Best and Worst: Influencer Nojoud Al-Rumaihi talks style inspirationsand bad advice

Best and Worst: Influencer Nojoud Al-Rumaihi talks style inspirationsand bad advice
Saudi influencer Nojoud Al-Rumaihi is known for her carefully curated social media feeds and expert fashion advice. (Supplied)
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Updated 28 August 2025

Best and Worst: Influencer Nojoud Al-Rumaihi talks style inspirationsand bad advice

Best and Worst: Influencer Nojoud Al-Rumaihi talks style inspirationsand bad advice

DUBAI: Here,Saudi influencerNojoud Al-Rumaihitalks style inspirations, embracing structure, and bad advice.

Favorite TV show or film?

“Friends.” It’s my emotional safe zone. To me, it feels like a warm blanket, no matter what’s going on in life. I also like “Game of Thrones.” It is a masterpiece in my opinion, well, most of it. It is visually powerful, emotionally gripping and full of unforgettable characters. My favorite film is “The Devil Wears Prada.” It’s my forever fashion bible. It just hits every time and reminds me why I love what I do.

Worst TV show/film?

“You” from season 3 onwards. It lost all its charm. 

Best personal style moment?

A simple pair of jeans and a tank top is my personal uniform. Clean, classic and always relevant. It’s effortless and timeless.

Worst personal style moment?

Trying red hair. In theory it looked great, but not in real life. Some experiments belong in the archives.

Best accessory for a little black dress?

A bold sculptural earring or a strong cuff — something with presence. A minimal-outfit-maximum-impact approach.

Worst accessory for a little black dress?

Mini novelty bags. They add nothing but clutter. They’re not functional and have zero style longevity.

Best fashion trend of 2025?

Structured volume. I think it makes a statement without looking chaotic. I also like pastels, especially butter yellow. It’s a very trendy color this season. I feel like it’s soft, optimistic and unexpectedly sharp.

Worst fashion trend of 2025?

I don’t like plastic-looking fabrics. They instantly cheapen any look. I’d also say indie sleaze is back, but most of it should have stayed archived. It feels forced and messy.

Best advice you’ve ever been given?  

“Visibility isn’t value.” It’s so true. I also agree with “Consistency is king. Show up, even when it’s quiet.”

Worst advice you’ve ever been given?

“Know your limits.” It just limits your belief, but they disguised it in wisdom. It’s best to ignore this and whoever says it.

Best book you’ve ever read?

“The Forty Rules of Love” by Elif Shafak. It’s deeply moving, spiritually grounding and timeless in its wisdom.

Worst book you’ve ever read?   

Those generic self-help books with recycled quotes and no real depth. They’re all noise, no clarity.

Best thing to do when you’re feeling low?

Move. Go for a walk, stretch, or do anything to change your state. Although sometimes, you do just need to sit with it. Let yourself feel it before trying to fix it.

Worst thing to do when you’re feeling good?  

Overcommitting. When you’re feeling productive and positive, that high can make you say “yes” to things you shouldn’t agree to.

Best holiday destination?

Patina in the Maldives. To me, this is where peace meets thoughtful design. And Switzerland is our family sanctuary. It’s calm, clean and very grounding.

Worst holiday destination?

Overpriced tourist traps dressed up as “authentic” — built for Instagram and empty of experience.

Best subject at school?

It wasn’t at school, but a subject I studied when doing my master’s: branding. It just clicked instantly. It’s like learning the language of impact.

Worst subject at school?

Math. No matter how hard I tried, we just never got along.

Best thing to do to ensure you have a productive day? 

Start with intention. Set two or three non-negotiables and don’t overload your plate with tasks. Focus beats frenzy.

Worst thing to do when you’re trying to have a productive day?

Opening your phone first thing. The scroll spiral kills momentum and makes you overstimulated. There’s just too much input with no clarity.

Best concert you’ve ever been to?

Coldplay in Manchester. It was euphoric, emotional and unforgettable.

Worst concert you’ve ever been to?

Beyoncé in London. I wanted to love it, but it just didn’t land for me. My expectations were high, but it felt distant.

Best social-media platform?

Snapchat. It’s my unfiltered space. It feels personal and real. Also Pinterest is where I escape and dream.

Worst social-media platform?

X. Too much noise and not enough substance.


Simi, Haze Khadra promote new H&M collaboration with Glenn Martens

Simi, Haze Khadra promote new H&M collaboration with Glenn Martens
Updated 02 November 2025

Simi, Haze Khadra promote new H&M collaboration with Glenn Martens

Simi, Haze Khadra promote new H&M collaboration with Glenn Martens

DUBAI: US Palestinian beauty entrepreneurs and influencers Simi and Haze Khadra took to social media this week to promote Swedish retailer H&M’s latest collaboration with Belgian designer Glenn Martens.

The twins posed in a series of items from the new collection in a paid advertorial post on Instagram, captioning it “fade to black.”

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

The creative director of Diesel is part of Paris’ new guard of fashion designers and is known for infusing humor into his conceptual collections. Martens is also the creative head of Y/Project, which he expanded into a unisex brand.

Martens’ collection with H&M twists clothing archetypes into new and unexpected forms. The designer explored H&M’s archive and selected a range of historically popular key pieces, from best-selling T-shirts to checked shirts, bomber jackets and jeans. Each is reimagined as a newly designed piece, with trompe-l’œil elements. Many of the pieces can be transformed by the wearer thanks to the use of reshaping techniques, such as foil and wiring, to create sculptural forms.

“I see this collection as a big family of garments, all of which have multiple purposes and personalities: Like people, they grow and change each day. I am always interested in the clothes that we really live in, and the idea of archetypes and wardrobe staples was the starting point for this very special and joyful project,” Martens said in a released statement.

The Khadra sisters showed off a trench coat, scarf and various boots from the collection on social media.

The pair are no strangers to creativity and co-founded their own beauty brand, SimiHaze Beauty, in 2021.

Known for their bold and innovative stick-on makeup designs — such as chrome wings and holographic cat-eyes — the brand began with eye products and then expanded its offerings to include lipsticks and bronzing powders.

In 2024, they expanded their brand to the Middle East, describing the experience as “so surreal” to Arab News.

“The market has been such a huge goal of ours since we started because we grew up here,” Simi said in an interview at the time. “We’re so happy that our products are finally accessible to our amazing followers here.”


Malika El-Maslouhi shines in new holiday campaign

Malika El-Maslouhi shines in new holiday campaign
Updated 01 November 2025

Malika El-Maslouhi shines in new holiday campaign

Malika El-Maslouhi shines in new holiday campaign

DUBAI: Moroccan Italian model Malika El-Maslouhi appeared this week in a new holiday campaign for the French luxury label Guerlain.

In a photo shared on the brand’s Instagram page, the 26-year-old model, who has become a favorite on international runways, wore the limited-edition Rouge G lipstick from Guerlain’s Tale of Wonders Holiday Collection in shade G 877. She was also pictured holding the lipstick alongside the matching limited-edition Rouge G Stellar case.

In another image, she posed beside a gift box, wearing celestial-inspired jewelry that included dangling star-shaped earrings and matching rings featuring radiating motifs and delicate pave detailing.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

El-Maslouhi, born in Milan to a Moroccan father and an Italian mother, began her modeling career at the age of 18. She has since appeared on runways for international fashion houses including Dior, Chanel, Valentino and Jacquemus, gracing the catwalks of New York, London, Milan and Paris Fashion Weeks. Over the years, she has walked for brands such as Ulla Johnson, Prabal Gurung, David Koma, Boss, Missoni, Messika and more.

She has also featured in campaigns for brands such as Calvin Klein, Off-White and Lanvin, expanding her portfolio across both luxury and contemporary fashion.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

In August, she was the face of Anthropologie’s 2026 resort-wear campaign. The line blended breezy elegance with playful details including jewel-toned maxi dresses, sleek black knitted dress, and form-fitting satin gowns that would be perfect for date night.

El-Maslouhi has previously starred in Anthropologie’s summer campaigns. The catwalk star was photographed posing pool and beachside in pieces from Anthropologie’s summer offering, which include ready-to-wear, swimwear and accessories.

The model was seen sporting standout pieces including a lobster-embroidered cardigan, colorful printed shorts, loose summer dresses, tropical one-pieces, denim shorts, floral-printed maxi skirts and tie-up shirts in lightweight fabric, all from the “Sunrise, Jetset” collection.

Earlier this year, El-Maslouhi starred in Saint Levant’s music video for the song “Exile,” directed by Algerian French filmmaker Lyna Zerrouki. The video, which explores themes of longing, loss and hope, features El-Maslouhi against a striking blue backdrop, seemingly falling through the air.

In 2022, she was awarded the Model of the Year in Italy title.


Will Smith to headline UAE book fair

Will Smith to headline UAE book fair
Updated 01 November 2025

Will Smith to headline UAE book fair

Will Smith to headline UAE book fair

DUBAI: Hollywood star Will Smith is set to take the stage at the UAE’s Sharjah International Book Fair 2025, which runs from Nov. 5 to 16 at Expo Center Sharjah.

The Oscar-winning actor and musician will appear as a guest speaker on Nov. 14, where fans are expecting him to share his trademark humor and personal reflections on life and creativity.

A regular visitor to the Middle East, Smith has made several trips to the region in recent years, often expressing his admiration for its culture and hospitality. He has skydived over Dubai’s Palm Jumeirah, celebrated his wedding anniversary in the city with his wife Jada Pinkett Smith, and explored landmarks across the UAE.

In 2023, he made headlines in when he attended the inaugural AlUla Camel Cup, further cementing his strong connection to the region.

Now in its 44th outing, the annual literary event returns under the theme “Between You and a Book” and will feature more than 2,350 publishers from 118 countries, alongside more than 1,200 activities and 750 workshops for readers of all ages.

This year’s program will host a remarkable roster of global literary figures, including Nigerian author Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, Italian physicist and bestselling writer Carlo Rovelli, Irish novelist and Booker Prize winner Paul Lynch, and Indian content creator Prajakta Koli. Prominent Arab and Emirati names such as poet and filmmaker Nujoom Al Ghanem, historian Dr. Hamad bin Seray and renowned Egyptologist Zahi Hawass will also participate.


Where We Are Going Today: Julius Meinl: A taste of Vienna in Riyadh

Where We Are Going Today: Julius Meinl: A taste of Vienna in Riyadh
Updated 01 November 2025

Where We Are Going Today: Julius Meinl: A taste of Vienna in Riyadh

Where We Are Going Today: Julius Meinl: A taste of Vienna in Riyadh

Founded in Vienna, Austria, in the 19th century, Julius Meinl is well known in Europe as a coffee and tea supplier, and the company has just recently opened a shop in Riyadh.

You will surely enjoy their V60 Colombian coffee beans and desserts, such as the Gers Ogaily — or traditional Kuwaiti sponge cake with saffron and cardamom — covered in chocolate.

While the Kunafah bites leave something to be desired, the coffee is flavorful; every sip is simply delicious.

Overall, the prices at this coffeehouse are high. One cup costs SR17 (approximately $5). The chocolate bites are worth SR7 each.

If you’re eco-conscious, the decor and overall aesthetics will capture your attention. The walls are covered with recycled wood, the espresso cups are all biodegradable, and, according to the coffee house, the tools they use are all sustainable.

While the coffee and tasty sweets at Julius Meinl are high-quality, the location may not be the best. Situated in Riyadh’s far north, in the Al-Narjis neighborhood, it is pretty far from the city center.

The seating is slightly uncomfortable as well.

Despite these setbacks, Julius Meinl is a good place to enjoy a coffee time with a friend, perhaps once in a while. Its rich, flavorful brews and attention to sustainability make it worth the occasional visit.


King Salman Park: The green heart of Riyadh

King Salman Park: The green heart of Riyadh
Updated 31 October 2025

King Salman Park: The green heart of Riyadh

King Salman Park: The green heart of Riyadh
  • The team from Gerber Architekten discuss their RIBA-award nominated design

DUBAI: In the heart of Riyadh, a groundbreaking project is transforming a former airbase into a green oasis that promises to reshape the Saudi capital’s environmental and social landscape. King Salman Park — nominated for its inaugural Middle East Awards by the prestigious Royal Institute of British Architects — stands as a testament to innovative urban design in one of the world’s most challenging desert environments. 

“Our primary vision was to transform this former (airbase) area from a desert flood zone into living, breathing nature in the heart of Riyadh,” Eckhard Gerber, founder of Gerber Architekten, the German firm behind the design and execution of the park, tells Arab News. 

Thomas Lücking, the company’s managing director, adds, “The idea was to really create a forest and have under its canopy a thousand gardens. So, something to really increase the livability of the city, to attract the citizens into the green, and give them the opportunity to really understand and connect to nature.” 

Concept image for Overlook Hill in King Salman Park. (Courtesy of Gerber Architekten)

The park, spanning 16 square kilometers, will reportedly be the largest urban park in the world. And it’s set to challenge conventional approaches to urban development in extreme climatic conditions. 

“How to structure the park was the biggest initial challenge,” says Lücking. “And what helped us was really understanding Riyadh and the Arabian peninsulas and the wadis — a key element in the environment in and around Riyadh. Here, the main structuring element was creating a manufactured wadi.” 

A second major challenge was connecting the city to the park. “That’s when we got this idea of an intertwining of the green fingers of the park with the urban ‘fingers’ of the city,” he continues. “So, the city reaches into the park, and the park reaches out into the city with those green fingers to make it, really, a vital part of the city — not just an island isolated there. And there’s no fence; there’s no boundary around the park.” 

Concept image for Overlook Hill in King Salman Park. (Courtesy of Gerber Architekten)

The project’s ambition goes far beyond creating a simple green space. It represents a comprehensive approach to urban regeneration, addressing critical environmental challenges while giving citizens a new way to interact with nature in a desert metropolis. 

Water management emerged as a crucial innovation. Lücking highlights the firm’s pioneering approach: “We’re using treated wastewater from the city — approximately 150,000 cubic meters daily — which is polished to near-drinking water quality.” 

This approach not only solves waste-management issues but provides a sustainable irrigation solution for the park’s ambitious green infrastructure. 

Concept image for Museum of the Earth. (Courtesy of Gerber Architekten)

Even the park’s soil is a marvel of scientific engineering. The team dug down 2.5 meters, breaking up compacted airport ground and creating what Lücking describes as “regenerative soil,” and by incorporating red sands, pumice, biochar, and microorganisms, they’ve developed a living ecosystem that can absorb rainwater like a sponge and support an extraordinary diversity of plant life. 

The park — which should be complete by 2030, although some areas will open sooner than that — will apparently host more than 700 plant species, a dramatic increase from the 100-120 species currently cultivated in Riyadh. Approximately half of them are indigenous to , so many of them are being newly introduced to the region’s horticultural landscape. “We wanted to create a place where people can truly enjoy nature,” Gerber emphasizes.  

The park’s design incorporates varied landscape types, including valleys, mountains, and water bodies, with elevation changes spanning 35 meters to create diverse microclimates and viewing experiences. 

Concept image for one of the park's valleys. (Courtesy of Gerber Architekten)

Architectural elements are deliberately integrated into the landscape, rather than imposed on it. The Museum of the Earth, for instance, appears initially as a natural canyon, with building facades subtly emerging as visitors explore deeper. Pedestrian bridges mimic tree branches, and rest areas are designed to resemble natural caverns. 

The park’s design philosophy rejects the typical approach of creating an entertainment zone. “We didn’t want hundreds of artificial attractions,” says Lücking. “Instead, we aimed to create a piece of manufactured nature where people can connect with their environment, explore, and occasionally get delightfully lost.” 

The nomination for the RIBA Awards, for which the winners will be announced Nov. 5, represents more than just architectural recognition for the firm. “It’s our first opportunity to showcase what’s possible in ,” notes Gerber.