Where Heritage Takes Hold Of The Runway: A Reflection On Muscat Fashion Week
Muscat Fashion Week 2026 Shows off the Region’s Creativity – but ensures it has a strong Omani accent
Do we really need another regional fashion week? With Riyadh, Dubai, Red Sea and the Fashion Trust Arabia awards all securing their place in editors’ calendars, the question was what this new addition – Muscat Fashion Week – would bring to an already varied mix.
Held from the 13-15 of January, the three-day event, secured its own place. It’s key selling point? The rich culture, heritage, and sheer natural beauty of Oman. Every aspect of the itinerary – from the opening night gala set at the atmospheric Al Mirani Fort, to tours arranged of Muttrah Souq, the Amouage Factory and the Bait Al Zubair Museum, reinforced a strong sense of place, and identity. This fashion week was positioned as a cultural dialogue with the world, bringing together everything that Oman could offer, not solely focussed through a purely fashion lens.
Amal Al Raisi, founder of the new edition of Muscat Fashion Week and arguably the most high-profile designer in the country thanks to her eponymous label, told Bazaar Arabia, “I think it is very important to have our own fashion week that resonates with our own culture, our own identity – something different from all the others. We wanted something that would highlight our local designers, and put Oman on the international fashion map. We have a rich culture, especially when it comes to traditional clothing, so it’s time for the world to see what we have.”
“It’s been in the making for the last three years,” Amal continued. “Initially we wanted to just have a runway-focussed event, but I realised that what we were missing was the know-how of the industry. We needed to have a new perspective. Get the business side, experts to talk about their experience, so that younger talent can listen and learn from them.”
This meant a pivot, with the runway shows, which showed multiple regional designers over the three-day period still having their turn in the spotlight in the shadow of the majestic Royal Opera House, but sharing space with an illuminating series of panel discussions, and workshops curated to appeal to both insiders and enthusiasts alike, and elevate them to the next level.
“I think with a platform like MFW, we are opening the door for our talent to move to the next level. It will give them the courage to put more effort in, they’ll realise they have a platform that can highlight and present them,” Amal says.
And although Muscat was certainly the centre of attention – Amal Al Raisi, Bait Al Fanar, Endemage and Bthaina all represented the home side – other regional presentations like Qatari designer Muna Al Kaabi’s Moonlight Concept, Turkish designer Nisan Ergün and Tunisian Ahmed Talfit, also gained applause. A highlight was when model Myriem Boukadida was brought out to close the latter’s show.
The first chapter of this fashion week, which is being positioned as an annual celebration, was a success – with lessons learned that will further hone future editions. “Hopefully we will have activations during international fashion weeks, where we take Omani talent and showcase their designs too,” muses Amal. But if they keep to their remit – “staying true to the country’s DNA” – it is clear that both the fashion sector, and the country as a whole, will have much to share in future years.
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