Latest news with #Lebanese-Omani
CairoScene
27-04-2025
- Entertainment
- CairoScene
Travel Photographer Rana Khadra Collects Stories Not Stamps
Travel Photographer Rana Khadra Collects Stories Not Stamps Lebanese-Omani photographer Rana Khadra captures the raw beauty of everyday life through portrait photography, blending cultures and stories with each emotive shot. We are all, in our own ways, seekers of light. In the souks of Marrakech, sunlight filters through woven reed roofs, turning spice stalls into pools of gold. Along Beirut's corniche, dusk melts into the Mediterranean, turning water into liquid mercury. Here, shadows aren't voids—they're stories waiting to be told. Across generations, storytellers in the Arab world have understood this, using light and shadow to carve narratives into stone, fabric, and memory. But what if light isn't just a language—it's a mirror? For Rana Khadra, it reflects the unspoken. Khadra doesn't chase postcard-perfect vistas. Instead, she hunts for the unscripted moments where light collides with humanity. A Lebanese-Omani travel photographer, color designer, and self-proclaimed 'corporate hippy,' Khadra has spent the past 15 years collecting stories the way others collect stamps. If she were a Pantone shade, she'd be Wanderlust Gold: equal parts curiosity, warmth, and a refusal to see the world in anything less than full-spectrum technicolor. Born in Oman, shaped by Beirut's resilience, and polished by Dubai's glittering chaos, she's the kind of person who crashes weddings in Cairo for 'research' and considers heartbreak a creative superpower. Rana's photography—a hobby-turned-exhibition staple—is less about staged perfection than it is about 'raw, unpolished humanity'. She wanders the streets from Mumbai to Marrakech, camera in hand, hunting for moments others might overlook: a Baghdad poet mid-verse, hand pressed to his forehead like a living sculpture. Her toolkit? A camera, compulsive curiosity, and a refusal to judge. 'People live differently because that's their life. Their education, environment—it's all different. I want to learn from it, not fear it,' Khadra tells SceneTraveller. 'I've always been drawn to capturing the essence of a person, the unspoken story behind their face.' Her approach is one of quiet curiosity—no preconceived plans, no forced compositions. 'I don't plan shoots. I follow energy—mine, theirs, the city's.' Her secret? Asking permission. 'You get so much more from someone once you've given them respect. They feel safe. Then… you get the real emotions.' Khadra's photography is also deeply shaped by her expertise in colour design, a field she balances alongside her artistic pursuits. 'When I look at a scene, I'm subconsciously thinking about both the people and the colours around them. The way people wear what they see, and how their surroundings shape their choices—it all feeds into my work,' she explains. With a background in colour forecasting, she understands the emotional power hues hold, whether in her designs or portraits. Her dual Omani-Lebanese heritage isn't just a footnote—it's her lens, fueling her mission to reshape perceptions of the Arab world. Her latest exhibition, '3ala Rasi' (On My Head), challenges stereotypes. A visual ode to Arab identity, the series—turbans, hijabs, fruit baskets balanced on brows—is a love letter to the quiet poetry of everyday life. 'Our culture is powerful but misunderstood. I want to show the 'why' behind how we live.' As a photographer, Khadra doesn't shy away from the imperfections of life; in fact, she embraces them. 'My work is about showing life as it is, not as we want it to be.' This philosophy runs through her work, her life, and her creative process. And in a world that often seems fixated on perfection and materialism, her photography reminds us that the true beauty lies in the real, the imperfect, and the unspoken. With 49 countries behind her (and counting), Khadra doesn't travel to tick boxes. Instead, she collects stories, mismatched fridge magnets, and memories. Her favorite adventure? Crashing a wedding. 'In Egypt, I stumbled into a farah sha'bi. Weddings reveal everything—food, traditions, joy.' For someone who picked up a camera before Instagram, Khadra is surprisingly unbothered by the social media era. 'Social media democratized art. Everyone's a critic, but everyone's also a creator. Just stay true to your voice.' Her advice to aspiring artists? 'Start before you're ready. Let your art be a journey, not a final project. And for God's sake, live—it's all material.' As dusk stains Dubai's skyline in shades of apricot, Khadra muses on legacy. 'Success? If even one person sees the world differently because of my work.' For most, a suitcase is a symbol of escape, adventure, or the challenge of packing light. But for Rana Khadra, it holds something deeper—fragments of lives, faces, and moments collected across continents. Through her lens, fleeting stories become timeless.
CairoScene
04-04-2025
- Entertainment
- CairoScene
Travel Photographer Rana Khedra Collects Stories Not Stamps
Travel Photographer Rana Khedra Collects Stories Not Stamps Lebanese-Omani photographer Rana Khedra captures the raw beauty of everyday life through portrait photography, blending cultures and stories with each emotive shot. We are all, in our own ways, seekers of light. In the souks of Marrakech, sunlight filters through woven reed roofs, turning spice stalls into pools of gold. Along Beirut's corniche, dusk melts into the Mediterranean, turning water into liquid mercury. Here, shadows aren't voids—they're stories waiting to be told. Across generations, storytellers in the Arab world have understood this, using light and shadow to carve narratives into stone, fabric, and memory. But what if light isn't just a language—it's a mirror? For Rana Khedra, it reflects the unspoken. Khedra doesn't chase postcard-perfect vistas. Instead, she hunts for the unscripted moments where light collides with humanity. A Lebanese-Omani travel photographer, color designer, and self-proclaimed 'corporate hippy,' Khedra has spent the past 15 years collecting stories the way others collect stamps. If she were a Pantone shade, she'd be Wanderlust Gold: equal parts curiosity, warmth, and a refusal to see the world in anything less than full-spectrum technicolor. Born in Oman, shaped by Beirut's resilience, and polished by Dubai's glittering chaos, she's the kind of person who crashes weddings in Cairo for 'research' and considers heartbreak a creative superpower. Rana's photography—a hobby-turned-exhibition staple—is less about staged perfection than it is about 'raw, unpolished humanity'. She wanders the streets from Mumbai to Marrakech, camera in hand, hunting for moments others might overlook: a Baghdad poet mid-verse, hand pressed to his forehead like a living sculpture. Her toolkit? A camera, compulsive curiosity, and a refusal to judge. 'People live differently because that's their life. Their education, environment—it's all different. I want to learn from it, not fear it,' Khedra tells SceneTraveller. 'I've always been drawn to capturing the essence of a person, the unspoken story behind their face.' Her approach is one of quiet curiosity—no preconceived plans, no forced compositions. 'I don't plan shoots. I follow energy—mine, theirs, the city's.' Her secret? Asking permission. 'You get so much more from someone once you've given them respect. They feel safe. Then… you get the real emotions.' Khedra's photography is also deeply shaped by her expertise in colour design, a field she balances alongside her artistic pursuits. 'When I look at a scene, I'm subconsciously thinking about both the people and the colours around them. The way people wear what they see, and how their surroundings shape their choices—it all feeds into my work,' she explains. With a background in colour forecasting, she understands the emotional power hues hold, whether in her designs or portraits. Her dual Omani-Lebanese heritage isn't just a footnote—it's her lens, fueling her mission to reshape perceptions of the Arab world. Her latest exhibition, '3ala Rasi' (On My Head), challenges stereotypes. A visual ode to Arab identity, the series—turbans, hijabs, fruit baskets balanced on brows—is a love letter to the quiet poetry of everyday life. 'Our culture is powerful but misunderstood. I want to show the 'why' behind how we live.' As a photographer, Khadra doesn't shy away from the imperfections of life; in fact, she embraces them. 'My work is about showing life as it is, not as we want it to be.' This philosophy runs through her work, her life, and her creative process. And in a world that often seems fixated on perfection and materialism, her photography reminds us that the true beauty lies in the real, the imperfect, and the unspoken. With 49 countries behind her (and counting), Khedra doesn't travel to tick boxes. Instead, she collects stories, mismatched fridge magnets, and memories. Her favorite adventure? Crashing a wedding. 'In Egypt, I stumbled into a farah sha'bi. Weddings reveal everything—food, traditions, joy.' For someone who picked up a camera before Instagram, Khedra is surprisingly unbothered by the social media era. 'Social media democratized art. Everyone's a critic, but everyone's also a creator. Just stay true to your voice.' Her advice to aspiring artists? 'Start before you're ready. Let your art be a journey, not a final project. And for God's sake, live—it's all material.' As dusk stains Dubai's skyline in shades of apricot, Khedra muses on legacy. 'Success? If even one person sees the world differently because of my work.' For most, a suitcase is a symbol of escape, adventure, or the challenge of packing light. But for Rana Khedra, it holds something deeper—fragments of lives, faces, and moments collected across continents. Through her lens, fleeting stories become timeless.
LBCI
26-02-2025
- Politics
- LBCI
Speaker Berri meets Omani FM to discuss bilateral relations and regional issues
Lebanese Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri received Omani Foreign Minister Badr bin Hamad Al Busaidi and his accompanying delegation at his office in the Parliament. The meeting, attended by Oman's Ambassador to Lebanon, Ahmed bin Mohammed bin Saeed Al Saidi, and Berri's media advisor, Ali Hamdan, focused on the general situation in Lebanon and the region, especially the repercussions of the Israeli aggression at various levels. The discussion also covered bilateral relations between Lebanon and Oman, exploring ways to strengthen ties, particularly in the legislative domain. Minister Al Busaidi said after the meeting, "I am happy to be here today to meet with Speaker Nabih Berri. The meeting was highly productive, reflecting the depth and strength of the Lebanese-Omani relationship, and it demonstrates our mutual aspirations for greater unity, solidarity, and cooperation between our peoples and countries in the future." He added, "The warm welcome from Speaker Berri and the positive meeting reflect our pride in the strong and enduring ties between our two countries."
MTV Lebanon
26-02-2025
- Politics
- MTV Lebanon
Berri broaches situation, bilateral relations with Omani Foreign Minister
Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri met in his office at the Parliament in Nejmeh Square, with Omani Foreign Minister, Badr Al-Busaidi, and the accompanying delegation. The meeting took place in the presence of Omani Ambassador to Lebanon Ahmed bin Mohammed Al-Saeedi, and Speaker Berri's Media Advisor Ali Hamdan. Discussions during the meeting reportedly touched on the general situation in Lebanon and the broad region and the repercussions resulting from the Israeli aggression at the various levels. The meeting also covered the bilateral relations between Lebanon and the Sultanate of Oman and ways to enhance them in the various fields, especially in the legislative domain. On emerging, Minister Al-Busaidi described the meeting with Speaker Berri as positive, reflecting the deeply-rooted ties between the two countries. 'I am happy to be here today to meet with His Excellency Speaker Nabih Berri. The meeting was very fruitful and reflects the depth and solidity of the Lebanese-Omani relationship and expresses our common aspirations for more convergence and cooperation between the two peoples and countries towards greater horizons in the next stage," Minister Al-Busaidi said.
National News
26-02-2025
- Politics
- National News
(Update) President Aoun meets Omani FM, hopes for unified Arab stance at upcoming Arab Summit
NNA – President of the Republic, Joseph Aoun, on Wednesday expressed hope that the upcoming Arab Summit, scheduled for next week, would yield a unified Arab position to address the region's current challenges. President Aoun's remarks came during a meeting with Omani Foreign Minister, Badr Al-Busaidi, at Baabda presidential Palace, at the head of a delegation, in the presence of Lebanon's Minister of Foreign Affairs and Emigrants Youssef Rajji. At the beginning of the meeting, the Omani Minister conveyed to President Aoun the greetings of Sultan Haitham bin Tariq and his wishes for success on his election as President of the Republic, stressing "the strong relations between Lebanon and the Sultanate of Oman." Minister Al-Busaidi also conveyed optimism about Lebanon's future following Aoun's election, stating, 'We are confident that Lebanon's future will be brighter under your leadership. We look forward to strengthening cooperation and activating the work of the joint committee between our two countries.' The Omani Minister also delivered an official invitation to President Aoun to visit the Sultanate of Oman to discuss ways to develop and activate bilateral relations in the interest of the two brotherly countries. President Aoun welcomed Minister Al-Busaidi, conveying his greetings and wishes to the Sultan of Oman for 'permanent success in leading the Sultanate's march towards progress and prosperity.' Aoun also expressed "Lebanon's appreciation for Oman's constant support for Lebanon in all circumstances." President Aoun thanked Sultan Haitham bin Tariq for the invitation to visit Oman, which he duly accepted promising to visit soon. The Prseident also considered the Omani Foreign Minister's visit to Lebanon as "an occasion to confirm the depth of the Lebanese-Omani relations." =============== R. H., L.Y
