Bella Hadid jets into Abu Dhabi as angry fans storm The Weeknd’s F1 show

US-Palestinian model Bella Hadid was in Abu Dhabi on Friday. (File photo: AFP)
Updated 24 November 2018
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Bella Hadid jets into Abu Dhabi as angry fans storm The Weeknd’s F1 show

DUBAI: US-Palestinian model Bella Hadid was in Abu Dhabi on Friday night to support her boyfriend, R&B singer The Weeknd, as he took to the stage during the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix after-race concert series.
The show was hampered by health and safety issues, however, as some angry fans reportedly attempted to scale a fence after organizers were forced to close the gates and bar entry to some concert goers.
FLASH Entertainment, the promoters behind the post-race concerts, issued a statement in the aftermath of the concert, saying a number of fans arrived at once, prompting the decision to close the gates on safety grounds.
The organizers expressed disappointment over a number of fans who reportedly stormed the gates in an attempt to gain entry to the gig.
“Health and safety is our number one concern… du Arena can easily accommodate 35,000 people. A large number of fans arrived simultaneously to The Weeknd concert and gates were closed for safety… We understand this is disappointing and frustrating. It is disappointing to hear there were instances of inappropriate fan behavior,” organizers said in a released statement, according to Time Out Abu Dhabi magazine.
The show must go on, however, and fans will flock to the stadium to see British artist Sam Smith perform on Saturday night, while many will attend Sunday night’s performance by legendary rock band Guns N’ Roses.
For her part, Hadid paid homage to the capital city’s Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, posting a stunning snap of the complex on her Instagram account.
“Magic...Nothing in the world (is) more beautiful to me,” she captioned the photograph.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Magic...Nothing in the world more beautiful to me

A post shared by (@bellahadid) on

Hadid — who has in the past spoken about her Islamic faith, telling Porter Magazine in 2017 that she is “proud to be a Muslim” — was in town to support pop superstar The Weeknd as he regaled the crowd with a playlist of his greatest hits, including “I Feel It Coming” and “Pray For Me.”
Hadid took to Instagram to share a photo of The Weeknd, whose real name is Abel Tesfaye, posing on top of a replica of comic hero Batman’s batmobile.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

daddy wayne batmobile @theweeknd

A post shared by (@bellahadid) on

The couple recently rekindled their much-reported-on romance after splitting in November 2016.

 


Lavender looks: top fashion from the Joy Awards 2026 

Updated 22 January 2026
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Lavender looks: top fashion from the Joy Awards 2026 

  • Some of the best-dressed celebs from the lavender carpet at the Jan. 17 awards in Riyadh 

DUBAI: Some of the best-dressed celebs from the lavender carpet at the Jan. 17 Joy Awards in Riyadh.

 

Abeer Nehme 

The Lebanese singer and actress walked the lavender carpet in a custom-made gown by Rami Kadi Couture, featuring a fitted black bodice in “stretchy satin, complemented by a midnight-blue skire and refined with draped detailing along the bodice,” the fashion label wrote on Instagram. 

 

Noha Nabil 

The Kuwaiti beauty influencer selected a gold-and-copper asymmetric ombré gown created by Lebanese-American designer Rami Kadi for her Joy Awards appearance. The dress, which comes from the label’s “L’Éventail” collection, was “distinguished by sculptural ruffled layers and entirely embellished with shimmering sequins for a radiant, fluid silhouette.” 

 

Carole Samaha 

The famed Lebanese singer and actress — and former “X-Factor” judge — turned heads in this scarlet dress with sheer lace cutouts, created by Lebanese designer Tony Ward, at the awards, which she described in an Instagram post as “a night celebrating talent, creativity, and inspiration.” 

 

Laila Abdallah 

The Lebanese actress walked the Joy Awards lavender carpet in this floor-length, flowing gown that comes from Lebanese designer Georges Hobeika’s fashion house’s couture collection for Fall-Winter 2025. Abdallah told Arab News that the award ceremony is “(a) mix of culture and luxury. It has that Gulf Arab character, the Saudi touch, you know? And that’s what really makes it stand out.” 

 

Aseel Omran 

The Saudi singer and actress turned to the couture Fall 2024 collection of acclaimed Lebanese designer Zuhair Murad for her outfit, selecting what the label describes as “a sculptural gown featuring a strapless black velvet bodice with velvet floral appliques and a fluid blush draped satin skirt paired with long opera gloves.” 

 

Karen Wazen 

The Lebanese entrepreneur and social-media personality Karen Wazen walked the lavender carpet in this classically tailored embroidered gown from Lebanese designer Elie Saab. She told Arab News: “I’m so proud to be at an event like this in our region, in Saudi Arabia. This is probably the most impressive and biggest carpet that I’ve ever seen, and it just feels really, really good.”  

 

Angham 

The Egyptian singer and actress — who picked up the Best Female Singer of the Year award at the event — wore a “custom couture off-the-shoulder white gown embroidered with crystals and soft beading,” created by Zuhair Murad for the lavender carpet. 

 

Nadine Nassib Njeim 

The Tunisian-Lebanese actress and entrepreneur wore an haute couture gown created by Australian designer Tamara Ralph’s eponymous label, which described her outfit as “a fine crystal mesh floral intarsia gown with crystal buckle, paired with a mint duchesse coat.” 

 

Tara Atalla 

The Jordanian actress wore a brown Rami Kadi couture gown from the label’s “L’Éventail” collection, which was, according to the designer’s Instagram page, “exquisitely embroidered with luminous beads and silk threads, reflecting refined craftsmanship and understated elegance.”