THE EXCELLENCE IN SAUDI ARABIA

The quintessential destination for luxury shopping in Saudi Arabia, Rubaiyat has experienced a massive expansion since its foundation in 1984. And now, after 35 years at the forefront of high-end retailing, it offers more than 250 luxury brands. Co-founded by Chairman Abdullah Binzagr together with his wife Wafaa Abbar, the company continues to expand beyond its early routes in luxury franchise and distribution. Rubaiyat also takes centre stage in cultural sponsorships, women’s emancipation, social and public health projects, and, last but not least, fashion-scouting initiatives. In particular, today Rubaiyat is teaming up with Vogue Talents to spot and promote the best women designers in Saudi Arabia. The selected emerging designers will be celebrated at a big event scheduled for next April. The talents will be chosen by a jury on the strength of their applications, which must be submitted by 10 March to sauditalents@condenast.it. It all adds up to an unmissable occasion. Applications must include pictures of the complete collections from the last two seasons, together with the following information: brand name; full name, date of birth and nationality of the designer(s); year and season of the first collection; city where the designer(s) is/are based; place where the collection is produced; email, phone number, website and stockist; as well as prizes, awards or other special mentions received. Rubaiyat is not new to this type of initiative in support of up-and-coming fashion, and it takes pride in the many collaborations it has carried forward with various Saudi and Arab designers such as Nathalie Trad, Sandra Mansour, Rozan Nashar, Turk Jadallah, Reem Alhemaidan, Madiyah Al Sharqi, The Kayys, Tamashee, Haal Inc., Maia N., Masha Designs, Oya Handmade, Layla Bisharah, Nasiba Hafiz, Atulier, Rycaps and Fatema Fardan. As well as perfectly representing Rubaiyat’s calling to promote female creativity, the event in collaboration with Vogue Talents will be another chance to appreciate the values of this Arabian luxury retail giant. Rubaiyat respects diversity brought by both men and women, and this indisputable matter has been demonstrated by the achievements of former Saudi Businesswoman of the Year (2010), and co-founder of Rubai- yat, Wafaa Abbar, who laid the foundations of this renowned fashion empire in her role as company president. A strong advocate of female empowerment, Rubaiyat has ensured that women represent 40 per cent of the company’s workforce. As shown by its widespread presence throughout the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the great strength of Rubaiyat lies in the promise of an unparalleled shopping experience in Saudi Arabia. Featuring the world’s premiere brands, this group partners with the most prestigious houses of fashion, perfumes and home accessories. Indeed, its varied range is studded with the biggest names in style, including Gucci, Giorgio Armani, Dolce & Gabbana, Bottega Veneta, Ermenegildo Zegna, Brioni, Loro Piana, Larusmiani and Alberta Ferretti from Italy, complemented by other international brands such as Lanvin, Balmain, Balenciaga, DVF, Elie Saab and many more. However Rubaiyat doesn’t only focus on ready-to-wear, this eclectic retailer also offers home furnishings and linens by many of its luxury lifestyle brands through the Rubaiyat Home Stores in Jeddah and Riyadh. Along with institutional brands, Rubaiyat also scouts the best emerging and contemporary designers around the world, including Charlotte Olympia, Talbot Runhof, Rachel Zoe, Alexander Wang, Roland Mouret, MSGM, Rupert Sanderson, McQ, DVF, Philosophy, Antonio Marras, Antonio Berardi, Brian Atwood, Stuart Weitzman, Atos Lombardini, Sachin & Babi, Helmut Lang, LNZ, Giles, Mantu, Paule Ka, Sophia Webster, IRO, Nicholas Kirkwood, Gianvito Rossi, Raquel Allegra, Peter Pilotto and Sophie Hulme, among many others. With this cosmopolitan approach to the range of fashion on offer, Rubaiyat fills the gap between Europe and the Middle East, while continuing to provide the highest quality service. In fact, its legacy provides a comprehensive, premium retail experience to its clients, also thanks to a team of over 1,000 fashion professionals acting as trusted advisors. Two recent openings have significantly raised the bar for luxury shopping in Saudi Arabia. With a timeless style that combines simplicity and warmth with elegance and classicism, the Rubaiyat Department Store at Stars Avenue Mall (Jeddah) opened

its doors in June 2014 to offer a treasure trove of over 350 world-class fashion brands under one roof. Occupying 4,400 square metres spread across 3 levels, it showcases practically the entire gamut of leading international brands from ready-to-wear clothing to handbags, shoes, sunglasses, scarves and swimwear. But with the latest opening of Boulevard, the ultimate destination for luxury shopping in Jeddah, which took place with an official ceremony on 9 December 2015, the group even surpassed itself. The opening event was themed around the world’s great fashion capitals – Paris, London, Rome, Milan and New York – represented by stunning displays where guests took pictures and were photographed against beautiful scenic backgrounds, while each boutique marked the inauguration by offering the best of the new season’s collections. Mr Abdullah Binzagr, Rubaiyat Chairman and developer of the Mall, commented: “The fashion and luxury goods market goes from strength to strength in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, where it continues to enjoy steady growth. We believe that Boulevard puts Jeddah on the same level as the world’s leading shopping cities by bringing the most famous global brands to Saudi Arabia, with the added convenience of everything being available in one prestigious location, making Boulevard the ultimate destination for luxury shopping in Jeddah”. Fashion and luxury brands with their own independent flagship boutiques at Boulevard include the iconic maisons Prada, Giorgio Armani, Gucci, Balenciaga, Brioni, Dolce & Gabbana, Ermenegildo Zegna, Gina, Jimmy Choo and Loro Piana. Luxury goods, meanwhile, are represented by Baccarat, Christofle, Dunhill, Tiffany, S.T. Dupont and many others. With a prominent location on King Abdulaziz Road, Boulevard also offers an impeccable service and VIP preference in a unique shopping environment. Rubaiyat is recognized as well for its commitment to a variety of social activities. In particular, Rubaiyat seeks to engage with the community on local and global issues. Hence it comes as no surprise to hear that it partnered with the National Home Health Care Foundation (NHHCF) to mount a global charity art project. The aim was to develop resources at the NHHCF and bolster health and social services provided to needy patients and their families. Together with professional photographer Faisal Almalki, the artists Zaman Al-Jasem, Nora Botho and Faisal Samra had their work featured on handbags designed by Coccinelle. The bags were displayed at exhi- bitions in Jeddah, Riyadh and Al Khobar, and subsequently hit shelves at Rubaiyat outlets throughout the kingdom and at Coccinelle boutiques in London. The exhibition moved to London after completing its threecity tour of Saudi Arabia. Rubaiyat is also dedicated to raising awareness regarding breast cancer detection and prevention by sponsoring the projects and research of the Al Zahra Breast Cancer Association. As part of efforts to promote breast cancer awareness, in October 2015 Rubaiyat hosted a seminar dedicated to the female clientele at its retail premises, covering issues such as breast cancer prevention, treatment methods and early detection. In terms of cultural sponsorships, Rubaiyat also supported the exhibition “Les Routes de l’Arabie” at the Louvre Museum in Paris, seeking to build a better understanding of Saudi Arabian culture while promoting the importance of a cross-border cultural education that is imperative in every human’s life. A cooperative venture between the Supreme Commission for Tourism and Antiquities (SCTA) and the curators of the Louvre, the event presented the results of over four decades of research and excavations in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Considering that these artefacts had never crossed any modern Saudi Arabian border, it was truly unprecedented to see these 300 unique pre-Islamic objects showcased at the Louvre museum, all reflecting back Rubaiyat’s initiative in collaboration with the Ministry of Cultural Affairs of Saudi Arabia. Recognition of this important activity to promote dialogue between different cultures came in 2014 when Rubaiyat’s Chairman Abdullah Binzagr was appointed as a Knight of the Order of the Star of Italy by the Italian Republic, for his contributions to Italian-Saudi commerce and mutual understanding. Meanwhile, for his achievements at the helm of Rubaiyat, which single him out as a key player in luxury retail, Abdullah Binzagr was also nominated by Zegna for an honourable membership of the Altagamma Foundation, whose mission is to promote top-quality Italian industry and the culture that supports it by bringing together high-end, internationally renowned Italian companies and brands. In this light, the partnership between Rubaiyat and Vogue Talents represents the ideal completion of a highly virtuous path, which leads from recognising the value of creativity – wherever it may be – to the creation of new commercial opportunities without ever losing sight of quality, glamour and individuality. These essential values are a mark of true luxury, especially when it comes to cutting-edge fashion.