Each year, The Business of Fashion releases its BoF 500, a list of the people it believes are shaping the industry's future. More than just a roll call of familiar names, the list has become a snapshot of how influence in fashion is evolving.
As fashion moves away from its traditional power centres in Paris, Milan, London and New York, the BoF 500 has increasingly highlighted talent from a broader range of countries. That shift is reflected in this year’s edition.
“This is our most global group of industry shapers yet,” says Imran Amed, BoF’s founder and chief executive. “With new entrants from Montenegro, Mongolia, Cameroon and Panama, it underscores how fashion’s centre of gravity continues to shift eastwards and southwards.”
The Arab world is also making its mark. Below, we highlight the most notable new entries from the region.
Tara Emad
Egyptian actress and model Tara Emad earns her place on the list for a body of work that has steadily expanded her influence across the region. She drew wide recognition for her role in the Arabic adaptation of Suits, as well as standout performances in the 2018 thriller Diamond Dust and the box office smash The Blue Elephant 2 in 2019. Beginning her career as a model before moving into acting, Emad has built a reputation for versatility and charisma on screen. In 2022, she became the first Middle Eastern woman to be named as an ambassador for Chanel Beauty, which cemented her position as one of the region’s most visible and boundary-pushing talents.
Ahmed Hassan
Ahmed Hassan, co-founder of the Saudi label KML, has also been recognised. The brand, launched in 2022 by Ahmed and his sister Razan, draws inspiration from the gender-neutral, utilitarian dress of Saudi Bedouin. It creates garments designed to be worn in multiple ways. His inclusion in the BoF 500 follows his success as a finalist for the 2025 LVMH Prize.
Sofia Guellaty
Sofia Guellaty, founder and creative director of Mille World, is another Mena talent recognised this year. The Tunisian entrepreneur launched the media platform in 2018 with a mission to spotlight Arab culture, lifestyle, beauty and fashion on a global stage.
Mustafa Kucuk and Vahap Kucuk (LC Waikiki)
Turkish business leaders Mustafa and Vahap Kucuk have also earned a place on the list for their fashion and lifestyle brand LC Waikiki. Since acquiring the company in 1997, they have grown it into a powerhouse that in 2024 reported net sales of approximately $4.92 billion (Dh18.06 billion).
BoF’s founder Amed says their inclusion reflects the broader transformation of the industry. “We put together this year’s class at a unique inflection point for fashion, as the industry contends with shifting geopolitics, economic dislocation and sweeping technological change.”
Other notable inductees for 2025 include Simone Bellotti, creative director at Jil Sander, and Michael Rider, creative director at Celine. Dries Van Noten designer Julian Klausner also makes the list, alongside Italian couturier Giambattista Valli and Jamaican designer Rachel Scott, recognised both for her label Diotima and for her recent appointment to lead Proenza Schouler, where she will debut next season.
Despite its name, the BoF 500 welcomes 100 new members each year, nominated by existing inductees and rigorously vetted before being selected by BoF editors for their influence. The list now consists of 1,613 people representing 98 nationalities.
This year’s list also features US rappers and singers Doechii and Kendrick Lamar, alongside British actress and singer Cynthia Erivo. American model and beauty entrepreneur Hailey Bieber also makes the cut, as does French ballet dancer Guillaume Diop.
Further additions include British designer and podcast host Bella Freud, Sara Moonves, editor-in-chief of W Magazine, and Thom Bettridge, editor-in-chief of i-D magazine. Kyle Smith, fashion editor for the NFL, is also recognised.
Tank warfare
Lt Gen Erik Petersen, deputy chief of programs, US Army, has argued it took a “three decade holiday” on modernising tanks.
“There clearly remains a significant armoured heavy ground manoeuvre threat in this world and maintaining a world class armoured force is absolutely vital,” the general said in London last week.
“We are developing next generation capabilities to compete with and deter adversaries to prevent opportunism or miscalculation, and, if necessary, defeat any foe decisively.”
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
Classification of skills
A worker is categorised as skilled by the MOHRE based on nine levels given in the International Standard Classification of Occupations (ISCO) issued by the International Labour Organisation.
A skilled worker would be someone at a professional level (levels 1 – 5) which includes managers, professionals, technicians and associate professionals, clerical support workers, and service and sales workers.
The worker must also have an attested educational certificate higher than secondary or an equivalent certification, and earn a monthly salary of at least Dh4,000.
Paatal Lok season two
Directors: Avinash Arun, Prosit Roy
Stars: Jaideep Ahlawat, Ishwak Singh, Lc Sekhose, Merenla Imsong
Rating: 4.5/5
Mobile phone packages comparison
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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The five pillars of Islam
1. Fasting
2. Prayer
3. Hajj
4. Shahada
5. Zakat
