Memos From The Middle East: Bvlgari Expands Divas’ Dream, AÏZA Launches On Ounass, And Beirut Awards Festival Returns for 13th Edition
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Runway To Real Life
Polène Introduces the Limited-Edition Béri Lif Bag
Polène unveils Béri Lif, a limited-edition reinterpretation of its signature Béri bag, introduced as part of the Plèi collection. The design transforms the house’s refined leather craftsmanship into a sculptural form, with hand-cut leather leaves created from upcycled materials and assembled by artisans in Ubrique. Designed to move naturally with the body, the piece reflects Polène’s continued exploration of material innovation and quiet craftsmanship. Available in Porcelain, Ebony and Polar, Béri Lif highlights the brand’s focus on sustainable design rooted in artisanal technique.
For more information, visit polene-paris.com
Beauty Briefing
Dior Prestige Expands Its Skincare Ritual with New Cleansers and Revitalising Mask
Dior has expanded its Prestige skincare line with a new collection of Rose Infused Cleansers and the Le Masque Micro-Nutritif de Rose, introducing new steps to its luxury skincare ritual. Powered by the Rose de Granville and Dior’s signature Nutri-Rosapeptide complex, the range is designed to cleanse, regenerate, and revitalise the skin while enhancing hydration and radiance. The updated cleanser collection features reformulated textures and packaging, including a cleansing balm, foam cleanser, skincare soap, and sugar scrub suitable for sensitive skin. Completing the ritual, the new Le Masque Micro-Nutritif de Rose combines a high concentration of skincare actives with an innovative lifting fabric mask to deliver intensive hydration, plumping, and sculpting benefits.
For more information, visit dior.com
Bloomingdale’s Launches “Discover Beauty” Space in Dubai Mall
Bloomingdale’s has introduced Discover Beauty, a new dedicated retail space at Dubai Mall focused on skincare, haircare, and beauty innovation. The curated destination brings together leading global brands including 111SKIN, Oribe, Olaplex, GHD, NuFace, and others, offering customers a centralised space to explore new launches and seasonal essentials. Designed around personalised service, the concept features complimentary skin and hair analyses, expert consultations, and tailored beauty recommendations to help customers refine their routines. Alongside in-store experience, Bloomingdale’s also offers an online edit extending the selection of beauty and wellness products, reinforcing its focus on accessible, experience-led retail.
For more information, visit bloomingdales.ae
AÏZA Launches Exclusively on Ounass With a New Discovery Set
Dubai-based beauty brand AÏZA continues its rapid regional expansion with a new launch on Ounass, introducing an exclusive Discovery Set featuring six of its best-selling products across skin, hair and lip care. Known for combining Arab beauty rituals with advanced global formulation techniques developed across Korea, Japan and Italy, the brand continues to position itself at the intersection of heritage and innovation. The set offers an entry point into AÏZA’s sensorial universe, which draws inspiration from ingredients such as date extract, black seed and fragrance-led haircare rituals rooted in regional traditions. The Ounass-exclusive launch further strengthens AÏZA’s presence across the Middle East following its rollout into Ulta Beauty in the UAE.
For more information, visit ounass.com
Bvlgari’s Salone Olfattivo Is Now Open at Bloomingdale’s Dubai Mall
Inspired by the warm interiors of the Bvlgari Hotel Roma, the Salone Olfattivo is an immersive fragrance space now open at Bloomingdale’s in Dubai Mall throughout June. Designed with a circular layout that draws visitors naturally toward the heart of the experience, the space presents Bvlgari’s fragrance collections as if curated like precious jewels, each one placed alongside golden details that celebrate the bond between the Maison’s worlds of jewellery and perfumery. At the centre sits a hand-crafted ceramic bell by an Italian artisan from Sardinia, a tribute to the skilled hands behind every Bvlgari creation.
All That Glitters
The New My Dior Jewellery Collection Is Here
The new My Dior jewellery collection reimagines the house’s iconic Cannage motif, first seen on the Napoleon III chairs of Christian Dior’s earliest shows, as a refined series of pendants finished in gold with a mirror-polished band. Each pendant can be worn alone or rearranged to create a personalised look, making the collection genuinely versatile. A poetic nod to the house’s heritage, updated with the kind of considered detail that Jonathan Anderson does particularly well.
Shop the collection at dior.com
Pomellato Opens Its First Paris Exhibition and Launches Stile Libero High Jewellery
On 23 June, Pomellato marked a major milestone with the opening of Pomellato, Le Joaillier Révolutionnaire, its first exhibition in Paris, held at the Palais de Tokyo. Curated by Alba Cappellieri, the show traces the Maison’s story since 1967 through archival sketches, iconic creations and its enduring dialogue with photography, from Helmut Newton to Herb Ritts. The evening also saw the international debut of Pomellato Stile Libero, the Maison’s new High Jewellery collection of 65 creations rooted in Milanese elegance and built around audacious gem settings, gold openwork and sculptural volumes. The opening was attended by Catherine Deneuve, Kerry Washington, Carla Bruni, Hande Erçel and Yang Zi among others. The exhibition is open to the public at the Palais de Tokyo until 20 July.
For more information, visit pomellato.com
Bvlgari Expands Divas‘ Dream Collection with Seven New High Jewellery Creations
Bvlgari has expanded its Divas’ Dream universe with seven new fine and High Jewellery creations for 2026, continuing its exploration of femininity through light, color, and craftsmanship. Inspired by Roman mosaics and the Maison’s signature ginkgo motif, the collection introduces new interpretations of mother-of-pearl alongside vibrant hardstones and coloured gemstones. The fine jewellery selection includes modular pieces in pink gold featuring necklaces, rings, bracelets, and sautoirs designed for versatile layering, while the High Jewellery designs elevate the aesthetic with bold compositions of rubellite, turquoise, malachite, amethyst, and diamonds.
For more information, visit bulgari.com
Leisure, Luxe, Repeat
Ralph Lauren Brings Summer Of Sport To Sloane Square
Ralph Lauren returns to Sloane Square with a four-week immersive takeover celebrating sport, community and seasonal lifestyle culture. The activation transforms the square into “The RL Clubhouse,” featuring workshops, family activities, live Wimbledon screenings and curated retail spaces including the RL Sun Shop and Wimbledon x Polo Ralph Lauren capsule. Ralph’s Coffee also returns with a seasonal menu inspired by summer classics and Wimbledon traditions. The experience brings together sport, retail and hospitality in a shared summer environment that reflects Ralph Lauren’s signature lifestyle storytelling.
For more information, visit ralphlauren.co.uk
Centara Grand Lagoon Maldives Has Summer Offers Worth Knowing About
Located in North Malé Atoll, Centara Grand Lagoon Maldives is a resort built around considered island living, with overwater and beachfront villas and residences, six restaurants, four bars and three distinct spa concepts including the candy-themed Candy Spa for younger guests. This summer, guests staying four nights or more receive complimentary round-trip speedboat transfers, while those booking directly or on selected meal plans receive spa credit at SPA Cenvaree. A well-rounded island escape for both families and couples looking to make the most of the summer season.
For more information, visit centarahotelsresorts.com
Machchafushi Island Resort and Spa Maldives Is the One for Serious Divers This Summer
Set in South Ari Atoll, Machchafushi Island Resort and Spa, The Centara Collection, is surrounded by more than 50 dive sites where guests can encounter whale sharks, manta rays, reef sharks and sea turtles year-round. The resort is also home to the famous Kudhi Maa Wreck, a 52-metre sunken cargo ship transformed into a thriving coral habitat and a two-time winner at the Travel and Leisure Luxury Awards Asia Pacific for Best House Reef. This summer, guests staying four nights or more receive discounts on seaplane transfers, with savings increasing for longer stays, alongside spa credit at SPA Cenvaree for those on selected meal plans.
For more information, visit centarahotelsresorts.com
Nobu Opens in Cairo and Robert De Niro Reveals the North Coast Project
Nobu New Cairo has officially opened at Eastown District New Cairo, bringing the globally renowned Japanese Peruvian dining concept to Egypt’s capital for the first time. Chef Nobu Matsuhisa travelled to Cairo for an exclusive preview evening, where guests experienced signature dishes including Black Cod Miso and Yellowtail Jalapeño alongside the spirit of kokoro, the Japanese philosophy of acting from the heart that has guided every Nobu experience for more than three decades. The opening forms part of a landmark week for the brand in Egypt. Just days earlier, Robert De Niro joined executives in London to unveil Nobu Residences at OGAMI on Egypt’s North Coast, where a Nobu restaurant, hotel and branded residences are also in development. Nobu New Cairo opens for reservations from 16 July.
For more information, visit noburestaurants.com
Rosewood Doha Marks First Anniversary with Month-Long Culinary Programme
Rosewood Doha is celebrating its first anniversary with a month-long culinary programme throughout July, featuring collaborations with Chef Noof Al Marri and Singapore-based pastry chef Janice Wong. The programme highlights two distinct experiences across Mila and Butterfly Patisserie, blending Qatari culinary heritage with contemporary pastry artistry. At Mila, Chef Noof Al Marri presents a dedicated Raseef Regag breakfast concept inspired by traditional Qatari street food culture, featuring regag variations, shakshuka, karak, and local refreshments. At Butterfly Patisserie, Chef Janice Wong introduces Doha Sunrise, a limited-edition anniversary cake inspired by karak chai and composed of layered textures and regional flavours. Together, the collaborations reflect Rosewood Doha’s focus on storytelling through food, bringing together heritage and modern culinary.
For more information, visit rosewoodhotels.com
Artful Announcements
Opera Gallery Dubai Presents ‘Summer Vibes’ Exhibition
Opera Gallery Dubai unveils Summer Vibes, a multi-generational exhibition bringing together modern and contemporary works that explore the evolution of visual expression across decades. Featuring artists including KAWS, Yayoi Kusama, Pablo Picasso and Marc Chagall, the exhibition creates a dialogue between historical and contemporary artistic voices. The curation highlights shifting interpretations of identity and form, offering a cross-generational perspective on how visual culture continues to evolve.
For more information, visit operagallery.com
Sharjah Art Foundation Launches Sunday Cinema Club Summer Programme
Sharjah Art Foundation has launched Sunday Cinema Club, a new summer-long public programme bringing weekly film screenings, talks, and workshops to audiences in Sharjah. Running every Sunday from July 5th to August 30th 2026 at the Photography Gallery in Al Manakh, the initiative is structured around three thematic strands: animated films for families, pioneering science-fiction cinema, and landmark works of Arab cinema. Each screening is followed by discussions or workshops that explore cinematic language, historical context, and cultural themes. The programme, which is free and open to the public, highlights Sharjah Art Foundation’s continued commitment to accessible cultural programming and community engagement through the moving image.
For more information, visit sharjahart.org
Beirut International Awards Festival Returns for Its 13th Edition in Downtown Beirut
The Beirut International Awards Festival (BIAF) will return to Downtown Beirut for its 13th edition on 30–31 July 2026, bringing together regional and international figures for one of the summer’s key cultural events. Founded in 2010, the festival recognises achievements across arts, entertainment, media, business, sports, science, and humanitarian work, and has grown into a platform celebrating excellence and cultural exchange. This year’s edition will open with an official ceremony and panel discussions before concluding with a red carpet and awards ceremony honouring selected personalities from Lebanon and beyond.
For more information, visit biaf.co
Bazaar Babes
Boo Boo Laand Expands to Abu Dhabi with New Destination At The Galleria Al Maryah Island
Boo Boo Laand is set to open its second UAE location at The Galleria Al Maryah Island in Abu Dhabi this August, marking a key milestone in the family entertainment brand’s regional expansion. Following the success of its Dubai Mall flagship, the new venue will introduce an immersive indoor play environment designed for children and families, featuring interactive attractions such as Boo Boo Jungle, Stadium, Snow Pool, Car Racing, and Farm to Table. Alongside its themed play zones, the Abu Dhabi location will include a café concept and offer birthday parties, private events, and school programmes.
For more information, visit booboolaand.com
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