Home About Articles Contact

Ruman Baig

About

I’m a Dubai-based fashion, beauty, lifestyle and luxury journalist and editor with 10 years of experience in digital media. My editorial career has included roles such as Digital Editor at ELLE India and Emirates Woman, and over the years, I’ve written and edited stories spanning fashion, beauty, travel, hospitality, culture and everything in between.

My work has been published in titles including Vogue Arabia, Vogue India, GQ Middle East, Architectural Digest Middle East, Emirates Woman and MILLE World. Alongside my editorial work, I currently work as a Dubai correspondent for 3oud, covering the city’s fashion, lifestyle and cultural landscape through social media. I have also worked across social media and digital content for luxury and lifestyle platforms including Villa 88 and MADAME Arabia.

Latest Work across Vogue Arabia, GQ Middle East, AD Middle East and MILLE World

عود.كوم •

Why Sabyasachi’s NYFW Jewellery and Clothing Are Speaking Directly to the Middle East | 3oud.com

When Indian designer Sabyasachi Mukherjee returned to New York Fashion Week after nearly two decades away, he wasn’t trying to decipher what the West wanted. He was there to show what Indian craftsmanship could do on its own terms, without sanding down its grandeur to make it more palatable. His particular brand of opulence is lavish, intricate yet remarkably wearable. It feels especially fluent in this part of the world, where Middle Eastern shoppers have long mastered the art of dressing grand...
Vogue Arabia •

This Saudi National Day, Meet the Designers Giving Saudi Fashion a New Direction

Every 23 September, Saudi Arabia celebrates National Day, commemorating the unification of the Kingdom in 1932 under King Abdulaziz bin Abdulrahman Al Saud. But the meaning of unification extends beyond its literal definition – it speaks to the coming together of a country’s history, culture, creativity and ambitions, all of which have shaped the Kingdom we see today. It is a celebration of Saudi identity in all its many shades and facets, and of the people interpreting what that identity means...
GQ Middle East •

Have Skinny Jeans Made a Comeback? Kind of

Owning a great pair of jeans is like securing a covetable piece of real estate in your wardrobe: it moves through seasons, survives trend cycles and, ideally, can easily carry you from day to night. The trouble is finding the perfect one. Before you can declare denim the one, there is the small matter of deciding which silhouette society has collectively deemed acceptable – and whether wearing anything else will have you era-shamed endlessly.My first order of business when I started dating my pa...
عود.كوم •

The New-Season Bags To Invest In For Your Return To Work Post Summer | 3oud.com

When Tom Wambsgans called Greg’s date’s bag "ludicrously capacious" on Succession, he may have intended it as the ultimate fashion insult, but for working women everywhere, the ability to carry half your life in one bag is hardly a faux pas. The giant tote is the reason you can leave the house with your laptop, skincare, makeup pouch, current read, water bottle and the cables for the million electronic gadgets you somehow need to get through the day, and still have room for the things you inevit...
AD Middle East •

How The Humble Steel Plate Became a Covetable “Chrome” Design Object

Is chrome design a new, neatly packaged trend? Or is it a long-standing, humble and homely tradition of the Subcontinent and the Arab world?When American content creator Amanda Monsen posted a reel about her trip to IKEA in search of the chrome plates she'd been seeing all over her feed, she couldn't have expected the reception that followed. The video, which racked up almost two million views, drew a flood of comments – overwhelmingly from South Asian users – pointing out, with equal parts amus...
Vogue Arabia •

Women’s Tuxedos Are Back in the Spotlight for Fall 2026

The tuxedo is having its moment again, albeit in a form that would be almost unrecognisable to its earliest wearers. For Saint Laurent’s autumn collection, creative director Anthony Vaccarello borrowed the sharp, oversized shoulder line from the brand’s menswear line, but kept the rest of the look fluid, pairing it with a shirtless, less structured silhouette. At Khaite, Catherine Holstein retained classic black-tie elements such as the bow tie – elevated with a three-dimensional rose – and the...
AD Middle East •

Dubai’s Cafés Are Taking a Terracotta Turn

Dubai's cafés had become almost predictable in their appearance – eggshell walls, steel tables, chairs that deliberately don't match. They often felt less like cafés and more like niche art spaces – beautiful, a little detached and perfectly suited to hunkering down with the annual report your boss just dropped on your desk. But the tide has shifted. A new crop of cafés is trading that clinical distance for warmth – terracotta, browns and cherry reds, layouts that pull in natural light and plant...
Vogue Arabia •

Pleated Culottes Are Autumn-Winter’s Perfect Transitional Bottom

And if you looked closely, the autumn-winter runways had already made their case for pleated culottes as one of the season’s most versatile silhouettes. At Fendi, Maria Grazia Chiuri kept things pared-back with striped pleated culottes, a matching top and black blazer, creating a polished tonal look. Giorgio Armani leaned into old-school charm, pairing them with cosy knits and paperboy caps. At Prada, butter yellow and brown layers were offset by grey culottes and embellished socks, proving just...
AD Middle East •

The Rise, Fall and Rise Again of Paisleys in Home Interiors

Growing up in an Indian household, paisley patterns were everywhere. The motif appeared on curtains, bedsheets, blankets and even on the clothes my crafty grandmother stitched for me. It was so deeply embedded in everyday life that I barely noticed it – paisley was simply there, the design equivalent of salt in food; a familiar presence that made everything else make sense. When I grew up and began studying fashion, there it was again.EtroEtroSome motifs fade, but the paisley simply goes undergr...
GQ Middle East •

Dyson Just Turned Your Toothbrush Into a Dental Endoscope – Literally

Oral hygiene is a subject that isn’t brushed upon (yes, I went there) nearly enough. As an adult, my dental routine begins and ends with brushing and flossing – and I’m still fairly certain I don’t quite honour the two-minute rule I enthusiastically nod along to whenever my dentist asks. One look at my partner’s toothbrush (despite the fact that we replace ours at exactly the same time) tells a very different story; it looks like it has been through wartime and seen things no bristle should have...
AD Middle East •

The Mahjong Table is the New Gathering Place in Middle East Homes

Mahjong is a centuries-old tile-based game that originated in China, traditionally played by four people. Part strategy, part luck and part social ritual, it involves drawing and discarding intricately designed tiles to build winning combinations (somewhat like Rummy, but with its own complex rules and rhythms). If you live in the UAE, chances are one of your friend groups has invited you to a gathering that doesn’t involve matcha or Pilates. Enter Mahjong, the latest third-space activity bringi...
Vogue Arabia •

The Women Who Went First: Emirati Pioneers on the Lessons That Changed Their Lives

This year, Emirati Women's Day has outgrown its single date. Under the theme "We Emerge Stronger and Better," announced by Her Highness Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak, Mother of the Nation, the occasion has expanded for the first time into a month-long national celebration, running from August 28 to September 28, 2026. It felt like the right year, then, to look back at the women who made that ambition tangible long before there was a month set aside to mark it. From the racetrack to the cockpit of...
GQ Middle East •

The Benefits of Using a Beard Oil Are Many

The thing about bearded men is that the rugged, almost unkempt appeal is never actually unkempt – it's manufactured, one careful step at a time. Oh, you thought it was a gift from god?It's actually the gift of beard oil and discipline. That’s what it takes to keep something looking effortless. Growing up, I watched my father and his barber operate like two people who'd never exchange a personal word outside that chair, and yet his beard care was practically ritual – a three-step routine, non-neg...
AD Middle East •

The Bedazzling Trend Has Hit Home Interiors, Elevating Everyday Objects with Sparkly Stones

The bedazzling trend has officially infiltrated homes, where rhinestones and gemstone stickers are adorning everything from phone chargers to air conditioning vents.Stripesmaxxing, colourmaxxing and now whimsymaxxing – maximalism is in full swing according to current social media trends spanning fashion to food and interiors. It all came to a climax earlier this month when beauty mogul Kylie Jenner posted a birthday cake bedazzled with giant gemstones. Now, items like phone cases, laptops, coffe...
Vogue Arabia •

From Burnt Cinnamon to Cherry Cola: The Hair Colour Trends to Try Before Your Summer Escape

Changing your hair before a holiday is practically a rite of passage. New clothes? Check. New shoes? Check. New hair? Obviously. But somewhere along the way, hair colour stopped being a choice between black, brown and blonde and started borrowing from the things we order at our favourite cafés: cherry cola, cinnamon, espresso, even truffle. The appeal is less about a dramatic transformation and more about colour that melts in rather than announces itself – shades designed to diffuse as they grow...
MILLE WORLD •

From 'Is It Cake?' to 'Is It AI?': Why Writers Are Deliberately Sounding Less Perfect

Early on, a mentor gave me advice that has stayed with me ever since: if a reader has to Google a word to understand your point, you’ve failed to make it. Another taught me how punctuation could shape rhythm and emotion, how an em dash or a comma could make a sentence feel as smooth as butter on toast. Those lessons made my writing more restrained, more intentional. They took years to develop. Ironically, they’re now some of the very things that make people suspect you’ve used AI. An editor rec...
GQ Middle East •

So, Where Are All the Arab Menswear Designers?

For men, shopping has long been reduced to an errand – a quick pit stop where one shirt, bought in three colours, is enough to call the job done. But in this part of the world, that stereotype feels increasingly out of step with reality. Arab men are deeply attuned to individuality, style and taste, and the region's appetite for fashion is hardly in question. And yet, look closely at the local fashion landscape and an odd disparity emerges. Where are all the Arab menswear labels? Spend one seaso...
Vogue Arabia •

Your Next Summer Colour Palette is Hiding in Your Home: The Interior Design Trends Inspiring Fashion Right Now

But we don’t stop at colour. We throw in prints, patterns and contrasting textures, too – the trick is to go bold, not loud. Think of it as the fashion equivalent of an expertly layered room, the pieces may not immediately appear to belong together, but there is a visual thread running through them. Interior designers achieve this by repeating a colour across different materials, balancing an ornate print with a quieter texture, or using one unexpected shade as a punctuation mark rather than let...
MILLE WORLD •

This Is How Many Times You're Surveilled Throughout the Day

Before I get into the details, here’s the example that prompted me to dig deeper. Students across India are currently protesting, demanding the resignation of the Education Minister after the leak of the NEET examination papers (India’s national medical entrance exam). During the protests, Delhi Police officers were seen filming students at close range using AI-powered smart glasses, giving them real-time identification. In fifteen years, what once felt almost impossible has become a living real...

Fashion Features Across Print and Digital Media

Vogue Arabia •

Collarless Blazers and Jackets Are Autumn-Winter’s Chicest Way Back to the Office

You might assume our fascination with impeccably tailored women navigating the workplace in sharp jackets began with Rachel Zane in Suits, played by Meghan Markle, but those of us who grew up watching The Golden Girls know better. Blanche, Dorothy, Rose and Sophia were serving up their own versions of power dressing long before the corporate wardrobe became a pop-culture obsession.Today, however, the blazer comes with its own combinations and permutations. And for autumn-winter 2026, one of the...
GQ Middle East •

Meet Ash, the New Egyptian Menswear Label With a Bigger Idea

One would assume a brand called Ash is about endings – the aftermath, what's left once everything's burned away. But this menswear label, founded by Asser Yassin, Islam Yassin, Seif Shimy and Mariam Darwish, treats ash as a beginning. Chapter One: Introduction, the debut collection launched on Egypt's North Coast, makes that case immediately.A question they collectively asked became the very DNA behind the brand’s core philosophy. What remains of a man after time, pressure, ambition, failure and...
Vogue Arabia •

Curating a Summer Holiday Lookbook? Start With These Under-the-Radar Arab Labels

Everyone on your feed this summer looks the same. Lisbon, Greece, Sicily – same coastline, same cast of bags. The Aquazzura raffia flats, the Loewe basket totes, Toteme's beige-on-beige separates, a Missoni knit swimsuit, a Pucci scarf tied just so. It's not a wardrobe anymore, it's a uniform – and everyone's queuing up to buy the same one.So go the other way. Skip the labels doing the rounds on every European girl's grid and shop the ones actually making something worth talking about – Arab des...
GQ Middle East •

Men Are Pairing Graphic T-shirts with Tailored Trousers This Summer

Michael B. Jordan arrived at the Spider-Man: Brand New Day premiere in an ensemble that created the perfect blueprint for men to look effortless, fun and chic while still feeling put together. Pairing a Spider-Man graphic T-shirt with Jacquemus' Le Pantalon Fernando trousers, he struck the perfect balance between playful and polished. The look was simple, yet entirely premiere-ready for a superhero film without looking like it was in contention for Comic-Con. We’re taking notes.For the longest t...
Vogue Arabia •

Piaget's Most Colourful Collection Yet is Also its Most Emotional

Since 1957, colour has remained central to Piaget's storytelling. Remember when the ultra-thin calibre 9P debuted with a kaleidoscope of gem-set dial hues? Nearly seven decades later, that love affair with colour has only deepened, taking centre stage with the unveiling of Colours of Extraleganza at the iconic Villa Cypris in the South of France. The final chapter of the High Jewellery trilogy serves as the perfect punctuation mark to Essence of Extraleganza in 2024 and Shapes of Extraleganza in...
Vogue Arabia •

Fresh From its Appearance in The Devil Wears Prada 2, Maison Skorpios is Quickly Becoming Fashion's Latest Obsession

To build a brand around a particular accessory – yes, she does create other footwear and belts, but the Paris-based label is particularly known for its signature boots that leave a lasting impression – takes a different kind of courage in a competitive market that is constantly trying to offer everything, from bags and shoes to jewellery, all at once. Everyone has that one pair of boots they reach for when their confidence needs bolstering. They're the accessory that makes you stand taller, both...
Vogue Arabia •

“The Most Precious Thing of All is the Human Being”: Claire Choisne's Vision for Boucheron's Carte Blanche 2026

"Each Carte Blanche collection begins with a dream," says Choisne. "It starts with an emotion, an intuition, or a vision that I want to bring to life through jewellery." Her collections, she explains, are often inspired by the social context in which we live, born from a desire to ensure that high jewellery remains connected to the world around it rather than existing apart from it. If previous chapters celebrated the vitality, fragility and imperfections of nature, Human Being seeks to celebrat...
GQ Middle East •

How the Ancient South Asian Lungi Is Making the Leap to Luxury Menswear

While skimming through the Spring/Summer 2027 menswear collections in search of the season's defining trends, as any fashion writer would, the Thom Browne show stood out for reasons that had little to do with trends at all. In fact, quite the opposite. The opening looks carried all the familiar Thom Browne signatures – monochrome tailoring, kilts, hats, and his characteristically precise approach to proportion. But a few looks in, I spotted a garment I had only ever associated with home – the hu...
Vogue Arabia •

Why Distressed Luxury Fashion Is Defining the Biggest Trend of 2026

Many of us have felt that moment of joy on discovering a garment or an accessory in our grandmother’s closet or at a vintage boutique in an unassuming European street. It could be a cool jacket bearing the traces of time or a clutch where the gold hardware has softened just enough to hint at a life well lived. Not long ago, these were details appreciated by a discerning few, but now, that sensibility has come into the spotlight. Fashion’s obsession with box-fresh perfection is being traded for p...
Vogue Arabia •

How the Brooch Became Fashion's Ultimate Conversation Starter

A silver fish perched on a red sweater at Tory Burch. Hammered gold brass snails curled across a cable knit at Schiaparelli. A butterfly drifting across a Valentino sleeve. Fashion’s fixation on the brooch is becoming increasingly hard to miss. What was once seen as a decorative afterthought is now emerging as the focal point of a look, appearing across runways and red carpets alike. The brooch, it seems, is having a grand revival.For centuries, they served a practical purpose – fastening garmen...
Vogue Arabia •

Tala Abukhaled on Creating Clothes With Meaning

The brand is shaped by an instinctive connection with the natural world and the emotional pull towards the craft. But how does that philosophy translate through clothing and storytelling? Abukhaled pauses for a moment before reflecting, “We work a lot with earthy tones and handcrafted details that make each piece come alive. Craftsmanship is at the centre of what we do, whether through knotting, braiding, weaving or hand-finishing techniques passed down through generations,” the designer shares....
Vogue Arabia •

Swimwear Layering is No Longer an Afterthought – It’s the Summer Style Move Defining 2026

Remember when what you wore on the beach and what you wore to the beach felt like outfits for two completely different people? Not anymore. Fashion has finally caught up with the reality that what happens before, after (and sometimes even instead of) a swim matters just as much as the swimwear itself. Whether you're heading to a beachfront brunch, strolling along the promenade or settling in for a sunset dinner, the journey has become part of the occasion. Beach dressing is no longer an aftertho...
Vogue Arabia •

The Croc-Embossed Bag is the Celebrity Bag Trend Everyone is Carrying Right Now

Fashion rarely reinvents itself from scratch; it circles back, reshapes, and reappears in new proportions. This season, it’s texture doing the talking again – specifically croc-embossed leather – making a return to the centre of the accessories conversation.One of the earliest signs that a trend is quietly moving into the mainstream is when it begins appearing in the hands of off-duty celebrities, styled with an effortless nonchalance. In this case, Kylie Jenner was recently spotted courtside at...
Vogue Arabia •

The Bachelorette Closet is the New Bridal Trousseau

When a woman is getting married, it can be one of the busiest and most stressful periods of her life. Amid endless planning, appointments, and decisions, the bachelorette trip has become a much-needed window of joy – a chance to pause and celebrate with her closest friends. Gone are the days when these getaways were solely about partying until sunrise and filling hotel rooms with cheeky phallic decorations. Today's brides are curating their bachelorette experiences with remarkable precision.From...
GQ Middle East •

How Formula 1 and Fashion Came Together

Whether you hopped on the Drive to Survive boatwagon or an OG F1 admirer, there’s no way you haven’t noticed the influx of luxury brands vying for a piece of this glamorous sport’s pie. Louis Vuitton arguably fired the starting gun, elevating its longstanding association with the sport through trophy presentations, bespoke trunks and a broader partnership that placed fashion firmly at the core of the Formula 1 experience. Now, a growing roster of luxury houses is following suit. Most recently, G...
Vogue Arabia •

13 Playful Designer Bags That Prove Fashion Should Never Be Taken Too Seriously

Disclaimer: This piece offers absolutely nothing for those who value practicality or storage when it comes to handbags. If your definition of a good bag begins with “How much can it fit?” or “Will it sit comfortably on my shoulder?”, you’re unlikely to find joy here. But for those who stayed – this edit is for the romantics, the maximalists, the ones who view fashion through a lens of whimsy. Consider this a love letter to the inner child you’ve long told to be sensible.In one of the earlier sea...
GQ Middle East •

Indian Label Injiri Expands Into Menswear and Softens the Edges of Masculinity

There is a discernible shift in the way men are beginning to dress today. There’s more curiosity, meaning and a desire for longevity over novelty. For Chinar Farooqui, founder of Jaipur-based artisanal label Injiri, this growing change presented the perfect opportunity to create menswear with a craft-first philosophy, rendered in a contemporary way.Injiri’s foray into menswear is rooted in a close observation and an evolving understanding of masculinity beyond its traditionally rigid codes. “For...
GQ Middle East •

The Golden Globes 2026 Jewellery Moment Goes to Men

Men are increasingly claiming a piece of the jewellery pie through ambassadorships and strategic collaborations. Former GQ Middle East cover stars Lucien Laviscount and Ishaan Khatter have both been tapped as global faces for Maison Messika. Lucien, fresh from Emily in Paris Season 2, became the global brand ambassador, headlining the Midnight Sun Opus II high jewellery collection in June 2024. He has attended Messika fashion shows during Paris Fashion Week and appeared in multiple campaigns for...
GQ Middle East •

Long Live the Men’s Handbag

Recently, I found myself at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix weekend – a setting that is, by design, steeped in testosterone. Cars tearing past at well over 300 kilometres per hour, paddocks buzzing, engines screaming. Less expected was the quiet endurance test of walking thousands of steps from the paddock to the activation zones and finally to the concert, a journey that exhausted the passenger princess in me long before race day did.That afternoon, I was carrying a slouchy brown suede hobo bag embell...

Beauty, Wellness & Grooming Across Print & Digital

عود.كوم •

5 Beauty Brands Changing the Shade-Range Game in the Middle East | 3oud.com

Women across the Middle East know the particular pleasure of a complexion that catches the sun. Deep olive, golden, warm, cool, neutral and every wonderfully complicated variation in between. Finding a base that actually matches it, however, has historically been another story. A shade that looks close enough in the bottle can read entirely differently once it meets your neck, undertone and the light.Thankfully, beauty’s complexion conversation has moved beyond simply going deeper or lighter, wi...
عود.كوم •

6 Lip Combinations to Try That Will Last Past Your First Matcha  | 3oud.com

Autumn/Winter lip combinations are walking a fine line, deeper and moodier than your summer nudes, but not so gothic that you look ready to embody Morticia Adams. The real challenge, however, comes after you’ve perfected the liner, layered on your lip colour and finally taken that first sip of coffee or matcha, only to watch half of it disappear onto the cup.Before we get into the permutations and combinations, here’s how to make them last. Start with clean, lightly moisturised lips, then use a...
Vogue Arabia •

The New Rules of Summer Beauty: Celebrities Are Betting on Barely-There Glam

On Tuesday, July 14, Zendaya arrived at The Odyssey premiere in New York City wrapped in a winged, all-white Matières Fécales gown – divine, obviously. But it was the beauty look that closed the deal. The newly minted Prada Beauty ambassador looked like she'd been airbrushed by the gods themselves, her skin rendered like a second skin, with no false lashes, no overlined lips, nothing fighting for attention. Just her features left alone to do their job.But Zendaya wasn't the only celebrity done w...
GQ Middle East •

When Does a Calorie Deficit Become Disordered Eating for Men?

I was once on a date with a man who carried a tiny food scale to a restaurant. No, I'm not making it up. And no, he wasn't awkward about pulling it out of his laptop bag. He simply placed his meal on it and said, "I control what I eat, and if I overshoot my calorie target, it'll affect my progress."Until then, my understanding of disordered eating had been surprisingly narrow. I assumed eating disorders looked a certain way: extreme restriction, bingeing or starvation. Calorie deficits, macro tr...
Vogue Arabia •

Toasty Makeup is Summer 2026’s Most Flattering Beauty Trend

Before we dive into what this beauty trend actually is, picture this: you've spent the day drifting between the ocean and the shore, fallen asleep under the afternoon sun and woken up with the perfect tan and eyes just hazy enough to signal a day well spent. As evening falls, you linger over dinner before heading back to the beach, where there's a slight nip in the air and marshmallows are roasting over a fire beneath the moonlight. Capturing that warm, windswept, post-beach glow in makeup form...
Vogue Arabia •

Ballet Slipper Lips Are Spring/Summer 2026’s Softest Beauty Trend

Just when you thought the Y2K beauty archives had finally been exhausted, another nostalgic makeup trend pirouettes back into the spotlight – ballet slipper lips. Equal parts soft, glossy, and unapologetically feminine, the trend takes the frosted pink lip colours of the early 2000s and gives them a far more wearable 2026 update. Think satin finishes instead of icy shimmer, blurred lip lines over harsh liners, and shades inspired by the delicate pink of an actual ballerina slipper.In an era wher...
Vogue Arabia •

Euphoria Season 3 Beauty Breakdown – The Makeup Looks Set To Define 2026

This was one of Cassie’s strongest beauty looks in the series – a little retro glamour mixed with the confidence she steps into later in the show. Think dusty pink tones, glossy shine, soft rhinestones, and just enough maximalism to feel chaotic in the best way. Here’s how to recreate it step-by-step.Start with skincare. This look only works if the skin underneath is properly prepped, hydrated, and glowing. Once your skincare has settled in, apply a full-coverage foundation – this is not the tim...
GQ Middle East •

Bro-tox Is Booming: Here’s Why More Men Are Using Botox

Men entering the beauty conversation is neither recent nor revolutionary. The modern man has come a long way from the let-my-shampoo-be-my-body-wash stereotype; his bathroom cabinet is now intentional and well curated. Aesop handwash on the sink, a Molton Brown orange and bergamot candle flickering in the corner. He knows what retinol is, can distinguish it from retinal, and may well be on Accutane for cystic acne without treating it like a whispered secret.It feels almost inevitable that the gr...
Vogue Arabia •

Watercolour Eyes and Sheer Blush Are Dominating Spring/Summer 2026

When you think of spring and summer, you envision days drenched in colour — the kind that fills you with a quiet sense of joie de vivre. The powder blue sky with milky white clouds, the moss green all around, blushed with petal pinks and shy lilacs, softened by butter yellow sunlight, and traced with the faintest wash of peach and new-leaf green – everything feeling just a little more alive, a little more awake.Beauty trends this season draw from the sense of joy that defines spring and summer....
Vogue Arabia •

Why Infrared Workouts Are the UAE’s Hottest New Wellness Trend

Women and the endurance of pain is a story as old as time. At any given moment, most women are navigating something physical or hormonal – pre-period cramps, post-period bloating, iron deficiency, fatigue, PCOS. The list is long, and rarely linear. Even weight loss, often presented as a straightforward journey, seldom is.And still, women show up. They commit to demanding workout routines, often outperforming expectations, even as their bodies work through cycles of change. Today, fitness is also...
GQ Middle East •

It's Official, Mullet-Hawks Are Here to Stay

A boy and his barber share a relationship that borders on the sacred. The chemistry alone could drain the oxygen from the room. There are inside jokes, life updates delivered in shorthand, and an unspoken certainty that the person holding the clippers just knows.A 0.5 blade pointed at your head should feel vaguely threatening, yet here it’s oddly comfortingThis chair is neutral ground, a pact built on repetition, loyalty and the near-guarantee that, somehow, it’ll all turn out just fine.What hap...
Vogue Arabia •

What Middle Eastern Women Really Want from Their Routines, According to Sunday Riley

It’s why events like SEPHORiA Dubai matters to her, the chance to speak directly to the region’s beauty lovers. “Connecting with customers is my #1 motivator, everything that we do as a company or that I do as an individual, is to inspire confidence and create positive change in people’s lives. I love connecting with people, hearing their stories, and listening to what they want from the brand in the future.” And in the Middle East, she notes, skincare literacy is distinct. “Many women in the Mi...
Vogue Arabia •

Red Light, Vitamins, and Beyond: What Really Works for Hair Growth

Growing up, when hair growth wasn’t a concern and your plait hung thick and low (please hug your mother for all that relentless hair-oiling therapy you hated at the time), almost ready for a live-action Rapunzel audition, no one appreciated the gift. Then adulthood hits, work stress and lifestyle chaos set in, and suddenly hair loss becomes as inevitable as seasonal gloom, jokes on you. And if you live in Dubai, the hard water will do a number on your strands, leaving you spending on vitamins, o...
Vogue Arabia •

"They Don’t Need More Products, They Need More Truth” K18 Co-Founder Suveen Sahib on the Philosophy Reshaping Haircare

For a beauty brand to arrive (and survive) in Dubai, it takes far more than a flashy pop-up, immersive colour branding, or momentary hype. When I met Suveen Sahib, the co-founder of K18, at their recent event in Alserkal Avenue, the scene had all the usual Dubai beauty fanfare: vibrant installations, a packed crowd, and a queue forming long before the doors even opened. But beyond the punchy stations and carnival-like spectacle that every brand now deploys to “make it big,” you quickly understan...
Vogue Arabia •

Beyond (The Basic) Brown: Autumn-Winter Hair Colours to Try

It's that time of year when change is on everyone's mind, whether it's updating your wardrobe with weather-friendly pieces, refreshing your shoe collection, or purging skincare that only worked in summer. When it comes to hair, the urge to switch things up is just as strong, the longer nights, cooler air, and festive mood all make it feel like the perfect moment for a refresh. If you were planning to lose hours down the Pinterest rabbit hole, let us save you the scroll: here’s some exclusive aut...
Vogue Arabia •

Cosmic Notes: Autumn Fragrances Aligned with Your Zodiac

If you’re the type who looks for a sign in everything, especially when it comes to your moon or star chart and all things beauty, we have a new indulgence for you. What if you could pair your zodiac sign with a perfume that fits the season and your unique traits? If you said ‘take my money,’ we’ve got you covered.Sweater weather is coming to the UAE, making it the perfect time to find a signature scent that becomes your cosy-season go-to and signals your arrival. When someone asks, you can casua...
Vogue Arabia •

Full-Coverage Foundations That Don’t Cake Under Pressure

Full coverage foundation back in the day meant adding a layer to your face that could practically be peeled off. Remember those early YouTube days when beauty creators slathered on what felt like buckets of foundation before carving sharp contours, baking for hours, and stacking on ten more steps? It almost seemed like they had foundation on tap.Thankfully, it’s 2025 and nobody’s chasing porcelain doll skin anymore. Human faces – with their lines, texture and the occasional blemish are more than...
Vogue Arabia •

Could Matcha Trigger Hair Loss? A Hair Expert Explains

Are you even a matcha person if there isn’t a hater somewhere calling it “grass water” or someone whispering about “how it makes your hair fall out”? We’ve heard it all. The love, the loathing, and the lingering fear that your morning matcha might secretly mess with your scalp. So, we decided to find out once and for all. We asked hair expert Maria Dowling, Founder of Maria Dowling Salon Dubai, and Jill Cnudde Laeremans, BBODY’s founder, whose brand sources matcha straight from Japan’s most resp...
Vogue Arabia •

Farewell, Summer: The Autumn Makeup Refresh You Actually Need

It’s that time of year when it suddenly feels acceptable to binge on Meg Ryan films, start a mental countdown to Christmas, and pull cardigans around you as though you’re starring in a Nora Ephron winter classic. More importantly, it’s the moment to swap your summer make-up (because let’s be honest, pastel eyeliner belonged strictly to the island) for autumn-ready staples. After all, that hard-earned tan isn’t exactly playing nicely with your concealer and tinted base anymore. The real question...
Vogue Arabia •

Engagement-Ready Nails: The Manicures That Make Your Ring Shine

If your sister suddenly has very strong opinions about what you should wear to a random Tuesday dinner with your long-term boyfriend – brace yourself, he’s about to propose. If your mum, who normally forgets your dentist appointments, is now tracking your manicure schedule on Google Calendar and flooding your WhatsApp with Pinterest boards – yeah, he has the ring. And if your dating anniversary “casual weekend away” suddenly has a project plan in the group chat with everyone treating it like a t...
Vogue Arabia •

Forget Laser Hair Removal, Electrolysis Could Be Your Best Bet

The morning ritual begins, razor in hand, you stare at your reflection, already dreading the inevitable shadow that will emerge by evening. Sound familiar? Whether it's the daily shave, the monthly laser appointment that promises permanent reduction (but delivers endless maintenance), or the endless cycle of waxing and threading appointments that leave you broke and still battling regrowth, the hair removal ritual can feel like a permanent prank.But what if there was a way to win this war once a...

Culture & Lifestyle Features Across Print & Digital

GQ Middle East •

The Best Horror Movies to Watch Right Now

For someone who didn't watch any horror movies for the first thirty years of her life – and then went on to watch about a hundred in a year – I think I've earned the right to comment on the genre's recent reawakening. Of late, horror has evolved from being a sequel-churning machine of The Nun films and The Conjuring instalments into the one genre that is now bringing big-budget productions to their knees with riveting stories, fresher voices, and talent that carries no heavy surname or legacy be...
Vogue Arabia •

19 New Restaurants Worth Adding to Your Dubai Dining List

One thing about Dubai is that before you've worked your way through all the restaurants you've saved on Instagram, a fresh crop of openings will already be waiting. The city's dining scene is remarkably intentional, with concepts designed to cater to both residents and visitors seeking more than just a good meal. Whether you're after dinner accompanied by a live show or prefer ending the evening in a hidden speakeasy listening to jazz, Dubai likely has an option (or several) to suit the occasion...
GQ Middle East •

These Are Football’s Biggest Paychecks of 2026

Football fever is everywhere. You can't quite get through a single conversation without a discussion on which team you're supporting, the players you're rooting for, or the ones from the MENA region you should be keeping an eye on. This year, the frenzy is on a whole other level – the 2026 FIFA World Cup is the largest edition yet, with 48 teams participating instead of 32 (which means you can expect plenty of underdog stories). For the first time ever, it will be hosted by not one, but three co...
GQ Middle East •

Has Hyrox Replaced Padel as Dubai’s New Status Workout?

You’re probably living under a perfectly manicured rock (this is Dubai, after all) if you haven’t heard words like longevity, contrast therapy, padel, pickleball or Hyrox thrown around lately. The latter, especially, has become less of a fitness trend and more of a rite of passage for younger millennials and older Gen-Zs. Somewhere along the line, this generation decided the healthiest way to process a life crisis was to sign up for something physically violent and make it their entire personali...
GQ Middle East •

5 Run Clubs in Dubai to Join Right Now for Community, Routine, and a Better Headspace

One may assume life in Dubai revolves around stumbling out of a nightclub at 5am and heading towards your favourite shawarma spot. But somewhere between the city’s soft-life obsession and its collective wellness awakening, the narrative has shifted. In 2026, the new social currency is not securing a table at an afterparty, but securing a spot in a 6am run club before it reaches capacity. Across Kite Beach and Dubai Marina, an exponential number of residents are trading hangovers for heart-rate m...
Vogue Arabia •

How to Start Collecting Art Without the Intimidation – A Beginner’s Guide to Finding Your First Piece

For the uninitiated, buying art can feel like stepping into a world of coded language – provenance, editions, artist trajectory, secondary markets – all wrapped in an atmosphere that can make collecting seem reserved for insiders. Yet the truth is far less intimidating. At its heart, collecting begins not with expertise, but with connection – with learning what moves you, what stays with you and what you want to live alongside.Director of the Poonawalla Group, artist, philanthropist and curator...
Vogue Arabia •

Where to Dine, Sip and Support Women-Led Businesses in the UAE

Nine out of ten women, at some point in their lives, have dreamt of opening a café, a restaurant, a bookshop or a flower shop – or better yet, all of it rolled into one. There is something deeply fascinating about the idea of creating a space that is aesthetically beautiful, rooted in community and built around the rituals we return to most: food, coffee, books, flowers, conversation. A space where creativity is lived in, every single day. More often than not, women are the ones imagining these...
Vogue Arabia •

Winter’s Back, and So are Dubai’s Hottest Beach Clubs

Do you even live in Dubai if you’re not counting down the days till summer ends so you can finally go back to the beach? While the rest of the world treats summer as peak beach season, Dubai residents know better. Here, summer is essentially the seventh circle of hell (step outside and you’re brisket). Which is why the real magic happens after summer, just as the city slips into that golden, breezy pre-winter sweet spot.And let’s be honest: Dubai beaches aren’t regular beaches. They come with be...
Vogue Arabia •

Hand in Hand: Celebrating 50 Years of Emirati Women Breaking Barriers

Half a century of visionary leadership and unprecedented progress converges on this historic Emirati Women's Day, celebrated under the theme "Hand in Hand, We Celebrate 50 Years." The golden anniversary honours the General Women's Union, established in 1975 under Her Highness Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak, Mother of the Nation, whose bold vision has transformed into today's reality where Emirati women lead across every sector.To understand the true impact of this golden anniversary, we spoke with...
Vogue Arabia •

How Instagram Previews Are Killing the Movie Buzz—The Devil Wears Prada 2, We’re Looking at You

While the rumours of a sequel have been doing the rounds since the first film came out in 2006 – especially in 2014, when the book Revenge Wears Prada: The Devil Returns dropped – the follow-up couldn’t evoke the same fanfare the first instalment did, and the second movie rumours swirled only for a bit. This was until July 2024, when Deadline officially reported a sequel was in the works at Walt Disney Studios and the original screenwriter, Aline Brosh McKenna, was back in the saddle for round t...
Vogue Arabia •

Zohran Mamdani and Rama Duwaji are Giving JFK Jr. and Carolyn Bessette — But Make it Diaspora

In a sea of recycled candidates, there’s something distinctly un-politician about Zohran Mamdani—a 33-year-old Democratic Socialist who stunned the political establishment with his mayoral primary victory. He’s sharp, not polished in an obvious PR-trained way — principled but not performative. The more you learn about Zohran, the clearer it becomes that a strong female influence has shaped him. While his trailblazing filmmaker mother Mira Nair deserves part of the credit, it’s his wife Rama Duwa...
MILLE WORLD •

Is Our Generation’s Obsession With Hyper-Personal Content Healthy?

One night, as I was partaking in my doom-scroll routine for the night, I stumbled upon the Instagram account of a relatively new creator, Raegan Lynch. Within fourteen weeks, her follower count spiked up to 546,000 with just 33 posts on her feed. Her first reel, titled “Day 1 of starting my whole entire life,” was the one that lured me (and 4 million others) in. In the video, the now-viral creator talks about moving back home at 27 after ending a five-year-long relationship on a sour note.
S...
MILLE WORLD •

13 Going On 30 And Broke: How Magazines Sold Us a Dream (and Left Us Disappointed)

High heels, high hopes, hard realities. The year was 2008, when Jennifer Garner’s character, Jenna Rink, in 13 Going on 30 subconsciously gave me the roadmap to my own glow-up. Her character transforms from an awkward teen into a thriving 30-year-old magazine editor with a corner office, a designer wardrobe, and a dreamboat boyfriend—what’s not to aspire to in this life? As a hairy teenager with bushy eyebrows and questionable crushes, I had already envisioned my luxury apartment, an office roma...

Travel & Hospitality Features Across Print & Digital

Vogue Arabia •

The Mark of Distinction: Inside New York's Most Audaciously Elegant Address

Anyone with even a passing knowledge of pop culture and fashion will recognise the grand entrance of The Mark Hotel in New York, a staple Met Gala fixture where celebrities arrive in couture and photographers wait for the next look. Set at the corner of Madison Avenue and 77th Street, The Mark occupies a particularly rare position in New York hospitality. Its appeal lies in the tension between old-world grandeur and a distinctly contemporary sensibility – a balance reflected throughout its 106 g...
Vogue Arabia •

Semeli Coast Mykonos Is Betting On Quiet Luxury – And It's Paying Off

When you think of Mykonos, the mind naturally goes to a holiday of beach clubs, all-night parties and raves that rival those of Ibiza. But Semeli Coast Mykonos, Curio Collection by Hilton, has chosen to take the road less travelled – offering a slower, more considered side of the island, and making it work.Located in Merchia Bay – one of the island’s hidden gems, or, simply put, one of the least developed stretches of coastline – the resort instantly welcomes you with a calm that washes over the...
Vogue Arabia •

The Hotel That Has London Figured Out: Four Seasons at Tower Bridge

The location and amenities alone are enough to make you plan your stay, but it's the hotel's strategic positioning in the city and what it makes accessible that truly sets it apart. Think private Thames River tours aboard mahogany watercraft, guided walks through the Tower of London and experiences that take you beyond the hotel walls and straight into the heart of London. After all, the perfect way to holiday in a city is by blending into it, and Four Seasons Hotel London at Tower Bridge does j...
Vogue Arabia •

Bvlgari Hotel Paris Joins France's Exclusive Palace Circle

On 2nd June 2026, Bvlgari Hotel Paris was awarded the prestigious "Palace" status, which, simply put, marks its entrance into the small circle of French properties recognised for luxury hospitality. The honour celebrates the establishment in its entirety: the service, the experience, and the ability to tailor a stay that stays with guests long after they've left the property.Silvio Ursini, Executive Vice President of the Bvlgari Group, says, "This prestigious distinction is a powerful testament...
Vogue Arabia •

The Bus Is Back: Paris’ Most Legendary Nightclub Has Been Reborn as the City’s Coolest Hotel

If you thought the creative collaboration ended with the architecture and interiors, think again. Former model and Chanel ambassador Caroline de Maigret serves as the hotel's artistic director, ensuring every moving part of the property serves a purpose. She curates the in-room playlists, where you can expect everything from Fleetwood Mac and Marvin Gaye to French icons and contemporary favourites. But it goes beyond the music. If you've found yourself drawn in by the hotel's signature amber-woo...
Vogue Arabia •

Saudi Arabia’s Beach Clubs Aren’t Talked About Enough – These 5 Need to Be on Your Radar

Saudi Arabia has quickly established itself as one of the region's most exciting leisure destinations, where cultural happenings, music festivals and luxury escapes exist alongside a flourishing coastal scene. Once viewed through a singular lens, the Kingdom has steadily redefined itself as a destination that embraces modern hospitality and refined experiences while remaining deeply rooted in its cultural and religious traditions. From the untouched shores of The Red Sea and Nujuma, a Ritz-Carlt...
Vogue Arabia •

Inside Amanjena Marrakech's Thoughtful Reinvention

If you’ve ever lived at an Aman property, you know what it’s like to traverse through a design sanctuary that evokes a sense of escapism – the kind that has devoted travellers enthralled for days, even after they’ve left. Among its collection of thoughtfully designed properties, Amanjena remains one of its more recognisable expressions of minimalist philosophy. Perched on the outskirts of Marrakech, Amanjena was originally designed in 2000 by the late architect Ed Tuttle. Twenty-five years after...
Vogue Arabia •

Why This Reopened Palazzo is the Smartest Stay in Como Right Now

This iconic property first opened in the 1920s and quickly became a key landmark in the city’s hospitality scene. It eventually closed in 1986 and remained silent for nearly four decades. Following an extensive restoration, the hotel has now reopened with a renewed sense of energy. It still holds on to its 20th-century charm, but with a far more refined and contemporary approach to luxury. The striking design refurbishment was led by Studio Crivelli and ULTRAPRESENT Studio, with the idea rooted...
Vogue Arabia •

Le Royal Monceau – Raffles Paris Makes Luxury Feel Personal

Built in 1928 and reimagined by Philippe Starck in 2010, Le Royal Monceau – Raffles Paris lets you experience Paris as a seamless dialogue between past, present and future. Artists, writers and travellers are compelled to stop by in search of luxury delivered with a distinctly cultured sensibility. To this day, Le Royal Monceau – Raffles Paris remains a tasteful five-star stay that balances Paris steeped in history with a distinctly contemporary spirit.Guests are welcomed beneath a ruby-lit awni...
Vogue Arabia •

The Londoner Brings a Super Boutique Experience to Leicester Square

If you think the rooms are well-orchestrated, the suites truly reveal the correlation between intention and execution at this hotel. Whether it is the expansive Trafalgar Suites or the 200 square metres Tower Penthouse duplex, the idea is to create a sense of presence and privacy, without one overwhelming the other. The art collection across the property is harmoniously layered within the interiors, allowing both established and emerging artists to flourish in equal measure.A private members’ cl...
Vogue Arabia •

Where To Stay In Paris If You Want To Live The City, Not Just Visit It

You know a property is exquisite when it feels like an extension of the city. InterContinental Paris Le Grand lets you experience the City of Love like true royalty, and its location beside the Palais Garnier, moments from Place Vendôme, only adds to its grandeur. The city’s romantic history may draw you in, but it is a hotel like InterContinental Paris Le Grand that truly immerses you in the very fabric of Paris.InterContinental Paris Le Grand has existed since 1862 and is deeply ingrained in t...
Vogue Arabia •

Villa Atouta is Cairo’s Most Intimate Boutique Escape

The first impression is of quiet enchantment. The terracotta-coloured walls, marble chequerboard floors, and big windows make the inside feel both solid and bright. Outside, the property opens up to well-kept gardens surrounded by palms, flowering plants, and shady spots that make you want to slow down and enjoy life. Villa Atouta's unique charm comes from the way its heritage and ease work together. For Mohamed Ezz, CEO of Lemon Spaces, the appeal lay in building around what was already there....
Vogue Arabia •

A Stylish New Milan Address Where History And Modern Luxury Meet

Milan is one of those cities best experienced on foot, slowly and with intention, and the Radisson Collection Hotel, Santa Sofia Milan makes for the kind of base that lets you do exactly that. Tucked into one of the city’s most storied quarters, the property sits at the crossroads of two historic streets, where old-world architecture, cultural landmarks and the pace of contemporary Milan come together rather effortlessly.For those looking to experience Milan in its truest essence, the hotel is t...
Vogue Arabia •

Why Le Gray Remains Beirut’s Most Iconic Luxury Hotel Address

Beirut is a city so vibrant that only a handful of places truly embody its energy, and Le Gray is undoubtedly one of them. Some spaces transcend the idea of being merely a property and, over time, take on the stature of a landmark; Le Gray has firmly carved out that place within Lebanon’s hospitality landscape. Think of it as a modern establishment with a heart that remains deeply connected to its roots – that, in many ways, is the essence of Le Gray. Last year, it reopened its doors with a rene...
Vogue Arabia •

Inside The Peninsula New York’s Glamorous Roaring 20s-Inspired Renovation on Fifth Avenue

When you think of the Big Apple,  you picture yellow taxis, Broadway, Central Park and breathtaking vistas. But the one thing that New York’s skyline feels incomplete without is The Peninsula New York on Fifth Avenue. Built in 1904, the hotel’s presence extends beyond luxury. It is a landmark and recurring icon of the city’s pop culture and fashion narrative.Recently, the hotel underwent a facelift inspired by Manhattan in the Roaring Twenties. The redesign balances subtle rebellion and enduring...
Vogue Arabia •

Four Seasons Hotel Riyadh: Where Culture and Commerce Meet in Perfect Balance

Four Seasons Hotel Riyadh is the perfect embodiment of what modern-day Saudi Arabia represents: culture, commerce and creativity. Situated at the heart of the city, the property offers easy access to all the city’s mainstays. Whether you are looking to hop around eclectic districts or indulge in a luxury shopping spree at Kingdom Mall, which is directly connected to the hotel, everything is strategically positioned for the ease of the traveller.The calculated chaos outside instantly gives way to...
Vogue Arabia •

Step Into the Newly Renovated Four Seasons Hotel George V

Over the decades, it has been a magnet for some of the world’s most celebrated figures. Since the 1930s, icons such as Marlene Dietrich, Gary Cooper, Vivien Leigh and Sophia Loren have graced its halls. Did you know that The Beatles made the hotel their Parisian base in 1964? They even wrote a part of I Feel Fine in one of the suites. Meanwhile, Elizabeth Taylor honeymooned in the hotel’s iconic The Penthouse. Today, the building stands as a symbol of Parisian luxury, where history and star-stud...
Vogue Arabia •

Where to Travel This Holiday Season, According to Your Zodiac

It’s that deliciously chaotic time of year when decisions are made purely for the vibe and not for what your credit card would consider “responsible behaviour.” The group chats are unhinged, the moodboards are getting increasingly delulu, and someone is already ordering matching airport outfits. So gather your girls, load up on snacks, open a blank Canva template, and plan your year-end escape (with a twist). This time, let your zodiac sign choose the destination.Think of it as celestial roulett...
Vogue Arabia •

From Fan to Festive Fantasy: Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park Welcomes a Season of Artful Personalisation

When you think of Mandarin Oriental, the image that immediately comes to mind is the iconic fan (the emblem of its Asian heritage and a universal marker of grace, elegance, and hospitality). This season, Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park’s festive aesthetic leans into personalisation, with its signature fan becoming the defining motif that anchors the holiday décor.Inside, a similar theme of tailored story telling continues, as the beauty unfolds room by room. From bespoke floral compositions to quiet...
Vogue Arabia •

Inside Royal Maxim Palace Kempinski, Cairo’s Grandest Address

Royal Maxim Palace Kempinski reimagines the modern palace, blending regal elegance with contemporary refinement in the heart of Cairo. Egyptian warmth flows through every detail, seamlessly paired with European design, creating a truly dreamlike escape. With culture pulsing through every corner of Cairo, a property like this perfectly complements both the city and the travellers passing through it.The minute your eyes come across the visual treat that is the white façades and blue cupolas agains...
Vogue Arabia •

A Royal Escape Awaits at Château de Méridon

Each of the fourteen suites has an individual style, offering old-world charm combined with optimum comfort and luxury. When the stay feels like you are part of a period era but the amenities remind you of the wonders of the 21st century, you know you are experiencing the best of both worlds. Any form of royal treatment is incomplete without gourmet fare, and the bespoke menus crafted by acclaimed chefs deliver just that. Think seasonal French produce combined with culinary artistry that elevate...

Video IPs Developed as Digital Editor at Emirates Woman

Launched as an original video IP during my time as Digital Editor at Emirates Woman, this Emirati Women’s Day 2024 special brought together four inspiring Emirati women who are pioneers in their respective fields. Created to mark the occasion, the series spotlighted their achievements, personal journeys and contributions, celebrating the voices shaping the UAE today.

Original Celebrity Interview IP Developed as Digital Editor at Emirates Woman

60 Seconds With…

Launched as an original celebrity interview IP during my time as Digital Editor at Emirates Woman, 60 Seconds With…was a fast-paced video series created to capture candid conversations with some of the biggest names across entertainment, fashion and culture. Filmed around key events, launches and exclusive appearances, the format featured a range of high-profile personalities, with Bollywood actor Sonam Kapoor’s interview at the launch of Jamavar Dubai serving as one example. The series was designed as a quick, engaging way to bring celebrity access and personality-led content to Emirates Woman’s digital audience.