A Sartorial Celebration Of UAE’s Golden Jubilee With This Season’s Finest Couture Pieces
Witness the most visionary couture against the bold backdrop of the 7 emirates to mark this momentous occasion in the UAE’s history…
To the rest of the world, the UAE may be best known for its dizzying skylines, its dazzling feats of engineering, its breathtaking natural wonders, and its accelerated achievements showing no sign of taking its foot off the gas. But those of us who call it home know the nation stands for so much more.
Ras Al-Khaimah – Jacket, POA; Trousers, POA; Hat, POA; Shoes, POA; all Schiaparelli Haute Couture 
Abu Dhabi – Dress, POA, Jean Paul Gaultier Haute Couture
The notion that we’re stronger together is one that has served us well as we emerge from the global pandemic, and astonishingly ahead of his time, 50 years ago, this was the same spirit in which His Highness Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, regarded as the founding father of the UAE, sought to unify the emirates under one flag. On 2nd December 1971, the day after the British protectorate treaty expired, the six Trucial Sheikhdoms of Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah, Fujairah, Umm Al-Qaiwain and Ajman formed the United Arab Emirates with Ras Al-Khaimah joining on 10 February 1972.
Umm Al-Quwain – Dress, POA, Alexis Mabille Haute Couture 
Ras Al-Khaimah – Dress, POA, Zuhair Murad Haute Couture
Written into the preamble of the constitution, the rulers declared, “It is our desire and the desire of the people of our Emirates to establish a Union between these Emirates, to promote a better life, more enduring stability and a higher international status for the Emirates and their people.”
Abu Dhabi – Cape, POA; Shorts, POA; Gloves, POA; Hat, POA; Shoes, POA, all Valentino Haute Couture 
Fujairah – Dress, POA, Chanel Haute Couture
As the UAE celebrates its 50th anniversary, the nation has overachieved on Sheikh Zayed’s towering ambitions, all while keeping the advancement of the people of our emirates at the heart and soul of its endeavours, thanks to the determination of his successors His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, president of the UAE, the Emir of Abu Dhabi and the supreme commander of the United Arab Emirates Armed Forces and His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, vice president and prime minister of the UAE, Minister of Defence, and ruler of Dubai.
Fujairah – Dress, POA; Headpiece, POA; both Giambattista Valli Haute Couture 
Dubai – Dress, POA, Flora Miranda.
Boots, POA, Christian Louboutin
Since 2015, a theme of the year has sought to unite and elevate its residents in one collective purpose, from the Year of Innovation in 2015, the Year of Reading in 2016, the Year of Giving in 2017, to the Year of Zayed in 2018, the Year of Tolerance in 2019, and Towards the Next Fifty in 2020.
Ajman – Cape, POA; Sweater, POA; Top, POA; Shoes, POA; Hat, POA, all Dior Haute Couture 
Sharjah – Dress, POA, Rahul Mishra Haute Couture. Shoes, POA, Christian Louboutin
Fast-forward to 2025, when the Guggenheim will join Louvre Abu Dhabi in Saadiyat’s Cultural District, confirming that the arts, creativity and heritage remain at the heart of Chairman of the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi, His Excellency Mohamed Al Mubarak’s mandate for Abu Dhabi’s future. And beyond the success of Expo 2020 Dubai, according to its 2040 Urban Master Plan, green and recreational spaces and areas dedicated to public parks will double in size to serve the growing number of residents and visitors, and nature reserves and rural natural areas will constitute 60 per cent of the emirate.
Umm Al Quwain – Coat, POA; Shoes, POA; both Balenciaga Haute Couture 
Ajman – Blazer, POA; Shirt, POA; Skirt, POA; Hat, POA; all Dior Haute Couture
In the Year of UAE’s Golden Jubilee, inspiration, aspiration, ambition and limitless opportunity remain at the core of our achievements in the UAE. As we celebrate Sheikh Zayed’s vision for a better life, remember Abdullah Mohammed Al Maainah, a student who was just 19 years old when he won a competition to design the emblem of the emirates, which was adopted by the nation on 2nd December 1971. It became the flag we wave today – proof that even from the very beginning of the story of the UAE, no dream will ever be out of our reach.
Fujairah – Dress, POA, Chanel Haute Couture 
Dubai – Coat, POA; Skirt, POA; Headpiece, POA; all Elie Saab Haute Couture. Shoes, POA, Christian Louboutin
Editor in Chief: Olivia Phillips. Creative Director: Marne Schwartz. Words: Alison Tay. Art Director: Oscar Yáñez. Styling: Anna Castan. Hair: Anne Sofie Begtrup at Wise and Talented. Make-Up: Ossiel Ramos Abarca at Walter Schupfer. Market Editor: Nour Bou Ezz. Executive Producer: Jesse Vora. Studio Manager: Ines Guendouz. Set designer: Karolina Volbin. Stylist’s Assistant: Kristina Babkina. Photography: Arash Khaksari. Photographer’s Assistants: Martin Wilhelm and Faycal Bouhassoun. Backdrops images by: Paul Morel, Tesson Thaliath, Agnieszka Kowalczyk, Stanislav Ferrao, Yuliya Pankevich, Javier Saint Jean, Omar Yehia