Arab stars on Cannes red carpet: Amal Clooney, Aseel Omran, Karen Wazen, Balqees Fathi and more

Singers, models and famous faces serve up serious Middle Eastern glamour at film festival

Amal Clooney wore vintage Dior to the premiere of Bono: Stories of Surrender at Cannes 2025. EPA

Arab designers are not the only ones ramping up the glamour at the Cannes Film Festival. A host of Arab stars are also lighting up this year's event, including Egyptian actress and singer Yousra and Palestinian-Dutch supermodel Bella Hadid.

Various celebrities brought a distinct take on red-carpet style, from a dramatic all-white Tamara Ralph gown to a sharply tailored Berluti three-piece suit. Finished with dazzling jewels – most notably from Cartier – regional stars are once again setting the global standard for evening glamour.

Find out who wore what on the red carpet so far.

Aseel Omran

Saudi actress Aseel Omran in Charbel Karam and Tiffany & Co diamonds. Getty Images

Wearing a kick-flair Charbel Karam gown in palest blue and Tiffany & Co diamonds, Saudi actress Aseel Omran arrived at the premiere of Nouvelle Vague (New Wave) looking every inch the movie star.

Karen Wazen

Karen Wazen, in two-tone Schiaparelli, alongside her husband. EPA

Lebanese influencer Karen Wazen and her husband Elias Bakhazi also attended the Nouvelle Vague showing. Wazen wore a dramatic two-tone dress by Schiaparelli, which was pink on the front with a black back.

Amal Clooney

Amal Clooney in vintage Dior. EPA

Lebanese-British human rights lawyer Amal Clooney delivered some serious glamour on the Bono: Stories of Surrender red carpet, arriving in John Galliano-era vintage Dior. The off-shoulder gown had a classic V neckline and back, and a separate over train that fell from the waist, and Clooney teamed it with a simple black clutch.

Rawdah Mohamed

Model Rawdah Mohamed in a pink gown by Rizman Ruzaini. Getty

Somali-Norwegian model Rawdah Mohamed walked the red carpet for Die, My Love in a pale pink, drop-waist gown by Malaysian label Rizman Ruzaini, perfectly matched to her hijab and finished with a white diamond necklace.

A familiar name in the UAE, Rizman Ruzaini opened Dubai Fashion Week’s spring/summer 2025 season. The day before, Mohamed wore a sculpted, high-necked look by the designer, complete with padded hips and bust.

Hoda El Etreby

Hoda El Etreby in a sculptural piece by Georges Chakra. Photo: Georges Chakra / Instagram

Egyptian actress Hoda El Etreby was another Arab star spotted at Cannes, turning heads in a body-skimming white gown by Lebanese couturier Georges Chakra, topped with a sculptural silver loop rising from the neckline.

Balqees Fathi

Balqees Fathi in Oscar de la Renta. AFP

The Emirati-Yemeni singer took to the red carpet during the premiere of Dossier 137 wearing a fairy tale-gown by Oscar de la Renta. In two-toned grey, the strapless gown was smothered in crystals across the bodice, before falling away into a full net skirt. Looking like entertainment royalty, the singer paired the look with a smooth bob and a necklace of white diamonds.

Sarah Taibah

Sarah Taibah in a creation by Syrian designer Mouthana Alhaj Ali. Getty Images

The Saudi actress attended the Women in Cinema gala, hosted by the Red Sea Film Foundation, in a striking red look by Paris-based Syrian designer Mouthana Alhaj Ali.

The drop-waist, puffball dress stood out for its sculptural shoulder straps, which hovered 20cm above her shoulders.

The evening, a celebration of women in film, also welcomed guests including Catherine Deneuve, Jessica Alba and Alessandra Ambrosio.

Yousra

Yousra in a gold sequinned look by Elie Saab and Cartier jewellery. Photo: Cartier

A Cannes regular, Egyptian actress and singer Yousra has already graced several events this year, including opening night and the premiere of Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning.

She chose to showcase Arab talent at both, wearing dramatic red by Rami Kadi and a glittering gold sequin gown by Elie Saab, paired with Cartier jewellery.

Raya Abirached

Raya Abirached in Rami Kadi and Cartier diamonds. Photo: Rami Kadi / Instagram

The Lebanese television host has made several appearances at Cannes this year, attending three premieres so far.

For opening night, she chose a soft caramel gown by Georges Chakra, followed by a striking red Rami Kadi dress with a tightly corseted bodice for the Dossier 137 screening.

She also walked the red carpet at the Mission: Impossible finale, adorned in Cartier diamonds.

Mohammed Al Turki

Mohammed Al Turki in a Berluti suit. Photo: Berluti

The Saudi film producer appeared on the Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning red carpet, sharing on social media that he was “representing Arab cinema with pride” and that the magic of Cannes is “diversity, storytelling, and global voices”.

Dressed by Berluti, he wore a sharp midnight blue satin and wool three-piece suit, finished with Cartier accessories.

Razane Jammal

Razane Jammal in Dior. Photo: Dior

The Lebanese actress attended the Deux Procureurs red carpet in a sophisticated off-white Dior gown by Maria Grazia Chiuri.

The sheer, bead-embroidered bodice was offset by a light, floor-grazing skirt that added an ethereal finish.

Bella Hadid

Bella Hadid turned heads in this Jacquemus number. Jacquemus / Instagram

The Palestinian-Dutch supermodel lived up to her reputation for head-turning looks when she walked the red carpet in a dramatic, backless dress by Saint Laurent.

The following day, she stepped out in a fit-and-flare dress by French label Jacquemus.

Nadine Nassib Njeim

Nadine Nassib Njeim in a Tamara Ralph gown. Photo: Nadine Nassib Njeim / Instagram

The Lebanese actress and beauty entrepreneur made a striking entrance in an all-white gown by Australian couture label Tamara Ralph.

Strapless, form-fitting and finished with a dramatic train – possibly testing Cannes's new dress code – the look was pared back, save for a single beaded orchid. She completed it with opera-length gloves.