After five fantastic days of panel talks, immersive experiences, musical performances and insights from experts, Hia Hub 4.0 came to a close on Sunday, November 3 in Riyadh's JAX District.
Over the course of the five day conference, Hia Hub - the region's leading fashion, beauty and lifestyle forum - showcased a stellar line up of global industry experts and pioneers, thought leaders, tastemakers and influencers, creatives, and leading brands to uncover the latest trends in fashion, beauty, art, design, and luxury.
The jam-packed schedule included unique workshops such as A Hia Magazine Workshop: Crafting Impactful Fashion Editorials and Resonant Content, hosted by Hia Magazine's Features Director, Mashael Al Dakheel, and Fashion Director, Jeff Aoun, artist Abdelrahman El Shahed and fashion designers, Abdulrahman AlAbed and Nour Aldhahri. In addition to this, attendees enjoyed hands-on and immersive masterclasses on topics such as skincare, make up, wellbeing and even luxury watches.
Let's take a look at some of the incredible moments that took place this year, and have us already looking forward to next year's edition of Hia Hub:
The Skincare Edition: UNFILTERED
One of the highlights of Hia Hub 2024 was a collaboration with Chalhoub Group, presenting "The Skincare Edition: UNFILTERED" for the first time.
New to this year's edition of Hia Hub, The Skincare Edition: UNFILTERED offered attendees the opportunity to engage with industry leaders and learn about the latest skincare trends, described as an 'experiential journey of skincare.' This partnership with Chalhoub Group brought together renowned skincare brands such as luxury brands like Estée Lauder, Shiseido, Guerlain, Dior and La Mer, and also trending skincare and make up brands including Drunk Elephant and Youth to the People.
Aimed at skincare and make up professionals and enthusiasts, The Skincare Edition: UNFILTERED was well-received by all attendees with a whole host of masterclasses, wellness advice, live talks and skin anaylses taking place throughout the event.
Workshops included:
- Workshop by Benefit: Do More for Your Pores See More from Your Skin
- Discover The Guerlain Skincare Essentials With The Secret of Facialist Gestures
- Workshop by Dior Skincare: Unlocking the Secrets to Youthful, Radiant Skin
- Workshop by Shiseido: Potential Has No Age
Panels and discussions included topics such as:
- Driving Skincare Growth: Consumer-Driven Trends and Omnichannel Partnerships
- Skincare for All: Importance of Inclusivity in Skincare
- Gen Z’s Skincare Evolution in GCC: UNFILTERED
- The Current Landscape of Beauty & The Evolution of Skincare
Keynote speakers:
- Suzanne Santos, CEO of Aesop, on The Story Behind Aesop
- Anna Germanos, Group director of CPG, Retail, E-commerce & Luxury at META, on The Age of AI in Beauty & Skincare
Celebrities and Influencers in attendance
Hia Hub 4.0 was a magnet for beauty and fashion enthusiasts. But, the event also attracted a diverse audience, including models, influencers, and celebrities, all eager to learn from the best in the business and explore the incredible world of Hia Hub.
These tastemakers and influencers included lifestyle content creator Asmar Alshnefi, the multi-hyphenate model-comedian-fashionista Amy Roko, TV host and journalist Ajwa Aljoudi, fashion influencer Sayy Aziz and actor Moatasem Alnahar.
Billboard Arabia Stage
Throughout the five days of Hia Hub 4.0, lots of panels and discussions took place on the Billboard Arabia Stage, but several moments stood out.
One such moment was on the evening of Day 4, drawing crowds to the stage was the fireside chat between Dima Hijazi, Reporter and Producer at Billboard Arabia and the critically acclaimed Lebanese-Australian actor Daniella Rahme. Taking pictures with fans both before and after her conversation with Dima, Danielle opened up about her experience in the film industry, and her personal passion for fashion and design.
Another iconic moment that took place on the Main Stage was a conversation between legendary Egyptian actress and dancer Fifi Abdou, with Billboard Arabia's Content Producer, Mahmoud Oraby. Discussing how Arab entertainment has been redefined in the modern world, and how the industry is making waves on an international level.
Of course, what would a Billboard Arabia Stage be without a series of incredible local and regional musicians taking to the stage?
Holding down the line up with top-notch, late-night vibes throughout the conference was talented local DJ, Sannude. Beginning his musical life as a classical pianist, Sannude is now more well-known for taking to the DJ decks at some of the Kingdom's largest music events.
To open the event, DJ Mubarak and Turki Abdullah also took to the stage to perform together. Singer and songwriter, DJ Mubarak is most well-known for his lyrically impressive rapping and getting the crowd hyped. Also taking to the stage on night one was Somalian Hip Hop artist Abubakar Al Jilany, or more commonly known as "Lil Eazy", performed his social media famous hit 'Yebgalha Money' for the crowd. Lil Eazy was born and grew up in Jeddah, his passion for music was evident from a young age, and his talent and growing popularity has changed the perception of hip hop in the Kingdom.
Night two saw rising star winner of popular music tv show, Saudi Idol, Hams Fekri wow the audience with her talents - just as she did on the show. Her journey to the top is just beginning, making this a very special experience for Hia Hub attendees
Day three of Hia Hub 4.0 came to a close with performances by Seera and Maritta Hallani. Hailing from Riyadh and bringing a touch of funk to the conference, was Seera: an all-female Arabic psychedelic rock band. Lebanese singer-songwriter, Maritta Hallani serenaded the crowd with her sweet vocals and storytelling through song.
Wrapping up the conference on day four was Majaz. The four-piece band, made up of Saudi and Qatari members brought their unique and alternative, Afro-Khaleeji sounds to the Billboard Arabia Stage, including their hit tune Ya Lala.
Unmissable Masterclasses
Four incredible masterclasses took place, each touching on the pivotal points of Hia Hub 4.0: the art of skincare and fashion, in addition to beauty and the rising trend in the Arab world of jewellery curation.
Pushing the boundaries between art, design and fine jewellery, Maria Tash delved into the world of crafting unique and memorable customer experiences, that will have your customer be your marketing. Celebrating individuality using jewellery and custom curation, Maria Tash's designs and creations are incredibly popular across the Arab world.
Renowned makeup artist Bassam Fattouh shared his expertise, revealing the secrets behind creating iconic beauty looks. Unlocking expert tips and tricks of the make-up world and the tools and skills needed to re-create these timeless make-up looks at home.
Creative Directors of Oscar de la Renta, Laura Kim and Fernando Garcia were joined by Editor-in-Chief of Hia Magazine, Mai Badr, for a masterclass discussing their creative journey and the design process of the iconic fashion house. Explaining how to balance artistry with creative craftsmanship, the creative duo revealed the secrets of design and teamwork that are essential in the haute couture world.
Founder of FaceGym, Inge Theron, guided a live demonstration of the theory behind FaceGym - using facial 'work outs' to define and tone the face, whilst using products that rejuvenate the skin and enhance the skin's natural beauty. Giving attendees a series of facial yoga practices that can be brought into their daily routine, Theron's facial and skin masterclass was a popular event.
For the second year in a row, Hia Hub, has partnered with Fashion Futures. A notable partnership between Hia Hub and the Saudi Fashion Commission, the Fashion Futures platform provides valuable insights and analytics to industry professionals aiming to foster a thriving fashion ecosystem in Saudi Arabia and the wider region. Burak Çakmak, CEO, Saudi Fashion Commission, said “Together, we are laying the groundwork for a thriving ecosystem that empowers local talent, drives innovation, and fosters sustainable growth.”
