Follow the leader: 6 Arab men making waves on Instagram

CAIRO: No longer the realm of social media-savvy women, there are a number of Arab men who are making a name for themselves on Instagram and it's high time you follow them.

Khalid Al-Ameri (@khalidalameri)
Followers: 210k

This hilarious Emirati blogger chronicles his daily adventures with his equally funny wife, Salama Mohamed, as they turn the stereotype of a typical Gulf Arab couple firmly on its head. Al-Ameri acts out skits, posts advice about love and relationships and shares insights on life.

Me and my emotions....

A post shared by Khalid Al Ameri (@khalidalameri) on Jan 29, 2018 at 7:08am PST

Daniel Essa (@theparisiangents)
Followers: 4,315

After graduating from ESMOD in France, Syrian-born Essa launched his own label and frequently shares expertly curated advice on men’s grooming, personal style and travel via his social media accounts.

And finally .. some good weather . . . . . . . #Paris #menswear #mensfashion #pfw #menshair #beard #menstyle #ootd #theparisiangents #danielessa #chic #elegant #menshaircut #menswithstyle #diorhomme #trends #2018 #dapper #homme #mensgrooming #smartcasual #beard #streetfashion #gq

A post shared by DANIEL ESSA (@theparisiangents) on Apr 8, 2018 at 10:01am PDT

Ahmad Hamdy (@ahmedhamdydesigns)
Followers: 25k

Hamdy started his fashion career at the age of 18 with Calvin Klein. The Egyptian menswear designer is known for his chic and elegant style and fills his feed with slick suits designed by his own brand.

"Color is a power which directly influences the soul" . . . #egypt #mensstyle #mensoutfit #ootd #mensfashion #bespoke #ootdmen #mensstylist #sartorial #fashionstylist #lookbook #gq #gqinsider #suitstyle #SimplyDapper #fashionblogger #malemodel #lookbook #italianstyle #dappermen #britishstyle #mrvlstyle #styleformen #details #nycfashion #gentlemenfashion #themasteroffashion #dubaimarina @detailsmag @lookbook @gq @gqreport

A post shared by Mr. Ahmed Hamdy (@ahmedhamdydesigns) on Apr 23, 2018 at 4:57am PDT

Ahmed El-Sayed (@twistedcurlz)
Followers: 86.8k

El-Sayed is one of the founders of The House of Nomads, one of Dubai’s most innovative fashion brands. He posts sun-kissed photos worthy of an Italian fashion shoot and even starred in a Dolce & Gabbana campaign set in Dubai earlier this year.

JOURNEY Pack this week up & get yourself ready for the weekend // @salehbanna

A post shared by A H M E D EL SAYED (@twistedcurlz) on Mar 22, 2018 at 7:07am PDT

Ahmad Daabas (@ahmaddaabas)
Followers: 66.9k

The UAE-based Palestinian fashion blogger is the founder of men’s fashion site AMD Mode and walked the catwalk for Dolce & Gabbana in 2017. He shares hipster-esque snaps from his travels and even offers his pet cat a starring role on his Instagram feed.

STAND TALL @poloralphlauren #ThePoloShirt #PoloRLStyle #PoloRalphLaurenXAhmadDaabas

A post shared by Ahmad (@ahmaddaabas) on Apr 17, 2018 at 12:15am PDT

Saleh Al-Braik (@salehalbraik)
Followers: 185k

The Emirati blogger shares thought-provoking insights on the trials and tribulations of life and even writes up his own short stories to go with the perfectly captured moments he posts on his feed. You can expect travel shots, adorable family photos and a razor-sharp dress sense.

BETRAYAL ⠀ ⠀ I have been told that I am loved to my face, only to be stabbed in the back by that same person. The thing about betrayal is that it never comes from your enemies. It’s a different form of pain, one that rocks you to your core. You meet someone and fall in love with their soul, whether it’s a friendship or relationship, your spirits connect. It then comes completely out of the blue, where you find out that they have betrayed you. They broke a promise, they cheated on you, then lied to you, they talked about you, or worse, they hid things from you. Ask my family and friends, I would never use the term “hate” to another person. I feel that the word alone leaves a heavy load on my heart. However, when it comes to betrayal, it’s something that can poison even the purest of hearts. ⠀ ⠀ I would love to tell you how to avoid it, but this is something you will never be able to avoid. As I grew older, I realized that I got better at picking those with loyalty, but it is never certain. The trauma left from betrayal can last for years. I do my best not to focus on it, but it is scary to think that I have become completely vulnerable in front of my inner circle. The same vulnerability and trust that I gave to those that came before them. Those that have scarred me. It is probably my greatest fear, and here I am exposing it. The only thing I can give you advice on is to surrender to it. You can never determine your future. You can just allow your heart to love and trust. Be vulnerable, and if it ends badly, then so be it. You can’t control people, you can’t force them to be loyal. But what you can do is control yourself. You can have standards. You can refuse to be lied to or cheated on over and over again. You can forget them. You can CHOOSE to move on. ⠀ ⠀

A post shared by Saleh Al Braik (@salehalbraik) on Mar 13, 2018 at 2:45am PDT