Ahmed Al Khafaj is from Iraq. He was first thrust into the national glare while participating in Star Academy 9 in 2012. Even as he left the show before its culmination, the fire inside him did not subside. Instead, it flared up and saw him competing in the reality show called The Mask where persistence finally paid off. Winning the show at Babylon Theater in Erbil in 2013 with the highest audience vote, Ahmed won the golden trophy called the “Golden Mask,” which was his first major stride into the entertainment industry.

Having a diploma from the College of Fine Arts in Baghdad, Ahmed passion for performing arts bailed him into acting. Early work: Part of popular show Darbt Zawya gave Ahmed the status of one of the brightest newcomers. He then enjoyed further exposure in a string of TV productions including At a Distance from Love, 2022; Corner Kick (2021); and The Gold Khan (2023). Not so busy after all: Very much occupied with acting activities, Ahmed still found time to pursue some other ventures outside of his screen career. In addition to acting, he works behind the camera as a television presenter; to date, programs he presents are broadcast in both Dubai and Baghdad. Among his most popular works is conducting a show for the Al-Sharqiya channel, and he managed to gain enough international recognition to be translated into Japanese. Then, in 2018, he came up with The Other World, securing his place on the media scene.

Ahmed’s popularity should not be confined within the bounds of social media, though social media platforms like Instagram can bring one to a high popularity level with relatively short periods of work. Ahmed was not an exception. His mix of entertaining content, charming personality, and fashionable looks has placed him on the list of social influencers. He is the brand ambassador for Smile J and Alpecin, two giant brands in the region. His endorsements speak well of his ability to influence consumers’ decisions, integrating into his role as an entertainer his capabilities as a marketing powerhouse.

Ahmed Al Khafaj is also a businessman. Being passionate about health and wellness, he established the Fitness Academy, a huge sports club in Baghdad. With this entrepreneurial spirit, such interests and drive show him as a multi-faceted public figure. The existence of the Fitness Academy shows the ability of Ahmed to initiate space to uplift his community. For, through working to cultivate health and fitness he invests towards an emerging Iraqi fit culture while investing into his wholesome value of good wellbeing. He has emerged as one of the top players within the landscape of fitness in Iraq. The gym was constructed with the most diverse members, ranging from all walks of life to improve their physical health.

Rags to riches story by Ahmed Al Khafaj is a testament to his dedication, talent and versatility. Whether he is an actor, TV presenter, or social media influencer, Ahmed continues to break boundaries and challenge the status quo. Entrepreneurial ventures and brand endorsements will further elucidate his multifaceted approach to gaining success. Though Ahmed has already made many marks, there can be no doubt that his journey has not ended in many ways. With future projects and growing influence across the Middle East, Ahmed Al Khafaj is a name we’ll continue to hear, both on and off the screen.

NCC, short for National Cement Company, has been the leading industrial house in Dubai since the days of its 1968 inception. While it was founded with the patronage of late H.H. Sheikh Rashid Bin Sayed Al Maktoum, ruler of Dubai at that time, the company was primarily built to fuel the urbanization and infrastructural development hordes that were envisioned during those rapidly celebrating city transformations in the UAE. Using locally sourced and raw materials, NCC’s aim was simple: to become the cement giant, not just for the country but for the future of its building block. For all the exponential growth over the years, the company remains an industry giant in the UAE cement, serving the local market and, wider GCC region.

The late Sheikh Rashid had a vision for Dubai; visionary and ambitious. He realised that in order for Dubai to become a global hub, an absolutely solid structure was necessary, and cement would be part of that. National Cement was thus established to produce what construction needed, given the boom in construction going on at the time. Such an action represented one of the first serious efforts at setting up a heavy industry within the emirate. NCC had the task of providing quality cement for the rising demand within the UAE and areas too. Sheikh Rashid’s vision helped NCC climb the ladder in the region, making it instrumental for the whole construction sector.

National Cement has risen from its humble beginnings to achieve very significant growth in operations. It now finds itself as one of the largest cement manufacturers in the UAE, with an annual production capacity of over 1.5 million tons of cement, since the plant alone produces about 3,300 tons of clinker per day with a grinding capacity of 1.5 million metric tons annually. These figures support NCC as the market leader in cement suppliers in Dubai and the GCC, feeding into an ever-growing high-quality construction material market. Its strategic location in Dubai also provided the company with access to prime markets in the UAE and neighbouring countries. Over the years, National Cement has created a majority share of the cement market in Dubai; its branded cement products are now tantamount to quality and reliability.

The firm provides a range of cement products that are specific to the demands of the construction industry as a whole. From ordinary Portland cement, to cement-based specialized products, all NCC products have earned a strong reputation based on their durability and quality. The products it offers enable it to cater to a wide variety of projects-big and small-from residential buildings and commercial establishments to highways and bridges.

The UAE remains the mainstream market for NCC, but the company has expanded its presence within GCC countries. It is able to establish itself in regional positions as the leading cement manufacturer by exploring the markets mentioned above. The company is currently focusing on its production processes for sustainability. National Cement Company has a commitment to keeping itself abreast of international standards in quality and environmental management, to assure its clients that NCC’s products not only meet the current needs of construction but also meet a healthier and more sustainable future.

Investment continues into state-of-the-art technology to strengthen the processes and decrease the company’s environmental footprint. This way, NCC maintains a competitive advantage within the international cement market with compliance to best practice sustainability principles.

Nour Arida is one high-profile fashion on our radar and combines efficiently the role of a mother, fashion blogger, model, and entrepreneur. She started her journey from a humble position as a sales associate to walking on the fashion shows of Paris Fashion Week. Nour’s tale is an example of how passion, persistence, and a keen eye for trends can lead one to success in this ever-evolving world of fashion.

Nour Arida was born on 10 July 1989 in Maryland, USA to a Lebanese family. As she grew up in Beirut, she could not help but be exposed to all kinds of influences of fashion-her mother, grandmother, and cousin all had jobs within the industry, which set her on her path. However, after finishing Economics and Mathematics at the American University of Beirut, her passion for fashion drew her along another path. Nour began her career as a sales associate with Aishti, one of the leading emporiums of fashion and luxury in the Middle East. She worked very hard, showing to the world that she was talented and proficient in just a few short periods; eventually, she became a Buyer and Brand Manager for quite a few high-end labels like Rag & Bone, Zimmermann, and Vince. This experience channelled her expertise in curating and in understanding fashion trends to shape her future as a fashion influencer.

Nour Arida’s professional journey changed with the launch of her blog, N for Nour, through which she expresses her fashion inspirations, lifestyle insights, and deep thoughts about the latest trends. With this particular aesthetic and distinctive personal style, Nour soon caught the eye of fashion enthusiasts and professionals. Nour’s nascent career as a fashion influencer has caught the attention of international high-level brands like Sephora, Rimmel, and Boucheron. Currently, Nour has more than 11 million followers on social media, with her presence making her one of the top influencers in Dubai and the Middle East.

She further progressed in her career when she signed to Elite agency in Paris in 2017; this became the beginning of a modeling career. Walked for several shows in Paris Fashion Week for the brands Zadig & Voltaire, Etam, Maison Rabih Kayrouz and Nicolas Jebran.

With Nour’s influence increasing, she becomes one of the few Arab women who have fronted global campaigns for giant brands. She made more fame through her collaborations with different companies, such as MAC Cosmetics, with whom she collaborated to create a lipstick in her limited edition. Nour also ventured into entrepreneurship by co-founding the children’s clothing brand Generation Peace with her sister in 2020. The company does its best to create outstate for kids, which is fashionable and comfortable. The brand conveys Nour’s desire to combine a message behind it-pursuing peace and unity in a world where these things are forgotten.

Nour Arida has maximized her reach on several important covers, including Vogue Turkey, Harper’s Bazaar Arabia, Elle Arabia, and L’Officiel Paris. Her performances and contributions have earned some amazing awards in London and at BIAF 2024, such as the Arab Woman of the Year Award and the Global Advocate of Women’s Rights Award. Besides putting on a colorful display on runways, this event extends and reaches the entire world. Nour represented the French luxury jewelry house Boucheron as their global ambassador at Cannes and Venice film festivals for 2021 and 2022, thus influencing not only the fashion but also the entertainment industries.

As beautiful as Nour Arida’s fashion success story is, it is not the only tale that this mother tells by setting examples and calling for positive change. Still, by dedicating herself to career and parenting of that gorgeous daughter of hers, Ayla, Nour still uses her platform as an inspiration to influence and empower women worldwide. Whether through fashion, philanthropy, or motherhood, Nour sets the scene for generations to come in the Middle East and around the world.