The Cannes Film Festival is famed for its glitz, glamour and camera-worthy red-carpet moments. This year is no different.
Given the Middle East’s love of polished dressing, it comes as little surprise that many international celebrities turn to regional – specifically Lebanese – designers for out-of-this-world looks. With their sharp instinct for melding elegance and high-octane allure, these designers all but guarantee a show-stopping entrance.
So far, we've spotted looks by Elie Saab, Georges Chakra, Rami Kadi and Zuhair Murad on the red carpet. With the event running until May 24, more regional designers are expected to follow.
Elie Saab
Heidi Klum arrived for the opening night in an Elie Saab gown with a train that went on for a few metres, and that immediately broke the new Cannes red-carpet rules.
The dress-code section of the festival website now includes the following: “For decency reasons, nudity is prohibited on the red carpet, as well as in any other area of the festival. Voluminous outfits, in particular those with a large train, that hinder the proper flow of traffic of guests and complicate seating in the theatre are not permitted.”
Having already expressed a bit of healthy rebellion against the fun police, Saab reigned things in for the premiere of Mission Impossible – Final Reckoning. He dressed Eva Longoria in a fully sequinned halter gown in deep sea green. He also styled Heidi Klum a second time in a sleek, panelled dress of molten silver – this time staying well within the rules.
Georges Chakra
Georges Chakra made a return to the Cannes red carpet with long-time client, Lebanese TV personality Raya Abirached.
Wearing a gown from the designer's autumn/winter 2024 couture collection, Abirached arrived in an off-the-shoulder dress the colour of molten demerara sugar. The look featured a flowing skirt and sheer, cathedral-length train, with a deft interplay of high sheen and matte textures. The bodice was adorned with micro-pleats and framed by draped silk chiffon sleeves.
She completed the ensemble with a scattering of asymmetrical diamond jewellery by Cartier.
Rami Kadi
Lebanese couturier Rami Kadi dressed Egyptian actress Amina Khalil and legendary singer and actress Youssra at Cannes.
Clad in all red, Youssra wore a regal, asymmetric column dress with one draped shoulder that became a stole. She completed the look with a set of white diamonds and emeralds by Chopard.
Khalil, meanwhile, arrived in custom-made Rami Kadi in a delicate shade of pink.
Feminine and romantic, the drop-waist gown came with a three-tiered skirt edged in matching marabou feathers.
Zuhair Murad
Zuhair Murad showcased his versatility on the opening night of the festival, dressing four women in distinctly different styles.
Ukrainian model and entrepreneur Anna Andres wore a sensual, romantic gown in grape chiffon, while Brazilian model Alessandra Ambrosio opted for a sultry teal dress, detailed with pleats, a high slit and a dramatic stole of densely packed ruffles.
French model Chloe Lecareux arrived in a barely-there gown traced with lines of dense beading, layered under a billowing black cape.
Angolan model Maria Borges took a different approach, exuding quiet elegance in a sculptural gown designed to resemble a single piece of fabric twisting around her body and trailing into a court-length train. The result was poised, refined and striking.
Leaderboard
64 - Gavin Green (MAL), Graeme McDowell (NIR)
65 - Henrik Stenson (SWE), Sebastian Soderberg (SWE), Adri Arnaus (ESP), Victor Perez (FRA), Jhonattan Vegas (VEN)
66 - Phil Mickelson (USA), Tom Lewis (ENG), Andy Sullivan (ENG), Ross Fisher (ENG), Aaron Rai (ENG), Ryan Fox (NZL)
67 - Dustin Johnson (USA), Sebastian Garcia Rodriguez (ESP), Lucas Herbert (AUS), Francesco Laporta (ITA), Joost Luiten (NED), Soren Kjeldsen (DEN), Marcus Kinhult (SWE)
68 - Alexander Bjork (SWE), Matthieu Pavon (FRA), Adrian Meronk (POL), David Howell (ENG), Christiaan Bezuidenhout (RSA), Fabrizio Zanotti (PAR), Sean Crocker (USA), Scott Hend (AUS), Justin Harding (RSA), Jazz Janewattananond (THA), Shubhankar Sharma (IND), Renato Paratore (ITA)
Key 2013/14 UAE Motorsport dates
October 4: Round One of Rotax Max Challenge, Al Ain (karting)
October 1: 1 Round One of the inaugural UAE Desert Championship (rally)
November 1-3: Abu Dhabi Grand Prix (Formula One)
November 28-30: Dubai International Rally
January 9-11: 24Hrs of Dubai (Touring Cars / Endurance)
March 21: Round 11 of Rotax Max Challenge, Muscat, Oman (karting)
April 4-10: Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge (Endurance)
Who's who in Yemen conflict
Houthis: Iran-backed rebels who occupy Sanaa and run unrecognised government
Yemeni government: Exiled government in Aden led by eight-member Presidential Leadership Council
Southern Transitional Council: Faction in Yemeni government that seeks autonomy for the south
Habrish 'rebels': Tribal-backed forces feuding with STC over control of oil in government territory
Tamkeen's offering
- Option 1: 70% in year 1, 50% in year 2, 30% in year 3
- Option 2: 50% across three years
- Option 3: 30% across five years
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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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