Elie Saab's Riyadh fashion show sparks celebration and backlash

World-renowned Lebanese designer Elie Saab celebrated 45 years in the industry last week with a grand showcase titled "The 1001 Seasons of Elie Saab" in Saudi Arabia.

The anniversary fashion show in Saudi capital Riyadh sparked mixed reactions online, with some social media users welcoming the event as a symbol of Lebanese artistry, and others critising it as "insensitive" amid Israel's ongoing wars in Lebanon and Gaza.

The milestone event featured 300 of Saab’s meticulously crafted ensembles, star-studded musical performances by Jennifer Lopez and Celine Dion, as well as Arab pop icons Amr Diab and Nancy Ajram, and an audience of over 1,000 guests. 

The showcase was part of Riyadh Season, a series of cultural and entertainment events launched in 2019 under Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 initiative to promote tourism.

Many users decried the lavish event, questioning how celebrations could occur while civilians in the region faced violence and hunger.

One online user stated: “At the time the Israeli occupation army violates South Lebanon, and [commits] genocide against the people of Gaza in Palestine, the Saudi Kingdom of 'Normalisation' continues its entertainment parties with dancing and singing in Riyadh Season.” 

“While Arab children are being slaughtered in Gaza & Lebanon, Saudi throws a lavish star-studded party (ironically to celebrate a Lebanese designer)," another said.

Israeli attacks on the Gaza Strip have killed over 43,922 Palestinians, and wounded another 103,898, according the health ministry in the enclave. Israeli attacks on Lebanon have killed 3,400 people, with 14,599 injured, according to the Lebanese health ministry.

كيف نرى دماء غزة تراق كل يوم والمملكة تحتفل بصخب دون مبالاة؟
تطبيع العلاقات مع الكيان المحتل وتجاهل المأساة يضع تساؤلات جدية حول مواقفها تجاه الأمة الإسلامية .!#السعوديه_عدو_الامه_الاسلاميه pic.twitter.com/YU6j9GEaP8

— عبدالحميد السلطان (@Alssultan11) November 17, 2024

Translation: "How do we see the blood of Gaza being shed every day while the kingdom celebrates noisily without caring? Normalising relations with the occupying entity and ignoring the tragedy raises serious questions about its positions towards the Islamic nation."

Others, however, defended the event as an important symbol of Lebanese cultural identity separate from international coverage often focusing on conflict in the country.

"What Elie Saab is doing in Riyadh, and the creativity that is happening is the beautiful image of Lebanon that we must export to the world," said one user on X.

"Lebanon is a country of civilization and culture, and certainly not a country of war. I hope that Lebanon will return to the events front and develop again," the user continued.

When asked about holding the event amid the ongoing war, Saab expressed frustration and a sense of heartbreak, stating: “Honestly, the only pain today was holding this event when our country [Lebanon] is in such a state. But I want to say that, my whole life has been like this. During my first show in 1982, Israel was also invading Lebanon.”

He went on to add: “I would have liked to postpone the event, but with our obligations to everything you saw, it would have been very difficult.”

I get why, i do understand and dont come for me but i feel a deep frustration and a sense of heartbreak that elie saab’s ceremony was held is saudi and not in lebanon

— BC Now (@endahili_roobi) November 14, 2024

“What Elie Saab is doing globally is as important as the work of an entire country. He is raising the image and name of Lebanon, which is suffering under the weight of destruction and death.

"Our country has a love of life, beauty and the fragrance of flowers, not the fragrance of death,” one supporter wrote. 

Another said: “Elie Saab deserves [to be] the ambassador of beauty.”