Dubai is all set to host Modest Fashion Week once again, from Thursday to Saturday. The event, spearheaded by Think Fashion, will be held at Rixos Premium Dubai JBR. More than 40 brands, including e-commerce platforms such as Dubai’s Modernest, will showcase their designs on the runway and sell their wares at dedicated exhibitor booths.
This year’s theme is “Awakening”, and as we cautiously get back into the swing of dressing up and going out and about, here are 10 brands with statement modest styles that can be on your radar for the festive season.
Zeina Ali World
More is more appears to be the mantra of this Jordanian fashion label, which is the brainchild of fashion and travel blogger Zeina Ali Halabi. Volume, drama and picture-worthy pizzazz sum up the mood of the brand’s head-turning evening wear designs, which are clearly cut out for life-of-the-party personalities. Ensembles include bubblegum-pink pleated dresses and pantsuits, electric cobalt co-ords and kimono-blazer hybrids in striking citrus shades. Outfits brandish sequins, ruffles and balloon-sleeves (sometimes all at once) with an over-the-top elegance that is typical of this region’s style set.
Nea Wear
Summer was all about lime, but rumour has it that shamrock green is the new It-shade for autumn/winter. It’s also the colour of one of Nea Wear’s best-selling satin dresses.
The British brand has its finger on the pulse of what’s trending, offering its distinctive elegance-meets-attitude recycled satin dresses in a range of peppy and neutral hues. Sustainability is critical for this fashion label – all its products are created from upcycled, recycled or natural fabrics. In addition to ready-to-wear, the brand sells premium headscarves in jersey, chiffon and silk square designs. It will reveal the first look of its latest collection at Dubai Modest Fashion Week.
Sweet Dolce
Reinventing the traditional manteau, this Persian label has made tailored overcoats its forte. The brand serves exquisite East-meets-West silhouettes, elevated with bold design elements. Sweet Dolce’s structured thigh-high jackets adorned with sequins, beads and faux fur double as edgy statement blazers, while its longer coat-style designs will be a hit with women on the hunt for unique alternatives to abayas.
These are garments you can throw over jeans-and-tee ensembles for instant modesty, and they’re more aesthetically pleasing than basic kimono cover-ups. Scalloped hemlines, oversized lapels and colour-blocking feature heavily in the label’s autumn collection, which is equal parts regal and wearable.
Munamer
Modest swimwear is a niche currently witnessing an unprecedented spotlight. The majority of full-coverage swimwear in the market is sporty and simple, with solid shades and A-line tunic silhouettes, which makes the colour and pattern that punctuate the modest swimwear designs by luxury Italian label Munamer both practical and memorable. Featuring floral and geometric prints with wrap-neck designs, plus contrasting leggings and patterned hoods and turbans, these stylish swim ensembles will seamlessly take you from the pool or beach to brunch.
Zems
Modest fashion is a flourishing market in Turkey, which is where this fashion label is rooted. Mastering the art of putting together stylish co-ords in head-to-toe statement prints, Zems creates trouser-and-tunic sets that are at once whimsical and chic. Delicate eyelets in delicious sorbet shades, subtle pastel plaids and pleated monochromes in the brand’s latest collection put a youthful twist to Victorian influences.
Al Haya Paris
Operating between Paris and the UAE, Al Haya is quite fittingly named after the Arabic word for modesty. With Arabian influences topped off with French finesse, the label encapsulates minimalism and femininity with its flattering silhouettes and neutral hues. Its latest collection spotlights luxe white shirt dresses that can be worn by themselves or with matching wide-leg trousers, while understated innovation appears in dresses and skirt sets with multiway draping and smocking. For the coming Dubai Modest Fashion Week, Al Haya Paris has hinted at a “rebirth” on Instagram.
Mimya Official
Power dressing gets a whole new meaning in Mimya’s autumn/winter collection, which combines traditional winter elements with buzzy Gen-Z trends. Case in point: relaxed tartan dungarees paired with a longline puffer vest in army green. Excelling at both luxe-utilitarian and granny-chic looks, the brand exudes effortless modesty almost as if it were an afterthought, with fashion-forward elements instead being the focal point of its designs. Houndstooth prints, plaids and leathers lead the way for a bold winter wardrobe, with a couple of chain-print and mosaic-patterned dresses also in the mix for the more mass-market modest consumer.
Surturbans
Undeniably one of the biggest hits of the modern modest fashion movement has been the pre-tied turban, and Surturbans will be bringing its designs to Dubai Modest Fashion Week from the US. Turbans make easy-to-wear head coverings for hijab-wearing women, and Surturbans pieces feature elements such as top knots, buns and French twists. The brand even sells beanies, ideal for women who seek minimalist, effortless and no-frills headwear.
Hukka Design
Comfort and style combine seamlessly in the autumn/winter collection of this Turkish label, which has a penchant for upscale bohemia grounded in functionality. Expect to see monotone outfits in earthy shades such as taupe, teal and beige, along with elevated tracksuits, outerwear with minimalist hardware, trendy turtlenecks, cosy capes and colour-blocked knitwear.
Designs have a markedly Turkish aesthetic and are incredibly versatile and timeless staples for your winter wardrobe.
Homolog Paris
Toeing the line between art and fashion, celebrity-favoured Homolog Paris injects impressive creativity into its designs, many of which take us into the realm of the avant-garde.
Past designs have included dreamy, Dior-like gowns completed with extravagant caplets, a trench dress embellished with pompoms and an orange kaftan adorned with plush, colourful sunflowers. Its embroidered “couture cloaks” and dreamy jacquard coats are sure to find fans in this region.
Dubai Modest Fashion Week runs from Thursday to Saturday, November 18 to 20; registrations for attendance can be made at modestfashionweeks.com/register
Read more
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Ain Dubai in numbers
126: The length in metres of the legs supporting the structure
1 football pitch: The length of each permanent spoke is longer than a professional soccer pitch
16 A380 Airbuses: The equivalent weight of the wheel rim.
9,000 tonnes: The amount of steel used to construct the project.
5 tonnes: The weight of each permanent spoke that is holding the wheel rim in place
192: The amount of cable wires used to create the wheel. They measure a distance of 2,4000km in total, the equivalent of the distance between Dubai and Cairo.
THE BIO
Bio Box
Role Model: Sheikh Zayed, God bless his soul
Favorite book: Zayed Biography of the leader
Favorite quote: To be or not to be, that is the question, from William Shakespeare's Hamlet
Favorite food: seafood
Favorite place to travel: Lebanon
Favorite movie: Braveheart
PROFILE BOX
Company name: Overwrite.ai
Founder: Ayman Alashkar
Started: Established in 2020
Based: Dubai International Financial Centre, Dubai
Sector: PropTech
Initial investment: Self-funded by founder
Funding stage: Seed funding, in talks with angel investors
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
Company%20profile%20
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EName%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EYodawy%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Egypt%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFounders%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EKarim%20Khashaba%2C%20Sherief%20El-Feky%20and%20Yasser%20AbdelGawad%3Cstrong%3E%3Cbr%3ESector%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EHealthTech%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETotal%20funding%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E%2424.5%20million%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestors%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EAlgebra%20Ventures%2C%20Global%20Ventures%2C%20MEVP%20and%20Delivery%20Hero%20Ventures%2C%20among%20others%3Cstrong%3E%3Cbr%3ENumber%20of%20employees%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20500%3Cbr%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
The specs
- Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
- Power: 640hp
- Torque: 760nm
- On sale: 2026
- Price: Not announced yet
The%20specs
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Getting there
The flights
Emirates and Etihad fly to Johannesburg or Cape Town daily. Flights cost from about Dh3,325, with a flying time of 8hours and 15 minutes. From there, fly South African Airlines or Air Namibia to Namibia’s Windhoek Hosea Kutako International Airport, for about Dh850. Flying time is 2 hours.
The stay
Wilderness Little Kulala offers stays from £460 (Dh2,135) per person, per night. It is one of seven Wilderness Safari lodges in Namibia; www.wilderness-safaris.com.
Skeleton Coast Safaris’ four-day adventure involves joining a very small group in a private plane, flying to some of the remotest areas in the world, with each night spent at a different camp. It costs from US$8,335.30 (Dh30,611); www.skeletoncoastsafaris.com
Plan to boost public schools
A major shake-up of government-run schools was rolled out across the country in 2017. Known as the Emirati School Model, it placed more emphasis on maths and science while also adding practical skills to the curriculum.
It was accompanied by the promise of a Dh5 billion investment, over six years, to pay for state-of-the-art infrastructure improvements.
Aspects of the school model will be extended to international private schools, the education minister has previously suggested.
Recent developments have also included the introduction of moral education - which public and private schools both must teach - along with reform of the exams system and tougher teacher licensing requirements.
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)
THE SPECS
Aston Martin Rapide AMR
Engine: 6.0-litre V12
Transmission: Touchtronic III eight-speed automatic
Power: 595bhp
Torque: 630Nm
Price: Dh999,563
The specs
AT4 Ultimate, as tested
Engine: 6.2-litre V8
Power: 420hp
Torque: 623Nm
Transmission: 10-speed automatic
Price: From Dh330,800 (Elevation: Dh236,400; AT4: Dh286,800; Denali: Dh345,800)
On sale: Now
Specs
Engine: Dual-motor all-wheel-drive electric
Range: Up to 610km
Power: 905hp
Torque: 985Nm
Price: From Dh439,000
Available: Now
COMPANY PROFILE
Founders: Alhaan Ahmed, Alyina Ahmed and Maximo Tettamanzi
Total funding: Self funded
Jetour T1 specs
Engine: 2-litre turbocharged
Power: 254hp
Torque: 390Nm
Price: From Dh126,000
Available: Now
Results
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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
Sheikh Zayed's poem
When it is unveiled at Abu Dhabi Art, the Standing Tall exhibition will appear as an interplay of poetry and art. The 100 scarves are 100 fragments surrounding five, figurative, female sculptures, and both sculptures and scarves are hand-embroidered by a group of refugee women artisans, who used the Palestinian cross-stitch embroidery art of tatreez. Fragments of Sheikh Zayed’s poem Your Love is Ruling My Heart, written in Arabic as a love poem to his nation, are embroidered onto both the sculptures and the scarves. Here is the English translation.
Your love is ruling over my heart
Your love is ruling over my heart, even a mountain can’t bear all of it
Woe for my heart of such a love, if it befell it and made it its home
You came on me like a gleaming sun, you are the cure for my soul of its sickness
Be lenient on me, oh tender one, and have mercy on who because of you is in ruins
You are like the Ajeed Al-reem [leader of the gazelle herd] for my country, the source of all of its knowledge
You waddle even when you stand still, with feet white like the blooming of the dates of the palm
Oh, who wishes to deprive me of sleep, the night has ended and I still have not seen you
You are the cure for my sickness and my support, you dried my throat up let me go and damp it
Help me, oh children of mine, for in his love my life will pass me by.
INDIA'S%20TOP%20INFLUENCERS
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BMW M5 specs
Engine: 4.4-litre twin-turbo V-8 petrol enging with additional electric motor
Power: 727hp
Torque: 1,000Nm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 10.6L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh650,000
MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League quarter-final (first-leg score):
Juventus (1) v Ajax (1), Tuesday, 11pm UAE
Match will be shown on BeIN Sports
More from Neighbourhood Watch:
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
Specs
Engine: Duel electric motors
Power: 659hp
Torque: 1075Nm
On sale: Available for pre-order now
Price: On request
Pharaoh's curse
British aristocrat Lord Carnarvon, who funded the expedition to find the Tutankhamun tomb, died in a Cairo hotel four months after the crypt was opened.
He had been in poor health for many years after a car crash, and a mosquito bite made worse by a shaving cut led to blood poisoning and pneumonia.
Reports at the time said Lord Carnarvon suffered from “pain as the inflammation affected the nasal passages and eyes”.
Decades later, scientists contended he had died of aspergillosis after inhaling spores of the fungus aspergillus in the tomb, which can lie dormant for months. The fact several others who entered were also found dead withiin a short time led to the myth of the curse.
UFC%20FIGHT%20NIGHT%3A%20SAUDI%20ARABIA%20RESULTS
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Points tally
1. Australia 52; 2. New Zealand 44; 3. South Africa 36; 4. Sri Lanka 35; 5. UAE 27; 6. India 27; 7. England 26; 8. Singapore 8; 9. Malaysia 3
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The specs
Engine: 5.2-litre V10
Power: 640hp at 8,000rpm
Torque: 565Nm at 6,500rpm
Transmission: 7-speed dual-clutch auto
Price: From Dh1 million
On sale: Q3 or Q4 2022
THE SPECS
Engine: 1.5-litre
Transmission: 6-speed automatic
Power: 110 horsepower
Torque: 147Nm
Price: From Dh59,700
On sale: now
