Manuel Arnaut has been appointed Editor-in-Chief of Vogue Arabia, effective 7 May 2017, as announced today by Shashi Menon, CEO & Publisher, Nervora and Vogue Arabia.
“Manuel Arnaut brings over a decade of Condé Nast editorial experience combined with a strong track record of regional success. We look forward to him building on Vogue Arabia’s foundation,” commented Menon.
Arnaut joins from Architectural Digest Middle East, where he oversaw the launch of the magazine in 2015 as Editor-in-Chief. After initiating his career at Vogue Portugal, Arnaut held the position of Editor at GQ Portugal, as well as having his work published in Vogue and GQ Brazil. Arnaut will take over direction of Vogue Arabia’s multinational and multilingual editorial team.
“After starting my professional life at Vogue, and having grown up devouring each page of its international editions, I’m deeply honored to have the opportunity to come ‘home,’ at the helm of Vogue Arabia. With the rich heritage of the Middle East as a starting point — and its eyes on the future — Vogue Arabia celebrates the region’s fashion and cultural identity, presenting it to the world in a luxurious, upbeat, and contemporary style. In an exciting climate of modernity and creativity, the team and I are committed to working towards a Vogue Arabia that is the proud voice of the region, representing the strength and allure of the Arab woman,” remarked Arnaut.
“As the Launch Editor-in-Chief of Vogue Arabia, Deena Aljuhani Abdulaziz has earned a place in the history of fashion and Vogue,” Menon added. Following one of the most high-profile debuts for any edition of Vogue, Abdulaziz will move on from her role, having successfully fulfilled her commitment to create a platform from which to challenge perceptions of Arab women and present alternative narratives coming out of the Middle East, while exposing diverse audiences to the region’s rich past and contemporary design scene. All at Vogue Arabia wish to thank Deena for the visionary launch and for preparing the groundwork for the future of the brand.
Vogue Arabia continues to innovate, as it spearheads the ongoing development of the region’s fashion industry. In 2015, Vogue Arabia launched the Dubai Design & Fashion Council (DDFC) / Vogue Fashion Prize, an annual endowment for the Arab world’s most promising fashion talents and the first of its kind in the region. The Fashion Prize aims to invigorate regional talent by providing a global platform for emerging Middle Eastern designers to showcase their abilities. The Fashion Prize is overseen by a Selection Committee comprising senior executives from Vogue Arabia, the Dubai Design & Fashion Council, and both the regional and international fashion communities. UAE-based designer Reemami and Egypt-based Okhtein won last year’s prize. The 2017 edition will take place this Autumn.
