Sign In Sign Up

The Gulf

Industry, culture, and capital across the Gulf.

The Meridio Edit: four trends defining Gulf luxury in 2025 — Gulf shoppers expect localised designs and modest silhouettes within a brand’s collection. Image: Brunello Cucinelli

The Gulf

The Meridio Edit: four trends defining Gulf luxury in 2025

In this inaugural edition of The Meridio Edit - our curated list of trends, brands, and people driving change in the Middle East - we examine four themes defining Gulf luxury in 2025.

By Staff Writer • 4 min read

In Conversation with: Snow Li, Investor and Art Collector

In Conversation

In Conversation with: Snow Li, Investor and Art Collector

From Shanghai to Abu Dhabi, from manufacturing to museums, Snow Fei Nan Li’s journey is one of scale and purpose: shaping industries, bridging continents, and redefining what cultural diplomacy means in the 21st century.

By Staff Writer • 4 min read

The Gulf’s digital renaissance in luxury — Photo by Pavel Danilyuk

Luxury

The Gulf’s digital renaissance in luxury

The Gulf is undergoing a major digital shift: a future where half of all luxury purchases are made online. But this shift isn't about replacing boutiques: it's about reimagining them, writes Taqua Malik, founder of Freedomvisory, a leading Middle East cultural intelligence advisor.

By Taqua Malik • 3 min read

Why malls are thriving in the Middle East — Dubai Mall is home to over 200 high-end brands. Image: Emaar Properties

Luxury

Why malls are thriving in the Middle East

Malls remain key to luxury sales in the Middle East. But standing out in these evolving lifestyle hubs requires a mix of high-touch service and spectacle.

By Staff Writer • 5 min read

Inside Ounass: The platform powering Gulf luxury e-commerce — Ounass is the Gulf’s leading online luxury platform, offering rapid delivery and a wide selection of regional brands. Image: Ounass

Luxury

Inside Ounass: The platform powering Gulf luxury e-commerce

With just 13% of Gulf luxury sales happening online — below the 20% global average — retailers have room to grow. Ounass shows how it can be done.

By Julienna Law • 4 min read

From bling to barely there: How the Middle East is falling in love with quiet luxury — New York-based minimalist brand The Frankie Shop hosted a pop-up store in Abu Dhabi from April 18 to May 1, 2025. Image: The Frankie Shop

Luxury

From bling to barely there: How the Middle East is falling in love with quiet luxury

Long before the term “quiet luxury” was coined in the West, the Middle East was already embracing minimalist, elegant fashion.

By Julienna Law • 4 min read

The ultimate getaway: Wellness retreats take off in the Middle East — SHA Emirates, a wellness-centric residential community on an island in AIJurf. Image: IMKAN

Luxury

The ultimate getaway: Wellness retreats take off in the Middle East

From advanced diagnostics to traditional therapies, luxury wellness retreats are dominating the checklists of Gulf travellers.

By Staff Writer • 5 min read

In Conversation with: Matt Spriegel, Founder, Atiom

In Conversation

In Conversation with: Matt Spriegel, Founder, Atiom

Matt Spriegel is the founder of Atiom, a leading behavioural change platform for the hospitality sector. With a background that blends entrepreneurship and global experience, Matt has built Atiom into a tool trusted by major brands across Asia. Now, he’s bringing that vision to the Middle East.

By Staff Writer • 4 min read

The Architects of Modern Taste — Designed by Zaha Hadid, the King Abdullah Petroleum Studies and Research Centre exemplifies geometric dynamism, reimagining tradition through futuristic form. Photo by Hufton+Crow.

Culture

The Architects of Modern Taste

Beyond fleeting trends, Middle Eastern architects of taste shape culture through vision and authenticity, blending heritage and innovation to define tomorrow’s aesthetics.

By Staff Writer • 3 min read

Building Creative Communities in the Middle East — The Hayy Jameel Facade Commission reimagines the building’s front as a point of dialogue, inviting Saudi artists to create works that speak to the community and the city beyond.

Culture

Building Creative Communities in the Middle East

From Misk in Riyadh to Alserkal in Dubai and Hayy Jameel in Jeddah, the Middle East’s creative future is being built on shared spaces — with platforms like Design Doha Biennial showing how culture thrives through collaboration and community.

By Staff Writer • 3 min read

The Rise of Middle Eastern Design Thinking

Culture

The Rise of Middle Eastern Design Thinking

Middle Eastern design principles are reshaping global luxury and technology by blending centuries-old artistry with modern functionality. From watchmaking to architecture, these heritage-inspired approaches deliver cultural depth and premium value in contemporary markets.

By Staff Writer • 2 min read

From Souks to Concept Stores: Where the Region Shops Now — Marble-clad atrium at Doha’s Al Hazm Mall

Culture

From Souks to Concept Stores: Where the Region Shops Now

The Middle East’s retail scene is shifting from malls to mood, as concept stores and curated boutiques redefine shopping as a cultural experience. Blending heritage with hype, these spaces merge fashion, art, and hospitality to reflect a new regional identity.

By Staff Writer • 2 min read