Latest news with #Wael
Khaleej Times
20-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Khaleej Times
What makes a fashion pop-up a success in the UAE?
What do Insta-gold photo opps, client-targeted exclusive styles, and a pervasive sense of FOMO have in common? They are the key ingredients of a successful fashion pop-up and catnip to the UAE's luxury consumer. In recent weeks, regional social media algorithms have been awash with images of New York brand The Frankie Shop's two-week installation in Abu Dhabi, while, over in Dubai, British designer Victoria Beckham put the star power into promotion for her exclusive capsule collection created for online retailer Ounass. For the uninitiated, pop-ups are temporary installations leveraged by brands (who often don't have a permanent store in the region) to showcase their products, get customers posting on social media, and build brand awareness. Contemporary fashion label The Frankie Shop created a custom space in the capital's Mina Zayed Port, while Victoria Beckham took over Ounass Maison in Dubai's Mandarin Oriental hotel. Pop-ups can serve as a testing ground before a brand invests in its own store, or simply drive customer acquisition through email sign-ups and app downloads. The best pop-ups dial up brand awareness from vaguely-on-my-radar to drank-all-the-Kool-Aid. Over recent years, Dior has taken over luxury beach restaurant Nammos at Dubai's Four Seasons, Kim Kardashian's Skims held a Valentine's themed pop-up complete with prize-dispensing claw machine in Alserkal Avenue (the queues were wild), and Jordanian footwear designer Amina Muaddi took a stance against scruffy sandals by installing a temporary paean to high-heels right in the middle of flip-flop central, Dubai's Kite Beach. The man behind many a fashion pop-up is Lebanese entrepreneur and founder of The Haute Agency, brand strategist Wael Al Fatayri. 'Pop-ups work really well in the UAE because people here are driven by novelty and exclusivity. They want the drama,' he says, 'the goal is to get people to talk, to build a buzz. You have to give people a reason to show up and share'. The most successful pop-ups will incorporate an exclusive collection of styles not available anywhere else, be playful or photogenic (ideally both) and, Wael cautions, don't forget the food and beverages. 'Feed your customers, they drive long distances,' he advises, adding that innovative culinary elements, such as a unique ice cream flavour, add a wholesome sprinkling of sweetness to what is essentially a giant sales pitch. Guests want to feel special and taken care of. Besides being fed, this means making customers feel seen within the wider brand narrative. The Frankie Shop installation, which wrapped earlier this month and was held in collaboration with The Abu Dhabi Investment Office, served a masterclass in local integration by working with regional artists and stylists. 'They respected the Abu Dhabi vibe, not just copying what has been done in New York,' observes Wael, 'when people feel like the brand cares about them it really translates.' The Frankie Shop, known for oversized suiting and a minimalist aesthetic, honoured its hosts with an exclusive Abu Dhabi collection, amplifying the collaboration to a global audience and placing Abu Dhabi on the pulse of one of the world's coolest brands. 'They took The Frankie Shop signature look and localised it, it felt like it belonged where it was,' says Wael. And yes, there was a café, serving collagen lattes to be sipped and snapped while wearing an LED face mask. Meanwhile, Beckham's capsule of designs for Ounass is 'created with the Dubai woman in mind', according to the online luxury retailer. Showcased by a bevy of the region's most glamorous influencers, the styles are selling out fast online and in the Ounass Maison pop-up, as social storytelling trickles down to serious spending. With her visit supported by Dubai Tourism, the potential power of the pop-up goes far beyond selling a few dresses; it's about cementing the UAE as a central stop on the global fashion circuit, a draw for the world's most chic. Top of the Pops.
Observer
12-04-2025
- Observer
Omani biker blazes trail from Muscat to Iceland
In a remarkable feat of endurance and diplomacy, Omani adventurer Wael al Yaqoubi became the first Arab and Gulf national to reach Iceland by motorcycle overland, covering an epic 20,000 kilometres through 18 countries. His journey, launched from his hometown of Muscat in 2024, aimed not only to fulfil a personal dream but also to spotlight Oman as a premier travel destination. After traversing Gulf, Arab and European territories, Wael reached Denmark and boarded a three-day ferry to the Faroe Islands, before finally arriving on Iceland's volcanic shores. There, he embarked on a 4,000-kilometre loop across the legendary 'Island of Fire and Ice,' exploring its surreal landscapes and remote wonders. From the roaring frozen falls of Gullfoss and Seljalandsfoss to the geothermal marvels of geysers and hot springs, Wael's journey was rich with dramatic encounters. He ventured to the stark black sands of Reynisfjara Beach, the shimmering Diamond Beach and trekked 18 kilometres on foot to summit Iceland's highest active volcano — an expedition that offered sweeping views of an otherworldly land. In the vibrant capital of Reykjavik, where Nordic charm meets modern edge, he absorbed Iceland's unique culture before retracing his route back through Denmark and Germany. Wael's pioneering journey earned him a warm reception from Maitha bint Saif al Mahrouqiyah, Oman's Ambassador to Germany, who lauded his bold venture. He was also congratulated by Ambassador Mahmoud bin Mahna al Kharousi in Iraq, underlining the pride his homeland felt at his achievement. Beyond the thrill of travel, Wael's mission was deeply rooted in promoting Omani tourism and culture. By connecting with communities and fellow travellers, he painted a vivid picture of Oman's scenic beauty, rich heritage and legendary hospitality. 'Oman has everything a tourist dreams of — from desert dunes to lush wadis, ancient forts to modern cities,' he emphasised. The success of his expedition was the result of meticulous planning. 'I began preparing two years in advance,' Wael noted. 'I studied the island's weather patterns and terrain, selected the best season to ride and carried dehydrated food for the road.' From scorching heat across the Middle East and Europe to Iceland's glacial chill, he faced extremes — but the toughest challenge was securing a ferry spot during the high tourist season. Despite logistical and environmental hurdles, Wael remained undeterred. His accomplishment is now seen as a landmark moment in Arab adventure tourism, a story of determination, cultural diplomacy and unyielding passion. 'Dream big, plan well and let travel be the bridge that connects nations,' is his message to the youth.
Observer
11-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Observer
Reem Dawood's quiet portrait of love and art
When Reem Dawood — the prominent Omani translator based in Cairo — was approached by Egyptian art magazine 'Funoon' to write an article describing her life as a wife of an artist, she happily obliged. The article titled 'My Husband is a Visual Artist', published last month, was well received and highly praised by her fellow writers and Facebook followers. Reem's husband is well-known Egyptian artist Wael Hamdan, who comes from a family of intellects. His father Mohammed Hamdan was a writer, his uncle Jamal was a celebrated thinker and geographer — who had a bridge in Egypt named after him, a few years back and his other uncle, owns a distinguished publishing house in Cairo. She starts by sharing how they met for the first time in one of his exhibitions at the end of 2020 and then again, in another exhibition where they had a long conversation regarding the artwork displayed. After a few months of knowing each other and discovering mutual interests, they decide to take the big step and get married. They both were both in their late 40s and out of unhappy marriage experiences. She writes, 'we felt that it was time to open a new page that could be happier, stabler and more successful.' They get married in 2021 and Reem begins experiencing life with an artist. She describes his work routine in a detailed way that transforms you into his studio where you can witness the process of art creation: from crude sketches done feverishly on paper and mixing colours to precise brush strokes on canvass that gives birth to the image in his head. However, after long hours of working in front of the easel and countless cups of tea and coffee, Wael walks in complaining of neck, shoulder and back aches. Reem would prepare two hot water bottles, as she would be suffering from a backache as well after a lengthy period of translation. She writes, 'we own many pain relief creams and ointments in our house that enables us to start up a pharmacy!' Before any inauguration, Wael's anxiety and outbursts are ignored by his wife. She learns that it is a passing phase that will cease once the exhibition starts. She speaks of his exhibitions and her favourite themes such as the Vespa and aquatic plants collection. She also mentions a small painting of a woman — who reminded her of herself, that he shared on his Facebook page years before they met and how much she liked it. After getting acquainted, he gifted her the same painting that now hangs in her office 'so I could admiringly gaze at it'. Wael's talent does not stop at painting; he is also a photographer who never travels without his professional camera with different lenses. Strangers in many countries would stop him asking for their photos to be taken and sent to their emails. He is also an avid musician who plays the guitar and shares with Reem the love of classic Arabic music. When visiting Muscat, he would pick up the Oud in her sister's house and play it in their balcony for hours to the delight of the whole family. There is no magic and fireworks in Reem's article, yet the mature tone used in her flawless narrative tints it with familiarity, that is heart-warming and guarantees a smile while reading it. She offers simple solutions to overcome life dilemmas such as personality differences: 'being a reserved person married to a sociable one, I learned never to order tea when going out with Wael. It would arrive cold due to his endless chats en-route.' The article is genuine and worth reading.
Broadcast Pro
07-03-2025
- Business
- Broadcast Pro
Mediagenix names Wael Yasin as Sales Director for Central Europe
Speaking about the appointment, Francoise Semin, Chief Commercial Officer, Mediagenix, said: 'Mediagenix is expanding its team with top industry experts, reinforcing our commitment to delivering content-centric, cloud-based workflows to improve business outcomes from optimizing content creation, commissioning and acquisition through to audience experience. With Wael's extensive experience, our customers gain actionable insights into the true potential of Mediagenix's cloud-based workflows.' Before joining Mediagenix, Wael held a key position at Qvest as an Enterprise Account Manager, where he played a pivotal role in supporting media organisations in adopting advanced technologies to streamline their operations. Wael added: 'I am eager to collaborate with our talented team and contribute to our continued success in the evolving broadcast and OTT landscape. With rapid industry transformation, I look forward to helping clients streamline workflows, maximize content impact, and stay ahead in a competitive landscape. Mediagenix's visionary approach to content lifecycle management and its cutting-edge technology provide a unique opportunity to drive real impact.' Mediagenix invites industry professionals to connect at the NAB 2025 Show in Las Vegas from April 5-9 at its booth, where the company will showcase its solutions for content management and audience engagement. Stand W4023
BBC News
13-02-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
AlSaeed 'confident' in Rovers' development plans
Bristol Rovers owner Hussain AlSaeed said he understands fans have been disappointed by broken promises in the past but that he is "confident" in the club's work so far to redevelop the Memorial Kuwaiti businessman purchased a majority 55% stake in the club's holding company in 2023 before acquiring the full shares last November from Wael and Samer Al Qadi."I always said you guys are the fans, you've been promised so many times but then nothing was delivered," AlSaeed told BBC Radio Bristol."We're not going to promise, but even until now, we have not shown the plans for the Memorial because of that. "We're not sure what the council will approve and will not approve, so we don't want to get their [fans] hopes up and then have them disappointed again."We are confident that we are doing the work as we should be, and we're going with the right people, and once that is approved, we are going to show it to the fans."The proposed work at the Mem, which Rovers has called home since 1996, includes upgrades to stands to increase capacity from 12,500 to 16,500 and also change the capacity from majority standing to club are preparing to submit a second pre-application to Bristol City Council in March for approval, AlSaeed confirmed, after making amendments recommended following their first application. "We are hopeful that soon after that we will get the approval for it," he added. AlSaeed said he expected the work, when it does begin, to take "at least a season or two".The plans also include changes to the training ground, known as The Quarters, which will see the men's team, women's team and academy all based "in one place" rather than separately.A covered pitch is being built with the aim of moving the academy up a level from category three to two."Now we have only two pitches there, and we will make them six; that will allow the academy, and it will allow the first team and the women's team to train at the same time," AlSaeed said."We really feel the academy is very important, and we really feel this is the best thing for the club to have a good academy and to advance in that side, and the best way to do it is to do it in-house and to have them all in one place."
