Every year tops the one before in the UAE, and 2023 was no different.
From fashion to the climate crisis to F1 racing, people gathered and held their breaths for yet another year of astounding events. The glitz and the glam are only a portion of what the UAE has to offer. Health initiatives and fundraising campaigns gathered wide crowds consistently through out the year.
Like every other year in the UAE, 2023 was a ground breaking one for the country. With a few more days left before the years come to an end, here’s a quick round up of some of the things that stopped us in our tracks this year.
Dubai Fashion Week
@grazia_me @Naomi Campbell takes to the catwalk in Dubai. Walking the runway for Rizman Ruzaini, the supermodel marks the close of the second official DubaiFashionWeek. #GraziaME #dubai #fashion #naomicampbell #tiktokfashion
As the ever-growing hub for creativity and innovation, the UAE continues to establish itself as. And this year’s edition of Dubai Fashion Week was a testament to that commitment. With renowned design houses like Carolina Herrera and Jil Sander in attendance, it rocked the nation to a halt. It also amplified trailblazing regional designers like The Giving Movement, Lama Jouni and more. With the queen of fashion herself, Naomi Campbell, gracing the runway. It gathered a multicultural crowd who sat on the edge of their seats, as the disruptive brands showcased their newest collections.
The Dubai Run
Led by the fitness chief His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the Dubai run attracted 226,000 runners. As part of Dubai Fitness Challenge, this year’s edition achieved the title of the world’s largest run on November 2023. People of all ages and training levels attended the 5km/10km fun run, energising the large UAE community to push themselves and test their endurance. With the city skyline glistening in the backdrop, it was a moment for the collective UAE community to prioritise wellbeing over all.
Tarahum for Gaza
With the unfolding devastation in Gaza, the UAE has set up multiple initiatives to alleviate the trauma and loss caused. Specifically, the Emirates Red Crescent has launched the ‘Tarahum for Gaza’ campaign. It calls on UAE residents to donate through their seamless online platform. Translating to ‘Compassion for Gaza’, the campaign has now garnered over 200,000 donations across the nation, and that number continues to climb. There are still many other options to donate and fundraise within the UAE.
Dubai’s COP28
While 70,000 participants were expected to attend Dubai’s COP28, just the ‘Green Zone’ alone garnered 400,000 registrations by the fifth day of the 2 week event. This year’s edition of the UN’s Conference of the Parties gathered over 140 world leaders alongside 80,000 delegates, t collaboratively progress towards resolving the climate crisis. True to the UAE’s pioneering nature, a section of the event was open to the general public to learn about sustainability across sectors. From fashion superpower Stella McCartney, to regions favourite comedian Bassem Youseff, COP28 stands as a prideful moment in the UAE’s 2023.
The Royal Wedding
A fairytale wedding also marked the UAE 2023 calendar, creating a buss over social media and the nation at large. On June this year, Dubai and the UAE rejoiced in the royal matrimony of Her Highness Sheikha Mahra and Sheikh Mana Al Maktoum. The pictures that followed the luxurious and heavily guarded event, radiated in elegance, beauty and most importantly love. Held in the Saeed Hall, the revitalising Sheikha took the nation’s breath away in her ethereal Ezra Couture ballgown. A marriage that has now blossomed and grown into three, this royal love story sits close to all out hearts.
The Bulgari Serpenti
The Italian jewellery house managed to bring the metropolis city to a standstill with its astounding activation this year. Around Dubai’s most iconic landmarks, the iconic Bulgari Serpenti snake slithered its way across. From the Burj Khalifa to the Dubai Frame, the brand made a determined statement in the UAE’s tourism capital.
F1 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix
From celebs to world renowned racers, the Abu Dhabi F1 races continued its legacy in 2023. With celebs like Priyanka Chopra, Chris Hemsworth, Georgina Rodriguez and more attending, it continues to be a star studded event. While the final number of attendees are yet to be announced, Abu Dhabi’s F1 continues to break its own records. With another year of a sold out event, its predicted that this year had the same, if not greater turnout.
