This season, the region is bursting with major events that are all about fashion and design. Looking at the calendar, Dubai Design Week is coming up. Exhibitions by Dior, Hermès, and Chaumet arrive in Saudi Arabia and Qatar. In Cairo and Alexandria, Art D’Égypt is taking over iconic locations with XL installations. Fashion Trust Arabia landed in Marrakech, with a focus on traditional craftsmanship…
Manuel Arnaut. Photo: Sam Rawadi
These largescale happenings are also brimming with international brands that finally realize the importance of the Middle East on the global creative map. In this issue, not only are we previewing some of these moments, we are also highlighting the product designers you need to know from countries such as Qatar, the UAE, and Lebanon. I’m proud to say that we are now participants of the community that globally reshapes design, and not just passive consumers.
We are living in truly unimaginable times, where we can’t take anything for granted. In these moments, being surrounded by loved ones in our homes certainly feels like a necessity, though for many it’s a luxury. Our homes are like an armor that protects us from outside aggressions, where time stands still and we can find a sense of peace. This is exactly the feeling I experienced once I entered, for the first time, the new family home of Lebanese singer Dana Hourani, who stars on the cover of this edition. Decorated in collaboration with UAE designer Alamira Noor Bani Hashim, this Dubai haven whispers simplicity, comfort, and modern elegance. It is also the perfect antidote to the cliché that all Gulf interiors are gilded and baroque. Spending time with Dana at her abode, while enjoying one of her famous iced lattes, was a truly special moment of no-fuss bliss. This made me miss my family back in Lisbon, but also thankful for having a safe and happy second home here in Dubai.
Originally published in the Fall/Winter 2024 issue of Vogue Living Arabia
