Pioneering reseller platform The Luxury Closet is a huge hit among UAE fashion fans seeking designer goods at a discount while boosting the circular economy.
Even stylish regional celebrities have become a firm part of the popular model by giving shoppers access to exclusives from their own wardrobes.
The Luxury Closet launched Celebrity Closets in 2022, introducing “in-store moments” it says created fresh impact.
The series began with the Kattan sisters - founders of the phenomenally successful Huda Beauty brand - and now features listings from more than 50 of Dubai’s most stylish closets.
The Luxury Closet prides itself on an easy three-step selling process for everyone.
Jai Vohra, chief operating officer, explains that sellers upload photos of their item onto the website or app to receive a free quote from The Luxury Closet experts.
“Or, simply share your number and our concierge team will handle the submissions on your behalf,” he says. “Once you approve the quote, we take care of the rest.”
Sellers can choose free, insured VIP home pickup in the UAE, or ship their item to The Luxury Closet.
“We’ll manage authentication, professional photography, and listing on our global marketplace,” Vohra says. “Once your item sells, we handle shipping and payment processing, and your earnings are securely transferred to your bank account.”
The platform says it believes luxury “extends beyond what you wear to how you’re treated”, so it redesigned the selling process to “feel as indulgent as the fashion itself”.
Astha R Lal, director of seller growth and customer experience, says: “We know that parting with a luxury item is often a personal decision, so our Concierge Services are crafted to make the experience effortless, secure, and transparent from start to finish.
“From closet detox sessions that help you decide what to let go of, to doorstep pickups handled at your convenience, we take care of every detail.
“Each item is treated with meticulous care, authenticated by experts, and tracked through a transparent journey that keeps you informed - from listing to sale, and even through returns.”
The Luxury Closet says it aims to make a process that can often feel complex “refreshingly simple” with secure handling, easy returns, and constant updates for a “seamless and reassuring experience”.
“Selling with us should feel every bit as enjoyable as buying luxury,” says Lal. “Because you and your wardrobe deserve nothing less.”
Mohammed Soubra, retail manager/store, says the goal with Celebrity Closets was to provide access to authentic, pre-loved luxury directly from the region’s most admired style icons.
“Along the way, we’ve learned that partnering with influential names who have millions of followers isn’t just about selling designer items, it’s about creating experiences, connecting people to stories, and making aspirational fashion accessible in a responsible way,” he says.
“Each item carries a story, a memory, and the personal style of someone admired by many.”
Soubra says: “With this series, we open a door for fans and shoppers to experience that same joy and connection, creating a circle of fashion that’s thoughtful, timeless, and sustainable…the effect truly goes far beyond resale.”
Entrepreneur Nina Ali, fashion journalist Sujata Assomull, Safa Siddiqui and Loujain Adada of TV show Dubai Bling, jewellery designer Rima Zahran, presenter and vlogger Supercar Blondie, and diamond bag charm designer Ashna Mehta are among the familiar names who have sale item submissions across categories on The Luxury Closet’s Celebrity Closet section.
People will find authentic Hermes bags, Chanel classics, Bottega Veneta sunglasses, Messika jewellery and Rolex watches.
All are pre-loved but “just as beautiful as new”, says Soubra. “Once listed and sold, these authenticated pieces find new homes around the world, taking a touch of Dubai’s celebrity style far and wide.
“For the industry, Celebrity Closets signals that resale is not a side note but rather a significant part of modern luxury.
"By combining sustainability, aspiration, and the influence of celebrity, this series amplifies our advocacy for circular fashion and accessible luxury.”
Zahran is among the celebrities endorsing the vibrant sales platform. “I love selling my pre-loved pieces to The Luxury Closet,” she says.
“It’s incredibly easy and practical. It also makes shopping guilt-free, because I know I can always resell what I no longer wear, giving each piece a second life to be cherished and enjoyed by someone else.”
Ali describes The Luxury Closet as “a beautiful way to combine sustainability with giving back”.
She says: “I love partnering with this platform because it gives a second life to my pre-loved items, and it allows me to turn those sales into real support for families and charities in need.”
The Luxury Closet was founded in 2012 in Dubai by Kunal Kapoor, beginning with the sale of a single Hermes Birkin bag.
Built on the pillars of circularity, authenticity, and “exceptional service”, it has grown into the Middle East’s largest luxury resale marketplace with a team of 170-plus professionals serving customers in 80-plus countries.
“What started in a Dubai apartment now operates through offices in Dubai, India, Kuwait, and other locations, along with a flagship retail store in the city where it began,” Vohra adds.
“By entrusting us with their personal luxury items, they’re supporting our mission to keep fashion circular and inspire others to embrace pre-loved, both by buying and selling.”
Assomull, for one, says she has always enjoyed “the ‘pre-owned’ fashion moment”.
“It lets you recycle pieces with resale value and encourages smarter buys,” she adds.
“I also love vintage - they’re often better crafted, come with a sense of history, and carry a uniqueness that resonates with me. For me, fashion is never just a product, it’s a story.”
This page was produced by The National in partnership with The Luxury Closet
Real estate tokenisation project
Dubai launched the pilot phase of its real estate tokenisation project last month.
The initiative focuses on converting real estate assets into digital tokens recorded on blockchain technology and helps in streamlining the process of buying, selling and investing, the Dubai Land Department said.
Dubai’s real estate tokenisation market is projected to reach Dh60 billion ($16.33 billion) by 2033, representing 7 per cent of the emirate’s total property transactions, according to the DLD.
Skewed figures
In the village of Mevagissey in southwest England the housing stock has doubled in the last century while the number of residents is half the historic high. The village's Neighbourhood Development Plan states that 26% of homes are holiday retreats. Prices are high, averaging around £300,000, £50,000 more than the Cornish average of £250,000. The local average wage is £15,458.
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Hurricanes 31-31 Lions
Wellington Hurricanes:
Tries: Gibbins, Laumape, Goosen, Fifita tries, Barrett
Conversions: Barrett (4)
Penalties: Barrett
British & Irish Lions:
Tries: Seymour (2), North
Conversions: Biggar (2)
Penalties: Biggar (4)
TOUCH RULES
Touch is derived from rugby league. Teams consist of up to 14 players with a maximum of six on the field at any time.
Teams can make as many substitutions as they want during the 40 minute matches.
Similar to rugby league, the attacking team has six attempts - or touches - before possession changes over.
A touch is any contact between the player with the ball and a defender, and must be with minimum force.
After a touch the player performs a “roll-ball” - similar to the play-the-ball in league - stepping over or rolling the ball between the feet.
At the roll-ball, the defenders have to retreat a minimum of five metres.
A touchdown is scored when an attacking player places the ball on or over the score-line.
What is the definition of an SME?
SMEs in the UAE are defined by the number of employees, annual turnover and sector. For example, a “small company” in the services industry has six to 50 employees with a turnover of more than Dh2 million up to Dh20m, while in the manufacturing industry the requirements are 10 to 100 employees with a turnover of more than Dh3m up to Dh50m, according to Dubai SME, an agency of the Department of Economic Development.
A “medium-sized company” can either have staff of 51 to 200 employees or 101 to 250 employees, and a turnover less than or equal to Dh200m or Dh250m, again depending on whether the business is in the trading, manufacturing or services sectors.
Labour dispute
The insured employee may still file an ILOE claim even if a labour dispute is ongoing post termination, but the insurer may suspend or reject payment, until the courts resolve the dispute, especially if the reason for termination is contested. The outcome of the labour court proceedings can directly affect eligibility.
- Abdullah Ishnaneh, Partner, BSA Law
How to join and use Abu Dhabi’s public libraries
• There are six libraries in Abu Dhabi emirate run by the Department of Culture and Tourism, including one in Al Ain and Al Dhafra.
• Libraries are free to visit and visitors can consult books, use online resources and study there. Most are open from 8am to 8pm on weekdays, closed on Fridays and have variable hours on Saturdays, except for Qasr Al Watan which is open from 10am to 8pm every day.
• In order to borrow books, visitors must join the service by providing a passport photograph, Emirates ID and a refundable deposit of Dh400. Members can borrow five books for three weeks, all of which are renewable up to two times online.
• If users do not wish to pay the fee, they can still use the library’s electronic resources for free by simply registering on the website. Once registered, a username and password is provided, allowing remote access.
• For more information visit the library network's website.
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
Our family matters legal consultant
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
The five pillars of Islam
Islamophobia definition
A widely accepted definition was made by the All Party Parliamentary Group on British Muslims in 2019: “Islamophobia is rooted in racism and is a type of racism that targets expressions of Muslimness or perceived Muslimness.” It further defines it as “inciting hatred or violence against Muslims”.
Moon Music
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Number of tracks: 10
Rating: 3/5
Emergency
Director: Kangana Ranaut
Stars: Kangana Ranaut, Anupam Kher, Shreyas Talpade, Milind Soman, Mahima Chaudhry
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What is a black hole?
1. Black holes are objects whose gravity is so strong not even light can escape their pull
2. They can be created when massive stars collapse under their own weight
3. Large black holes can also be formed when smaller ones collide and merge
4. The biggest black holes lurk at the centre of many galaxies, including our own
5. Astronomers believe that when the universe was very young, black holes affected how galaxies formed
