Must-know news from the region, brought to you by KHAMSA.
١. Six Icons worth $150M: Sotheby’s Lands in Abu Dhabi.
Sotheby’s is staging its first-ever fine art exhibition in Abu Dhabi on October 1–2, bringing six masterworks by Frida Kahlo, Vincent van Gogh, Paul Gauguin, Edvard Munch, René Magritte, and Camille Pissarro—to the Bassam Freiha Art Foundation. Valued around $150M and drawn from blue-chip private collections, the show marks the auction house’s most valuable exhibition in the region. Highlights include Kahlo’s El sueño (La cama)—poised to challenge auction records—and van Gogh’s literary still life Romans Parisiens (Les Livres jaunes). After Abu Dhabi, the works head to London and Paris before a high-profile New York sale week starting November 17.
٢. Dior × WWF: Protecting Chile’s Puma, Rewilding 50,000 Hectares by 2030.
Christian Dior Parfums is extending its partnership with WWF, after supporting the lynx in France and the jaguar in Mexico, to safeguard the puma in Chile’s Nahuelbuta range. The plan is hands-on: mapping conservation sites, tracking populations, reconnecting habitats, educating communities, and easing human–wildlife conflict, with a goal to regenerate up to 50,000 hectares of secure habitat by 2030. It’s a stylish push for real impact, aligned with LVMH’s LIFE 360 ambition to restore 5 million hectares of biodiversity worldwide.
٣. Dubai Turns It Up: Ushuaïa Harbour Goes Mainstage.
Ushuaïa Dubai Harbour Experience is putting the city in the global spotlight with a waterfront series that fuses arena-grade sound, immersive visuals, and skyline views—headlined by Anyma (Oct 31), Adriatique (Nov 15), and Calvin Harris (Nov 29). Behind the push is Elie Saba of ADDMIND, whose two decades in nightlife are helping position Dubai as a world capital for live entertainment and culture.
٤. RIMOWA Debuts the Groove Collection: Iconic Lines, Everyday Leather.
RIMOWA reimagines its signature grooves as a premium leather lineup made in Italy. The new Groove Collection—Shopping Bag, Sliding Hobo, and Cross-Body (Large/Small)—translates the maison’s suitcase DNA into lightweight, structured carryalls with smart details (removable pouches, suitcase-friendly handles, wide zip openings). Dropping in classic Black with seasonal Silver, Pink, Burgundy, and Green accents, prices start at €950 and run to €1,700—available now in RIMOWA stores and online. Cool, crafted, and built to move.
٥. Loro Piana SS26: Colour, Calm & Palazzo Citterio.
Unveiled yesterday in Milan, Loro Piana’s Spring/Summer 2026 inhabits the freshly reborn Palazzo Citterio with a serene study in colour. The Maison shifts from “Masters of Fibres” to masters of hues—rich mélanges, painterly prints, and sun-drenched tones—shown on a calm, gallery-like set of free-form shapes, mirrored panels, and vintage Italian furniture. New bags and leather goods glide into the flow, underscoring Loro Piana’s quiet luxury and its ongoing dialogue between craft, contemporary art, and a landmark Milanese space.
٦. Coach Taps Elle Fanning, SOYEON & Lilas to “Revive Your Courage”.
Coach’s Fall ’25 campaign channels fearless, kid-energy with cinematic films and sunlit stills starring returning ambassador Elle Fanning and new faces SOYEON and Lilas (ikura of YOASOBI). Directed by Jovan Todorović and Teitur Ardal, the series reframes Coach’s Tabby as a talisman for self-expression, spotlighting Stuart Vevers’ leathercraft (from pebble and suede to glossy Spazzolato) alongside ready-to-wear and the Soho sneaker. It’s upbeat, inclusive, and built around one simple prompt: reclaim the courage to try “something new.”
٧. Carolina Herrera Takes Madrid: Plaza Mayor Runway, Past-Meets-Now.
Carolina Herrera’s SS26 blooms in the heart of Plaza Mayor, Madrid, the House’s first main runway outside New York and only its third abroad in 44 years. Wes Gordon riffs on the city’s Golden Age and La Movida spirit with three hero florals (Carnation, Violetta, Retiro Rose), a sleek trio of new bags (Mimi, Pía, Lola), and Spanish craft collabs—from Sybilla and PALOMO to ANDRESGALLARDO, Levens, and archival Seseña capes. A love letter to Madrid: precise, bold, and beautifully alive.
٨. SHA × WHOOP: Wearable Data Meets Peak-Performance Longevity.
SHA, the science-backed longevity resort, is teaming up with WHOOP to supercharge its Leader’s Performance program with real-time biometrics and coaching. Guests staying 7+ nights get a WHOOP 5.0 and 12-month membership, layered onto SHA’s diagnostics, precision nutrition, cellular therapies, and biohacking protocols—turning sleep, recovery, and strain data into a personalized longevity game plan. Privacy stays with the guest; results aim for sharper decisions, stronger resilience, and lasting transformation.
٩. Vacheron Constantin & Phillips Launch the First-Ever Timepiece Concours d’Élégance.
Phillips in Association with Bacs & Russo and Vacheron Constantin are inaugurating a Concours d’Élégance for timepieces, culminating in Geneva in November 2026. Open to Vacheron Constantin wrist and pocket watches made up to 1999, the competition celebrates authenticity, condition, provenance, and design—judged by an international panel led by Aurel Bacs and Christian Selmoni. Entry details and the full jury drop in early 2026, with winners revealed at the finale. Timeless, literally.
