Milan meets Dubai: Zegna’s global leap
Jameel’s Summer Cinema, the Metro’s new “architectural icon” and what to eat at Bar des Pres.
Welcome back to Al-Monitor Dubai.
This week, we’re spotlighting Italian fashion house Zegna, which is debuting its Spring/Summer 2026 collection outside of Milan for the first time — in Dubai. Also on the cultural radar are the kickoff of the Jameel Arts Centre’s Summer Cinema series and the launch of Dubai Metro’s Blue Line Project, which is set to feature what Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid has called an “architectural icon” — the tallest metro station in the world.
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Happy reading,
Rebecca
P.S. Have feedback or tips on Dubai's culture scene? Send them my way at contactus@al-monitor.com.
1. Leading the week: Italian fashion brand shows in Dubai
A Zegna fashion show. (Courtesy of Zegna)
Zegna, Italy’s preeminent brand for men, is staging its Spring/Summer 2026 collection in Dubai this week, marking the first time the brand is taking its renowned Italian craftsmanship outside of Milan. The runway show took place on June 11 at the Dubai Opera for top clients, friends of the brand and select members of the international press.
“As a company that has always looked beyond, we are excited to bring the artistry of Made in Italy to Dubai for the first time,” said Gildo Zegna, chairman and CEO of Ermenegildo Zegna Group, in the brand’s announcement.
“Dubai is the perfect place for us to tell the next chapter of our story,” he added.
The runway show is just the start. For one week, June 11-16, the Dubai Opera is being transformed into Villa Zegna, a private club dedicated to cultural exchange, craftsmanship and beauty. The invitation-only space, inspired by the original home of Ermenegildo Zegna, will host a series of cultural gatherings, intimate lunches, exclusive dinners and talks. Previously staged in New York and Shanghai, Villa Zegna is a traveling concept that reflects the brand’s heritage and evolving global presence.
Dubai is a crucial market for Zegna and for the global fashion industry. Staging a show in the emirate underscores the brand’s commitment to the Gulf region and its growing clientele there. According to leading fashion news site WWD, in 2024, sales for the Ermenegildo Zegna Group — which also owns Tom Ford Fashion and Thom Browne — exceeded $700 million in the Europe, Middle East and Africa region, accounting for 35% of the group’s revenues.
Zegna currently operates six stores in Dubai, along with other branches in Abu Dhabi, Kuwait City and Istanbul.
Date: Through June 16
Location: Dubai Opera, Downtown Dubai
Find more information here.
2. Word on the street: Bar des Pres
An interior view of Bar des Pres. (Courtesy of Bar des Pres)
Celebrity chef Cyril Lignac’s first Dubai restaurant is located in the upscale, sleekly designed ICD Brookfield Place in Downtown Dubai. The French-Asian dining spot has become a popular destination for a succulent meal with a captivating view of the city’s riveting skyline. It’s also one of Dubai’s most accessible, thanks to what the restaurant calls its “by-the-glass” menu, featuring a wide selection of quality wines available.
When it comes to food, there are plenty of standouts — but be sure to try one of Lignac’s signature dishes: the Crab and Avocado Galette with Madras Curry, which combines zesty Mediterranean flavors with the spicy notes of South Asia.
Other highlights include the Beef Gyoza, a nod to Lignac’s passion for Japan, and the Langoustine Ravioli with Classic Bisque — another refined and flavorful dish.
Location: ICD Brookfield Place, Downtown Dubai
Find more information here.
3. Dubai diary
A still from the film “Behind the Sun” by Bentley Brown. (Courtesy of Bentley Brown and Jameel Arts Center)
• Jameel’s Summer Cinema kicks off with “Cities, Cinema and People”
Next week, Jameel’s Summer Cinema program, in collaboration with The Culturist Film Club, kicks off with a night dedicated to cinema, cities and the people who inspire each. Curated by Hind Mezaina, founder of The Culturist Film Club, the program features two films that take viewers from Jeddah to Cairo, exploring how persona and collective memory shape the evolving urban landscape.
Date: June 21
Location: Jameel Arts Center, Jaddaf Waterfront, Dubai
Find more information here.
• “Architectures of the In-Between”
This group show presents the work of Atefeh Majidi Nezhad, Nevine Hamza and Layla Juma. All three female artists involve a practice that combines architecture structures within their distinct visual languages. The resulting works go beyond their structural formal qualities to explore philosophical concepts, metaphysics and the growing dominance of technology in everyday reality.
Dates: Through Aug. 31
Location: Aisha Alabbar Gallery, Warehouse 19, Alserkal Avenue, Al Quoz 1
Find more information here.
• Dubai Metro’s Blue Line project set to be “architectural icon”
Work has commenced on the 20.5 billion dirham ($5.6 billion) Dubai Metro’s Blue Line project, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, vice president and ruler of Dubai, announced on June 9. Designed by Skidmore, Owings & Merrill, the Emaar Properties Station will accommodate 160,000 passengers daily. Its expansion will increase the metro network to 131 kilometers (81 miles) with 78 stations, supporting Dubai’s growing population. It will be located in the area of Dubai Creek Harbor and called the Emaar Properties Station, and at 74 meters (80 yards), it is slated to be the tallest metro station in the world.
4. Book of the week: “Everyday Life in the Spectacular City”
Rana AlMutawa’s book, “Everyday Life in the Spectacular City,” delves into the urban and social fabric of Dubai. The Emirati assistant professor of social research and public policy at New York University Abu Dhabi focuses on how both residents and foreign expats navigate Dubai’s ever-changing urban landscape — and how they use its often-labeled “superficial” spaces to create meaningful social lives.
AlMutawa’s book, published by the University of California Press, spotlights how inhabitants adapt to the city’s constant transformation, from large-scale development projects to major malls and emerging districts. It also explores Dubai’s key cultural landscapes and the distinctive multicultural identity the city continues to cultivate.
5. View from Dubai
“The Meeting of Minds,” circa 1960s. (Courtesy of Noor Ali Rashid Archives)
One of the United Arab Emirates’ most prolific photographers, widely regarded as a pioneer of photojournalism and street photography in the Middle East, Noor Ali Rashid (1929-2010) was first recognized as an official photographer by the British in 1959. He later became known as the trusted photographer for royals and sheikhs. His documentary and historic photographs capture pivotal moments in the history of the United Arab Emirates.
6. By the numbers
- The UAE’s apparel market is projected to reach $10.88 billion in 2025, according to Statistica.
- According to the latest data from Euromonitor International, the UAE is the second-largest apparel market in the GCC, representing 36.8% of total apparel sales in the region in 2024, behind that of Saudi Arabia.