The non-profit organization Fashion Trust Arabia unveiled its judging panel for the seventh edition, celebrating design talent across the Middle East and North Africa.

The distinguished jury includes international fashion leaders. Among them are Gisele Bündchen, Natalia Vodianova, Paloma Elsesser, Viktor & Rolf, Guram Gvasalia, Rabih Kayrouz, Duran Lantink, Christian Louboutin, Zuhair Murad, Stefano Pilati, Francesco Risso, Daniel Roseberry, Veronica Leoni from Calvin Klein, Arnaud Vaillant and Sébastien Meyer from Coperni, as well as Giambattista Valli. Designers' accessories include Yoon Ahn, Amina Muaddi, and Caroline Scheufele de Chopard. In addition to visual artist Alex Israel, entrepreneurs and investors Rachid Mohamed Rachid and Remo Ruffini, and former model and activist Bethann Hardison; fashion buyer Roopal Patel, Gilda Ambrosio and Giorgia Tordini of The Attico, and fashion journalist Imran Amed.

The finalists are 18 emerging designers from the Middle East and North Africa competing across six categories, and three designers from India. The ceremony is held in Doha on November 22, 2025. The selected designers reflect the diversity and creativity of the Arab world.

In the ready-to-wear category, the finalists are Shahd AlShehail of Saudi Arabia, Youssef Drissi of Morocco, and Iman Coccellato of Tunisia.

The eveningwear category features Ziyad Albuainain of Saudi Arabia, Dana Almulla of Qatar, and Sharifa Alsharif Alhashemi of the United Arab Emirates.

In the accessories category, the jury selected Leila Roukni of Morocco, Duha Bukadi of Tunisia, and the duo Sharifa Alsulaiti and Altaf Almudhayan of Kuwait.

In the jewellery category, Patrick Boghossian of Lebanon, Farah Radwan of Egypt, and Clara Chehab of Lebanon.

The Franca Sozzani Debut Talent Award goes to Alaa Alaradi of Bahrain, Ayham Hassan of Palestine, and Fatma Elshabbi of Libya.

Running for the fashion tech category are Assaad Awad of Lebanon, Zahia Albakri of Jordan, and Fatema and Dalal Alkhaja of Bahrain.

For the first time, FTA has chosen India as the Guest Country, through a partnership with the Nita Mukesh Ambani Cultural Centre. The three designers in competition are Kartik Kumra of Kartik Research, Ankur Verma of TIL, and Akhil Nagpal of AKHL.

Winners receive financial grants ranging from $100,000 to $200,000. The Franca Sozzani Talent Award will offer a $50,000 grant to help jumpstart their business, and a tailored mentorship program from industry figures and partners to assist them in developing their brands. Winners’ collections in the Ready-to-Wear, Evening Wear, Accessories, and Jewelry categories will be carried at Harrods and Ounass for one season. Huntsman Savile Row will offer the Ready-to-Wear category winner an internship in London. As part of the internship, the winner will be creating a capsule collection to be sold on the retailer’s e-commerce platform.

The winners will also benefit from a year-long mentorship with The Bicester Collection and access to an intensive two-day program in London, designed in partnership with the British Fashion Council and Brand x Society.