Search Results

Rex Chouk is a Multi-Media Saudi Pop Artist from Jeddah, making waves all over Saudi Arabia. He keeps his identity anonymous and disguises himself with a mask he refers to as ‘Chouka’ and ‘Choomy’. His artworks are a contemporary commentary of the system, he uses characters and expressions imbued with icons and slang from global pop culture to describe the status quo and the events taking place in the world. Rex's work is becoming more and more relevant as cultural reforms and a bigger emphasis on arts take place in Saudi Arabia. We have an in-depth conversation with Rex about his beginnings in art, reactions to his work and more. -What got you into art, was it always a passion of yours? I never considered myself an artist or even thought of pursuing art, in fact, I started creating in 2013! What got me into art is the idea of it being immortal in a way, and how it can be referenced in history to describe or understand a culture in a certain point of time. I also find art to be therapeutic and soulful. I certainly enjoy the process of creating as much, if not more, than the final outcome. -How do Saudis react to your work? I think people try to understand my messages even if they are vague or unclear, sometimes they laugh, ask questions or even challenge my ideas. But overall, I would say there is a sense of curiosity. - How do foreigners react to your work? I think it helps people relate or try to understand the Arabian culture from a different perspective. A perspective that allows them to engage in a conversation about stereotypes and misconceptions. -How did living in New York influence your style? I feel like I always had my “style” but, what I learned in NYC is that truly, anything is possible! I also learned a lot from artists around me as, it was a city full of talent expression and ambition. -What does "REX" the main character in many of your pieces represent? Rex, represents an eternal spirit and in my artwork, he is the reference point for the viewer. The character is light-hearted and not a preacher, rather a food for thought chef ;) -You use the theme of space a lot in your work, what is the idea behind it? The eternal spirit, the bigger picture, the universe. The eternal home from a worldly perspective. -What is your favorite piece of work and why? I don't have a favorite, but I do enjoy my earliest works and how raw they were in terms of technique. It is always wonderful to look back at the different steps I took naturally and how I continue to evolve. -How challenging is it to make art for a living and have a business around your art? Extremely tough! It was a scary step for me but I decided to pursue it after testing the waters for a couple of years. I would say approaching it as a business is a healthy way to look at monetizing it and setting some targets as well. And like every business, you need to have contingency plans and give it your all. -How was it collaborating with G-Shock? It was a dream collaboration for me, all I wear is Gshock #PlasticDiamondsOnMyWriss, so when it came to be it was a special moment. We did 70 watches in a pop up and we sold out too, so that was dope! -What do you think of the art/creative scene in Saudi Arabia and where do you see it going? I like it, there’s more expression, more talent and more energy! Like any scene, it will take it's time to grow, but I think we finally have the right environment for it to flourish. I’d be interested to hear what people who are not creatives think about the art scene here. -Where do you see yourself in 10 years? Hopefully healthy and alive XD, if not then hopefully in a better place #PrayForMe, 10 years is a long time and I don't take this for granted. Scary right? #RexInPeace widit -From experimenting with canvases in 2014, to where you are now, what are the 3 most important lessons you learned from your journey so far? -Things don't go as planned so don't have too many expectations. -Consistency is key and it will guide you to your next “IT” -If you want it you really have to go all in for it or you're just wasting time. + a 4th one for the culture: It is okay to fail and it is okay to be insecure #KeepGoing. Check Out Rex's website at: https://rexchouk.com/ Make sure to share this article if you liked it and subscribe to our newsletter to receive notifications on our latest posts, as well as exclusive content and much more!

Sammy Yousef Shiblaq (Born April 2,1999), Better known as Sammy Shiblaq, is a Palestinian/American rapper who grew up in Detroit, Michigan before moving to the Bay Area, in hopes to achieve his Hip-Hop dreams. He began rapping at a young age, gaining inspiration from his older brother, who also was a rapper back in the day. In those times, Sammy was locally known as “Shibby” or “Young Shibby”. By age 15, Sammy Shiblaq had started to create a loyal fan base on Soundcloud dropping track after track, his listeners in Detroit and San Jose grew in numbers. His notable singles include Patience, The Man, Scheming, Stuck In My Ways and Hard, while also dropping 2 projects. His first mixtape was titled Faith & Hustle (2019) and one EP called 4 The People (2020). In March of 2020, Faith & Hustle passed 200,000 streams on Spotify. Still young and ambitious, there is only more to come from Sammy Shiblaq. -Does the Bay Area sound have an influence on your music? The Bay Area is a place I moved to back and forth in my life. I currently live in San Jose, so it’s no doubt that there is an influence from the things I see around me. But growing up in Detroit made me; my music, my whole sound, the way I move, my character, so in contrast to the Bay, it’s a different story. I would say the Detroit Sound has influenced my music more than anything, but the Bay area groove and hyphy beats are things I’m definitely hip to. -What first got you into Hip Hop? I grew up around Hip-Hop my whole life. In Detroit, we’ve produced some of this generation's greatest artists in both the mainstream and in the streets. I started freestyling and rapping under the name of "Young Shibby", when I turned 4 and I always dreamed of doing this. -What's your favorite song of yours so far, and why? My favorite song is the intro to my "Faith And Hustle" album, it tells my story as you listen to it.I feel like if you play that song to a new listener for the first time, they will become a fan in the near future, if they got a real ear for this Hip Hop stuff. One day, I know The Intro will be a classic in my catalogue and I’m happy it’s starting to get it’s respect and recognition now. -You always make sure to represent the Middle East and Palestine in your music, what does Palestine mean to you and why do you feel the need to represent it the way you do? All my life, I've voiced that I'm from Falasteen, I grew up with this as all I knew. My father would tell me the stories of what went down before the Shiblaq’s were forced out of Haifa, to this day our people still face one of the worst acts of oppression in history. I faced too many hardships because, I come from a land & culture that was taken away from my people, I just could never stay quiet about that. They told me “chill and don’t get political”, but I never listened ,telling my story as a Palestinian and painting out the oppression is not political; it’s real life. -Are you aware of the hip hop scene in the Middle East and in Palestine specifically? I try to be in touch as much as I can with the Palestinian hip hop scene. I’m still studying the rest of the Middle East scene, as I say Dubai is a hot spot for good artists, along with Morocco. Growing up, we used to listen to DAM, as their music was authentic and a blueprint for a lot of Arab & Palestinian rappers today. Eleyanna is also an amazing Palestinian singer breaking all barriers on her rise to the top. I try to stay in touch as much as I can, though it’s hard since I have to focus on my own craft and lane before I can get more in tune and do more for the Middle East hip hop scene. Where do you see yourself in the next 10 years? In the next 10 years, I see my self as a successful artist in the hip-hop industry trying to be a positive role model to the community and those who look up to me. I believe in 10 years, I’m going to want to work with the youth in making sure they don’t make the same mistakes I did. 5 artists you would like to collaborate with? J. Cole, Lupe Fiasco, Royce Da 5’9, Kendrick Lamar, & A Boogie Any Plans to visit the Middle East soon? Where would you go and what's the first thing you would do? After the epidemic cools off, I plan on going back to Palestine and visiting my long lost family. Since the occupation started in 48, my family has been cut off from the Shiblaq's that live in Gaza, so my goal is to find them and help in any way I can. Would you ever consider rapping in Arabic? I have certain songs with Arabic phrases and words, though I have yet to make a full Arabic song. I want to make a full Arabic song in the future as well as work with other Arab artists who can bring a different sound to my music. Anything you have coming out that we should look out for? My new Mixtape “Between The Lines”recently dropped on August 21st, I think it’s going to wake people up because I put a lot of work and pain into this project. What are 2 things you've learned from your journey so far? Faith is always the most important thing & never trust nobody. Check Out Shiblaq's music at: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC4b9jG2AR_LmejAQ8_BbXdQ Make sure to share this article and subscribe to our newsletter to receive notifications on our latest posts, as well as exclusive content and much more!

Jalal Saleh Al-Omari, is a 33 year old professional Saudi Arabian Wrestler. He won the Saudi Arabian Wrestling Championship in 2017 (Heavy weight division) , came in second in the Bahrain International Wrestling Championship, as well as many other championships in different regions of Saudi Arabia. In 2019, he suffered from a few injuries, which slowed down his wrestling career a little bit. However, he plans to bounce back, as he already joined the SWF (Saudi Wrestling Federation) in Riyadh and is auditioning to be in the WWE (World Wrestling Entertainment) this year. What were your beginnings in Wrestling? At first I wanted to be a combat fighter and play sports such as Tikoundo, boxing, kick boxing and Jujitsu. I was getting ready to be an MMA fighter but , my father refused my participation in the sport and I respected his decision. I got introduced to the world of wrestling as a mere coincidence in 2017. I was at the "Platinum Fighter" gym and ran into my current coach "Rahmat Allah Goa". He told me that I had a strong body and incredible agility for my size, he said that if I got into wrestling I would dominate. I finally started training and preparing for the Kingdom's Wrestling championship, with God's grace, I was able to take first place and become the Kingdom's heavyweight champion. How did you feel after winning your first championship? The feeling of winning a championship is an amazing and beautiful feeling. Because when that medal is placed around your neck, you remember all of the blood, sweat, tears and pressure you went through preparing for the championship. You also remember how you had to isolate yourself from the outside world and shift all of your focus onto winning the fight. It truly is an indescribable feeling. Can you tell us about the wrestling sport and culture in Saudi Arabia? Wrestling is very popular in Saudi Arabia and we have many good fighters here, that is in the Roman Olympic Wrestling and not Free Wrestling such as WWE, just to distinguish between the two. However, both require an enormous amount of effort and preparation. The WWE signed a 10 year contract with the Saudi Sports Authority, to host live shows as well as train and enroll Saudi Wrestlers to participate in the company's programs. Wrestling is part of our traditional Arab culture, almost all men have part-taken in it especially in schools, but they don't call it wrestling, they call it "Mutara7a". Do you feel like you received the support and coverage you deserve as a Saudi Wrestling Champion? I like the question, I'll answer it with another question, of the many Saudi Wrestling Champions there are, how many do you know of?? Since the WWE is very popular in Saudi Arabia, do you think that there will one day be a Saudi Wrestling Organization that will rival The WWE? I don't think it will rival the WWE but, I do believe it will be under the WWE's umbrella. I also believe that there will be many Wrestling Unions through out the different regions of the country, like the "SWF" in Riyadh, in the coming years. It would only make sense, since we have talented wrestlers all over the country. Where do you see yourself in the next 10 years? God willing I have the health and receive the support I need in 10 years, I believe I will be the first Saudi wrestler to be the World Wrestling Champion in the WWE. If I am not able to reach that feat, I definitely plan to be the person who trained the first Saudi WWE champion. Either way, God Willing, there will be a Saudi Wrestler to bear the title in the next 10 years. What kind of support do you wish to receive from the government and society? I wish to receive the proper media coverage and have more media publications share our stories and achievements. If the media were to shed light on sports such as ours, people will start to know about us, I've met people who had no idea that there's a Saudi Wrestling Federation. With the proper coverage and placement, we will be able to find sponsors and push our industry forward. Check out Jalal's instagram at : https://www.instagram.com/jalal_thebeast/ Make sure to share this article and subscribe to our newsletter to receive notifications on our latest posts, as well as exclusive content and much more!

جلال صالح العمري, مصارع سعودي محترف في ال ٣٣ من العمر. اخد بطولة المملكة للمصارعة الحرة لوزن ١٢٥ في عام ٢٠١٧. اخد المركز الثاني في بطولة البحرين الدوليه المفتوحة في الوزن الثقيل و الوزن المفتوح وحقق بطولات كثيرة على مستوي المملكة في مراكز مختلفه, كما اخذ المركز الثاني في المصارعه الرومانيه في عام ٢٠١٨. في عام ٢٠١٩ أصيب باصبات خفيفه نزلت من مستو في الفترة الاخيرة, واما بالنسبه لاتحاد المصارعه السعودي الي اسمه SPW, يعتبر جلال عضو جديد فيه وايضاً يتجهز لتجارب الاداء هاذي السنه لمنظمة WWE. ايش كانت بداياتك في رياضة المصارعة؟ في البداية كنت لاعب العاب قتال, منها الملاكمة والتاكندو والكيك بوكسينج وبرضوه لعبة الجيجيتسو فتره قصيرة وكنت اجهز عشان اكون لاعب MMA, لكن رفض الوالد اني العب هالالعاب القتالية او اشارك في بطولاتها واحترمت قرار الوالد ومالعبت MMA. كانت بدايتي في عالم المصارعه في بداية عام ٢٠١٧ وكانت صدق صدفه, كنت بنادي"بلاتنيوم فايتر" وقابلت كابتن "رحمة الله قوا", وقالي انت تملك بنيه جسدية قوية ومرونة رهيبه على وزنك الثقيل ولو تلعب المصارعة بتاكلهم اكل. وفعلاً بديت اتمرن واجهز لبطولة المملكة للهيئات والاندية ومراكز التدريب, وللله الحمد اخذت المركز الاول وصرت بطل مملكة في الوزن الثقيل ايش كان شعورك لمه فرت اول بطولة لك؟ شعور الفوز باي بطولة شعور قوى وجميل. لنه لمه تتوج بالميدالية الذهبية, تتذكر تعبك وتجهيزك للبطولة والضغط النفسي والخوف الي في وقت البطولة , وكيف تشجعت وعزلت نفسك عن العالم الخارجي وركزت في الفايت وحاولت انك تفوز بالبطولة فعلا شعور لايوصف 🥇. ممكن تكلمنا عن رياضة و ثقافة المصارعة في السعودية؟ المصارعة في السعودية قوية وفيه عندنا ابطال كثيرين لكن, هاذي المصارعة الرومانيه الالومبية وليست المصارعة الحرة WWE() عشان نعرف الفرق. ولكن اللعبتين قوية وتحتاج مجهود قوي. في السعودية تم التوقيع مع منظمة WWE لمدت عشر سنوات من العروض, وايضاً فيه تتوريل كل سنه لالتوقيع مع لعيبة سعودين لتدريبهم وتجهيزهم لعروض WWE. المصارعة معروفه في السعودية وهي من ثقافتنا العربية القديمه, كل الرجال تقريباً يمارسونها لكن مايسمونها مصارعة, الاسم الدارج لها خاصة في المدارس وبين الشباب هي المطارحة. - هل تعتقد انك تلقيت الدعم و التغطية الي تستحقها كبطل مصارعة سعودي؟ عجبني السوأل لكن برد علية بسوأل, مين تعرف من ابطال المصارعة السعودين؟؟ بحكم انه شركة WWE لها شعبية كبيرة في السعودية, هل تتوقع إنّو رح يكون في شركة او برنامج سعودي ينافس WWE في المستقبل؟ والله ما اعتقد انه ينافس WWE. لكن اقول بيكون تحت مظلتها و بس. برضوة اعتقد انه رح تتطلع اتحادات كثيرة بالسعودية لان مناطقها كبيرة ويوجد لعيبه في كل المناطق. فممكن نشوف في السنوات القادمة اتحادات سعودية زي اتحاد SPW الي حالياً في الرياض, في جميع مناطق المملكة. وين تشوف نفسك في ١٠ سنين؟ اذا الله امدنا بالصحه والعافية وحصلنا الدعم الي فعلاً نستحقه, اعتقد حكون اول بطل سعودي ياخذ لقب بطل عالم في منظمة WWE, ولو ما امداني اكون اول بطل سعودي, ان شاءالله اني اكون من الناس الي دربت هاذا البطل وجهزته, لكن بأذن الله حيكون فيه بطل سعودي ياخذ اللقب. ايش هي الأشياء الي تتمنى تشوفها في المستقبل من ناحية دعم الجهات المعنية و المجتمع لالرياضيين (غير كرة القدم) بشكل عام و المصارعين بشكل خاص؟ والله انا اتمنى نلقى دعم اعلامي ونلقى منصات اعلامية تنشر قصص كفاحنا, واذا الاعلام سلط الضوء على مثل هاذي الالعاب الناس بتبداء تتعرف عليها وتعرف انها موجوده أساسا. انا قابلت ناس مايعرفون ان في المملكة اتحاد للمصارعة واذا لقينا الدعم الاعلمي المناسب والمنصات, بنقدر نلقى سبونسرس يدعمنا وبتقوى هالالعاب في المستقبل وذالك ما نرجوه من الله انه ييسره لنا. تابعوا حساب جلال على: https://www.instagram.com/jalal_thebeast/

Majid gets on call with Digital Marketer, Poet, Model and Author Rayyan Umrani, to talk about how she started exploring her passions, the things she's learned from her journey and much more. Follow Rayyan's Instagram at: https://www.instagram.com/rayyanumrani/?hl=en Check Out Rayyan's Book At: https://www.amazon.com/dp/169194050X?ref_=pe_3052080_397514860 Make sure to share this article and subscribe to our newsletter to receive notifications on our latest posts, as well as exclusive content and much more!

Majid gets on call with Music Producer and Entrepreneur, Mjeezy, to discuss his creative process, maneuvering in the UAE's music scene, advice he has for other producers and much more. Check Out Mjeezy's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mjeezymusic/ Check Out Mjeezy's Music: https://linktr.ee/mjeezymusic Make sure to share this article and subscribe to our newsletter to receive notifications on our latest posts, as well as exclusive content and much more!

In our first 2021 interview, Majid gets on call with Saudi Hip Hop artist Talal Mohammed AKA "T-We$t". T-We$t talks about monetizing his creative passions, how he got into music, his new show and more. Check Out T-We$t's Music and Youtube show at: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCgXoNpCX3M4Zd93JtxYNxCA Follow us on Instagram,Facebook and Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCwz7vBa_-9HMAS1i6GI8ODg https://www.instagram.com/visionarymagazine/?hl=en https://www.facebook.com/VisionaryMagazine/?ref=nf&hc_ref=ARSidH8Ba1Nmt_bI7ziPNlq3YMtMbYNClaI9c7ah5n8O8-cLR3mUyL2htyi6-lCMBP8 Make sure to share this article and subscribe to our newsletter to receive notifications on our latest posts, as well as exclusive content and much more!

Majid gets on a call with the Founder and CEO of NMC Talent, Najwa Cherif, who gave us insight into the talent management hustle. The topics discussed include the entertainment/talent industry in the MENA region, the process behind working with big talents around the world, advice for talents to find an agent and more! Click below to watch the interview. Make sure to check out NCM Talent's Instagram ! Follow us on: Instagram Facebook YouTube Make sure to share this post and subscribe to our newsletter to receive notifications on our latest posts, as well as exclusive content and much more!

As society progresses and moves forward, women are inspired to step out of their traditional roles and reach their full potential. This is especially true in the Arab world, where women's contribution to society is becoming more and more crucial. There is a wave of strong Arab women that were able to build business empires, destroy stereotypes and make headway for other women. Here are 10 Arab business women you should know about. 1-Amy Mowafi – Co-Founder & CEO, MO4Network. Amy Mowafi is the Co-Founder and CEO of MO4 Network, a leading creative and media agency in Egypt, with offices in Cairo and Dubai. She was born and raised in the UK, moved to Egypt in 2002 and has been living there ever since. She started her career with a job in Enigma Magazine , she began as a writer and worked her way up to becoming the editor of the magazine. In 2014, she launched MO4 with her three brothers, which grew from a team of 6 people to over 200 people now. The MO4 empire started with Tazkaraty , an online ticketing platform which quickly rose to popularity, they kept on building localized versions of global platforms from that point. At first, a few of their ideas did not make it big, however they were able to learn from the process and ended up launching very successful platforms. Today, MO4 is home to some of the most popular digital publications in the region, including: Cairozoom.com, Cairoscene.com, Startupsceneme.com, Scenenoise.com, SceneArabia.com, SceneEats, and elfasla.com . Amy is also the author of the book : Fe-mail: The trials and tribulations of being a Good Egyptian Girl . A book where she talks about her dreams, family, personal experiences as well as her role as a woman in her country and what is expected from her. Amy Mowafi is considered a symbol of success for women in Egypt as she offers an interesting perspective on how she was able to succeed in her patriarchal society as a women. https://themo4network.net/ 2- Sheikha Hanadi Al-Thani- Business Women And Philanthropist Sheikha Hanadi Bint Nasser bin Khalid Al Thani, is an influential Qatari business women. She was born in Qatar, earned a bachelor’s degree in economics from Qatar University, and went on to earn an executive MBA from London Business School and a master’s degree in economics at the University of London. She started her career as a lecturing assistant in the Economics Department of Qatar University, she then went on to establish the Qatar Ladies Investment Company (QLIC) in 1998, which was later renamed Amwal . Amwal is the first regulated investment company to be granted a license by the Qatar Central Bank, which allowed them to conduct investment banking as well as asset and wealth management. in 2005, she launched Al Waab City, an important real estate project that focused on providing world-class luxurious villas and contemporary apartments. Sheikha Hanadi is also an investor, banker, special adviser to Standard Chartered Bank, and is the CEO of "Nasser Bin Khaled Al Thani & Sons Group", a leading trading and contracting company in Qatar. In 2012, she founded Q-Auto, which deals in Volkswagen and Audi cars. Aside from her many business activities, she is also an active philanthropist, she founded Injaz Qatar, a non-profit organization that works on education and youth programs. She's also the founding co-chairperson of the 30% Club ’s GCC chapter, which is a regional volunteer group working together towards better representation of women on boards and in senior level positions. Sheikha Hanadi was able to make waves with her entrepreneurial skills, and paved her own path despite her royal background. http://www.amwal.qa/ 3- Jouhayna Samawi- Co Founder Of Ayyam Gallery Syrian national Jouhayna Samawi, is an entrepreneur, art collector and the co-founder of Ayyam Gallery, along with her husband and two cousins. Ayyam is an art gallery that aims to showcase Syria's art history and place an international spotlight on Syrian and Arab artists. Shortly after it's launch in Syria, Ayyam became huge a success, Sammawi and her partners were able to expand Ayyam to the UAE, Lebanon, the UK and Saudi Arabia. The gallery also played a pivotal role in helping timeless Syrian art pieces and artists such as Safwan Dahoul leave the war torn country. Since it's founding, Ayyam displayed the creations of many esteemed Arab artists including: Iraqi multi-media artist, Sadik Kwaish Alfraji, French-Tunisian multimedia artist El Seed and many more. With her current headquarters located in the Serkal Avenue in Dubai, Sammawi continues to push Ayyam forward, making it a powerful cultural voice showcasing Arab art to the world. http://www.ayyamgallery.com/ 4-Loulou Khazen Baz- Founder of Nabbesh.com. Lebanese national Loulou Khazen Baz, is the founder of Nabbesh.com , the first online work marketplace in the region, an angel investor as well as a podcast host and producer. Nabbesh connects businesses with top quality freelancers from the world’s emerging markets with a focus on the Middle East and North Africa. She founded Nabbesh out of Dubai with a goal of filling the gap between the talent demand and supply pockets, as well as encouraging local businesses to hire experts from the region. Nabbesh (which means "search" in Arabic) currently hosts 100,000 freelancers, with 42 percent of them identifying as full time freelancers. Nearly 20,000 jobs have been posted on Nabbesh , with design, media and architecture landing as the most popularly offered skills. Baz not only created opportunities for people with Nabbesh , but also helped changing the culture in the region when it comes to freelance work and hiring talents part time. Baz sold Nabbesh to Ureed.com last year, she then went on to establish Kickstart Ventures which is an angel network investing in early stage and seed stage startups. She is also the producer and host of the podcast Conversations with Loulou which focuses on bringing out stories of entrepreneurs and business leaders primarily from the MENA region. https://conversationswithloulou.com/ 5-Lulwa Alsoudairy- Founder Of Artistia.com Saudi national Lulwa Al-Sudairy, is the CEO and founding partner of Artistia.com . She attained her bachelor’s degree in management information systems from Dar Al-Hekma University, Jeddah, in 2011 and her MBA from Babson College’s F.W. Olin Graduate School of Business, Wellesley, Massachusetts in 2015. Prior to launching Artistia.com , Al-Sudairy held different positions in many companies including: social responsibility coordinator at BMG Financial Group in November of 2011, a business development intern at Harvard Medical School from January to August 2013, graduate assistant at Babson College’s Center for Engaged Learning & Teaching from January 2014 to May 2014, and she is currently the head of strategic development and a board member of "Mansour Al Mosaid Group". Al-Sudairy got her entrepreneurial prowess from her mother, who is the owner of Liyano , a local production house that produces Saudi handcrafted souvenirs and gifts. As Al-Sudairy observed and realized the challenges that designers and artists, such as her mother were facing when selling their products, she decided to take action and offer a solution. In 2016, along with her co-founder, Leena Alaufi, she launched Artistia.com , an e-commerce platform that operates as a virtual mall and connects local artists and designers with global markets. Since it's launch, the site’s network has expanded from 60 to 400 artisanal brands across the Gulf, including in Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Bahrain.The platform was ranked by Forbes as one of the top 50 startups in Saudi Arabia and currently registers around 15,000 visits per month. Al-Sudairy's drive and passion for problem solving and empowering artists led her to building one of the top startups in Saudi Arabia. https://artistia.com/ 6-Miriem Bensalah-Chaqroun- Business Mogul Miriem Bensalah-Chaqroun is a Moroccan business women, she is known as "the mysterious billionaire". Chaqroun proved to be a women that is able to compete with men and supersede them, not just in business but in many other areas. If she isn't giving orders and making millions from her office, she might be flying her own private plane, driving her favorite type of motorcycle, a Harley Davidson, playing golf at the most professional level or she might be driving one of the many race cars she's been collecting since she won the famous "Le Trophée des Gazelles" Rally championship in 1993. She was born in November 24,1962 in Casablanca, her father Abdulqader Bensaleh, a successful business man and the founder of the well known Holmarcom Group , was one of the individuals who signed Morocco's declaration of independence. At the age of 18, Chaqroun attended business school in Paris then went on to earn an MBA in International Management and Finance from the University of Dallas / Texas (USA) in 1986. Her business career began right after graduation, She held various positions at "Societe Marocaine de Depot et de Credit" from 1986 to 1989. in 1990, she joined the family business (Holmarcom Group) by heading "Eaux Minerales d’Oulmes" a company that produces bottled water and beverages under her family's umbrella, she was able to grow the company's profits exponentially over the following years. Miriem went on to inherent the entire Holmarcom empire as the only women among her fathers children, even though inheritance laws in Morocco state that a female inherits half of what her male counterpart inherit. This led the Moroccan press to praise and recognize her as the first women to succeed in breaking this old tradition. Chaqroun also headed the "Confédération Générale des Entreprises Du Maroc" (National confederation for Moroccan enterprises) where she helped solve many of the issues the private sector was facing and was able to create a better business environment for enterprises in the country, by pushing for new and better tax and labor regulations. Chaqroun did not stop at the business empire that she inherited from her father, she achieved way more by being a board member in the Al Akhawayn University in 2004, a board member in Bank Al-Maghrib in 2006, a board member in the Eutelsat corporation, a board member in Renoult Group in 2017 and much more. She is also the recipient of many prestigious awards such as the Wissam Al-Moukafa Al-Watania (Order of National Merit) with the rank of Grand Officer awarded by King Mohammed VI, the"Fès Gate"award in 2019, and she was listed as one of the fifteenth most powerful Arab woman under the category of family businesses in 2014, thirtieth most powerful Arab businesswomen in 2017 and twenty-sixth most influential woman in 2018 by Forbes Magazine. Even though Chaqroun is a controversial figure in her country, often accused of using aggressive business tactics, she still remains a symbol of inspiration for Arab and Moroccan women. 7-Nina Saeed- CEO and Co-Founder of Alsoug.com Sudanese national Nina Saeed is the CEO and Co-founder of Alsoug.com . She is also the General Counsel for Saeed Industrial & Commercial Group in Sudan. Nina graduated from the London School of Economics and Political Science. She established Alsoug.com in 2015, Sudan's biggest free online classifieds market for Sudanese buyers and sellers. The platform allows anyone in Sudan to buy and sell classifieds like, new and used mobiles, cars, houses, apartments, land, even jobs. Saeed described the platform as very local and very focused. It was built exclusively for Sudan and is one of the largest free online classifieds in the Northeast African country, charging for increased visibility for ads and business accounts. According to SimilarWeb , A lsoug had 350,000 visits in April of 2018. During the same year, Saeed attended the Global Online Marketplaces Summit in Miami to talk about her company, the Summit, and the classifieds marketplace. Today, Saeed continues to lead Sudan's largest online marketplace, allowing people in the North African country to easily buy and sell items and classifieds online. https://www.alsoug.com/ 8-Saana Azzam – Founder & CIO, MENA Speakers Palestinian/Swedish national Saana Azzam, is an international speaker, public speaking coach, author, co-founder of the tech platform called Experts Market , as well as Founder and CIO (Cheif Inspiration Officer) of Mena Speakers . Azzam graduated from the esteemed Stockholm School of Economics with a Masters in Economics. Her skills and knowledge in market analysis, investments, research and finance earned her the title ‘Female Economist of the Year’ in 2010. She started undertaking public speaking assignments on leadership and youth development all around Europe, as a result, she was listed as Sweden's 101 "Supertalents" in 2012, and was recognized as a "Top 30 Under 30 influencers" in 2015. Azzam also held crucial positions in several big corporations such as Saxo Bank Middle East, Swiss based company MKS/Pamp, American Express and more. However, her passion and expertise lies in the Art of Public Speaking, which led her to founding MENA Speakers . MENA Speakers is a platform that connects hundreds of international and MENA based professional speakers with events, corporations and public sector institutions. The company currently has more than 100 keynote speakers, event hosts, and moderators, including Claire Woodcraft Scott, CEO of the Emirates Foundation , and Raha Moharrak, the first Saudi female to climb Mount Everest, among others. The company also offers training in sales, public speaking, negotiation and more. Azzam's communication skills and passion for empowering professionals took her a long way and enabled her to become an inspirational figure and a business leader. https://saanaazzam.com/ 9-Dr. Sarah Al-Madani- Serial Entrepreneur Her excellency Dr.Sarah Al-Madani, is a young Emirati Fashion Designer, Business Women and the youngest board member of the Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry. At the age of 15, she started designing Abayas (Traditional wear for Arab women) with bold and unique styles that haven't been done before. She wanted to change the way Emirati women wore their traditional clothes. At first, she received a lot of criticism over her Avant-garde designs, with time however, Emirati women came to accept her designs and Al-Madani was able to build a long list of loyal clients for her fashion business. She then went on to venture into different industries, including: a tech company in Los Angeles called Hulatek , a celebrity concierge company called HalaHi , a marketing agency and a restaurant in Dubai called Shabarboush ( a play on words for Sheperds Bush, an area in London where many Arabs visit). In 2014, she was selected by His Highness, Sheikh Dr. Sultan Bin Mohammed Al Qassimi (ruler of the Emirate of Sharjah) as a board member at Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry , making her the youngest member on the board. Later in 2017, Dr.Sara was selected to be on the board of the SME Council in the Ministry Of Economy of Dubai. She is also the recipient of many awards including, the 2012 Emirati entrepreneur of the year award – L’Officiel Arab Woman Awards and the 2012 Young designer of the year award – Emirates Woman Award. Through her tenacity and relentlessness, Dr.Al-Madani has become a prominent business women that inspires women in the UAE to be more active and self-confident in order to achieve business success. 10-Wafa Al Rimi- Founder Of Creative Generations. Wafa Al Rimi is a Yemeni Entrepreneur and CEO of Creative Generations , a company that provides Solar powered appliances in Yemen. The company came together when Wafa and a group of her peers, decided to find a solution to a major issue in Yemen, power outages. Wafa and her group put together an idea and presented it to the Injaz Association , a non-profit organization funded by USAID, with a branch in Yemen. Injaz loved the idea and supported the girls from the start, offering them a course in coordination with Yemen’s Ministry of Education, in order to develop their project. After coming up with the name Creative Generations , they put their plan into action and were able to get funding from many different sources. Today, the company has a long list of clients including The Movenpick Hotel, and Wafa received a shoutout from Queen Rania of Jordan during her address to the World Future Energy Summit. https://www.facebook.com/CreativeGenerationCompany. Make sure to follow us on: Instagram Facebook YouTube Make sure to share this post and subscribe to our newsletter to receive notifications on our latest posts, as well as exclusive content and much more!

Shahrzad is a Dubai based painter who started painting as a hobby since a young age. Guided by her inspirations, Sharzad's paintings range from portraits to Genre Art. She's been very active in the Dubai art scene with a recent showcasing at Dubai's DIFC Art Night. Shahrzad talks about her beginnings in art, the Dubai art scene, her future plans for her art career and more. Make sure to follow Shahrzad on Instagram. Follow us on: Instagram Facebook YouTube Make sure to share this post and subscribe to our newsletter to receive notifications on our latest posts, as well as exclusive content and much more!

The Middle East is a variegated and colorful universe when it comes to clothes and attires for both men and women, which intern led to the region giving birth to many great designers. From the legendary Ziryab of the medieval Islamic period to modern fashion legends like Ellie Saab , the Middle East has been home to iconic designers that were able to leave a mark in the field. For the first time in a long time, Arab fashion and trend has become increasingly present on the world stage, with that being said, here are 10 Arab designers you should know about. 1- Amine Bendriouich Amine Bendriouich, is a Moroccan fashion designer and founder of his eponymous fashion label. Born in the mid-80s, he was inspired by the aesthetics of his generation, after obtaining a degree in fashion design at ESMOD Tunis , Bendriouite went on to establish his label which fuses pop authenticity, urban aesthetics and Moroccan cultural heritage with a hint of this certain "je-ne-sais-quoi" that keeps fashion going. Based out of his Atelier, Bendriouite works with local craftsmen to design his collections. He tells stories through his clothing, each season has a spontaneous theme that symbolizes his unique perception of the world we live in. His unisex style draws a lot of admiration, whether it's from the local young Moroccan generation or people abroad in Paris, New York, Amsterdam, London, Berlin, Tunis and Lagos. Iconic opinion leaders such as Vogue ltaly ,Grazia France and Schön! Magazine recognized him for his creative energy and unique style. He was also honored as one of the laureates of the OpenMyMed Prize in 2017 of the Maison Mediterranean Des Metiers de la Mode . Bendriouite's creative energy is felt across many different fields, apart from fashion, he's also heavily involved in Morocco's cultural and music scene, and was awarded the opportunity to work with the world’s leading embroidery software manufacturers Tajima . Bendriouite was also invited to the Adidas GH as a guest speaker and to lead a workshop for in-house designers. He also often collaborates with renowned international artists, such as London-based Hassan Hajjaj , American painter Kehinde Wiley, and musicians such Keziah Jones and Massive Attack. Weather it's in fashion, the music scene or cultural scene, Bendriouite uses his creative energy to gives citizens of the world the opportunity to express their attitudes. http://collections.bendriouich.com/ 2-Arwa Al Banawi Arwa Al-Banawi is a Saudi Arabian fashion designer, she's the Founder and Creative Director of her eponymous fashion label Arwa Al Banawi . Al-Banawi grew up in a fashion savy family, -“my mum wore Chanel pieces that were designed by Coco herself and vintage Yves Saint Laurent , my father loved bespoke suiting and my grandfather owned cool, retro Versace shirts”- says Al-Banawi, so it was inevitable for her to get into fashion. The idea for her brand came after she got bored of the regular suits she wore to her corporate job as an investment banker and decided to switch up her style and cuts. She wanted clothing that is both professional and fashion forward for young businesswomen. She would then go on to establish her own namesake brand in 2015 after studying at the London College Of Fashion In Dubai , her work is mostly inspired by Middle Eastern women, she deigns garments for empowered woman that feature clever and comfortable elements mixed in with a chic aesthetic, making the pieces easy to travel and work in. Banawi also aims to bridge the gap between high fashion and street wear by blending traditional tailoring with contemporary ”East meets West” perspectives. Al-Banawi's tailored suits and statement tees have been spotted in the pages of Vogue, New York Times, Grazia and were ported by some of the hottest street style star in the world. Al-Banawi also collaborated with Adidas Originals, Levi's and Pepsi , she also designed the garments used in a Mercedes-Benz campaign and starred in Generation M.E an OSN series that premiered on E! Entertainment . In 2019, Al-Banawi a received the Designer Of The Year By Award Grazia Style Awards in 2019. Al-Banawi continues to design for "the suitable women" and there's only more to come from her. http://arwaalbanawi.com/collections/ 3-Artsi Ifrach Artsi Ifrach is a self- taught Moroccan fashion designer and the visionary behind Maison ARTC , a popular Moroccan fashion label. Artsi was born in Jerusalem, he started out as a ballet dancer and taught himself how to make clothes while living in Paris and Amsterdam. After presenting his first collection at Paris fashion week, He made a conscious choice to go back to his motherland, Morocco. That was because, he believes that in order to look at the future, we must reflect on the past, he believes in preserving rather than throwing away, that is where the idea for Maison ARTC was born. He gathers vintage garments and textiles, then recreates them using his creativity and imagination, resulting in experimental and daring designs, combining tradition and modernity. His latest series Piece Of Mind deals with identity and the art of self expression. Artsi also took part in many iconic collaborations such as The Bright Side , a collaboration between photographer Azim Haidaryan and Artsi Ifrach (Maison ARTC) for the T MAGAZINE of New York Times . Another collaboration was a showcase at the Voice Gallery in Marrakesh, which showcased a collaboration between Artsi Ifrach and a photographer by the name of Musla Bravat, they called their collaboration Artsymous , where they mixed North African culture with Western influences. In a time where fashion has often lost it's creative element, Ifrash looks beyond social media trends and uses his creativity and imagination to inspire a new evolution and makes people feel emotionally connected to every piece and image that he creates. https://www.maisonartc.com/shop 4-Faissal El-Malak Faisal El-Malak is a Palestinian fashion designer who grew up between Qatar and Kuwait. Early on, he decided to study fashion and went to Paris. For his graduation project, he created tights and leggings that were cut and sewn, rather than knit, so they would last longer. That creation inspired El-Malak to start his own brand. He returned to Qatar after graduation and spent time coming up with ideas for clothing that would incorporate his roots in some way. He started exploring embroidery and textile traditions from many different countries around the region, he would then release his creation, collection by collection working with Artisans, each one inspired by a different country in the region. After releasing a number of collections, he was able to have an impact on the fashion industry and secured a position as a finalist in the first Dubai edition of Who’s on Next? — a competition run by Vogue Italia . One of the looks from that collection was acquired by London’s prestigious Victoria & Albert Museum (V&A) . El-Malak would also go on to explore different creative fields other than fashion. He created two textile works that were part of the Maraya Art Center Collection and another that he presented at Dubai Design Week in 2018. He also participated and won in the Sabeel competition to design drinking fountains for Expo 2020, along with his friend Alia bin Omair who is a jewelry designer. Faissal El-Malak's explorations are guided by his curiosity about the Arab world and beyond, it result in the creation of objects that reflect his identity and personal narrative. https://www.faissalelmalak.com/ 5-Faiza Bouguessa Faiza Bouguessa is a French Algerian fashion designer and founder of Dubai based fashion label, Bouguessa . Her love for fashion and clothing started when she learned the basics of knitting and sewing on the hands of her grandmother as a child, she went on to intern in many in tailor shops while studying English literature in university. Through those internships, she was able learn the basics of pattern making and developed an understanding for fabric characteristics. in 2014, she founded Bouguessa , her own fashion label, which focuses on blending minimalist sophistication and feminine elegance, merging global trends and contemporary classics inspired by art, architecture and modern design , as well as blending Middle Eastern style with Western chic. Bouguessa releases 3 collections a year, and in In 2017, Beyonce attended the Saint Heron party in Los Angeles on Monday wearing a tulle House of CB mini-dress paired with an emerald green velvet by Bouguessa, which led to the entire collection being sold out after Queen B Instagramed it. For 2021, Bouguessa plans to take a step towards sustainability, In an open letter, she admits,"Being part of an industry that is one of the most polluting in the world, I feel it is my responsibility to take that mission a step further by starting a new chapter and shift the way we run our business, and produce our collections towards a more Eco-conscious and sustainable approach." She plans to do this by re-lunching her Signature line using only recycled material from existing stock. Bouguessa was able implement her ethos of minimalist sophistication and feminine elegance into unique clothing pieces and she plans to continue and build upon her success in the future, making her brand global with a bigger emphasis on sustainability. https://bouguessa.com/collections/all?view=bc-original 6-Fatema Al-Fardan Fatema Al-Fardan is an Emirati fashion designer and the founder of her namesake ready-to-wear women’s label in Dubai. She was born in the UAE in 1987 and graduated from the American Intercontinental University (AIU) in London with a First Degree Honors in Fashion Design and Marketing. Al-Fardan grew up in a fashion forward family and developed a fascination for colors, styles and fabrics at the age of 9, filling her textbooks with sketches of dresses, tops and skirts. As a young designer, her innovative style earned her the "Most Outstanding Student Award"and the Fashion Show Competition at the AIU in London for women’s wear design in 2011. Al-Fardan's career began with designing for formidable fashion houses such as Tata Naka and Bora Aksu in the UK, as well as an internship with Louis Vuitton in the Middle East. She then went onto explore Textile Design and Fashion Marketing at the London College of Fashion and Central Saint Martin’s , where she has developed an international vision for design. A vision to establish a label that would set a new standard of elegance for women's designs that are masterfully draped, well tailored, and that emphasize femininity and luxury through colors, fabrics and prints inspired culture, ethnicity and values. Al-Fardan debuted her 2015 collection in New York Fashion Week , as the first Emirati designer to ever participate in the festival. She turned her gallery into a garden and brought the Middle East to NYFW with her folklore inspired pieces, making her debut a memorable one. Shortly after launching her label, she dressed the actress, Eva Longoria, at the Dubai International Film Festival press conference with a feminine, floral pink chiffon dress, that was part of her first collection. Fatema designs for the self assured woman of today, to flatter their subtle sensuality and feminine simplicity. https://www.instagram.com/fatemafardanofficial/?hl=en 7-Lama Al-Bluwi Lama Al-Bluwi is a Saudi Arabian fashion designer based in Jeddah city. Growing up in metropolitan Jeddah, Al-Bluwi felt disconnected from her ancestral home of Al-Ula (a city in the North-West of Saudi Arabia) which led to her craving for the the wealthy cultural heritage of her household's Bedouin roots. This craving manifested in the creation of unique fashion pieces that blend the cloth designs that her ancestors once wore with the latest trends in fashion. Shortly after she graduated in Trend Design from Jeddah’s Dar Al-Hekma College , she debuted her first collection, made up of hand-drawn portraits of the Bedouin that she prints onto native materials such as coats, jackets, crop-top hoodies and out-sized T-shirts. “I’ve all the time drawn Bedouin portraits, so I combined all my concepts to current a modern assortment for my senior assortment and my senior venture at college,”-she stated. Her collection became an instant hit on Instagram, it grabbed the attention of prospects uninterested in the extra predictable high-street fare. Even though Al-Ula's Bedioun heritage is the muse of her work, she is also inspired by Japanese tradition, notably the idea of wabi-sabi — the artwork of imperfection."Whenever you see my clothes, you’ll discover that the seams are inside out, and the perimeters are uncooked. I applied the imperfections in my designs." -She stated, “I don’t like seeing one thing polished, so I began to enter the historical past of imperfection, and I got here throughout this Japanese philosophy.” With the Saudi Arabian government implementing it's 2030 vision for financial diversification and showcasing cultural diversity, Al-Bluwi along with other young Saudi designers are set to spread their wings in the coming years. https://crateksa.com/brand/lama-albluwi/ 8-Mayada Adil Mayada Adil is a Sudanese fashion designer and doctor living between Khartoom and Paris. Her first collection released in 2017 under the name A Nubian Queen , which was dedicated to Sudanese women, and inspired by the queens that once ruled Sudan The Kingdom Of Kush , to remind them of their history. The idea for her second collection came about when she started working with the World Health Organization to help refugees and give them treatment as a doctor. Adil worked with South Sudanese refugees, she interacted with different cultures and tribes in Sudan, she found that the garments they wore were beautiful, very colorful and had unique patterns on them that she'd never seen before. That inspired Adil to create a fashion collection dedicated to them in 2018. Her work as a doctor was very stressful to her, so she would always turn to fashion as a getaway. Through her collection that she dedicated to the refugees, she was able to merge her work as a doctor with her passion for fashion. Her collection, which was showcased at UNESCO in Paris in 2018, was also a way for her to empower those refugees she worked with. The refugees were not allowed to work outside of the camp, so the collection allowed them to have an income through collaborating with Adil, to help create those unique fashion pieces. The clothes were made from sustainable material sowed on Wool, which was the first of it's kind in Africa. Adil's upcoming third collection will be a collaboration with two other fashion designers who are refugees, Ibrahim from Chad and Zahra from Somalia, the aim is to create a collection that merges the three cultures. Adil was able to use her passion for fashion to empower refugees, showcase her culture and build something creative in the fashion industry. Based on the plans she announced for the future, she's only getting started. https://www.instagram.com/mayada_adil/?hl=en 9-Meera Adnan Meera Adnan is a Palestinian fashion designer and owner of her contemporary, ready to wear namesake label, which is based and operated out of Gaza city. She was born in Gaza, grew up in Saudi Arabia, and moved back to Gaza ( her grandparents aren’t originally from Gaza but from the town Lod, located in Palestine next to Midreshet Ben-Gurion, both of her parents were born in refugee camps.) As a refugee under UN laws, she met fellow refugees who aren't originally from Gaza but now live there as refugees. While attending university in Gaza to study accounting, Meera developed a passion for style and fashion as, she saw it as a way to express her feelings and emotions. Eventually, she enrolled in school for fashion merchandising in Munich, but couldn’t attend due to border closures. Instead, she took an internship at a fashion-marketing firm in Hamburg, Germany. During this time, after working under someone, she realized that she wanted to start her own label. She chose to start the label in Gaza with hopes of shedding light on a different perspective of where she is from. Adnan’s collection is deeply personal. The clothes skew oversized, a feature that stemmed from her smaller frame, she also took much of her inspiration from family photo albums from the ’70s and ’80s, when the men wore pink, blue, and green pants and the women experimented with their hairstyles. The latest campaign photo shoot from MEERA ADNAN has been inspired by the struggle of uncertainty and isolation currently being felt across the globe, and reflects that of feelings of the residents of the Gaza Strip, who have felt isolated due to living under siege. “Personally experiencing isolation has opened my eyes to the crucial consequences of the social and cultural separation and how it shapes younger generations”-said Adnan. “Thus, with this pandemic, I believe that many people have experienced a small part of how geographic limitations can affect human psychology and creativity, as highlighted in the photo-shoot. It shows how much separation can manipulate and affect human emotions and consequently increase uncertainty, sense of displacement, and self-indulgence. Visualizing self-indulgence humanizes the experience of individuals living under siege, displacement, war etc. It highlights diversity and individualism while also craving human connection and familiarity.” Adnan's style highlights the importance of story telling, it allowed her to create something original in the fashion industry. https://meeraadnan.com/ 10-Karim Adduchi Karim Adduchi is an illustrator and fashion designer from the mountains of Imzouren in Morocco. He received an art education at the University of Barcelona, he then moved to Amsterdam to further his education. After an urge to express himself through fashion, he decided to tell his story and showcase his heritage through his first collection, which received much attention from the press, a week later, he was asked to open Amsterdam Fashion Week. The success of his show led him make a second collection dedicated to Syrian refugees and give them that same opportunity of creative expression. That same year, Forbes Europe and Forbes Middle East included him in their 30 under 30 list, as one of the most influential designers to watch. He was also honored with the Amsterdam Culture Business Award as a Moroccan designer in Europe, showcasing the bridges between Arab and Western cultures. His fashion was bringing a new approach that had never been seen before. That success led to him being asked to join the official program of Paris Fashion Week AW 19/20 with his first ever Ready-To-Wear collection. The collection, titled Maktub (Written), tells the story of destiny using Moroccan fabrics, embroideries, prints and designs. Karim Adduchi broke boundaries by being the First Moroccan in many fields. Nowadays, Adduchi continues to support migrant and refugee artisans through the World Makers Foundation, a platform that connects these talented communities with the outside world in the hopes of building a network of opportunities to showcase their work, in addition to his collections and shows, with the latest one being in June last year. http://karimadduchi.com/ Make sure to follow Visionary Magazine on: Instagram Facebook YouTube Make sure to share this post and subscribe to our newsletter to receive notifications on our latest posts, as well as exclusive content and much more!

Lulu Al-Hasan is a Saudi Arabian Shoe Designer and TV Show Host who started designing shoes after obtaining a certificate from Ars Sturoia – Milano for footwear designing in 2016. She started designing shoes for other brands such as Arwa Al Banawi, Daneh Buahmad and Nora Al Shaikh before debuting her own brand Luvixen at London Fashion Week. Al-Hasan is also the host of a very well know TV show on SBC TV called Design which sheds a spotlight on talented Saudis that are doing extraordinary things from all different areas of design. Lulu Al-Hasan talks about how she started in the shoe design industry, being one of the few Saudis in the profession, her debut at London Fashion Week, the second season of her TV show and much more. Watch the interview below: Make Sure To Follow Lulu Al-Hasan On Instagram! http://www.luvixen.net/ Follow us on: Instagram Facebook YouTube Make sure to share this post and subscribe to our newsletter to receive notifications on our latest posts, as well as exclusive content and much more!