2024’s Best Dressed Arab Women

From cool street style looks to elaborate gowns, 2024’s best dressed women aced every silhouette in the book.

2024 was a busy year for all — celebrities included. While the Joy Awards kicked off the region’s awards season in January, February saw stars don their glitziest ensembles for the Vogue Ball of Arabia, and by May, all eyes were on the Cannes Film Festival. In the midst of it all, we also saw Arabia’s It Girls bring their A-game to the front rows of fashion weeks across Paris, Milan and more. More recently, the red carpets at El Gouna Film Festival and the Red Sea Film Festival saw an exciting line-up of avant-garde ensembles. Below, take a closer look at the stars who stood out with their sartorial picks in 2024.

The fashion week crew

This year, fashion weeks saw some incredible looks from names from the region. Days after announcing her pregnancy, Salma Abu Deif gave maternity dressing a cool spin in a preppy cardigan + skirt set that showed off her baby bump, while Rym Saidi painted a sleek picture in earthy Sportmax separates in Milan. Later in the year, Razane Jammal made a strong case for androgynous dressing at Dior’s Cruise 2025 show. Among the most striking looks on the list were Mahira Abdelaziz’s Matrix-inspired all-black ensemble, and designer Amina Muaddi’s statement Schiaparelli coat.

2024’s fiery favorite hue

Through the year, bold red looks seemed to be a favorite among celebrities. At the Vogue Ball of Arabia, Lebanese beauty Carmen Bsaibes opted for a traffic-stopping crop and skirt set, and the Joy Awards saw Dorra Zarrouk drape herself in a red velvet look with an interesting asymmetrical silhouette. Nancy Ajram walked the same lavender carpet as Zarrouk in a sparkling crimson Dolce & Gabbana look — complete with red lips, heels and clutch — and new mom Princess Rajwa Al-Hussein made a rare pre-delivery appearance in an elegant red Honayda number.

Red carpet glamour

It’s hard to pick a favorite among the many eye-catching red carpet looks the region’s leading ladies wore in 2024. Going the classic route, Aseel attended the Red Sea Film Festival in a regal cut-out Rami Kadi gown, while Balqees Fathi had her shining moment in a mermaid cut Giambattista Valli look at Cannes Film Festival. Both Karen Wazen and Mona Zaki proved that powder blues are a wonderful choice for special occasions, and Tara Emad’s made a timeless choice with a shimmering Delcore gown at El Gouna Film Festival.

But sometimes, more truly is more, and 2024 had its fair share of statement looks. Cue Nadine Nassib Njeim’s glittering Balmain gown, embellished in ombré shades to highlight her form and embroidered with the phrase “j’taime”. Another standout selection was Farida Khelfa’s floral detailed pink gown from the Paris Olympics Opening Ceremony, followed by Yasmine Sabri’s emerald green Selma Benomar kaftan, worn at the Fashion Trust Arabia finale in Morocco.

Below, meet 2024’s best dressed women.