THE JOURNAL
Dubai Skyline and Jumeirah Beach. Photograph by Mr Jorg Greuel/Getty Images
Cultural melting pot, economic hub, tourist destination… Dubai is a great many things to different people, but to Mr Khalid Alshafar, the latest inductee into MR PORTER’s Style Council, it’s simply the place he calls home. Born in the Emirati city in 1980, he left a career in marketing to study design at Central Saint Martins in London before returning to Dubai to open his own studio. Now an established and in-demand product designer with an impressive roster of international clients, he has been instrumental in establishing Dubai as a destination for the creative arts – and has even been described as the poster boy for Emirati design. Just the man to show us around, then.
With the UAE celebrating its 50th anniversary just last week and playing host to the thrilling conclusion to the Formula 1 World Championship, we asked the designer for his travel and style recommendations when he’s at home and away.
What are your top foodie tips for Dubai?
La Petite Maison never fails to impress me. I’d recommend the canard à l’orange. I don’t have duck anywhere else but here. Zuma is a great destination, too. I love the interior layout and the accents. And Teatro is a place I’ll always return to. Some of my favourite memories took place here, including my best birthday celebration.
When you travel, where do you stay?
If I’m in the UAE, it has to be the Abu Dhabi Edition. It has the best bedding and pillows I have ever experienced. Outside the UAE, my favourite hotel is the Splendid Palace in Istanbul. The architecture, the interiors, the furniture and, more specifically, the signature red striped carpet throughout the foyers make the place feel like a fairytale.
What are your favourite destinations?
I love cities with a balance of East and West, old and new, such as Florence, Milan and Marrakesh but, above all, Istanbul. It’s like another home for me.
Seafood paella at La Petite Maison, Dubai. Photograph courtesy of La Petite Maison
What are your favourite places?
Sakip Sabancı Museum in Istanbul is somewhere I always try to come back to and visit, whether just checking out the latest exhibition or enjoying a full day. The Bebek neighbourhood is another great place to go, enjoy a meal and a coffee and walk across the Bosphorus to get the best views of the city.
What’s your top tip for travelling?
Walking through a city is the best way to discover it and dive into its culture.
What are your go-to grooming products?
I never leave home without Aesop’s Parsley Seed Anti-Oxidant Eye Serum, Lucent Facial Concentrate and Geranium Leaf Body Cleanser. Beside its product range, I feel a strong connection to the brand’s story and ethos. It matches well with my own.
What’s the best style advice you have been given?
Dress your age. People may take this negatively, but the rationale behind it is to wear what suits you, what reflects your personality and what gives you confidence. Your style is your power.
Whom do you look up to and why?
My late father was always my idol and a source of encouragement for me. I was so inspired by his simple yet ambitious life journey.