Entertainment

Rizwan Zulfiqar Bhuttarizbhutta@hotmail.comEdit Profile Dalal Aldoub, The Story From Influence Into Enterprise By Janhavi Gusani Long before the creator economy became a defined industry, Dalal Al Doub was already building a relationship with audiences through fashion, beauty, and makeup. When she began sharing content in 2012, there was no established roadmap for becoming a creator, nor a clear understanding of what a digital presence could eventually become. What began as a genuine love for beauty gradually evolved into a community, a personal brand, and ultimately a business with ambitions beyond the region. As one of the early creators in the GCC sharing fashion and beauty content while wearing the hijab, Dalal also offered a form of representation that was still relatively uncommon online. Women could see someone who looked like them, dressed like them, and shared their interests. That familiarity helped create a relationship with her audience that felt personal from the beginning. As the community expanded beyond the GCC, she began to recognise that she was no longer simply sharing what she loved; she was building a community with the potential to become something much larger. That evolution has remained central to the way she approaches creativity and entrepreneurship. Dalal’s online journey has never been about presenting an untouched version of perfection. Her content has reflected both the rewarding moments and the challenges that accompany growth. For her, beauty begins from within, but it is also shaped by the life a person chooses to build. Over time, she learned that creativity, personal branding, and business are not separate worlds. They are extensions of the same journey: remaining curious, continuing to evolve, and transforming lived experience into something meaningful. At the centre of that journey is trust. Since she began creating content, Dalal has remained selective about what she shares and the brands she chooses to associate with. Her recommendations are grounded in genuine familiarity rather than simply commercial opportunity. That principle has become even more important as she has moved into entrepreneurship. When someone purchases a DALALID product, they are not only buying makeup. They are placing their trust in Dalal’s taste, standards, and vision—the same qualities that shaped her relationship with her audience long before she became a founder. The transition into beauty entrepreneurship therefore feels less like a departure from her creator career and more like its natural progression. After years of discovering, testing, and learning about beauty, Dalal began thinking about what she would create if she could address the gaps she encountered herself. Often, the starting point was personal: a particular texture, shade, finish, or product she wished existed. Her thinking was straightforward—if she was searching for something, there were likely other women searching for it too. That philosophy became the foundation of DALALID. Yet the brand is more than formulas, shades, and high-quality products. It has become a creative space through which Dalal can express her ideas, emotions, personal growth, and evolving perspective on beauty and culture. Product names, shade names, campaigns, and the stories surrounding them all contribute to a larger identity. DALALID is ultimately a reflection of its founder—not because every product is autobiographical, but because the standards and perspective behind it are deeply personal. That distinction is increasingly important in a global beauty industry where differentiation is difficult. Products can compete through performance, packaging, formulation, and innovation, but a brand with a distinct cultural point of view can create a deeper connection. For Dalal, that point of view is firmly rooted in the GCC. The Middle Eastern beauty industry is experiencing a significant transformation, with regional entrepreneurs increasingly shaping rather than simply participating in global conversations. Their advantage lies partly in proximity: they understand the consumer because they are part of the culture. They understand regional beauty standards, lifestyle, climate, purchasing habits, and the role beauty plays in everyday life. For DALALID, thinking globally has been part of the vision from the beginning. Dalal wants the brand to reach women across both East and West while retaining the cultural perspective that makes it distinctive. She sees an opportunity for someone discovering DALALID anywhere in the world to experience not only its products, but something of Kuwait, the GCC, and the Middle East through its story, inspiration, and cultural references. In that sense, beauty becomes a form of cultural dialogue. The experience is not only sensory. It can also introduce audiences to where a brand comes from and the perspective that shaped it. This reflects a broader confidence emerging among Middle Eastern founders. Global relevance no longer requires regional identity to be diluted. Increasingly, culture itself can become a source of distinction. Dalal has also witnessed the transformation of social media from a space for personal expression into a sophisticated business ecosystem. Today, the digital landscape is more crowded than ever, but it also provides unprecedented freedom. Creators can define their own paths, build communities around their interests, and develop businesses from their individual strengths. Yet that freedom comes with pressure. The constant presence of trends, algorithms, views, and engagement can make creators lose sight of the identity that initially made people connect with them. For Dalal, the answer lies in having a clear “why.” Why create? What should people feel, learn, or take away? What impact should the work ultimately leave? She recognises that financial success is a legitimate part of building a business. But longevity requires something deeper than commercial ambition. Purpose gives creativity direction, while authenticity gives it staying power. That same philosophy informs how she approaches product development. Her process often begins with personal experience, followed by careful attention to her community. She listens to feedback, reactions, comments, and conversations to understand what women feel is missing, then combines those insights with her own creative vision. A strong team supports the research, development, and execution, but the underlying idea remains personal. It is this balance between instinct and insight that allows a personal brand to evolve into a business without losing its original character. The journey also reflects

Priti Malik, A Voice That Found Its Way Into Millions of Lives By Janhavi Gusani Screens and constant digital consumption have taken the world by storm but Priti Malik’s career offers a compelling reminder that communication has always been, at its heart, deeply human. From the energy of live radio to the discipline of dance and the curiosity of journalism, her work has consistently revolved around one essential idea: connection. Raised in Queens, New York, by Indian-American parents, Malik grew up at the intersection of cultures. New York’s intensely independent character gave her the confidence to find her own direction, while its extraordinary diversity exposed her from an early age to different communities, perspectives and ways of understanding the world. Her Indian heritage remained an important part of that foundation, but so did the multicultural environment surrounding her. Together, they gave her a perspective shaped less by a single identity than by an openness to many. Her parents played an equally important role. Encouraged to be bold, social and willing to explore different possibilities, Malik developed an early confidence that would later become central to her career in media. Storytelling, however, was not the only form through which she learned to communicate. Dance became an important creative education in its own right. As captain of her Bollywood dance team during college, Malik experienced the discipline required to master a craft while simultaneously learning how to lead, collaborate and communicate with an audience without words. Preparation for competitions demanded dedication and organisation, while leading a team taught her the responsibilities that accompany bringing different personalities together around a shared goal. That understanding of communication would later translate naturally into broadcasting. For Malik, radio possesses a quality that remains difficult for any digital platform to replicate: immediacy. Unlike highly produced content, live radio leaves room for the unexpected. A conversation can shift direction in a second, a listener can respond in real time, and an unplanned exchange can become the moment audiences remember. It is precisely that unpredictability that she values. Radio, she believes, remains powerful because it creates a direct relationship between voice and listener. There are no visuals to carry the conversation and no opportunity to hide behind elaborate production. The connection has to be created through presence, personality and the ability to respond in the moment. That principle extends into her approach to interviewing. Preparation is essential, but Malik believes that listening is equally important. A journalist may enter an interview with carefully considered questions and talking points, yet the most compelling part of the conversation may emerge from an answer that was never anticipated. The ability to recognise that moment — and follow it rather than rigidly returning to the prepared script — is what can transform an interview from a sequence of questions into a genuine exchange. For Malik, listening is therefore not simply a professional skill. It is a way of understanding people. Years of hearing stories from individuals across different backgrounds have reinforced one lesson above all: kindness matters. Every person carries experiences that may not be immediately visible, and assumptions rarely reveal the full picture. Her work has taught her the importance of extending grace not only to people within her own circles but also to strangers whose circumstances may be unknown. It is a deceptively simple philosophy, but one that feels increasingly relevant in an era where communication has become easier while understanding can sometimes feel harder. The UAE has provided another dimension to that perspective. Living in a country where cultures and traditions coexist so closely has allowed Malik to recognise an environment that feels familiar rather than foreign. In many ways, it echoes the multicultural landscape in which she was raised in New York. That familiarity has shaped the way she approaches both her work and the people she encounters. Cultural diversity, for Malik, is not simply a characteristic of the UAE; it is part of what makes communication richer. Different backgrounds bring different interpretations, and understanding those differences becomes essential when creating conversations intended for broad audiences. This becomes particularly significant as media itself continues to change. Digital platforms have dramatically expanded the ways stories can be created, distributed and consumed. Audiences are no longer limited to scheduled broadcasts, and creators can reach people across geographical boundaries almost instantly. Yet Malik does not see digital media as replacing traditional communication. Instead, she sees the two existing alongside one another. Technology can extend reach. It can make information more accessible and create new opportunities for discovery. But the desire for genuine human interaction remains. That distinction is also central to her view of authenticity. In a world where audiences encounter carefully constructed identities across social media every day, Malik believes people have become increasingly perceptive about what feels genuine and what does not. Maintaining a version of yourself that is fundamentally disconnected from reality requires constant effort. Authenticity, by contrast, does not need to be performed indefinitely. For Malik, creativity and authenticity therefore remain two of the most enduring forces in media. Platforms may change, formats may evolve and technology may continue to transform the industry, but audiences will continue to respond to voices that feel real. Her perspective is also informed by the broader changes taking place in the media landscape, particularly the growing visibility of women and the stories they are bringing into public conversation. One of the most significant developments she sees in social media is the ability to amplify stories that may previously have remained unseen. Across digital platforms, communities now exist specifically to highlight women’s achievements across industries and disciplines. For Malik, that visibility represents a meaningful shift in whose stories are recognised and whose experiences become part of the larger cultural conversation. It is a progression that mirrors her own understanding of media: communication is not simply about having a platform. It is about what that platform allows people to hear, discover and understand. From the discipline of dance to the spontaneity of live

Ahmed Alnasheet, Storytelling, Innovation and the Future of the Creative Economy By Janhavi Gusani The modern creative industry rarely fits neatly into a single definition. The lines between entertainment, technology, entrepreneurship, gaming, broadcasting, and digital media have become increasingly blurred, giving rise to a new generation of storytellers who are no longer confined to one platform or profession. Few embody that evolution as naturally as Ahmed AlNasheet. Over the years, he has established himself as one of the Arab world’s influential creative pioneers, building a career that spans television, voice acting, game direction, entrepreneurship, digital media, and live entertainment. Yet despite the diversity of his work, one constant has remained throughout every chapter of his journey: a belief that powerful storytelling has the ability to inspire, educate, and create lasting human connections. Unlike many creators whose careers are defined by a single breakthrough or platform, AlNasheet has continuously evolved alongside the industries he has helped shape. Rather than allowing technology to dictate his direction, he has embraced every new medium as another opportunity to tell meaningful stories. Whether hosting television programmes, directing immersive gaming experiences, creating digital content, or collaborating with global brands, each project reflects a consistent philosophy: audiences may forget the technology, but they never forget how a story made them feel. This approach has become increasingly significant in a digital landscape where content is produced faster than ever before. While platforms reward speed and algorithms favour immediacy, AlNasheet believes memorable storytelling has little to do with chasing trends. Instead, it begins with understanding people. Every project he chooses starts with a simple question: will this create an experience that audiences remember? The answer has never depended on projected views or engagement statistics. For him, success lies in creating something that sparks curiosity, encourages conversation, or inspires someone to see the world differently. Technology will continue to evolve, but human emotion remains remarkably constant, and it is this understanding that continues to guide every creative decision he makes. His willingness to move fluidly between industries reflects a broader belief that creators should never be defined by platforms alone. Television, gaming, voice acting, entrepreneurship, and digital media are not separate careers in his eyes – they are simply different forms of storytelling. Each discipline offers its own language, but all share the same purpose: creating meaningful experiences that connect with people. This perspective has allowed him to build an ecosystem of creativity rather than follow a conventional career path, demonstrating that innovation often happens at the intersection of multiple disciplines rather than within a single field. In many ways, AlNasheet’s philosophy challenges one of the greatest misconceptions surrounding today’s creator economy. While short-form content is frequently criticised for reducing attention spans, he believes it has actually elevated the craft of storytelling. Communicating a meaningful idea within thirty seconds requires extraordinary clarity and precision Every frame, every sentence, and every second must serve a purpose. Virality may generate temporary attention, but memorability builds careers. Whether producing a brief digital video or developing long-form entertainment, his objective remains unchanged: to make audiences laugh, think, learn something new, or leave feeling inspired. Rather than investing his energy in understanding ever-changing algorithms, he prefers to understand the people those algorithms serve. That human-centred philosophy extends to the diverse audiences he reaches across the Arab world and beyond. Creating primarily in Arabic has given AlNasheet a profound appreciation for the cultural significance of language. Spoken by hundreds of millions across multiple continents, Arabic connects communities with remarkably diverse traditions, histories, and lived experiences. Yet despite those differences, a shared language can create shared understanding. Every conversation with his audience reinforces a lesson he has carried throughout his career: stories rarely recognise borders. Genuine influence is never measured solely by audience size, but by the trust earned over time. If his work motivates someone to pursue creativity, discover a new passion, or simply believe more deeply in their own potential, then he considers the project successful. Reach can happen overnight; trust requires years of consistency. As his career has matured, so too has his understanding of impact. Early on, success naturally revolved around producing the next piece of content or launching the next creative idea. Today, however, his focus extends far beyond personal achievements. Building businesses, mentoring emerging creators, developing teams, and helping organisations tell stronger stories have become equally rewarding aspects of his work. The shift from creating content to creating opportunities has fundamentally transformed his perspective. Every video has an upload date, but a meaningful idea has the potential to grow for years, influencing people long after its original release. For AlNasheet, this long-term mindset has become one of the most rewarding aspects of creative leadership. The rapid evolution of the Gulf’s creative economy has further reinforced this optimism. Over the past decade, the region has witnessed extraordinary growth across entertainment, gaming, technology, and digital media. Yet AlNasheet believes the greatest transformation has not been technological – it has been psychological. Years ago, creators were still proving that digital media could become a legitimate profession. Today, they are building production companies, launching original intellectual property, directing films, designing games, creating live experiences, and developing globally recognised brands. The conversation has shifted from simply producing content to building worlds. Looking ahead, he believes the next generation of creators will increasingly focus on owning ideas rather than depending entirely on platforms. Original storytelling, immersive entertainment, gaming, artificial intelligence, and culturally authentic creative experiences will define the region’s next chapter, positioning the Middle East as a global source of innovation rather than simply a consumer of international trends. Having worked extensively across gaming, television, voice acting, and digital production, AlNasheet has witnessed first-hand how rapidly creative technology evolves. Yet amid constant innovation, one truth remains unchanged. Technology provides creators with increasingly sophisticated tools, but storytelling is what gives those tools meaning. Audiences rarely remember the software behind a game or the camera used to produce a film. Instead, they remember the emotions those experiences created.

Andreas KoundourakisFrom Viral Moment to Lasting Influence, The Power of Identity, Culture and Connection By Janhavi Gusani The digital landscape where trends are fleeting and viral fame often fades as quickly as it arrives, creating a lasting identity has become one of the greatest challenges for modern creators. Millions compete for attention, yet only a handful manage to transform online recognition into something that transcends algorithms. Andreas Koundourakis is one of those rare figures. Known worldwide for the now-iconic phrase “Habibi, come to Dubai,” he has evolved far beyond a viral sensation, building a personal brand rooted in confidence, humour, optimism, and cultural connection. His success is not simply the result of social media, but of a worldview shaped by multiple cultures, extensive travel, and an instinctive understanding of how people connect through emotion rather than geography. Behind the polished visuals and aspirational lifestyle that have become synonymous with his public image lies a story of navigating different worlds. Raised between Greek passion, Belgian discipline, Arabic hospitality, Dubai’s ambition, and a broader European perspective, Andreas grew up understanding that while cultures may differ, human aspirations remain remarkably similar. Regardless of nationality or language, people seek love, respect, success, belonging, and purpose. That realisation became the foundation of his creative philosophy, influencing the way he approaches storytelling and the audiences he speaks to today. Travel further reinforced this perspective. Moving between Europe and the Middle East exposed him to vastly different ways of living, communicating, and expressing identity. Over time, he realised that creativity extends beyond language; it is ultimately about energy. People remember how content makes them feel more than the words themselves. This understanding has become central to his work, allowing him to create content that resonates across continents. Rather than tailoring his message to one audience, Andreas naturally blends multiple cultural influences into a single narrative. A video may combine Dubai’s luxury lifestyle, Mediterranean humour, Arabic warmth, and European wit, creating content that feels familiar to viewers from remarkably different backgrounds. His ability to communicate across languages only strengthens this connection, transforming multiculturalism into one of his greatest creative advantages. The phrase that introduced Andreas to the world was never intended to become a global phenomenon. Yet “Habibi, come to Dubai” quickly evolved into one of social media’s most recognisable moments, connecting millions of people through humour and personality. While many creators spend years attempting to manufacture virality, Andreas discovered that authenticity often produces the strongest impact. The unexpected success of that single phrase reinforced an important lesson: audiences respond most powerfully when creators stop performing and simply become themselves. Rather than allowing one viral moment to define his career, he used it as the foundation for building something far more enduring – a recognisable identity capable of evolving far beyond internet trends. Although Andreas’ brand is undeniably global, Dubai has become inseparable from his public persona. More than a backdrop for content, the city represents a mindset that closely aligns with his own ambitions. For Andreas, Dubai symbolises possibility. It is one of the few places where dreaming big is encouraged rather than questioned, where ambition is viewed as motivation instead of arrogance. That culture of optimism has helped transform the city into one of the world’s most dynamic creative and entrepreneurial hubs. He believes the broader Middle East is experiencing a defining cultural shift. No longer simply consuming global trends, the region is actively shaping them. Fashion, entertainment, hospitality, digital media, and luxury experiences are increasingly originating from the Middle East, combining regional identity with international standards. Rather than imitating established creative industries, local talent is confidently presenting its own voice to the world. Andreas sees this evolution as one of the region’s greatest strengths. Luxury itself has also changed, becoming less about products and more about experiences – where atmosphere, storytelling, aesthetics, hospitality, and emotion come together to create meaningful memories. This emphasis on experience mirrors the way Andreas approaches his own creative work. Despite the carefully curated lifestyle that defines much of his online presence, Andreas remains clear about what authenticity truly means. In an age where oversharing is often mistaken for honesty, he believes authenticity is measured not by how much of one’s private life is revealed, but by consistency of character. A creator’s style may evolve, production quality may improve, and trends may change, but the core identity behind the content should remain recognisable. His audience has come to associate him with confidence, positivity, humour, ambition, and what he describes as a distinctly “Habibi gentleman” energy. Those qualities remain constant regardless of where or how the content is produced. This philosophy extends naturally into his broader approach to storytelling. Andreas views social media not as the final destination, but as the starting point of a much larger creative vision. Rather than focusing on individual posts, he thinks in terms of building an interconnected universe where music, fashion, visuals, humour, lifestyle, and memorable phrases all contribute to one recognisable identity. Every successful piece of content has the potential to evolve into something greater – a song, a live experience, a collaboration, or an entirely new creative project. In this sense, storytelling becomes far more than entertainment. It becomes a way of creating emotional memory, aspiration, and genuine connection. As social media continues to transform individuals into global brands almost overnight, Andreas believes the distinction between attention and influence has never been more important. Viral fame may generate visibility, but lasting influence is built through consistency and purpose. Anyone can experience a moment of online success, yet very few create an identity capable of surviving changing algorithms and evolving digital platforms. For Andreas, meaningful influence emerges when audiences associate someone not simply with content, but with a feeling. Whether that feeling is optimism, confidence, humour, or ambition, emotional connection remains the true measure of a personal brand. Longevity, rather than virality, becomes the ultimate test of creative relevance. Looking ahead, Andreas is increasingly focused on projects that extend beyond social media. Music has become an

Velvet Lights Over the Skyline, Luxury Entertainment Experiences Are Redefining UAE Showbiz By Marina Ezzat Alfred The United Arab Emirates has long been associated with ambition made visible. Its skylines are sculpted from glass and imagination, its islands shaped like architectural statements, its resorts designed to feel almost cinematic in scale. Yet in recent years, a quieter transformation has been unfolding beneath the spectacle of its urban identity, one that is reshaping the very meaning of entertainment itself. Across Dubai and Abu Dhabi, showbusiness is no longer confined to theatres, concert halls, or traditional nightlife spaces. It has expanded into something more fluid, more immersive, and far more luxurious. Entertainment is now being experienced as an extension of lifestyle, where exclusivity, storytelling, hospitality, and spectacle merge into a single continuous experience. In this new landscape, entertainment is no longer something you attend. It is something you enter. Luxury in the UAE has evolved beyond material expression into experiential design. A night out is rarely a single event. It becomes a sequence of curated moments that begin with arrival and extend far beyond departure. Private transfers, five star hospitality, panoramic rooftop settings, bespoke dining experiences, and exclusive access are not exceptions but expectations within this ecosystem. Venues themselves have transformed accordingly. Restaurants no longer exist solely as places to dine but as stages for performance and atmosphere. Lighting, music, choreography, digital art, and culinary presentation are woven together to create environments that feel theatrical in nature. Guests are not simply observing the experience. They are participating in it. This shift reflects a broader global evolution in luxury consumption. Younger audiences, in particular, are increasingly prioritising experiences over possessions. Memory, emotion, and visual storytelling have become more valuable than ownership. The UAE has not only recognised this change but has refined it into an art form, positioning itself at the forefront of experiential entertainment. Nowhere is this more visible than in the region’s concert and live performance culture. The UAE has become a key destination for international artists, performers, and DJs, yet what distinguishes these events is not only their scale but their atmosphere. Concerts are staged in environments that feel almost surreal in their beauty, from beachfront arenas illuminated by skyline reflections to desert settings that transform sound into landscape. These are not conventional performances. They are immersive productions designed to elevate music into experience. VIP culture plays a central role in this evolution. Hospitality has become an integral part of entertainment itself, with private lounges, curated guest experiences, backstage style access, and personalised service defining how audiences engage with live events. The result is a tiered but seamless entertainment structure where exclusivity is not an add on but a defining feature. Abu Dhabi complements this spectacle with a more culturally refined approach. Alongside large scale performances, the city continues to host international film festivals, art exhibitions, orchestral performances, and curated cultural events that emphasise sophistication and global dialogue. Together, Dubai and Abu Dhabi create a dual identity that blends spectacle with substance, energy with elegance. Parallel to this transformation, a new force has reshaped how entertainment is discovered and consumed, the rise of social media influence. Influencers have become essential participants in the UAE’s entertainment ecosystem. No longer limited to promotion, they now function as cultural amplifiers, shaping trends, driving audiences, and transforming venues into globally recognised experiences through digital storytelling. Their presence is deeply integrated into the industry’s structure. Events are now designed with visual storytelling in mind from the outset. Lighting, architecture, décor, and even guest flow are carefully considered for their digital impact. Every space is engineered to be photographed, filmed, and shared, extending the life of an event far beyond its physical duration. In this sense, the UAE has not only embraced influencer culture but has incorporated it into the architecture of entertainment itself. The result is a new form of visibility economy, where luxury is both experienced and broadcast simultaneously. Influencers travel to the UAE not only to participate in events but to construct narratives of aspiration, elegance, and success that circulate globally within hours. The city becomes both setting and symbol, a backdrop for modern digital identity. At the same time, celebrity involvement has added another layer to the region’s entertainment identity. International artists, athletes, designers, and entertainment entrepreneurs are increasingly investing in hospitality and nightlife concepts across Dubai and Abu Dhabi. Their participation brings global attention while reinforcing the perception of the UAE as a destination where culture and prestige intersect. Nightlife itself has undergone a quiet reinvention. Clubs and lounges are no longer defined solely by music or dance culture. Instead, they function as hybrid environments where performance, fashion, technology, and immersive design coexist. Visual installations, live performances, curated soundscapes, and experiential programming have replaced traditional formats. The focus has shifted from entertainment as activity to entertainment as atmosphere. What emerges from this evolution is not a collection of isolated industries but a unified entertainment ecosystem. Tourism, hospitality, nightlife, culture, and digital media operate within a single interconnected framework. A visitor can move through the UAE experiencing a continuous sequence of curated moments, each one distinct yet seamlessly linked to the next. This integration is perhaps the most defining feature of the UAE’s entertainment identity. Luxury is not confined to one sector. It is embedded across all layers of experience, shaping how people move, interact, and engage with the city. Within this system, entertainment becomes something more than leisure. It becomes architecture. It becomes narrative. It becomes identity. What sets the UAE apart is not only its capacity to host global entertainment but its ability to reimagine how entertainment itself is structured. It has transformed from a destination for events into a platform for experiences, where every moment is designed to feel intentional, elevated, and memorable. As the global entertainment landscape continues to evolve, the UAE stands at a unique intersection of culture and innovation. It has demonstrated that luxury is no longer an accessory to entertainment. In its most developed

Nagham Debal, The Quiet Reinvention of Arabic Sound By Natalia Davis Picture stepping into a hotel room that seems to already know you. The lights glow with your favorite warm hue, a playlist you love hums softly in the background, and a screen gently suggests a massage to ease your travel fatigue before you’ve even unzipped your suitcase. This isn’t a scene from a futuristic film; it’s a glimpse into the emerging reality of travel. The world of tourism and hospitality is transforming rapidly, blending innovation with personalization to create experiences that are not only enjoyable but also sustainable and deeply tailored to individual preferences. From artificial intelligence that acts as your intuitive travel companion to virtual explorations that allow you to wander through destinations before you book, the future of travel promises to be more exciting, more personal, and more responsible than ever before. In Dubai, where the pace is relentless and the cultural mix is part of everyday life, some artists arrive looking for space and end up finding a sharper version of themselves. For Syrian qanun player Nagham Debal, the city did not simply offer a stage. It changed the way she listened, performed, and thought about music itself. “Living in Dubai has been a transformative experience,” she says. “Its cultural diversity allowed me to see music as a universal language rather than a local expression.” That line captures something essential about Debal’s work. She is rooted in the Eastern sound world, but she does not treat tradition as a sealed room. She treats it as something alive, something that can travel, bend, and still remain recognisable. That approach matters, especially now, when Arabic music is being pulled in different directions at once. There is nostalgia on one side, trend-driven experimentation on the other, and a growing appetite for sounds that feel authentic without sounding trapped in the past. Debal is working right in the middle of that tension. She does not speak like an artist trying to decorate heritage for a modern audience. She speaks like someone who has lived inside the tradition long enough to understand that it can expand without losing its weight. “I began blending the Eastern essence that represents my roots with influences from different cultures,” she says, “shaping a unique artistic identity, one that balances authenticity with openness.” In Dubai, that balance is not an abstract ideal. It is a survival skill. The city does not ask artists to choose one audience, one language, or one frame of reference. It places all of them in the same room. For a musician, that can be daunting. It can also be liberating. Debal seems to have understood this early. Instead of treating cultural diversity as background noise, she absorbed it into her sound. The result is music that still carries the emotional architecture of the Arab East, but with enough flexibility to speak beyond it. Her artistic foundation began long before Dubai entered the picture. She grew up in a musical family, which meant that music was not introduced to her as a career goal or an ambition to pursue later in life. It was simply there, woven into the atmosphere of her home. “Being raised in a musical family laid the foundation for my passion,” she says. But there was a second layer to that foundation, and it came from the UAE itself. “Growing up in a country like the UAE, where art and culture are truly supported, gave me the space to grow and express myself.” That support, often discussed in broad cultural terms, becomes very concrete in an artist’s life. It shows up in confidence. In rehearsal time. In public platforms. In the willingness to try something that might otherwise be considered unusual. Debal says the environment encouraged her “to step onto the stage with confidence and evolve continuously,” and that confidence is visible in the way she presents herself now: calm, intentional, and fully aware of the image she has built. There is a temptation, when writing about artists like Debal, to treat the instrument as the central character. The qanun is, after all, a beautiful and demanding instrument, with a long history and a sound that can move from melancholy to brightness in a single phrase. But what makes Debal interesting is not only that she plays it well. It is the way she talks about it, almost as if it speaks for emotions that ordinary language cannot reach. “The qanun captivated me because of its emotional depth,” she says. “It can express what words cannot.” That is not just a poetic answer. It reveals how she sees her craft. For her, the instrument is not simply a vessel for technique. It is a means of carrying feeling, memory, and texture into the room. She felt a connection to it from a young age, and that early attachment still seems to guide her artistic instincts. She is drawn not only to preserving the instrument’s legacy, but to asking what it can do next. “Today, I believe the qanun has great potential to re-emerge in a modern context,” she says, “by blending it with contemporary styles and presenting it to a global audience.” This is where Debal’s work starts to feel especially relevant. Across the Arab world, there is a growing conversation about how heritage instruments can remain present without being confined to museum logic or formal nostalgia. The answer, in Debal’s case, is not to smooth out the qanun’s identity, but to place it in new settings and let it breathe there. That requires not just technical ability, but imagination. It also requires nerve. Debal is candid about the challenges that come with making a mark in a space where precision, discipline, and credibility matter more than spectacle. She notes that in any field, men and women are present, “yet it is not always expected for women to excel in areas that require high levels of precision and dedication, such as playing the qanun.” She did not

Muaded Saeed Alkabi, The Quiet Pursuit of Authenticity, Redefining Gulf Music Through Emotion, Memory, and Truth By Paul Smith Some artists arrive in music through training, industry planning, or carefully structured ambition, and then there are those who seem to arrive as if music was never something they chose, but something that chose them first. Muaded Saeed Alkabi belongs to that second category, an artist whose relationship with sound does not begin in studios or strategy sessions, but in quieter, unspoken emotional states that existed long before any formal creative identity took shape. He does not describe his beginning as a career entry point. He describes it as something more instinctive, almost inevitable. Music, for him, is not constructed first and felt later; it begins in feeling and only later becomes sound. “What initiates my music is usually a feeling I cannot explain in words,” he says. “It might be a moment of silence, a memory, or even a simple glance. I don’t begin with sound, I begin with emotion.” It is a simple line, but it reframes the entire logic of his creative process. Where much of contemporary production starts with rhythm, reference, or structure, his begins in something far less visible, something that exists before language catches up with it. In a global music environment increasingly shaped by speed, templates, and algorithmic predictability, that starting point feels almost out of time. The modern music economy often rewards clarity: clear genres, clear branding, clear audience positioning. Songs are expected to communicate quickly, fit into playlists, and align with existing sonic categories. Yet Muaded Saeed Alkabi’s approach moves in the opposite direction. It resists immediate definition. Emotion comes first, and everything else is built slowly around it, as if rushing the process would compromise its truth. That idea of “truth” becomes central when he reflects on how his journey has changed over time. “When I first started, I was searching for acceptance,” he says. “Today, I am searching for truth.” The shift is subtle but significant. Acceptance implies external validation, fitting into a space that already exists. Truth implies something internal, something that does not need approval to exist. In that shift, his understanding of music changes from performance to presence. He describes a turning point in even sharper terms. “The turning point in my journey was realizing that I don’t need to imitate to belong, I need to be authentic to be remembered.” The word “remembered” carries particular weight in an era where visibility is often mistaken for impact. Being seen is not the same as being retained. For him, memory becomes a more meaningful measure than attention, a slower, deeper form of connection that outlasts trends. This idea of memory connects directly to how he understands culture and heritage, especially within Khaleeji music traditions. In many contemporary conversations around Gulf art and sound, heritage is often treated as something fixed, a set of rhythms, instruments, or structures preserved across generations. But Muaded rejects that static interpretation. “I carry Khaleeji musical heritage with deep respect, as it forms the foundation of my identity,” he explains. “At the same time, I believe heritage is something living, not static. I allow myself to reinterpret it through modern sound, emotion, and storytelling, while preserving its essence and spirit.” That distinction, between preservation and reinterpretation, reflects a broader shift taking place across the Gulf’s cultural landscape. As regional music increasingly enters global circulation through streaming platforms, it is no longer confined to local listening environments. It is discovered, recontextualized, and reinterpreted by audiences far beyond its original geography. In that transition, artists are no longer only cultural participants; they also become translators between tradition and global contemporary sound. Muaded’s position within that transition is not defined by fusion for its own sake, but by emotional logic. He does not approach heritage as material to be modernized; he approaches it as something that must remain emotionally recognizable even when its form changes. What matters is not how traditional elements are preserved sonically, but whether the feeling behind them survives transformation. That emotional continuity becomes the foundation of his work. “Emotion is at the core of everything I create,” he says. “I am particularly drawn to feelings that are often unspoken, vulnerability, inner conflict, and silent strength.” These are not emotions that typically dominate commercial music narratives, which often prioritize immediacy, confidence, or resolution. Instead, he focuses on what exists beneath expression, the emotional states that are felt deeply but rarely articulated directly. In many ways, his music becomes a space for what is socially or culturally unspoken. Not as rebellion, but as acknowledgement. He does not amplify emotion into spectacle; he slows it down, giving it room to exist without pressure to resolve itself. That restraint becomes a defining feature of his artistic identity. His creative process reflects this balance between instinct and structure. “Sometimes it starts with a melody, sometimes with a line, and sometimes just with a feeling,” he says. “From there, I move into structure, arranging, refining, and shaping the work. However, even in the final stages, I leave room for instinct, because the most powerful moments in music are never fully planned.” That openness to unpredictability places him in contrast with much of modern production culture, where precision and control dominate. Digital tools allow for exact repetition, correction, and refinement. But Muaded’s process suggests that emotional impact often comes from what cannot be fully controlled, the small imperfections, the moments of hesitation, the unplanned shifts that give a piece of music its human quality. At a conceptual level, he extends this thinking into how he understands music itself. “I strongly believe that music is a form of cultural memory,” he says. “I am drawn to preserving emotional memories, how people loved, lost, and hoped. Not just events, but the feelings behind them.” This distinction between events and emotional experience is important. Events can be recorded. Emotions must be carried. In fast-changing societies, especially those undergoing rapid urban, technological, and

Karen Wazen Bakhazi Founder & CEO, Karen Wazen Eyewear, Through Her Lens, The Global Rise of Dubai’s Minimalist Fashion Powerhouse By Poulami Kundu In a city that thrives on vision, velocity and reinvention, Karen Wazen Bakhazi stands as one of Dubai’s most compelling modern style authorities. Entrepreneur, content creator and founder of the globally recognized brand Karen Wazen Eyewear, she has built an empire rooted in intuition, aesthetic precision and a deep understanding of what contemporary women aspire to wear, see and experience. With over eight million followers across platforms and a digital presence that bridges continents, Karen is more than a fashion personality. She is a cultural force shaping the language of minimalist luxury from the Middle East to the world. February finds her exactly where she belongs, at the epicenter of global fashion. From the front rows of New York to the ateliers of Paris, Karen moves seamlessly through the international fashion week circuit, embodying a distinctly modern Arab elegance. Her presence is not merely about attendance. It is about representation. In an industry once dominated by Western voices, Karen has carved out space for Middle Eastern creativity and entrepreneurship, proving that Dubai is not just a consumer of luxury but a creator of it. Her style philosophy is deceptively simple. Clean lines. Neutral palettes. Tailoring that speaks softly but with authority. Karen’s wardrobe rarely shouts, yet it commands attention. She gravitates toward sculptural silhouettes, fluid fabrics and architectural shapes that elevate everyday dressing into something intentional. This approach has become her signature and, in many ways, the blueprint for a new generation of Gulf women who want sophistication without excess. What distinguishes Karen from many digital influencers is the clarity of her brand. Scroll through her feed and a cohesive narrative unfolds. Sun drenched terraces in Capri. A sleek black ensemble against the skyline of Dubai Marina. A quiet moment with her children on a Maldivian beach. Each frame feels curated yet lived in, aspirational yet accessible. She has mastered the art of visual storytelling, creating a world that followers do not simply observe but long to step into. At the heart of this world is Karen Wazen Eyewear, the brand she founded in 2018. What began as a passion project quickly evolved into a global business stocked by leading retailers including Harvey Nichols and Bloomingdale’s. The concept was clear from the outset. Offer high fashion sunglasses with luxury design sensibility at an accessible price point. The response was immediate. Statement frames with bold acetate rims and sharp cat eye angles became instant bestsellers, spotted on celebrities and style insiders across Europe, the United States and the Middle East. This February, as she navigates fashion month, Karen is also unveiling new additions to her eyewear collections. The latest designs reflect an evolution of her aesthetic. Think refined metal detailing, softer oval shapes and oversized silhouettes that channel a subtle 1990s nostalgia while remaining thoroughly modern. There is a confidence to these pieces, a sense that they are not chasing trends but anticipating them. Karen’s instinct for what women want to wear before they know they want it has become one of her strongest business assets. Behind the polished imagery and global travel lies an intensely hands on founder. Karen is deeply involved in the creative direction of her brand, from initial sketches to campaign shoots. She understands her customer intimately because she is her customer. A working mother balancing meetings, school runs and long haul flights. A woman who wants her accessories to transition effortlessly from a morning coffee in Jumeirah to an evening event in Downtown Dubai. This lived experience informs every design decision. Her ability to merge entrepreneurship with authenticity is perhaps why her audience remains fiercely loyal. In an era saturated with sponsored posts and fleeting collaborations, Karen has built trust. She shares not only her successes but the realities of running a business and raising three children with her husband. Family is not a backdrop to her brand. It is woven into its identity. Whether documenting a ski trip in Switzerland or a summer escape to the South of France, Karen presents luxury travel as a shared family experience rather than a solitary indulgence. Dubai plays a central role in her narrative. The city’s skyline, desert landscapes and evolving cultural scene frequently appear in her content, positioning it as both playground and power base. Karen embodies a generation of Emirati and Arab entrepreneurs who have grown alongside the city’s meteoric rise. Like Dubai, her brand is ambitious, globally minded and unapologetically modern. Her presence at international fashion weeks this season underscores that global outlook. Seated among editors and designers, Karen represents a new kind of fashion authority, one born online yet validated offline. She understands the mechanics of digital engagement as fluently as she understands the cut of a blazer. When she steps out in a monochrome look paired with her latest eyewear design, the impact is immediate and measurable. Within hours, images circulate across social platforms and pieces begin to sell out. Yet for all the scale of her success, there is a remarkable consistency to her image. She has resisted the temptation to constantly reinvent herself for relevance. Instead, she has refined her core message season after season. Minimalist luxury. Empowered femininity. Effortless glamour. These pillars anchor her brand whether she is collaborating with a couture house in Paris or hosting an intimate launch event in Dubai. There is also a subtle cultural diplomacy in her work. Karen moves fluidly between East and West, often styling modest silhouettes with contemporary flair. In doing so, she challenges outdated stereotypes about Middle Eastern fashion. Her looks are cosmopolitan yet rooted, glamorous yet grounded. For young Arab women watching her journey, she offers a powerful example of how to honor heritage while embracing global ambition. As the eyewear industry becomes increasingly competitive, innovation will be key. Karen appears ready for the challenge. Recent teasers hint at expanded product categories and bolder design experimentation.

Rashed Alfalasi The Face of UAE Comedy and The Voice Behind many creatives Emirati COMEDIAN offers an intimate Conversation with our Readers By Janhavi Gusani Rashed Alfalasi’s journey is anything but conventional. In a world that insists on specialisation, he refuses to be confined to a single identity, moving fluidly between roles as a pilot, comedian, actor, creator, entrepreneur and musician. His life spans skies, stages and screens, yet what defines him most is not the number of titles he holds, but the consistency with which he follows what he loves. His path often surprises people. Trained in business management with a background in graphic design, Rashed entered aviation almost by coincidence, eventually becoming a pilot. Where most careers demand a single edge, he chose a spectrum, guided less by calculation and more by curiosity. Rather than anchoring himself to one destination, he continues to explore across disciplines, allowing each pursuit to inform the other. Comedy, however, was never accidental. What began as a child sharing jokes evolved into a deeper purpose, becoming a voice for those around him. Turning everyday observations into laughter, and laughter into relatability, is an art few master. For Rashed, humour became a bridge, connecting people through shared experiences that are often unspoken yet instantly understood. He does not switch roles, he switches frequencies. One day he is flying at 30,000 feet, the next he is holding a mic, a camera or creating music. Aviation taught him precision and discipline, while creativity offered freedom. Between the two worlds, he learned balance, managing time carefully and gathering ideas quietly. Rashed moves with an observer’s eye, noticing fleeting details and subtle human nuances that later surface as stories. Above all, he believes listening is essential, because connection begins long before the punchline lands. It is a skill that serves him not only as a performer, but also as an entrepreneur and a traveller navigating diverse spaces. Much of Rashed’s inspiration lives in the in between moments others overlook. A short walk from a parking lot to a building, a brief interaction, a passing remark, any of it can spark an idea. Living in the UAE, a country shaped by diversity, has further sharpened his awareness. His humour reflects the multicultural environment he calls home, making relatability universal rather than niche. For Rashed, comedy must be inclusive and sensitive, grounded in shared humanity rather than difference. At the heart of his work lies simplicity and connection, not the need to stand out. Humour only works when people see themselves in it. Relatability is what turns a moment into something meaningful. His aim has never been to perform at an audience, but to speak with them, articulating emotions and experiences many struggle to express, often by finding humour within one’s own reality. Language plays a central role in that connection. Rashed’s seamless movement between Arabic and English became a gateway into comedy, where literal translation exposes cultural nuance and everyday misunderstandings. It was this playful tension between languages that gave rise to his now infamous line, “Who pay?”, a phrase that resonated precisely because it captured a familiar shared experience with effortless clarity. Beyond performance, Rashed views the UAE as more than a tourist destination. He sees it as a growing digital ecosystem that actively nurtures creators. Through initiatives, workshops and career building platforms, the country offers space to experiment and evolve. Yet he believes the greatest barrier is not access, but hesitation. Fear of failure, uncertainty or not being original enough often holds people back. For Rashed, progress begins with the courage to start and the discipline to continue. Over time, consistency shapes a voice of its own, one that naturally sets a creator apart. Success, in his view, is deeply subjective. He describes it as a form of restraint, something that helps define goals, with everything beyond that becoming the end game. For him, success is not a milestone to reach, but an everyday process. Thirteen years into his journey, his greatest achievement lies in practising his craft fully, without expectation of reward. The joy is in the work itself, in showing up daily and allowing growth to unfold organically. Like every personal journey, his has included moments of pause. A period of personal loss led Rashed to step back from social media and take a creative break, sparking rumours, assumptions and half told narratives about his career. Creative paths are rarely linear. Behind every visible moment lies a deeper story, and even absence can test the strength of one’s craft. Returning was not easy. Audiences move on, and some forget. It is a reality every artist eventually faces. What remains, he believes, is the audience that truly belongs, those drawn to connection that lasts beyond trends or algorithms. Rashed understands that life moves in cycles of elevation and restraint. With visibility comes both appreciation and resistance, and engaging with negativity only amplifies it. While encouragement fuels momentum, rumours have a way of pulling one backwards. Restraint, he has learned, is as important as ambition. Even comfort can be deceptive. Familiarity may quietly dull creative instinct. Growth, for Rashed, lies in discernment, knowing what to carry forward, what to leave behind and when to listen inward rather than outward. “Try, no matter what,” he says. “There is nothing to lose. Life is too short to be scared, and regret is part of the journey. It teaches you to grow and make better choices next time.” For him, life is a continuous process of learning, balancing decisions and trusting one’s inner voice. Consistency, positivity, and kindness form the roots of his philosophy. A person of many interests and identities, Rashed remains grounded in the shared humanity that connects us all. His vision is simple, to keep doing what he loves. He resists rigid definitions of success or purpose, believing they can turn creativity into pressure. When driven by joy, effort comes naturally, and whatever emerges from that process becomes its own reward. Perhaps the simplest way to

Maya Waked, Crafting a Global Sound That Connects Hearts Across Continents By Michelle Clark You notice Maya Waked first through her voice, but what stays with you is the sense that she carries many places within her. Her life does not follow a straight path. It moves gently from the coast of Beirut to stages in Rome, Dubai, and Canada, shaped by travel, language, and lived experience. She is not a singer who simply performs songs. She brings worlds together, blending Arabic, French, and English so naturally that meaning is felt even before it is understood. Understanding Maya means returning to a quiet living room and a father who believed music was essential to daily life. Singing was not an activity set aside for special occasions. It was a ritual. Every day, Maya and her sisters joined their father in repeating melodies they heard on the radio, filling the room with shared voices. Those moments became the foundation of who she is. Long after childhood, that warmth still lives in her sound. Even on the biggest stages, she carries the intimacy of those early harmonies, grounded and unforced. Her first album, Helm Majnoon, meaning A Crazy Dream, reflected both courage and vulnerability. Drawing inspiration from the energy of the 1980s, she reshaped familiar sounds through her own emotional lens. At the time, she was still searching for her place, singing about identity, voice, and belonging. Releasing that music felt risky, but it was honest. Through it, she discovered a simple truth that continues to guide her. Singing is where she feels most alive. The dream was not reckless. It was sincere. Living across cultures taught Maya that identity does not have to be singular. Moving between countries and languages never fractured her sense of self. Instead, music became the thread that held everything together. Switching between Arabic, French, and English feels natural because it mirrors her lived reality. She does not perform different versions of herself on stage. She simply shows up as she is. Audiences sense this immediately. They respond not to language alone, but to emotion that feels familiar no matter where they come from. Beirut remains central to her inner world. She speaks of the city as a feeling rather than a place. When she imagines its sound, she hears the sea crashing against the rocks along the Corniche. That rhythm, restless and alive, mirrors the spirit of the city itself. Beirut represents love, struggle, resilience, and defiance all at once. Even when she is far away, that energy echoes through her music, grounding her and reminding her where her strength was first formed. Listening to Maya can feel like remembering something you did not realize you had forgotten. That connection comes from the way she inhabits her songs fully. On stage, she and her band move as one, creating a shared emotional space that invites the audience in. When listeners arrive open and present, the music meets them there. Strangers begin to feel connected, not through spectacle, but through shared emotion. That sense of closeness is something she consciously seeks every time she performs. The moment she steps on stage, something shifts. She becomes fully present, dissolving into the music, the audience, and the atmosphere around her. That state of freedom is fleeting and cannot be carried away once the lights dim. It exists only in that shared moment. Perhaps that is why she keeps returning to it. Each performance ends with the same feeling. A desire to begin again. Silence plays an equally important role in her creative life. Away from the stage, she values solitude and stillness. Periods of quiet allow her to recover, reflect, and make space for new ideas. She believes creativity cannot survive constant noise. Silence becomes a blank page, restoring her energy and giving shape to what comes next. Her music has traveled widely, and each audience leaves its mark on her. In Canada, she feels the deep emotional connection of the Arab diaspora finding echoes of home in her voice. In Rome, she has experienced listeners who sit in near silence, absorbing every note with reverence. Dubai has offered her a sense of belonging within a multicultural audience that understands hybridity and openness. She does not see these people as spectators. She sees them as participants in a shared exchange. Being called a citizen of the world does not feel like a loss to her. It feels earned. Moving across borders has expanded her perspective and strengthened her curiosity.  Still, her Lebanese identity remains deeply rooted. She carries it with pride, alongside a global outlook shaped by experience. Rather than leaving anything behind, she has brought her heritage with her, offering it freely through her music. When she thinks about what remains after the applause fades, fame is not part of the equation. What matters is connection. She hopes her music serves as a bridge between people, a reminder that beneath different languages and histories, something universal connects us all. If a song helps someone feel seen or understood, even briefly, then she feels her work has meaning. Maya Waked is not defined by borders or categories. She stands as proof that music can hold many identities at once, and that no matter how far we travel, the heart always recognizes a familiar rhythm.