Tamaraah Al-Gabaani celebrates Saudi fashion and Founding Day
Tamaraah Al-Gabaani celebrates Saudi fashion and Founding Day/node/2031931/saudi-arabia
Tamaraah Al-Gabaani celebrates Saudi fashion and Founding Day
During ‘The Mayman Show,’ Saudi-based blogger, influencer, and fashion designer Tamaraah Al-Gabaani says she had learned a lot of interesting information about Saudi culture through her research. (AN photo)
Tamaraah Al-Gabaani celebrates Saudi fashion and Founding Day
Al-Gabaani said there was a lot of “incredible” talent in Saudi Arabia and that, under the Fashion Commission and the Ministry of Culture, great things could happen for the country’s fashion industry
Updated 01 March 2022
HUSSAM AL-MAYMAN
RIYADH: Saudi-based blogger, influencer, and fashion designer Tamaraah Al-Gabaani said it was an exciting experience to celebrate the Kingdom’s first Founding Day.
“We get to celebrate this for the first time ever in a country that I love so much,” she told “The Mayman Show.”
Al-Gabbani worked with her stylist Wafa Nassir, and they thought about how they could create or do something that would be true to the country. Her two themes were heritage and history.
“Also (to) be really creative at the same time, we decided to do two looks. I think there’s like nine posts I did in one day, and it included a reel video with lots of pictures. So the first look was a janoub (southern) theme that we went for.
“We even included a very authentic burqa from that area and then we also, I don’t know if you know this, but they wear a yellow scarf. The yellow scarves are for women that are single or unmarried.”
‘The Mayman Show’ is a weekly podcast hosted by reporter Hussam Al-Mayman.
She said that she had learned a lot of interesting information about Saudi culture through her research.
“I think what’s so amazing about it is that we really are now exposed to all the different types of traditional outfits that were worn across the different regions and the stories behind them because now we’re exposed to that.”
We get to celebrate this for the first time ever in a country that I love so much.
Tamaraah Al-Gabaani
The details about wearing a yellow scarf would not have been possible to know without celebrating Founding Day, she said.
Al-Gabaani said there was a lot of “incredible” talent in Saudi Arabia and that, under the Fashion Commission and the Ministry of Culture, great things could happen for the country’s fashion industry.
“There are 100 brands now, so there are like 100 designers that have been selected to be supported and helped, and I have seen the results of the first year. It’s just beautiful to see all this burgeoning talent really blossom.”
She was also invited to Saudi Arabia’s first fashion show and said it had exceeded her expectations.
“I mean, AlUla in general, it’s just such a beautiful experience in itself to go there and see this. It’s a wonder, I feel like it’s like a wonder of the world.”
Al-Gabaani is also a media personality. She is listed as one of the top 50 influential women in Saudi Arabia and was the face of DKNY, Dolce & Gabbana and was featured in Magrabi’s summer 2018 fashion campaign celebrating female empowerment in the Middle East. She started her career as a television presenter in Dubai and was the host of the Dubai International Film Festival's TV show.
Aloula partners with Saudi Music Hub to amplify young voices
2-month vocal program places children in spotlight
Program culminates in performance of Saudi national anthem
Updated 4 sec ago
Nada Hameed
JEDDAH: A new choral initiative launched by Aloula, in partnership with the Saudi Music Hub, has brought youngsters aged 9-18 into a structured vocal training program that will culminate in a performance of the Saudi national anthem.
The two-month initiative, which was launched in November, is one of the first children’s choral programs led by a nonprofit organization in Saudi Arabia.
In the rehearsal room, 75 children are learning how to sing the Saudi national anthem “Aash Al-Maleek,” and “Watani Al Habib” in a full choral arrangement.
Among the singers is 14-year-old Nawaf Al-Qahtani, who said the experience had helped him grow as a performer. (Supplied)
Participants attend vocal training sessions three times a week, from Monday to Wednesday, focusing on technique, listening skills, and ensemble performance.
Speaking to Arab News, Abir Abusulayman, the CEO of Aloula, said the project was designed to include children more directly in the Kingdom’s cultural transformation.
She said: “The Kingdom is living a beautiful cultural moment right now, and we didn’t want our children to watch it from the sidelines; we wanted them to be part of it.
HIGHLIGHTS
• The two-month initiative, launched by Aloula in partnership with the Saudi Music Hub, is one of the first children’s choral programs in Saudi Arabia.
• Abeer Ibrahim, a vocal and singing instructor at the Saudi Music Hub, is among the educators working closely with the group.
“It felt like the perfect way to bring them together, build their confidence, and let them experience something joyful and memorable.”
Founded in 1962, Aloula works with children and families through early-intervention programs to strengthen academic, creative, and social skills. The initiative reflects the organization’s broader focus on confidence-building and participation through creative experience.
Aloula children rehearsing the Saudi national anthem with instructor Abeer at the Saudi Music Hub. (Supplied)
Abusulayman said music offered lessons that extended beyond performance, and added: “Music opens something special inside a child. It teaches them to listen, to express themselves, to work as a team, and to trust their own voice. These creative experiences help children feel seen and give them skills that stay with them far beyond the classroom.”
Abusulayman said the benefits of the venture extended well beyond the final performance.
She said: “Academically, music helps with focus and memory. Socially, it teaches them to work together and support one another. And on a personal level, it gives them a moment in their lives where they feel proud, capable, and celebrated. Many of these children have never been on a stage before; this can be the spark that pushes them to dream bigger.”
The Saudi Music Hub, an education and training institution affiliated with the Music Commission under the Ministry of Culture, was established in 2022. (Supplied)
Abeer Ibrahim, a vocal and singing instructor at the Saudi Music Hub, is among the educators working closely with the group. A graduate of the Egyptian Conservatory, Ibrahim specializes in vocal training and music theory for young singers.
“This experience gave me very beautiful feelings and emotions while working with children,” Ibrahim told Arab News.
“From the very beginning they showed clear enthusiasm and joy, and I discovered wonderful talents and voices despite their young age. That small voice gave me a very powerful feeling, and I am extremely happy with it. We will present even better work in the future.”
Ibrahim also noted the significance of working with the national anthem, and she said: “Performing the Saudi national anthem instills in children a deep sense of belonging and pride in their country and culture,” adding that it helped young participants understand their role within the larger community.
Among the singers is 14-year-old Nawaf Al-Qahtani, who said the experience had helped him grow as a performer.
He described the experience as transformative, and said: “What I liked most was the interaction with the instructor, and we learned many things that will benefit us in the future.”
He added: “I learned how to control my vocal range, how to sing properly, how to face an audience, and I learned about the vocal ranges of the national anthem.”
Ibrahim described Al-Qahtani as one of the program’s strongest voices, noting that the anthem’s arrangement was adapted to suit his vocal range.
The initiative is part of Aloula’s wider portfolio of educational and creative programs. These include a robotics program, in which children design interactive projects, as well as community exploration activities that introduce participants to major cultural and sporting events in Jeddah.
The Saudi Music Hub, an education and training institution affiliated with the Music Commission under the Ministry of Culture, was established in 2022.
With headquarters in Riyadh and branches in Jeddah and Alkhobar, the hub provides musical instrument instruction, choir training, and performance workshops, with a focus on developing local talent.
For Abusulayman, the partnership reflects the value of collaboration between cultural and social organizations.
“When we combine our strengths, we create opportunities that our children may not otherwise have,” she said. “I truly believe this kind of collaboration can open new doors for the whole nonprofit sector.”
