Middle East's first swimwear, resortwear, activewear and loungewear B2B retail event in Dubai
Taking place from October 11–13 at The Agenda, Dubai Media City, SAND offers a three-day platform designed to foster connections, unlock expansion opportunities, and spotlight the region's rapidly growing appetite for stylish, wellness-led living.
Including panel talks, special guests and other immersive happenings across the showcase SAND is set to become the region's definitive destination for premium resort fashion, offering buyers from across the Middle East and Asia the chance to explore curated collections from both established and emerging global brands, many of whom will be showing in the region for the first time. For participating brands, SAND offers unique access to some of the most influential retailers, boutiques, resorts, and e-commerce players.
Co-founded by fashion and marketing experts Karim Hatab and Iyad Grahne, who bring two decades of combined experience in the Middle East across business and global fashion industries, SAND was born from a clear market need and a deep network of relationships. Leveraging international reach and regional insight, the duo have worked closely with key partners to shape an engaging, business-forward event.
'We're excited to launch SAND, the first event of its kind in the region,' says co-founder Karim Hatab. 'SAND is more than a trade show, it's a platform for international brands to connect with the Middle East's dynamic, luxury retail ecosystem, and for local labels to expand their global footprint. It's about real connections, collaborations, and long-term growth. Our aim is for SAND to become an annual event – an essential fixture on the global calendar.'
'Dubai is a natural home for SAND,' adds Iyad Grahne. 'It's a world-class fashion capital, a gateway to the region, and a year-round beach and wellness destination. With fashion in the Middle East gaining global attention, the timing for this kind of event couldn't be better.'
Participating brands include: Oceanus, Miss June Paris, My Beachy Side, La Revêche, Positano Couture, Isabel Beachwear, Nadia Dafri, Allis, Acqua de Lux, HartiSWIM with further names to be announced shortly. Buyers and industry leaders from major retail groups, high-end boutiques, top hotels and resorts, and leading e-commerce platforms are expected to attend.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Gulf Business
4 hours ago
- Gulf Business
Dubai Police just added a beastly Audi RS7 to their luxury fleet
Image credit: Dubai Media Office/Website Read- The unveiling took place at the Museum of the Future, one of Dubai's most iconic landmarks. The ceremony was led by Major General Eid Muhammad Thani, Assistant Commander-in-Chief for Criminal Investigation Affairs, alongside Major General Rashid Al Falasi, Director of the General Department of Transport and Rescue. Also present were representatives from Al Nabooda Automobiles, including Jan Scheidgen, General Manager of Audi – Al Nabooda Automobiles. Performance meets police precision The Audi RS7 Performance boasts exceptional engineering and performance. With 630 horsepower and 850 Nm of torque, the car accelerates from 0 to 100 km/hr in just 3.4 seconds. Its bold design and advanced technological features make it both a powerful patrol vehicle and a head-turner on the roads. During the launch, Major General Thani was given a comprehensive demonstration of the vehicle's capabilities. He noted that such high-performance vehicles enhance police presence in popular areas and reinforce Dubai's image as a secure and innovative global city. Strategic partnership drives innovation Major General Thani praised the continued collaboration with Al Nabooda Automobiles, calling it a key part of the Police's strategic vision. 'Integrating high-performance vehicles like the RS7 helps ensure that Dubai Police remains at the forefront of mobility and law enforcement,' he said. The luxury patrol cars are not only about performance but also play a symbolic role in showcasing Dubai's commitment to excellence in both policing and public engagement. Shared vision for mobility and excellence K. Rajaram, CEO of Al Nabooda Automobiles, expressed pride in the partnership: 'Our collaboration with Dubai Police, especially the Tourism Police Department, reflects a shared ambition rooted in trust. With the Audi RS7, we're supporting a vision that blends high performance with innovation.' He added that the partnership underscores Dubai's global reputation for leadership, luxury, and technological advancement.
Tahawul Tech
5 hours ago
- Tahawul Tech
MBZUAI begins new academic year with largest-ever cohort of 400 plus students
Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence (MBZUAI) has welcomed its largest cohort for its Fall 2025 intake, enrolling 403 new students. This includes its inaugural undergraduate class, new graduate cohorts in existing programmes in Computer Science, Computer Vision, Machine Learning, Natural Language Processing, and Robotics, and the first intakes into the Master of Science in Statistics & Data Science and Master in Applied Artificial Intelligence. This semester received more than 8,000 applications across the university's Bachelor and graduate programmes, yielding an acceptance rate of 5 per cent, and reinforcing the university's prestigious position and ability to attract the best talent in the UAE and from around the world. Timothy Baldwin, MBZUAI Provost and Professor of Natural Language Processing, said: 'This year, MBZUAI welcomes our largest cohort of graduate students alongside our inaugural undergraduate class. Artificial intelligence is transforming the world at a pace that vastly outstrips traditional education models. To realise its full global potential, MBZUAI invests heavily in reviewing and updating our programmes to reflect modern AI research methodology and workflows, based on our bleeding-edge AI research credentials and grounded in societal and industrial needs. As a young institution, MBZUAI has already earned a place among the world's top 10 AI universities based on our research credentials. 'With the introduction of our undergraduate and Master's in Applied AI programmes, we continue to build world-leading programmes aligned with the UAE's National Strategy for AI 2031 and supporting Abu Dhabi's rapidly growing AI ecosystem.' The newly launched Bachelor of Science in Artificial Intelligence programme offers two streams, AI for Business and AI for Engineering, combining technical rigor with leadership, hands-on entrepreneurship, and in-situ industry experience. The first class consists of 115 undergraduate students from more than 25 countries, over 25 per cent of which are UAE Nationals. Professor Baldwin said: 'The jobs of tomorrow are being shaped by AI today and we must ensure that future generations are equipped with the tools and skills to navigate that shift. Our extraordinarily talented students don't just learn about AI, but learn with it, through it, and for it. This is an extraordinary value proposition across all our programmes, but especially for our undergraduate students, who will be studying towards a bachelor's degree in AI that I believe sets a new global benchmark in terms of technical depth, real-world relevance, and the high-end AI job-readiness of the students.' The key highlights for the Fall 2025 intake includes MBZUAI's total student body totaling more than 700, representing over 47 nationalities. Nationalities represented in the undergraduate programmes are Bulgaria, China, Egypt, Georgia, Greece, India, Indonesia, Kazakhstan, the UAE and the UK. Postgraduate programmes bring together students from Canada, China, Egypt, France, India, Italy, Kazakhstan, Serbia, UAE, UK, USA and Vietnam. MBZUAI continues to attract exceptional students, with 151 of the incoming graduate students (27.5 per cent) holding degrees from the world's top 100 computer science universities (CSRankings), including Cornell University, Tsinghua University, the University of Edinburgh, and the University of California, San Diego. In welcoming the new students, MBZUAI has begun its immersive Orientation Week, introducing new students to the university's culture of academic excellence, AI-driven innovation, and community engagement. The programme combines academic sessions, mentorship activities, and cultural programming celebrating UAE heritage and life in Abu Dhabi. Highlights include the Orientation Mini Fair, where internal and external partners showcase resources for academic success, career development, and student life.
Gulf Business
5 hours ago
- Gulf Business
Al Reem Island leads the pack: 38% price surge puts it at no 1 in Abu Dhabi
Image credit: Supplied Abu Dhabi's real estate market is witnessing unprecedented momentum in 2025, with Al Reem Island emerging as the standout performer in both investment and lifestyle offerings. According to MERED, the international award-winning real estate developer, Al Reem Island recorded a remarkable 38 per cent year-on-year increase in off-plan property weighted average prices during Q2 2025. Read- These figures, based on extensive transaction data from Quanta, underscore the island's appeal as a premium investment destination. In comparison, Khalifa City and Jubail Island saw notable, though more modest, price increases of 24 per cent and 20 per cent respectively, further confirming the overall resilience and upward trajectory of Abu Dhabi's property market. Image credit: Supplied In the rental segment, Residents of Al Reem Island benefit from a unique urban lifestyle that blends waterfront living, Grade-A office spaces, top-tier healthcare, expansive retail offerings, and the sprawling 1,000,000 square-foot Reem Central Park. Situated between Abu Dhabi's business core and the cultural hub of Saadiyat Island, the island embodies a modern 'live-work-play' ethos. Branded residences power luxury real estate growth Abu Dhabi's booming real estate sector isn't limited to just one location. The luxury and branded residences market is experiencing record growth in 2025, with branded property launches increasing fourfold compared to 2024, according to Metropolitan Capital Real Estate (MCRE). Fuelled by rising interest from high-net-worth individuals (HNWIs), international investors, and a growing pool of long-term residents, the capital's premium segment has seen a five per cent increase in transactions valued at Dhs7m and above, totaling Dhs6.3bn in the first four months of the year alone. More than half of these deals were in the Dhs10m and above bracket, signaling heightened investor confidence in Abu Dhabi's upscale real estate offerings. 'Abu Dhabi has firmly positioned itself as a premier destination for luxury and lifestyle-led investments,' said Evgeny Ratskevich, CEO of MCRE. 'Many investors who began with a single unit are expanding their portfolios, while long-term residents are choosing to buy rather than rent, reflecting a deep trust in the market's long-term potential.' One of the most significant drivers of this growth has been the surge in branded residence developments, particularly in hot spots like Saadiyat Island, Al Reem Island, and Mariah Island. With at least 25 new branded residences expected to launch in 2025, up from just a handful last year, Abu Dhabi is quickly becoming a hub for high-end, lifestyle-centric living. Notable launches this year include Jacob & Co Beachfront Residences, Brabus Residences by Cosmo, Waldorf Astoria Residences, Elie Saab Waterfront, SHA Wellness Residences, and Mandarin Oriental Residences. One standout transaction came from Nobu Residences, which made headlines with a record-breaking penthouse sale of Dhs137m, the highest ever residential sale in Abu Dhabi. New era for Al Reem Island and ADGM MERED is poised to further elevate Al Reem Island's profile with a new waterfront project that spans over 23,400 square meters within the Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM) jurisdiction. Designed in partnership with Pritzker Prize-winning architects, the project promises to redefine super-prime living in the capital, offering direct sea views, iconic design, and unmatched luxury. 'Al Reem Island has unequivocally established itself as Abu Dhabi's premier residential destination. Waterfront properties are now averaging over Dhs1,800 per square foot, with new launches exceeding those prices,' said Artemiy Marinin, Project Director at MERED. A major catalyst in Al Reem's ascent has been the expansion of ADGM's jurisdiction to the island in April 2023. Since then, more than 1,100 new businesses have joined, bringing the total to over 11,000 registered entities. This influx of professionals, executives, and entrepreneurs has added further depth to the island's luxury appeal and rental demand. As Abu Dhabi's urban landscape evolves, the combination of strong fundamentals, visionary developments, and branded living is setting a new benchmark for residential real estate. From record-breaking sales to design-driven innovation, Al Reem Island is leading the charge in the capital's transformation into a global real estate hotspot.
