Mohamed Hadid opens up about parenting Gigi, Bella and Anwar Hadid 

US model Bella Hadid (R) and her father Mohamed Hadid attended the Fashion Trust Arabia Awards event in Doha. (AFP)
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Updated 01 February 2023
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Mohamed Hadid opens up about parenting Gigi, Bella and Anwar Hadid 

DUBAI: Palestinian real estate mogul Mohamed Hadid this week opened up about parenting his children, models Gigi, Bella and Anwar Hadid.  

During an interview with Emirati YouTube host Anas Bukhash, Hadid said that he teaches his US Palestinian Dutch children to not depend on others, even him.  

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

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“I don’t really give lectures to my kids. I don’t sit down and say how you should live your life. I let them live their life and create their own,” he said. “Go out and make life for yourself as if I don’t exist and you’re not looking for a man to take care of you. I think that is kind of (what) I see in my kids. 

“They’re all self-made on their own without my help,” he added. “The only thing that I helped them with is that I am there to love them and if they need any advice, they can call me, but be your own person.”  

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

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Hadid has two elder daughters Marielle and Alana.  

“They are — all five of them — I if I pass away tomorrow, I know I left I left them in good hands, their own hands,” he said. 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

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When asked to describe his children in one word each, Hadid said Gigi is a “genius,” Bella is a “princess” and Anwar is a “king.” 

Hadid said that Bella was what the princess of Nazareth was called, and he feels his daughter represents royalty. 

“Gigi is a genius because she I think has found a way to insert herself in the fashion industry in a way that not too many people can,” he said. “She can design, she can model … she is eloquent, she has this combination that is hard to put in one human.” 

“She makes companies famous. People sometimes think a model is just a model. She’s not a model she is really a spokeswoman,” he added. 

He also revealed that Gigi, who is a mother to her two-year-old daughter with Zayn Malik, Khai, wanted to be a forensic psychologist.  

When it comes to Anwar, Hadid said he is “very special.” “He’s an artist. He’s a musician. He’s very down to earth. He has very little need for physical things… I just love the way he is.” 


Shakira to headline second Offlimits fest in Abu Dhabi

Updated 22 January 2026
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Shakira to headline second Offlimits fest in Abu Dhabi

DUBAI: Music sensation Shakira has been announced as the headline act for the Offlimits music festival, which returns to Abu Dhabi this year for its second edition.

The Colombian singer will bring her “Las Mujeres Ya No Lloran” world tour to Etihad Park in Yas Island on Apr. 4 to top the bill at the full-day, multi-stage event

One of the world’s most influential artists, Shakira has sold over 95 million records worldwide, earned four Grammy and 15 Latin Grammy Awards, and is the most-streamed female Latin artist of all time.

Shakira’s return marks her fourth performance in the UAE. She previously played Dubai Autodrome in 2007 and has appeared twice in Abu Dhabi before — at Emirates Palace in 2008 and du Arena in 2011.

Last year’s inaugural Offlimits was headlined by Ed Sheeran and featured acts such as OneRepublic, Kaiser Chiefs, Faithless, ARTBAT, Fun Lovin’ Criminals and Zeyne.