ICYMI: Miss Universe UAE just slayed the 78th Cannes Film Festival red carpet
It's really no surprise that when the first ever Miss Universe UAE arrives on the red carpet in another unapologetic look at the Cannes Film Festival, heads will turn and onlookers will be gasping–true fan behaviour, tbh.
If anyone knows a thing or two about Emilia Dobreva, it's that whenever she attends ultra-exclusive events, she'll going shut down the red carpet in a jaw-dropping ensemble.
Back again another year of the infamous Cannes Film Festival, the proud 'wife and mama of 3' surely enough dazzled in a couture gown while dripped in the most dreamiest jewels ever.
For the grand opening ceremony, Emilia wore JoliPoli Couture, a Vietnamese brand known for its high-drama designs. Her black and white dress featured stunning pearl embellishments that was giving pure queen energy.
And becasue a little ✨drama✨ won't hurt anyone, the gown came complete with a sweeping arm wrap. Oh, and despite the Cannes' new rules reportedly banning large trains on the carpet, she still managed to slay (the wrap removable, btw).
As for accessories? Let's just say it was uber-perfection. Complementing her already gorgeous outfit, she completed the red carpet look with a slew of jewellery from Iranian London-based jewellery brand Hassanzadeh.
Since making history as the UAE's first Miss Universe, the 27-year-old (soon to be 28th this coming May 18, 2025) has been consistently making statements left and right. She recently walked the runway at Dubai Fashion Week and has been cementing herself in the world of fashion.
Who is Emilia Dobreva? Here's EYNTK about the UAE's first Miss Universe.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Khaleej Times
8 hours ago
- Khaleej Times
Meet the 17-year-old Dubai sculptor shaping emotions into clay
In a city synonym with gloss and grandeur, it's easy to overlook the quiet power of something imperfect. But for 17-year-old ceramic sculptor Samaira, imperfection is the point. 'People assume at my age, emotions can't be this complex,' she says, her tone as calm as it is self-assured. 'But teenagers notice a lot. We're constantly observing what people avoid saying.' Samaira doesn't just notice these emotions—she sculpts them. Grief, detachment, self-sabotage, psychological tension. These aren't just themes in her portfolio; they're the emotional clay that binds her work together. Her hand-built sculptures—often raw, cracked, and human—don't ask for attention. They command presence. 'Sculpture is different from drawing or painting because it's physical. The clay won't stay how you want it,' she says. 'It forces you to respond emotionally and intuitively. That's what I love.' Art with a pulse Born and raised in Dubai, Samaira grew up around the city's pursuit of perfection. But it's precisely this drive for polish and poise that she wants to challenge. 'There isn't always space here for people to openly talk about how they're really feeling,' she explains. 'That's probably why I use art as a space to explore the things people don't always say out loud.' Her process is deeply reflective. Loose sketches come first, followed by hours of hand-shaping, carving, and staging—each movement deliberate yet intuitive. Unlike most artists her age, she doesn't chase the idea of 'beauty' in a traditional sense. If anything, she disrupts it. One of her recent sculptures—a human head originally intended to feature horns as a symbol of self-sabotage—ended up with a pronounced crack across the top after the horns broke mid-process. Instead of starting over, she leaned into the damage. 'The piece became more powerful without the horns,' she says. 'The crack on the head felt like a wound caused from within. That shift made the story stronger.' Texture, too, is intentional. Smooth surfaces often represent emotional detachment; raw patches and visible fingerprints signal tension or vulnerability. Her work rarely features colour—clay, she believes, doesn't need embellishment. 'Once I've captured what I need to emotionally, I stop," she says. "Especially with faces—overworking ruins the expression. Sometimes the emotion lies in the flaws.' Animal imagery has also crept into her recent pieces. A fascination with psychology and symbolism led her to experiment with combining human and animal forms—spiders, horns, tentacles—as metaphors for internal struggle and entrapment. 'We assign human traits to animals all the time: aggression, fear, survival. Combining the two makes people pause and reflect. That discomfort is useful—it mirrors how we bury our darker emotions.' Beyond the studio For Samaira, art isn't just self-expression—it's a platform for change. One of her earlier sculptures explored marine pollution through the lens of human vulnerability. While working on it, she led a campaign within her school to reduce plastic waste from the canteen. 'It wasn't just a concept I sculpted. It was something I lived,' she says. 'I think young artists today have a responsibility to speak to what matters.' This summer, she's taking that responsibility further—beyond galleries and school corridors. Samaira is headed to India, where she'll spend part of her break hosting art workshops for children and young adults. She is set to launch Abilasha, a program she founded to empower underprivileged students through clay art. Abilasha means 'ambition' in Punjabi, and the entire purpose of the initiative, she says, is to give students the one thing that is often out of reach in their environment: a sense of possibility. 'I've realised how many young people struggle to talk about their emotions. Art gives them a way in,' she says. 'The goal is to introduce clay not just as a craft, but as a tool for emotional exploration.' It's a full-circle moment—taking something deeply personal and making it public, generative, and communal. In Dubai, Samaira is part of a quiet countercurrent—one that doesn't seek attention through rebellion, but through radical honesty. 'I'm not trying to shock people,' she says. 'If someone feels something when they see the work—even if it's discomfort—that's the point. That means the emotion is real.' Samaira continues to explore the intersections of mental health, symbolism, and form, and her sculptures offer a refreshing alternative to the curated perfection of social feeds and skyline silhouettes. They invite reflection. They allow stillness. And most of all, they give form to the feelings we often leave unspoken. 'Art can be more than something you look at,' she adds. 'It can be something that holds space for conversations we're not having elsewhere.'
Zawya
8 hours ago
- Zawya
Miral set to host exclusive Ferrari workshop experience at Ferrari World, Yas Island Abu Dhabi
Abu Dhabi, UAE— Miral, the leading creator of immersive destinations and experiences in Abu Dhabi, has announced the launch of 'Gear Up for Knowledge: Ferrari Workshop Experience', taking place on 21 June at Cinema Maranello, Ferrari World Yas Island, Abu Dhabi. Open to community members aged 10 and above, the event offers an immersive experience into the world of automotive engineering through interactive and practical activities inspired by the iconic Ferrari brand. As part of Miral's ongoing CSR strategy under the pillars of Education and Skill Development, the initiative offers participants an engaging two-hour workshop designed to spark curiosity and inspire learning. The session includes a motivational overview of Ferrari's innovation journey, a fun knowledge quiz, and an interactive demonstration, all delivered in a dynamic, youth-friendly environment. Blending inspiration with hands-on activity, the workshop aims to build confidence and foundational skills in an accessible, exciting format. 'Gear Up for Knowledge: Ferrari Workshop Experience' will take place on 21 June 2025, from 12 pm to 2 pm. Registration is required to participate, and spaces are limited – family members are welcome to attend. To register, please click- For more information, please follow @TheMiralGroup on social media. About Miral Miral is the leading creator of immersive destinations and experiences in Abu Dhabi, that contributes to the growth of the leisure and entertainment industry and Abu Dhabi's economic diversification. It conceives, creates, operates, and manages immersive destinations and experiences that attract visitors from across the world to create unforgettable memories, accelerating the realisation of the Emirate's tourism vision and growth. Responsible for the development of Yas Island and overseeing Saadiyat Island's Destination Management Strategy, Miral's portfolio of world-class assets incorporates entertainment, leisure, culture, sport, dining, retail, and hospitality experiences, aiming to deliver millions of memorable moments for residents and international guests alike. These include teamLab Phenomena Abu Dhabi; SeaWorld® Yas Island, Abu Dhabi; Ferrari World Yas Island, Abu Dhabi; Warner Bros. World™ Abu Dhabi; CLYMB™ Abu Dhabi; Yas Waterworld Abu Dhabi; Yas Marina; and Yas Bay Waterfront, home to the UAE's largest indoor multi-purpose venue Etihad Arena, amongst others. Miral also has several projects being developed on Yas Island and across the emirate, including Natural History Museum Abu Dhabi, a Harry Potter-themed land within Warner Bros. World™ Abu Dhabi, the expansion of Yas Waterworld Abu Dhabi, and a Disney Theme Park Resort. Miral encompasses three subsidiaries: Miral Destinations, which promotes unique destinations; Miral Experiences, which operates a diverse portfolio of world-class, award-winning immersive experiences; and Yas Asset Management, which operates and manages a portfolio of vibrant destinations including F&B, retail, marinas, and hospitality properties across Yas Island. For more information, visit
Zawya
9 hours ago
- Zawya
Festival Plaza, Jebal Ali enhances offering with addition of new home retail outlets and an exciting entertainment venue
Dubai, UAE: Visitors to Festival Plaza, Jebal Ali – the lifestyle community mall will soon have more to enjoy with the launch of several exciting new additions. Key highlights include the upcoming opening of Danube Home, a leading home solutions brand; the launch of Scorpion Club, an innovative entertainment and bowling concept; the expansion of Pan Home, enhancing its popular home furnishing & décor offering within the mall; and the opening of the second Crate & Barrel Bazaa, showcasing contemporary furniture and home décor, with an expanded range of outdoor furniture and accessories. The new outlets and venues – key additions that amplify the mall's core focus areas of home, family and fun – join the already stellar line-up of retail, lifestyle and entertainment options that make Festival Plaza, Jebal Ali a must-visit destination for home makeovers and lifestyle-led retail. The addition of Danube Home and Crate & Barrel Bazaar enhances the malls reputation as a key destination for stylish home living and interiors, and broadens its appeal to homeware shoppers. Danube Home offers a wide selection of furniture and home décor with a stylish, contemporary edge, while Crate & Barrel Bazaar enables budget-conscious fans of the US brand to enjoy generous year-round savings on its premium range. The expansion of Pan Home, one of the leading furnishing brands in the region, further strengthens Festival Plaza, Jebal Ali's position as a one-stop destination for home and living needs. The opening of Scorpion Club brings an exclusive, first-of-its-kind immersive entertainment offering not previously available in the South of Dubai. Scorpion Club features a bowling alley, darts and sniper shooting, billiards and snooker and interactive games, blending modern technology, interactive gaming and classic fun for all ages. Hayssam Hajjar, Asset Management Director at Al-Futtaim Real Estate, said 'At Festival Plaza, we're always striving to elevate the experience for our community by introducing exciting new offerings that reflect their evolving lifestyles and preferences. With the recent enhancement of our home segment, welcoming brands like Danube and Crate & Barrel Bazaar alongside IKEA and ACE, we're strengthening an already robust category that truly resonates with our visitors. Festival Plaza not just as a retail space, it is a dynamic lifestyle destination designed around the everyday needs of our surrounding communities. We remain committed to growing with our customers, providing them with a place that's not only convenient but familiar.' In enabling access to enhanced home and lifestyle brands and a new entertainment option that caters to all ages, the three additions strengthen Festival Plaza, Jebal Ali's community relevance and position as a one-stop destination for all the family, and underscore its focus on home and living retail and elevated entertainment experiences. Hayssam Hajjar concluded: 'Festival Plaza, Jebal Ali has been steadily evolving into a lifestyle-driven community destination tailored to the needs of nearby residents with exciting home and entertainment options. The new additions align with our longstanding commitment to diversifying our retail mix, expanding our lifestyle offerings and investing in innovation, as well as our strategy of building deeper connections with the Jebel Ali and South Dubai communities. We are confident visitors will enjoy the enhanced experiences now available at the mall.' About Festival Plaza, Jebel Ali Festival Plaza, Al-Futtaim Real Estate's local lifestyle community mall, caters to residential areas including Jebel Ali, Al Furjan and Wasl Gate, as well as attracting visitors from Dubai Marina, Palm Jumeirah, Motor City and further afield. Spanning 65,000 square meters, Festival Plaza provides a holistic lifestyle experience for its visitors as it offers a wide variety of homeware and wellness options including the largest IKEA store in the region, the premium Al-Futtaim Health clinics, HealthHub and Lutetia as well as a wide variety of retail, dining and lifestyle options, a concept store from Lulu Hypermarket and. Visitors to Festival Plaza can choose from more than 20 dining options offering international cuisines at the expansive food court. Festival Plaza has elevated its community and family offerings with the launch of the new Battle Park paintball facility, providing a fun and engaging activity for the entire family. The mall also features unique signature services exclusive to Festival Plaza, including the Volvo Mall Studio, the Festival Plaza Design Hub for interior design enthusiasts, Kavak, the global pre-owned car platform newly introduced to the UAE. In addition, Festival Plaza is also home to Champs Festival Plaza, the country's largest world-class indoor sporting and fitness complex. With 2,300 parking spaces ensuring hassle-free accessibility, the mall further enhances convenience with services like the interior designer consultation and a shuttle bus for easy connectivity. Find more information Al-Futtaim Real Estate Al-Futtaim Real Estate is the region's only private master developer with over six decades of real estate and management experiences, with a diversified portfolio across the real estate value chain. Al-Futtaim Real Estate is responsible for a multi-billion-dollar portfolio comprising of individual, corporate real estate and investment assets and master-planned destinations across the Middle East and North Africa region. With capabilities across the value chain and entire real estate cycle from location conceptualization, development, design and fit-out, asset management, contracting and operation, Al-Futtaim Real Estate covers a diverse range of industries and asset type including residential, commercial, malls, hospitality, healthcare, infrastructure, and education. The current flagship mixed-use urban communities under Al-Futtaim Real Estate's Festival City brand are Dubai Festival City, Cairo Festival City and Doha Festival City. Dubai Festival City and Cairo Festival City are fully integrated communities which have been carefully master planned to offer a superior lifestyle destination with outstanding facilities, comprising residential and commercial accommodation, educational institutions and five-star hotels to fully complement the signature retail, leisure, and entertainment proposition. The Real Estate portfolio covers over 1 million sqm GLA across retail and commercial assets and over 80 million in annual footfall across five malls in the MENA region: Dubai Festival City Mall and Festival Plaza in the UAE, Cairo Festival City Mall in Egypt, Doha Festival City in Qatar and Zenata Mall in Casablanca, Morocco. Testament to its expertise in the retail space, Al-Futtaim Real Estate also provides third party management services in asset management, leasing, marketing and operations for shopping centers in the region, including Arabian Center, part of the Al Naboodah Group. The Al-Futtaim Real Estate division also manages Al Futtaim's contracting business, a fully integrated, end-to-end engineering, technologies and construction specialist with a solid delivery track record of mega projects in major Middle East markets over the past 50 years. Al-Futtaim Engineering & Technologies offers customers complete engineering and systems integration solutions. Visit our website here Al-Futtaim Group Established in the 1930s as a trading business, Al-Futtaim Group today is one of the most diversified and progressive, privately held regional businesses headquartered in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Structured into five operating divisions; automotive, financial services, real estate, retail, and health; employing more than 33,000 employees across more than 20 countries in the Middle East, Asia, and Africa, we partner with over 200 of the world's most admired and innovative brands. Al-Futtaim Group's entrepreneurship and relentless customer focus enable the organisation to continue to grow and expand, responding to the changing needs of our customers within the societies in which we operate. By upholding our values of respect, excellence, collaboration, and integrity, Al-Futtaim Group continues to enrich the lives and aspirations of our customers every day. For more information, visit:
