The Arabic word ‘Ameera’ means ‘princess’ and the ethos behind the magazine from day one was the same: I wanted to capture the essence of the privileged, beautiful, opinionated and passionate youth living in the Middle East. Growing up as a young person in any part of the world is not free from angst and uncertainty.
That delicate transition from ‘child’ to ‘adult’ is known to be wrought with frustrations and confusion... The precarious position of young adults growing up in the Middle East however is that they are born into a legacy ridden with multiple opposing forces, encompassing, war, political and religious radicalism, displacement, foreign suspicion, abject poverty, the oil boom, petrodollars, unprecedented economic boom, globalisation and unimaginable wealth.
Growing up in Dubai, young people get to enjoy a privileged, truly unique upbringing. The life of a Dubai child isn’t far from blissful and a little bit surreal. However, along with great privilege comes great responsibility...growing up in and with a city that changes at an alarming rate, it is easy to forget where we come from and indeed where exactly we are going. Ameera is being launched at a time Dubai is surpassing all expectations, and becoming bigger and better than one could have ever imagined of a sleepy, trading port in the corner of the Middle East.
It is with great pleasure, high expectations and sleepless nights that I am standing at the helm of the first issue of Ameera. May you be transported to the great sands of Arabia as you read it...