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Month: May 2025

Monaco’s trade mission to the UAE yields high-level business ties

by: Cassandra Tanti
06/05/2025

Monaco’s latest trade mission to the United Arab Emirates has marked a significant step forward in strengthening business links with the Gulf region. Organised by the Monaco Economic Board (MEB), the visit brought 32 representatives from 25 Monaco-based entities to Abu Dhabi from 22nd to 26th April for a focused programme of economic exchanges, strategic visits, and networking sessions.

The mission began with a business forum hosted by the Abu Dhabi Chamber of Commerce and Industry, where Monegasque participants were welcomed by board members Masaood Rahma Al Masaood and Noor Al Tamimi. The event offered insights into both economies, featuring presentations from the MEB and the Abu Dhabi Investment Office on investment opportunities, free zones, and regional business incentives.

Delegates then visited key innovation centres in the emirate, including the Abu Dhabi Global Market, a leading financial hub, and Hub71, a tech start-up platform attracting global interest. MonacoTech Director Sandrine Sauval took part in these visits alongside several start-ups from the Principality, using the opportunity to benchmark and exchange ideas.

The next morning, the delegation was received at the Department of Economic Development for a session co-organised with CCI France UAE. Topics included sector-specific briefings, legal frameworks for foreign investors, and practical insights from entrepreneurs operating in the region. The highlight was a business lunch at the Shangri-La, where more than 50 meetings took place between Monegasque and Emirati companies across a range of industries including finance, logistics, consulting, and hospitality.

The visit continued with an exploration of the UAE’s innovation strategy through visits to the Technology Innovation Institute and the Advanced Technology Research Council. These offered a closer look at the country’s proactive approach to research and development, further underlining its position as a regional leader in emerging technologies.

The mission concluded with a cultural visit to the Louvre Abu Dhabi and a positive outlook on future collaborations.

Monaco Life is produced by a team of real multi-media journalists writing original content. See more in our free newsletter, follow our Podcasts on Spotify, and check us out on  Facebook,  Instagram,  LinkedIn and Tik Tok.

Photo source: MEB

 

Monte-Carlo opera unveils powerful new season under Cecilia Bartoli

by: Cassandra Tanti
06/05/2025

The Opéra de Monte-Carlo has revealed a compelling 2025/2026 season bursting with myth, passion, and musical innovation, under the visionary direction of Cecilia Bartoli. From grand Verdi masterpieces to an emotional tribute to Josephine Baker, this season promises an exhilarating journey through classic and contemporary opera.

The new season at the Opéra de Monte-Carlo, set against the elegant backdrop of the Salle Garnier and Grimaldi Forum, is a bold blend of mythic storytelling and musical intensity. Highlights include the long-awaited return of Verdi’s Aida, Wagner’s Die Walküre, and Debussy’s Pelléas et Mélisande, staged for the first time in Monaco in five decades. Bartoli herself will take to the stage as Orpheus in Gluck’s Orfeo ed Euridice, further underlining her dual role as artistic director and international star.

Audiences can also anticipate an emotional centenary homage to Josephine Baker with Bonsoir Monte-Carlo, created specially for Monaco’s National Day and featuring a revue-style staging of her unforgettable songs. Bartoli and Plácido Domingo will share the spotlight once more in a recital on 14th February, while opera legends Roberto Alagna and Elīna Garanča are also slated for headline concerts.

For family audiences and musical theatre lovers, Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Cats will pounce onto the Salle Garnier stage this December, marking the Opéra’s continued embrace of musical theatre following the success of The Phantom of the Opera.

The season’s guiding themes—myth, dreams, and feminine power—are deeply rooted in the programming. Wagner’s haunted seafarer in Der fliegende Holländer opens the season with a storm of drama, while La Walkyrie delves into divine conflict and sacrifice. Meanwhile, Così fan tutte returns via the Wiener Staatsoper, rounding out the Mozart-da Ponte trilogy that began in Monaco in 2023.

As the Opéra de Monte-Carlo celebrates the 10th anniversary of the Musiciens du Prince–Monaco in 2026 with special European events, Bartoli’s programming makes one thing clear: Monaco remains one of the most daring and distinguished opera stages in Europe.

Monaco Life is produced by a team of real multi-media journalists writing original content. See more in our free newsletter, follow our Podcasts on Spotify, and check us out on  Facebook,  Instagram,  LinkedIn and Tik Tok. 

Charles Leclerc to launch Ferrari fashion line at Nikki Beach Monte Carlo during Grand Prix weekend

by: Cassandra Tanti
06/05/2025

Formula One driver Charles Leclerc is set to unveil a new capsule collection with Ferrari Style during a private event at Nikki Beach Monte Carlo, kicking off a high-profile partnership between the luxury fashion brand and the beach club over Monaco’s Grand Prix weekend.

The collaboration, which runs from 22nd to 26th May 2025, coincides with Nikki Beach Monte Carlo’s 10th anniversary. Ferrari Style will take over the rooftop venue — perched above the famous hairpin turn — with branded decor, uniforms, and design elements throughout the space. The event is part of a broader effort by Ferrari to extend its luxury brand beyond the racetrack.

Leclerc’s capsule collection, created in collaboration with Ferrari Style’s creative director Rocco Iannone, will debut at a private launch on 21st May. According to Ferrari, the collection merges the Monegasque driver’s personal style with the brand’s performance-driven aesthetic, offering “a new wardrobe at the intersection of luxury and sport.”

Entertainment throughout the weekend will include live performances by saxophonist Anastasia McQueen, DJ Aldave, and Grammy-nominated duo Camelphat. DJ Jack.e will close the event with one of his signature sunset sessions. Pernod Ricard will serve as the official beverage partner.

See also: 

Charles Leclerc teams up with Chivas Regal for a bold fusion of whisky, music and lifestyle

Monaco Life is produced by a team of real multi-media journalists writing original content. See more in our free newsletter, follow our Podcasts on Spotify, and check us out on  Facebook,  Instagram,  LinkedIn and Tik Tok.  

Photo source: Scuderia Ferrari Media Centre

AMADE unites global partners in Monaco to advance child protection and community impact

by: Cassandra Tanti
06/05/2025

From the heart of Monte-Carlo, AMADE turned a conference room into a global stage on 30th April as it welcomed 72 changemakers to its 2025 Partners Conference. Held at the Novotel, the event gathered voices from across continents — from grassroots activists in Burundi to corporate leaders in Monaco — all rallying behind a shared mission: to build a safer, fairer world for children through the power of community-driven action.

The conference was opened by Princess Caroline of Hanover, President of AMADE, who reaffirmed the organisation’s unwavering commitment to championing children’s rights and dignity. Her presence set a meaningful tone for the day, honouring AMADE’s legacy while looking ahead to its future ambitions.

The panel at AMADE’s international conference held at the Novotel

The day’s theme, ‘Mobilising communities to amplify impact: a sustainable approach to serving children’, underscored how deep-rooted partnerships can strengthen the future of vulnerable youth. The morning was marked by powerful testimonials and project spotlights.

Spès Nihangaza of FVS Amis des Enfants in Burundi spoke of years of collaboration with AMADE, while Virginie Bernard of CFM Indosuez highlighted private sector support through education funding. A highlight was the emotional account of medical student Floride Ikizakubuntu, whose life trajectory was changed by AMADE-supported programmes.

Rebecca Davis of MindLeaps introduced a unique model using dance to foster cognitive growth among at-risk children, sharing measurable results from digital tracking tools. The morning closed with a moving performance of ‘Rassemble!’ by Rayane Tourki, who transformed his life after juvenile detention through the guidance of ACAY and the arts.

Afternoon panels delved into social entrepreneurship and local integration. Speakers included Emilie Kyedrebeogo, whose enterprise Palobdé Afrique empowers girls through sustainable hygiene solutions, and Flavio Saudade, who uses capoeira as a protective force in conflict zones. A final session on France’s ASE mentorship programme shed light on how structured guidance is reshaping the lives of youth in care.

AMADE shared promising figures from 2024, having reached over 350,000 children across 11 countries with €800,000 in funding. For 2025, the organisation aims to deepen support for local partners, strengthen impact evaluation, and scale its ‘Un État Civil pour Tous’ campaign, which seeks to legally register 750,000 undocumented children within three years.

Monaco Life is produced by a team of real multi-media journalists writing original content. See more in our free newsletter, follow our Podcasts on Spotify, and check us out on  Facebook,  Instagram,  LinkedIn and Tik Tok.  

Main photo of Princess Caroline of Hanover courtesy AMADE

 

The 2025 Monaco e-Prix in photos

by: Luke Entwistle
05/05/2025
DS Automobiles' Max Günther coming out of the tunnel

It was a Formula E double-header on the streets of Monte-Carlo last weekend and Monaco Life’s Luke Entwistle brings you some of his top photos from this year’s edition.

This year there were two winners. Oliver Rowland secured the first Monaco e-Prix win of his career on Saturday, finishing ahead of Nyck de Vries and Jake Dennis as the new ‘Pit Boost’ rule created a captivating race on the streets of Monte-Carlo.

Sébastien Buemi then took the chequered flag in a rainy race on Sunday, beating pole-sitter and Saturday winner Rowland. Nick Cassidy, the winner of last year’s edition, rounded out the podium in third.

Here are some of the highlights of Formula E’s most recent passage in the Principality, taken by me, Luke Entwistle, for Monaco Life.

Monaco Life is produced by a team of real multi-media journalists writing original content. See more in our free newsletter, follow our Podcasts on Spotify, and check us out on  Facebook,  Instagram,  LinkedIn and Tik Tok.  

Photo credit: Luke Entwistle / Monaco Life

Buemi Conquers wet Monaco E-Prix for third Principality victory

by: Kyriaki Topalidou
05/05/2025

Sébastien Buemi mastered the tricky wet conditions to claim his third career Monaco victory in Sunday’s Formula E E-Prix, with pole-sitter Oliver Rowland finishing second and Nick Cassidy completing the podium after an impressive charge from 14th on the grid.

The Swiss driver’s tactical brilliance shone through as he navigated from eighth position to secure victory on the iconic street circuit, executing a flawless Attack Mode strategy that proved decisive in the changing conditions of the seventh round of the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship.

“You need everything to align properly in this kind of races,” Buemi explained post-race. “The Attack Mode, you know, when you do what, when you fight, when you overtake, and I guess today everything just aligned properly. I was lucky to take the Attack Mode at the right time.”

The Envision Racing driver made quick work of his rivals, using his Attack Mode to drop off Oliver Rowland (Nissan) after the Port chicane, then Nyck de Vries (Mahindra) in the Ostend climb, before building a comfortable gap to secure the win. As the track began to dry in the closing stages, Buemi’s experience proved invaluable.

“At the end, it was drying up quite a lot. You could see a bit, so you had to be kind of clever on where to put the car because, clearly, you could start to see the line drying up, and there was quite a lot of lap time if you were able to have the confidence to attack in those corners,” he added.

Rowland consolidates strong Monaco Weekend

For Rowland, who started from pole position after topping qualifying, second place represented a strong result following his victory in Saturday’s race. The British driver was involved in a notable incident with Jean-Éric Vergne during the race but maintained his podium position.

“For me, it’s kind of a racing incident, but I also get both sides. It’s one of those which is hard to call,” Rowland said of the moment with Vergne. “It’s kind of like trying to consolidate a good double-header. You come here and don’t know if your car’s going to be competitive or not. I got 25 points yesterday, and if I can add another 10 to that, it’s a super weekend.”

Cassidy’s remarkable recovery from 14th 

The drive of the day arguably belonged to Nick Cassidy, who climbed 11 positions to secure the final podium spot – a result that marked a welcome turnaround after a challenging start to his season.

“It’s already feeling like a big weight off the back, a monkey off the back kind of thing,” the New Zealander shared after the race. “I’ve gone through a tough dry spell, and it’s been really tough events. We just keep working hard.”

Cassidy was quick to acknowledge the performance of his fellow competitors, particularly race winner Buemi. “When I look at his quality and race, it’s impressive. Hands up,” he admitted.

With the championship now heading to Tokyo for the next round in just over 10 days, Buemi’s victory in Formula E’s most prestigious venue could prove to be a pivotal moment in this season’s championship battle.

Monaco Life is produced by a team of real multi-media journalists writing original content. See more in our free newsletter, follow our Podcasts on Spotify, and check us out on  Facebook,  Instagram,  LinkedIn and Tik Tok.  

Main photo: Oliver Rowland, Sebastien Buemi, Nick Cassidy, source: ACM