Harrods has gone into partnership with Saudi designer and podcaster Hatem Alakeel for eight episodes of his audio-visual show, Gems of Arabia. The podcast aims to highlight the "shimmering hidden gems" of the Arab world.
"We will be collaborating with authentic inspiring personalities that change perceptions, elevate the narrative, break the cliches and reiterate the important bridge that Harrods is creating with authenticity in Saudi Arabia," Alakeel tells The National.
So far, Alakeel has hosted royals Princess Nourah Al Faisal and Princess Reema bint Bandar, along with local artists, including designers Nadine Kanso and Honayda Serafi, and will continue to speak to young musicians and influencers in the region.
"It’s an honour to be considered as one of the Harrods Game Changers. I am grateful to Harrods for recognising Gems of Arabia as a key platform to bridge the West with Saudi Arabia," he says.
Following the disruption to travel caused by the pandemic, Sarah Myler, international business development and communications director at Harrods, tells The National that the famed London department store "wants to forge ever closer ties to the region" and work with partners who have their finger on the pulse of this fast-moving and exciting region. She said that the Middle East has become "a second home" for Harrods.
Saudi customers are one of the brand’s largest groups in terms of numbers, while the Middle East accounts for a hugely important proportion of Harrods' revenue and growth. "Our Knightsbridge store has been a popular retail attraction for Middle Eastern visitors since the 1970s, when clientele began spending summers in London and travelling to Harrods as the widely recognised 'best store in London'," Myler says.
"Harrods has a long-standing and close relationship with the Middle East," she says. "Our clients have been travelling to London for a long time and we know the brand holds a close place in their heart. To us, these partners are ‘game changers’ — they are brands and individuals with whom Harrods can launch exciting and exclusive partnerships that showcase the future of luxury in the Middle East. Our ambition is to support these game changers through our global perspective and reach, through our stage and wide network of contacts."
The initiative builds on similar work Harrods has carried out in China, which has focused on ensuring its presence in global markets that are "meaningful" to the brand, and built on co-operation with local brands and individuals. Alakeel started his journey as a fashion designer with his label Toby, which designs thobes for men.
"For us, Hatem is a brilliant example of an industry game changer," Myler says.
The goal of the Game Changer initiative is to build a community of like-minded individuals in local markets and support the next generation of talent in the region, by providing key opinion leaders with a global platform and wider network of contacts.
"We want innovative voices with interesting perspectives, all of whom can drive change and conversations on the future of luxury in the Middle East," she says.
"There is a long-standing, strong relationship between Harrods and the Middle East. We have seen the region in particular return to growth post-pandemic, with a huge number of our clients returning to the UK market following the removal of travel restrictions. We have just accounted a return to profitability and growth post the pandemic, and the Middle Eastern region has been pivotal to this."
With its rich heritage and culture, and endless drive to innovate and inspire, the Saudi luxury market is continuously overflowing with opportunity, and is "therefore a huge focus for us at Harrods," she adds.
"There is so much talent and inspiration across the region that we want to support and showcase on a global scale."
The special editions of Gems of Arabia were recorded at Harrods in Knightsbridge and Alakeel continues to record podcasts in Saudi Arabia.
AI traffic lights to ease congestion at seven points to Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Street
The seven points are:
Shakhbout bin Sultan Street
Dhafeer Street
Hadbat Al Ghubainah Street (outbound)
Salama bint Butti Street
Al Dhafra Street
Rabdan Street
Umm Yifina Street exit (inbound)
The bio
Favourite food: Japanese
Favourite car: Lamborghini
Favourite hobby: Football
Favourite quote: If your dreams don’t scare you, they are not big enough
Favourite country: UAE
The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4-cyl, 48V hybrid
Transmission: eight-speed automatic
Power: 325bhp
Torque: 450Nm
Price: Dh359,000
On sale: now
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MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League, Group B
Barcelona v Inter Milan
Camp Nou, Barcelona
Wednesday, 11pm (UAE)
Volvo ES90 Specs
Engine: Electric single motor (96kW), twin motor (106kW) and twin motor performance (106kW)
Power: 333hp, 449hp, 680hp
Torque: 480Nm, 670Nm, 870Nm
On sale: Later in 2025 or early 2026, depending on region
Price: Exact regional pricing TBA
The specs
Engine: 1.6-litre 4-cyl turbo
Power: 217hp at 5,750rpm
Torque: 300Nm at 1,900rpm
Transmission: eight-speed auto
Price: from Dh130,000
On sale: now
ELIO
Starring: Yonas Kibreab, Zoe Saldana, Brad Garrett
Directors: Madeline Sharafian, Domee Shi, Adrian Molina
Rating: 4/5
Lexus LX700h specs
Engine: 3.4-litre twin-turbo V6 plus supplementary electric motor
Power: 464hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 790Nm from 2,000-3,600rpm
Transmission: 10-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 11.7L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh590,000
The specs
Engine: 3.0-litre six-cylinder turbo
Power: 398hp from 5,250rpm
Torque: 580Nm at 1,900-4,800rpm
Transmission: Eight-speed auto
Fuel economy, combined: 6.5L/100km
On sale: December
Price: From Dh330,000 (estimate)
THREE
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Conflict, drought, famine
Estimates of the number of deaths caused by the famine range from 400,000 to 1 million, according to a document prepared for the UK House of Lords in 2024.
It has been claimed that the policies of the Ethiopian government, which took control after deposing Emperor Haile Selassie in a military-led revolution in 1974, contributed to the scale of the famine.
Dr Miriam Bradley, senior lecturer in humanitarian studies at the University of Manchester, has argued that, by the early 1980s, “several government policies combined to cause, rather than prevent, a famine which lasted from 1983 to 1985. Mengistu’s government imposed Stalinist-model agricultural policies involving forced collectivisation and villagisation [relocation of communities into planned villages].
The West became aware of the catastrophe through a series of BBC News reports by journalist Michael Buerk in October 1984 describing a “biblical famine” and containing graphic images of thousands of people, including children, facing starvation.
Band Aid
Bob Geldof, singer with the Irish rock group The Boomtown Rats, formed Band Aid in response to the horrific images shown in the news broadcasts.
With Midge Ure of the band Ultravox, he wrote the hit charity single Do They Know it’s Christmas in December 1984, featuring a string of high-profile musicians.
Following the single’s success, the idea to stage a rock concert evolved.
Live Aid was a series of simultaneous concerts that took place at Wembley Stadium in London, John F Kennedy Stadium in Philadelphia, the US, and at various other venues across the world.
The combined event was broadcast to an estimated worldwide audience of 1.5 billion.
The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo
Power: 261hp at 5,500rpm
Torque: 405Nm at 1,750-3,500rpm
Transmission: 9-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 6.9L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh117,059
Specs
Engine: Dual-motor all-wheel-drive electric
Range: Up to 610km
Power: 905hp
Torque: 985Nm
Price: From Dh439,000
Available: Now
Key findings of Jenkins report
- Founder of the Muslim Brotherhood, Hassan al Banna, "accepted the political utility of violence"
- Views of key Muslim Brotherhood ideologue, Sayyid Qutb, have “consistently been understood” as permitting “the use of extreme violence in the pursuit of the perfect Islamic society” and “never been institutionally disowned” by the movement.
- Muslim Brotherhood at all levels has repeatedly defended Hamas attacks against Israel, including the use of suicide bombers and the killing of civilians.
- Laying out the report in the House of Commons, David Cameron told MPs: "The main findings of the review support the conclusion that membership of, association with, or influence by the Muslim Brotherhood should be considered as a possible indicator of extremism."
THE BIO
Favourite place to go to in the UAE: The desert sand dunes, just after some rain
Who inspires you: Anybody with new and smart ideas, challenging questions, an open mind and a positive attitude
Where would you like to retire: Most probably in my home country, Hungary, but with frequent returns to the UAE
Favorite book: A book by Transilvanian author, Albert Wass, entitled ‘Sword and Reap’ (Kard es Kasza) - not really known internationally
Favourite subjects in school: Mathematics and science
NO OTHER LAND
Director: Basel Adra, Yuval Abraham, Rachel Szor, Hamdan Ballal
Stars: Basel Adra, Yuval Abraham
Rating: 3.5/5
