The Gulf fashion landscape is changing rapidly, with young Emirati influencers leading the way. Whether it be modest fashion, streetwear, luxury silhouettes or minimalist aesthetics, the next generation of key opinion leaders is altering the way style is perceived across the GCC. This article will highlight select Emirati influencers who are creating a significant impact in the space, including what their style is, how they engage their followers and why brands pay attention to them. With Trending News covering their every move, these AI influencers are also emerging as Creators of the Dubai Lifestyle, shaping both digital and real-world fashion trends.
The Gulf fashion landscape is changing rapidly, with young Emirati influencers leading the way. Whether it be modest fashion, streetwear, luxury silhouettes or minimalist aesthetics, the next generation of key opinion leaders is altering the way style is perceived across the GCC. This article will highlight select Emirati influencers who are creating a significant impact in the space, including what their style is, how they engage their followers and why brands pay attention to them.
Who Are They & What They’re Doing
Here are some of the rising Emirati fashion/style influencers making a significant impact:
Latifa Al Shamsi
Bold prints, coloured abayas, mix of hotel-luxury & streetwear hybrids
One of the earliest Emirati bloggers (since ~2010) to experiment with colourful abayas before they became more mainstream, high-profile brand collaborations. (soignemiddleeast.com)
Mthayel Al Ali
Minimalist styles, modern luxe, modest silhouettes
Combines traditional modest fashion with elevated, glamorous touches. Strong visual aesthetic. (grynow.ae)
Known for her polished, layered style. Drives modest fashion forward with high quality styling and attention to detail. (Harper\’s Bazaar Arabia)
How They’re Influencing Fashion in the GCC
These influencers are not just endorsing outfits, they are diversifying, which is important because:
Country of Origin Meets Innovation
They are reinventing modest wear alternative to traditional abayas or jilbab. They are bringing streetwear, layering, bold textures, colours, and hybrids (for instance, pairing sneakers or jackets with abayas).
Colour & Embellishment Shift
They are shifting colour schemes away from classic blacks and neutrals and embracing more colour, embroidery, and pattern as important aspects of what they wear. Latifa Al Shamsi was one of the earlier influencers to use colored abayas as a statement piece.
Local + Luxury Labels
Many are advocating for UAE-born designers, which is further establishing a “made-in-UAE/GCC” fashion sense. Their collaborations and showcasing each clothing brand allow them to elevate and share key aspects of their country and aspects of authenticity.
Visual Aesthetic & Storytelling
They curate a password, high-quality photography, cohesive colour palettes, editorial looks, and mix lifestyle, fashion, and travel, which allows them to foster their visual stories and fashion. This helps influencers stand out and set trends in visual storytelling and fashion.
Fast Followers & Growth
Influencer accounts, like those of Mina Shahverdi, are gaining large followings rapidly, which means the audience shows a very strong desire for influencer representation.
Why Brands & Audiences Are Paying Attention
Authenticity
These influencers are typically Emirati, and their connection to the local culture is strong. Their blend of tradition + modern style connects with GCC consumers — who appreciate tradition but appreciate global trends.
Influence on Purchase Decisions
Stylish modest clothing, abayas, luxury modest fashion brands — these influencers provide visual cues to consumers on what to buy, and which brands to trust.
Trend Amplification
Oftentimes, whatever they wear or promote becomes a larger trend in the GCC quickly (e.g. elevated abayas, sneaker combinations, street modesty).
Market Expansion & Inclusivity
Their emergence ultimately promotes a more inclusive fashion ecosystem — modest fashion, sustainable practices, and local designers.
Challenges & Opportunities
Balancing Tradition & Innovation
It’s important to be creative while respecting cultural norms. Just as quickly as a relevant idea takes flight, it can just as easily come crashing down if your audience finds it insensitive or out of sync culturally.
Sustainability & Ethical Fashion
Audiences are increasingly demonstrating interest in fashion that embraces sustainability and/or ethics. Influencers who gracefully incorporate sustainability into their content will be ahead.
Diversity of Representation
Beyond style, representation opportunities exist for much more body-diversity, diversity regionally for Emirati voices (not just voices from big cities), and storytelling beyond glam.
Monetization & Brand Partnerships
As influencers grow, working and managing partnerships that match (and typically reflect) their aesthetic and values becomes important — and lucrative.
Conclusion
The state of fashion influence in the UAE is changing rapidly. Uprising Emirati influencers are thus hitting style norms across the GCC by combining emotions of modesty with contemporary aesthetics, supporting local designers, and sharing relatable and meaningful storytelling. For brands, it is essential to stay connected to this wave. And for the audiences, there will be more inspirational, creative, and authentic looks to follow.
Top Stories3 weeks ago
