A Saudi princess, blogger-turned-businesswoman and chief executive of some of the UAE's best-known malls are some of the regional names added to Business of Fashion's annual list of industry leaders.
Here, The National rounds up the Arab figures on the BoF 500.
Princess Noura bint Faisal Al Saud
Princess Noura bint Faisal Al Saud is a pivotal figure within Saudi Arabia's fashion industry, having founded Riyadh Fashion Week in 2018 and established the Fashion Commission at the Ministry of Culture, which she joined in 2019. She was part of the team behind the commission’s flagship projects, including the Fashion Futures annual conference, the digital platform and the Saudi 100 mentorship programme.
Ahmed Galal Ismail
Ahmed Galal Ismail is the chief executive of Majid Al Futtaim Holding, which owns the likes of Mall of the Emirates and City Centre malls, as well as the Carrefour supermarket chain across the Middle East. The company's 29 malls have a leasable area of more than one million square metres.
Before taking the reins last January, he handled the communities and project management operations across Majid Al Futtaim hotels and malls; was chief executive of Majid Al Futtaim Ventures; and vice president of strategy for Majid Al Futtaim Holding.
Haleh Nia
Haleh Nia launched the Middle East's first digital magazine, Savoir Flair, in 2009 aged 24, making her the youngest publisher and editor-in-chief in the region. An early pioneer of the new format – along with fellow early adopter and beauty mogul Huda Kattan – Nia helped map out the region's digital landscape when she launched her English language online magazine and followed with an Arabic version in 2016, Savoir Flair Al Arabiya.
In 2020 Nia unveiled a coffee-table book dedicated to everything the magazine had achieved, called Savoir Flair – SFX: The little magazine that could (and did).
Karen Wazen
Having started with a personal, fashion and lifestyle blog in 2016, Wazen was able to build on her following and launched her eponymous eyewear brand in 2018. Today, with more than eight million followers on social media, Wazen is one of the most influential fashion figures in the region.
Juan Costa Paz and Nordine Benotmane
This French-Algerian duo are behind Convoy. Launched in Paris in 2012, the creative agency has amassed a client list including Vogue, Louis Vuitton, Nike, Balmain, Dior Homme and Miu Miu, which have looked to the duo to create dynamic fashion moments. Case in point, the Vogue World event ahead of the Paris Olympics showcased different eras of fashion history with live dancers plus Gigi Hadid and Kendall Jenner on horseback.
Lyas
As the fashion correspondent for Interview magazine and an independent content creator, Lyas – who is French with Algerian heritage – has crafted a unique voice on social media with a relaxed, conversational style interspersed with sharp reviews. Able to place himself at the heart of many fashion events, Lyas the persona is as influential as Lyas the writer.
Tamara Abu Khadra
Tamara Abu Khadra, the founder and chief executive of Homegrown Market, launched Jeddah's first concept store in 2014 to help open up the Saudi market to regional designers. Stocking small labels from across the Middle East and North Africa, Abu Khadra often acts as a mentor and distributor for emerging brands. Having started with one store, Homegrown Market now has five locations across the kingdom, including one in AlUla.
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SHAITTAN
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The National's picks
4.35pm: Tilal Al Khalediah
5.10pm: Continous
5.45pm: Raging Torrent
6.20pm: West Acre
7pm: Flood Zone
7.40pm: Straight No Chaser
8.15pm: Romantic Warrior
8.50pm: Calandogan
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Killing of Qassem Suleimani
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Coffee: black death or elixir of life?
It is among the greatest health debates of our time; splashed across newspapers with contradicting headlines - is coffee good for you or not?
Depending on what you read, it is either a cancer-causing, sleep-depriving, stomach ulcer-inducing black death or the secret to long life, cutting the chance of stroke, diabetes and cancer.
The latest research - a study of 8,412 people across the UK who each underwent an MRI heart scan - is intended to put to bed (caffeine allowing) conflicting reports of the pros and cons of consumption.
The study, funded by the British Heart Foundation, contradicted previous findings that it stiffens arteries, putting pressure on the heart and increasing the likelihood of a heart attack or stroke, leading to warnings to cut down.
Numerous studies have recognised the benefits of coffee in cutting oral and esophageal cancer, the risk of a stroke and cirrhosis of the liver.
The benefits are often linked to biologically active compounds including caffeine, flavonoids, lignans, and other polyphenols, which benefit the body. These and othetr coffee compounds regulate genes involved in DNA repair, have anti-inflammatory properties and are associated with lower risk of insulin resistance, which is linked to type-2 diabetes.
But as doctors warn, too much of anything is inadvisable. The British Heart Foundation found the heaviest coffee drinkers in the study were most likely to be men who smoked and drank alcohol regularly.
Excessive amounts of coffee also unsettle the stomach causing or contributing to stomach ulcers. It also stains the teeth over time, hampers absorption of minerals and vitamins like zinc and iron.
It also raises blood pressure, which is largely problematic for people with existing conditions.
So the heaviest drinkers of the black stuff - some in the study had up to 25 cups per day - may want to rein it in.
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Men:
1. Titus Ekiru(KEN) 2:06:13
2. Alphonce Simbu(TAN) 2:07:50
3. Reuben Kipyego(KEN) 2:08:25
4. Abel Kirui(KEN) 2:08:46
5. Felix Kemutai(KEN) 2:10:48
Women:
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2. Eunice Chumba(BHR) 2:26:01
3. Immaculate Chemutai(UGA) 2:28:30
4. Abebech Bekele(ETH) 2:29:43
5. Aleksandra Morozova(RUS) 2:33:01
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Engine: Electric motor generating 54.2kWh (Cooper SE and Aceman SE), 64.6kW (Countryman All4 SE)
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How to vote
Canadians living in the UAE can register to vote online and be added to the International Register of Electors.
They'll then be sent a special ballot voting kit by mail either to their address, the Consulate General of Canada to the UAE in Dubai or The Embassy of Canada in Abu Dhabi
Registered voters mark the ballot with their choice and must send it back by 6pm Eastern time on October 21 (2am next Friday)
