5 Khaleeji men who are becoming regional style icons

We can’t start this list without placing Al Habtoor on top of it, because this 35 year-old Emirati is one of the first men in the GCC who dared to push style boundaries by adopting a unique approach to fashion. 

The Sandhurst graduate values his traditional Emirati kandora just as much as he does his Kenzo hoodie and Gucci shoes. 

His style is experimental and whimsical as can be seen in his Instagram photos, which also show his stunts in the fashion world, including campaigns with luxury jewelry brands and hosting fashion VIPs in Dubai such as Olivier Rousteing, the creative director of Balmain.

This handsome Kuwaiti gentleman is one half of the powerful style couple The Hybrids, which also includes his wife Ascia Al Farraj who boasts 2 million Instagram followers. 

Al Blooshi describes himself as a Latino/Kuwaiti hybrid fashion blogger and mechanical engineer. His multiple collaborations with fashion and lifestyle brands are testament to his power as a trend-setter and style influencer. 

He was recently chosen by Hugo Boss as an ambassador for the brand’s perfume Boss Bottled. Luxury watch brand Vacheron Constantin also collaborated with him on a social media campaign for one of its watches. 

Al Blooshi perfectly embodies the style of the modern GCC man who loves to mix high-street pieces with luxury items. He is also the picture perfect example of a young and trendy father!

In addition to being one of the first Emirati film directors, Al Kaabi is also considered one of the best dressed Arab men in the region. 

The 30-year-old is not afraid to mix a Dior suit with a casually wrapped ghutra, or wearing a Louis Vuitton parka jacket over a crisp white kandora. 

If that doesn’t say “personal style done perfectly” we don’t know does! Al Kaabi’s status as a regional style icon is reflected in his collaborations with affluent brands such as Piaget and his appearance on high profile fashion magazines covers. 

His Instagram photos suggest he has a thing for caps, hats and turbans, which seem to have become part of his signature look.  

The 37-year- old trend guru hails from Kuwait, a country where style and luxury play a very big role in everyday life. 

Al Mutiri is a media personality and a personal shopper who says fashion is his passion. His wardrobe contains a mix of printed T-shirts, perfectly tailored suits with cropped pants, boldly printed shirts and colorful trainers. 

Al Mutiri doesn’t cut back on accessories in his daily attire and he uses them generously to accentuate his look. You’ll see him carrying a leather man-clutch with a gun embossed on it, wrapping an over-sized printed scarf over a smart blazer or wearing finger-less leather gloves with a camouflage shirt. 

We dig!

Professionally he is a writer, producer and filmmaker, but he can easily add “style icon” to his list of titles. 

The Emirati director’s style is best described as “James Bond meets cool-kid-on-the-block," an example of this would be the look where he styled a sharply tailored checkered suit with casual white trainers. 

Mostafa favors the urban look with a classic touch. His go-to style seems to be slim cut cropped trousers, matched with a simple T-shirt, modern loafers and a light leather jacket. What’s not to like there? 

He's also known for adding an unexpected touch of playfulness to a classic look, such as wearing funky printed socks with a formal black and white suit. 

When he’s not busy directing films he is often seen sporting stylish looks in major red carpet events or posing for photo shoots for fashion magazines.