Last night was a magical night celebrating art, beauty and fashion under the Dubai sky. Tony Ward received the award for ‘Global Fashion Designer of the Year – Haute Couture & Bridal’ at the EMI GALA, live from Festival Bay. A beautiful event honoring talent and creation.

This year’s EMI GALA was a tribute to icon Dalida, and her eclectic style, from dazzling disco to sixties casual chic. A magical lights show, live music performances by talented artists and a celebration of those who made their mark on the beauty and fashion world. Gorgeous celebrities were in attendance among them the fabulous Enjy Kiwan who lit up the stage in a Tony Ward lime green dress to present this year’s awards.

Tony Ward traveled to Dubai with his team, a city ‘I can call me second home’, he said during his speech. The designer was honored to receive the Global Fashion Designer of the Year award for his couture and bridal collections, and chose to dedicate this recognition to his team in Beirut, the ‘Tony Ward family’ as he fondly refers to us, ‘these magical hands that give meaning to my inspiration’, and to his father, couturier Elie Ward who passed away in 2022, a year marking the 25^th anniversary of the Tony Ward brand and 70 years of Ward Ateliers started by his dad, without ‘whom I wouldn’t be standing here’.

In bustling Dubai, under the stars, the night was filled with emotion and incredible talent, and it felt special to be here ‘it all started in the Middle East and I’ll always feel this emotional connection no matter where we are in the world’ Tony concluded.