In a first-ever move, the Saudi Kingdom hosted the Arab Fashion Week at Ritz-Carlton in Riyadh on April 10. The event will take place over four days with an exclusive women attendance and the absence of cameras. The event which is usually held in Dubai, saw the participation of celebrated foreign designers, like French couturier Jean Paul Gaultier and the Italian fashion house Roberto Cavalli, in addition to the Kingdom’s designer Arwa Banawi whose line and designs are well known and loved in the region. On the event, Princess Noura Bint Faisal Al Saud, the honorary president of the Arab Fashion Council, said there has always been an interest in fashion in Saudi Arabia, stressing that her Council is trying to bring the industry to an exceptional level. She disclosed that a second edition is already scheduled for coming October, whereby Dubai will continue to host its own fashion week between May 9 and 12. To note, the event comes after a swift policy change since the appointment of crown prince Mohamad Bin Salman mid last year, including allowing women to drive and the re-opening of movie theatres. (L’Orient Le Jour, April 12, 2018)