Expo 2020 Dubai is over, but its legacy lives on in the way it introduced countries and cultures from around the world to a whole new audience. The event’s countless pavilions and packed roster of events placed a spotlight on history, culture, food and fashion from every corner of the globe.
One such event at the Lebanon pavilion honed in on emerging fashion brands from across the region. Hosted by the Chalhoub Group, The Showcase was a multi-brand fashion show featuring talents from Jordan, Lebanon, Palestine, Saudi Arabia and the UAE.
As part of the event, guests were able to explore the collections in a series of videos and in the presentation of key ready-to-wear pieces, before they saw them brought to life on the runway. Reiterating a sense of community, the collections were modelled by Chalhoub Group employees.
“As the region is a fast-evolving fashion ecosystem driven by its young population and its amazing pool of talented designers, Chalhoub Group is committed to accelerating this truly home-grown entrepreneurial culture," said Patrick Chalhoub, group president.
Kawthar Alhoraish
Representing Saudi Arabia in The Showcase was designer Kawthar Alhoraish, founder of Kaf by Kaf. As a trained architect, Alhoraish brings a structured, sculptural approach to her collection of outerwear. She has a knack for playing with volume, as seen in her enveloping Bubble coats, or the oversized weaves of her Complex coats, which are constructed out of quilted leather and available in shades of camel and olive green. On another coat, crystal bees swarm over black velvet, while abayas are covered in mystical creatures, bright florals, Africa-inspired motifs and colourful tassels.
Sara Tamimi
Leaning on 1980s power dressing, fledgling Abu Dhabi label Sara Tamimi is already making waves with its bold silhouettes and fearless colour palette. Ultra-feminine dresses feature strong shoulders, balloon sleeves, elongated collars and pretty pleats, while women’s suits are artfully shaped to flatter the female form. Shiny silk dresses, maxi skirts made from lurex and draped pleated tops present the perfect wardrobe for the regional woman — modest yet strong, and designed “to make girls feel powerful” says Tamimi.
Reemami
Palestine’s Reema Al Banna is committed to ensuring that her fashion label Reemami adopts sustainable and ethical business practises. It has begun incorporating eco-friendly fabrics into its collections, including Global Organic Textile Standard (Gots) certified organic cotton and organic denim.
As part of its mission to become a zero-waste brand, Reemami sources deadstock fabrics and refrains from using fur, feathers or leather in its products. This ethos also shapes the aesthetic of the brand, which focuses on creating staples that are timeless and durable. Pieces are produced in small batches to minimise waste.
Thym
Beirut-born Rebecca Zaatar studied at Lebanon’s Esmod, where she was discovered by Elie Saab. She promptly joined his creative team and worked with him for seven years before branching out and launching her own clothing line, Thym, in 2016.
The label is focuses on catering to the woman of today, who, according to Thym, is “multifaceted, versatile, paradoxical and so complex. She’s a domestic goddess yet a successful businesswoman, square and rigid yet round and soft, simple yet likes to stand out, strong yet delicate, refined yet edgy.” This translates into bold colour-blocked jumpsuits, ruffled dresses, sequin-covered gowns and boxy suits with cut-out detailing.
Yassmin Saleh
Born in Beirut and raised in Abu Dhabi, Yassmin Saleh studied at Milan’s Istituto Marangoni and the Lebanese American University, where she completed a BA in Fashion Design. As the winner of the Jury Prize 2015, Yassmin was selected to pursue an internship at the Elie Saab headquarters in Beirut, and then received the 2017 Prize of Excellency in Craftsmanship for her final year collection, The Dance of the Psyche. She joined forces with her sister Farah to launch her eponymous fashion brand in 2018, which specialises in edgy, highly wearable pieces that include unisex trousers, oversized blazers, corset tops and cut-out maxi dresses.
Zaid Farouki
Arab American designer Zaid Farouki launched his atelier in Dubai, having studied at the Istituto Marangoni in Milan, before attending London’s Central Saint Martin, where he completed specialised courses in couture techniques and embroidery.
These are the hallmarks of his creations, which are all handmade using couture techniques, embroidery and hand-printed prints. Encompassing menswear and womenswear, Zaid by Zaid Farouki collections feature a combination of regional motifs and clean, European cuts, and range from sweatshirts featuring the evil eye motif to decadent gowns crafted from embroidered lace.
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Red flags
- Promises of high, fixed or 'guaranteed' returns.
- Unregulated structured products or complex investments often used to bypass traditional safeguards.
- Lack of clear information, vague language, no access to audited financials.
- Overseas companies targeting investors in other jurisdictions - this can make legal recovery difficult.
- Hard-selling tactics - creating urgency, offering 'exclusive' deals.
Courtesy: Carol Glynn, founder of Conscious Finance Coaching
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Getting there
Flydubai flies direct from Dubai to Tbilisi from Dh1,025 return including taxes
How much do leading UAE’s UK curriculum schools charge for Year 6?
- Nord Anglia International School (Dubai) – Dh85,032
- Kings School Al Barsha (Dubai) – Dh71,905
- Brighton College Abu Dhabi - Dh68,560
- Jumeirah English Speaking School (Dubai) – Dh59,728
- Gems Wellington International School – Dubai Branch – Dh58,488
- The British School Al Khubairat (Abu Dhabi) - Dh54,170
- Dubai English Speaking School – Dh51,269
*Annual tuition fees covering the 2024/2025 academic year
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The biog
Age: 59
From: Giza Governorate, Egypt
Family: A daughter, two sons and wife
Favourite tree: Ghaf
Runner up favourite tree: Frankincense
Favourite place on Sir Bani Yas Island: “I love all of Sir Bani Yas. Every spot of Sir Bani Yas, I love it.”
What the law says
Micro-retirement is not a recognised concept or employment status under Federal Decree Law No. 33 of 2021 on the Regulation of Labour Relations (as amended) (UAE Labour Law). As such, it reflects a voluntary work-life balance practice, rather than a recognised legal employment category, according to Dilini Loku, senior associate for law firm Gateley Middle East.
“Some companies may offer formal sabbatical policies or career break programmes; however, beyond such arrangements, there is no automatic right or statutory entitlement to extended breaks,” she explains.
“Any leave taken beyond statutory entitlements, such as annual leave, is typically regarded as unpaid leave in accordance with Article 33 of the UAE Labour Law. While employees may legally take unpaid leave, such requests are subject to the employer’s discretion and require approval.”
If an employee resigns to pursue micro-retirement, the employment contract is terminated, and the employer is under no legal obligation to rehire the employee in the future unless specific contractual agreements are in place (such as return-to-work arrangements), which are generally uncommon, Ms Loku adds.
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Our legal consultant
Name: Dr Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
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BIGGEST CYBER SECURITY INCIDENTS IN RECENT TIMES
SolarWinds supply chain attack: Came to light in December 2020 but had taken root for several months, compromising major tech companies, governments and its entities
Microsoft Exchange server exploitation: March 2021; attackers used a vulnerability to steal emails
Kaseya attack: July 2021; ransomware hit perpetrated REvil, resulting in severe downtime for more than 1,000 companies
Log4j breach: December 2021; attackers exploited the Java-written code to inflitrate businesses and governments
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Sole survivors
- Cecelia Crocker was on board Northwest Airlines Flight 255 in 1987 when it crashed in Detroit, killing 154 people, including her parents and brother. The plane had hit a light pole on take off
- George Lamson Jr, from Minnesota, was on a Galaxy Airlines flight that crashed in Reno in 1985, killing 68 people. His entire seat was launched out of the plane
- Bahia Bakari, then 12, survived when a Yemenia Airways flight crashed near the Comoros in 2009, killing 152. She was found clinging to wreckage after floating in the ocean for 13 hours.
- Jim Polehinke was the co-pilot and sole survivor of a 2006 Comair flight that crashed in Lexington, Kentucky, killing 49.
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- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
