The five winners of the second AlUla Design Award have been announced.
The prize supports retail goods inspired by the landscape and heritage of Saudi Arabia’s AlUla region.
Here are the top picks announced by Arts AlUla at Paris Design Week on Thursday.
Tawa
The winning projects include Tawa by the Saudi Arabia-based Shaddah Studio. The work was conceived as an ideal observing chair from which to enjoy AlUla’s landscape, particularly how the horizon meets the sky. Tawa can also be refashioned as a rug. The work uses a black powder-coated steel frame, a water-resistant backing and a cotton rope.
Naba Tea Tiffin
Naba Tea Tiffin by Indian designer Gunjan Gupta and her studio Ikkis is inspired by Hegra’s position on the Hajj route. It comprises copper lids coated in terracotta powder, paying homage to the architectural elements of the ancient city. The set blends design elements from the lota container in India and beak spouts found in Nabataean pottery. It is made up of two sizes of jugs, for tea and milk, as well as sugar and biscuit bowls.
AlUla Terrains: Dates Serving Set
AlUla Terrains: Dates Serving Set by the Saudi design company Teeb takes its cues from Harrat Khaybar's lush palm fields. The stackable set is made from stone and has a bottom container in which to store dates, whereas the upper part is designed for dips. The top cover is a receptacle to discard seeds.
Incense Heritage Collection
Incense Heritage Collection by Tunisian designer Sarra Hafaiedh fuses contemporary production techniques with ancient designs. The wood grains and clean lines of the incense holder pay homage to Hegra’s rocks and its engraved symbols.
Oil Lantern
Finally, Oil Lantern by French architect Imane Mellah is a new twist to the Byzantine oil lamp found in Hegra. While the traditional aspects of the lamp were retained, it has been refined for modern use. Made out of ceramic, the lamp features a mesh placed in the centre, emphasising its handle.
Turning ideas into reality
The five winners were selected from a pool of 10 finalists. Prototypes of the shortlisted projects are being showcased in a Paris exhibition. It was conceived by Herve Sauvage, a set designer who has worked for several luxury brands, including Diesel, Hermes, Dior and Givenchy. Taking place at the Rue De Turenne, it is running until September 16.
The AlUla Design Award will also be commissioning some of the winning designs, supporting their production process and promoting them within events under the AlUla umbrella, both regionally and internationally.
"The winners of the AlUla Design Award have brilliantly interpreted the landscape and heritage of AlUla through their designs,” Nora Aldabal, executive director of Arts and Creative Industries Royal Commission for AlUla, said.
The award is one of several initiatives aiming to make AlUla a regional design hub, including the launch of the area’s first arts and design centre Madrasat Addeera, which was formerly an old girls’ school. A show related to the centre, Madrasat Addeera Editions, is also being exhibited during Paris Design Week, which concludes on September 16.
AlUla also recently revealed the Design Residency, which begins in October, as well as Design Space AlUla, which is slated to open early next year.
“These initiatives exemplify AlUla's commitment to pushing the boundaries of design in dynamic and innovative ways whilst fostering creativity and cross-cultural connections,” Aldabal said. “We look forward to nurturing these ambitious initiatives which are making AlUla a design hub in the region, engaging local and international design communities alike."
THE BIO
Favourite car: Koenigsegg Agera RS or Renault Trezor concept car.
Favourite book: I Am Pilgrim by Terry Hayes or Red Notice by Bill Browder.
Biggest inspiration: My husband Nik. He really got me through a lot with his positivity.
Favourite holiday destination: Being at home in Australia, as I travel all over the world for work. It’s great to just hang out with my husband and family.
Living in...
This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.
India cancels school-leaving examinations
Ten tax points to be aware of in 2026
1. Domestic VAT refund amendments: request your refund within five years
If a business does not apply for the refund on time, they lose their credit.
2. E-invoicing in the UAE
Businesses should continue preparing for the implementation of e-invoicing in the UAE, with 2026 a preparation and transition period ahead of phased mandatory adoption.
3. More tax audits
Tax authorities are increasingly using data already available across multiple filings to identify audit risks.
4. More beneficial VAT and excise tax penalty regime
Tax disputes are expected to become more frequent and more structured, with clearer administrative objection and appeal processes. The UAE has adopted a new penalty regime for VAT and excise disputes, which now mirrors the penalty regime for corporate tax.
5. Greater emphasis on statutory audit
There is a greater need for the accuracy of financial statements. The International Financial Reporting Standards standards need to be strictly adhered to and, as a result, the quality of the audits will need to increase.
6. Further transfer pricing enforcement
Transfer pricing enforcement, which refers to the practice of establishing prices for internal transactions between related entities, is expected to broaden in scope. The UAE will shortly open the possibility to negotiate advance pricing agreements, or essentially rulings for transfer pricing purposes.
7. Limited time periods for audits
Recent amendments also introduce a default five-year limitation period for tax audits and assessments, subject to specific statutory exceptions. While the standard audit and assessment period is five years, this may be extended to up to 15 years in cases involving fraud or tax evasion.
8. Pillar 2 implementation
Many multinational groups will begin to feel the practical effect of the Domestic Minimum Top-Up Tax (DMTT), the UAE's implementation of the OECD’s global minimum tax under Pillar 2. While the rules apply for financial years starting on or after January 1, 2025, it is 2026 that marks the transition to an operational phase.
9. Reduced compliance obligations for imported goods and services
Businesses that apply the reverse-charge mechanism for VAT purposes in the UAE may benefit from reduced compliance obligations.
10. Substance and CbC reporting focus
Tax authorities are expected to continue strengthening the enforcement of economic substance and Country-by-Country (CbC) reporting frameworks. In the UAE, these regimes are increasingly being used as risk-assessment tools, providing tax authorities with a comprehensive view of multinational groups’ global footprints and enabling them to assess whether profits are aligned with real economic activity.
Contributed by Thomas Vanhee and Hend Rashwan, Aurifer
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Dubai World Cup Carnival card
6.30pm: UAE 1000 Guineas Trial Conditions (TB) US$100,000 (Dirt) 1,400m
7.05pm: Handicap (TB) $135,000 (Turf) 1,000m
7.40pm: Handicap (TB) $175,000 (D) 1,900m
8.15pm: Meydan Challenge Listed Handicap (TB) $175,000 (T) 1,400m
8.50pm: Dubai Stakes Group 3 (TB) $200,000 (D) 1,200m
9.25pm: Dubai Racing Club Classic Listed Handicap (TB) $175,000 (T) 2,410m
The National selections
6.30pm: Final Song
7.05pm: Pocket Dynamo
7.40pm: Dubai Icon
8.15pm: Dubai Legacy
8.50pm: Drafted
9.25pm: Lucius Tiberius
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Kumulus Water
Started: 2021
Founders: Iheb Triki and Mohamed Ali Abid
Based: Tunisia
Sector: Water technology
Number of staff: 22
Investment raised: $4 million
The biog
Fast facts on Neil Armstrong’s personal life:
- Armstrong was born on August 5, 1930, in Wapakoneta, Ohio
- He earned his private pilot’s license when he was 16 – he could fly before he could drive
- There was tragedy in his married life: Neil and Janet Armstrong’s daughter Karen died at the age of two in 1962 after suffering a brain tumour. She was the couple’s only daughter. Their two sons, Rick and Mark, consulted on the film
- After Armstrong departed Nasa, he bought a farm in the town of Lebanon, Ohio, in 1971 – its airstrip allowed him to tap back into his love of flying
- In 1994, Janet divorced Neil after 38 years of marriage. Two years earlier, Neil met Carol Knight, who became his second wife in 1994
The specs: 2018 Nissan Patrol Nismo
Price: base / as tested: Dh382,000
Engine: 5.6-litre V8
Gearbox: Seven-speed automatic
Power: 428hp @ 5,800rpm
Torque: 560Nm @ 3,600rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 12.7L / 100km
