DUBAI: Manish Malhotra, Bollywood’s favorite stylist and the go-to designer for Indian brides all over the world, is a leading voice in global fashion.
The Mumbai-based designer is also well-known in the Middle East, opening his first store in Dubai 14 years ago, so it is not a surprise that the first city he traveled to after travel restrictions in India were eased was Dubai.
Malhotra has visited many cities in the Middle East both for work and pleasure, including Riyadh and Bahrain, and told Arab News: “I am always wide-eyed with the beauty of the region.” So much so that for two years he designed a collection inspired by the region called “Zween.”
“Even my recent collection ‘Ruhaaniyat,’ though it borrows inspiration from the Awadh and Punjab regions, has defining elements from the Middle East. I suppose the beautiful culture of the Arab region has influenced me so much so that it has become my design signature.”
The collection was released through a digital film with Janhvi Kapoor making a special appearance. The young actress is a muse for the designer. (Her late mother, Sridevi was also a muse and close friend.)
Malhotra has presented two collections since the pandemic began and notes that COVID-19 has had an impact on fashion — with an emphasis on quality over quantity.
“Today, the wearer has taken precedence over everything,” he said. “The occasion and season is more important than the trend and theme. It gives me so much joy to see the young girls and boys, confident of their style and aesthetics and really knowing what they like and want to wear.”
Malhotra celebrates 15 years of his eponymous fashion label this year. He also has his own beauty lines — and a home range is next on the list.
In addition, he has designed for the film industry for 30 years (“Rangeela,” “Jab We Met” and “Student of the Year” are among the movies he has worked on).
And during COVID-19 he used his voice to raise awareness about the plight of India’s craft workers — many are daily-wage earners.
Malhotra hopes to be back in the Middle East next year with his collection; pre-COVID-19 the designer was a regular part of flash retail events in the region. And he may return before that — he is considering coming back for New Year’s eve.
“I love the vibe here,” he said. “Its structure, infrastructure, and amenities — everything is so king-size here.”
Princess Rajwa shows support in sporty style at World Cup qualifier
Updated 17 sec ago
Arab News
DUBAI: Princess Rajwa Al-Hussein of Jordan attended the AFC World Cup qualifier match between Jordan and Oman on Thursday, opting for a look that blended national pride with contemporary style.
The princess, who is of Saudi origin, wore the official home shirt of the Jordan national football team, featuring a white base with red collar and sleeve accents. She paired the jersey with Victoria Beckham’s structured pocket trousers in the “Sandstorm” shade, featuring a high-waisted silhouette with fine pinstripes and curved front pockets.
To accessorize, Princess Rajwa chose pieces from Bilarabiya Jewellery. She wore the brand’s “Abjad Hawaz” single earring and a custom necklace bearing the name of her daughter, Princess Iman, written in Arabic.
Princess Rajwa sat alongside Princess Iman and Princess Salma, the sisters of the crown prince, who were also dressed in the national team’s shirt.
The Jordanian national team qualified for the 2026 FIFA World Cup for the first time in its history, following a decisive 3-0 victory over Oman.
Jordan secured its spot on the penultimate day of Asian qualifying for the tournament, which will be held in the US, Mexico and Canada.
Saudi artist Abdullah Al-Othman discusses work exploring linguistic architectural landscapes
Updated 06 June 2025
Rebecca Anne Proctor
DUBAI: In the Bawwaba section of the most recent edition of Art Dubai, Saudi artist Abdullah Al-Othman’s installation “Manifesto: Language & the City II” presented photographs and numerous illuminated signs and symbols in Arabic against two black walls, reflecting the urban signage one may find in Riyadh.
The installation was an evolution of a series that includes 2021’s “Manifesto: the Language and the City,” a multimedia installation exploring the linguistic and architectural landscape of Riyadh for the inaugural Diriyah Contemporary Art Biennale, which went on to be included in the Lyon Biennale in 2022, and “Fantasy Land,” which Al-Othman created for the Sharjah Islamic Arts Festival in 2021 — a neon wall installation exploring themes of human experience and the shifts between reality and illusion.
Abdullah Al-Othman’s installation “Manifesto: Language & the City II” presented photographs and numerous illuminated signs and symbols in Arabic. (Supplied)
“Language & the City II” pulsed with light and color and the expressive characters of the Arabic language made the viewer feel as if they were indeed on a bustling street in the Saudi capital. “Language is akin to history — it’s very deep,” Al-Othman tells Arab News. “Through my research I realized how language is like a brand for a culture — it references history and people. I study the language that we find in cities. The documentation of language affects the architectural style in an urban environment and the relationship between people and their environment.”
“Language & the City II” was made from a variety of materials, predominantly neon signage, lightboxes and wooden advertising signs that were once hung in the streets of Riyadh. Al-Othman’s installation brought them together to create a portrait of the city through its typographic, visual and architectural styles.
Riyadh’s identity, explains Al-Othman, is revealed through the language, style and vibrant colors of these lit symbols, offering a collective memory of a city in the throes of change.
Abdullah Al Othman at Art Dubai Manifesto Language and the City II for Bawwaba. (Courtesy Artist and Iris Projects. Credit Ismail Noor for Seeing Things)
As an artist and a poet, language has always played an important role in Al-Othman’s life. While he began as a writer, he arrived at a point where he could no longer fully express himself with words and turned to art, creating works that incorporate sound, found objects, sculpture, film and performance.
In 2017’s “Suspended Al-Balad,” for the 21,39, contemporary art festival, Al-Othman wrapped an entire building in Jeddah’s historic Al-Balad district, originally used as a shelter for widows and divorced women, with tin foil.
Al Othman’s intuitive approach to art creation leads him to organically move between and incorporate different mediums. Light is a significant element in his work, whether bouncing off tin foil or shining in neon to reflect the everyday urban environment of Riyadh.
Pieces from Al-Othman's latest project, 'Engineering the Unknown.' (Supplied)
“I want to create journeys for people to discover the importance of language,” says Al-Othman. “Language is a deeply important part of being human.”
Today Al-Othman continues to expand his research and art creation. He has recently published a book on his research supported by The King Abdulaziz Center for World Culture (Ithra) and the Saudi Cultural Development Fund.
Presently he is creating sculptures out of various Arabic words from made from different materials for his latest project, “Engineering the Incomplete.”
“In my artistic practice, I engage with language as an open field for analysis and reconstruction,” he writes in his statement for the new project. “I begin from moments of absence — from missing letters and fractured words — treating them as signals of the fragility inherent in the symbolic systems we rely on to make sense of the world.
Al-Othman's 'Manifesto - The Language & The City' at the 2022 Lyon Biennale. (Supplied)
“Failure to achieve perfection becomes an essential part of creation, not a flaw to be corrected,” he continues. “Incompleteness is not simply a void, but an active component that generates new, open-ended meanings. Each missing letter, each visual gap, forms an alternative path of reading and invites the viewer to reshape their relationship with language and the urban environment.”
“Engineering the Incomplete” uses the structure of the letter as an entity capable of both disintegration and destruction and therefore the resulting text as something that is unstable and constantly changing.
“My practice transforms language from a tool of communication into a material and temporal organism caught in the tension between structure and collapse,” Al-Othman adds. “Through material techniques that draw from urban elements and the reconfiguration of textual spaces, my work seeks to highlight the continuous tension between the desire for expression and the inherent limits of linguistic possibilities.”
Al-Othman says that “Engineering the Incomplete” is not an attempt to restore what is lost, but an invitation to read absence, or lacking, as another form of presence and a new beginning.
Incompleteness, he emphasizes, offers “a way to produce new meaning and vision.”
Recipes for success: Chef Vincenzo Palermo offers advice and a spaghetti al pomodoro recipe
Updated 06 June 2025
Hams Saleh
DUBAI: Vincenzo Palermo, head pizza chef at TOTO Dubai, has built his career on one belief: “Pizza isn’t just comfort food, it’s a craft.”
Originally from Apulia in southern Italy, Palermo has spent years refining his skills. His journey began early, watching the baking process in his family kitchen as a child. He went on to study at Rome’s API Pizza Academy.
Over the past 14 years, his career has taken him from Italy to Russia, France, the US and now the UAE, with his pizzas earning international recognition and awards along the way — including a historic win as the youngest-ever World Champion of Neapolitan Pizza in 2018.
Vincenzo Palermo is the head pizza chef at TOTO Dubai. (Supplied)
When you started out, what was the most common mistake you made?
I believed that cooking was just about combining ingredients correctly and adhering strictly to techniques. My focus was on the mechanical aspects of executing everything “correctly,” but I didn’t always bring myself into the dish; that was my biggest mistake.
Coming from a family where food was never just food — it was tradition, emotion, and memory — I learned discipline and focus. Over time, I realized that every dish must tell a story. It could be a childhood memory, a moment of celebration, or simply a feeling you want to share, but if you do not put your heart into it, then no matter how perfect the dish appears, it lacks soul.
The kitchen is not just about skill and technique, it’s a place for passion. Food is a language, and love is the message. That is what I try to pass on now, both to my team and on every plate that leaves the kitchen.
What’s your top tip for amateur chefs?
My journey began in a very humble way. I was just a child when I first stepped into the kitchen, helping my mother, making my first pizzas and simple pastas with curiosity and joy. That passion never left me. So, my top tip is this: Do not underestimate yourself just because you are cooking at home. Get into the flow, cook with heart and love, and do not place limits on what you think is possible. Everything we create in a professional kitchen, even the most refined dishes, can absolutely be recreated at home with the right mindset. Cooking is mostly about emotion, not technique, and that emotion can be felt whether you’re in a Michelin-level kitchen or your own. Believe in your hands, trust your ingredients, and enjoy the process.
Margherita pizza. (Supplied)
What one ingredient can instantly improve any dish?
I’d say flour. The right flour for the right dish is absolutely essential. In Italy, we don’t just say “flour,” we talk about “tipo 00,” “semola rimacinata,” “integrale”… Each type of flour has a specific purpose, and choosing the right one shows respect for the dish and the tradition behind it. Using the right flour is like choosing the right language to express yourself. It’s the base of everything, the foundation. Even for home cooks, this choice can make the difference between something good and something truly authentic.
When you go out to eat, do you find yourself critiquing the food?
As a chef, it is natural to notice the details, but I try to approach it with an open mind.
What’s the most common mistake or issue you find in other restaurants?
A lack of authenticity and a disconnect between the dish and its cultural roots. Authenticity and consistency are key, and when they’re missing, it affects the overall experience.
When you go out to eat, what’s your favorite cuisine or dish to order?
Honestly, I love to try everything. For me, eating out is about enjoying food and learning. Every culture has its own traditions, techniques and flavors, and I want to understand the story behind each dish.
I’m always curious. I taste something new, study it, and then think about how that ingredient or idea could inspire something in my own kitchen. That is how we grow as chefs — by keeping our minds open and constantly learning from others.
What’s your go-to dish if you have to cook something quickly at home?
Without a doubt, it’s spaghetti al pomodoro. What could be more Italian than that? It is full of soul. I love it because it represents everything I believe in: simplicity, quality and passion. When I cook it at home, even if I’m short on time, I give it my full attention, from choosing the best tomatoes and olive oil to making sure the Gragnano pasta is cooked perfectly al dente, which is non-negotiable.
TODO Dubai. (Supplied)
What customer request most annoys you?
Requests that compromise the integrity of a traditional dish can be challenging. While I fully respect dietary restrictions and personal preferences, altering a classic recipe beyond recognition takes away from its authenticity. I believe in educating diners about the origins and significance of each dish to foster greater appreciation and respect.
What’s your favorite dish to cook?
Pizza. It’s more than just my profession, it’s a piece of my heart. I have a vivid memory from my childhood: my mother and sister in our home kitchen, cooking pizza in a pan. Of course, it was not the “right” way by traditional standards — she was not a trained chef, she was a home cook — but, like many Italian mothers, she found her own way to make something special with what she had.
Even if the technique was not perfect, the love and passion she put into it made it unforgettable. Sometimes my sister would join her, and for me, that pan pizza became a symbol of family, comfort and creativity. Pizza means everything to me because of what it represents: love, family and the joy of making something beautiful from the heart.
What’s the most difficult dish for you to get right?
For me, it’s fish. It may seem simple, but it’s not easy to cook perfectly. Fish is delicate. You must respect the texture, the temperature and the timing. One second too much, and it’s dry. One second too little, and it’s raw. I always need to stay focused and keep learning. That challenge is part of what makes it so rewarding when you get it just right.
As a head chef, what are you like? Are you a disciplinarian? Or are you more laidback?
Honestly, I can’t stand chefs who shout. We’ve seen it too many times in movies and on TV: the angry chef screaming, throwing pans, creating fear in the kitchen. Unfortunately, this happens in a lot of kitchens. But this is not leadership. This is not how great food is made. The kitchen is not a battlefield, and the people around me are not soldiers or slaves — they are humans, artists, professionals. As any of my team will tell you, I’m calm; I like to joke, and I create a relaxed environment. That doesn’t mean we’re not serious. When it’s time to push, I push. But we push together — fast, sharp, focused — as a team. Respect is the true foundation of a great kitchen. When people feel valued and inspired, not afraid, they cook with love. And that love is what reaches the plate.
Chef Vincenzo Palermo’s spaghetti al pomodoro recipe
Ingredients:
200 gr spaghetti from gragnano
300 gr San Marzano peeled tomato
Fresh basil
2 cloves of garlic
Salt
Pepper
4 tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil
Parmesan cheese
Instructions:
In a pan, gently sauté crushed garlic in olive oil.
Add the tomatoes and let cook for about 10–15 minutes and add salt and pepper.
In a pot, put water and salt and make it boil.
Boil spaghetti until al dente, then transfer it to the sauce with a bit of cooking water.
Toss everything together and finish with fresh basil and a drizzle of olive oil.
Serve it with a gentle parmesan cheese on the top.
Highlights from Bashir Makhoul’s ‘The Promise’ at Zawyeh Gallery
Highlights from Bashir Makhoul’s ‘The Promise,’ on show at Zawyeh Gallery, Dubai until June 30
Updated 06 June 2025
Arab News
‘Drift’
The Galilee-born British-Palestinian artist’s solo show’s title, according to the gallery, “encapsulates a poetic and ambiguous statement of intent — an assertion that is both an event and a transformation. A promise is made and, inevitably, can be broken.” That is the duality at the heart of Makhoul’s practice, as is the recurring motif of the house.
‘Deep Wounds’
This work is part of a series of painted wooden sculptures, each of which bears a carved hollow scar, disrupting its ‘wholeness.’ “These wounds are marks not just of trauma but also spaces of beginnings, resonating with Edward Said’s notion of origins as an act of cutting open, a rupture that invites multiple directions.”
‘My Olive Tree’
Makhoul has been experimenting with electroplated 3D printing to produce crystalline machine-generated structures that “paradoxically resemble organic formations” such as those seen in this work representing Makhoul’s own tree which stands between two plots of land he does not own.
Playwright Caryl Churchill pulls out of theater project over Barclays’ ties to Israel
Churchill, who is a long-time advocate for Palestinian rights, called on the Donmar Warehouse to cut ties with Barclays
Updated 05 June 2025
Arab News
LONDON: Acclaimed playwright Caryl Churchill has withdrawn from a project with a London theater over its sponsorship by Barclays and the bank’s links to companies supplying arms to Israel.
In a statement, Churchill, who is a long-time advocate for Palestinian rights, called on the Donmar Warehouse to cut ties with Barclays, The Guardian reported.
“Theaters used to say they couldn’t manage without tobacco sponsorship, but they do. Now it’s time they stopped helping advertise banks that support what Israel is doing to Palestinians,” she said.
The project had not yet been publicly announced but would have marked Churchill’s return to the Donmar for the first time since “Far Away” in 2020.
Her move has been backed by more than 300 artists and arts workers, including actors Harriet Walter, Juliet Stevenson, Alfred Enoch, Samuel West and Tim Crouch, who signed an open letter in support.
Barclays has faced increasing pressure from arts and activist groups over its provision of financial services to defense companies operating in Israel.
In 2023, the group Culture Workers Against Genocide published a letter condemning Barclays’ sponsorship of Sadler’s Wells, with signatories including Maxine Peake, an actress.
Last year, the Bands Boycott Barclays campaign led to the bank being dropped as a sponsor by several UK music festivals, including Latitude and The Great Escape.
Barclays declined to comment on Churchill’s withdrawal but said on its website: “While we provide financial services to these companies, we are not making investments for Barclays and Barclays is not a ‘shareholder’ or ‘investor’ in that sense in relation to these companies.”
Barclays CEO C.S. Venkatakrishnan defended the bank’s position in a 2023 Guardian article, writing: “These companies are supported by our democratically elected governments for their role in protecting the UK and allies in Europe. We will not undermine our own national security by de-banking them.”
Responding to Churchill’s decision, Culture Workers Against Genocide said: “Arts institutions have an ethical duty not to contribute to oppression and injustice. By continuing to accept sponsorship from Barclays, Donmar Warehouse is helping to launder the bank’s reputation as it profits from Israel’s genocide in Palestine.”
The Donmar, which lost its £500,000 ($679,355) annual government grant in 2022, has increasingly relied on private support, including corporate sponsorships. It has been approached for comment.
Churchill was previously stripped of a European lifetime achievement award in 2022 following criticism of her play “Seven Jewish Children” and her public pro-Palestinian stance.
