The Abu Dhabi Music & Arts Foundation (Admaf) has teamed up with Dolce & Gabbana to spotlight talented Emirati creatives who pay homage to their culture through innovative design.
Two winners were selected from the 2023 entries. Azza Al Tawila landed the top award in fashion, while Sarah Al Masoori won the title in the jewellery creations category.
Both will next embark on a six-month paid internship programme at Dolce & Gabbana's headquarters in Milan in their respective fields. They will be mentored by Dolce & Gabbana's in-house teams, allowing them to further their talent and expand their knowledge of the industry.
The duo's final products will then be featured at Abu Dhabi Festival 2025, showcasing the fusion of tradition and innovation in Emirati artistry.
Six finalists were competing for the top prize.
The jury comprised international and UAE-based experts, including Huda Alkhamis-Kanoo, Admaf founder and representatives of Dolce & Gabbana Alta Moda, plus Roberto La Lacona, director of Marangoni Institute UAE; and Emirati artists Azza Al Qubaisi, Ahmad Al Areef Al Dhaheri and Sultan Al Darmaki.
Alkhamis-Kanoo said the project is “aligned with our joint commitment to nurturing Emirati youth and fostering the growth of the cultural and creative industries within the country. Our aim is to strengthen collaboration between the UAE and Italy.”
She added: “I extend my heartfelt congratulations to Azza Al Tawila and Sarah Al Mansoori, who will embark on a journey to refine their professional paths under the guidance of leading experts in design, fashion and perfumery.”
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Profile Periscope Media
Founder: Smeetha Ghosh, one co-founder (anonymous)
Launch year: 2020
Employees: four – plans to add another 10 by July 2021
Financing stage: $250,000 bootstrap funding, approaching VC firms this year
Investors: Co-founders
Farage on Muslim Brotherhood
Nigel Farage told Reform's annual conference that the party will proscribe the Muslim Brotherhood if he becomes Prime Minister.
"We will stop dangerous organisations with links to terrorism operating in our country," he said. "Quite why we've been so gutless about this – both Labour and Conservative – I don't know.
“All across the Middle East, countries have banned and proscribed the Muslim Brotherhood as a dangerous organisation. We will do the very same.”
It is 10 years since a ground-breaking report into the Muslim Brotherhood by Sir John Jenkins.
Among the former diplomat's findings was an assessment that “the use of extreme violence in the pursuit of the perfect Islamic society” has “never been institutionally disowned” by the movement.
The prime minister at the time, David Cameron, who commissioned the report, said membership or association with the Muslim Brotherhood was a "possible indicator of extremism" but it would not be banned.
Neil Thomson – THE BIO
Family: I am happily married to my wife Liz and we have two children together.
Favourite music: Rock music. I started at a young age due to my father’s influence. He played in an Indian rock band The Flintstones who were once asked by Apple Records to fly over to England to perform there.
Favourite book: I constantly find myself reading The Bible.
Favourite film: The Greatest Showman.
Favourite holiday destination: I love visiting Melbourne as I have family there and it’s a wonderful place. New York at Christmas is also magical.
Favourite food: I went to boarding school so I like any cuisine really.
The Land between Two Rivers: Writing in an Age of Refugees
Tom Sleigh, Graywolf Press
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
