Culture More Than a Word in Gold: Nadine Kanso on Twenty Years of Bil Arabi Through Bil Arabi, her calligraphic jewellery brand, Nadine Kanso has shown that Arabic can be contemporary, beautiful, and deeply personal. Now, she shares why an opportunity must add meaning, and why growing in the right direction matters more than growth alone. By Staff Writer • 4 min read
In Conversation From Pharmacist to Footwear Founder: Titi Adesanya on Building a Luxury Brand in Dubai From Lagos to London to Dubai, former pharmacist Titi Adesanya is building a footwear house on Nigerian heritage and Italian craftsmanship. She reflects on cultural depth, comfort, and why endurance matters most for emerging brands. By Staff Writer • 5 min read
In Conversation Homegrown, Global: Faiza Bouguessa on Building BOUGUESSA From French-Algerian roots to the heart of Dubai's fashion scene, Faiza Bouguessa reflects on building a luxury house from the region, the evolving wardrobe of Gulf women, and why the next chapter of Middle Eastern fashion belongs to those who look inward. By Staff Writer • 4 min read
Mall of Emirates. Source: Majid Al Futtaim Culture How the UAE Is Building Its Own Luxury Ecosystem Homegrown brands, design platforms, and government accelerators are reshaping the UAE's luxury landscape. The most interesting momentum today is coming from within, and it is building fast. By Chloé Reuter • 4 min read
In Conversation In Conversation: Charles Awad, Former Chief Brand Officer, Majid Al Futtaim From Procter & Gamble to leading brand strategy at a top regional retailer, Charles Awad knows what separates brands that scale in the GCC from those that stall. He reflects on the discipline behind genuine localisation and why relevance here is earned, not declared. By Staff Writer • 6 min read
Luxury In Conversation: Alison Rehill-Erguven, CEO, Cenomi Centers From a career spanning Asia, Europe, and Latin America to leading Saudi Arabia’s largest mall operator, Alison Rehill-Erguven reflects on the Kingdom’s retail transformation, the shift from shopping to experience, and why relevance — not scale — defines the next era. By Staff Writer • 3 min read
Del Core Collaboration With Harvey Nichols For Its First Presence in Dubai. Image: Harpers Bazaar Arabia Luxury Private Shopping Salons Redefine Luxury Retail in the Gulf Across the GCC, VIP programmes are evolving into intimate salons that mirror majlis culture. Trust, family dynamics, and cultural alignment now shape purchasing decisions more powerfully than exclusive access alone, writes Taqua Malik, founder of Freedomvisory. By Taqua Malik • 3 min read
Luxury The UAE’s Niche Luxury Opportunity The UAE luxury market has shifted from spectacle to curation. Today's discerning consumers seek intimacy and originality over logos, creating unprecedented opportunities for founder-led brands with distinctive points of view. By Chloé Reuter • 5 min read
In Conversation In Conversation: Rebecca Bemhena, VP Content at Shoptalk Luxe As Shoptalk Luxe makes its Abu Dhabi debut, Rebecca Bemhena reflects on technology as luxury's new craftsmanship, how heritage maisons and disruptor brands forge the future together, and why invisible AI creates space for deeper human intimacy in elevated retail. By Staff Writer • 3 min read
Luxury Luxury Made Local: Hospitality, Discretion, and Enduring Equity in the Gulf In the second of two pieces on luxury and cultural fluency in the Gulf, Taqua Malik, founder of Freedomvisory, explores how hospitality, discretion and community contribution transform presence into lasting equity. By Taqua Malik • 3 min read
Culture Luxury in Translation: From Words to Meaning in the Gulf Global luxury codes matter in the Gulf, but cultural fluency is what transforms transactions into lasting relationships, writes Taqua Malik, founder of Freedomvisory, a leading Middle East cultural intelligence advisor. By Taqua Malik • 3 min read
Technology The Passport Moment: Why Luxury’s Next Advantage Is Proof, Not Promise The most valuable logo in luxury won’t sit on a clasp or heel: it will live inside a code. DPPs are moving from regulation to relevance, turning provenance into the industry’s next competitive edge. By Shashin Surti • 3 min read
