24 April, Dubai, UAE:  Sheikh Mohammed Maktoum Juma AlMaktoum Investment (MBM) and the Arab Fashion Council (AFC), the world’s largest not-for-profit fashion organization with a vision to establish a fashion ecosystem in the Arab world, have officially entered into a partnership recognizing major synergies that both groups can offer with an aim to continue promoting and positioning the Arab fashion industry on a global level. 

Under the new partnership, the Arab Fashion Council will once again host its bi-annual Arab Fashion Week (AFW) event showcasing international as well as regional fashion designers in one of the world’s largest style capitals. Taking place from 16-20 May at the Meydan Hotel in Dubai, the fourth edition of the Arab Fashion Week is expected to welcome over 15,000 visitors including VIP and celebrity guests flying in from all over the world for the occasion. Marchesa, Antonio Marras, Jermey Scott, LaQuan Smith, Rad Hourani, Renato Balestra and other 20 international brands are amongst the confirmed participating designers who will present their latest collections. The event will be officially opened this year by members of the Private office of H.H Sheikh Mohammed Bin Maktoum Bin Juma Al Maktoum on May 16th in presence of the Arab Fashion Council board members and VIP guests. 

Established in 2006, MBM Group is a Dubai-based Royal family office and investment holding company with activities in investments, strategic advisory and social and community development. Initially growing into the UAE market as venture capitalist, MBM now shows its leadership retail and expertise in sports consultancy, infrastructure, healthcare, education, oil & gas services, real estate and special situations. Being a member of the Royal family, MBM’s business policy is vigilant in terms of opportunity assessment, project initiation, innovation techniques and partnerships with multinational corporations.

“We are thrilled to witness the achievement which the Arab Fashion Council (AFC) has made during the previous years by helping to position Dubai as one of the big five fashion capitals through hosting major events such as the Arab Fashion Week. We highly recognize their work and offer our full support to continue fostering the growth of regional talent and building a proper fashion industry infrastructure in the Middle East. This organization, which represents 22 Arab countries, has a global vision to re-shape the future of the entire Arab region, in line with the vision of Dubai Ruler, UAE Vice President and Prime Minister His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum” stated Mesed Alhattawi, Head of Government Relations at the Private Office of H.H Sheikh Mohammed Bin Maktoum Bin Juma Al Maktoum. 

“Today marks an important milestone in the history of the Arab Fashion Council and we are honored to receive such recognition by His Highness Office (MBM) for our continuous efforts to support, nurture and grow the regional fashion industry, considering that such an industry has been serving for centuries as the main pillar of the economy to some of the world’s most important exporting countries. We are very confident that our joint efforts will help us achieve our long-term vision for 2030 and successfully establish a fashion pipeline in the Arab world. We have immediately started intensive workshops to put in practice our vision hoping to announce it later this year during a dedicated event.” said Jacob Abrian, CEO of the Arab Fashion Council. 

The Arab Fashion Council, founded in 2014 in London as an international extraterritorial authority, by a number of regional fashion pioneers, has been working closely with international experts to elevate and position the Arab Fashion Week alongside the other big four fashion weeks taking place in New York (NYFW), London (LFW), Milan (MFW) & Paris (PFW). Today, the Arab Fashion Week is considered one of the big five fashion weeks and the only official fashion week in the world to promote Ready-Couture and Pre-Collections which defines the international industry scene of luxury fashion in Dubai and the Arab World. The concept of the event is not only to promote regional talent but also allow international designers to showcase their collections and successfully establish their business in the region.