Fashion

12-Years Later, Muscat Fashion Week Returns in Style

BYMille Team

January 16, 2026

Muscat Fashion Week (MFW) made a glamorous return this week and it felt like a long overdue comeback. The event first launched in 2011, held a buzzy third edition in 2013, and then slipped into a quiet hiatus that lasted far longer than anyone expected. This January, from the 13 to 15 the showcase returned with a refreshed format, a sharper structure, and a renewed sense of purpose that instantly signaled a new era for Omani fashion. The comeback happened under the gilded arches of the Royal Opera House in Muscat, as part of Muscat Nights 2026, a citywide winter festival that brings together art, live performances, food, heritage experiences, and community events to spotlight the creative spirit of the Omani capital. With support from the Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Youth, the revived edition hosted regional and international designers on the runway and added panel discussions and workshops that gave the week more depth and direction.

Amal Al Raisi backstage. Photo: Instagram/@yasminainmedia

Oman has always taken a quieter approach to cultural programming compared to the neighboring UAE, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia, but the revival of Muscat Fashion Week suggests the country is no longer interested in playing it safe. The energy felt fresh, confident, and intentional. It felt like a strategic reintroduction designed to show that the country is ready to claim a place in the regional fashion conversation. If you were not in the audience, you definitely missed a moment. Read on for the main highlights.

Dazzling Runway Collections

The runway presentations offered a clear snapshot of the region’s evolving design identity, with each label contributing to a narrative that felt grounded, intentional, and refreshingly unhurried. Brands who took part on the fourth edition of MFW included Morocco’s Maison Sara Chraibi; Amal Al Raisi, who unveiled collaboration with French watchmaker and jeweler Charles Oudin; Omani designer Faiza Al Balushi; Lebanese designer Elio Abou Fayssal; and Tunisian designer Ahmed Talfit.

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A post shared by Ahmed Talfit (@ahmedtalfit)

Sisters Nadia and Lubna Al Zakwani, the powerhouse design duo behind Endemage, brought one of the most anticipated shows of the week. Endemage has long defined an Omani aesthetic that blends regional craft with global minimalism. Their collection served as a reminder that Omani design has a strong point of view that deserves international visibility.

Thought-Provoking Panel Talks

The panel discussions offered real substance and gave attendees a deeper look into the forces shaping the regional fashion landscape. One of the strongest conversations of the week happened during the panel titled “Navigating the Middle Eastern Market: Fashion as an Economic Engine.” It was moderated by Bilal Al Arabi who guided a thoughtful dialogue between Marnix Quint of Brunello Cucinelli Middle East, Aram Kabbani, Chief of Fashion and Retail, and Reda Keddaji, General Manager of Tryano.

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A post shared by Muscat Fashion Week (@mctfashionweek)

Another important conversation unfolded during the session titled “The Business of Fashion in the Middle East.” Qusai Mansour moderated a talk with HE Ibtisam Al Farooji, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Investment Promotion, alongside Al Sayyid Dr. Munther Al Busaidi, Vice Chairman of the Vision 2040 Implementation Follow-up Unit. The panel was a rare opportunity to hear policy and creativity intertwined in one conversation.

The final major panel centered on the digital world and carried the title “Influencer Economy: Building Brands in the Digital Age.” Moderator Ahmed Al Busaidi led a lively discussion featuring influencer Isra Rahman, content creator Jihene Atypic, Meta’s Head of Beauty and Luxury MEA Akash Nemani, and ANT Management founder Anita Nayar. They unpacked how creators shape consumer behavior and how brands can build sustainable identities in an algorithm-driven landscape, leaving attendees with a clearer understanding of the power influencers hold in the current fashion ecosystem.

Immersive Workshops

The workshops created some of the most interactive moments of the week because they offered direct access to industry knowledge. Entrepreneurship took center stage in a session led by Ghizlan Guenez, founder of F-Force. Her workshop broke down how creative talent can evolve into a scalable business. Meanwhile, sustainability was explored through a workshop led by Nisan Ergün, founder and designer of Zhenabia in Turkey. She shared her personal journey of building a brand from scratch and spoke openly about the challenges that come with responsible production. Elsewhere, the fashion photography workshop led by photographer and artist Laura Bonnefous and stylist Fernando Damasceno. walked participants through how to build a fashion series from concept to execution and shared real examples from their personal work. They discussed moodboarding, casting, styling decisions, and location scouting.

12-Years Later, Muscat Fashion Week Returns in Style

Dazzling Runway Collections

Thought-Provoking Panel Talks

Immersive Workshops

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12-Years Later, Muscat Fashion Week Returns in Style

Dazzling Runway Collections

Thought-Provoking Panel Talks

Immersive Workshops

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