Bayou’s search for identity resonates with global audience

Bayou’s search for identity resonates with global audience
Adham Bayoumi, who goes by the artist name Bayou, is carving out a distinctive space in the music scene. (Supplied)
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Updated 10 October 2024
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Bayou’s search for identity resonates with global audience

Bayou’s search for identity resonates with global audience
  • The Saudi-born Egyptian singer-songwriter discusses his roots, influences, and upcoming EP ‘Never at Home’ 
  • His performance at the Coachella music festival as a guest of Palestinian rapper Saint Levant this summer was well-received

JEDDAH: Adham Bayoumi, who goes by the artist name Bayou, is carving out a distinctive space in the music scene. Bayoumi is Egyptian, but was born in Jeddah. While he was still young his family relocated to the UAE, and although he still has family ties in Saudi Arabia — his father currently works in Riyadh — he has few memories of the Kingdom. 

“I don’t have much recollection of my time there,” he tells Arab News. “My connection to Saudi has been purely through music.” He is currently signed to a Saudi label, MDLBEAST Records, and plans to perform in the Kingdom this year. He’s excited to explore his Saudi connections further. 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A post shared by Bayou (@bayousworld)

His association with MDLBEAST began a little over a year ago. “They reached out to me, and it felt like a perfect match,” he says, adding that the partnership has influenced his sound. Bayoumi’s music journey has been an eclectic one, ranging from the UAE to the US, where he attended university, and involving numerous collaborations. “My main producer, Motif Alumni, was in New York but has recently moved to Massachusetts, which impacted our creative workflow,” he says. As his music has evolved, Bayoumi has incorporated more Egyptian and Arabic influences. 

Bayoumi grew up in Dubai, where he absorbed a wide variety of musical influences. “I listened to everything — especially pop hits on Virgin Radio,” he recalls. His mother’s taste in music included artists like Muhammad Munir and Andrea Bocelli. This diversity shaped his own artistic sensibility. Creativity runs in Bayoumi’s family; his mother is an interior designer and his sister a visual artist, but his own artistic path was self-initiated, sparked in elementary school by a teacher’s guitar playing. “I wanted to do that too,” he says, recalling one of his first songs, about the changing of the seasons, written while he was still at school. 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A post shared by Bayou (@bayousworld)

His first major release as Bayou — 2019’s “Moonlight” — quickly gained traction, garnering more than 100,000 streams and solidifying his confidence as an artist. “I realized, ‘Hey! People actually like my music!” he says. That seems a fair assessment; “Moonlight” now has more than 3 million listens on Spotify, and his performance at the influential Coachella music festival as a guest of Palestinian rapper Saint Levant this summer was well-received by both audience and critics. 

He describes his music as “a unique blend of influences,” an international R&B sound that resonates personally.  

“Even when the songs aren’t directly about my life, they often feel like the soundtrack to my experiences,” he says. His upcoming EP, “Never at Home,” is a deep exploration of his Egyptian identity that should resonate with anyone trying to find their place in the world — a concise snapshot of Bayoumi’s quest for identity and belonging through music (which leads him to conclude “Home is where my mom is”). 

Spending four months in Egypt in 2024 allowed him to immerse himself in the culture and complete his EP. “I wanted to really dive into what it means to be Egyptian, especially as someone who didn’t grow up there,” he says. 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A post shared by Bayou (@bayousworld)

His latest singles, “Neshar Belel” and “Mesh Haseebek” have both proven popular with young Arab audiences, blending the rich tapestry of Egyptian musical heritage with contemporary sounds. By infusing traditional rhythms and melodies into modern R&B, Bayoumi honors his cultural identity while creating music with the potential to appeal to a global audience. 

Language has played a crucial role in his artistic journey. Initially, he wrote primarily in English, but his experiences in Egypt prompted a shift.  

“I realized I was very far from my culture and wanted to reconnect with it,” he explains. Writing in Arabic became essential, allowing him to navigate his identity as an Arab more authentically. “I felt like I needed to speak to my culture in the language it deserves,” he says. “It’s about understanding my own character and expressing it through my songs.” The exploration of love in Arabic has been particularly rewarding, he says, allowing him to connect with his heritage on a deeper level. But he also stresses that this doesn’t mean he’s stopped writing English-language songs.  

And Bayoumi’s interests extend beyond music. He has a keen eye for fashion, often choosing outfits that help him express his identity. He’s also passionate about reading, especially philosophy and self-help literature. “I want to understand how to be a good person and navigate life effectively,” he says. Football also remains a significant passion, along with biking. Oh, and watching cartoons. “That brings me back to that state of freedom, my childhood, which is crucial for any artist,” he explains. 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A post shared by Bayou (@bayousworld)

Bayoumi’s goals are ambitious. “It’s incredible to see how people from all backgrounds are drawn to my Arabic music,” he says. “I want to be a pop star worldwide, singing in both English and Arabic. I want to be the bridge between the East and the West.”  


Review: Apple TV’s ‘Before’ is a showcase for Billy Crystal

Review: Apple TV’s ‘Before’ is a showcase for Billy Crystal
Jacobi Jupe and Billy Crystal in 'Before' - Apple TV+
Updated 58 min 7 sec ago
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Review: Apple TV’s ‘Before’ is a showcase for Billy Crystal

Review: Apple TV’s ‘Before’ is a showcase for Billy Crystal
  • Creepy drama gives the famed comic a chance to show his serious side

LONDON: There are many unsettling things about Apple’s new psychological drama “Before”, but first among them is the sight of star Billy Crystal playing it absolutely straight — and not, as you might suspect, in a way that would enable the iconic funnyman to play it so seriously that it’s almost funny.

Here, Crystal is child psychologist Eli Adler, a gifted doctor struggling to come to terms with the recent suicide of his wife, Lynn. Not many laughs there, you’ll agree. While Eli is dealing with visions of Lynn, and recurring nightmares of hurling himself into an empty swimming pool, he finds a troubled young boy who won’t speak, scratching his hands bloody attempting to break into Eli’s house.

Eli’s colleague Gail (Sakina Jaffrey) has been trying to convince him to take on a new case — one of a troubled young boy who won’t speak and is plagued by horrifying visions. Before you can say “contrived coincidence,” we learn the two boys are, in fact, one and the same. What are the chances?

As Eli begins to investigate what led Noah (Jacobi Jupe) to stop speaking and start drawing creepy pictures of an abandoned barn — the same barn Eli finds in a picture among his wife’s things — the as-yet-unrevealed link between the two begins to solidify. With two episodes broadcast (of the 10 scheduled), the story behind whatever brought Eli and Noah together looks set to be eked out across the limited series, but writer/creator Sarah Thorp doesn’t hold out on audiences too much. So while there’s still a lot of hinting at seemingly unconnected elements — Noah’s visions of water leaking into his reality, his unnerving tendency to lapse into 17th-century Dutch, the often-sinister nature of Eli’s visions of Lynn — there’s enough dangled threads weaving together all of the above that viewers can feel like figuring out the mystery is achievable.

And, wonderfully, the cherry on the top is Crystal, demonstrating a gift for drama that few of his numerous roles ever hinted at. Eli is believably grief-stricken, world-weary and simply exhausted at the strangeness of what’s going on around him. Whatever the mystery at the heart of “Before” ends up being, the real gem here is the discovery of how effective a serious Billy Crystal can be.


Highlights from this year’s ‘Festival Favorites’ at RSIFF 

Highlights from this year’s ‘Festival Favorites’ at RSIFF 
The Inevitable Journey to Find a Wedding Dress
Updated 31 October 2024
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Highlights from this year’s ‘Festival Favorites’ at RSIFF 

Highlights from this year’s ‘Festival Favorites’ at RSIFF 

JEDDAH: The category’s movies are ‘films that stay with the viewer long after the fall of the curtain,’ says RSIFF’s Antoine Khalife 

‘Agora’  

Director: Ala Eddine Slim 

Starring: Majd Mastoura, Neji Kanawati, Bilel Slatnia 

The Tunisian filmmaker’s third feature, which was backed by Saudi Arabia’s Red Sea Fund, has already proven to be a winner. At the Locarno Film Festival in August it picked up the Pardo Verde Award, which is “given to a film that best reflects an environmental theme and is unafraid of asking difficult questions.” It centers on a small town where a series of disturbing events that seem to bridge the world of the living and the dead — including the return of three missing people who don’t appear to be quite themselves any longer — has attracted the attention of the authorities. Or, at least, of people claiming to be the authorities. 

‘Black Dog’ 

Director: Guan Hu 

Starring: Eddie Peng, Tong Liya, Xin the dog 

The winner of the Un Certain Regard prize at this year’s Cannes Film Festival is, according to The Observer in one of many favorable reviews from the international press, a “heartfelt tale of outcast redemption.” Set in the Gobi desert in the northwest of China prior to the 2008 Beijing Olympics — a time when the country was undergoing rapid redevelopment — it follows Lang, a recently released ex-convict (and former stuntman and musician) returning to his hometown, which he finds many people have left and is now home to a large community of stray dogs. One of them — the ‘black dog’ of the title — is rumored to have rabies, and there’s a bounty on its head which Lang decides he will try to collect. But when he actually encounters the dog, his plans change. 

‘Santosh’ 

Director: Sandhya Suri 

Starring: Shahana Goswami, Sunita Rajwar, Sanjay Bishnoi 

British-Indian documentary maker Sandhya Suri’s feature debut — a Hindi-language crime drama — is the UK’s entry for next year’s Oscars and has already received critical acclaim following its showing in the Un Certain Regard section at Cannes this year. It’s a police procedural set in northern India and follows the title character, a young widow, who has taken over her late husband’s job as a police constable. Her newfound independence and power is somewhat negated by her discovery of the institutional corruption and sexism of law enforcement in the area. 

‘East of Noon’  

Director: Hala Elkoussy 

Starring: Menha El-Batroui, Ahmed Kamal, Omar Rozeik 

Screen Daily called this — Elkoussy’s second feature — “a sumptuous piece of filmmaking.” It’s a surrealist fable about a teenage musician, Abdo and his partner Nunna, who are looking for a way out of their impoverished town, which offers few prospects of a bright future. But the corrupt elders have other ideas, seeking to crush not just their rebellious dreams, but their spirits.  

‘Eephus’  

Director: Carson Lund 

Starring: Keith William Richards, Frederick Wiseman, Cliff Blake 

Set in a small Massachusetts town in the Nineties, “Eephus” follows an team of out-of-shape middle-aged men who play for the Adler’s Paint baseball team as they prepare to face their fiercest rivals in one final game before their stadium is demolished to make way for a new school. Variety called Lund’s movie an “adorably existential, off-kilter take on the sports movie.” 

‘Familiar Touch’  

Director: Sarah Friedland 

Starring: H. Jon Benjamin, Kathleen Chalfant, London Garcia 

Friedland’s intensely moving feature debut won the Lion of the Future at this year’s Venice Film Festival. It centers on a beautiful performance by Chalfant as Ruth, an octogenarian who is dealing with cognitive decline while transitioning to assisted living at a care facility. 

‘Freedom Way’  

Director: Afolabi Olalekan 

Starring: Adebowale Adedayo, Mike Afolarin, Bimbo Akintola 

In Olalekan’s fast-paced thriller, three young co-founders of a startup in Lagos struggle to keep their entrepreneurial dreams alive amid corruption, police violence and extortion that affects both them and their customers. 

‘The Inevitable Journey to Find a Wedding Dress’  

Director: Jaylan Auf 

Starring: Yasmin Raeis, Asmaa Galal, Salwa Mohamed Ali 

Egyptian social drama. On the eve of her wedding, Warda’s wedding dress is accidentally ruined leading her on a frantic trip around Cairo to find a replacement, accompanied by her best friend. It turns into a journey of self-discovery for Warda — one that causes her to reassess her relationship with the city. 

 


Recipes for Success: Chef Dabiz Muñoz offers advice and an advanced recipe for octopus tacos 

Recipes for Success: Chef Dabiz Muñoz offers advice and an advanced  recipe for octopus tacos 
Updated 31 October 2024
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Recipes for Success: Chef Dabiz Muñoz offers advice and an advanced recipe for octopus tacos 

Recipes for Success: Chef Dabiz Muñoz offers advice and an advanced  recipe for octopus tacos 

DUBAI: Madrid-born chef Dabiz Muñoz, founder of StreetXO Dubai at the One&Only One Za’abeel, is a globally celebrated culinary figure, known for his innovative approach to cooking.  

Muñoz has earned numerous accolades throughout his career. His flagship restaurant, DiverXO, which opened in 2007, holds three Michelin stars (at the time it earned its third, Muñoz became the second-youngest chef to lead a restaurant to this prestigious recognition) for dishes including dumplings with crispy Iberian ear and lobster with Thai curry, showcasing Muñoz’s love of combining diverse ingredients in unconventional ways.  

Muñoz’s fell in love with cooking at a young age, fueled by frequent visits to the renowned Viridiana restaurant in Madrid. It was there that he first encountered Chef Abraham Garcia, whose unique techniques left a lasting impression and helped shape Muñoz’s vision of cuisine as a medium for artistic expression. 

With the dream of opening his own restaurant, Muñoz pursued rigorous training in top kitchens across Spain, London and Tokyo.  

Following DiverXO’s success, Muñoz launched StreetXO in 2012. The Dubai branch opened in 2023 and is the only location outside Spain where diners can experience Muñoz’s cuisine. 

Here, the chef discusses favorite dishes, common kitchen mistakes, and how to nurture culinary curiosity. 

What inspired you to take up cooking as a career? 

I’ve had a passion for cooking for as long as I can remember — it’s something that feels like it’s always been in me. Growing up, I was fascinated by the process of creating meals, watching others in the kitchen, and experimenting myself. Seeing people enjoy the food I made was incredibly rewarding, and that’s when I knew I wanted to turn my love for cooking into a career. 

When you started out, what was the most common mistake you made?  

Rushing. Patience is key in the kitchen. Taking the time to focus on every detail makes all the difference in the final dish. 

What’s your top tip for amateur chefs? 

Feed your curiosity by traveling and expand your knowledge by studying. Cooking is as much about learning as it is about experimenting. Buy lots of books, because they open up a world of techniques, flavors, and cuisines that will inspire you. The more you expose yourself to different ideas, the more creative and confident you’ll become in the kitchen. 

What one ingredient can instantly improve any dish? 

Chilis. They’re a wonderful enhancer and seasoning, full of nuances, aromas, and different sensations that can elevate a dish to another level. I’m obsessed with them because they add depth, heat, and complexity, turning even the simplest of dishes into something special. 

When you go out to eat, do you find yourself critiquing the food?  

Obviously because of my profession I have a critical and trained eye, but the truth is that when I go to other restaurants, I pay much more attention to where they excel, rather than where they fall short. 

And what’s the most common issue that you find in other restaurants? 

I care more about the faults in my own restaurants than those of others. 

What’s your favorite cuisine? 

Whenever I go to a restaurant, I always have an open mind and try as many different dishes as possible. This means I’m often surprised — in a positive way. It’s very common for me to order the whole menu. 

What’s your go-to dish if you have to cook something quickly at home?  

Lately, I’ve been making a lot of bikinis (what we call a ham-and-cheese pressed sandwich in Spain), and I’m enjoying them more and more every day. They’re quick, simple, and always satisfying — perfect when I’m short on time but still want something tasty. 

What customer behavior most annoys you? 

Treating others badly is one behavior I dislike. Respect is essential in any environment, and seeing someone disrespect staff or act rudely is something I find frustrating. 

What’s your favorite dish to cook and why?  

I’m passionate about cocido madrileño (chickpea-based stew) and croquetas. Both are very popular Spanish dishes, simple and very tasty, in fact I always have versions of them on the menu in some of our restaurants. 

What’s the most difficult dish for you to get right?  

The more you make a dish, the easier it becomes — it’s really just a matter of time and practice. Even the most complicated recipes can become second nature if you repeat them enough. 

As a head chef, are you a disciplinarian? Or are you more laidback?  

In the kitchens of the XO world, shouting, bad language, and disrespect are forbidden. 
Throughout all the years of my career, this is something that I have learned and internalized. But this doesn’t imply any less discipline or demand from my side. 

Chef Dabiz Munoz’s octopus taco recipe  

Chef Dabiz Munoz’s octopus taco. (Supplied)

Warning: Requires some specialist equipment if recipe is to be followed exactly, including blast chiller, vacuum sealer, and robata (Japanese charcoal grill, similar to a barbeque).  

Ingredients (for final plating): 

Blue corn tortilla 

10g yellow mole  

8g tamarillo emulsion  

50g cooked octopus 

6g parmesan 

10g carrots 

4 unit sorrel 

6g pumpkin seeds 

1 unit lime wedge 

Instructions: 

Tamarillo Emulsion 

Ingredients: 

10kg peeled, aged, tamarillo (must be ripe) 

2g ajillo 

Salt (to taste) 

Pepper (to taste) 

Method: 

Peel the tamarillo and vacuum seal it. 

Once matured, emulsify everything, salt to taste 

Cooked Octopus 

Ingredients: 

40g octopus  

2 onions  

5g garlic 

2 bay leaves  

Method: 

Cook at 85 degrees celsius for three hours or until tender. Cover the octopus with 85 degree water, add two onions, add 50g of garlic, add 10g of bay leaves. Strain and then blast chill. 

Carrots 

Ingredients for the Marinade: 

0% white wine (no alcohol) 10g 

Jerez vinegar 5g 

Mandarin juice 10g 

Olive oil 3g 

Chopped garlic 6g 

Pimenton de la vera 3g 

Salt, cumin, oregano (to taste) 

Red food coloring (to taste) 

Method: 

Reduce the wine and sherry vinegar by half. In a separate pan, fry the garlic in oil until golden, then add the remaining ingredients to the reduction. 

Pickled carrots: 

Peel the carrots and vacuum seal them with the prepared marinade. 

Pumpkin seeds: 

Lightly fry the pumpkin seeds in oil until golden brown, then season with salt to taste. 

Plating 

Grill the octopus on the robata, adding some smoking Sarmiento underneath for extra flavor. 

Brush the octopus with lemon oil for a bright, citrusy finish. 

Warm the tortilla and place it on the dish, seasoning it with yellow mole and a sprinkle of seeds for texture. 

Position the grilled octopus on top of the tortilla, then add four small dots of tamarillo sauce around it. 

Top the octopus with a light layer of cheese. 

Garnish with thinly sliced carrots and fresh greens to add color and freshness. 

Finish the dish with a squeeze of lime and a dusting of powder to enhance the flavors. 

 


Future Generation Art Prize unveils 2024 winner

Future Generation Art Prize unveils 2024 winner
Updated 31 October 2024
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Future Generation Art Prize unveils 2024 winner

Future Generation Art Prize unveils 2024 winner

DUBAI: The Future Generation Art Prize, one of the art world’s most prestigious prizes initiated in Ukraine in 2009, has announced its 2024 winners. Among the recipients are multidisciplinary artists who are associated with the Arab world.

The main $100,000 prize was granted to Dhaka-based artist, Ashfika Rahman. Other “Special Prize” winners include Iraqi-Kurdish artist, Tara Abdullah Mohammed Sharif, Palestinian artist Dina Mimi, Pakistani artist Hira Nabi, Indonesian-born artist Ipeh Nur, and Zhang Xu Zhan, who was born in Taiwan.

Special Prize winners will share a $20,000 pot between them to support the development of their projects.

Ashfika Rahman. (Supplied)

The prize’s 21 shortlisted artists are displaying their works at the PinchukArtCenter in Kyiv until Jan. 19, 2025 amid a recovering domestic art scene following the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

“A lot of artists are still actively present. Obviously, many artists in the beginning of the war have escaped but many also stayed,” artistic director of PinchukArtCenter and jury member, Björn Geldhof, told Arab News. “What is important is that from the very start of the war, artists were looking for ways to engage, and when I say ‘engage’, I don’t only mean through art, but how can they be functional in a situation like this? How can they serve their country?”

Ashfika Rahman. (Supplied)

The prize’s participants this year are exploring a thoughtful range of topics, expressed through immersive installations. According to a press release, what is “recurring through the exhibition is the exploration of local histories and mythologies to overcome historical trauma and the long-lasting effects of wars, as well as the process of liberation from the oppression of colonial influence.”

What sets the Future Generation Art Prize apart from others in the field is its focus on championing up-and-coming artists who are 35 years old or younger from around the world.

The curators of the exhibition. (Supplied)

One of the main issues facing emerging artists is a lack of access to curators, galleries and museum professionals to help boost their careers and encourage their artistic practice, according to Geldhof.  

“We want to really speak to an emerging generation with the strong belief that they kind of imagine the future,” he said. “They are dealing with concerns differently than the middle generation, so to speak. . . They imagine, in a very different way, how the world can look like.”


Hia Hub: Day 1 sees industry experts explore growth opportunities in Saudi Arabia

Hia Hub: Day 1 sees industry experts explore growth opportunities in Saudi Arabia
Updated 30 October 2024
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Hia Hub: Day 1 sees industry experts explore growth opportunities in Saudi Arabia

Hia Hub: Day 1 sees industry experts explore growth opportunities in Saudi Arabia
  • Patrick Chalhoub kicked off the discussion by highlighting the significant differences in the Saudi consumer landscape compared to other markets
  • Mazroua Almazroua contributed to the discussion by exploring how integrated luxury experiences can be designed to appeal to Saudi consumers

RIYADH: Hia Hub, Saudi Arabia’s fashion, beauty and lifestyle conference, returned for its fourth edition in Riyadh’s JAX District with the opening day on Wednesday featuring panel talks on the growth of market opportunities in the Kingdom.

One such panel discussion, titled “Capitalizing on KSA and Beyond: Unveiling Market Opportunities in Saudi Arabia,”  was moderated by journalist Ritu Upadhyay. The session brought together industry leaders including Burak Cakmak, CEO of the Saudi Fashion Commission, Patrick Chalhoub, Group President of the Chalhoub Group, and Mazroua Almazroua, Chief Marketing and Experience Officer at King Abdullah Financial District (KAFD).

The conversation focused on the unique attributes of the Saudi market and the potential for growth in various sectors.

Chalhoub kicked off the discussion by highlighting the significant differences in the Saudi consumer landscape compared to other markets, stating: “What’s different first is the size of the population. We have a much bigger and wider demographic.” He emphasized that wealth in Saudi Arabia is not confined to a small elite but is increasingly found within a growing middle class. This demographic shift presents a wealth of opportunities for businesses, especially as consumer preferences evolve, he said.

“Understanding the local consumer is crucial,” he added, underscoring the need for brands to engage meaningfully with this diverse market.

Chalhoub also pointed out the cultural aspects that distinguish Saudi consumers, noting: “In Saudi Arabia, there is a stronger cultural attachment to luxury. Consumers are looking for creative, personalized, and exclusive products.”

This cultural context influences purchasing behaviors, with consumers placing a high value on the story behind luxury goods. However, he cautioned that the luxury market in Saudi Arabia remains relatively small, indicating room for growth.

“We have to change the environment and adapt,” he remarked, suggesting that brands must innovate to capture the market's potential.

Almazroua contributed to the discussion by exploring how integrated luxury experiences can be designed to appeal to Saudi consumers. He shared insights on the importance of understanding local preferences, stating, “Over 70 percent of Saudis travel specifically for fine dining and unique experiences.”

He emphasized that events blending cultural elements with luxury offerings have proven successful. For instance, a KAFD initiative to host Michelin-star chefs has garnered significant interest. “We sold out every weekend,” Almazroua noted, indicating the strong demand for high-quality, culturally resonant experiences.

Cakmak further expanded on the opportunities for local designers as Saudi Arabia's lifestyle destinations evolve, remarking: “There is a burgeoning local design scene that has often been overlooked. We need to celebrate Saudi creativity.”

The discussion at Hia Hub illuminated the vast potential for brands in Saudi Arabia. As the market continues to evolve, understanding the unique characteristics of the Saudi consumer will be key to capitalizing on emerging opportunities. The integration of cultural insights, innovative experiences, and a focus on local talent will shape the future of luxury in the Kingdom. As Cakmak aptly put it, “We have a chance to create something unique that reflects our identity while engaging with global trends.”

Taking place from Oct. 30 to Nov. 3, Hia Hub will feature discussions, masterclasses, workshops, interactive exhibitions and live performances.