The Six: Ones to watch in 2019

Ones to watch in 2019. (Shutterstock)
Updated 31 December 2018
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The Six: Ones to watch in 2019

DUBAI: Here are just a few of the change-making talents you should keep an eye on in 2019.

Taleedah Tamer
Teenage Saudi model Taleedah Tamer caused a stir when she made her debut at Haute Couture Fashion Week in Paris in July, walking the runway for Italian designer Antonio Grimaldi.

Arwa Al-Banawi
The Saudi fashion designer kickstarted endless headlines when, at the end of 2018, Will Smith visited her store in Dubai and she starred in an E! TV reality show.

Rawsan Hallak
You can catch the Jordanian comedian on Netflix’s new show, “Comedians of the World.” She previously told Arab News she is proud to represent hijab-wearing women in comedy.

Marwan Kenzari
He may be the bad guy, but the Tunisian-Dutch actor who plays Jafar in 2019’s live-action “Aladdin” has sparked an international flurry of memes and tweets about his good looks.

Nur Alf
The up-and-coming Jordanian singer-songwriter released a handful of tracks on SoundCloud and is garnering attention with her soulful, raspy-edged, sound.

Maya Reaidy
The Lebanese beauty queen was one of just two Arabs to compete at the 2018 Miss Universe pageant in December. The 22-year-old pharmacy student already has more than 200,000 followers on Instagram and could translate her pageant fame into further success.

 


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.”