be displaying her latest selection of body scrubs, whipped-creme moisturisers and sea-salt bath soaks in the VIP Lounge.

“All the product ingredients are sourced from the UAE – from the camel milk, date syrup and Arabian coffee to the sand,” she says.

“The weather can be harsh here and palm trees, for example, have learnt to adapt to their surroundings and withstand the elements. In the same way, I take a lot of nutrients from nature to customise my range.

“Camel milk, which I use in many of my products, including soaps, is almost miraculous in the way it cures a lot of ailments and is also hypoallergenic.”

With watches and denim jeans to trucker caps and cookies, those who visit Raso in Abu Dhabi will leave with full tummies and a potential makeover – that is if they decide to leave at all.

“Last year, Blur visited the VIP Lounge and one of the members ended up playing table tennis with a presenter from Virgin Radio,” she says.

“In one of the earlier Formula 1 races, Wyclef Jean, Nickelback and Travie McCoy ended up getting on so well that they had an impromptu jam session within the lounge – luckily Wyclef had brought his own guitar.”

The VIP Lounge is located backstage at the du Arena at Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. It is open from 7pm to 1am strictly by invitation only

rduane@thenational.ae